Stringed LED Capsule Lighting Apparatus

• US 20130279165A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korrus Incorporated (MKD Electric, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dennis Pearson, Guang Jin, Jorge Santana, Wesley Scott Dochnahl
• Inventors: Pearson, Dennis, Dochnahl, Wesley Scott, Jin, Guang, Santana, Jorge
• Granted Patent: US 8,794,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/088 Clips; Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/34 Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element telescopic mounting of lighting devices F21V21/22
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/02 Cable inlets
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A plurality of adjacent capsules, each comprising a base component, a body component carrying an LED circuit board, and a lens component, wherein the body and the base snap together and the lens snap-fits to the body. Such capsules are attached to a flexible electrical power cable by electrical connector components internal to the body and which conduct power from the power cable through the body to the LED circuit board.

Claims

1. The lighting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of adjacent capsules each comprising;

a base;

a body carrying a circuit board thereon, each circuit board carrying one or more LEDs; and

a lens;

wherein the body and the base of each respective capsule snap-fit together and wherein the lens of each capsule snap-fits to its respective body;

wherein at least first and second electrical conductors for supplying power to the one or more LEDs enter at one end of each body and exit at an opposite end of each body;

the at least first and second electrical conductors being attached to respective electrical connector components in the interior of each body,

the respective electrical connector components passing through a surface of the respective body to supply power to the one or more LEDs; and

wherein the respective electrical connector components removably attach to the body in an interior portion thereof, each capsule being strung together with an adjacent capsule by said at least first and second electrical conductors.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a guide track and wherein each of said plurality of adjacent capsules includes means for attaching each capsule to the guide track.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a guide track and wherein the guide track is configured to snap fit together with each of the plurality of adjacent capsules.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the respective electrical connector components snap-fit into each body.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each base comprises a generally flat floor from which extends a generally rectangular inner vertical support and respective first and second vertical end supports.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 wherein said floor has first and second vertical lips formed on opposite sides thereof with a plurality of indentations formed therein, the indentations being configured to allow passage of respective mounting tabs formed on each said body, each of the first and second vertical lips further having respective horizontal tabs extending therefrom and positioned to enter respective recesses in respective sidewalls of a respective body;

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 6 wherein each horizontal tab is configured to snap or press-fit into its respective recess.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each body comprises first and second vertical side walls;

a front wall; and

a back wall, the front and back walls each having an opening formed therein.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 8 wherein each body further comprises respective mounting tabs formed on respective first and second bottom edges of the side walls and slots formed along respective first and second top edges of the sidewalls;

wherein the slots are positioned to receive respective tabs formed on respective sides of a lower rectangular edge of a lens.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the tabs formed on the lower edge of each lens are configured to enable the lens to snap fit onto a respective body.

11. The lighting apparatus of claim 10 wherein a plurality of flexible fingers extend from a top surface of each body and serve to attach a respective LED-carrying circuit board to said surface.

12. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each body includes first and second wire guide slots formed in the interior thereof for removably receiving a respective one of said electrical connector components.

13. The lighting apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a central vertical tab separating first and second respective electrical connector components.

14. The lighting apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a wire guide formed at one end of the body configured to capture and hold said electrical conductors.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 12 wherein a respective electrical connector component snap-fits or press-fits into or otherwise removably attaches to a respective wire guide slot.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 14 wherein the wire guide is configured to extend into an opening of an adjacent capsule and is shaped and sized to be pivotable or rotatable when positioned in said opening.