Flexible elongated lighting system

• US 4,597,033 A
• Filed: 12/31/1984
• Issued: 06/24/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: H. Koch & Sons Co. (Cobham PLC)
• Original Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Meggs, Daniel H., Greenslade, John T., Gross, Herbert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Application Number:
  US06/687,588
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 362/20, 362/62, 362/80, 362/147, 362/159, 362/183, 362/184, 362/189, 362/191, 362/216, 362/227, 362/235, 362/249, 362/251, 362/268, 362/278, 362/311, 362/334, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/267 Door handles; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• 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: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A lightweight emergency lighting system capable of arrangement into various subjective configurations is provided. A housing member supports a plurality of individual lighting elements mounted on a common semi-rigid bus bar. The upper configuration of the housing members is capable of a directional transmission of light towards a predetermined field angle, while the lower configuration is adaptable for mounting the lighting elements. The upper housing member can have an interior surface of a prismatic configuration to provide a refraction and reflection of light in combination with the exterior surface. The lighting elements, such as L.E.D.'"'"'s, can be excited through a pulsing circuit to maximize the light output while conserving power from an auxiliary battery source.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

an elongated flexible housing member having an interior upper light transmission portion and an interior lower mounting portion of a different configuration, both portions extending substantially along the entire length of the housing member, the upper light transmission portion providing a directional transmission of light passing therethrough towards a predetermined field angle extending traversely to the length of the housing member that is substantially less than 360°

, the upper light transmission portion having a variable thickness commensurate with the predetermined field angle to provide a variable refractive characteristic for directing the light;

a plurality of individual lighting elements positioned within the housing member and spaced along a substantial portion of its length so that each lighting element has the same alignment with the upper light transmission portion for providing the directional transmission of light from each of the lighting elements that contribute light to the predetermined field angle;

means for providing a pulsed excitation simultaneously to each of the lighting elements to conserve power while providing a perceived constant illumination from the lighting elements, and

means for electrically interconnecting the lighting elements to the pulsing means whereby the lighting elements transmit light through the housing member towards the predetermined field angle.

2. The invention of claim 1 further including an interior configuration of the lower mounting portion of such a dimension to frictionally hold the lighting elements in an operative position.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for providing a pulsed excitation of the lighting elements to conserve the power includes an autonomous waterproof dedicated power source.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the power source includes at least one rechargeable battery.

5. The invention of claim 1 further including mounting flanges integrally provided on the exterior of the housing member.

6. The invention of claim 1 further including means for activating the lighting system in an emergency.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the means for activating includes a water sensor means for indicating contact with water.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the housing member is extruded from a plastic material.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the lighting elements are light emitting diodes.

10. A waterproof lightweight emergency lighting system comprising:

an extruded elongated flexible housing member having an interior upper light transmission portion and an interior lower mounting portion of a different configuration, both portions extending substantially along the entire length of the housing member, the upper light transmission portion providing a directional transmission of light towards a predetermined field angle extending traversely to the length of the housing member that is substantially less than 360°

, the upper light transmission portion having a variable thickness commensurate with the predetermined field angle to provide a variable refractive characteristic for directing the light, the housing member is capable of being bent to define an outline of an exit;

a plurality of individual lighting elements having a predetermined preferred light transmission positioned within the housing member and spaced along a substantial portion of its length so that the axis of light transmission of each lighting element has substantially the same alignment with the upper light transmission portion, along a plane intersecting the housing member'"'"'s longitudinal axis and the middle of the upper light transmission portion, for providing the final directional transmission of light from each of the lighting elements that contribute light to the predetermined field angle;

power means for providing excitation to the lighting elements, and

means for electrically interconnecting the lighting elements to the power means whereby the lighting elements transmit light through the housing member towards the predetermined field angle including an approximately flat bus strip mounting the lighting elements and providing common electrical connections to each lighting element, the bus strip being laterally flexible perpendicular to the plane and relatively rigid within the plane.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the housing member has a substantially tubular configuration.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the housing member includes a prismatic configuration for directing light towards the predetermined field angle.

13. The invention of claim 11 wherein the housing member includes at least one flat exterior surface and a non-planar interior surface for directing light.

14. The invention of claim 11 wherein the housing member has a pair of interior surfaces that form a pointed groove along the axial length of the housing member within the plane.

15. The invention of claim 11 wherein the housing member has an interior surface that includes a pair of corner edges extending along the axial length of the housing member.

16. The invention of claim 11 wherein the housing member has an interior surface of a curvilinear configuration.

17. The invention of claim 11 wherein the housing member has an interior surface formed of planar facets.

18. A light system comprising:

an extruded, elongated, approximately tubular, flexible housing member having a hollow interior with a pair of planar surfaces to provide an upper light transmission portion of a cross-sectional variable thickness, the optical refraction characteristics of the upper light transmission of light providing a directional transmission of light towards a predetermined field angle extending traversely to a longitudinal axis of the housing member that is substantially less than 360°

, and a lower mounting portion of a different configuration, the upper and lower portions extending substantially along the entire length of the housing member;

a plurality of light-emitting elements positioned within the hollow interior of the housing member on a plane intersecting the housing member'"'"'s longitudinal axis and the middle of the upper light transmission portion and spaced along the longitudinal axis of the housing member;

an approximately flat bus strip mounting the light-emitting elements along one edge and providing common electrical connections to each element, the bus strip being laterally flexible perpendicular to the plane and relatively rigid in the plane, the lower portion of the housing member supporting the bus strip so that the light-emitting surfaces of the elements are operatively positioned adjacent the upper portion of the housing member to primarily distribute the light emitted from the elements within the predetermined field angle, and

means for providing electrical power to illuminate the light-emitting elements.