Integrally formed linear light strip with light emitting diodes
First Claim
1. An integrally formed single piece light strip, comprising:
- a flexible substrate including a light strip circuit with at least one light emitting diode (LED) that is illuminated when the light strip circuit conducts electricity;
first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance and being in electrical communication with said light strip circuit; and
a semi-rigid homogeneous plastic material extruded around said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate including a light strip circuit, and said at least one LED, completely encapsulating said flexible substrate, said first and second bus elements and said LED to form a single piece, seamless, substantially voidless protective barrier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integral single piece extruded LED light strip and an associated process for producing such an LED light strip. The light strip includes first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. The light strip also includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) connected between the bus elements that is illuminated when the first bus element conducts electricity provided from a power source. An extruded plastic material completely encapsulates the first and second bus elements and the LED, thereby providing a barrier to protect the elements from damage and to make the light strip impervious to moisture. A process for manufacturing an integrally formed single piece light strip includes the steps of continuously feeding bus elements to an extruder; continuously feeding circuitry having at least one LED operatively mounted thereon to the extruder; and extruding a thermoplastic material at a temperature below that which would damage the circuitry or the LED to thereby encapsulate the bus elements, the circuitry and the LED and to operatively connect the circuitry to the bus elements.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An integrally formed single piece light strip, comprising:
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a flexible substrate including a light strip circuit with at least one light emitting diode (LED) that is illuminated when the light strip circuit conducts electricity; first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance and being in electrical communication with said light strip circuit; and a semi-rigid homogeneous plastic material extruded around said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate including a light strip circuit, and said at least one LED, completely encapsulating said flexible substrate, said first and second bus elements and said LED to form a single piece, seamless, substantially voidless protective barrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An integrally formed light strip, comprising:
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a flexible light strip circuit; a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on said flexible light strip circuit for electrical communication with a power source; and a homogeneous thermoplastic material extruded about said light strip circuit and said plurality of LEDs that completely encapsulates said substrate and said plurality of LEDs to form a single piece seamless protective barrier. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A light strip, comprising:
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a seamless single piece extruded housing; a plurality of longitudinally extending electrical conductors encapsulated within the extruded housing that conduct electricity therethrough; and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) circuits, including a plurality of LEDs mounted thereon, encapsulated within the extruded housing, the extruded housing electrically connecting the plurality of conductors with the plurality of LED circuits. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. An integrally formed single piece light strip, comprising:
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first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance and being operatively connected to a power source; at least one light emitting diode (LED) connected between said first and second bus elements, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; and an extruded homogeneous plastic material that completely encapsulates said first and second bus elements and said LED and that provides a protective barrier and for making said light strip impervious to moisture; a third bus element operatively connected to said power source; at least one resistor operatively connected in parallel between said third bus element and said second bus element; at least one LED connected in series with said resistor; and a non-conductive layer located across a top portion of said first and third bus elements for insulating said resistor and said LED connected between said third and second bus elements from electrical contact with said first bus element and for insulating said resistor and said LED connected between said first and second bus elements from electrical contact with said third bus element.
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Specification