Lighting Apparatus

• US 20180140034A1
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas H. Scott
• Original Assignee: Thomas H. Scott
• Inventors: SCOTT, THOMAS H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,219,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/124 the adhesive layer being present on both sides of the carrier, e.g. double-sided adhesive tape
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/308 the adhesive tape or sheet losing adhesive strength when being stretched, e.g. stretch adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/012 Housings with variable shape or dimensions, e.g. by means of elastically deformable materials or by movement of parts forming telescopic extensions of the housing body
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0808 Adhesive means

Abstract

A lighting apparatus is disclosed for mounting on a surface, the lighting apparatus includes a light emitting element plus a planar body having a first side and an opposing second side, the planar body is at least partially transparent, wherein the light emitting element is disposed within the planar body with the light emitting element being positioned between the first and second sides, wherein the light emitting element is visible from the second side. Also included in the lighting apparatus is an adhesive disposed on the first side, with the adhesive being affixed to the surface, the lighting apparatus is operational to enable the surface to have visibility from the light emitting element.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a surface, said lighting apparatus comprises:

(a) a light emitting element;

(b) a planar body having a first side and an opposing second side, said planar body is at least partially transparent, wherein said light emitting element is disposed within said planar body positioned between said first and second sides, wherein said light emitting element is visible from said second side; and

(c) an adhesive disposed on said first side, wherein said adhesive is affixed to the surface, wherein said lighting apparatus is operational to enable the surface to have visibility from said light emitting element.

2. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a surface according to claim 1 wherein said planar body is constructed of a transparent polymer that is flexible and water resistant.

3. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a surface according to claim 2 wherein said adhesive is constructed of a flexible strip having a primary surface and an opposing secondary surface, with a longitudinal axis and a perpendicularly positioned lateral axis disposed between said primary and secondary surfaces, wherein said primary surface is coated with an adhesive and said secondary surface is coated with an adhesive, wherein said primary surface is adhered to said planar body first side and said secondary surface is adhered to the surface.

4. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a surface according to claim 3 wherein said adhesive has a higher cohesive strength to said flexible strip and a lower adhesive strength to the surface.

5. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a surface according to claim 4 wherein said flexible strip is constructed of a viscoelastic strip that can stretch in said longitudinal and said lateral axes an amount equal to at least one and one-half (1.5) times an original dimension of said elastic strip along either of said longitudinal or lateral axes, said viscoelastic elastic strip includes a free end portion that has no adhesive that extends beyond said planar body, operationally said free end portion is manually pulled substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis to stretch said viscoelastic strip to place said adhesive in an area reducing and shear de-bonding state leaving almost no residue and almost no damage to the surface upon selected removal of said lighting apparatus from the surface.

6. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a surface according to claim 5 wherein said viscoelastic strip is constructed of a polymeric sheet.

7. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a surface according to claim 1 wherein said planar body second side further comprises a rigid plano convex lens having a plano side and an opposing convex side, said rigid plano convex lens is positioned such that said plano side faces said light emitting element and said light emitting element is disposed at a lens distance away from said plano side that is less than a focal point distance of said rigid plano convex lens, wherein operationally said rigid plano convex lens acts to amplify a light area of said light emitting element.

8. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a helmet outer surface, said lighting apparatus comprises:

(a) a plurality of light emitting elements;

(b) an elongated flexible body in the form of a band having a lengthwise axis, said elongated flexible body including a planar first side and an opposing outwardly projecting arcuate second side, wherein said plurality of light emitting elements are disposed within said elongated flexible body, further said plurality of light emitting elements are positioned in a spaced apart manner along said lengthwise axis, further said plurality of light emitting elements are positioned between said planar first side and said outwardly projecting arcuate second side, wherein said plurality of light emitting elements are visible from said outwardly projecting arcuate second side; and

(c) an adhesive disposed on said planar first side, wherein said adhesive is affixed to the helmet outer surface, wherein said lighting apparatus is operational to enable the helmet outer surface to have visibility from said plurality of light emitting elements.

9. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a helmet outer surface according to claim 8 wherein said elongated flexible body is constructed of a transparent polymer that is water resistant.

10. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a helmet outer surface according to claim 9 wherein said adhesive is constructed of a flexible strip having a primary surface and an opposing secondary surface, with a longitudinal axis and a perpendicularly positioned lateral axis disposed between said primary and secondary surfaces, wherein said primary surface is coated with an adhesive and said secondary surface is coated with an adhesive, wherein said primary surface is adhered to said elongated flexible body planar first side and said secondary surface is adhered to the helmet outer surface.

11. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a helmet outer surface according to claim 10 wherein said adhesive has a higher cohesive strength to said flexible strip and a lower adhesive strength to the helmet outer surface.

12. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a helmet outer surface according to claim 11 wherein said flexible strip is constructed of a viscoelastic strip that can stretch in said longitudinal and said lateral axes an amount equal to at least one and one-half (1.5) times an original dimension of said elastic strip along either of said longitudinal or lateral axes, said viscoelastic elastic strip includes a free end portion that has no adhesive that extends beyond said elongated flexible body, operationally said free end portion is manually pulled substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis to stretch said viscoelastic strip to place said adhesive in an area reducing and shear de-bonding state leaving almost no adhesive residue and almost no damage to the helmet outer surface upon selected removal of said lighting apparatus from the helmet outer surface.

13. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a helmet outer surface according to claim 12 wherein said viscoelastic strip is constructed of a polymeric sheet.

14. A lighting apparatus for mounting on a helmet outer surface according to claim 8 wherein said elongated flexible body outwardly projecting arcuate second side further comprises a plurality of rigid plano convex lenses, each having a plano side and an opposing convex side, each said rigid plano convex lens is positioned such that each said plano side faces each said light emitting element and each said light emitting element is disposed at a lens distance away from each said plano side that is less than a focal point distance of each said rigid plano convex lens, wherein operationally each said rigid plano convex lens acts to amplify a light area of each said light emitting element.