Illumination for storage units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10976047-B2
Application number	US-201916538400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2019
Priority date	Aug 23, 2018
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

An illumination assembly for illuminating drawers of a storage unit, such as a cabinet or toolbox. The illumination assembly is adapted to be coupled to the storage unit by coupling the illumination assembly within a retrofittable or integrated feature of the storage unit to direct or radiate light into a containment space (such as a drawer) of the storage unit when opened. The illumination assembly may also illuminate a facade, sides, underside, or surrounding area of the storage unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination assembly for a storage unit having a containment space with an interior, the illumination assembly comprising:
a light source adapted to be disposed in a recess formed by a structural feature of the storage unit, wherein the structural feature includes a cover portion that at least partially forms a side of the recess and is adapted to direct light radiating from the light source towards the interior of the containment space when the light source is in an ON state;
a sensor element operationally coupled to a logic board and adapted to output a signal indicating a sensing event; and
a switch operationally coupled to the logic board and adapted to be actuated in response to the signal.

2. The illumination assembly of claim 1 , wherein the logic board is adapted to cause the light source to be in the ON state when the switch is actuated and the sensor element outputs the signal indicating the sensing event.

3. The illumination assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

4. The illumination assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensing event is the containment space being moved from a closed state to an open state.

5. The illumination assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensing event is a user being in proximity to the storage unit.

6. A storage unit having a compartment with an interior, the storage unit comprising:
a structural feature forming a recess and including a cover portion that at least partially forms a side of the recess; and
an illumination assembly including:
a light source disposed in the recess and adapted to be selectively disposed in either one of an ON and OFF states, wherein the cover is adapted to direct light radiating from the light source towards the interior of the compartment when the light source is in the ON state;
a sensor element coupled to the storage unit and adapted to output a signal indicating a sensing event; and
a switch operationally coupled to the illumination assembly and the sensor element, and adapted to be actuated based on the sensing event.

7. The storage unit of claim 6 , wherein the structural feature is a trim piece.

8. The storage unit of claim 6 , wherein the structural feature includes a lock.

9. The storage unit of claim 6 , wherein the recess and the cover cooperatively direct light radiating from the light source away from eyes of a user.

10. The storage unit of claim 6 , wherein the storage unit is a tool storage chest and the compartment is a drawer.

11. The storage unit of claim 6 , wherein the recess aims the light source at an angle of 10° to 75° to direct light radiating from the light source into the containment space.

12. A system adapted to illuminate a containment space of a storage unit, the system comprising:
a light source adapted to be disposed in a recess formed by a structural feature of the storage unit, wherein the structural feature includes a cover portion that at least partially forms a side of the recess and is adapted to direct light radiating from the light source towards an interior of the containment space when in an ON state;
a controller in operational communication with the light source and a power source and adapted to cause the light source to be in the ON state or an OFF state;
a switch disposed on the storage unit and adapted to be actuated to place the light source in the ON or OFF state;
a sensor element adapted to output a signal indicating a sensing event; and
a logic board in operational communication with the controller, the switch, the sensor element, and the power source, and adapted to cause the light source to be in the ON state when the sensor element outputs the signal indicating the sensing event.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensing event is the containment space being moved from a closed state to an open state.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensor element is an array of sensor elements and switches disposed on an interior surface of the storage unit.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the sensing event is a user being in proximity to the storage unit.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the structural feature is a trim piece.

17. A method of illuminating an interior of a containment space of a storage unit, the method comprising:
actuating a switch disposed on the storage unit;
receiving, by a logic board, a first signal indicating a sensing event from a sensor element when the containment space is moved from a closed state to an open state or from the open state to the closed state; and
outputting, by the logic board, a second signal to cause a controller to change a light source from either an OFF state to an ON state or the ON state to the OFF state based on the sensing event, wherein the light source is disposed in a recess formed by a structural feature of the storage unit, wherein the structural feature includes a cover portion that at least partially forms a side of the recess and is adapted to direct light radiating from the light source towards an interior of the containment space.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein receiving the first signal includes receiving the first signal when a user is in proximity to the storage unit.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein outputting the second signal includes outputting the second signal when the switch is actuated.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the light source is disposed in the interior of the containment space.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the structural feature is a trim piece.

Assignees

• Snap On Tools Corp

Inventors

• Weir Nicholas H
• Gentile Michael G
• Kassouf Thomas L
• Schulz Ben T
• Hoefler Ethan
• Kuter-Arnebeck Ottoleo

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V33/0084 Primary

  Hand tools; Toolboxes · CPC title

• A47F11/00

  Arrangements in shop windows, {shop floors} or show cases · CPC title

• A47B2200/0075

  Computer kiosks or stands · CPC title

• B25H3/028

  by sliding extraction from within a common frame · CPC title