The present invention relates to a lighting system for illuminating product arrayed in the interior of a cabinet display case.
Lighting systems used to illuminate the interiors of cabinet display cases such as refrigerated display coolers can be found in most any grocery or convenience store. Originally such display refrigerators were lit with incandescent lamps very much like a typical refrigerator. The move to florescent lamps was an improvement that decreased the amount of heat generated by the lighting system. Most recently the use of light emitting diodes (LEDs) has been introduced to further decrease heat generation and to reduce the amount of electrical consumption.
The main problem that still exists when using LEDs in a cabinet display case is configuring the lights to illuminate product displayed therein. Light emitting diodes have a generally cone shaped light output when considering their intensity which means that much of the light output will be concentrated unevenly upon the displayed products if not directed into other areas besides the product. Methods to achieve the goal of even distribution of light have included: mounting the LEDs in a multitude of locations within the cabinet display case; physically orienting the LEDs toward the product; and use of reflective surfaces to redistribute the LEDs light output.
One solution taught by Wing in U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,180 is to place the LEDs on the end of the shelves that hold the product to be illuminated but this presents the problem of increasing or decreasing the amount of light based on the number of shelves used. It also requires that each shelf have wires running to and from it which creates a messy tangle when reconfiguring shelves. The only alternative is to wire the back of the cabinet with electrical connectors at each and every shelf support mount which would create a major cost deterrent due to the number of components and the more involved manufacturing method.
Other solutions attempted to mount the lights in the door but these solutions did not provide for proper lighting of the product once the cabinet door was open. The light sources also incurred repeated movement and shocks with the door opening and closing. These shocks have little effect on the LEDs but do have a detrimental effect on the wiring for the system. The wiring for door mounted LEDs itself had, by necessity, to be placed near the door axis which increased the instances of the wires becoming wedged in the door seals and therefore compromising the thermal integrity of the cabinet display case.
A solution put forth by Artwohl in U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0195535 was to use an array of LEDs mounted in the mullions between or at the sides of refrigerated cabinet doors. This florescent light replacement solution had been anticipated by such inventors as Chen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,689 or Rudick in U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,269 but both lacked the ability to direct the necessary light toward the product in an even and consistent manner. Artwohl tried to improve upon Chen through the use of reflective surfaces but only a small percentage of the light could be directed to the most visible parts of the products arranged on the shelves.
Therefore what is needed is an LED generated light source system for use in a display cabinet that can be mounted in a mullion between doors, that could be easily and simply installed, that emits the majority of the light produced by the LEDs in an even and consistent distribution towards the product that is displayed on the shelves within the cabinet.
To meet these needs, the present invention provides an illumination system of LED light sources mounted to a base. The base being designed to be mounted onto or within a mullion of a display case that can be easily and simply installed without the need of obtrusive wiring. The light output of the LEDs being directed via a lens in a manner that projects the light in an even distribution to illuminate product on the shelves of the cabinet display case.
One aspect of the present invention is that the fully integrated and enclosed system is available in lengths common to the size of typical display cases and can be used alone or in combination to span any sized mullion.
Another beneficial aspect of the present invention is that the lighting apparatus is electrically connectable so that only one electrical conductor is needed for any one mullion reducing wire clutter inside the cabinet.
Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a light directing lens that distributes the light of the LEDs in a distribution pattern substantially 70 degrees to 90 degrees left and right of the cross section of the light so that a majority of the light is directed to products on a shelf within the display case.
An additional aspect of the present invention is that the elements of the present invention can be easily manufactured with a single printed circuit board with LEDs mounted perpendicular to the printed circuit board. The advantage of such a manufacture technique is its ability to be produced using an automated manufacturing process.
Further advantages of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be better understood and objects of the invention will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in detail sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
Illustrated in
The cabinet display case (1) includes a pair of doors (5) giving access to the cabinet's (1) interior through the apertures (3). Between the apertures (3) is the vertical structural member or mullion (7) to which the present invention may be mounted within or onto. Many cabinet display cases (1) have more than two apertures (3) and therefore a plurality of mullions (7) to which the invention may be applied.
Each end of the lighting system (10) includes and end cap (32) which fulfills a number of functions. Primarily the end caps (32) provide integrity to the lighting system (10) holding the exterior components together and retaining the interior components inside the unit. The screw hole (34) in the end cap (32) provides a means to attach the end cap (32) to the base (12) through the agency of a tension channel (18) integrated into the base, but it is anticipated that many other means for fixing the end cap (32) to the base (12) are known to those skilled in the art. The end cap (32) also includes a conductor throughput (36) through which electrical conductors (not shown) for the lighting system (10) may be run. The conductor throughput (36) may be designed as simply an access point for wiring or include means to anchor the wires with a conduit plug (38). The conduit plug (38) allows passage of wires into the lighting system, an anchor point to prevent disconnection and a seal to prevent foreign material from entering the interior. It is anticipated that the conduit plug (38) may also include electrical contacts forming an electrical connector or pluggable connector for quick and easy connection of electrical conductors directly to the circuit connector (24) of the printed circuit board (20). The end cap (32) may also include the means for mounting the lighting system to the mullion (7) of the cabinet display case (1). The end cap shown in
Additional mounting means and apparatus may be required to properly support a lighting system (10) of considerable length. A medial mount (42) may be attached to the mullion (7) and be engaged to the lighting system (10). The medial mount (42) illustrated in
The printed circuit board (20) is placed in the trough formed by the base (12). The bezel (26) is situated relative to the printed circuit board (20) so that the lenses (30) are positioned directly above the light emitting diodes (22). The contour of the interior of the bezel may be formed so that the printed circuit board (20) nests or interlocks into the bezel (26) to guarantee proper relative placement. The bezel (26) is retained by the base (12) within a pair of bezel retaining channels (16) integrated into the sides of the base (12) although other methods may be known to those skilled in the art.
By combining the cross sectional output pattern in
The ability to redirect the light of a light emitting diode (22) in such a manner as to allocate equivalent amounts of light to products both close and distant proximity will allow the even and consistent lighting of product (9) within a cabinet display case (1) while also preserving an uncomplicated placement of the lighting system (10) to the mullion (7) and a simplified manufacturing process with a coplanar printed circuit board (20) in relation to the base (12) and the use of standard automated pick and place techniques for mounting the light emitting diodes (22) to a printed circuit board (20).
It should be appreciated from the foregoing description and the many variations and options disclosed that, except when mutually exclusive, the features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with features of other embodiments as desired while remaining within the intended scope of the disclosure.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments and combinations of elements will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the above description and accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.