Modular wiring for linear lighting

• US 7,401,946 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Group Dekko Incorporated (Graham Holdings Company)
• Original Assignee: Pent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Laukhuf, Gregg E
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward; John A
• Application Number:
  US11/175,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 362/219, 362/221, 362/225, 362/226, 362/260, 362/457, 362/270, 362/133, 362/652, 439/502
• US Class Current: 362/270
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• 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 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

An electrical interconnection system for linear lighting including a first electrical harness having a first electrical connector with a first plurality of terminals, and a first plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to respective first terminals. A second electrical harness includes a second electrical connector with a second plurality of terminals, and a second plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to respective second terminals. The second plurality of terminals are similar in shape to the first plurality of terminals. The first and second electrical harnesses are configured for connection to a first and second linear light, respectively. An electrical coupler is electrically connected to both the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector and includes a first port and a second port which each have a plurality of coupler terminals complimentary in shape with the first plurality of terminals and the second plurality of terminals.

Claims

1. A linear lighting system, comprising:

a first linear light fixture including a first light source and a first electrical harness electrically connected to said first light source, said first electrical harness having a first electrical connector with a first plurality of terminals, and a first plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to respective ones of said first plurality of terminals; and

an electrical coupler electrically connected to said first electrical connector, said electrical coupler including a first port and a second port, each of said first port and said second port including a plurality of coupler terminals complimentary in shape with said first plurality of terminals, said plurality of coupler terminals associated with said first port being electrically connected to respective ones of said plurality of coupler terminals associated with said second port, said electrical coupler having an absence of a power port.

2. The linear lighting system of claim 1, further including a second linear light fixture having a second light source and second electrical harness electrically connected to said second light source, said second electrical harness including a second electrical connector with a second plurality of terminals, and a second plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to respective ones of said second plurality of terminals, said second plurality of terminals similar in shape to said first plurality of terminals, said second connector electrically connected to said electrical coupler.

3. The linear lighting system of claim 2, further including a first housing associated with said first connector and a second housing associated with said second connector, each of said first port and said second port including a keyway, each of said first housing and said second housing including an outside contour with a shape complimentary with said keyway.

4. The linear lighting system of claim 2, wherein each of said first electrical connector and said second electrical connector are a female electrical connector, and each of said first plurality of terminals and said second plurality of terminals are a plurality of female terminals.

5. The linear lighting system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of coupler terminals are a plurality of male coupler terminals complimentary in shape with said plurality of female terminals.

6. The linear lighting system of claim 2, wherein said first linear light fixture includes a first fixture housing connected to said first light source, said second linear light fixture includes a second fixture housing connected to said second light source, said first electrical harness, said second electrical harness and said electrical coupler are concealed within at least one of said first fixture housing and said second fixture housing when said first fixture housing is butted together with said second fixture housing.

7. The linear lighting system of claim 2, further including a power infeed having a power connector, a plurality of power conductors and a plurality of power terminals associated with said power connector where each of said plurality of power terminals are electrically connected to a respective one of said plurality of power conductors, said power connector including a power port with a keyway, further including a first housing associated with said first connector and a second housing associated with said second connector, each of said first housing and said second housing including an outside contour with a shape complimentary with said keyway.

11. The linear lighting system of claim 1, wherein said first electrical harness includes only one electrical connector.

12. The linear lighting system of claim 1, wherein said electrical coupler is directly mechanically connected to said first electrical connector.

14. The linear lighting system of claim 1, wherein said electrical coupler has an absence of a hardwire receiving station.

8. A method of electrically connecting a linear lighting system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first linear light fixture including a first light source and a first electrical harness electrically connected to said first light source, said first electrical harness having a first electrical connector with a first plurality of terminals, and a first plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to respective ones of said first plurality of terminals;

providing an electrical coupler, said electrical coupler including a first port and a second port, each of said first port and said second port including a plurality of coupler terminals complimentary in shape with said first plurality of terminals, said plurality of coupler terminals associated with said first port being electrically connected to respective ones of said plurality of coupler terminals associated with said second port, said electrical coupler having an absence of a power port;

electrically connecting said electrical coupler to said first electrical connector;

providing a second linear light fixture having a second light source and second electrical harness electrically connected to said second light source, said second electrical harness including a second electrical connector with a second plurality of terminals, and a second plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to respective ones of said second plurality of terminals, said second plurality of terminals similar in shape to said first plurality of terminals; and

electrically connecting said second connector to said electrical coupler.

9. The method of claim 8, further including the step of abutting an end of said first linear light fixture against an end of said second linear light fixture.

10. The method of claim 8, further including the step of concealing said first electrical harness, said electrical coupler and said second electrical harness within at least one of said first linear light fixture and said second linear light fixture.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said electrical coupler is directly mechanically connected to said first and said second electrical connectors.