Illuminated cabinet
10801717 ยท 2020-10-13
Assignee
Inventors
- Paul K. Smith (Archdale, NC, US)
- Jeffery R. Ratkus (Archdale, NC, US)
- Lucas J. Vermeer (Archdale, NC, US)
- Nicholas Klietsch (Archdale, NC, US)
- Nina Gueorguieva (Archdale, NC, US)
- Ronald Mann (Archdale, NC, US)
Cpc classification
F21V23/003
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
A47B88/919
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47B88/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
F21W2131/301
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21Y2115/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/0471
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21Y2103/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
A47B97/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47B2220/0077
HUMAN NECESSITIES
F21V33/0012
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F21V33/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
A47B97/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A cabinet and a kit for retrofitting a cabinet are disclosed. The cabinet includes a stationary box, at least one moveable wing attached to the stationary box and configured to open and close relative to the stationary box. The at least one moveable wing includes at least one of a door hinged to the stationary box or a drawer mounted via slide actuators to the stationary box. The cabinet also includes a reed switch attached to the stationary box, a magnet attached to the at least one moveable wing, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) fixture installed within the stationary box. Opening the at least one wing separates the reed switch from the magnet and permits current to flow to the at least one LED fixture to illuminate at least an interior portion of the stationary box.
Claims
1. A power distribution module comprising: a housing configured to be incorporated into at least one of a box or a cabinet, the housing having a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, the second edge opposite the first edge, the third edge extending between the first and second edges; an input port defined in the first edge of the housing, the input port having a plurality of discrete input channels, the input port configured to receive a multi-signal connector to electrically couple the power distribution module to a source of energy; an output port defined in the second edge of the housing, the output port having a plurality of discrete output channels with each output channel of the plurality of discrete output channels in electrical communication with a single input channel of the plurality of discrete input channels, the output port configured to receive a multi-signal connector to electrically couple the power distribution module to a power distribution module of another cabinet; and a circuit port defined in the third edge of the housing, the circuit port having a plurality of discrete circuit connectors with each circuit connector in electrical communication with a single input channel of the plurality of discrete input channels and a single output channel of the plurality of discrete output channels.
2. A power distribution system comprising: a first power distribution module comprising: a first housing configured to be incorporated into at least one of a first box or a first cabinet, the first housing having a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, the second edge opposite the first edge, the third edge extending between the first and second edges; an first input port defined in the first edge of the first housing, the first input port having a plurality of discrete input channels, the first input port configured to receive a multi-signal connector to electrically couple the first power distribution module to a source of energy; an first output port defined in the second edge of the first housing, the first output port having a plurality of discrete output channels with each output channel of the plurality of discrete output channels in electrical communication with a single input channel of the plurality of discrete input channels; and a first circuit port defined in the third edge of the first housing, the first circuit port having a plurality of discrete circuit connectors with each circuit connector in electrical communication with a single input channel of the plurality of discrete input channels and a single output channel of the plurality of discrete output channels; a second power distribution module comprising: a second housing configured to be incorporated into at least one of a second box or a second cabinet, the second housing having a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, the second edge opposite the first edge, the third edge extending between the first and second edges; an second input port defined in the second edge of the second housing, the second input port having a plurality of discrete input channels; an second output port defined in the second edge of the second housing, the second output port having a plurality of discrete output channels with each output channel of the plurality of discrete output channels in electrical communication with a single input channel of the plurality of discrete input channels; and a second circuit port defined in the third edge of the second housing, the second circuit port having a plurality of discrete circuit connectors with each circuit connector in electrical communication with a single input channel of the plurality of discrete input channels and a single output channel of the plurality of discrete output channels; and a first multichannel interconnector connected at a first end to the first output port and at a second end opposite the first end to the second input port to electrically couple each input channel of the first input port with a single output channel of the second output port.
3. The power distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising: a first light source connected to a first circuit connector of the first circuit port, the first circuit connector of the first circuit port electrically coupled to a first channel of the first and second input ports; a second light source connected to a first circuit connector of the second circuit port, the first circuit connector of the second circuit port electrically coupled to the first channel; a first switch remote to the first and second housings and in electrical communication with the first channel having an activated mode in which energy is provided to the first channel such that illumination of the first and second light sources is activated and a deactivated mode in which illumination of the first and second light sources is deactivated.
4. The power distribution system according to claim 3, further comprising: a third light source electrically coupled to a second circuit connector of the first circuit port, the second circuit connector of the first circuit port electrically coupled to a second channel of the first and second input ports; a fourth light source electrically coupled to a second circuit connector of the second circuit port, the second circuit connector of the second circuit port electrically coupled to the second channel; a second switch connected between the fourth light source and the second circuit connector of the second circuit port, the second switch configured to activate and deactivate illumination of the fourth light source; and a third switch connected between the third light source and the second circuit connector of the first circuit port, the third switch configured to activate and deactivate illumination of the third light source independent of the illumination of the fourth light source.
5. The power distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising a driver electrically coupled to each input channel of the first input port and configured to provide electrical energy to each input channel independent of the other input channels.
6. The power distribution system according to claim 5, further comprising a first switch remote to the first and second housings and in electrical communication with a first channel of the driver, the first switch having an activated mode in which the first switch provides energy to a first channel of the first and second input ports and a deactivated mode in which the first switch prevents energy delivery to the first channel of the first and second input ports.
7. The power distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the first switch is configured to simultaneously control illumination of a first light source connected to the first circuit port and a second light source connected to the second circuit port.
8. The power distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the driver has a second channel electrically coupled to a second channel of the first and second input ports and configured to provide constant energy through the second channel.
9. The power distribution system according to claim 8, further comprising a first light source in selective electrical communication with the second channel and a second light source in selective electrical communication with the second channel independent of the first light source.
10. The power distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the first light source is in selective electrical communication with the first circuit port and the second light source is in selective electrical communication with the second circuit port.
11. The power distribution system according to claim 5, further comprising: a first box, the first housing mounted within the first box; and a second box, the second housing mounted within the second box.
12. The power distribution system according to claim 11, wherein the driver is mounted remote to the first and second boxes.
13. A power distribution system comprising: a driver; a first power distribution module having a first housing, the first housing configured to be mounted to a first cabinet or a first box; a second power distribution module having a second housing, the second housing configured to be mounted to a second cabinet or a second box, the second power distribution module coupled to the first power distribution module, the second power distribution module configured to receive energy from the driver via the first power distribution module; a discrete first power channel extending from the driver, through the first power distribution module, and the second power distribution module; a second discrete power channel extending from the driver, through the first power distribution module, and the second power distribution module, the driver configured to provide constant energy to the second power channel.
14. The power distribution system according to claim 13, further comprising: a first switch disposed in the first power channel between the driver and the first power distribution module, the first switch having an activated mode in which energy is provided to the first power channel and a deactivated mode in which energy delivery to the first power channel is prevented.
15. The power distribution system according to claim 14, further comprising: a first light source directly connected to the first housing and electrically coupled to the first channel; and a second light source directly connected to the second housing and electrically coupled to the first channel, illumination of the first and second light sources each controlled by the first switch.
16. The power distribution system according to claim 15, further comprising: a third light source electrically coupled to the second channel; and a fourth light source electrically coupled to the second channel, illumination of the third and fourth light sources controlled independent of one another.
17. The power distribution system according to claim 16, wherein the third light source is installed is connected to the first housing and the fourth light source is connected to the second housing.
18. The power distribution system according to claim 17, wherein illumination of the third light source is controlled by a second switch directly connected to the first housing between the first housing and the third light source, and wherein illumination of the fourth light source is controlled by a third switch installed directly connected to the second housing between the second housing and the fourth light source.
19. The power distribution system according to claim 13, further comprising: a first box, the first housing mounted within the first box; and a second box, the second housing mounted within the second box.
20. The power distribution system according to claim 19, wherein the driver is mounted remote to the first and second boxes.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(9) Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. The embodiments described provide examples and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments, and modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such other embodiments, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. Features from one embodiment or aspect may be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments may be applied to apparatus, product or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa.
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(11) The cabinet 10 of
(12) In one embodiment, shown in
(13) The reed switch 50 can be attached to a portion of the stationary box 12, for example, the face frame 14. The magnet 55 is attached to the at least one moveable wing 26. When the respective wing 26 is in a closed position, the magnet 55 is mounted to be in close proximity, such as within about two inches, to the reed switch 50. Using the reed switch 50, the act of opening the at least one wing 26 separates the magnet 55 from the reed switch 50 to trigger illumination of the LED fixture 40. In the case of a normally-closed reed switch, separating the reed switch from the magnet 55 permits current to flow to the at least one LED fixture 40 directly through the reed switch.
(14) In one embodiment, as shown in
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(16) The reed switch 50, used in combination with a magnet 55, is preferred over mechanical plunger-type switches, which are often used with wings on devices such as refrigerators and clothes dryers. The reed switch 50 is preferred because mechanical plungers rely on direct contact to provide a pressing force on the plunger. Direct contact could be interrupted if used in cabinetry because the door 28 of a cabinet 10 could experience warpage caused by the effect of humidity on the door material, which is typically wood or a wood product. The door 28 of a cabinet 10 could also experience door sag caused by weak or misaligned hinges, or door-to-cabinet separation caused by hinge misalignment, or material interference such as the application of door bumpers. Additionally, drawers can experience slide misalignment causing racking, i.e., sideways movement of the drawer box with respect to the cabinet interior, or material interference such as the application of drawer bumpers to the face of the drawer box. Reed switches 50 do not require direct physical contact between the switch and the magnet 55, maintaining reliability where plungers may fail. In addition, the use of a reed switch 50 introduces additional tolerances into the process of assembling a cabinet 10 because the reed switch and magnet do not require precise alignment.
(17) Further, unlike reed switches used as a sensor such as found in an alarm system or the like which transmit a signal, state, or condition back to a central processing unit, the reed switch 50 of the present disclosure may act as a power transmission device relying on its ability to break or close an electrical circuit to directly supply or restrict electrical power to an LED load with the intent of lighting cabinetry. In other words, in some embodiments, the electrical current path passes exclusively through the reed switch to the LED load.
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(19) As possibly best seen in
(20) Additionally, in one embodiment, attachment of the mounting clip 120 to the substantially horizontal second leg 114 of each bracket 110 in
(21) As mentioned above, cabinets 10, 100 are often found in sets.
(22) To improve the manufacturing and installation processes of cabinets used in groups, the present disclosure further contemplates an improved power distribution system. The light sources primarily contemplated by the present disclosure employ light emitting diodes (LEDs), which typically operate with direct current (DC). LED light sources are typically used in combination with an AC/DC converter commonly referred to as a driver. Previously, each light fixture, or each cabinet, would be provided with their own driver, which would receive power from a standard 120 v wall socket as shown in
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(24) In another embodiment, an alternative power distribution system 200, shown in
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(26) The master input port 220 is configured to be capable of simultaneously receiving a first quantity of signals n through a single connector, where n is equal to the number of circuit connectors 230 in the signal distribution module 210. The master output port 225 is configured to be capable of simultaneously transmitting n signals through a single connector, where n is equal to the number of circuit connectors 230 in the signal distribution module 210. Thus, the signal distribution module 210 facilitates a pass-through from the master input port 220 to the master output port 225.
(27) As shown in
(28) From this description, it can be seen that the multiple signals available from the driver 150 can be passed from cabinet to cabinet in series using a single multi-signal transmission cable 170 per cabinet when each cabinet is provided with a signal distribution module 210. Therefore, the need to connect each cabinet, or each LED light source 40, 45, to the driver 150 individually can be avoided. Further, each circuit connector 230 of the signal distribution module 210 can be operably connected to separate functioning light sources 40, 45 associated with each cabinet. Therefore, for example, a manufacturer may attach the signal distribution module 210 to the stationary box 12 (
(29) In one embodiment, a controller 240 (see
(30) The signal distribution system 200, of which one embodiment is illustrated in
(31) One example of a power distribution system 200 is schematically illustrated in
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(34) Continuing with the schematic of
(35) Other power distribution arrangements and lighting component operations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a splitter may be inserted between one of the signal connectors 230 and multiple LED light sources 40, 45 that are intended to function together. For example, movement of a door may lead to operation of multiple light sources, such as one light source per shelf within a cabinet. Other light sources may be installed within a cabinet to be operated independent of the movement of the door. If a cabinet door is transparent, for example, lighting may be desired within the cabinet to display to contents of the cabinet, where the lighting is not operated solely as a result of opening the door.
(36) Although the above disclosure has been presented in the context of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.