Illuminated signage employing light emitting diodes

• US 7,217,012 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: Lumination LLC
• Inventors: Petroski, James T., Aanegola, Srinath K., Southard, Paul, Bohler, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwiddie; Meghan K.
• Application Number:
  US10/484,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/249, 362/250, 362/252, 362/391, 362/800, 362806-808, 362/812, 439/403, 439/404, 439417-419, 439/425
• US Class Current: 362/391
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/002 making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing F21V21/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0413 Frames or casing structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An illuminated sign (88) includes a flexible electrical power cord (100) including first and second parallel conductors (112, 114) surroundingly contained within an insulating sheath defining a constant separation distance between the parallel conductors (112, 114). A plurality of light emitting diode (LED) devices (102) are affixed to the cord (100). Each LED device (102) includes an LED (104) having a positive lead (130p) electrically communicating with the first parallel conductor (112) and a negative lead (130p) electrically communicating with the second parallel conductor (114). A stencil (92) defines a selected shape, and the electrical cord (100) is arranged on the stencil (92). Power conditioning electronics (210, 220) disposed away from the stencil (92) electrically communicate with the first and second parallel conductors (112, 114) of the electrical power cord (100). The power conditioning electronics (210, 220) power the LED devices (102) via the parallel conductors (112, 114).

Claims

1. An illuminated sign comprising:

a channel letter housing defining at least one channel; and

a flexible lighting strip secured within the channel of the channel letter housing, the flexible lighting strip including;

a flexible electrical power cord including spaced apart parallel conductors in an insulating sheath,

a plurality of LEDs, and

a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the flexible electrical power cord and connected therewith, each connector including prongs that pierce the insulating sheath to connect with conductors of the flexible power cord to deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED, each connector further including first and second connector sections that are secured about a portion of the flexible electrical power cord to secure the connector thereto, the first and second connector sections including mating connector section securing features disposed on opposite sides of the flexible electrical power cord for securing the first and second connector sections about the portion of the flexible electrical power cord, the mating connector section securing features including a tongue-and-groove sliding engagement between the first and second connector sections disposed at one side of the flexible electrical power cord.

2. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prongs deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED via one of (i) direct connection with leads of the LED or (ii) one or more circuit elements.

3. An illuminated sign comprising:

a channel letter housing defining at least one channel; and

a flexible lighting strip secured within the channel of the channel letter housing, the flexible lighting strip including;

a flexible electrical power cord including spaced apart parallel conductors in an insulating sheath, the spaced apart parallel conductors in the insulating sheath defining a cord plane arranged transverse to a surface of the channel to which the flexible lighting strip is secured,

a plurality of LEDs, and

a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the flexible electrical power cord and connected therewith, each connector including prongs that pierce the insulating sheath to connect with conductors of the flexible power cord to deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED.

4. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a stencil conforming with the at least one channel of the channel letter housing and secured within the at least one channel, the flexible lighting strip being secured to the stencil.

5. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 4, wherein each connector includes:

a bracket by which the connector is secured to the stencil.

6. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein each connector of the flexible lighting strip comprises:

first and second connector sections that are secured about a portion of the flexible electrical power cord to secure the connector thereto.

7. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first and second connector sections comprise:

mating connector section securing features disposed on opposite sides of the flexible electrical power cord for securing the first and second connector sections about the portion of the flexible electrical power cord.

8. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 7, wherein the mating connector section securing features comprise:

a clip disposed on the first connector section at one side of the flexible electrical power cord that mates with a receiving region of the second connector section at the same side of the flexible electrical power cord.

9. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein each connector of the flexible lighting strip comprises:

first and second connector sections that are secured about a portion of the flexible electrical power cord to secure the connector thereto, the at least one LED being supported on one of the first and second connector sections in a position outside of the cord plane.

10. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein the connectors do not pierce the flexible lighting strip except via the prongs.

11. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein the conductors of the flexible power cord do not include electrical discontinuities.

12. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one LED supported by each connector is arranged on the connector spatially offset from the cord plane.

13. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a power supply disposed outside of the channel letter housing for delivering power to the flexible electrical power cord of the flexible lighting strip.

14. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 13, wherein the power supply is a class II power supply.

15. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein the prongs deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED via one of (i) direct connection with leads of the LED or (ii) one or more circuit elements.

16. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein each prong has a bifurcated tip that receives one of the parallel conductors of the flexible electrical power cord.

17. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein interfacing surfaces of the parallel conductors and the prongs are made of substantially similar metals to reduce galvanic corrosion.

18. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 3, wherein interfacing surfaces of the parallel conductors and the prongs include a conductive coating that reduces galvanic corrosion at the interfaces.

19. An illuminated sign comprising:

a channel letter housing defining at least one channel;

a flexible lighting strip secured within the channel of the channel letter housing, the flexible lighting strip including;

a flexible lighting strip including at least two strip branches defined by two flexible electrical power cords each including spaced apart parallel conductors in an insulating sheath,

a plurality of LEDs, and

a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the flexible electrical power cord and connected therewith, each connector including prongs that pierce the insulating sheath to connect with conductors of the flexible power cord to deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED;

a power supply disposed outside of the channel letter housing for delivering power to the flexible lighting strip; and

a splice connector electrically connecting the two flexible electrical power cords of the flexible lighting strip.

20. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 19, wherein one of the two flexible electrical power cords is electrically connected with the power supply, and the other of the two flexible electrical power cords receives electrical power from the splice connector.

21. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 19, wherein the power supply electrically connects with the splice connector to deliver electrical power to the two flexible electrical power cords.

22. An illuminated sign comprising:

a channel letter housing defining at least one channel;

a flexible lighting strip secured within the channel of the channel letter housing, the flexible lighting strip including;

a flexible electrical power cord including spaced apart parallel conductors in an insulating sheath,

a plurality of LEDs, and

a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the flexible electrical power cord and connected therewith, each connector including prongs that pierce the insulating sheath to connect with conductors of the flexible power cord to deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED;

a power supply disposed outside of the channel letter housing for delivering power to the flexible electrical power cord of the flexible lighting strip; and

a power connector by which the power supply is connected with the flexible electrical power cord, the power connector being arranged between two of the connectors that are spaced apart along the flexible electrical power cord.

23. An illuminated sign comprising:

a channel letter housing defining at least one channel;

a flexible lighting strip secured within the channel of the channel letter housing, the flexible lighting strip including;

a flexible electrical power cord including two or more ends and including spaced apart parallel conductors in an insulating sheath,

a plurality of LEDs, and

a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the flexible electrical power cord and connected therewith, each connector including prongs that pierce the insulating sheath to connect with conductors of the flexible power cord to deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED;

a power supply disposed outside of the channel letter housing for delivering power to the flexible electrical power cord of the flexible lighting strip; and

a power connector by which the power supply is connected with the flexible electrical power cord, the power connector being connected with the flexible electrical power cord at a point away from any of the two or more ends of the flexible electrical power cord.

24. An illuminated sign comprising:

a channel letter housing defining at least one channel; and

a flexible lighting strip secured within the channel of the channel letter housing, the flexible lighting strip including;

a flexible electrical power cord including spaced apart parallel conductors in an insulating sheath,

a plurality of LEDs, and

a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the flexible electrical power cord and connected therewith, each connector including prongs that pierce the insulating sheath to connect with conductors of the flexible power cord to deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED, each prong having a bifurcated tip that receives one of the parallel conductors of the flexible electrical power cord, the parallel conductors being multi-stranded conductors that are compressively held within the bifurcated ends of the prongs.

25. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 24, wherein each connector of the flexible lighting strip comprises:

first and second connector sections that are secured about a portion of the flexible electrical power cord to secure the connector thereto.

26. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 25, wherein the first and second connector sections comprise:

mating connector section securing features disposed on opposite sides of the flexible electrical power cord, for securing the first and second connector sections about the portion of the flexible electrical power cord.

27. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 24, wherein the connectors do not pierce the flexible lighting strip except via the prongs.

28. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 24, wherein the conductors of the flexible power cord do not include electrical discontinuities.

29. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 24, wherein the at least one LED supported by each connector is arranged on the connector spatially offset from the cord plane.

30. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 24, wherein the prongs deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED via one of (i) direct connection with leads of the LED or (ii) one or more circuit elements.

31. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 24, wherein interfacing surfaces of the parallel conductors and the prongs are made of substantially similar metals to reduce galvanic corrosion.

32. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 24, wherein interfacing surfaces of the parallel conductors and the prongs include a conductive coating that reduces galvanic corrosion at the interfaces.

33. An illuminated sign comprising:

a channel letter housing defining at least one channel at least a portion of which is curved; and

a flexible lighting strip secured within the channel of the channel letter housing, at least a portion of the flexible lighting strip being secured in a curved configuration conforming with the at least one curved channel portion, the flexible lighting strip including;

a flexible electrical power cord including spaced apart parallel conductors in an insulating sheath, the spaced apart parallel conductors in the insulating sheath defining a cord plane arranged transverse to a surface of the channel to which the flexible lighting strip is secured,

a plurality of LEDs, and

a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the flexible electrical power cord and connected therewith, each connector including prongs that pierce the insulating sheath to connect with conductors of the flexible power cord to deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED.

34. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 33, wherein each connector of the flexible lighting strip comprises:

first and second connector sections that are secured about a portion of the flexible electrical power cord to secure the connector thereto.

35. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 34, wherein the first and second connector sections comprise:

mating connector section securing features disposed on opposite sides of the flexible electrical power cord for securing the first and second connector sections about the portion of the flexible electrical power cord.

36. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 33, wherein the connectors do not pierce the flexible lighting strip except via the prongs.

37. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 33, wherein the conductors of the flexible power cord do not include electrical discontinuities.

38. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 33, wherein the at least one LED supported by each connector is arranged on the connector spatially offset from the cord plane.

39. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 33, wherein the prongs deliver electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord to the at least one LED via one of (i) direct connection with leads of the LED or (ii) one or more circuit elements.

40. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 33, wherein interfacing surfaces of the parallel conductors and the prongs are made of substantially similar metals to reduce galvanic corrosion.

41. The illuminated sign as set forth in claim 33, wherein interfacing surfaces of the parallel conductors and the prongs include a conductive coating that reduces galvanic corrosion at the interfaces.