Flexible light display with evenly distributed illumination

• US 4,439,818 A
• Filed: 02/25/1983
• Issued: 03/27/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph J. Scheib
• Original Assignee: Joseph J. Scheib
• Inventors: Scheib, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/469,705
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 362/226, 362/221, 362/250, 362/252, 362/287, 362/382, 362/418, 362/419, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/249.06
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0808 Adhesive means
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/058 Direct connection between two or more FPCs or between flexible parts of rigid PCBs
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09027 Non-rectangular flat PCB, e.g. circular
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10022 Non-printed resistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10287 Metal wires as connectors or conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/103 by bonding or embedding conductive wires or strips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A flexible electric lighting strip is disclosed that can be utilized in various lengths, is capable of three dimensional movement, and provides evenly distributed illumination. The lighting strip is formed by an adhesive tape having a plurality of light emitting diodes thereon connected in parallel with each other with each light emitting diode being connected in series with a resistor also mounted on the tape.

Claims

1. A lighting strip, comprising:

power means for providing a low voltage power source of less than 110 volts;

a plurality of lighting means;

a plurality of resistors each of which is connected in series with a different one of said plurality of lighting means;

electrical means connecting each of said series connected lighting means and resistance means with said power means; and

carrier means for having said plurality of lighting means mounted thereon for allowing said plurality of lighting means to be configured in a predetermined manner.

2. The lighting strip of claim 1 wherein said plurality of lighting means are light emitting diodes.

3. The lighting strip of claim 1 wherein said plurality of resistance means are 330 ohm resistors.

4. The lighting strip of claim 1 wherein said electrical means includes male and female socket means to permit additional lighting means and resistance means to be added.

5. The lighting strip of claim 4 wherein said electrical means includes extention means having male and female socket means for connecting said additional lighting means and resistance means to said plurality of lighting means and resistance means.

6. The lighting strip of claim 1 wherein said carrier means is adhesive tape having said plurality of lighting means and resistance means mounted thereon.

7. The lighting strip of claim 1 wherein said carrier means has portions removed to facilitate configuring of said lighting means.

8. The lighting strip of claim 1 wherein said carrier means is adhesive tape having triangular portions removed therefrom.

9. A flexible electrical lighting strip, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes and a plurality of resistors, said light emitting diodes being electrically connected in parallel with respect to each other with each said light emitting diode having one of said resistors electrically connected in series therewith;

a male plug electrically connected at one end of said parallel connected light emitting diodes and a female receiver electrically connected to the other end of said parallel connected light emitting diodes; and

a carrier having an adhesive at one side thereof for engagement with said light emitting diodes and said resistors for positioning the same, said carrier being configured to provide three dimensional movement to allow said carrier to be shaped into a predetermined pattern for an illuminated display by said light emitting diodes.

10. The flexible electrical lighting strip of claim 9 wherein said resistors are 330 ohm 1/4 watt resistors.

11. The flexible electrical lighting strip of claim 9 wherein said carrier includes triangular section notches with the triangular apex of each said notch being toward the interior of the carrier at each side of the carrier with said notches being spaced at preselected distances along the length of the carrier.

12. The flexible electrical lighting strip of claim 9 wherein said carrier is about 1/2 inches in width and wherein said light emitting diodes are spaced approximately 3/4 inches apart.

13. A method for providing an illuminated display of uniform intensity, said method comprising:

providing flexible lighting strips, each of which includes a plurality of series connected lighting means and resistance means with each of said series connected lighting means and resistance means being connected in parallel with one another;

selecting a first flexible lighting strip having a predetermined number of lighting means thereon and configuring the same into a preselected first character;

selecting a second flexible lighting strip having a different predetermined number of lighting means thereon and configuring the same into a preselected second character; and

connecting said lighting means of said first and second characters to provide a lighting display of uniform intensity.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said method includes connecting said first and second characters to a low voltage power supply.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said method includes selecting a number of characters to provide a house number.