Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a light fixture for a merchandiser, and more particularly to an adjustable light fixture. 
     Conventional light fixtures generally include a frame or bracket that attach to a portion of a merchandiser (e.g., shelf, mullion, canopy) and that support a light (e.g., LEDs) for illuminating a display area of the merchandiser. Existing light fixtures are often secured to the merchandiser using a magnet or a fastener (e.g., screw or bolt). Typically, conventional light fixtures must be replaced with another light fixture to modify the angle of illumination of the light or other aspects of the light. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one construction, the invention provides a light fixture assembly including a bracket defined by an arcuate base and a clip dovetailed to the bracket within the base. The clip and the bracket define cooperative serrations to permit rotatable adjustment of the clip relative to the base about a longitudinal axis to provide different orientations for a light source within the case. 
     In another construction, the invention provides a light fixture including a bracket including a truncated arcuate-shaped base that has an arcuate channel disposed in an inner arcuate surface of the base and extending from one end of the base to another end of the base. The light fixture also includes a clip that is shaped to couple a light source to the light fixture and that includes a guide member coupled to the bracket within the channel. The clip is rotatable up to 180° relative to the bracket within the channel to arcuately adjust the light source to provide different orientations for the light source. 
     In another construction, the invention provides a light fixture for a merchandiser. The light fixture includes an arcuate bracket having a first surface and a track. The first surface includes first serrations on opposite sides of the track. The light fixture also includes an arcuate clip including a light attachment and a guide member. The light attachment includes a second surface extending on opposite sides of the guide member and has second serrations. The guide member is movably received within the track, and the first and second serrations cooperate in order to adjust the clip relative to bracket. 
     In another construction, the invention provides a merchandiser including a case that defines a product display area and that has at least one of a canopy disposed over the product display area and a shelf positioned in the product display area. The merchandiser also includes a light fixture that is coupled to at least one of the canopy and the shelf. The light fixture includes a bracket that is defined by an arcuate base and a clip dovetailed to the bracket within the base. The clip and the bracket define cooperative serrations to permit rotatable adjustment of the clip relative to the base about a longitudinal axis defined by the arcuate base to provide different orientations for a light source within the case. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a merchandiser having a light assembly. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view of a light fixture including a bracket and a clip embodying the invention and supporting the light assembly on the merchandiser. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a side view of the light fixture. 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a top view of the light fixture. 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates a perspective view of the light fixture. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a front view of the bracket of  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a side view of the bracket of  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a top view of the bracket of  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates a perspective view of the bracket of  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a front view of the clip of  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a side view of the clip of  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
         FIG. 4C  illustrates a top view of the clip of  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
         FIG. 4D  illustrates a perspective view of the clip of  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a merchandiser  10  for displaying food product (e.g., frozen food, fresh food, beverages, etc.) available to consumers in a retail setting (e.g., a supermarket or grocery store). The merchandiser  10  includes a case  15  that has a base  20 , side walls  25 , a case top or canopy  30 , and a rear wall  35 . At least a portion of a refrigeration system (not shown) can be located within the case  15  to refrigerate the food product. In other constructions, a heating system can be located within the case  15  to heat the food product. The area partially enclosed by the base  20 , the side walls  25 , the case top  30 , and the rear wall  35  defines a product display area  40 . The food product is supported on shelves  45  within the product display area  40 . 
     As illustrated, the case  15  includes a frame  50  adjacent a front of the merchandiser  10 .  FIG. 1  shows that the frame  50  includes vertical mullions  55  that define openings  60 , and doors  65  positioned over the openings  60 . The openings  60  and the doors  65  are allow access to food product stored in the product display area  40 . The mullions  55  are spaced horizontally along the case  15  to provide structural support for the case  15 . Each mullion  55  is defined by a structural member that can be formed from a non-metallic or metallic material. A handle  70  is positioned along an edge of each door  65  to move the door  65  between an open position and a closed position. In some constructions, the merchandiser  10  can be provided without doors (e.g., the merchandiser  10  can be an open-air merchandiser). 
     Each door  65  includes a frame  75  that attaches a translucent member  80  to the door  65  to allow viewing of the food product from outside the case  15 . The translucent member  80  can be formed from glass, or alternatively, from other materials that are substantially translucent (e.g., acrylic, etc.). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4D , the product display area  40  is illuminated by one or more light assemblies including light fixtures  100  that support a light source  101  (e.g., fluorescent, LED, etc.). For example, one or more light fixtures  100  can be coupled to the canopy  30  to illuminate the product display area  40  from above. Alternatively or in addition, one or more light fixtures  100  can be coupled to one or more of the shelves  45 , the mullions  55 , or other parts of the case  15 . 
       FIGS. 2-4  show that the light fixture  100  includes a bracket  102  ( FIGS. 3A-3D ) and a clip  104  that is adjustable relative to the bracket  102 . As illustrated, the bracket  102  and the clip  104  of the light fixture  100  are arcuately shaped, although other mating shapes are possible. The relative dimensions of the bracket  102  and the clip  104  can vary depending on the application (e.g., the track  114  and guide member  128  may be wider or narrower). Also, more than one track  114  and corresponding guide members  128  can be provided. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3A-3D , the bracket  102  includes a body that has an arcuate portion or base  106  and mounting portions  108  extending from lateral edges of the substantially arcuate portion  106 . Each mounting portion  108  includes an aperture  110  that receives a fastener (e.g., a self-tapping screw, bolt, etc.) to attach the bracket  102  to a shelf or wall (not shown) of the merchandiser  10 . 
     The bracket  102  defines an axis A about which the arcuate portion  106  is curved. The arcuate portion  106  has an arcuate surface  112  and a central channel or track  114  that extends between first and second ends  116 ,  118  of the arcuate portion  106  along the arcuate surface  112  (i.e., along the curvature of the arcuate portion). The arcuate portion  106  also has a plurality of closely spaced first ridges or ribs or serrations  120  disposed midway between the first and second ends  116 ,  118  extending substantially parallel to the axis A on lateral sides of the track  114 . It should be noted that the bracket  102  may include more or less ridges  120  along the surface  112 . The track  114  has a recessed surface  121  and first and second sides  122   a ,  122   b  that define first and second recessed grooves  123   a ,  123   b  extending between the first and second ends  116 ,  118 . In the illustrated construction, the track  114  is substantially rectangular in cross-section, although other shapes are possible. 
       FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate that the clip  104  is defined by a truncated arcuately shaped (e.g., cylindrical) body that can nest in the base  106 . The clip  104  has a first end  124  and a second end  126  located arcuately opposite the first end  124 . As illustrated, the clip  104  has a longer arcuate length than the bracket  102  such that the ends  124 ,  126  extend beyond the ends  116 ,  118  of the base  106 . The clip  104  also has a track guide member  128  and a light attachment  130  that is disposed within an interior of the arcuately-shaped guide member  128 . As illustrated, the guide member  128  and the light attachment  130  are formed as a single piece, although the guide member  128  and the light attachment  130  can be formed as separate pieces that are connected or attached to each other. In the illustrated construction, the guide member  128  is substantially rectangularly shaped in cross-section, although the shape will generally match the shape of the track  114 . 
     The guide member  128  extends between the first and second ends  124 ,  126  and has a curved outer surface  134  that is mateable with the recessed surface  121 . While the illustrated outer surface  134  has a substantially smooth surface contour, non-smooth contours are possible and considered herein. The guide member  128  also has first and second laterally-disposed tapered edges  136   a ,  136   b . The first tapered edge  136   a  is mateable with the first groove  123   a  and the second tapered edge  136   b  is mateable with the second recessed groove  123   b , as described in detail below. While the illustrated guide member  128  has the tapered edges  136   a ,  136   b  to secure the clip  104  within grooves  123   a ,  123   b , other suitable ways of coupling the guide member  128  within the track  114  may be implemented to enable the clip  104  to rotate relative to the bracket  102 . 
     The light attachment  130  extends along the axis A beyond the lateral edges  136   a ,  136   b  of the guide member  128  and has an arcuate interior surface  138  that defines an elongated channel  140  to support the light source  101 . As shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 C, and  4 D, projections  142  extend outward and generally downward (as viewed in  FIGS. 4A and 4D ) from the interior surface  138 . The projections  142  are engageable with engagement portions (e.g., tabs—not shown) of the light source  101  to removably secure the light source  101  to the clip  104  in a snap-fit arrangement. In other constructions, the light source  101  can be attached to the dip  104  by other attachment mechanisms. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4B-4D , the light attachment  130  also has exterior surfaces  144  that define plurality of closely spaced second ridges or ribs or serrations  146  that are engageable with the first serrations  120 . As illustrated, the second serrations  146  extend along the entire exterior surfaces  144  between the first and second ends  124 ,  126 . That is, the second serrations  146  extend laterally outward on either side of the guide member  128 . As illustrated, the second serrations extend laterally outward on both sides of the guide member  128 . In other constructions, the second serrations  146  can be disposed along portions of the exterior surfaces  144 . 
     The guide member  128  is sized and shaped to engage the track  111  from adjacent ends  116 ,  118  of the base  106 . With the guide member  128  engaged with the track  114 , the clip  104  and the light  100  can rotate relative to the bracket  102  about the axis A. With reference to  FIGS. 2A-4D , the light fixture  100  is assembled by rotatably attaching the clip  104  to the bracket  102 . To accomplish this, the guide member  128  is aligned with and inserted into the track  114  so that the tapered edges  136   a ,  136   b  engage the recessed grooves  123   a ,  123   b  and the outer surface  144  is slidably engaged with the recessed surface  121 . The guide member  128  can slide along the recessed surface  121  of the track  114 . Upon engagement of the bracket  102  and the clip  104 , the first and second serrations  120 ,  146  are meshed together to resist rotational movement of the clip  104  (and the light source  101 ) relative to the bracket  102 . That is, the first and second serrations  120 ,  146  define mating surfaces that cooperatively define a frictional interference between the bracket  102  and the clip  104 . As illustrated, the clip  104  can rotate approximately 180° about the axis A when a force is applied to the first end  124  or the second end  126  of the clip  104 . 
     As described above, fasteners are inserted into the apertures  110  to secure the light fixture  100  to the case or another structure. The light source  101  can be coupled to the light fixture  100  before or after the mounting bracket  102  is attached to the desired structure. To attach and retain the light source  101  in the clip  104 , the light source  101  is placed within the channel  140  so that the attachment mechanism of the light source  101  engages the projections  142  (e.g., in a snap-fit arrangement). the With the light source  101  secured to the light fixture  100 , the clip  104  can be rotated to achieve a desired orientation for the light source  101  by applying pressure adjacent the first end  124  or the second end  126  depending on the desired direction of orientation. In some constructions, the light source  101  can be engaged with the clip  104  in such a manner that the light source  101  presses on or flexes the ends  124 ,  126  of the clip  104 . Flexing the ends  124 ,  126  increases the frictional interference between the bracket  102  and the clip  104  to provide a higher resistance to rotation of the clip  104  relative to the base  106 . 
     The position of the clip  104  relative to the bracket  102 , and therefore the light source  101  relative to the product display area, is held via the resistance generated by the tooth-like mating interface between the first and second serrations  120 ,  146 . The resistance generated by the first and second serrations  120 ,  146  is strong enough to inhibit inadvertent movement of the clip  104  while permitting desired movement. Also, due to the engagement of the light source  101  by the projections  142 , the light source  101  can be removed and replaced by another light assembly. Additionally, it should also be understood that the clip  104  could be constructed to receive different sizes and shapes of LEDs. 
     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claim.

Technology Category: 1