Patents by Inventor Gary B. Rutherford

Gary B. Rutherford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12687285
    Abstract: A cabinet system with integrated lighting and power includes a first illumination zone associated with a cabinet, a first connector, a first light strip, and a driver. The first connector has a first port defining a first axis and a second through port with open opposite ends and defining a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The first light strip has an elongate substrate with a first end, a second end, a plurality of illumination elements along the length of the substrate, and multiple traces extending lengthwise along the substrate. The traces include a positive and a negative power trace, a first trace connected to the illumination elements, and a second trace not connected to the illumination elements. The first end is configured to be received in any one of the first port or the opposite ends of the second through port. The driver is coupled to a power source and has a lead with a slide connector configured to slide onto the first light strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: SENSIO AMERICA, LLC
    Inventor: Gary B. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 12584621
    Abstract: A connector for an integrated lighting and power system for cabinets includes: a body; a first port having a depth into the body, N number of electrical contacts therein, and an opening at a surface of the body; a second port having a depth into the body, N number of electrical contacts therein, and an opening at a surface of the body; and a third port having a depth into the body, N number of electrical contacts therein, and an opening at a surface of the body. Each port of the first, second, and third ports is oriented facing a different direction relative to the other of the first, second, and third ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: SENSIO AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Gary B. Rutherford, Paul Bardwell, Jeffery A. Conrady
  • Publication number: 20250180199
    Abstract: A cabinet system with integrated lighting and power includes a first illumination zone associated with a cabinet, a first connector, a first light strip, and a driver. The first connector has a first port defining a first axis and a second through port with open opposite ends and defining a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The first light strip has an elongate substrate with a first end, a second end, a plurality of illumination elements along the length of the substrate, and multiple traces extending lengthwise along the substrate. The traces include a positive and a negative power trace, a first trace connected to the illumination elements, and a second trace not connected to the illumination elements. The first end is configured to be received in any one of the first port or the opposite ends of the second through port. The driver is coupled to a power source and has a lead with a slide connector configured to slide onto the first light strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventor: Gary B. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 12163650
    Abstract: A cabinet system with integrated lighting and power includes a first illumination zone associated with a cabinet, a first connector, a first light strip, and a driver. The first connector has a first port defining a first axis and a second through port with open opposite ends and defining a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The first light strip has an elongate substrate with a first end, a second end, a plurality of illumination elements along the length of the substrate, and multiple traces extending lengthwise along the substrate. The traces include a positive and a negative power trace, a first trace connected to the illumination elements, and a second trace not connected to the illumination elements. The first end is configured to be received in any one of the first port or the opposite ends of the second through port. The driver is coupled to a power source and has a lead with a slide connector configured to slide onto the first light strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SENSIO AMERICA, LLC
    Inventor: Gary B. Rutherford
  • Publication number: 20230408078
    Abstract: A connector for an integrated lighting and power system for cabinets includes: a body; a first port having a depth into the body, N number of electrical contacts therein, and an opening at a surface of the body; a second port having a depth into the body, N number of electrical contacts therein, and an opening at a surface of the body; and a third port having a depth into the body, N number of electrical contacts therein, and an opening at a surface of the body. Each port of the first, second, and third ports is oriented facing a different direction relative to the other of the first, second, and third ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Gary B. Rutherford, Paul Bardwell, Jeffery A. Conrady
  • Patent number: 11747005
    Abstract: A cabinet system with integrated lighting and power includes a cabinet defining a first illumination zone, a first connector having at least a first port and a second port, and a first light strip. The first light strip has an elongate substrate with a first end, a second end, a plurality of illumination elements spaced apart along the substrate, and multiple traces extending lengthwise along the substrate. The multiple traces include a voltage trace, a first trace connected to the plurality of illumination elements, and a second trace not connected to the plurality of illumination elements. The first end is received in the first port of the first connector. A driver is coupled to a power source and has a lead connected to the second port on the first connector. The illumination elements of the first light strip are selectively controlled by controlling power to the voltage trace and the first trace to illuminate the illumination zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SENSIO AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Gary B. Rutherford, Paul Bardwell, Jeffery A. Conrady
  • Publication number: 20230175679
    Abstract: A cabinet system with integrated lighting and power includes a first illumination zone associated with a cabinet, a first connector, a first light strip, and a driver. The first connector has a first port defining a first axis and a second through port with open opposite ends and defining a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The first light strip has an elongate substrate with a first end, a second end, a plurality of illumination elements along the length of the substrate, and multiple traces extending lengthwise along the substrate. The traces include a positive and a negative power trace, a first trace connected to the illumination elements, and a second trace not connected to the illumination elements. The first end is configured to be received in any one of the first port or the opposite ends of the second through port. The driver is coupled to a power source and has a lead with a slide connector configured to slide onto the first light strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventor: Gary B. Rutherford
  • Publication number: 20220290850
    Abstract: A cabinet system with integrated lighting and power includes a cabinet defining a first illumination zone, a first connector having at least a first port and a second port, and a first light strip. The first light strip has an elongate substrate with a first end, a second end, a plurality of illumination elements spaced apart along the substrate, and multiple traces extending lengthwise along the substrate. The multiple traces include a voltage trace, a first trace connected to the plurality of illumination elements, and a second trace not connected to the plurality of illumination elements. The first end is received in the first port of the first connector. A driver is coupled to a power source and has a lead connected to the second port on the first connector. The illumination elements of the first light strip are selectively controlled by controlling power to the voltage trace and the first trace to illuminate the illumination zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Gary B. Rutherford, Paul Bardwell, Jeffery A. Conrady
  • Patent number: 10851988
    Abstract: An integrated lighting and power system for cabinetry includes a controller, a power lead connectable to the controller, and a powered light strip coupled to the power lead. The powered light strip has multiple channels. A plurality of light strip segments is connected to one another forming the powered light strip. Each light strip segment has one or more illumination elements. The controller is connected or connectable to a power source. The one or more illumination elements of a first segment of the plurality of light strip segments is connected to a first channel of the multiple channels and the one or more illumination elements of a second segment of the plurality of light strip segments is connected to a second channel of the multiple channels. The first and second channel and the first and second segments of the plurality of light strip segments are independently controllable via the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SENSIO AMERIA, LLC
    Inventors: Gary B. Rutherford, Paul Bardwell
  • Publication number: 20200182453
    Abstract: An integrated lighting and power system for cabinetry includes a controller, a power lead connectable to the controller, and a powered light strip coupled to the power lead. The powered light strip has multiple channels. A plurality of light strip segments is connected to one another forming the powered light strip. Each light strip segment has one or more illumination elements. The controller is connected or connectable to a power source. The one or more illumination elements of a first segment of the plurality of light strip segments is connected to a first channel of the multiple channels and the one or more illumination elements of a second segment of the plurality of light strip segments is connected to a second channel of the multiple channels. The first and second channel and the first and second segments of the plurality of light strip segments are independently controllable via the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Gary B. Rutherford, Paul Bardwell
  • Publication number: 20180283668
    Abstract: A modular power system for cabinets includes a power module configured to be installed on a cabinet, a driver configured to be connected to a power source and to be coupled to the power module, and a component or accessory configured to be coupled to the power module and to be powered by the driver. A method includes factory installing one or more power modules of the modular power system on a cabinet system and factory installing one or more components or accessories on the cabinets and connecting the one or more components or accessories to the one or more power modules. A cabinet system includes the modular power system defining multiple different and separately power zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Conrady, Gary B. Rutherford, Paul Bardwell