Strip lighting assembly

• US 5,310,355 A
• Filed: 03/09/1993
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Irmgard Dannatt
• Original Assignee: Irmgard Dannatt
• Inventors: Dannatt, Irmgard
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/028,291
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 439/207-211, 439/214, 439/216, 439/110-112, 439/426, 362/249, 174/117 FF
• US Class Current: 439/110
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0005 of sources having contact pins, wires or blades, e.g. pinch sealed lamp F21V19/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/16 Rails or bus-bars provided with a plurality of discrete connecting locations for counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/06 with two current-carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts, having their axes parallel to each other

Abstract

Strip lighting assemblies are useful for supporting and illuminating light bulbs in a variety of contexts, including bookshelves and display cases, while maintaining the lighting hardware and wiring in relative obscurity, to avoid detracting from the display being illuminated. A strip lighting assembly is provided which arranges two conductive strips in vertical fashion, to achieve a relatively narrow and nonobtrusive assembly. A special socket design is also provided, which may accommodate a variety of light bulbs or power chords. The socket includes a movable insert which may be adjusted to alter the size of the receptacles of the socket, increasing the receptacle area to accommodate larger light bulb terminals or power chords, and decreasing the receptacle area to snugly fit smaller light bulb terminals.

Claims

1. A light assembly for holding and illuminating a plurality of light bulbs, comprising:

a. an elongated insulated band formed of insulating material having an upper side and a lower side,

b. a first conductive strip having an upper side and a lower side, said first conductive strip being aligned parallel to said insulated band,

c. a second conductive strip having an upper side and a lower side, said second conductive strip being aligned parallel to said insulated band,

d. an intermediate insulating strip having an upper side and a lower side, said intermediate insulating strip being attached to said first conductive strip and to said second conductive strip to prevent electrical contact between said first conductive strip and said second conductive strip,

e. connecting means for connecting said first conductive strip, said second conductive strip, said intermediate insulating strip, and said insulated band,

f. a plurality of sockets connected to said upper side of said insulated band, each of said sockets having a first and second conductive receptacle formed therein, said first and second receptacles being separated from each other, each of said first receptacles having a first terminal protruding therefrom to make electrical contact with said first conductive strip and each of said second receptacles having a second terminal protruding therefrom to make electrical contact with said second conductive strip, and

g. adjusting means for restricting or expanding at least one of said receptacles formed in at least one of said sockets.

2. A light assembly as described in claim 1, wherein:

a. said upper side of said first conductive strip is connected directly to said lower side of said insulated band,

b. said upper side of said intermediate insulating strip is connected directly to said lower side of said first conductive strip, and

c. said upper side of said second conductive strip is connected directly to said lower side of said intermediate insulating strip.

3. A light assembly as described in claim 2, wherein said first conductive strip is perforated with a plurality of top aperture pairs, each of said top aperture pairs comprising a first top aperture and a second top aperture, wherein said first top aperture and said second top aperture are aligned so that said first terminal protruding from said first receptacle of one of said sockets may be inserted into said first top aperture, and said second terminal protruding from said second receptacle of said socket may be inserted into said second top aperture.

4. A light assembly as described in claim 3, wherein said second conductive strip is perforated with a plurality of bottom aperture pairs, each of said bottom aperture pairs comprising a first bottom aperture and a second bottom aperture, wherein said first bottom aperture and said second bottom aperture are aligned so that said first terminal protruding from said first receptacle of one of said sockets may be inserted into said first bottom aperture, and said second terminal protruding from said second receptacle of said socket may be inserted into said second bottom aperture.

5. A light assembly as described in claim 4, wherein each of said first top apertures is a predetermined size which permits said first terminal protruding from said first receptacle of one of said sockets to contact said first conductive strip when said first terminal is inserted in said first top aperture.

6. A light assembly as described in claim 5, wherein each of said second top apertures is a predetermined size which permits said second terminal protruding from said second receptacle of one of said sockets to avoid contact with said first conductive strip when said second terminal is inserted in said second top aperture.

7. A light assembly as described in claim 6, wherein each of said second bottom apertures is a predetermined size which permits said second terminal protruding from said second receptacle of one of said sockets to contact said second conductive strip when said second terminal is inserted in said second bottom aperture.

8. A light assembly as described in claim 7, wherein each of said first bottom apertures is a predetermined size which permits said first terminal protruding from said first receptacle of one of said sockets to avoid contact with said second conductive strip when said first terminal is inserted in said first bottom aperture.

9. A light fixture as described in claim 8, wherein said connecting means further comprises using solder to connect said first terminal to said first top aperture, and to connect said second terminal to said second bottom aperture.

10. A light assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said first and second receptacles are separated from each other by an insulating divider.

11. A light assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means further comprises:

a. a movable insert placed inside said receptacle,

b. a screw receiving hole formed in said socket and said receptacle, aligned so that an adjusting screw inserted into said screw receiving hole will contact said movable insert when said adjusting screw is tightened,

c. an adjusting screw inserted into said screw receiving hole so that tightening said screw results in pushing said movable insert in a manner that restricts said receptacle.

12. A light assembly as described in claim 11, wherein said movable insert further comprises a flexible band, one end of said band being attached to said socket, and the other end of said band being inserted into said receptacle without being attached to said socket.

13. A light assembly for holding and illuminating a plurality of light bulbs, comprising:

a. an elongated insulated band formed of insulating material having an upper side and a lower side,

b. a first conductive strip having an upper side and a lower side, said first conductive strip being aligned parallel to said insulated band,

c. a second conductive strip having an upper side and a lower side, said second conductive strip being aligned parallel to said insulated band,

d. an intermediate insulating strip having an upper side and a lower side, said intermediate insulating strip being attached to said first conductive strip and to said second conductive strip to prevent electrical contact between said first conductive strip and second said conductive strip,

e. a plurality of sockets connected to said upper side of said insulated band, each of said sockets having a first and second conductive receptacle formed therein, said first and second receptacles being separated from each other,

f. conductive first fastener inserted through and contacting said first conductive strip, inserted through said insulated band, and inserted into said first conductive receptacle, in a manner that connects said first conductive strip, said insulated band, and said socket,

g. conductive second fastener inserted through and contacting said second conductive strip, inserted through said insulated band, and inserted into said second conductive receptacle, in a manner that connects said second conductive strip, said insulated band, and said socket, and

h. adjusting means for restricting or expanding at least one of said receptacles formed in at least one of said sockets.

14. A light assembly as described in claim 13, wherein said adjusting means further comprises:

a. a movable insert placed inside said receptacle,

b. a screw receiving hole formed in said socket and said receptacle, aligned so that an adjusting screw inserted into said screw receiving hole will contact said movable insert when said adjusting screw is tightened,

c. an adjusting screw inserted into said screw receiving hole so that tightening said screw results in pushing said movable insert in a manner that restricts said receptacle.

15. A light assembly as described in claim 14, wherein said movable insert further comprises a flexible band, one end of said band being attached to said socket, and the other end of said band being inserted into said receptacle without being attached to said socket.