Illumination – Plural light sources – With support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-08-14
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Plural light sources
With support
C362S219000, C362S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273587
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power supply modules and particularly power supply modules for use with strip lighting fixtures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Strip lighting fixtures used to illuminate the interior of furniture pieces or to provide decorative and accent lighting are known in the art. These types of fixtures are typically formed from an elongated track of insulating material which is formed in a flat strip and contains a series of electrical connections or clips for mounting cylindrical glass bulbs. The flat strip includes a pair of electrical contact leads along its opposite edges which connect alternately with the bulb clips to provide current to the bulb. Strip lighting fixtures of this type are shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,081. While such fixtures have been found to be highly desirable in use, connecting the contact leads of the strips to conventional electrical supply boxes, is often awkward or unpleasing in appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide power supply blocks for strip lighting fixtures of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,081 which are relatively simple in construction and pleasing in appearance.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a power supply block which allows for quick interconnection of the light strip to the block.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a quick, reliable and inexpensive structure for connecting light strips to electrical power supplies.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, power supply blocks which are suitable for connecting light strips to a current source either from Romex or BX cable are provided. The basic power block consists of a metal base and a plastic cover for the base. The cover has one or more openings formed therein for receiving an electrical power supply cable having an outer protective sheathing and at least two power leads. The cable can be a conventional Romex or BX cable. The block contains means for securing the power supply cable to the base in a fixed position against movement relative to the base. A terminal block is mounted on the base and has a first pair of adjacent electrical contacts for respectively receiving the power supply leads of the power supply cable. The terminal block further includes a second pair of adjacent electrical contacts opposite to and electrically connected with the first pair for respectively receiving the electrical contact leads of a light strip whereby power is supplied from the cable to the light strip.
In the Romex form of the invention, a clamp arrangement is provided as the means for securing the power supply cable to the base. The clamp arrangement includes a cable block mounted on the base and a clamping bar threaded down on the block to capture the Romex cable in a channel formed in the cable block. In the BX form of the cable the base has one or more pry-out openings formed therein so that the BX cable can enter the block through the opening and be secured to the base by conventional BX cable locking arrangements.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is be read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 1967021 (1934-07-01), Gary
patent: 2069238 (1937-02-01), Fraser
patent: 2091597 (1937-08-01), La Force
patent: 3200365 (1965-08-01), Carpinone
patent: 3246074 (1966-04-01), Neumann
patent: 3500036 (1970-03-01), Szentveri
patent: 4493516 (1985-01-01), Attema
patent: 4979081 (1990-12-01), Leach et al.
patent: 5310355 (1994-05-01), Dannatt
Ardee Lighting/USA, INC
Cariaso Alan
DelGizzi Ronald E.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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