Patent ID: 9726331
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: F21K,F21S,F21V,F21Y,H01R,H02J,H05B,Y02B

Claim:
1. A support connector for coupling an end of an elongate tubular LED lamp in an operative state to a lighting fixture, the elongate tubular LED lamp having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends, a source of illumination comprising at least one LED emitter board on or within the lamp body, and a first end connector at the first end of the body having a first surface, the support connector comprising: a base portion comprising a housing and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion configured to be coupled to a support of the lighting fixture, a leading end portion extending from the distal end portion of the base portion and configured to engage the first end connector of the tubular LED lamp; the base portion and the leading end portion defining an internal raceway sized to receive a network cable terminated with a communications plug, with a first opening at the distal end portion of the base portion and a second opening at a distal tip of the leading end portion so that the communications plug can be translated along the internal raceway between the first and second openings; the leading end portion further comprising a second surface configured to engage the first surface of the first end connector; the leading end portion configured so that the first and second surfaces are placed in confronting relationship to prevent separation of the first end connector and the support connector with the lamp body in the operative state as an incident of the first end connector moving relative to the support connector from a position fully separated from the support connector in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position; wherein the first end connector comprises a jack which includes a housing defining an internal port for receiving the communications plug extending through the second opening, the jack providing an interface operable to transmit signals between the communications plug and the elongate tubular LED lamp according to a standardized power and data network protocol.