POSITIONABLE LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090098764A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kichler Lighting, LLC (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LD Kichler Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Carlson, Christine, Janos, Joseph John
• Granted Patent: US 7,854,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/501
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• 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: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A lighting assembly includes a lighting unit having a housing defining an internal cavity and an opening. A light source is assembled within the internal cavity of the housing. An electrical wire is electrically connected to the light source at a first end and is configured to be contained at least in part within the housing. The opening is configured to permit withdrawal of a user selected amount of the electrical wire from within the internal cavity and/or to permit a user selected amount of the electrical wire to be inserted into the internal cavity.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly comprising at least one lighting unit, each lighting unit comprising:

a housing comprising a base portion and an outer portion, the housing being configured to define an internal cavity and a gap around an outer perimeter of the housing between the base portion and the outer portion;

a circuit board disposed within the housing;

at least one light emitting diode carried by the circuit board; and

an electrical wire having a first end electrically connected to the circuit board, the electrical wire being configured to be wound around a hub disposed radially inward of the gap;

wherein the gap is configured to permit withdrawal of a user selected amount of a wound portion of the electrical wire from within the internal cavity.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a means for applying a retaining force to retain the wound portion of the electrical wire within the internal cavity, such that a user applied pulling force on the electrical wire overcomes the retaining force to withdraw the user selected amount of the wound portion of the electrical wire.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein the means for applying the retaining force comprises at least a portion of the gap sized to inhibit movement of the electrical wire through the gap.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a substrate disposed within the housing, the circuit board being thermally coupled to the substrate.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 4, wherein the substrate further comprises at least one peripheral projection configured to be received in a corresponding peripheral opening of the housing, such that the at least one peripheral projection is exposed to an external environment.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 4, further comprising an end flange extending radially from the hub opposite the substrate, wherein the substrate, hub and end flange form a spool member for retaining the wound portion of the electrical wire.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a voltage converter electrically connected to a second end of the electrical wire for supplying power to the at least one light emitting diode.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second electrical wire having a first end electrically connected to the circuit board, the second electrical wire extending through an opening in the housing for connecting with a second lighting unit.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the gap extends around the entire outer perimeter of the housing.

10. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising an electrical plug electrically connected to a second end of the electrical wire of the lighting unit for supplying power to the at least one LED.

11. The lighting assembly of claim 1, comprising first and second lighting units according to claim 1, wherein the electrical wire of the second lighting unit is electrically connected at a second end to the first lighting unit for communicating electricity from the first lighting unit to the at least one LED of the second lighting unit.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 11, wherein a second end of the electrical wire of the second lighting unit extends into the first lighting unit housing through an opening in the base member of the first lighting unit.

13. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a junction box including a housing carrying a driver circuit board, a plurality of lighting unit output connectors, a junction box inlet connector for receiving a supply voltage from an associated power supply, and a junction box output connector for transmitting the supply voltage to an associated module of the modular lighting system, wherein a second end of the electrical wire of each lighting unit is configured to be connected to one of the plurality of lighting unit output connectors.

14. The LED lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting unit further comprises a mounting fastener for securing the housing of the at least one lighting unit to an external structure, the housing being rotatable about the mounting fastener to selectively adjust the orientation of the at least one lighting unit with respect to the external structure.

15. The LED lighting arrangement of claim 1, wherein the mounting fastener comprises a pan screw.

16. A lighting assembly comprising at least one lighting unit, each lighting unit comprising:

a housing configured to define a gap around an outer perimeter of the first housing, the housing comprising a hub disposed radially inward of the gap;

a light source assembled with the housing, the light source being positioned to direct light outward of the housing; and

an electrical wire having a first end electrically connected to the light source and a second end extending outward through the gap in the housing, the electrical wire being configured to be wound around the hub;

wherein the gap is configured to permit withdrawal of a user selected amount of a wound portion of the electrical wire from within the perimeter of the housing.

17. The lighting assembly of claim 16, further comprising an electrical plug electrically connected to the second end of the electrical wire for supplying power to the light source.

18. The lighting assembly of claim 16, further comprising a means for applying a retaining force to retain the wound portion of the electrical wire within the perimeter of the housing, such that a user applied pulling force on the electrical wire overcomes the retaining force to withdraw the user selected amount of the wound portion of the electrical wire.

19. The lighting assembly of claim 18, wherein the means for applying the retaining force comprises at least a portion of the gap sized to inhibit movement of the electrical wire through the gap.

20. The lighting assembly of claim 16, further comprising a second electrical wire having a first end electrically connected to the circuit board, the second electrical wire extending through an opening in the housing for connecting with a second lighting unit.

21. The lighting assembly of claim 16, comprising first and second lighting units according to claim 16, wherein the electrical wire of the first lighting unit is electrically connected at a second end to the second light source.

22. A method for installing a lighting system, the method comprising:

providing a first lighting unit comprising;

a first housing configured to define a gap around an outer perimeter of the first housing, the first housing comprising a first hub disposed radially inward of the gap;

a first light source assembled with the first housing; and

a first electrical wire having a first end electrically connected to the first light source and a second end extending outward through the gap in the first housing;

providing a second lighting unit comprising;

a second housing; and

a second light source assembled with the second housing and electrically connected with the second end of the first electrical wire;

affixing the first lighting unit to a first desired position;

identifying a second desired position for the second lighting unit;

twisting the first electrical wire about the first hub, such that a portion of the first electrical wire extending outward from the gap in the housing is sufficient to position the second lighting unit in the second desired position; and

affixing the second lighting unit to the second desired position.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising electrically connecting at least one of the first and second lighting units with an external power source.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein twisting the first electrical wire about the first hub comprises unwinding a portion of the first electrical wire from the first hub.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein twisting the first electrical wire about the first hub comprises winding a portion of the first electrical wire onto the first hub.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising twisting a second electrical wire about a second hub disposed radially inward of the gap in the second housing, such that a portion of the second electrical wire extending outward from the gap in the second housing is sufficient to connect the second end of the second electrical wire with an external power source.