Cut-to-length linear lighting, and two-dimensional and three-dimensional decorative lights, from omni-directional LED lamps

• US 6,036,335 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renato M. Openiano
• Original Assignee: Renato M. Openiano
• Inventors: Openiano, Renato M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Application Number:
  US08/939,280
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 362/217, 362/240, 362/241, 362/247, 362/249, 362/252, 362/298, 362/504, 362/305, 362/405, 362/800, 362/807
• US Class Current: 362/241
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/26 of rope form, e.g. LED lighting ropes, or of tubular form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/807 Star

Abstract

A housing holds embedded in arrayed order along an axis (i) a conical first omni-directional reflector, (ii) a directional second reflector and a second LED, (iii) a directional first reflector and a first LED, and (iv) a conical second omni-directional reflector. Light from the first (second) LED as is in part reflected by the directional first (second) reflector is omni-directionally dispersed by the first (second) omni-directional reflector. All reflectors optionally serve as electrical connections to the LED'"'"'s. A linear light constructed as a chain of these omni-directional LED lamps wired in electrical parallel may be easily cut to length. Other two and three-dimensional omni-directionally-illuminating lighting fixtures are possible, such as in the shape of crosses and stars and the six-pointed metal object used in the game of jacks.

Claims

1. An omni-directional LED lamp that reflects light in a 360°

circumferential direction without rotation, the lamp comprising;

a first LED backed by a first directional reflector to transmit light substantially directionally in a first light beam in a first direction;

a second LED backed by a second directional reflector, both located within the first light beam, to transmit light substantially directionally in a second light beam in a second direction;

wherein the first LED and first directional reflector are within the second light beam;

a first omni-directional reflector, having a continuous conical reflective surface with an apex pointed towards the first LED that is substantially upon its conical axis, intersecting the first light beam upon its exterior surface and reflecting this first light beam substantially in a 360°

circumference thus rendering the first LED omni-directional; and

a second omni-directional reflector, having a continuous conical reflective surface with an apex pointed towards the second LED that is substantially upon its conical axis, intersecting the second light beam upon its exterior surface and reflecting this second light beam substantially in a 360°

circumference thus rendering the second LED omni-directional; and

a housing for holding in arrayed order substantially along an axis the first omni-directional reflector, the directional second reflector and the second LED, the directional first reflector and the first LED, and the second omni-directional reflector.

2. The omni-directional LED lamp according to claim 1 further comprising:

wherein each of the first directional reflector, the second directional reflector, the first omni-directional reflector, and the second omni-directional reflector are electrically conducting; and

wherein the lamp further comprises;

an electrical first terminal;

at least one electrical second terminal;

wherein the at least one electrical second terminal is electrically connected to the first omni-directional reflector is electrically connected to the second directional reflector is electrically connected across the second LED to the electrical first terminal; and

wherein the at least one electrical second terminal is also, further, electrically connected to the second omni-directional reflector is electrically connected to the first directional reflector is electrically connected across the first LED also to the electrical first terminal;

wherein the electrical paths to and through the LEDs of the lamp are within the reflectors of the lamp.

3. A linear light comprising:

a multiplicity of omni-directional LED lamp modules each of which reflects light in a 360°

circumferential direction, each LED lamp module having

a first LED backed by an associated first directional reflector to transmit light substantially directionally in a first light beam in a first direction,

a second LED backed by an associated second directional reflector, both located within the first light beam, to transmit light substantially directionally in a second light beam in a second direction,

wherein the first LED and its associated first directional reflector are within the second light beam,

a first omni-directional reflector, having a continuous conical reflective surface with an apex pointed towards the first LED that is substantially upon its conical axis, intersecting the light beam upon its exterior surface and reflecting this light beam substantially in a 360°

circumference thus rendering the first LED omni-directional,

a second omni-directional reflector, having a continuous conical reflective surface with an apex pointed towards the second LED that is substantially upon its conical axis, intersecting the second light beam upon its exterior surface and reflecting this second light beam substantially in a 360°

circumference thus rendering the second LED omni-directional; and

an elongate cylindrical housing holding the multiplicity of omni-directional LED lamp modules in a chain;

wherein the substantial appearance of the chained multiplicity of omni-directional LED lamp modules is as an elongate linear light source.

4. The linear light according to claim 3

wherein the elongate cylindrical housing is susceptible of being severed by cutting at any arbitrary location;

and

wherein the multiplicity of omni-directional LED lamp modules are electrically connected in parallel;

wherein the linear light can be cut to any arbitrary length.

5. A multi-armed lighting fixture comprising:

a plurality of members each of which reflects light in a 360°

circumferential direction, each member including

a first LED backed by a first directional reflector to transmit light substantially in a first direction in a first light beam,

a second LED, located in the first light beam and backed by a second directional reflector to transmit light substantially in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, in a second light beam,

a first omni-directional reflector, located in the first light beam and having a continuous conical reflective surface with an apex pointed towards the first LED that is substantially upon its conical axis, intersecting the first light beam upon its exterior surface and reflecting this light beam substantially in a 360°

circumference, and

a second omni-directional reflector, located in the second light beam and having a continuous conical reflective surface with an apex pointed towards the second LED that is substantially upon its conical axis, intersecting the second light beam upon its exterior surface and reflecting this light beam substantially in a 360°

circumference,

wherein the first and the second omni-directional reflector thus render light emission from the LEDs omni-directional; and

a housing holding the plurality of members radially extended in a pattern as 360°

-circumferentially-illuminating arms of a lighting fixture.

6. The multi-armed lighting fixture according to claim 5

wherein the housing is holding the plurality of members radially extended in a planar pattern.

7. The multi-armed lighting fixture according to claim 6

wherein the plurality of members number four, and are held by the housing in the planar pattern of a cross.

8. The multi-armed lighting fixture according to claim 6

wherein the plurality of members number five, and are held by the housing in the planar pattern of a five-pointed star.

9. The multi-armed lighting fixture according to claim 5

wherein the housing is holding the plurality of members radially extended in a three-dimensional pattern.

10. The multi-armed lighting fixture according to claim 9

wherein the plurality of members number six, and are held by the housing in the three-dimensional pattern of a six-pointed metal object used in the game of jacks.