Stair stringer light set

• US 6,685,332 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert E. Clark
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cranson, Jr., James W
• Application Number:
  US10/230,911
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 362/146, 362/250, 362/290, 362/366
• US Class Current: 362/146
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/163 Protecting means for edges or corners
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1048 with lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/26 of rope form, e.g. LED lighting ropes, or of tubular form
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light rope runs along the stringer of a stairway and is concealed by in-fill panels fitted into a groove on a frame rail running along the wall or stringer adjacent to the stairway. A light grille having a square frame and a patterned grille insert is seated along each tread adjacent to the next higher riser and is connected to the frame rail by a pair of adjustment arms. Translucent panels are mounted on the rear of the light grilles, allowing light to shine through them. Electrical circuitry turns the lights on when a user approaches the stairs and automatically turns the lights off after a predetermined time after the user has departed the area of the stairs.

Claims

1. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway comprising:

a. at least one light grille seated on a stair tread of the stairway;

b. a frame rail fastened to a wall adjacent to the stairway;

c. means for connecting said at least one light grille to said frame rail; and

d. means for providing electrical lighting secured behind said panels.

2. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of in-fill panels covering the wall space between said frame rail and said light grille.

3. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 2 wherein said in-fill panel includes an upper edge seated behind said frame rail.

4. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 2 wherein said in-fill panel further includes a lower edge seated behind a frame of said light grille.

5. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 1 wherein said light grille further comprises a frame and a grille member adapted to fit into said frame and means for retaining said grille member in said frame.

6. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 1 wherein said grilles further comprise a plurality of cross members, thereby forming a pattern.

7. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a translucent panel fixed to a rear side of said light grille.

8. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical lighting means further comprises a light rope fastened to said wall adjacent to said light grilles and means for energizing said light rope.

9. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said light grille to said frame rail further comprises an upper arm having a proximal end connected to said light grille and a distal end connected to said frame rail and a horizontal arm having a proximal end connected to said light grille and a distal end connected to said frame rail.

10. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 9 wherein said horizontal arm further comprises means for adjusting the length of said horizontal arm.

11. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said light grille to said frame rail further comprises a longitudinal groove in an underside of said frame rail.

12. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway comprising:

a. at least one light grille seated on a stair tread;

b. a frame rail fastened to a wall adjacent to the stairway, said frame rail being connected to said at least one light grille by an upper arm having a proximal end connected to said light grille and a distal end connected to said frame rail and a horizontal arm having a proximal end connected to said light grille and a distal end connected to said frame rail; and

d. means for providing electrical lighting secured behind said panels.

13. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 12 wherein said upper arm further comprises a longitudinal member having a plurality of spaced aligned apertures and means for clamping said upper arm to a portion of said frame rail.

14. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 13 wherein said horizontal arm further comprises a first horizontal arm member and a second horizontal arm member which overlap one another to provide a length adjustable length horizontal arm.

15. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first horizontal arm member and said second horizontal arm member are fastened together by a bolt passed through an aperture in said first horizontal arm member and an aligned aperture in said second horizontal arm member and a wingnut.

16. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a cylindrical sleeve positioned over said bolt between a bolt head and said wingnut, whereby said wingnut is seated against the wall when said wingnut is tightened.

17. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway comprising:

a. at least one light grille seated on each stair tread of the stairway adjacent to the next higher riser in the stairway;

b. a frame rail fastened to a wall adjacent to the stairway and running the length of the stairway, said frame rail being connected to said at least one light grille by an upper arm having a proximal end connected to said light grille and a distal end connected to said frame rail and a horizontal arm having a proximal end connected to said light grille and a distal end connected to said frame rail; and

d. means for providing electrical lighting secured behind said panels.

18. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 17 wherein each said light grille further comprises a frame having a translucent panel fixed into said frame.

19. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 18 wherein each said light grille further comprises a plurality of grille members in said frame and fixed to said frame, thereby forming a pattern in said frame.

20. A light stringer set for lighting a stairway in accordance with claim 17 wherein said means for providing electrical lighting secured behind said panels further comprises a light rope electrically connected to at least one motion sensor and a source of electrical power.