Patent Abstract:
An illuminated shelving system is provided having light bars attached to the shelves. The light bars are electrically connected to a power strip that conducts electricity from a wall outlet to a plurality of light bars.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/450,420 filed on Mar. 8, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of display shelving. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shelving system that incorporates low voltage light fixtures attached to one or more shelves. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In the retail environment, it is common for merchandise to be displayed on a series of adjustable shelves. Retail display shelving falls into two basic categories: (1) cases where shelves are supported by pins inserted into holes on each side of the case or (2) wall displays where a number of vertically oriented, slotted standards are attached to a wall and brackets having hooks designed to engage the slots support the shelves. 
         [0004]    It is desirable to present the merchandise displayed on the shelves in a way that is attractive and easily visible to a potential customer. One way to increase the visibility of merchandise is to provide adequate lighting. In many retail environments, the primary source of lighting is provided by ceiling mounted fixtures. Specific products may also be highlighted or accented through the use of spot lights. When non-illuminated shelving is used, the upper shelves cast shadows that result in less than optimal lighting for the lower shelves. 
         [0005]    There have been previous attempts to create shelving systems with integrated lighting, but those solutions present a number of shortcomings that the present invention seeks to address. Many such shelving systems essentially mounted existing light fixtures to the bottoms of already existing shelves. Such a solution presented the problem that each light fixture had a conventional plug that needed to be plugged into an outlet. For a system with fixed shelves, or shelves with a limited range of adjustment, the power cords could be relatively easily hidden. If the shelving has a broader range of adjustment, it is necessary to provide excess power cord, which is more difficult to hide. 
         [0006]    As such, there is a need for a retail shelving system that incorporates lighting into the shelves such that the shelves may be quickly, easily, and safely reconfigured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention relates to an illuminated shelving system with integrated lighting for displaying items. The illuminated shelving system includes at least one shelf that is removably attached to a shelf support that supports the shelf in a horizontal position. The shelf support further includes a power strip to which the plug is removably attached and which provides electrical power to the light bar. At least one light bar is attached to at least one of the shelves and includes a power cable. An electrical plug is attached to the free end of the power cable. Each shelf includes a channel that encloses the power cable. 
         [0008]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can lead to certain other objectives. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the disclosed embodiment, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an illuminated shelving system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the illumination components of the shelving system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an illuminated shelving system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a shelf of the shelving system of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a detail perspective view of the shelf of  FIG. 4 , showing the underside detail of the shelf; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a section view of a lamp bracket in accordance with the shelving system of  FIG. 3 , taken generally along the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an illuminated shelving system in accordance with the invention. The shelving system  100  includes shelves  102  attached to a shelf support  103 , light strips  104 , light strip power cords  105 , cord channels  106 , and plugs  108  that connect to a power strip  110  that, in turn, is connected to a power source by a power cord  112 . As shown, the shelves  102  are removably attached to the shelf support  103  and may be adjusted as required by the retailer to provide the proper spacing for displaying products. The light strips  104  are array of light emitting diodes (LED), but other lighting technologies such as halogen, fluorescent, or incandescent lamps may also be used without departing from the present invention. The light strips  104  may provide continuous brightness across the light strip, or may be configured to illuminate only certain portions of the shelf. Such a configuration allows the light strips  104  to provide accent lighting if so desired. 
         [0016]    The light strips  104  are removably attached to the bottom surface of as many of the shelves  102  as is desired. The light strips  104  may be attached to the shelf  102  by adhesive, hook and loop fastener, bracket, or other attachment means. Each light strip  104  may be removably attached to the power strip  110 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the illuminated shelving system of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  shows in greater detail how the lighting components themselves are interconnected. A light strip  104  is connected to a power strip  110  by a light strip power cord  105  and a plug  108 . As shown, the shelving system  100  includes a low voltage lighting system incorporating Light Emitting Diode (“LED”) lighting elements, including the power strip  110 , which is a low voltage power strip such that individual plugs are not necessary. Of course, other power strips may be used without departing from the invention. The power cord  105  and plug  108  may be separate components as shown in  FIG. 2 , or may be created as a single component. 
         [0018]    As shown, the power strip  110  is a continuous channel that provides much greater flexibility in terms of where the plug  108  is connected to the power strip  110  than a conventional electrical socket. Such flexibility allows the retailer to position the shelves  102  as desired without concern for where the plug  108  nay be connected to the power strip  110 . The plug  108  shown in the present embodiment is a “Twist and Lock” type, but other types may be used without departing from the invention. A cable channel  106  that guides the light strip power cord  105  from the light strip  104  to the power strip  110  is attached to the underside of each shelf  102  by double sided tape  114 . Other fastening means may also be used without departing from the invention. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 3-6  are perspective views of another embodiment of an illuminated shelving system  200  in accordance with the invention. Electrically, the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2  and the present embodiment are identical. Rather than attaching the light bar  104  directly to the underside of each shelf  102 , however, the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6  includes a bracket  202  that is attached to the front edge of an existing shelf  201 . The bracket  202  includes mounts  208  for attaching the light strip  204 , which is electrically attached to a power strip  210 . The bracket  202  may be made of extruded plastic that allows some of the light to illuminate price labels attached to the front of the bracket  206 . 
         [0020]    Although the invention has been herein described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. Rather, it is recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims and the description of the invention herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5