Patent Publication Number: US-7210813-B2

Title: Combination lighting module and tool-less bus system utilizing the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e). of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/604,772, filed Aug. 26, 2004, under 35 U.S.C. § 111 (b). Application Ser. No. 60/604,772 is co-pending as of the date of this application, and is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to lighting. More particularly, the present invention relates to track lighting systems comprising lighting tracks, and fixtures which mount to the lighting tracks. Most particularly, the present invention relates to busways for providing multi-circuit lighting power, and a multi-function lighting module which mounts to existing busways. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Busways for providing multi-circuit lighting power are known in the art. Zumtobel Staff Lighting of Highland, N.Y. 12528 (USA) manufactures such a system. Typically, the bus system contains insulated power conductors for single or three phase power. Additionally, the power take-off means is provided by molded female connectors attached to the bus wires. This system, and any similar systems, have provided lighting modules that contain a single lamp type. For example, either fluorescent or incandescent, as the application required. However, in many lighting applications, two lighting sources are required in a single module, and this is not provided for with the present day lighting systems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To solve the problem of meeting the needs of retailers, or in any other application where two light sources are required in the same lighting module, the present invention combines two or more possible light source capabilities on a single lighting module wherein power is supplied by a bus system through a tool-less means of connection to provide, for example, a general “ambient” source, and a “focused” light source in a single module. For example, a fluorescent and an incandescent light source may be provided on a single module. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a known wired bus system with internal molded power connection. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective, view of a multi-function lighting module embodying the present invention, which attaches to the construction shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar in large part to  FIG. 2 , and showing, in addition, a pair of focused, or secondary light sources, or track heads. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of a further modification of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a further modification of the construction of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a known wired bus system  20 , such as that manufactured by Zumtobel Staff of Highland, N.Y., USA. System  20  may comprise such as at least one trunking portion  21 , closed by a pair of end caps  22 . Contained internally of the trunking  21  is the bus wiring or harness  24 . Power take-off is by means of molded female connectors or fixture receptacles  23 , which tap into, or electrically connect to selected bus wires ( 24 A–C) of wiring harness  24 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a multi-functional lighting module embodying the construction of the present invention, and being generally designated by the numeral  25  is shown. Multi-functional lighting module  25  has an axially extending body portion  26  having a pair of parallel, spaced apart, flanges  27 , for aligning with, and engaging the sides  27 A ( FIG. 1 ) of the trunking  21  of the bus system  20 . 
   Mechanically attached to the body portion  26  of multi-functional lighting module  25  are pair of lamp sockets  28 , which receive an ambient light source, such as fluorescent lamp  29 , in a manner well known in the art. Lamp sockets  28  are electrically connected to ballast  30 , which is mounted to body portion  26  of lighting module  25 . Ballast  30  is, in turn, electrically connected to a male fixture plug which, when inserted in a female fixture receptacle ( FIG. 1 ), supplies power to ballast  30 . Other “ambient” light sources may be attached to body portion  26  of lighting module  25 , if desired. A first male fixture plug  31  may be mounted to body portion  26 , if desired, depending on the application. While in the preferred embodiment, the first male fixture plug  31  is firmly attached to the body portion  26  of the multi-functional lighting module  25 , it is well within the scope of the present invention that the first male fixture plug  31  be mounted to the body portion  26  by any means well known in the art. It is also within the scope of the present invention that the first male fixture plug  31  be electrically connected to, for example the ballast, and not be attached to the body portion  26  at all. 
   Normally, the wiring harness  24  in the known pre-wired bus system  20  will be a standard 3-wire system having live, neutral and ground conductors ( 24 A–C), and may be referred to as a 3-wire single circuit system. As will be shown hereinafter, there are versions of the present invention which may simply plug into such a system. These are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , which will be discussed below. 
   However, the great versatility of the present invention can be seen by first referring to a system which can utilize a 5-wire female fixture plug  23 A. When five wires are available, they can be used to supply a 5-wire, 3 circuit system, or a single circuit and emergency lighting circuit. 
   A 5-wire, 3 circuit system can supply 3 different voltages. It would have the neutral and ground conductors of the single circuit system, but would have three different live conductors, each of which could be at a different potential with respect to the neutral conductor. The ground conductor would be a common ground for all three conductors. 
   The 5-wire single circuit and emergency lighting system comes into play when emergency lighting (not shown) is to be supplied by the multi-function lighting module  25  shown in  FIG. 2 . Since current electrical codes do not permits sharing of conductors for emergency lighting, two of the five conductors would be used just for the emergency lighting, while the other three would be the live, neutral and ground conductors described above for the standard 3-wire system. When the 5-wire single circuit and emergency lighting system is use, the standard wiring harness  24  found in the prior art trunking  21  is not used. 
   In the preferred embodiment, to attach multi-function lighting module  25  to bus system  20 , one or more twist-locking or CLIX type connectors  33 , are attached to body portion  26  of lighting module  25  at predetermined, desired, positions. Each of said twist-locking type connectors  33  has a pair of flanged portions  33 A which rotate, and which will engage flanges or grooves  33 B on trunking  21  ( FIG. 1 ) to hold the multi-function lighting module  25  to the trunking  21 . 
   To assemble multi-functional lighting module  25  to bus system  20 , the body portion  26  of lighting module  25  will be axially aligned with trunking  21 , whereby flanges  27  will be in substantial alignment with sides  27 A of trunking  21 . Hand connection, or continued movement of body portion  26  toward trunking  21  will cause the one or more male fixture plugs  31  to mate with the one or more female fixture receptacles  23  to provide electrical communication there between, and twisting of twist-locking connectors  33  will firmly mount multi-functional lighting module  25  to bus system  20 . 
   Since wiring for emergency lighting is normally not installed in trunking  21 , when a module  25  having emergency lighting (not shown is used, a five-wire emergency harness  34  having wiring as described above, and terminating in the female 5-wire connector  23 A is supplied. 5-wire male fixture plug  31  will plug into the female 5-wire connector  23 A. 
   5-wire male fixture plug  31  is wired by means well known in the art to supply current to the ballast  30 , which is, in turn, in electrical communication with lamps sockets  28 , to supply current to fluorescent lamp  29 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a further modification of the present invention. This modification will use the standard 3-wire circuit configuration described above. Mounted to, or attached to, or formed integrally with, body portion  26  of lighting module  25  may be at least one, and preferably, a pair of track heads  35 , having connectors  37 , for receiving a secondary, or focused, light source  39 , which may be such as spotlight  40 . Spotlight  40  may be supported by gimbal  41 . Gimbal  41  may have mounted thereon a male portion  37 B of a second connector  37 , which mates with a female portion  37 A, to hold gimbal  41  in place and electrically connect spotlight  41  to track head  35 . Track head  35  is electrically connected to 3-wire male connector or fixture plug  31 A to receive electrical power when lighting module  25  is mounted to trunking  21  as described hereinabove. If one, or both, secondary light sources  39  are not desired, a cover (not shown) can be provided in place of one, or both, track heads  35 . As before, ballast  30  is electrically connected to 3-wire male fixture plug  31 , and lamp sockets  28  are connected to ballast  30 . 
   There are thus provided two or more possible light source capabilities on a single lighting module wherein power is supplied through a standard bus system to a tool-less (no tools at all are required) means of connection to provide, for example, a general “ambient” source, and a “focused” light source in a single module. 
   The preferred embodiment described is designed to connect to a standard 3-wire wiring harness  24  found in a majority of lighting applications today. Thus, the “ambient” light source, represented by the fluorescent lamp  29 , and the “focused” light source, represented by the spotlight(s)  40  will be supplied by the same voltage supplied by the live, neutral, and ground conductors typically found in the wiring harness  24 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , there is shown in diagrammatic form, a modification of the present invention which can be used with the 5 wire-3 circuit wiring harness, such as indicated by the numeral  45 , which is becoming known in the art. Such a wiring harness will have first live ( 45 A), neutral ( 45 B), ground ( 45 C) and second live ( 45 D) and third live ( 45 E) conductors. The first live ( 45 A), neutral ( 45 B), ground ( 45 C) and second live ( 45 D) and third live ( 45 E) conductors will be connected to the female portion  46 A of a 5-wire power plug  46 , which may, but does not need to be, substantially similar to 5-wire female fixture receptacle  31 . A male portion  46 B of the 5-wire power plug  46  is shown schematically connected to an ambient light source  50 , a focused light source  51 , and an additional lighting source  52 . 
   By means of the novel construction described above, the needs of retailers and others who need two or more light sources in a single lighting module are supplied by a bus system through a tool less means of connection. A single multi-function lighting module can supply ambient and/or/focused and/or emergency and/or additional lighting.