Perimeter lighting apparatus

• US 6,969,179 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sloanled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sloanled Incorporated
• Inventors: Sloan, Thomas C., Sloan, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Payne, Sharon
• Application Number:
  US10/770,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20040156197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/249, 362/396, 362/267, 362/800, 362/145, 362/147, 362/152, 362/216, 362/219, 362/217, 362/222, 362/223, 362/368, 362/806, 362/98, 362/99, 362/190
• US Class Current: 362/219
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/24 of ribbon or tape form, e.g. LED tapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/26 of rope form, e.g. LED lighting ropes, or of tubular form
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An elongated perimeter light is disclosed, which comprises a linear array of light sources (LEDs) that are electrically illuminated. The array of light sources is disposed within an elongated transparent tube, with the tube transmitting and dispersing the light from the array giving the appearance that said array of light sources is a continuous light source. The array of light sources is capable of being cut at intervals down its length to shorten it. The light sources that remain in the array continue to emit light and the tube can be cut to match the length of said array. The present invention also discloses systems for lighting structural features, with one system according to the present invention comprising a plurality of elongated perimeter lights. The perimeter lights are electrically coupled in a daisy chain with the electrical power at each of the perimeter lights being transmitted to the successive light. A mechanism is included for anchoring the plurality of perimeter lights to a structure to illuminate it. Each of the perimeter lights can be cut at intervals down its length while not interfering with its ability to transmit its electrical power to successive lights.

Claims

1. An elongated perimeter light, comprising:

an array of light sources that are illuminated by electric power;

an elongated translucent tube, said array of light sources disposed within said tube, said tube transmitting and dispersing the light from said array giving the appearance that said array of light sources is a continuous light source; and

said array of light sources being cuttable at intervals to shorten said array while allowing the remaining light sources in said array to emit light, said tube being cuttable to match the length of said array, further comprising a mechanism for mounting said translucent tube to a structure, wherein said mounting mechanism comprises an anchoring slot integral with said tube and a plurality of mounting buttons, said mounting buttons mounted to the structure and cooperating with said slot to hold said tube on the structure.

2. The perimeter light of claim 1, wherein said array of light sources comprises a linear array of light sources.

3. The perimeter light of claim 1, wherein said array of light sources comprises an array of light emitting diodes.

4. The perimeter light of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board wherein said array of light sources is arranged on said printed circuit board in a plurality of parallel connected sub-arrays of light sources, said electric power coupled across each of said plurality of sub-arrays.

5. The perimeter light of claim 4, wherein printed circuit board is cuttable between two of said plurality of parallel connected sub-arrays.

6. The perimeter light of claim 1, further comprising a means for conducting said electrical power from said perimeter light to another device, wherein the cutting of said array of light sources does not interrupt the conduction of said electrical power.

7. The perimeter light of claim 1, further comprising bumpers mounted at the ends of said tube to protect said array of light sources.