Illuminated signage employing light emitting diodes
First Claim
1. An illuminated sign comprising:
- a generally hollow sign housing; and
a flexible lighting strip secured within the generally hollow sign housing, the flexible lighting strip including;
a flexible electrical power cord including spaced apart parallel conductors in an insulating sheath,a plurality of LEDs, anda 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 receive electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord,wherein the spaced apart parallel conductors in the insulating sheath define a cord plane that is, arranged transverse to a surface of the sign housing on which the flexible lighting strip is secured at least at a point along the flexible electrical power cord between adjacent connectors.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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).
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An illuminated sign comprising:
-
a generally hollow sign housing; and a flexible lighting strip secured within the generally hollow sign 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 receive electrical power from the flexible electrical power cord, wherein the spaced apart parallel conductors in the insulating sheath define a cord plane that is, arranged transverse to a surface of the sign housing on which the flexible lighting strip is secured at least at a point along the flexible electrical power cord between adjacent connectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An illuminated sign comprising:
-
a generally hollow sign housing; and a flexible lighting strip secured within the generally hollow sign housing, the flexible lighting strip including; an insulated flexible electrical power cord comprising a plurality of electrically insulated electrical conductors, and a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the insulated flexible electrical power cord, each connector including a plurality of insulation-displacing conductive prongs connecting with the insulated flexible electrical power cord, each insulation-displacing conductive prong piercing insulation of the insulated flexible electrical power cord to connect with a selected electrical conductor of the insulated flexible electrical power cord via a bifurcated tip, the plurality of insulation-displacing conductive prongs cooperatively conveying electrical power from the insulated flexible electrical power cord to the connector to electrically power the at least one LED supported by the connector. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An illuminated sign comprising:
-
a generally hollow sign housing; and a flexible lighting strip secured within the generally hollow sign housing, the flexible lighting strip including; an insulated generally planar flexible electrical power cord, a plurality of LEDs, and a plurality of connectors each supporting at least one LED, the connectors being spaced apart along the insulated generally planar flexible electrical power cord and connected to the insulated generally planar flexible electrical power cord with a plane of the insulated generally planar flexible electrical power cord at the point of connection positioned transverse to a surface of the sign housing on which the flexible lighting strip is secured, each connector including prongs electrically connecting with the insulated generally planar flexible power cord to receive electrical power from the insulated generally planar flexible electrical power cord. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification