Patent Application
20150362164
Not applicable to this application.
Not applicable to this application.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a low voltage power supply for lighting and more specifically it relates to a lighting power supply system for providing efficient installation and operation of a low voltage power supply within an existing electrical box.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Low voltage power supplies are used to convert high voltage alternating current (AC) electrical power to low voltage direct current (DC) electrical power such as but not limited to 12 volts DC. Low voltage power supplies are used to provide electrical power to various items such as outdoor lighting, indoor lighting, light strips and flexible LED light strips. Light strips, such as flexible LED light strips, have become increasingly popular in various applications such as but not limited to under cabinet lighting, TV back lighting, staircase lighting, architectural lighting, bar lighting, kitchen lighting, toe kick lighting, ceiling cove lighting, decorations and vehicles. A flexible LED light strip is comprised of an elongated flexible strip of printed circuit board (PCB) having two or more electrically conductive traces to provide electrical power, a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED) attached along the front surface of the flexible strip and electrically connected to the conductive traces, and a length of adhesive along the back surface of the flexible strip. The LEDs may emit the same light or may change colors to provide a range of light options. Most conventional flexible LED light strips utilize a low-voltage 12V DC electrical power.
Conventional light strips, including flexible LED light strips, require a low voltage power supply to be electrically connected by an installer to a separate light switch and a dimmer control. Hence, the installer much install both the light switch (with or without a dimmer control switch) and the low voltage power supply when installing a light strip within a building structure.
One type of low voltage power supply is comprised of a box design that hangs on a wall with the low voltage wires ran through the wall to the light switch. The main problem with conventional power supplies is that they are awkward to install since they must be attached to a wall and then have wires ran through the wall to the light switch. Another problem with conventional power supplies is that they are bulky and unsightly making them difficult to install in a professional looking manner.
Another type of low voltage power supply is comprised of a wall outlet plugin that plugs directly into the wall with the AC/DC converter outside of the wall outlet and the low voltage wires extending from the converter. The main problem with wall outlet power supplies is that they are unsightly and require the low voltage wires to be exposed. Another problem is the wall outlet power supplies require an AC power wall outlet near the light switch.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved lighting power supply system for providing efficient installation and operation of a low voltage power supply within an existing electrical box.
The invention generally relates to a low voltage power supply for lighting which includes a housing formed and adapted to fit within a conventional electrical box, a low voltage power supply positioned within the housing and a power switch attached to the housing. The power switch is electrically connected to the low voltage power supply within the housing. A dimmer switch is attached to the housing and is electrically connected to the power switch to provide dimmable low voltage power to a light strip.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
a is a side view of the present invention.
b is a side cutaway view of the present invention positioned within an electrical box.
a is a side view of the present invention without a power switch.
b is a side cutaway view of the present invention without a power switch position within an electrical box.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,
The electrical box 14 is comprised of a box structure having a front opening that receives the housing 30 as illustrated in
The electrical box 14 is preferably comprised of a rectangular structure and in particular preferably comprised of a rectangular cuboid structure as illustrated in
The electrical box 14 is preferably comprised of a conventional switch box that is adapted to receive one or more electrical switches (e.g. a light switch, power outlet). For example, the electrical box 14 may be comprised of a new-work box, an old-work box, an outdoor box, a handy box and the like commonly utilized to house light switches. The electrical box 14 may be attached to the wall 12 such as the sheetrock and/or a stud within the wall 12 which is well known in the art of electrical box 14es.
The housing 30 includes a rear portion 34 and a front portion 32 as illustrated in
The housing 30 further preferably includes a front plate 20 having an upper bracket 22 with an upper opening 23 and a lower bracket 24 with a lower opening 25. The front plate 20 extends outwardly from a perimeter of the housing 30 preferably parallel with respect to a front surface of the front portion 32 of the housing 30 as illustrated in
The housing 30 has a shape and size that is smaller than the box interior 15 of the electrical box 14 as illustrated in
A low voltage power supply 60 is positioned within the housing 30 to provide a low voltage direct current power source for the light unit 11 electrically connected to the low voltage power supply 60.
The low voltage power supply 60 preferably is completely enclosed by the housing 30 as illustrated in
As shown in
A plurality of low voltage wires 19 extend through the housing 30 and are electrically connected to the low voltage power supply 60 as further shown in
a illustrate a single set (single pair) of low voltage wires 19 extending from the housing 30 to electrically power a single light unit 11.
The power switch 40 may be comprised of various switch structures capable of being opened to turn off the electrical power or closed to turn on the electrical power to the low voltage power supply 60.
A dimmer switch 50 is further preferably attached to the front portion 32 of the housing 30 for access by the user as illustrated in
The dimmer switch 50 is preferably comprised of a sliding switch having a first position for a first voltage level and a second position opposite of the first position for a second voltage level for the low voltage direct current, wherein the second voltage level is greater than the first voltage level. As the user moves the dimmer switch 50 from the first position towards the second position, the brightness of the light unit 11 is increased and when the user moves the dimmer switch 50 from the second position towards the first position the brightness of the light unit 11 is decreased.
As discussed previously, the present invention is designed to illuminate one or more light units 11. The light unit 11 is preferably comprised of a light strip and is further preferably comprised of a flexible light emitting diode (LED) light strip as illustrated iN
In use, the electrical box 14 is mounted within the wall 12 utilizing nails or other conventional fasteners 21. The user connects the high voltage wires 18 to the high voltage power supply 13 within the building and also connects the low voltage wires 19 to one or more light units 11. The user then positions the rear portion 34 of the housing 30 into the front opening of the electrical box 14 and aligns the upper opening 23 and the lower opening 25 of the brackets 22, 24 with the respective upper/lower tab apertures 16 within the electrical enclosure as illustrated in
The front plate 20 of the housing 30 is then secured to the electrical enclosure with conventional fasteners 21 as illustrated in
After everything is properly connected, the user then may close the power switch 40 to provide high voltage AC electrical power to the low voltage power supply 60 which converts the same to low voltage DC electrical power which powers the light unit 11. The dimmer switch 50 (if connected) may be used to control the brightness of the light unit 11 by controlling the voltage level provided to the light unit 11. When finished, the user may turn off the light unit 11 by opening the power switch 40.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
