IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0819507
(2007-06-27)
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등록번호 |
US-7766502
(2010-08-24)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Tresco International Ltd. Co.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
23 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
Position adjustable self-illuminated panel units may be used in combination with conventional shelf supports. Preferred shelf-units include a light-transmissive panel, a shelf frame holding the panel and having an illumination element for providing a light source to illuminate the panel, and a magne
Position adjustable self-illuminated panel units may be used in combination with conventional shelf supports. Preferred shelf-units include a light-transmissive panel, a shelf frame holding the panel and having an illumination element for providing a light source to illuminate the panel, and a magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the illumination element and adapted to being magnetically and electrically coupled to a source of electrical power. The illumination element most preferably includes an LED strip housed within one member of the frame and positioned adjacent to an edge of the panel. A magnetic connector includes a pair of electrically conductive side panels, an electrically non-conductive spacer sandwiched between the side panels, and a pair of magnet bars fixed to the spacer. The magnet bars define an air gap therebetween such that electrical contact may be established between the magnet bars and a respective one of the side panels. Shelf lighting systems according to the present invention will most preferably include a self-illuminated panel unit as described briefly above, and a ferromagnetic power strip for supplying electrical power thereto. The magnetic connector is therefore capable of magnetic and electrical interconnection to the power strip (e.g., via the magnet bars thereof so as to in turn supply power to the panel unit (e.g., via lead wires connecting the side panels to the LED strip).
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A self-illuminated panel unit comprising: a light-transmissive panel; a frame holding the panel and having an illumination element for providing a light source to illuminate the panel; and a magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the illumination element and adapte
What is claimed is: 1. A self-illuminated panel unit comprising: a light-transmissive panel; a frame holding the panel and having an illumination element for providing a light source to illuminate the panel; and a magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the illumination element and adapted to being magnetically and electrically coupled to a source of electrical power, wherein the magnetic connector comprises: (i) a pair of electrically conductive side panels; (ii) an electrically non-conductive spacer sandwiched between the side panels; and (iii) a pair of magnet bars fixed to the spacer in such a manner that an air gap is present between the magnet bars and such that electrical contact is established between the magnet bars and a respective one of the side panels. 2. A self-illuminated panel unit as in claim 1, wherein the illumination element comprises an LED strip housed within one member of the frame and positioned adjacent to an edge of the panel. 3. A self-illuminated panel unit as in claim 2, wherein the frame includes opposed pairs of frame members each having a receiving channel for receiving respective edges of the panel. 4. A self-illuminated panel unit as in claim 3, further comprising edge gaskets for the panel, wherein the LED strip includes spaced-apart LED elements which abut an edge of the panel, and wherein other edges of the panel are received within respective ones of the edge gaskets, the edge gaskets in turn being positioned within the receiving channels of respective frame members. 5. A self-illuminated panel unit as in claim 1 or 4, further comprising a resilient cushion member received within a channel of a frame member opposite to the LED strip for exerting a bias force on the panel in a direction to cause an edge of the panel to abut against the LED strip. 6. A self-illuminated panel unit as in claim 1, further comprising lead wires electrically connecting the illumination element and a respective one of the side panels. 7. A self-illuminated panel unit comprising: a light-transmissive panel; a frame having a channel for holding respective edges of the panel; an illumination element received within the channel of the frame for providing a light source to illuminate the panel, and a magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the illumination element and adapted to being magnetically and electrically coupled to a source of electrical power, wherein the illumination element comprises an LED strip housed within the channel of the frame and positioned adjacent to one edge of the panel, and wherein the panel unit further comprises a resilient cushion member received within the channel of the frame member at a position opposite to the LED strip for exerting a bias force on another edge of the panel in a direction to cause the one edge of the panel to abut against the LED strip, wherein the magnetic connector comprises: (i) a pair of electrically conductive side panels; (ii) an electrically non-conductive spacer sandwiched between the side panels; and (iii) a pair of magnet bars fixed to the spacer in such a manner that an air gap is present between the magnet bars and such that electrical contact is established between the magnet bars and a respective one of the side panels. 8. The panel unit of claim 7, further comprising edge gaskets for the panel, wherein the LED strip includes spaced-apart LED elements which abut the one edge of the panel, and wherein other edges of the panel are received within respective ones of the edge gaskets, the edge gaskets in turn being positioned within the receiving channel of the frame member. 9. The panel unit as in claim 7, further comprising lead wires electrically connecting the illumination element and a respective one of the side panels. 10. The panel unit as in claim 9, further comprising shrink wrapped tubing around the lead wires. 11. A shelf lighting system comprising: a self-illuminated panel unit; a power strip for supplying electrical power, and a magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the self-illuminated panel unit and being capable of magnetic and electrical coupling to the power strip to provide electrical power to the self-illuminated panel unit, wherein the self-illuminated panel unit comprises: (a) a light-transmissive panel; (b) a frame holding the panel and having an illumination element for providing a light source to illuminate the panel; and (c) the magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the illumination element and adapted to being magnetically and electrically coupled to a source of electrical power; and wherein the power strip comprises a pair of ferromagnetic electrically conductive power bars and a layer of an insulator strip separating the power bars, and wherein the magnetic connector comprises: (i) a pair of electrically conductive side panels; (ii) an electrically non-conductive spacer sandwiched between the side panels; and (iii) a pair of magnet bars fixed to the spacer in such a manner that an air gap is present between the magnet bars and such that electrical contact is established between the magnet bars and a respective one of the side panels, wherein the magnet bars are capable of magnetic and electrical coupling to a respective one of the power bars so as to supply electrical power to the illumination element. 12. The system as in claim 11, further comprising lead wires electrically connecting the illumination element and a respective one of the side panels. 13. A shelf lighting system comprising: a self-illuminated panel unit, a power strip for supplying electrical power to the panel unit; and a magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the LED strip and adapted to being magnetically and electrically connected to the power strip so as to provide electrical power to the LED strip therefrom, wherein the self-illuminated panel unit includes: (i) a light-transmissive panel; (ii) a shelf frame holding the panel; and (iii) an LED strip housed within one member of the frame and positioned adjacent to an edge of the panel for providing illumination to the panel, wherein the magnetic connector comprises: (a) a pair of electrically conductive side panels; (b) an electrically non-conductive spacer sandwiched between the side panels; and (c) a pair of magnet bars fixed to the spacer in such a manner that an air gap is present between the magnet bars and such that electrical contact is established between the magnet bars and a respective one of the side panels, and wherein the magnet bars provide magnetic and electrical coupling with a respective one of the power bars so as to in turn supply electrical power to the LED strip. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the power strip comprises a pair of ferromagnetic electrically conductive power bars and a layer of an insulator strip separating the power bars. 15. The system as in claim 13, further comprising lead wires electrically connecting the LED strip and a respective one of the side panels. 16. A shelf lighting system comprising: a self-illuminated panel unit, and an electrical connector adapted to connect the illumination element to a source of electrical power, wherein the self-illuminated panel unit comprises: (i) a light-transmissive panel; (ii) a frame having a channel for holding respective edges of the panel; (iii) an illumination element received within the channel of the frame for providing a light source to illuminate the panel, and (iv) a magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the illumination element and adapted to being magnetically and electrically coupled to a source of electrical power, wherein (v) the illumination element comprises an LED strip housed within the channel of the frame and positioned adjacent to one edge of the panel, and wherein (vi) the panel unit further comprises a resilient cushion member received within the channel of the frame member at a position opposite to the LED strip for exerting a bias force on another edge of the panel in a direction to cause the one edge of the panel to abut against the LED strip, wherein the magnetic connector comprises: (a) a pair of electrically conductive side panels; (b) an electrically non-conductive spacer sandwiched between the side panels; and (c) a pair of magnet bars fixed to the spacer in such a manner that an air gap is present between the magnet bars and such that electrical contact is established between the magnet bars and a respective one of the side panels. 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising edge gaskets for the panel, wherein the LED strip includes spaced-apart LED elements which abut the one edge of the panel, and wherein other edges of the panel are received within respective ones of the edge gaskets, the edge gaskets in turn being positioned within the receiving channel of the frame member. 18. The system as in claim 16, further comprising lead wires electrically connecting the illumination element and a respective one of the side panels. 19. The system as in claim 18, further comprising shrink wrapped tubing around the lead wires. 20. The self-illuminated panel unit as in claim 1 or 7, in the form of a shelf, door panel, wall panel, cabinet base panel, display case panel, furniture panel and flowing panel.
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