US3840842A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular lighting system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-05
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1993-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A modular lighting system includes an elongated lighting module and a polygonal connector, each of the module and connector components having receptacle means and plug means adapted for joining each component to a like component and to the other component. The module includes an elongated base, an elongated first electrical conductor, an elongated second electrical conductor in the form of a channel member enclosing the sides of the first conductor in outwardly spaced relation thereto, an elongated cover forming with the base a casing adapted to enclose the conductors, the conductors having a plurality of contact portions and the cover having a plurality of bulb mounting openings there-along on each of a plurality of sides thereof, means mounting the conductors and the cover on the base with the respective contact portions and the bulb mounting openings aligned for parallel connection of a series of light bulbs to the contact portions, receptacle means at one end of the casing for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors, and plug means including a pair of prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors at the other end of the casing and adapted to mate with the receptacle means of a like module. The connector comprises a polygonal casing including a plurality of side walls each of which has a pair of prongreceiving openings extending therethrough, and a pair of conductive junction members mounted in the casing in spaced apart relation, each junction member including a hub element; a plurality of spoke elements each extending from the hub element to adjacent a prong-receiving opening in one of the side walls for making contact with a plug prong inserted through the opening to provide receptacle means at each of the walls, and a prong extending from the hub element and projecting through one of the prong-receiving openings in another one of the side walls to provide plug means adapted to mate with the receptacle means of a like connector. The receptacle means and plug means of the module also are adapted to mate respectively with the plug means and receptacle means of the connector.
Inventors
- 👤 L Gabryelewicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:58
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V23/00; F21V23/06; F21S; F21S2/00; F21S2/005; F21S4/00; F21S4/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
474 words
A modular lighting system which comprises, in combination, an elongated lighting module and a polygonal connector, each of the module and connector components including receptacle means and plug means adapted for joining each component to a like component and to the other component, said module comprising: a. an elongated base, b. an elongated first electrical conductor having a plurality of sides each of which has a plurality of contact portions therealong, c. an elongated second electrical conductor in the form of a channel member having a plurality of sides adapted to enclose said sides of said first conductor in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said second conductor having a plurality of contact portions therealong on each of its sides and corresponding in number and disposition to the contact portions of said first conductor, said cover having a plurality of side walls each of which has a plurality of bulb-mounting openings therealong, extending therethrough and corresponding in number and disposition to the respective contact portions, e. means mounting said conductors and said cover on said base with the respective contact portions and the bulb-mounting openings aligned for parallel connection of a series of light bulbs to the contact portions, f. receptacle means at one end of said casing for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors, and g. plug means including a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors at the other end of said casing and adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like module for joining the respective ends of the modules together; said connector comprising: h. a polygonal casing having a plurality of side walls each of which has a pair of prong-receiving openings extending therethrough, and i. a pair of conductive junction members mounted in said casing in spaced apart relation, each of said junction members including: 1. a hub element, 2. a plurality of spoke elements each extending from said hub element to adjacent a different one of said side walls, and a spoke element of each junction member extending to adjacent each such wall with the spoke elements respectively adjacent the prong-receiving openings thereof to provide receptacle means for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective spoke elements, and 3. a prong extending from said hub element and projecting through one of the prong-receiving openings in another one of said side walls, and the prongs of the pair of junction members projecting through respective openings in the latter wall to provide plug means adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like connector for joining the respective sides of the connectors together, said receptacle means and plug means of said module also being adapted to mate respectively with said plug means and receptacle means of said connector for joining the module and the connector together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
474 words
A modular lighting system which comprises, in combination, an elongated lighting module and a polygonal connector, each of the module and connector components including receptacle means and plug means adapted for joining each component to a like component and to the other component, said module comprising: a. an elongated base, b. an elongated first electrical conductor having a plurality of sides each of which has a plurality of contact portions therealong, c. an elongated second electrical conductor in the form of a channel member having a plurality of sides adapted to enclose said sides of said first conductor in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said second conductor having a plurality of contact portions therealong on each of its sides and corresponding in number and disposition to the contact portions of said first conductor, said cover having a plurality of side walls each of which has a plurality of bulb-mounting openings therealong, extending therethrough and corresponding in number and disposition to the respective contact portions, e. means mounting said conductors and said cover on said base with the respective contact portions and the bulb-mounting openings aligned for parallel connection of a series of light bulbs to the contact portions, f. receptacle means at one end of said casing for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors, and g. plug means including a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors at the other end of said casing and adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like module for joining the respective ends of the modules together; said connector comprising: h. a polygonal casing having a plurality of side walls each of which has a pair of prong-receiving openings extending therethrough, and i. a pair of conductive junction members mounted in said casing in spaced apart relation, each of said junction members including: 1. a hub element, 2. a plurality of spoke elements each extending from said hub element to adjacent a different one of said side walls, and a spoke element of each junction member extending to adjacent each such wall with the spoke elements respectively adjacent the prong-receiving openings thereof to provide receptacle means for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective spoke elements, and 3. a prong extending from said hub element and projecting through one of the prong-receiving openings in another one of said side walls, and the prongs of the pair of junction members projecting through respective openings in the latter wall to provide plug means adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like connector for joining the respective sides of the connectors together, said receptacle means and plug means of said module also being adapted to mate respectively with said plug means and receptacle means of said connector for joining the module and the connector together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A lighting system as defined in claim 1 and including a contact portion on each of said hub elements and an end wall in said casing having a bulb-mounting opening extending therethrough, and means mounting said junction members in said casing with the respective contact portions and the bulb-mounting opening aligned for parallel connection of a light bulb to the contact portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
a plurality of spoke elements each extending from said hub element to adjacent a different one of said side walls, and a spoke element of each junction member extending to adjacent each such wall with the spoke elements respectively adjacent the prong-receiving openings thereof to provide receptacle means for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective spoke elements, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
a plurality of spoke elements each extending from said hub element to adjacent a different one of said side walls, and a spoke element of each junction member extending to adjacent each such wall with the spoke elements respectively adjacent the prong-receiving openings thereof to provide receptacle means for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective spoke elements, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
a prong extending from said hub element and projecting through one of the prong-receiving openings in another one of said side walls, and the prongs of the pair of junction members projecting through respective openings in the latter wall to provide plug means adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like connector for joining the respective sides of the connectors together, said receptacle means and plug means of said module also being adapted to mate respectively with said plug means and receptacle means of said connector for joining the module and the connector together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
a prong extending from said hub element and projecting through one of the prong-receiving openings in another one of said side walls, and the prongs of the pair of junction members projecting through respective openings in the latter wall to provide plug means adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like connector for joining the respective sides of the connectors together, said receptacle means and plug means of said module also being adapted to mate respectively with said plug means and receptacle means of said connector for joining the module and the connector together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A lighting system as defined in claim 1 and wherein said conductor mounting means comprises a generally U-shaped support on said base and having a recessed inner portion and two raised outer portions, said first conductor is mounted on said inner portion, and said second conductor is mounted on said outer portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lighting system as defined in claim 3 and wherein said module casing, said support and said connector casing are formed of dielectric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
289 words
An elongated lighting module adapted for use in a modular lighting system and which comprises: a. an elongated base, b. an elongated first electrical conductor having a plurality of sides each of which has a plurality of contact portions therealong, c. an elongated second electrical conductor in the form of a channel member having a plurality of sides adapted to enclose said sides of said first conductor in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said second conductor having a plurality of contact portions therealong on each of its sides and corresponding in number and disposition to the contact portions of said first conductor, d. an elongated cover forming with said base a casing adapted to enclose said conductors, said cover having a plurality of side walls each of which has a plurality of bulb-mounting openings therealong, extending therethrough and corresponding in number and disposition to the respective contact portions, e. means mounting said conductors and said cover on said base with the respective contact portions and the bulb-mounting openings aligned for parallel connection of a series of light bulbs to the contact portions, f. receptacle means at one end of said casing for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors, and g. plug means including a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors at the other end of said casing and adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like module for joining the respective ends of the modules together, said means mounting said conductors comprising a generally U-shaped support on said base having a recessed inner portion and two raised outer portions, said first conductor being mounted on said inner portion, and said second conductor being mounted on said outer portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
289 words
An elongated lighting module adapted for use in a modular lighting system and which comprises: a. an elongated base, b. an elongated first electrical conductor having a plurality of sides each of which has a plurality of contact portions therealong, c. an elongated second electrical conductor in the form of a channel member having a plurality of sides adapted to enclose said sides of said first conductor in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said second conductor having a plurality of contact portions therealong on each of its sides and corresponding in number and disposition to the contact portions of said first conductor, d. an elongated cover forming with said base a casing adapted to enclose said conductors, said cover having a plurality of side walls each of which has a plurality of bulb-mounting openings therealong, extending therethrough and corresponding in number and disposition to the respective contact portions, e. means mounting said conductors and said cover on said base with the respective contact portions and the bulb-mounting openings aligned for parallel connection of a series of light bulbs to the contact portions, f. receptacle means at one end of said casing for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors, and g. plug means including a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors at the other end of said casing and adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like module for joining the respective ends of the modules together, said means mounting said conductors comprising a generally U-shaped support on said base having a recessed inner portion and two raised outer portions, said first conductor being mounted on said inner portion, and said second conductor being mounted on said outer portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A lighting module as defined in claim 5 and wherein said conductors are in frictional engagement with said support and said cover is in frictional engagement with said second conductor for securing the conductors and cover to said support.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A lighting module as defined in claim 6 and wherein said casing and said support are formed of dielectric plastic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
311 words
An elongated lighting module adapted for use in a modular lighting system and which comprises: a. an elongated base of dielectric material, b. an elongated first electrical conductor having three sides each of which has a plurality of contact portions therealong. c. an elongated second electrical conductor in the form of a channel member having three sides adapted to enclose said sides of said first conductor in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said second conductor having a plurality of contact portions defining bulb-receiving openings therealoNg on each of its sides and corresponding in number and disposition to the contact portions of said first conductor, d. an elongated cover of dielectric material forming with said base a casing adapted to enclose said conductors, said cover having three side walls each of which has a plurality of bulb-mounting openings therealong, extending therethrough and corresponding in number and disposition to the respective contact portions, e. means mounting said conductors and said cover on said base comprising a generally U-shaped support of dielectric material on said base and having a recessed inner portion and two raised outer portions, said first conductor being mounted on said inner portion, and said second conductor being mounted on said outer portion, whereby the respective contact portions and the bulb-mounting openings are aligned for parallel connection of a series of light bulbs to the contact portions with the bulbs in threaded engagement with said second conductor, f. receptacle means at one end of said casing including a pair of tangs in conductive relation to respective conductors for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation thereto, and g. plug means including a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors at the other end of said casing and adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like module for joining the respective ends of the modules together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
311 words
An elongated lighting module adapted for use in a modular lighting system and which comprises: a. an elongated base of dielectric material, b. an elongated first electrical conductor having three sides each of which has a plurality of contact portions therealong. c. an elongated second electrical conductor in the form of a channel member having three sides adapted to enclose said sides of said first conductor in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said second conductor having a plurality of contact portions defining bulb-receiving openings therealoNg on each of its sides and corresponding in number and disposition to the contact portions of said first conductor, d. an elongated cover of dielectric material forming with said base a casing adapted to enclose said conductors, said cover having three side walls each of which has a plurality of bulb-mounting openings therealong, extending therethrough and corresponding in number and disposition to the respective contact portions, e. means mounting said conductors and said cover on said base comprising a generally U-shaped support of dielectric material on said base and having a recessed inner portion and two raised outer portions, said first conductor being mounted on said inner portion, and said second conductor being mounted on said outer portion, whereby the respective contact portions and the bulb-mounting openings are aligned for parallel connection of a series of light bulbs to the contact portions with the bulbs in threaded engagement with said second conductor, f. receptacle means at one end of said casing including a pair of tangs in conductive relation to respective conductors for receiving a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation thereto, and g. plug means including a pair of plug prongs in conductive relation to respective conductors at the other end of said casing and adapted to mate with said receptacle means of a like module for joining the respective ends of the modules together.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A lighting module as defined in claim 8 and wherein said conductors are in frictional engagement with said support and said cover is in frictional engagement with said second conductor for securing the conductors and cover to said support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |