Track lighting assembly

• US 7,758,358 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mier-Langner, Alejandro, Fishman, Julia, Kuchar, James
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US12/114,979
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 439/111, 439/115, 439/119, 439/121, 439/210, 439/213, 362/219, 362/648
• US Class Current: 439/115
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/142 Their counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/145 Details, e.g. end pieces or joints H01R25/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A track lighting assembly includes a coupler to join tracks which is movable through a plurality of angles. The assembly also comprises an adapter which allows for flush mounting of the track wherein the fixture adapters may be moved along the track despite the flush mounting of the track.

Claims

1. A track lighting assembly, comprising:

a first track member;

a second track member;

a coupler positioned between said first track member and said second track member;

said coupler having a first trackway for receiving a first track member and a second trackway for receiving a second track member;

said coupler having a first side adjacent a first side of said first and second track members, a second side adjacent a second side of said first and second track members and a lower side disposed along a lower surface of said first and second track members;

wherein both said first trackway and said second trackway of said coupler have an upper portion which is open allowing said track members to have various structural shapes;

said coupler having a joint disposed between a first connector and a second connector of said coupler allowing pivotal motion between said first track member and said second track member.

2. The track lighting member of claim 1, said coupler allowing rotation between said first track member and said second track member of between about 60 degrees and about 300 degrees.

3. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said coupler further comprising first and second offset blades in the vertical direction.

4. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said first and second housings each having a housing cover including an open upper area.

5. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said first and second housings having keys for insertion of said first track member and said second track member in a preselected orientation.

6. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said coupler further comprising a ground blade.

7. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said first trackway and said second trackway being substantially U-shaped.

8. The track lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of each said first and second track members is substantially flush with an upper surface of said coupler.

9. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said coupler being a rigid straight orientation between said first track member and said second track member.

10. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said track members each having vertically offset bus bars.

11. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said joint further comprising a plurality of circular leads in electrical communication with blades within said first housing and said second housing.

12. The track lighting assembly of claim 11, further comprising two of said circular leads engaging for each of a hot circuit, neutral circuit and a ground circuit.

13. The track lighting assembly of claim 12, said hot circuit, said neutral circuit and said ground circuit being at different elevations within said trackway.

14. The track lighting assembly of claim 1, said coupler joint further comprising a pivot assembly.

15. The track lighting assembly of claim 14, said pivot assembly providing a range of motion between said first track member and said second track member of between about 60 degrees and about 300 degrees.

16. The track lighting assembly of claim 14, said pivot assembly being wire-free.

17. The track lighting assembly of claim 14, said pivot assembly further comprising wireless electrical junction for each of the three circuits.

18. A coupler for a track lighting assembly, comprising:

a first housing and a second housing;

a joint disposed between said first housing and said second housing;

said first housing having a first trackway for receiving a first track member and said second housing having a second trackway for receiving a second track member;

wherein both said first trackway and said second trackway have an upper portion which is open allowing said track members to have various structural shapes;

said joint having a wireless electrically conductive rotatable assembly therein for electrical communication between said first housing and said second housing;

said first housing movable relative to said second housing about an axis extending through said joint;

wherein each of said first trackway and said second trackway have at least one key;

said at least one key being a first key and a second key;

said first key and said second key being offset in a vertical direction.

19. The coupler of claim 18 further comprising a hot blade, a neutral blade and a ground blade.

20. The coupler of claim 19, said ground blade disposed for contact with a track cap.

21. A coupler for a track lighting assembly, comprising:

a first track housing;

a second track housing pivotally coupled to said first track housing by an electrically conductive joint;

said first and second housings having a hot conductive circuit, a neutral conductive circuit and a ground conductive circuit;

at least one blade corresponding to each of said circuits in each of said housings, said blades being vertically offset for maintaining proper polarity across said coupler;

wherein the electrical communication between ends of said blades is maintained across said electrically conductive joint;

wherein both said first track housing and said second track housing have an upper portion which is open allowing mating track members to have various structural shapes.