Modular Lighting Hanger With Conductive Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing modular lighting systems that meet utilitarian, technical, and aesthetic needs is challenging, particularly in hanging lights, where existing solutions lack flexibility and efficient power distribution to support various configurations of power bars and pendants.
Innovation Solution
A modular lighting system featuring canopies, power bars, and hangers with conductive rails and clips that form an interference fit, allowing for multiple configurations and electrical connections between power bars and pendants, enabling power distribution through conductive rods or cables, and supporting various geometric shapes and arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hanging light solutions are used, then the lighting system can be installed, but the system lacks flexibility and efficient power distribution capability
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into modular components: canopies, power bars with segments, hangers, and pendants. Each power bar consists of multiple segments that can be independently connected and configured. This segmentation allows the system to be assembled in various configurations while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The hangers serve multiple functions: they mechanically support the power bars and simultaneously provide electrical power distribution through integrated conductive elements. The power bars also serve dual purposes of structural support and electrical power transmission. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular power distribution is implemented to support various configurations, then configuration flexibility improves, but connection reliability and electrical stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical connection and electrical connection functions are merged into a single integrated interface. The hanger's base structure simultaneously provides mechanical support and houses conductive rails that make electrical contact with the power bar segments. This merging ensures that whenever a mechanical connection is established, electrical connectivity is automatically established, maintaining reliability while enabling flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive rails are nested within the hanger base structure, with the electrical connection elements embedded within the mechanical support structure. The power bar segments nest into the hanger cavities, with conductive elements aligned to ensure continuous electrical contact. This nested arrangement protects the electrical connections while maintaining mechanical stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a flexible and efficient power distribution mechanism, allowing for a virtually infinite number of configurations, supporting different power bar arrangements and pendant placements while ensuring stable and electrical connectivity, thus addressing the design challenges of modular lighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
clips are provided within cavities of the bodies of the hangers that are configured to engage and form an interference fit with respective rails within the power bars
Implementation Method 2
The hangers include two conductive parallel rods or cables that are in electrical contact with the rails through the respective bases
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A hanger (1208) for supporting one power bar (502A) from another vertically offset power bar (502B). The hanger (1208) has two cylindrical members (1230), each member engaging one of the power bars (502). Rods (1232) extend between the members (1230) and provide both mechanical support and electrical connection between the power bars (502).