Light fixture

• US 6,793,369 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tivoli LLC (Tsinghua Tongfang Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Tivoli LLC (Tsinghua Tongfang Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gallo, Mario, Calzaretta, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAYNE, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US10/160,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20030223233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 362/219, 362/217, 362/225, 362/229, 362/249, 362/365, 362/391, 362/800, 362/147, 362/146, 362/235, 362/375, 362/311, 362/310, 362/226, 439/680
• US Class Current: 362/219
• 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 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0045 by tongue and groove connections, e.g. dovetail interlocking means fixed by sliding
• 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: F21W 2111/08 for handles or handrails
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/161 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a lighting fixture where individual light sources can be removed and/or replaced from a strand of light sources. The preferred embodiment of the light fixture comprises a plurality of light sources strung together by a plurality of wire assemblies. Each light source preferably has one end of a tongue and groove connector where the opposing end of the connector is attached to an end of a wire assembly. The strand of light sources is then placed within a lens component, preferably an extrusion. The lens component is connected to a base component; wherein the plurality of light sources are mounted to the base component and contained within the lens component. The fixture can be mounted to, inter alia, a wall, a chair, or a railing in an area to be lit by the fixture.

Claims

1. A light fixture comprising:

a lens component connected to a base component;

wherein a plurality of light sources are mounted to and contained within the lens component;

the plurality of light sources are strung together by a plurality of wire assemblies;

each light source having a first end with a first polarity and a first connector, a second end with a second polarity and a second connector;

the first connector having a polarity-dependent geometry corresponding to the first polarity and the second connector having a polarity dependent geometry corresponding to the second polarity; and

,

each wire assembly having a first end connectable to the polarity-dependent geometry of the first connector of one of the light sources and a second end connectable to the polarity-dependent geometry of the second connector of another light source.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 where the polarity-dependent geometry of the first connector is a tongue component and the first end of the wire assembly has a groove component that can be mated to the tongue component.

3. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein said lens component comprises a lens position perpendicular to the base component when connected to the base component.

4. The light fixture of claim 3 wherein said lens component further comprises a shield for preventing light from emitting from the light fixture except through the lens.

5. The light fixture of claim 1 where the polarity-dependent geometry of the first connector is a shaped prong and the first end of the wire assembly has a slot for receipt of the shaped prong.

6. A light source comprising:

a light emitting diode mounted on a circuit board having a first end and a second end of opposing polarity;

the first end having a first connector comprising a first polarity-determined geometry and a pair of leads; and

,

the second end having a second connector comprising a second polarity-determined geometry and a pair of leads.

7. The light source of claim 6 where the first polarity-determined geometry is a tongue element positioned above the pair of leads.

8. The light source of claim 6 where the second polarity-determined geometry is a tongue element positioned below the pair of leads.

9. The light source of claim 6 where the first polarity-determined geometry is mated to a polarity-determined connector of a wire assembly.

10. The light source of claim 6 where the second polarity-determined geometry is mated to a polarity-determined connector of a wire assembly.