Abstract:
A lighting system is provided that is formed of a number of separate lighting elements that each include an attachment member or bracket secured to the lighting element. Each element is readily attachable to a wall storage system to secure the lighting element where desired such that the lighting element can illuminate the desired area of the storage system. The individual lighting elements are connected to one another by interconnecting members that can be selectively engaged between the lighting elements placed in the desired configuration, and rotatable clips of the brackets can be utilized to orient the lighting elements in the desired manner on the wall storage system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/277,071, filed on Jan. 11, 2016, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to lighting systems, and more specifically to a lighting system that is selectively attachable in a re-configurable manner on a wall storage system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many different types of wall structures/storage systems exist that enable individuals to mount different items on the wall structure. These structures allow the individual to store various items is a highly efficient manner within a relatively small space, such as in a garage or other similar location. On example of wall structure or storage system the is used for this purpose is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,026 entitled Slatwall Display System, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
         [0004]    However, prior art storage system or wall structures do not readily enable the individual to see what is being stored using the system if the lighting in the particular area in which the system is employed is insufficient. While the individual can hang certain lighting elements on the storage system hooks or other hanging elements in these prior art systems, these lights can be easily knocked off of the hooks and/or do not readily illuminate the entire area covered by the storage system. 
         [0005]    Thus, it is desirable to develop a lighting system for a storage system that overcomes these issues with prior art storage systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Briefly described, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a lighting system is formed of a number of separate lighting elements that each include an attachment member or bracket secured to the lighting element. Each element is readily attachable to a wall storage system to secure the lighting element where desired such that the lighting element can illuminate the desired area of the storage system. 
         [0007]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the lighting elements can be selectively positioned on the storage system and can be selectively interconnected with one another. 
         [0008]    Numerous other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description together with the drawings figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention. 
           [0010]    In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a prior art storage system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view one exemplary embodiment of a lighting system constructed according to the present disclosure attached to the storage system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of one exemplary embodiment of a lighting element of the lighting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of one exemplary embodiment of a pair of interconnected lighting elements of the lighting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of one exemplary embodiment of a power cord interconnecting a pair of lighting elements of the lighting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of one exemplary embodiment of a direct interconnecting member used to join a pair of lighting elements of the lighting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a side plan view of the direct interconnecting member of  FIG. 6  joining a pair of lighting elements of the lighting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of another exemplary embodiment of a lighting system constructed according to the present disclosure attached to the storage system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a lighting element of the lighting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an attachment bracket for the lighting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the power cord and direct interconnecting member of the lighting system of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the attachment brackets of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, one exemplary embodiment of a prior art wall storage system is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,026 entitled Slatwall Display System, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes and is illustrated generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The slatwall display system constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention for supporting and displaying various types of article holders  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24  from a front side thereof. The system  10  is comprised of a series of horizontally disposed, generally rectangular slat panels  12  juxtaposed and interconnected together, one atop the other, at slatwall panel joints  26  to form a slat panel assembly  28 . The slat panel assembly  28  is supported on a set of vertically extending mounting members  30  rigidly anchored to a vertical wall  32 . Both slat panels  12  and mounting members  30  are substantially rigid elements and are can be formed of any suitable material, such as extruded polyvinylchloride (PVC). An elongated, U-shaped finished cap  34  is provided to conceal the exposed side edges of the slat panel assembly  28 . In the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that the slat panel assembly  28  extends lengthwise from a ceiling  36  which is perpendicular to the wall  32  downwardly and completely to a floor  38 . The slat panel assembly  28  also extends widthwise from one adjoining vertical wall  40  to another adjoining vertical wall  42 . It should be appreciated from the outset of this description that the slat panel assembly  28  could also be mounted on a free-standing vertical wall which could carry the slat panels on one or both sides thereof as desired by the user. The article holders  14 - 24  are engaged within recesses  80  formed in the panel  12  that frictionally engage the portions of the holders  14 - 24  inserted within the recesses  80 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-7 , in one exemplary embodiment a lighting system  100  is attached to the storage system  10 . The lighting system  100  includes a number of lighting elements  102 , which can be any suitable light source, such as a fluorescent or light-emitting diode (LED) light source, among others, that are secured to the storage system  10  using brackets  104 . The brackets  104  are secured to the lighting elements  102 , either as a direct part of the lighting element  102  or as a separate component affixed to the lighting element  102 , and include a first end  106  secured to the lighting element  102  and a second end  108  spaced from and joined to the first end  106 , such as by a living hinge  110  or other suitable structure. The second end  108  is insertable within the recesses  80  of the panel  12  in order to hold the bracket  104  and the lighting element  102  on the panel  12 . The second end  108  is also slidable with regard to the recess  80  in order to allow the position of the lighting element  102  to be adjusted within the recess  80  as desired. The engagement of the bracket  104  with the recess  80  can be easily engaged and disengaged in order to position the lighting element  102  where desired on the panel  12 . 
         [0025]    Looking now at  FIGS. 3-6A , in order to electrically interconnect multiple lighting elements  102 , e.g., in series, to a power source, such as a wall outlet (not shown) and/or with one another, each lighting element  102  includes a socket  112 , 113  at each end. The sockets  112 , 113  are configured to be complementary to one another, such that the socket  112  is a male socket, while socket  113  is a female socket. As shown in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the socket  112  is able to receive a power cord  114  having a lighting element female connector  116  at one end and a male plug  118  at the opposite end, which can be engaged with a suitable wall outlet (not shown). Alternatively, as shown in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the plug  118  can be engaged within a complementary socket  113  disposed on an adjacent lighting element  102  in order to engage the pair of lighting elements  102  in series with one another. The length of the cord  114  can be selected as desired in order to enable the lighting elements  102  to be positioned in various configurations ( FIG. 5 ), such as in or not in alignment with one another, and cords  114  of various lengths can also be used to connect the lighting elements  102  to the power source and to one another in the desired configurations. 
         [0026]    Alternatively, or in conjunction with one or more cords  114 , adjacent lighting elements  102  can be interconnected using a rigid direct interconnecting member  120 , as shown in  FIG. 6 and 6A . This member  120  is formed with opposed ends being complementary to the sockets  112 , 113  in order to be engaged between the sockets  112 , 113  of immediately adjacent lighting elements  102  and positions the lighting elements  102  in direct alignment with and abutting one another when attached to the panel  12 . 
         [0027]    In still another exemplary embodiment, the brackets  104  can be configured and/or oriented on the lighting elements  102  to support the lighting elements  102  on the panel  12  in a vertical orientation, as shown in  FIG. 7 , as opposed to the horizontal orientation of  FIGS. 2-6 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8-11 , another exemplary embodiment of the lighting system  200  is illustrated. In this embodiment, the lighting elements  202  of the system  200  are releasably engaged within spring clips  206  that are in turn secured, optionally rotatably, to mounting brackets  208  configured to be engaged within the recesses  80  of the panel  12 . 
         [0029]    The mounting brackets  208  include a tab  210  at one end that is engageable within on recess  80  to support the bracket  208  on the panel  12 . Opposite the tab  210 , the bracket  208  includes a locking member  214 . The locking member  214  includes a head  216 , a shaft  218  connected to the head  216  and extending through the bracket  208  and a flange  220  disposed on the shaft  218  opposite the head  216 . When the locking member  212  is in the unlocked position, the flange  220  is aligned with the wide portion  82  of the recess  80  and can be inserted into the recess  80 . Within the recess  80 , the head  216  can be rotated, consequently rotating the shaft  218  and the flange  220 , moving the flange  218  into the narrow portion  84  of the recess  80 , thereby engaging the flange  220  within the narrow portion  84  and preventing the locking member  214  from being removed from the recess  80 . This process can be reversed when it is desired to disengage the locking member  214  and remove the bracket  208  from the panel  12 . 
         [0030]    On the bracket  208 , the clips  206  hold the lighting element  202  inserted into the clip  206 . The clips  206  frictionally hold the lighting element within opposed arms  226  of the clip  206  to allow the lighting elements  202  to be readily inserted and removed from the brackets  206  as desired. In addition, the clips  206  can be rotated relative to the bracket  208  in order to position the lighting element  202  at any desired angle on the panel  12  using a single bracket  208  with one or more clips  206  positioned thereon, or between multiple brackets  208  with one or more clips  206  thereon. Further, similarly to the prior embodiments in  FIGS. 3-7 , the lighting elements  202  can be interconnected with one another and with the power source (not shown) using a power transmission element, such as the cords  222  and/or direct interconnecting members  224  shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0031]    Various other embodiments of the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.