Slidable luminaire connectors

• US 8,616,757 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leadford, Kevin Franklin, Nelson, Peter K.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US13/173,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20120002406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 362/648, 362/649
• US Class Current: 362/649
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide for a linear lighting system with a plurality of discrete light sources. Other embodiments of the invention include heat dissipation techniques and apparatus for a linear light system. Other embodiments of the invention include a two component lighting system that includes rails and nodes. In some embodiments, the lighting and control aspects can be divided between the rail and node. In yet other embodiments a linear lens providing a unique photometric distribution is provided.

Claims

1. A rail comprising:

an elongated body extending along an axis and comprising a length, a top surface, an underside opposite the top surface, and a channel having a width and disposed in the top surface along at least a portion of the length of the elongated body;

a plurality of light sources disposed on the underside of the elongated body;

a connector comprising a twist mechanism and an engagement member, wherein the engagement member is configured to couple with the elongated body in two states, wherein in the first state the engagement member is slidable within the channel and in the second state the engagement member cannot slide within the channel.

2. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member can be transitioned from the first state to the second state by a quarter turn using the twist mechanism.

3. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the channel is substantially T-shaped.

4. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member comprises a first dimension and a second dimension greater than the first dimension, wherein the first dimension is less than the width of the channel and the second dimension is substantially equal to the width of the channel.

5. The rail according to claim 4, wherein in the first state the engagement member is oriented so that the second dimension is substantially aligned with the channel axis and wherein in the second state the engagement member is oriented so that the first dimension is substantially aligned with the channel axis.

6. The rail according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an attachment mechanism that can be coupled with a mounting mechanism.

7. A method for installing a rail luminaire having:

an elongated body comprising a length, a top surface, an underside opposite the top surface, and a channel having a width and extending along an axis within the top surface of the elongated body; and

a plurality of light sources disposed on the underside of the elongated body;

the method comprising;

placing a connector within the channel of the elongated body;

positioning the connector at a location along the length of the elongated body;

securing the connector within the channel at the location; and

attaching the connector with a mounting form.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein positioning the connector comprises sliding the connector within the channel.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the connector comprises an engagement member having a first dimension and a second dimension greater than the first dimension, wherein the first dimension is less than the width of the channel and the second dimension is substantially equal to the width of the channel, wherein sliding the connector within the channel comprises orienting the engagement member of the connector so that the second dimension is substantially aligned with the axis of the channel.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein securing the connector comprises rotating the engagement member so that the first dimension of the engagement member is substantially aligned with the axis of the channel.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein rotating the engagement member comprises rotating the connector approximately 90 degrees.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the channel is substantially T-shaped.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the connector further comprises a twist mechanism coupled to the engagement member and wherein rotating the engagement member comprises rotating the twist mechanism to effectuate rotation of the engagement member.