Perimeter lighting apparatus

• US 20030021115A1
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sloan Company Incorporated (Sloan), Sloanled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: James J. Sloan, Thomas C. Sloan
• Inventors: Sloan, Thomas C., Sloan, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,776,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/240
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/24 of ribbon or tape form, e.g. LED tapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/26 of rope form, e.g. LED lighting ropes, or of tubular form
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An elongated perimeter light is disclosed, which comprises a linear array of light sources (LEDs) that are electrically illuminated. The array of light sources is disposed within an elongated transparent tube, with the tube transmitting and dispersing the light from the array giving the appearance that said array of light sources is a continuous light source. The array of light sources is capable of being cut at intervals down its length to shorten it. The light sources that remain in the array continue to emit light and the tube can be cut to match the length of said array. The present invention also discloses systems for lighting structural features, with one system according to the present invention comprising a plurality of elongated perimeter lights. The perimeter lights are electrically coupled in a daisy chain with the electrical power at each of the perimeter lights being transmitted to the successive light. A mechanism is included for anchoring the plurality of perimeter lights to a structure to illuminate it. Each of the perimeter lights can be cut at intervals down its length while not interfering with its ability to transmit its electrical power to successive lights.

Claims

1. An elongated perimeter light, comprising:

a linear array of light sources that are illuminated by electric power;

an elongated transparent tube, said array of light sources disposed within said tube, said tube transmitting and dispersing the light from said array giving the appearance that said array of light sources is a continuous light source;

said array of light sources being cuttable at intervals to shorten said array while allowing the remaining light sources in said array to emit light, said tube being cuttable to match the length of said array.

2. The perimeter light of claim 1, wherein said linear array of light sources comprises a linearly aligned array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on a substrate.

3. The perimeter light of claim 2, wherein said array of LEDs is arranged as a plurality of parallel connected sub-arrays of LEDs, said electric power coupled across each of said plurality sub-arrays.

4. The perimeter light of claim 3, wherein said array of LEDs is cuttable between two of said plurality of parallel connected sub-arrays.

5. The perimeter light of claim 1, further comprising a means for anchoring to a structure.

6. The perimeter light of claim 5, wherein said means for anchoring comprises an anchoring slot integral with said tube and a plurality of mounting buttons, said mounting buttons mounted to said structure and cooperating with said slot to hold said tube on the structure.

7. The perimeter light of claim 6, wherein said tube slot includes opposing tabs that cooperate with a lip section in said button to hold said tube on said structure.

8. The perimeter light of claim 1, further comprising a means for conducting said electrical power from said perimeter light to another device, wherein the cutting of said LED array does not interrupt the conduction of said electrical power.

9. The perimeter light of claim 1, further comprising bumpers mounted at the ends of said tube to protect said LED array.

10. The perimeter light of claim 9, wherein said bumpers provide an air and water tight seal with the ends of said tube.

11. The perimeter light of claim 9, wherein said bumpers are compressible to compensate for the expansion of said tube and LED array under heating.

12. A system for lighting structural features, comprising:

a plurality of elongated perimeter lights, each of which comprises;

a linear array of light sources that are illuminated by a electric power;

an elongated transparent tube, said array of light sources disposed within said tube, said tube transmitting and dispersing the light from said array giving the appearance that said array of light sources is a continuous light source;

said array of light sources being cuttable at intervals to shorten said array while allowing the remaining light sources in said array to emit light, said tube being cuttable to match the length of said array;

said plurality of perimeter lights electrically coupled in a daisy-chain with the electrical power at each of said plurality of perimeter lights transmitted to the successive of said plurality of perimeter lights; and

a mechanism for anchoring said plurality of perimeter lights to a structure.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each said linear array of light sources comprises a linearly aligned array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on a substrate.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each said array of LEDs is arranged as a plurality of parallel connected sub-arrays of LEDs, said electric power coupled across each of said plurality sub-arrays.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said array of LEDs is cuttable between two of said plurality of parallel connected sub-arrays.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said mechanism for anchoring comprises an anchoring slot integral with each said tube and a plurality of mounting buttons, said mounting buttons mounted to said structure and cooperating with said slot to hold said tube on said structure.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each said tube slot includes opposing tabs that cooperate with a lip section in said buttons to hold each said tube on said structure.

18. The perimeter light of claim 12, wherein the electrical power at each of said plurality of perimeter lights is transmitted to the successive of said plurality of perimeter lights by an electrical conductor, wherein the cutting of said LED array in each said perimeter light does not interrupt the transmission of said electrical power between successive said plurality of perimeter lights.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising bumpers mounted at the ends of each said tube to protect said LED array.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said bumpers are compressible to compensate for the expansion and contraction of successive ones of said plurality of perimeter light.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the ends of successive ones of said plurality of perimeter lights are adjacent to one another, said system further comprising joint covers to cover the adjacent ends of said successive lights.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said joint covers transmit and disperse light at the same color as said successive lights.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein said successive of said plurality of perimeter lights meet at an angle, said joint cover being angled at the same angle.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein said joint cover includes a mechanism for holding said cover over said ends of said successive lights while allowing said successive lights to expand and contract under said joint cover.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said mechanism for holding said cover over said ends comprises a rivet passing through said cover and extending to the inside of said cover between said ends of said successive lights.

20. The system of claim 29, wherein said bumpers provide an air and water tight seal with the ends of said tube.