Track lighting assembly

• US 7,654,834 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kuchar, James, Mier-Langner, Alejandro, Fishman, Julia
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US12/114,985
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 439/111, 439/115, 439/119, 439/121
• US Class Current: 439/115
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• 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: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35

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 fixture adapter for use with a track of a track lighting system comprising:

an adapter housing;

a trackway disposed in said adapter housing for receiving said track;

said trackway having a first electrical contact blade, a second electrical contact blade and a third electrical contact blade being vertically offset from one another so as to electrically engage offset grooves of said track;

said track having an interchangeable upper cap;

said adapter housing extending upwardly along first and second sides of said track to a position that is one of equal to or beneath an upper edge of said track.

2. A fixture adapter for use with a lighting track of a track lighting assembly, comprising:

a fixture adapter housing having a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion which define a trackway for receiving said lighting track;

a clamp fastener for opening and closing the trackway proximate said lighting track;

each of said first clamp portion and second clamp portion having at least one electrical contact blade;

said electrical contact blades of said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion being vertically offset so as to electrically engage offset grooves of said lighting track;

said trackway having an open upper area;

said lighting track having a track body and a removable upper cap which is one of flush with said fixture adapter housing or extends above said fixture adapter housing.

3. The fixture adapter of claim 2, said first clamp portion having a first contact holder positioned therein.

4. The fixture adapter of claim 3, said second clamp portion having a second contact holder positioned therein and seated within said first contact holder.

5. The fixture adapter of claim 3 further comprising a ground contact positioned on said first contact holder and within said first housing.

6. The fixture adapter of claim 4, said second contact holder being slidably received by said first contact holder.

7. The fixture adapter of claim 4, said clamp fastener being a knob extending through said first clamp portion, said first contact holder, said second contact holder, and said second clamp portion and threadably engaging a threaded insert disposed within said second clamp portion.