Track lighting system with dependent lamp cord

• US 7,520,763 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Buse, John Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyeon; Hae Moon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US11/771,294
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 439/121, 439/404, 439/430, 362/404, 362/430
• US Class Current: 439/121
• 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 25/142 Their counterparts
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A track lighting system which supports compact fluorescent lamp fixtures removably attached to a track member by a track adaptor. Compact fluorescent lamp fixture depends from a track adaptor by an adjustable suspended cable. Suspended cable provides electricity and mechanical support to a compact fluorescent socket and lamp. The track adaptor may also accommodate line voltage fixtures and allows a user to adjust the suspended cable by cutting the cable, stripping internal cable wires, then inserting internal wires into the track adaptor cavities and securing with securing screws.

Claims

1. A track lighting system comprising:

a track adaptor releasably connected to a track member having a depending light fixture, said light fixture having a plurality of wires in electrical communication with said track member;

said track adaptor having a first housing releasably affixed to a second housing;

said first housing of said track adaptor having a plurality of openings, said plurality of openings including a first opening and a second opening, said first opening having a first conductive portion and said second opening having a second conductive portion, wherein said first opening has an attachment mechanism releasably securing at least one of said plurality of wires in electrical communication with said light fixture to said first conductive portion projecting from said first housing and engaging said track member; and

wherein said second housing includes a conductive protrusion electrically connected to said second conductive portion of said second opening.

2. The track lighting system as in claim 1 wherein each said attachment mechanism is a set screw.

3. The track lighting system as in claim 1 wherein said first housing is nonconductive.

4. The track lighting system as in claim 1 wherein said second housing is conductive and engages said track member.

5. The track lighting system as in claim 1 wherein said first housing is substantially S-shaped in cross section.

6. The track lighting system as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of wires are an adjustable depending cable supporting said light fixture.

7. The track lighting system as in claim 1 further comprising electronics for illuminating said light fixture in electrical communication with said plurality of wires.

8. The track lighting system as in claim 7 wherein said electronics for illuminating said light fixture in electrical communication with said plurality of wires is a ballast.

9. A track adaptor for attaching a light fixture to a track member of a track lighting system comprising:

a first housing releasably affixed to a second housing;

said first housing having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening;

said first opening having a first conductive portion, wherein said first conductive portion projects from said first housing, said second opening having a second conductive portion, and said third opening having a third conductive portion, wherein said third conductive portion projects from said first housing; and

an attachment mechanism engaging said first housing with said second housing and electrically engaging said second conductive portion of said first housing to said second housing.

10. The track adaptor as in claim 9 wherein said first housing is substantially S-shaped in cross section.

11. The track adaptor as in claim 9 wherein said second housing is conductive.

12. The track adaptor as in claim 9 wherein said first housing is nonconductive.

13. The track adaptor as in claim 9 wherein each of said first opening, said second opening, and said third opening is substantially vertical.

14. The track adaptor as in claim 9 wherein said second housing projects a conductive protrusion electrically connected to said second conductive portion of said second opening.

15. The track adaptor as in claim 9 wherein each of said openings of said first housing having an attachment mechanism.

16. The track adaptor as in claim 15 wherein each said attachment mechanism is a set screw.

17. A track adaptor for attachment to a track member comprising:

a first nonconductive housing releasably affixed to a second conductive housing;

said first housing having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening, each of said openings having an attachment mechanism;

said first opening having a first conductive portion, wherein said first conductive portion projects from said first housing;

said second opening having a second conductive portion;

said third opening having a third conductive portion, wherein said third conductive portion projects from said first housing; and

wherein said second housing projects a conductive protrusion electrically connected to said second conductive portion of said second opening.

18. The track adaptor as in claim 17 wherein each said attachment mechanism is a set screw.

19. The track adaptor as in claim 17 further comprising a second attachment mechanism engaging said first housing with said second housing and electrically engaging said second conductive portion of said first housing to said second housing.

20. The track adaptor as in claim 17 wherein each of said first opening, said second opening, and said third opening are substantially vertical.

21. The track adaptor as in claim 17 wherein said first housing is substantially S-shaped in cross section.

22. The track adaptor as in claim 17 wherein said first housing is nonconductive.