Low voltage power supply for a merchandise display system

• US 9,885,467 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2016
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Nicieja, Robert, Hubley, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US15/164,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20170033522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• 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: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors

Abstract

A merchandise display system may include a low voltage power assembly may comprise a track that includes one or more conductive rods and one or more mechanical connections, wherein the track is powered from a power source; and a power connector assembly that connects to the track, wherein the one or more conductive rods connect to the power assembly providing a power connection, and further wherein the one or more mechanical connections connect to the power assembly providing a mechanical connection. The power connector assembly may be configured to provide low voltage power through the track to a low voltage power device. The power assembly may include a configuration of mechanical connections and conductive material arranged in such a way as to provide power and/or signal distribution to a mating device, such as to a set of LED modules, other lighting sources, or powered track devices for use with a merchandise display system.

Claims

1. A low voltage power assembly comprising:

a track that includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end that is powered from a low voltage power source;

a power connector assembly that includes an induction coil and electrically connects to the track to provide low voltage power through the track to a low voltage power device;

wherein the power connector assembly includes one or more power connector jacks providing a low voltage power connection to the low voltage power device;

wherein the power connector assembly can be moved along the entire length of the track while maintaining the low voltage power connection;

wherein the power connector assembly further connects to the track through a magnetic connection; and

wherein the track includes one or more metal plates that connect to the power connector assembly providing the magnetic connection.

2. The low voltage power assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the track is a powered end and the second end of the track is a non-powered end.

3. The low voltage power assembly of claim 1, wherein the track includes one or more conductive materials that connect to the power connector assembly providing the low voltage power connection.

4. The low voltage power assembly of claim 3, wherein the one or more conductive materials form bus bars.

5. The low voltage power assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more metal plates are made of ferrous metals.

6. The low voltage power assembly of claim 1, wherein the power connector assembly further comprises a printed circuit board that connects to the one or more power connector jacks of the power connector assembly.

7. The low voltage power assembly of claim 1, wherein the low voltage power device has a voltage of 24 volts or less.

8. A low voltage power assembly comprising:

a surface that includes one or more conductive materials adjacent to one another and a mechanical connection track adjacent the one or more conductive materials,

wherein the surface is powered from a low voltage power source, and the surface provides low voltage power to a power connector assembly to provide low voltage power through the surface to a low voltage power device,

wherein the power connector assembly includes one or more power connector jacks providing a low voltage power connection to the low voltage power device, and

wherein the power connector assembly can be moved along the entire length of the surface while maintaining the low voltage power connection.

9. The low voltage power assembly of claim 8, wherein the power connector assembly further comprises a mechanical connector that cooperates and engages the mechanical connection track to form a mechanical connection to connect the power connector assembly to each track.

10. The low voltage power assembly of claim 9, wherein the mechanical connector and mechanical connection track form a snap-fit connection.

11. The low voltage power assembly of claim 10, wherein the snap-fit connection is a clip-type snap-fit connection.

12. The low voltage power assembly of claim 9, wherein the mechanical connector and mechanical connection track form a press-fit connection.

13. The low voltage power assembly of claim 8, wherein the low voltage power device has a voltage of 24 volts or less.

14. A low voltage power assembly comprising:

a surface having a first end and a second end opposite the first end that includes one or more conductive materials adjacent to one another extending from the first end of the surface to the second end of the surface, wherein the surface is powered from a low voltage power source;

a power connector assembly that includes an induction coil and connects to the surface to provide low voltage power through the surface to a low voltage power device;

wherein the power connector assembly includes one or more power connector jacks providing a low voltage power connection to the low voltage power device, and

wherein the power connector assembly can be moved along the entire length of the surface while maintaining the low voltage power connection.

15. The low voltage power assembly of claim 14, wherein the power connector assembly further connects to the surface through a magnetic connection.

16. The low voltage power assembly of claim 15, wherein the surface includes one or more metal plates adjacent the one or more conductive materials that connect to the power connector assembly providing the magnetic connection.

17. The low voltage power assembly of claim 16, wherein the one or more metal plates are made of ferrous metals.

18. The low voltage power assembly of claim 14, wherein the low voltage power device has a voltage of 24 volts or less.