Strip lighting

• US 4,628,421 A
• Filed: 01/23/1986
• Issued: 12/09/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence E. Saar
• Original Assignee: Lawrence E. Saar
• Inventors: Saar, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Application Number:
  US06/821,784
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 362/227, 362/234, 362/237, 362/238, 362/249, 362/252, 362/806, 313/250, 313/251, 313/269, 313/268, 313/285, 313/267, 339/157 R, 339/174
• US Class Current: 362/238
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/326 the printed circuit having integral resilient or deformable parts, e.g. tabs or parts of flexible circuits H05K3/365 takes precedence

Abstract

A modular low voltage light strip includes an elongated, linear housing open along an upper portion thereof which is adapted to receive an elongated, linear circuit board. The circuit board includes a plurality of spaced apertures along its length and a plurality of conductive strips on a first lower surface thereof extending the length of the circuit board. A conductive mounting spring is positioned over each aperture on a second upper surface of the circuit board, is connected in circuit with one of the conductive strips, and is adapted to receive a threaded base or socket of a lamp in providing for the secure mounting thereof upon the circuit board and its electrical connection to a respective first conductive strip. With the lamp thus engaged by a respective mounting spring, its bottom terminal is positioned within an associated circuit board aperture and in contact with a second conductive strip. A single concave, elongated, linear reflector having a plurality of spaced apertures along its length is positioned along the open upper portion of the housing with each aperture adapted to receive a respective lamp inserted therethrough so as to cover the circuit board and to provide a continuous, attractive, high illumination reflecting surface for the lamps. A transparent, snap-acting cover is adapted for secure engagement with the housing along the upper open portion thereof so as to form an enclosed structure within which the reflector, the lights and the circuit board are fixedly disposed.

Claims

1. A strip lighting arrangement comprising:

an elongated, generally flat circuit board having a plurality of spaced conductive strips aligned along the length thereof;

an elongated housing having a slot-like aperture along the length thereof and adapted to receive said circuit board within and along the length thereof;

a plurality of lamps, each lamp including a first terminal forming a threaded lateral base portion of said lamp and a second terminal positioned on the bottom of said lateral base portion of said lamp;

a plurality of mounting means positioned on and aligned along the length of said circuit board in spaced relation and coupled in circuit to said conductive strips thereon for receiving and engaging a respective one of said lamps for securely mounting on said circuit board and electrically coupling in circuit with said conductive strips each of said lamps, wherein each of said mounting means includes a helical spring for engaging and electrically coupling the first terminal lateral base portion of a respective lamp to a first conductive strip while maintaining the second terminal bottom portion of the lamp in electrical contact with a second conductive strip;

a concave reflector positioned over the aperture of said housing and extending substantially along the length thereof, said reflector having a plurality of spaced apertures along the length thereof, wherein each aperture is adapted to receive a respective lamp therein; and

a light transmitting cover positioned over said reflector and along the length of the aperture in said elongated housing, wherein said cover securely engages said housing adjacent to the aperture therein in a snap-acting manner.

2. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 1 wherein said circuit board includes a plurality of spaced apertures along the length thereof, with each of said apertures positioned adjacent to a respective mounting means for receiving a first terminal of a respective lamp.

3. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 2 wherein one of said conductive strips is aligned with and extends across each of said circuit board apertures for engaging a first terminal of each of said lamps mounted on said circuit board.

4. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 3 wherein said one of said conductive strips is a neutral conductor and is electrically coupled to all of said lamps.

5. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 4 wherein each of said lamps further includes a second terminal forming a base portion of the lamp and wherein said mounting means securely engages the base portion of a lamp for electrically coupling the second terminal thereof to another of said conductive strips.

6. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 4 wherein said one of said conductive strips is comprised of a plurality of sections, with each of said sections disposed between adjacent apertures in said circuit board, and wherein said one of said conductive strips is further comprised of at least one conductive bus bar extending across one of said apertures and electrically connecting the first terminal of a lamp positioned adjacent to said one of said apertures to respective sections of said conductive strip positioned on said circuit board adjacent to said one of said apertures therein.

7. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 6 wherein said mounting means are positioned on a first side of said circuit board and said conductive strips are positioned on a second, facing side of said circuit board and wherein said first side of said circuit board is in facing relation with said reflector.

8. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 1 further comprising connector means positioned on an end of said circuit board for electrically coupling said circuit board to another circuit board.

9. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 8 wherein said connector means includes a support flange extending therefrom for engaging an inner, lower portion of said housing and maintaining said circuit board in spaced relation therefrom.

10. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 1 wherein said cover includes first and second flanges on respective lateral portions and extending substantially the length thereof, and wherein each of said first and second flanges is adapted to securely engage a respective lateral portion of said housing adjacent to the aperture therein and substantially along the length thereof.

11. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 1 wherein said reflector engages each of said lamps for maintaining said lamps and said circuit board fixedly positioned within said housing.

12. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 1 wherein said concave reflector includes a chrome-plated upper surface.

13. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 15 wherein lateral portions of said concave reflector are positioned in tight-fitting relation between respective engaged lateral portions of said cover and said housing in securely maintaining said concave reflector in position in said housing.

15. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 1 further comprising mounting means positioned on an outer portion of said housing for securely attaching said housing to a support structure.

16. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 18 wherein said mounting means includes a dual-sided adhesive tape.

14. A strip lighting arrangement as in claim 16 further comprising a light transmitting colored element disposed between said reflector and said cover.