LED lighting array system for illuminating a display case
An LED lighting array system includes discrete lighting modules spatially arrayed along a support member to provide illumination of items within a display case. The modules have a low overall height that results in them being mounted in a low-profile configuration at various locations along the support member. The modules include a housing with opposed first and second sets of side apertures, a plurality of internal reflecting surfaces associated with the apertures, respectively, an external lens, a multi-sided light engine and a group of side-emitting LEDs. During operation, a first portion of light generated by the side-emitting LEDs is discharged through apertures and the lens into the cooler to illuminate contents therein, while a second portion of light generated by the side-emitting LEDs is redirected by the reflecting surface through said apertures and the lens into the cooler.
1 . A lighting array system featuring light emitting diodes (LEDs) for use within a refrigerated cooler to illuminate products residing within the refrigerated cooler, the lighting array system comprising:
a first module comprising:
a first LED,
a first reflecting surface, and
a first transparent external lens configured to substantially overlie the first LED and the first reflecting surface, the first external lens having:
a first external wall having a first external surface,
a second external wall having a second external surface, and
an intermediate wall that extends between and connects the first and second external walls, wherein the intermediate wall has an outer surface, and wherein the entirety of the outer surface is not positioned perpendicular to the first external surface of the first external wall or the second external surface of the second external wall; and
wherein during operation of the lighting array system, a first portion of light generated by said first LED is discharged in a first direction through the first external lens, and a second portion of light generated by said first LED is redirected by the first reflecting surface through the first transparent external lens.
2 . The lighting array system of claim 1 , further comprising a second module comprising:
a second LED,
a second reflecting surface,
a second transparent external lens configured to substantially overlie the second LED and the second reflecting surface, the second external lens having:
a first external wall having a first external surface,
a second external wall having a second external surface, and
an intermediate wall that extends between and connects the first and second external walls, wherein the intermediate wall has an outer surface, and wherein the entirety of said outer surface is not positioned perpendicular to the first external surface of the first external wall of the second external lens or the second external surface of the second external wall of the second external lens; and
wherein during operation of the lighting array system, a first portion of light generated by said second LED is discharged in a second direction through the second transparent external lens, and wherein the second direction is substantially opposite of the first direction.
3 . The lighting array system of claim 1 , wherein the first module is coupled to a primary wall of a support member of the refrigerated cooler; and
wherein the first reflecting surface is oriented at an upward angle relative to the primary wall of the support member.
4 . The lighting array system of claim 1 , wherein the first module is coupled to a primary wall of a support member of the refrigerated cooler; and
wherein at least a lower extent of the first external wall is positioned substantially perpendicular to the primary wall of the support member.
5 . The lighting array system of claim 3 , wherein an extent of a planar surface of the primary wall of the support member that extends between the first and second external lens is exposed to an inner extent of the refrigerated cooler.
6 . The lighting array system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the intermediate wall includes a first intermediate surface portion that is angled with respect to a second intermediate surface portion.
7 . A refrigerated cooler that displays products residing within the refrigerated cooler, the refrigerated cooler comprising:
a lighting array system installed within the refrigerated cooler and including:
a support member configured to be coupled to an internal structure within the refrigerated cooler, said support member including a first aperture and a second aperture that are formed through the support member and that are spaced an appreciable distance apart along a length of the support member;
a first module received within the first aperture and having:
a first LED, and
a first external lens configured to overlie the first LED and a first reflecting surface, the first external lens having: a first external wall having a first external surface, a second external wall having a second external surface, and an intermediate wall that extends between and connects the first and second external walls, wherein the intermediate wall has an outer surface, and wherein the entirety of the outer surface is not positioned perpendicular to the first external surface or the second external surface;
a second module received within the second aperture and having:
a second LED, and
a second external lens configured to overlie the second LED;
wherein an intermediate extent of the support member is defined along said length of the support member between the first and second modules, said intermediate extent being exposed without an overlying lens to an inner portion of the refrigerated cooler.
8 . The refrigerated cooler of claim 7 , wherein the lighting array system lacks an external lens that overlies both the first LED of the first module and the second LED of the second module.
9 . The refrigerated cooler of claim 7 , wherein an extent of a first external surface of the first external lens of the first module is positioned substantially parallel to an extent of a first external surface of the second external lens of the second module.
10 . The refrigerated cooler of claim 7 , wherein a first portion of light generated by the first LED of the first module is discharged in a first direction into the refrigerated cooler and a first portion of light generated by the second LED of the second module is discharged in a second direction into the refrigerated cooler, wherein the first and second directions are opposed to one another.
11 . The refrigerated cooler of claim 7 , wherein a maximum intensity of light generated from the first LED is oriented substantially parallel with a front extent of the refrigerated cooler.
12 . The refrigerated cooler of claim 10 , wherein a second portion of light generated by the first LED of the first module is redirected by the reflecting surface of the first module through the first external lens of the first module into the refrigerated cooler and a second portion of light generated by the second LED of the second module is redirected by a reflecting surface of the second module through the second external lens of the second module into the refrigerated cooler.
13 . A lighting array system featuring light emitting diodes (LEDs) for use within a refrigerated cooler, the lighting array system comprising:
a planar support member;
a first module positioned within a first aperture formed through said support member, the first module comprising:
a first LED,
a first external lens configured to overlie the first LED; and
wherein during operation of the lighting array system, a first portion of light generated by said first LED is discharged through the first external lens; and
wherein a maximum intensity of the light generated from the first LED is oriented substantially parallel with a front extent of the refrigerated cooler.
14 . The lighting array system of claim 13 , wherein the lighting array system further comprises a second module configured to be positioned within a second aperture formed through said support member an appreciable distance apart from the first module, the first and second apertures arranged along a length of the support member, the second module comprising a second LED and a second external lens configured to substantially overlie an extent of said second LED; and
wherein the lighting array system lacks a lens that overlies both of the first and second modules.
15 . The lighting array system of claim 13 , wherein the first portion of light generated by said first LED is discharged in a first direction, and wherein the lighting array system further comprises a second module with a second LED that is configured to discharge light in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction.
16 . The lighting array system of claim 13 , wherein the first external lens of the first module has a height that is less than 0.5 inches.
17 . The lighting array system of claim 13 , wherein a first surface of the first external lens is substantially parallel with a second surface of the first external lens.
18 . The lighting array system of claim 13 , wherein the planar support member includes: (i) a first edge that is substantially parallel with a first surface of the first module, and (ii) a second edge that is substantially parallel with a second surface of the first module.
19 . The lighting array system of claim 13 , wherein the planar support member is integral to a support frame of the cooler.
20 . The lighting array system of claim 14 , wherein an intermediate extent of the planar support member is defined along the length of the planar support member between the first and second modules, said intermediate extent being exposed without an overlying lens to an inner portion of the refrigerated cooler.