Shelf light bracket connector system

Abstract

A shelf arrangement has an electrical connector which is disposed with one of a plurality of mechanical connection elements of a shelf bracket wherein the connection elements are configured to be received in openings formed in a vertical support bracket; and a contact strip which is disposed with the vertical support bracket and which has electrical connection features that are engageable with the electrical connector to establish an electrical connection therebetween when the mechanical connection elements are inserted into the openings.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to shelves which are equipped with lighting fixtures for the purposes of displaying articles, books and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a connector system which enables electrical connections to be simply and easily established at the same time as the shelves are set into place.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

Today, shelves incorporating discrete lighting fixtures either underneath (to illuminate a lower shelf) or on the side of the compartment, are in wide use. However, with such shelf arrangements, electrical wiring must be connected between the lighting fixtures which are incorporated into the shelves and a power outlet/socket or the like. In the event of shelf removal and/or shelf location change/rearrangement, the electrical wiring must be separately disconnected and reconnected. This of course is, in the case of even a moderate number of shelves, both laborious and time consuming.

While there are many different types of shelves in use, one type of shelving system utilize elongate, vertically extending rail-like support brackets with slotted holes/openings, which are located at the rear of the cabinet or shelf, to receive, position and anchor the bifurcated ends of the shelf brackets which support the shelves per se. The anchoring is usually accomplished using the cantilevered weight of the shelf itself which works in conjunction with a “locking tab” on the end of the shelf brackets. Removal is accomplished simply by lifting the front of the shelf upward to disengage the locking tab on the shelf bracket and pulling the shelf forward.

Repositioning involves the reversal of this process. The shelf is tipped down in back and the locking tab is inserted into one of the slotted holes, then the shelf is lowered into position.

This type of arrangement, which is often referred to as a “cantilever rack”, is readily assembled/dissembled, however again suffers from the drawback that when shelf lighting is required, such as in the case where goods and products are displayed in a supermarket for example, the lighting elements and wiring must be separately and often painstakingly connected to the shelf.

In addition, the wiring is, in some instances, difficult to conceal. Further, particularly where the general public is concerned, it is undesirable for an individual (i.e. a layperson) who is not qualified to handle electrical wiring, to install the shelf and to safely make the separate electrical connections which are necessary for the desired lighting, even in the case of low voltage lighting such as that which uses LED as a light source.

Accordingly, there is a need for a lighted shelving system which incorporates lighting connection elements into the shelf itself, but which maintains the same utility and ease of operation as the above-mentioned commercially available non-lighted shelves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide a solution to the above-mentioned problem of separate connections for power to shelving light strips/fixtures, and are such as to utilize conventional vertically extending rails/support brackets such as those which, by way of example, have a channel configuration and therefore an essentially a U-shaped cross section.

Embodiments of the invention are also suited for use with low voltage lighting circuits like those incorporating LED's (light emitting diodes) as the light source. However, the invention is in no way limited to this type of illumination and both fluorescent and incandescent lighting are also possible.

One embodiment incorporates an insulator which fits into the rear of the vertical channel support bracket or rail element of the shelving structure and encloses therein a shaped, electrically conductive contact strip. This insulator can be molded in a manner that permits the contact strip to snap into place or, alternatively foldable so that the contact strip to be placed in position and the insulator folded about the strip to enclose the same and thus facilitate production of the arrangement.

In given embodiments, the contact strip is designed and fabricated such that pairs of opposing spring tabs appear at each slotted window opening in the vertical support brackets and thus function as the female connection features of an electrical connection.

In one embodiment of the contact strip there are openings which are configured to allow for mounting/fastening screws to pass therethrough. The openings are configured to avoid the screws, or the like type of fastening devices, coming into electrical contact with any portion of the conductive sections of the strip in a manner which might invite an electrical short circuit.

At least one embodiment of the invention also incorporates a unique folded electrically conductive clip-like male contact which installs on a rear edge of a locking tab provided on the shelf bracket. This folded contact can be made of any electrically conductive material, but is usually made of metal (e.g. a copper alloy) due to its ease of fabrication and use. Disposed between the shelf bracket locking tab and the clip (as it will be referred for the ease of disclosure) is a layer of electrically insulating material. In one embodiment, this insulator can be an adhesive tape or a material having a similar high dielectric value.

The clip on the locking tab of the shelf bracket has provision for connection to a lead wire, which in some embodiments is incorporated in the shelf itself by various means such as molding, a sealed channel, etc. This lead wire is used to provide an electrical connection with a light fixture which is mounted on, or is an integral part of the shelf.

In as much as the contact strips are disposed within structural elements which comprise the shelving, the use of this type of connection, obviates/eliminates accidental contact with the wiring

In at least one embodiment of the invention, in order to complete the electrical circuit which is necessary to energize the light in the light fixture, pairs of vertical support brackets each incorporate a contact strip and their respective insulators. One contact strip is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and the other is connected to the negative terminal. The folded metal contacts establish electrical connection with the strips. The lead wires which are connected to the folded metal contacts complete the electrical circuit of the light with the two strips.

In other words, the vertical support brackets or rails are positioned parallel to one another and are selectively spaced in accordance with their intended use and to permit the shelf brackets to be readily engaged therewith. One of the vertical support bracket connector strips (of a pair) is wired to a positive voltage. The other is wired to a negative voltage (or ground) to provide a return path for the electrical circuit. This negative connection is normally isolated from the chassis ground. However, the chassis ground can, of course, be used if so desired.

Installing the wired shelf in exactly the same manner as an unwired shelf will result in the shelf bracket clips engaging with the contact strips but only once inside the vertical support brackets, thus completing the electrical circuit necessary to enable the shelf lights to be illuminated.

Removal of the wired shelf, in exactly the same fashion as the unwired shelf, will cause the circuit to break and repositioning the shelf will cause the circuit to reactivate. The shelf lights may or may not have a separate off/on switch.

As the vertical support brackets are such that the contact strips are recessed, it is not possible for anyone to accidentally come into contact with the applied voltage. In addition, as these vertical support brackets are installed usually 18 inches or more apart, the possibility of anyone inadvertently bridging them with anything other than the shelves as intended, is extremely low.

The contact clips on the ends of the shelf brackets are exposed when the shelf is removed, but they are not “live” until in contact with the contact strips within the vertical support brackets. In addition, their placement and the incorporation of the wire into the shelf itself further attenuates the possibility of anyone accidentally touching any “live” surface.

When the shelves are installed, the contact clips on the shelf brackets engage the contact strips within the vertical support brackets but only after they have entered the folded insulator and are no longer accessible to touch.

More specifically, a first aspect of the invention resides in a shelf arrangement comprising: an electrical connector which is positioned on one or a plurality of mechanical connection elements of a shelf bracket wherein the connection elements are configured to be received in openings formed in a vertical support bracket; and a contact strip which is disposed with the vertical support bracket and which has electrical connection features that are engageable with the electrical connector to establish an electrical connection therebetween when the mechanical connection elements are inserted into the openings.

In the above type of arrangement the electrical connector can comprise a clip which engages a rear edge portion of a mechanical connection element of the shelf bracket. The clip in this case can be electrically insulated from the shelf bracket by a layer of insulating material. This layer of insulating material can, in given embodiments, comprise a strip of insulating material which is adhered to the rear edge portion of the shelf bracket.

A lighting arrangement can be connected to the electrical connector via the provision of a portion of the clip which extends out either parallel to or at angle with respect to the rear edge portion of the shelf bracket.

In an embodiment of the invention the contact strip is elongate and enclosed in an insulating contact housing which electrically insulates the contact strip from the vertical support bracket. This insulating contact housing can be configured to enclose the contact strip and to provide a passage through which the electrical connector must pass before contact with the contact strip occurs. Of course the passage is configured to align with an opening in the vertical support bracket.

In an embodiment of the insulating contact housing, the housing is flexible to the degree that the contact strip can be disposed in position on the housing while unfolded and the insulating contact housing then folded about the contact strip to form a member which can be disposed in the vertical support bracket.

A second aspect of the invention resided in a shelf arrangement comprising: first and second contact strips respectively disposed with first and second vertical support brackets which vertical support brackets are each adapted to be secured in an essentially vertical orientation, the first contact strip being adapted for connection with a first electrical terminal and second contact strip being adapted for connection with a second electrical terminal; and first and second electrical connectors connected with first and second shelf brackets which respectively have connection elements configured to engage with connection features formed in the first and second vertical support brackets, the first and second electrical connectors being adapted for electrical connection with a source of light and further configured to contact the first and second contact strips to establish an electrical connection with the first and second electrical terminals, through the first and second contact strips respectively.

A third aspect of the invention resides in a method of connecting shelf illumination comprising: disposing an electrical connector on a shelf bracket that has mechanical connection elements which are configured to be received in openings formed in a vertical support bracket; and disposing a contact strip with the vertical support bracket and arranging the contract strip to have electrical connection features that are engageable with the electrical connector to establish an electrical connection therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become more clearly appreciated as a detailed description thereof is given with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shelf bracket which is provided with an electrical connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the shelf element depicted in FIG. 1, illustrating the manner in which a portion of the electrical connector can be angled to facilitate its connection with lighting which is incorporated into the shelf bracket;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the portion of FIG. 1 which is enclosed in circle A;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view which depicts a contact strip which cooperates with the electrical connectors that are provided on the shelf brackets in the manner depicted in FIGS. 1-3, and which further depicts the manner in which it cooperates with an electrically insulative contact housing that can be folded thereabout;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view depicting the manner in which the contact housing (containing the contact strip illustrated in FIG. 4) is arranged/assembled with a vertical support bracket of the shelf;

FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view depicting the manner in which an insulating strip is adhered to the self element in a manner which insulates the connector, which in this embodiment takes the form of a contact clip, from the shelf bracket proper;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view depicting a shelf bracket disposed in a position suitable for interconnection with a vertical support bracket;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a shelf bracket engaged in a vertical support bracket in a manner wherein electrical connection between the connector on the shelf bracket and the connector strip incorporated into the vertical support bracket, is established;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the section of FIG. 8 which is enclosed in circle B, and which illustrates the manner in which the lighting elements on the shelf bracket are connected to the connector clip by way of a plug which is provided at the end of the lead line;

FIG. 10A is a top plan view as seen down the open end of the vertically extending support bracket in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10B is a sectional view taken along section line 10B-10B of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view depicting the manner in which the shelf bracket engages in the vertical support bracket and simultaneously produces the electrical connection with facilitates the illumination of the lower shelves;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram depicting the manner in which pairs of connector strips are arranged to form part of an electrical circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment wherein a refrigerator is provided with illuminated shelving such as typified by the embodiments illustrated in the preceding figures and which has an illumination level control which allows for dimming of the illumination under predetermined conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A shelf bracket 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is provided with a male electrical connection feature in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, this electrical connection feature takes the form of a clip 200, which is fitted onto a rear edge of the shelf bracket. To insulate the clip 200 from the electrically conductive material of the shelf bracket 100, a layer of electrically insulative tape 202 (see FIG. 3) is provided between the clip 200 and the shelf bracket 100. To facilitate production/assembly, this tape 202 can be adhesive either one or both sides and is arranged in the manner best appreciated from FIG. 6.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention are not limited to the use of clips of the nature illustrated and that other forms of electrical contact can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

To appropriately locate the clip 200 and the tape 202 on the rear edge of the shelf bracket 100 and/or assist in maintaining the clip 200 in its intended position, the rear edge of the shelf bracket 100 can be notched/indented such as indicated at 101. The clip 200, in the illustrated embodiment, has an angled free end portion 201 which is configured to extend away from the side of the shelf bracket 100 in the manner depicted in FIG. 1. This angled portion 201 facilitates the connection with a plug 220P provided at the end of a lead wire 220 in the manner best seen in FIG. 9.

It should be noted, however, that it is also possible to arrange the free end portion 201 of the clip 200 so as to be parallel to the shelf bracket as different from being angled in the illustrated manner, or be constructed so that the lead wire 220 is connected directly to the clip such as by soldering or the like and thus obviate the need for the plug 220P.

The lead wire 220 leads to a lighting fixture, schematically illustrated in FIG. 12 at 410, which can be supported on or incorporated into a shelf member (not shown) and/or the shelf brackets which support the shelf. This lead wire establishes part of an electrical circuit which is necessary for the illumination of the shelf which is located below, as will become apparent from a discussion of FIG. 12 herein later.

A contact strip 250 is, in this embodiment, provided with a plurality of female electrical connection features 252. These connection features 252 are each configured to cooperate with a contact clip 200 and are spaced so as to permit the shelf brackets 100 to be located in any of a plurality of selected shelf-locating positions provided for in each of the vertical extending support brackets 150.

In this embodiment, each contact strip 250 is arranged to extend along a space within the interior of a vertically extending support bracket or rail 150. In this instance, the vertically extending support brackets 150 each take the form of channel members which each have an essentially U-shaped cross-section. This configuration facilitates the ready disposition of the contact strips in position in the support brackets.

To insulate the contact strips 250 from the respective support brackets 150, each strip 250 is enclosed in an electrically insulating housing 251. The contact strip 250, as best seen in FIG. 4, has a castled type of configuration wherein pairs of clip-like electrical connection features 252 are provided at predetermined intervals along its length. Each strip 250 is arranged to be connected with a source of electrical power. This connection can be at one end or at a location between its ends. The manner in which the strips 250 are connected with the source of electrical power will be described in more detail herein later with reference to FIG. 12.

As depicted in FIG. 4, the contact strip 250 can be formed with openings 250A to facilitate the passage of fastening elements such as screws. These openings 250A are configured to prevent any short-circuiting and can, in certain embodiments, be formed in a non-conductive portion of the contact strip 250 or isolated from the screws or the like via the use of insulating grommets or the like. As an alternative, a strip of dual sided adhesive tape (not shown) can be placed along the rear of the contact strip and used to hold it in place in the insulating housing 251.

In the illustrated embodiment, the insulating housing 251 takes the form of a foldable member which, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, is configured to receive the contact strip and to fold about the strip 250 in a manner which, as best seen in FIGS. 10A and 10B, is such as to entirely enclose it in a manner that the springy clip-like female connection features 252, which resiliently engage the sides of a male connection clip 200, are totally encased. This prevents connection features 252 from accidentally coming into contact with anything but the contact clip 200 which is inserted through one of the tunnel-like ports/entrances 253 that are defined by the folded housing. As will be appreciated each of the ports/entrances 253 is appropriately exposed via the openings (connection features) 150P provided in the vertically extending support bracket or rails for the purposes of receiving and supportingly engaging with the shelf brackets 100.

In as much as the configuration and interaction of the mechanical connection features/elements 102, 103, 104 and 150P which enable the illustrated shelf bracket(s) to be connected/disconnected from the vertically extending support bracket(s), are known per se, a detailed explanation of the same will be omitted for the sake of brevity. Suffice it to say, that mechanical connection features 102, 103 and 104 are arranged to cooperate with openings 150P in the manner that will be best appreciated from FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 depicts, in schematic form, a circuit arrangement via which the shelf lighting can be operatively connected with a source of electrical power 400. This source 400 can be either AC or DC or rectified AC. For example, the lighting fixture 410, while not being specifically limited thereto, can take the form of LED lighting or the like. Of course fluorescent and/or incandescent lighting can alternatively be used. The manner in which the lighting fixture 410 is connected to the shelves per se, which are supported by the shelf brackets, is not shown. However, an example of such type of lighting/fixtures can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,434 issued in the name of Saraiji on Jan. 30, 2001. The content of this patent is hereby incorporated by reference thereto. A further example of a lighting fixture can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,771,021 issued in the name of Cok on Aug. 3, 2004. The content of this reference is also incorporated by reference thereto.

In the circuit arrangement depicted in FIG. 12 it is possible, in the manner schematically indicated, to include switches such as switch 412 to control the lights individually, or a switch 414 which cuts off power to the whole circuit or both. As will be appreciated, either of these switches can be arranged to be responsive to the closure of a door such a refrigerator door, timer or the like, as deemed necessary in accordance with the disposition and use of the shelves.

Advantages of the Above Disclosed Embodiments

The embodiments of the invention as described above are such as to provide:

• • 1) A simple means of installing/removing shelves to/from brackets installed in appliances; display shelving; bookcases and the like.
  • 2) A safe connection/disconnection system for shelving which needs to be illuminated.
  • 3) An efficient method of manufacturing a lighting connect/disconnect system adapts existing hardware and/or existing hardware designs with minor modification.
  • 4) A method for installing/removing lighted shelving which is essentially the same as a conventional non-lighted shelf.
  • 5) A shelf lighting connect/disconnect system which can be used with nearly any voltage depending on the physical size necessary to accommodate the voltage and current requirements.
  • 6) A shelf lighting connect/disconnect system wherein the electrical contacts are such as to be “buried” when the shelves are in place and therefore not accessible to accidental human contact.
  • 7) An easily implemented connection system for low voltage, low current LED lighting sources.
  • 8) An easy connection system for shelving which allows the lighting fixture to be an integral part of the shelf and not an add-on accessory.

A further embodiment of the invention resides in refrigerator 500 wherein the shelf/connection arrangement which has been described above, is used to provide illuminated shelving therein. In this arrangement a door 501 of the refrigerator is operatively connected with the switch 4121 and arranged so that when the door is closed the switch 4121 is opened and the light 410 is de-energized.

This embodiment further includes a timer/rheostat control circuit 502. In accordance with this embodiment, the timer/rheostat control circuit 502 is arranged to be programmable/set so that during night hours, such as from midnight to 4.00 am for example, the amount of current which is supplied to the light fixture 410 is reduced or other wise modified so that the level of illumuniation which occurs when the refrigerator door 501 is opened, is reduced as compared with the normal level of illumuniation which is used during daylight hours or when the room in which the refrigerator is disposed, is expected to be fully/brightly illuminated.

This illumination level control is such that should someone arise in the middle of the night and go to the refrigerator for a cold beverage or the like, the level of illumination which occurs when the door is opened will not produce momentary eye discomfort to the person looking into the interior of refrigerator and the items which are disposed on the illuminated shelves.

Although only a limited number of embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the various modifications and variations which can be implemented, will be, given the preceding disclosure, self evident to the person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains or most closely pertains. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shelf arrangement comprising:

an electrical connector which is disposed with one of a plurality of mechanical connection elements of a shelf bracket wherein the connection elements are configured to be received in openings formed in a vertical support bracket; and

a contact strip which is disposed with the vertical support bracket and which has electrical connection features that are engageable with the electrical connector to establish an electrical connection therebetween when the mechanical connection elements are inserted into the openings.

2. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a clip which engages a rear edge portion of a mechanical connection element of the shelf bracket, the clip being electrically insulated from the shelf bracket by a layer of insulating material.

3. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mechanical connection element of the shelf bracket on which the electrical connector is disposed, comprises a locking tab which is configured to be inserted through the openings formed in the vertical support bracket

4. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein a lighting arrangement is connected to the electrical connector via a portion of the clip which extends out at angle with respect to the rear edge portion of the shelf bracket.

5. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the layer of insulating material comprises a strip of insulating material which is adhered or press fit to the rear edge portion of the shelf bracket.

6. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the contact strip is elongate and is enclosed in an insulating contact housing which electrically insulates the contact strip from the vertical support bracket.

7. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein the insulating contact housing is configured to enclose the contact strip and to provide a passage through which the electrical connector must pass before contact with the contact strip occurs.

8. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the passage is configured to align with an opening in the vertical support bracket.

9. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein the insulating contact housing is flexible to the degree that the contact strip can be disposed in position and the insulating contact housing folded about the contact strip to form a member which can be disposed in the vertical support bracket.

10. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein the insulating contact housing is molded and configured such that the contact strip snap fits into position upon being pressed into position.

11. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein the lighting arrangement comprises a plurality of LED (light emitting diodes).

12. The shelf arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein the shelf arrangement is disposed in a refrigerator and the lighting arrangement is responsive to the opening of the door and is further responsive to a circuit which limits the level of illumination by the lighting arrangement under predetermined conditions.

13. A shelf arrangement comprising:

first and second contact strips respectively disposed with first and second vertical support brackets which vertical support brackets are each adapted to be secured in an essentially vertical orientation, the first contact strip being adapted for connection with a first electrical terminal and second contact strip being adapted for connection with a second electrical terminal; and

first and second electrical connectors connected with first and second shelf brackets which respectively have connection elements configured to engage with connection features formed in the first and second vertical support brackets, the first and second electrical connectors being adapted for electrical connection with a source of light and further configured to contact the first and second contact strips to establish an electrical connection with the first and second electrical terminals, through the first and second contact strips respectively.

14. A method of connecting shelf illumination comprising:

disposing an electrical connector on a shelf bracket that has connection elements which are configured to be received in openings formed in a vertical support bracket; and

disposing a contact strip with the vertical support bracket and arranging the contract strip to have electrical connection features that are engageable with the electrical connector to establish an electrical connection therebetween.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising:

enclosing the contact strip in an insulating housing;

disposing the insulating housing and contact strip with the vertical support bracket;

arranging the insulating housing to having entrances which correspond to openings formed in the vertical support bracket; and

configuring the entrances to receive the electrical connector and guide it into electrical contact with the contact strip.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising configuring the insulating housing to be foldable so that the contact strip can be disposed on the insulating housing and the insulating housing folded over on the contact strip to enclose the same.

17. The method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

connecting a first contact strip to a first terminal of a source of electrical energy;

disposing the first contact strip in a first insulating housing;

disposing the first insulating housing in a first vertical support bracket;

connecting a second contact strip to a second terminal of a source of electrical energy;

disposing the second contact strip in a second insulating housing;

disposing the second insulating housing in a second vertical support bracket;

connecting a first electrical connector on a first shelf bracket to a first lead wire associated with a light fixture;

connecting a second electrical connector on a second shelf bracket to a second lead wire associated with the light fixture; and

inserting the first and second electrical connectors into contact with the first and second contact strips respectively by inserting mechanical connection elements on the first and second shelf brackets respectfully into openings in the first and second vertical support brackets which openings are adapted to facilitate connection of the mechanical connection features to the vertical support brackets.