Rod as a lens element for light emitting diodes

• US 10,527,276 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William, Presley, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Kryukova, Erin
• Application Number:
  US14/689,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20150300628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 362125, 362133
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2003/008 with pivoting front glass panel
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/043 the lens having cylindrical faces, e.g. rod lenses, toric lenses
• 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: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/065 Advertising in food vending machines

Abstract

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a lighting system for a display case having at least one edge. A lighting assembly is positioned along an edge of the display case or a door assembly, where a transparent or semi-transparent rod is positioned adjacent to the lighting assembly to act as a lens element. The rod is generally placed parallel to the edge of the display case or door assembly. The lighting assembly preferably includes a mounting structure which contains a substrate with a plurality of LEDs along with the rod. A blinder may extend rearwardly from the mounting structure to prevent headlighting.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a display case comprising:

a door glass assembly having a front glass located to front the environment in which the display case will be situated, a rear glass located rearward of the front glass, and at least one edge;

a lighting assembly placed along the at least one edge of the door glass assembly and rearward of the rear glass, the lighting assembly comprising a mounting structure including a U-shaped channel that defines a slot and a PCB with a plurality of LEDs mounted thereto located within the slot, the lighting assembly oriented such that forward-angled light rays emitted by the lighting assembly will be refracted by the rear glass toward the front glass;

a transparent rod placed adjacent to the lighting assembly and in the path of the light rays emitted by the lighting assembly; and

a blinder which extends rearwardly from the mounting structure;

wherein the length of the blinder and the angle of the LEDs relative to the rear glass is such that the forward-angled light emitted by the LEDs will strike the door glass assembly at an outside corner thereof to prevent a direct view of a light source of the lighting assembly through the door glass assembly when the lighting system is installed to the display case.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

the rod contains a central axis that is substantially parallel to the at least one edge of the door glass assembly.

3. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

the rod is located within the U-shaped channel.

4. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

the mounting structure defines a front and rear ledge which sandwich two sides of the rod.

5. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

the rod is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of acrylic and glass.

6. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a layer of liquid crystal material placed in between the front glass and the rear glass.

7. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

a central axis of each LED is positioned between 4 and 8 degrees of parallel with the front glass.

8. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein:

a central axis of the rod is substantially parallel with a central axis of the PCB having the plurality of LEDs.

9. A lighting system for a display case comprising:

a door assembly having a front glass located to front the environment in which the display case will be situated, a rear glass located rearward of the front glass and adjacent an interior space of the display case, a layer of liquid crystal material located between the front and rear glass, and at least one edge;

a mounting structure positioned along the at least one edge and having a U-shaped channel with a slot positioned near a bottom of the U-shaped channel and rearward of the rear glass;

a substrate containing a plurality of LEDs positioned within the slot, the slot oriented such that forward-angled light rays emitted by the LEDs will be refracted by the rear glass toward the front glass;

a front ledge and a rear ledge defined by the mounting structure; and

a transparent rod positioned within the U-shaped channel and contacting the front ledge, rear ledge, and the plurality of LEDs.

10. The lighting system of claim 9 wherein:

the mounting structure further includes a blinder that extends rearwardly therefrom; and

the length of the blinder and the angle of the LEDs relative to the rear glass is such that the forward-angled light from the LEDs will strike the door assembly at an outside corner thereof.

11. The lighting system of claim 10 wherein:

a central axis of the plurality of LEDs is positioned between 4 and 8 degrees of parallel with the front glass.