Patents
US 7766502 B2: Self-illuminated structural panel units and systems including the same
- Granted
- 2010-08-03
- Filed
- 2007-06-27 application 11819507
- Type
- Utility · 20 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
Position adjustable self-illuminated panel units may be used in combination with conventional shelf supports. Preferred shelf-units include a light-transmissive panel, a shelf frame holding the panel and having an illumination element for providing a light source to illuminate the panel, and a magnetic connector electrically interconnected to the illumination element and adapted to being magnetically and electrically coupled to a source of electrical power. The illumination element most preferably includes an LED strip housed within one member of the frame and positioned adjacent to an edge of the panel. A magnetic connector includes a pair of electrically conductive side panels, an electrically non-conductive spacer sandwiched between the side panels, and a pair of magnet bars fixed to the spacer. The magnet bars define an air gap therebetween such that electrical contact may be established between the magnet bars and a respective one of the side panels. Shelf lighting systems according to the present invention will most preferably include a self-illuminated panel unit as described briefly above, and a ferromagnetic power strip for supplying electrical power thereto. The magnetic connector is therefore capable of magnetic and electrical interconnection to the power strip (e.g., via the magnet bars thereof so as to in turn supply power to the panel unit (e.g., via lead wires connecting the side panels to the LED strip).
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg100803.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRESCO INTERNATIONAL LTD. CO. 4 patents | US company or organization | Lima, OH | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Michael Tress | Poland, OH | 17 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| F21V | Functional features or details of lighting devices or systems thereof; structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for | F21V33/0012 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| A47B | Tables; desks; office furniture; cabinets; drawers; general details of furniture | A47B97/00 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| A47F | Special furniture, fittings, or accessories for shops, storehouses, bars, restaurants or the like; paying counters | A47F3/001 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| G02B | Optical elements, systems or apparatus | G02B6/0068 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| F21W | Indexing scheme associated with subclasses f21k, f21l, f21s and f21v, relating to uses or applications of lighting devices or systems | F21W2131/301 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| F21Y | Indexing scheme associated with subclasses f21k, f21l, f21s and f21v, relating to the form or the kind of the light sources or of the colour of the light emitted | F21Y2115/10 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12-19 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | TRESCO INTERNATIONAL, LTD., CO. signed 2011-11-01 | REV-A-SHELF COMPANY, LLC JEFFERSONTOWN, KY | 27406/204 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
| 2007-07-26 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | TRESS, CHRISTOPHER M. signed 2007-07-24 | TRESCO INTERNATIONAL LTD. CO. N. LIMA, OH | 19655/161 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.