Lighting system

• US 5,107,408 A
• Filed: 02/12/1991
• Issued: 04/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Customerville Limited
• Inventors: Vernondier, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US07/654,193
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/238, 362/223, 362/225, 362/800, 362/362, 362/249, 362/219, 362/221, 362/222, 362/145, 362/146, 362/152, 362/153, 439/232, 439/210, 439/541, 439/419, 439/239, 439/346
• US Class Current: 362/238
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/166 with means for fixing a separate edging strip
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/061 used to finish off an edge or corner of a wall or floor covering area in connection with floor fabrics A47G27/045; sealings between walls and baths A47K3/008
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1048 with lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/027 for indicating kerbs, steps or stairs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/162 Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lighting system includes a plurality of modular components, comprising elongate strips of different finite lengths having elongate lighting circuits therein and connector means for connecting adjacent strips end to end and electrically connecting the lighting circuits thereon to enable a voltage to be applied across a series of illuminating devices provided at predetermined spaced locations along the length of the strips so connected. The illuminating devices on each strip are connected in series and the series connected illuminating devices associated with each strip are connected in parallel with the series connected illuminating devices associated with each of the other strips. The series connection of the illuminating devices associated with the respective strips are balanced so that they are voltage compatible with one another. In some embodiments a plurality of series connected illuminating devices are provided on each strip. Ring voltage supply lines and voltage pulse control lines may also be provided on the strips.

Claims

1. A lighting system including a plurality of modular components comprising a plurality of elongate strips of different finite lengths, each strip including having an elongate lighting circuit extending along the strip, which lighting circuit provides at least one pair of voltage supply lines extending along the length of the strip and a plurality of separate electrical connecting lines for connecting at least one illuminating device in parallel between said at least one pair of voltage supply lines, each of said connecting lines of at least one of said strips being adapted to connect at least one predetermined resistor in series with said at least one illuminating device thereof so that the total electrical resistance of said at least one illuminating device and said at least one resistor of the corresponding electrical connecting line associated with each of the strips is substantially the same to provide a set of corresponding voltage compatible electrical connecting lines provided on the plurality of elongate strips;

connector means for engaging juxtaposed ends of said strips to connect the strips end to end, said connector means comprising at least one connector element for location between a pair of adjacent strips and having means for resiliently gripping each of said juxtaposed ends of the strips and means for making an electrical connection between adjacent ends of said respective electrical lighting circuits associated with the strips; and

a voltage supply connector means for connecting to one end of one of said strips to provide an electrical connection between the voltage supply lines associated with that particular strip and at least one voltage supply.

4. A lighting system according to claim 1 including flexible connecting means for electrically connecting a pair of strips which can be set at different angular positions with respect to one another, said flexible connecting means comprising connector portions each adapted to be resiliently gripped by a respective one of a pair of said connector members which are to be resiliently engaged with adjacent ends of said pair of strips, respectively;

flexible means connecting said connector portions; and

electrical connecting means for making an electrical connection between the electrical connection means of said pair of connector members.

7. A lighting system according to claim 1 further including at least one control electric line for extending along the length of a set of said strips, when connected end to end, and switching means provided in said elongate lighting circuits associated with the strips or associated with ancillary equipment, said control line being capable of transmitting control signals to said switching means to control the operation thereof.

8. A lighting system as claimed in claim 7 wherein sections of said at least one control electric line are provided directly on each of said strips, and said connector means are adapted to connect electrically the control line sections on said adjacent strips.

9. A lighting system according to claim 1, further including an elongate tubular container having a translucent or transparent wall or wall portion, for receiving said plurality of elongate strips when connected by said connector means.

10. A lighting system according to claim 9 wherein said tubular container has a removably mounted wall section extending along its length.

5. A lighting system according to claim further including a pair of ring circuit voltage supply lines for extending along the length of a set of said strips, when connected end to end, to connect ends of the respective voltage supply lines of said series of strips, remote from said voltage supply connector means, directly to said voltage supply.

6. A lighting system according to claim 5, wherein said ring circuit voltage supply lines are provided directly on each of said strips;

said connector means being adapted to connect electrically the ring circuit voltage supply lines on said adjacent strips, and including a further connector element for location at said remote end of said series of strips and adapted to connect electrically the ring circuit voltage supply lines to the respective voltage supply lines at said remote end.

11. A lighting system in including a plurality of modular components comprising a plurality of elongate strips of different finite lengths, each strip having an elongate lighting circuit extending along the strip, which lighting circuit provides at least one pair of voltage supply lines extending along the length of the strip and at least one electrical connecting line for connecting at least one illuminating device in parallel between said pair of voltage supply lines, said lighting circuit of at least one of said strips being adapted to connect at least one predetermined resistor in series with said at least one illuminating device thereof so that the total electrical resistance of said at least one illuminating device and said at least one resistor of each of the strips is substantially the same to provide a set of voltage compatible elongate strips;

connector means for engaging juxtaposed ends of said strips to connect the strips end to end, said connector means comprising at least one connector element for location between a pair of adjacent strips and having means for resiliently gripping each of said juxtaposed ends of the strips and means for making an electrical connection between adjacent ends of said electrical lighting circuits associated with the strips; and

a voltage supply connector means for connecting to one end of one of said strips to provide an electrical connection between the voltage supply lines associated with that particular strip and a voltage supply, wherein there is further provided a pair of ring circuit voltage supply lines for extending along the length of a set of said strips, when connected end to end, to connect ends of the respective voltage supply lines of said series of strips, remote from said voltage supply connector means, directly to said voltage supply.

2. A lighting system according to claim 11, wherein each strip is in the form of a printed circuit board.

3. A lighting system according to claim 2, wherein each printed circuit board is sealed within a respective outer tubular housing with electrical connecting terminals for said elongate lighting circuits being accessible at each end of said housing for engagement by said connector means and said voltage supply connector means.

12. A lighting system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said ring circuit voltage supply lines are provided directly on each of said strips;

said connector means being adapted to connect electrically the ring circuit voltage supply lines on said adjacent strips; and

including a further connector element for location at said remote end of said series of strips and adapted to connect electrically the ring circuit voltage supply lines to the respective voltage supply lines at said remote end.

13. A lighting system according to the claim 11, further including an elongate tubular container having a translucent or transparent wall or wall portion, for receiving said plurality of elongate strips when connected by said connector means.

14. A lighting system including a plurality of modular components comprising a plurality of elongate strips of different finite lengths, each strip having an elongate lighting circuit extending along the strip, which lighting circuit provides at least one pair of voltage supply lines extending along the length of the strip and at least one electrical connecting line for connecting at least one illuminating device in parallel between said pair of voltage supply lines, said lighting circuit of at least one of said strips being adapted to connect at least one predetermined resistor in series with said at least one illuminating device thereof so that the total electrical resistance of said at least one illuminating device and said at least one resistor of each of the strips is substantially the same to provide a set of voltage compatible elongate strips;

connector means for engaging juxtaposed ends of said strips to connect the strips end to end, said connector means comprising at least one connector element for location between a pair of adjacent strips and having means for resiliently gripping each of said juxtaposed ends of the strips and means for making an electrical connection between adjacent ends of said electrical lighting circuits associated with the strips; and

a voltage supply connector means for connecting to one end of one of said strips to provide an electrical connection between the voltage supply lines associated with that particular strip and a voltage supply, wherein there is further provided at least one control electric line for extending along the length of a set of said strips, when connected end to end, and switching means provided in said elongate lighting circuits associated with the stripsor associated with ancillary equipment, said control line being capable of transmitting control signals to said switching means to control the operation thereof.

15. A lighting system as claimed in claim 14, wherein sections of said at least one control electric line are provided directly on each of said strips;

and said connector means are adapted to connect electrically the control electric line sections on said adjacent strips.

16. A lighting system according to the claim 14, further including an elongate tubular container having a translucent or transparent wall or wall portion, for receiving said plurality of elongate strips when connected by said connector means.

17. A lighting system including a plurality of modular components comprising a plurality of elongate strips of different finite lengths, each strip having an elongate lighting circuit extending along the strip, which lighting circuit provides at least one pair of voltage supply lines extending along the length of the strip and at least one illuminating device in parallel between said pair of voltage supply lines, and lighting circuit of at least one of said strips being adapted to connect at least one predetermined resistor in series with said at least one illuminating device thereof so that the total electrical resistance of said at least one illuminating device and said at least one resistor of each of the strips is substantially the same to provide a set of voltage compatible elongate strips;

connector means for engaging juxtaposed ends of said strips to connect the strips end to end, said connector means comprising at least one connector element for location between a pair of adjacent strips and having means for resiliently gripping each of said juxtaposed ends of the strips and means for making an electrical connection between adjacent ends of said electrical lighting circuits associated with the strips; and

a voltage supply connector means for connecting to one end of one of said strips to provide an electrical connection between the voltage supply lines associated with that particular strips and a voltage supply, wherein each strip is sealed within an outer tubular housing with electrical connecting terminals for said elongate lighting circuits being accessible at each end of said housing for engagement by said connector means and said voltage supply connector means.

18. A lighting system according to claim 17, further including an elongate tubular container having a translucent or transparent wall or wall portion, for receiving said plurality of elongate strips when connected by said connector means.

19. A lighting system including a plurality of modular components comprising a plurality of modules of different finite lengths, each module including at least one elongate lighting circuit extending along the module, which lighting circuit includes a series connected plurality of illuminating devices and resilient terminals for said circuit, protruding from the module and the lighting circuit of at least one of said strips being adapted to connect at least one predetermined resistor in series with said series connected plurality of illuminating devices thereof so that the total electrical resistance of said series connected plurality of illuminating device and at least one resistor of each of the modules is substantially the same to provide a set of voltage compatible elongate strips;

an elongate base section provided with at least one pair of voltage supply lines running along its length and means for locating a selected series of modules on the base section in an end to end relationship with said terminals of each lighting circuit of each module making electrical contact with said voltage supply lines to apply a voltage across said series connected plurality of illuminating devices associated with the modules.

20. A lighting system according to claim 19, further including an elongate tubular container having a translucent or transparent wall or wall portion, for receiving said plurality of elongate strips when connected by said connector means.