Abstract:
A light bar configured to be mounted beneath a cabinet, above a cabinet, within a cabinet or any other placement requiring illumination. The light bar includes a first support member which is fixed onto a supporting surface. A second support member is pivotally secured to the first support member so as to be selectively movable between open and closed positions with respect to the first support member. An LED light strip is mounted in the second support member so as to direct light rays through a lens mounted on the lower support member. The electrical components of the light bar are readily accessible when the second support member is in its open position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a line voltage light bar which may be positioned at the underside of a cabinet adjacent the wall which supports the cabinet. The light bar may also be positioned on top of the cabinet, at the side of the cabinet, or inside the cabinet. More particularly, this invention relates to a line voltage light bar which includes a fixed upper support member and a lower support member which is pivotally secured to the upper support member and which is selectively movable between open and closed positions with respect to the upper support member. An LED light strip is positioned in the lower support member at the outer side thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Elongated light bars have been positioned below cabinets for many years to illuminate the areas beneath the cabinet. The light bars are usually affixed to the underside of the cabinets or to a vertically disposed backsplash or wall which extends downwardly from the inner end of the cabinet. 
     Although the prior art light bars do function very well to illuminate the areas below the cabinets, the repair or replacement of the parts thereof is quite difficult since the interior components thereof are not readily accessible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A line voltage light bar is disclosed which may be positioned at the underside of a cabinet adjacent the wall which supports the cabinet. The light bar may also be positioned on top of the cabinet, at the side of the cabinet, inside the cabinet, or at any location wherein lighting is required. The light bar of this invention will be described as if it were positioned beneath a cabinet adjacent the supporting wall thereof. 
     The light bar of this invention includes an elongated and horizontally disposed upper wall having an inner end, an outer end, a first end, a second end, an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper wall of the upper support member has a first elongated connector element, having first and second ends, positioned therebelow which is spaced inwardly from the outer end thereof. The upper support member also includes an elongated and vertically disposed inner wall having an upper end, a lower end, a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner wall of the upper support member has an elongated and horizontally disposed second connector element at its lower end. A first vertically disposed end wall extends downwardly from the first end of the top wall of the upper support member and extends outwardly from the first end of the inner wall of the upper support member towards the outer end of the top wall of the upper support member. The upper support member has a vertically disposed second end wall which extends downwardly from the second end of the top wall of the upper support member and which extends outwardly towards the outer end of the top wall of the upper support member. 
     The light bar also includes an elongated lower support member which includes an elongated and generally horizontally disposed first wall member having a first end, a second end, an inner end and an outer end. The lower support member also includes an elongated second wall member, having a first end, a second end, an inner end and an outer end with the second wall member extending upwardly and outwardly from the outer end of the first wall member of the lower support member. The lower support member also includes an elongated and upstanding third wall member having a first end, a second end, a lower end, an upper end, an inner side and an outer side with the third wall member extending outwardly from the outer end of the second wall member thereof. The lower support member also includes an elongated and generally horizontally disposed fourth wall member having a first end, a second end, an inner end, an outer end, an upper surface and a lower surface which extends outwardly from the upper end of the third wall member. The lower support member further includes an elongated and downwardly extending fifth wall member having a first end, a second end, a lower end, an upper end, an inner side and an outer side with the fifth wall member extending downwardly from the outer end of the fourth wall member. The lower support member also includes an elongated sixth wall member, having a first end, a second end, an inner end and an outer end with the sixth wall member extending outwardly from the lower end of the fifth wall member. 
     The inner end of the first wall member of the lower support member has a third connector element formed thereon which is configured to be selectively secured to the first connector element to yieldably maintain the lower support member in its closed position. An elongated LED light strip is secured to the lower surface of the fourth wall member and an elongated lens is selectively removably secured to the third and fifth wall members below the LED light strip and which extends therebetween. 
     If any of the components of the light bar require repair or replacement, the lower support member is pivotally moved to its open position with respect to the upper support member so that the interior components of the light bar are readily accessible. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a light bar which includes a fixed first support member having a second support member pivotally secured thereto whereby the second support member may be moved between open and closed positions with respect to the first support member so that the first support member so that the interior of the light bar is readily accessible for repair or replacement of the components therein. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a light bar of the type described which may be positioned beneath a cabinet, on top of a cabinet, at one side of a cabinet or the interior of a cabinet. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a light bar of the type described which can be used at any location where lighting is required. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a light bar of the type described which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the light bar of this invention mounted at the underside of a cabinet; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial lower perspective view of the light bar of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded lower perspective view of the light bar of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the light bar of this invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the light bar of this invention mounted on the underside of a cabinet with the broken lines illustrating the lower support member of the light bar in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The line voltage light bar of this invention is referred to by the reference numeral  10 . Light bar  10  is designed to be secured to the underside  12  of a cabinet  14  or to the wall  15  supporting the cabinet  14 . The light bar  10  may also be positioned on top of the cabinet  14 , at the side of the cabinet  14 , or in the interior of the cabinet  14 . The light bar  10  may also be positioned on any structure where lighting is desired. Light bar  10  includes an upper support member  16  and a lower support member  18  selectively pivotally secured thereto. The upper support member  16  and the lower support member  18  are preferably comprised of extruded aluminum which is powder coated. Support members  16  and  18  could also be comprised of anodized aluminum. Upper support member  16  will be described as having a first end  20  and a second end  22 . The length of the light bar  10  will vary depending upon the width of the cabinet or the structure to which it is attached. Upper support member  16  includes a horizontally disposed upper wall  24  having an inner end  26 , an outer end  28 , a first end  30  and a second end  32 . 
     Upper support member  16  also includes a rear wall  34  which extends downwardly from the inner end  26  of upper wall  24 . Preferably, rear wall  34  has one or more knock-outs  35  formed therein. The lower end of rear wall  34  is provided with an elongated arcuate connector element  36  which extends between the ends  30  and  32  of upper support member  16 . The numeral  38  refers to an elongated tubular boss which extends between the ends  30  and  32  of upper support member  16 . Upper support member  16  also includes an elongated, tubular connector element  40  having an elongated slot  42  formed therein which extends between the ends thereof. 
     End cap  44  is secured to the first end  30  of upper support member  16  by screws  46 ,  48 , and  50  extending through end cap  44  into the ends of connector element  36 , boss  38  and connector element  40  respectively. End cap  52  is secured to the second end  32  of support member  16  by screws  54 ,  56  and  58  extending through end cap  52  into the outer ends of connector element  36 , boss  38  and connector element  40  respectively. 
     End cap  52  may have an opening  59  formed therein to permit electrical wires to extend therethrough. Further, the rear wall  34  could have an opening formed therein which communicates with an opening formed in wall  15  to permit electrical wires to extend therethrough. Further, end cap  44  may also have an opening  45  formed therein to permit electrical wires to extend therethrough. 
     The upper support member  16  is secured to the underside  12  of the cabinet  14  by a plurality of screws  41  which extend through upper wall  24  into cabinet  14 . 
     Lower support member  18  will be described as having an inner end  60  and an outer end  62 . The inner end  60  of lower support member  18  has an elongated semi-circular connector element or lip  64  formed thereon which is configured to selectively pivotally engage the connector element  36  as will be described in detail hereinafter. Lower support member  18  includes a bottom wall portion  66 , which extends outwardly from the inner end  60  thereof. The numeral  68  refers to a wall portion which extends upwardly and outwardly from the outer end of wall portion  66 . The upper outer end of wall portion  68  terminates in an upstanding and elongated wall  70  having a lower end  72  and an upper end  74 . The outer surface of wall  70  has an elongated groove or slot  76  formed therein. An elongated and horizontally disposed wall  78  extends outwardly from the upper end  74  of wall  70  and has an upper surface  80  and a lower surface  82 . Wall  78  has an opening  83  formed therein to permit electrical wires to extend therethrough. 
     The numeral  84  refers to an elongated and downwardly extending wall portion which extends downwardly from the outer end of wall portion  78 . The inner surface of wall portion  84  has an elongated groove or slot  86  formed therein. An elongated, arcuate wall portion  88  extends outwardly and upwardly from the lower end of wall portion  84 . An elongated lens  90  has its inner end received in slot  76  of wall portion  70  and has its outer end received in slot  86  of wall portion  84 . An elongated LED light strip  92  is secured to the lower surface  82  of wall portion  78  by any suitable means such as an adhesive or double-faced tape. The LED light strip  92  may be hardwired or have an electrical cord extending therefrom to an electrical outlet. The electrical wire  94  from the light strip  92  may extend through the opening  59  formed in end cap  52 , or through an opening  45  formed in end cap  44  or through an opening formed in wall portion  34 . 
     In use, the lower support member  18  will be pivoted to the closed position shown in  FIG. 5 . When lower support member  18  is closed, the upper outer end  101  of wall portion  84  is received in the slot  42  formed in connector element  40  to yieldably lock the lower support member  18  in its closed position. With the lower support member  18  in its closed position of  FIG. 5 , the activation of the light strip  92  by the switch  102  mounted in wall portion  66 , the LEDs in the light strip  92  will direct light downwardly through the lens  90  to illuminate the area therebelow. 
     If the light strip  92  should fail and need repair or replacement, a person simply pulls down on the outer end of wall portion  88  to disengage the upper outer end  101  of wall portion  84  to enable the lower support member  18  to be moved to its open position as illustrated by the broken lines of  FIG. 5  with the lower support member  18  in its open position, the lens  90  may be removed from the lower support member  18  thereby permitting a person to easily gain access to the light strip  92 , the electrical wires within the light bar  10 , and the switch  102  to repair or replace the same. 
     As stated above, the light bar  10  may be mounted beneath the cabinet  14 , above the cabinet  14 , inside the cabinet, or any other place where lighting is required. Thus, it can be seen that the light bar of this invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.