GB2616407A

GB2616407A - Cabinet lighting system

Info

Publication number: GB2616407A
Application number: GB2202307.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Khellaf Fariz
Original assignee: L&Co Trading Ltd
Current assignee: L&Co Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2022-02-21
Filing date: 2022-02-21
Publication date: 2023-09-13
Also published as: GB202202307D0

Abstract

The lighting system, particularly for attachment to an underside and/or inside surface of a cabinet, comprises tape 106 including a fastening part 112 (e.g., adhesive) for attaching to the cabinet, a magnetic part 114 with magnetic material (e.g., ferrous material such as stainless steel), and a conducting part 116 with first 118 and second 120 conduction paths, and a lighting unit including a magnetic coupling (e.g., a bar magnet or electromagnet). When the lighting unit is held onto the tape by attraction between the magnetic coupling and the magnetic material, the conduction paths connect positive and negative terminals of the lighting unit to corresponding terminals of a power supply (e.g., a 24-volt power supply). Also claimed is the tape, which may also comprise a flexible non-metallic substrate including the magnetic material, and/or an electrical insulator 122 to separate the conduction paths. The magnetic material may be non-conducting.

Description

CABINET LIGHTING SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

[1] The present disclosure relates to a system for providing under cabinet lighting, and also to magnetic and conducting tape used in such a system. More specifically the present disclosure relates to a system which allows under cabinet lighting to be easily replaceable (i.e. attachable and removeable) or interchangeable.

Background

[2] Under cabinet lighting is of course very well-known, particularly in kitchens, for illuminating work surfaces arranged beneath the cabinet.

[3] Often such under cabinet lighting requires specialist installation, for example in order to connect electrical power from mains supply in nearby walls to the lighting. Despite requiring specialist skills, such installation can usually be readily achieved without great difficulty as it is typically performed at a time when the cabinet is first secured to the wall. However it is not always equally as straight forward to perform maintenance on the lighting -e.g. in order to replace a faulty light -or to install under cabinet lighting separate to the cabinet itself [4] Another problem faced by consumers is that, owing to the aforementioned installation difficulties, it is typical for a kitchen cabinet to come with a set type of lighting unit pre-configured to operate with that cabinet, by e.g., having a body shaped matched to a specific housing part of the cabinet. Thus if a consumer wishes to change only the lighting type (e.g. a white only light for a colour variable one) they must either obtain a specific replacement lighting unit or replace the entire cabinet.

[5] Hence a new approach to undercabinet lighting which attempts to address such deficiencies is highly desirable.

Summary

[6] The present invention is defined according to the independent claims. Additional features will be appreciated from the dependent claims and the description herein. Any embodiments which are described but which do not fall within the scope of the claims are to be interpreted merely as examples useful for a better understanding of the invention.

[7] The example embodiments have been provided with a view to addressing at least some of the difficulties that are encountered with current under cabinet lighting whether those difficulties have been specifically mentioned above or will otherwise be appreciated from the discussion herein or more generally.

[8] In particular, in one aspect of the invention there may be provided a cabinet lighting system comprising a power supply, at least one lighting unit comprising magnetic coupling means, and tape for magnetically holding the at least one lighting unit in place and conducting electrical current from the power supply to the lighting unit. The tape comprises a fastening part comprising means to attach the tape to the cabinet, a magnetic part comprising magnetic material which attracts to the magnetic coupling means of the at least one lighting unit, and an electrical conduction part comprising a first conduction path and a second conduction path. When the at least one lighting unit is held in abutment with the tape by magnetic attraction between magnetic coupling means of the lighting unit and the magnetic part of the tape, the first and second conduction paths respectively connect a positive and a negative terminal of the power supply to a corresponding positive and negative terminal of the at least one lighting unit.

[9] The system allows for greater ease of inter-changeability of lighting units within the lighting system compared to prior art lighting systems which are not as versatile. A user of the described lighting system may readily adapt the lighting system without a need to call in specialist lighting/electrical experts to do so. Further advantageously, a number of lighting units may be magnetically attached to the tape such that a multi-light system may be readily deployed with almost no additional effort compared to installing up a single light system.

[10] In another aspect of the invention there is also provided a tape for use in the above system, but which may also be readily employed to adapt other lighting systems for conducting electrical current to a device magnetically coupled to the tape also. The tape comprises a fastening part comprising means to attach the tape to a surface; a magnetic part comprising magnetic material which attracts to an externally provided magnetic field; and an electrical conduction part comprising a first conduction path and a second conduction path.

[11] In another aspect of the invention there is also provided a method of manufacturing a magnetic tape for conducting electrical current.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[12] For a better understanding of the present disclosure, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: [13] Fig 1 shows an example cabinet lighting system; [14] Fig 2 shows a cut through of an example tape used in an example cabinet lighting system; [15] Fig. 3 shows a cut through another example tape; [16] Fig 4 shows an example method of preparing an example tape.

Detailed Description

[17] At least some of the following example embodiments provide an improved cabinet lighting system. Advantageously the described system is modular in order to allow individual lighting units (comprising e.g., one or more LED light sources) to be readily attachable and removable from the cabinet; in other words, the lights of the cabinet lighting system are swappable.

[18] Figure 1 shows an example cabinet lighting system 100 for use with a cabinet 1, such as a kitchen cabinet. The lighting system 100 comprises at least one lighting unit 102 configured to be driven by a lighting driver 104. More specifically, the driver 104 is configured to provide direct current 'DC' power to the lighting unit 102 and is therefore suitably configured with positive and negative power connections; the lighting unit 102 is similarly configured with corresponding positive and negative power connections.

[19] Importantly, the system 100 comprises tape 106 which is both electrically conductive and magnetic.

[20] The conductive part of the tape 106 is suitably configured to carry DC power by providing a positive electrical path and a negative electrical path. Suitably the separate conduction paths of the tape 106 are connectable to the positive and negative power connections of the driver 104. The tape 106 is may be directly connected to the driver 104, or may be connected by a suitable electrical lead/cable 108.

[21] The magnetic part of the tape 106 is suitably configured to provide a magnetic coupling by which a lighting unit 102 may be held in abutment with the tape 106 under magnetic attraction (to a corresponding magnetic coupling of the lighting unit 102). For example, the tape 106 may include ferrous material, while the lighting unit 102 includes a suitably oriented bar magnet. In another example, the lighting unit 102 may include an electromagnet which is powered when the lighting unit is held in abutment with the tape 106 by a user and then the lighting unit 102 held in place thereafter by the magnetic field of the electromagnet.

[22] When the lighting unit 102 is magnetically held in place, the power connectors of the lighting unit 102 are arranged so as to be held in electrical communication with the conducting paths of the tape 106. Suitably the power connections of the lighting unit 102 are separated on the lighting unit 102 to correspond to the separation of the conducting paths of the tape 106; e.g., being centrally aligned with the conduction paths, or being arranged to align with an outer edge of the conduction paths.

[23] Suitably the present system 100 therefore allows for greater ease of inter-changeability of lighting units 102 within the lighting system 100. Whilst there are of course caveats in that a lighting unit 102 developed for use with the system must include a magnetic coupling, and suitably arranged power connectors to touch the conduction paths of the tape, such a system still represents a significant improvement over known systems which simply do not allow for such versatility. Moreover, a number of lighting units 102 may be magnetically attached to the tape 106 (up to a powersupply limit of the driver 104) such that a multi-light system may be readily deployed with almost no additional effort compared to installing up a single light system. Beneficially a user of the present lighting system may readily adapt the lighting system without a need to call in specialist lighting/electrical experts to do so. The present invention has essentially rendered the field of kitchen lighting as "plug-and-play", representing a paradigm shift for the industry.

[24] It will also be appreciated that the present system 100 is not limited to under cabinet lighting. For example, the system 100 may instead be used to light the inside of the cabinet by using the tape 106 along an inside wall or shelf, and providing appropriate holes through the cabinet 1 for access by the cable 108.

[25] As will be appreciated from the above, a key componentto the system 100 is the conducting and magnetic tape 106. Figure 2 shows a cut through an example tape 106 in more detail.

[26] The tape 106 is formed of three parts: a fastening part 112, magnetic part 114, and conducting part 116. In the example of Figure 2, each part is a separate layer of the tape 106.

[27] The fastening part 112 comprises means for attaching the tape 106 to the cabinet 1. Preferably the fastening part 112 comprises adhesive, so that the tape 106 sticks to a surface of the cabinet 1 and is held in position on the cabinet 1 by the strength of the adhesive bond [28] It will be appreciated that other means for fastening, such as forming the fastening part as a hook and loop fastener, one side of which being attached to the cabinet 1, the other side remaining congruous with the tape 106, could also be employed.

[29] The magnetic part 114 provides the magnetic coupling by which the tape holds the lighting unit 102 under magnetic attraction. Suitably the magnetic part 114 comprises magnetic material.

[30] In a preferred example the magnetic material is a ferrous metal such as stainless steel; stainless steel is strongly magnetic when exposed to an external magnetic field, but not considered a good electrical conductor. In one example the magnetic part 114 is entirely metallic, being made thin enough to be flexible for use as a tape (for example rolling when stored). In another example the magnetic part 114 is formed from a soft, flexible, substrate body which comprises metallic magnetic material within it; that is, the magnetic part 114 has a matrix like structure where magnetic material is dispersed throughout the substrate. In such an example the substrate is preferably non-metallic and further preferably an electrical insulator. In one such example the substrate may form 50% or more by weight of the magnetic part 114, while the magnetic material may form 50% or less by weight of the magnetic part 114.

[31] In another example, the magnetic part 114 may comprise a plurality of magnets (e.g. bar magnets) spaced along a length of the tape. These magnets may be set within a flexible substrate, similar to the above.

[32] The electrical conduction part 116 comprises a first electrical conduction path 118 and a second electrical conduction path 120. Two distinct paths are provided to correspond to the positive and negative power connectors of the lighting units 102 and driver 104. Suitably the conduction paths 118, 120 are formed from an electrically conducting material such as aluminium, copper, or gold. The conduction paths may be preferably formed in order to conduct voltages of substantially 24V (volts), corresponding to the typical voltage of kitchen lighting units 102.

[33] The two conductions paths 118, 120 are spaced suitably far apart that electrical breakdown across an air gap between the paths cannot occur; similarly so that electrical breakdown across the magnetic part 114 is also unlikely to occur.

[34] To further inhibit the possibility of electrical breakdown an electrical insulator 122 may be provided in between the first and second conduction paths 118, 120. In the example of Figure 2 the insulator 122 sits on top of the magnetic part 114 filling the gap between the conduction paths 118, 120, however the disclosure is not limited thereto and the insulator may also extend at least partly (or fully) through the magnetic part 114 and at least partly (or fully) through the fastening part 112.

[35] Figure 3 shows a cut through another example tape 106 which demonstrates an example of extending the insulator 122 through all the parts (more specifically, layers). That is, each part 112, 114, 116 is divided into two by the insular 122. Put another way, the tape 106 may be considered of being formed from an insulating core 122 on each side of which a fastening part, magnetic part, and conducting part (only one path here) is attached/provided.

[36] Figure 4 outlines an example method of manufacturing the tape 106 as generally depicted by Figure 2.

[37] At step 401 the magnetic part 114 is formed having a flexible body comprising magnetic material. That is, a flexible substrate body having magnetic metal distributed throughout may be provided in a length much longer than it is wide or thick so as to have top and bottom major surfaces and minor side surfaces.

[38] At step 403 the fastening means, for example non-permanent adhesive of the sort known in the art, is applied to one of the major surfaces of the magnetic part.

[39] At step 405, the conduction part 116 is formed by applying an electrically conducting metal to the other major surface of the magnetic part in two separate paths extending substantially the entire length of the tape 106; i.e., forming a first conduction path and a second conduction path.

[40] Optionally the method may further include applying an electrical insulator part in-between the two conduction paths. This step may be done before or after the metal conductor is applied on top of the magnetic part 114.

[41] In summary, exemplary embodiments of an improved under cabinet lighting system have been described. The improved lighting system is made possible by the advent of an electrically conducting tape which magnetically holds lighting units in place and simultaneously in connection with the electrical connection provided by conduction paths on the tape.

[42] The example lighting system is significantly more convenient for the user in terms of interchangeability than previous kitchen light systems. Additionally, the described exemplary embodiments are convenient to manufacture and straightforward to use. An industrial application of the example embodiments will be clear from the discussion herein.

[43] Although preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[44] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[45] All of the features disclosed in this specification, and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[46] Each feature disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[47] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification, or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cabinet lighting system, comprising: a power supply; at least one lighting unit comprising magnetic coupling means; and tape for magnetically holding the at least one lighting unit in place and conducting electrical current from the power supply to the lighting unit, the tape comprising: a fastening part comprising means to attach the tape to the cabinet; a magnetic part comprising magnetic material which attracts to the magnetic coupling means of the at least one lighting unit; and an electrical conduction part comprising a first conduction path and a second conduction path; wherein, when the at least one lighting unit is held in abutment with the tape by magnetic attraction between magnetic coupling means of the lighting unit and the magnetic part of the tape, the first and second conduction paths respectively connect a positive and a negative terminal of the power supply to a corresponding positive and negative terminal of the at least one lighting unit.
2. The cabinet lighting system of claim 1, wherein the tape is attached to an underside of an external surface of the cabinet.
3. The cabinet lighting system of claim 1, wherein the tape is attached to an inside surface of the cabinet.
4. The cabinet lighting system of any preceding claim, wherein the power supply drives a voltage of 24 volts.
5. The cabinet lighting system of any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic coupling means of the at least one lighting unit comprises a bar magnet.
6. The cabinet lighting system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the magnetic coupling means of the at least one lighting unit comprises an electromagnet.
7. Tape for conducting electrical current to a device magnetically coupled to the tape, comprising: a fastening part comprising means to attach the tape to a surface; a magnetic part comprising magnetic material which attracts to an externally provided magnetic field; and an electrical conduction part comprising a first conduction path and a second conduction path.
8. The tape of claim 7, further comprising an electrical insulator separating the first and second conduction paths.
9. The tape of claim 7 or 8, wherein the magnetic part comprises a flexible non-metallic substrate comprising the magnetic material.
10. The tape of any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the magnetic material is non-conducting.
11. The tape of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the fastening part comprises adhesive.
12. A method of manufacturing a tape for conducting electrical current, the method comprising: forming a tape body, substantially longer than it is wide or thick, which comprises magnetic material; applying fastening means to a first surface of the body; forming a first electrically conducting path a second surface of the body, and a second electrically conducting path on the second surface of the magnetic body, the two paths being separated.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying an electrical insulator to the second surface of the magnetic body in between the first and second conduction paths.