Sliding flexible track lighting

• US 7,507,005 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Mier-Langner, Alejandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Application Number:
  US11/668,700
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 362/382, 362/147, 362/418, 362/285, 439110-111
• US Class Current: 362/418
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element

Abstract

A flexible track for use in a track lighting system which includes two elongated track members mounted back-to-back which can be manually set and secured into a desired curved configuration. The elongated flexible track members are parallel and adjacent to each other with conductors positioned in channels on the lateral faces of the flexible track, capable of engaging one or more light fixtures. Each track member can slide relative to the other creating a mechanism that allows for large or small diameter curves of the flexible track.

Claims

1. A flexible track for use in a track lighting system comprising:

a first elongated track member having at least one channel extending longitudinally for the length of said first track member along a front surface of said first track member;

a second elongated track member having at least one channel extending longitudinally for the length of said second track member along a front surface of said second track member; and

said first and said second elongated track members being in back to back sliding relation with each other.

2. The flexible track as in claim 1 wherein said first and said second track member has a top surface and wherein said top surfaces of each said first and said second track member combine to form a T-shaped rail to mount to a structural surface, when said first and said second track members are in back to back sliding relation.

3. The flexible track as in claim 1 further comprising a first elongated strip conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said first track member, a second elongated strip conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said second track member.

4. The flexible track as in claim 1 wherein each said first and said second track member has a second channel extending longitudinally along the length of each said front surface of said first and said second track member, said second channels of said first and said second track member combine to form a rail to mount a track lighting fixture, when said first and said second track members are in back to back sliding relation.

5. The flexible track as in claim 1 wherein each said first and said second track member has a back surface, said second track member having a key connection along said back surface of said second track member, said key connection of said second track member is mated with a slot along said back surface of said first track member.

6. The flexible track as in claim 1 wherein said first track member has a second channel extending longitudinally along the length of said front surface of said first track member, a ground conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said second channel of said first track member.

7. A flexible track for use in a track lighting system comprising:

a first elongated track member having at least one channel extending longitudinally for the length of said first track member along a front surface of said first track member;

a second elongated track member having at least one channel extending longitudinally for the length of said second track member along a front surface of said second track member;

said first and said second elongated track members being in back to back sliding relation with each other;

a first conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said first track member; and

a second conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said second track member.

8. The flexible track as in claim 7 wherein said first and said second track member has a top surface and wherein said top surfaces of each said first and said second track member combine to form a T-shaped rail to mount to a structural surface, when said first and said second track members are in back to back sliding relation.

9. The flexible track as in claim 7 wherein each said first and said second track member has a back surface, said second track member having a key connection along said back surface of said second track member, said key connection of said second track member is mated with a slot along said back surface of said first track member.

10. The flexible track as in claim 7 wherein said first track member has a second channel extending longitudinally along the length of said front surface of said first track member, a ground conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said second channel of said first track member.

11. A flexible track for use in a track lighting system comprising:

a first and second elongated track member parallel and adjacent to each other;

each said first and said second track member having at least one longitudinal channel extending the length of each said first and said second track member and located on outward facing surfaces of each of said first and said second track member;

said first and said second track members being adapted to be slidably connected along an inward facing surface of each said first and said second track member;

a first elongated strip conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said first track member; and

a second elongated strip conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said second track member.

12. The flexible track as in claim 11 wherein said first and said second track member has a top surface and wherein said top surfaces of each said first and said second track member combine to form a T-shaped rail to mount to a structural surface, when said first and said second track members are slidably connected.

13. The flexible track as in claim 11 wherein each said first and said second track member has a second channel extending longitudinally along the length of each said outward facing surface of said first and said second track member, said second channels of said first and said second track member combine to form a rail to mount a track lighting fixture, when said first and said second track members are slidably connected.

14. The flexible track as in claim 11 wherein said second track member having a key connection along said inward facing surface of said second track member, said key connection of said second track member is mated with a slot along said inward facing surface of said first track member.

15. The flexible track as in claim 11 wherein said first track member has a second channel extending longitudinally along the length of said outward facing surface of said first track member, a ground conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said second channel of said first track member.

16. A flexible track lighting system comprising:

a first elongated track member having at least one channel extending longitudinally for the length of said first track member along a front surface of said first track member;

a first conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said first track member;

said first track member having a back surface;

a second elongated track member having at least one channel extending longitudinally for the length of said second track member along a front surface of said second track member;

a second conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said second track member;

said second track member having a back surface;

said first and said second elongated track members being adapted to be slidably connected along said back surfaces of each said track member;

at least one mounting bushing adapted to secure said first and said second elongated track members to a surface;

at least one mounting adaptor adapted to be releasably connected to said first and said second elongated track members at said first and said second conductor; and

at least one light fixture extending from said at least one mounting adaptor.

17. The flexible track lighting system as in claim 16 wherein said first and said second track member has a top surface and wherein said top surfaces of each said first and said second track member combine to form a T-shaped rail to secure to said at least one mounting bushing, when said first and said second track members are slidably connected.

18. The flexible track lighting system as in claim 16 wherein each said first and said second elongated track member has a second channel extending longitudinally along the length of each said front surface of said first and said second track member, said second channels of said first and said second track member combine to form a rail to mount said at least one mounting adaptor, when said first and said second track members are slidably connected.

19. The flexible track lighting system as in claim 16 wherein said second track member having a key connection along said back surface of said second track member, said key connection of said second track member is mated with a slot along said back surface of said first track member.

20. The flexible track lighting system as in claim 16 wherein said first track member has a second channel extending longitudinally along the length of said front surface of said first track member, a ground conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said second channel of said first track member.

21. A flexible track for use in a track lighting system comprising:

a first elongated track member having at least one channel extending longitudinally for the length of said first track member along a front surface of said first track member;

a second elongated track member having at least one channel extending longitudinally for the length of said second track member along a front surface of said second track member;

said first elongated track member being adapted to be slidably connected to said second elongated track member along a back surface of each said first and said second elongated track member;

a first elongated strip conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said first track member; and

a second elongated strip conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said at least one channel of said second track member.

22. The flexible track as in claim 21 wherein said first and said second track member has a top surface and wherein said top surfaces of each said first and said second track member combine to form a T-shaped rail to mount to a structural surface, when said first and said second track members are slidably connected.

23. The flexible track as in claim 21 wherein said second track member having a key connection along said back surface of said second track member, said key connection of said second track member is mated with a slot along said back surface of said first track member.

24. The flexible track as in claim 21 wherein said first track member has a second channel extending longitudinally along the length of said front surface of said first track member, a ground conductor extending longitudinally for the length of said second channel of said first track member.