Low voltage busbar lighting apparatus

• US 5,342,204 A
• Filed: 06/24/1993
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herma AG
• Original Assignee: Herma AG
• Inventors: Och, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/082,241
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 174/117 A, 439/39, 439/40, 439/110-112, 439/527, 439/936, 439/113-115, 439/119-121, 362/239, 362/398, 362/250
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/936 Potting material or coating, e.g. grease, insulative coating, sealant or, adhesive

Abstract

A low voltage busbar lighting apparatus which can be easily and cheaply mounted on a building structure and which is suitable for a wide variety of interior lighting applications. The lighting apparatus includes a busbar, a lamp stand or base which is mounted on the busbar and a current supply which is also mounted on the busbar. The busbar includes an adhesive film base and at least one longitudinal steel strip. The lamp base and the current supply are similarly constructed and each includes a base plate and at least one permanent magnet secured to the under side of the base plate.

Claims

1. A low voltage busbar lighting apparatus comprising:

a busbar, said busbar including an insulative support, an adhesive film formed along the base of said insulative support, a first and a second longitudinal steel strip being mounted one across from the other on the top surface of said insulative support, and said insulative support having a central longitudinal cavity interposed between said first and second steel strips;

a lamp base for mounting on said busbar, said lamp base including a base plate, a first permanent magnet secured to said base plate for engagement with said first steel strip of said busbar, a second permanent magnet secured to said base plate for engagement with said second steel strip of said busbar, a means for electrically connecting a lamp to said first and second steel strips of said busbar, and a central block secured to said base plate between said first and second permanent magnets and adapted to fit within the central longitudinal cavity of said insulative support of said busbar;

wherein said busbar attaches to a building structure by said adhesive film; and

wherein said lamp base is secured to said busbar by the magnetic force developed between said first and second permanent magnets and said first and second steel strips.

2. A busbar for a low voltage lighting apparatus comprising:

an insulating support having a central longitudinal cavity in a top surface thereof;

an adhesive film formed along a base of said insulating support;

a first and a second steel strip mounted one across from the other on the top surface of said insulative support, the central longitudinal cavity of said insulative support being interposed between said first and second steel strips;

wherein said busbar attaches to a building structure by said adhesive film; and

wherein said low voltage lighting apparatus electrically connects to said first and second steel strips by a first magnet and a second magnet.

3. A low voltage busbar according to claim 2 wherein said first and second steel strips are bonded to the surface of said insulating support.