Illuminated landscape edging

• US 5,410,458 A
• Filed: 03/28/1994
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terence Bell
• Original Assignee: Terence Bell
• Inventors: Bell, Terence
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US08/218,617
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 362/219, 362/223, 362/240, 362/249, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/219
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/559 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/582 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An illuminated landscape edging composed of a planar member which is structured to be implanted into the ground and by a tubular member which is structured to be located above ground. In the preferred form of the invention, the tubular member is light passable and is provided with a slit running its length. Both the planar and tubular members are integrally constructed of plastic. The illuminated landscape edging is elongated and is provided in long rolls which may be cut into sections to suit the length needs of a particular landscaping job. Sections of the illuminated landscape edging are joined by a slotted tubular connector inserting into open ends of adjoining tubular members. A lighting string, such as miniature Christmas lights, is inserted into the tubular member via passage through the slit in the tubular member progressively therealong. A slot in the slotted tubular connector enables the lighting string to be passed therethrough, as well. At a selected location along the slit in the tubular member, the wiring of the lighting string exits the tubular member to be connected externally to a power source of electricity, which may be the home utility service or a solar energy storage power system. In the nighttime hours, the lighting string is illuminated, thereby providing a pleasant line of light which follows the predetermined demarcation pattern of the illuminated landscape edging.

Claims

1. An illuminated landscape edging for being installed partly above ground and partly below ground, comprising:

at least one landscape edging section, each landscape edging section comprising;

a tubular member having a sidewall of predetermined cross-sectional shape, said sidewall having a first and second end, said sidewall being provided with a slit, said sidewall being composed of a light passable plastic material; and

a planar member connected with said tubular member for providing an anchorage below ground and for affixing said tubular member at a preselected location above ground;

illumination means located in said tubular member of each said landscape edging section for providing illumination therein; and

means for connecting said illumination means to a source of electricity;

wherein said illumination provided by said illumination means passes through said sidewall of each said landscape edging section so as to be visible exterior thereto; and

wherein said slit extends along said sidewall in parallel alignment with respect to said planar member to thereby permit said illumination means to be passed therethrough in order to at least in part insert said illumination means into said tubular member and further to at least in part remove said illumination means from said tubular member.

2. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 1, further comprising slotted connector member means for serially connecting together said first and second ends of the sidewall of each said section;

wherein said slotted connector member means is provided with a slot to thereby permit said illumination means to be passed therethrough in order to at least in part insert said illumination means into said tubular member and further to at least in part remove said illumination means from said tubular member.

3. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 2, wherein said tubular member and said planar member are mutually integrally connected together.

4. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 3, wherein said illumination means comprises a string of lights located in said tubular member.

5. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 4, wherein said means for connecting comprises wiring means for providing electrical power between said string of lights and a power source of electricity.

6. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 5, wherein said power source of electricity is a solar energy storage power source.

7. An illuminated landscape edging for being installed partly above ground and partly below ground, comprising:

at least one landscape edging section, each landscape edging section comprising;

a tubular member having a sidewall of predetermined cross-sectional shape, said sidewall having a first and second end, said sidewall being provided with a slit, said sidewall being provided with a plurality of mutually spaced apart holes; and

a planar member connected with said tubular member for providing an anchorage below ground and for affixing said tubular member at a preselected location above ground;

illumination means located in said tubular member of each said landscape edging section for providing illumination therein; and

means for connecting said illumination means to a source of electricity;

wherein said illumination provided by said illumination means passes through said plurality of holes in said sidewall of each said landscape edging section so as to be visible exterior thereto; and

and further to at least in part remove said illumination means from said tubular member.

8. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 7, further comprising slotted connector member means for serially connecting together said first and second ends of the sidewall of each said section;

wherein said slotted connector member means is provided with a slot to thereby permit said illumination means to be passed therethrough in order to at least in part insert said illumination means into said tubular member and further to at least in part remove said illumination means from said tubular member.

9. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 8, wherein said tubular member and said planar member are mutually integrally connected together.

10. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 9, wherein said illumination means comprises a string of lights located in said tubular member.

11. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 10, wherein said means for connecting comprises wiring means for providing electrical power between said string of lights and a power source of electricity.

12. The illuminated landscape edging of claim 11, wherein said power source of electricity is a solar energy storage power source.