Lighted flooring

• US 7,918,579 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas J. Hamar, Jerry Milatz
• Original Assignee: Douglas J. Hamar, Jerry Milatz
• Inventors: Milatz, Jerry, Hamar, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANSON JR, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US11/801,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 362/153, 362/153.1, 362/145, 362/146, 362/552, 362/555
• US Class Current: 362/153
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2290/026 for lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/022 intended to be recessed in a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement or false floor
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/003 Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated

Abstract

A floor assembly including a top having at least one transparent or translucent light emitting portion for emitting light is provided. At least one light source is provided for supplying light. The light source is optically connected to the light emitting portion. The assembly may include a light guide for guiding light therethrough. Also, a light refracting portion may be included for directing light emanating from the light source.

Claims

1. A floor assembly comprising:

a top forming at least a portion of a floor surface and having at least one light emitting portion;

at least one light source disposed below said light emitting portion and coupled with said at least one light emitting portion; and

said light emitting portion comprising a light refracting portion, to direct light from the light source at multiple angles.

2. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising cavity below said light emitting portion.

3. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said light source is disposed in said cavity.

4. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

5. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a cold cathode tube.

6. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a strobe light.

7. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a monitor.

8. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a bottom and at least one side;

said bottom and top and said side defining a flooring strip, said top being translucent or transparent.

9. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said flooring strip further includes a tongue-and-groove.

10. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light emitting portion comprises a light guide assembly.

11. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said light guide assembly comprises a light guide portion and said light refracting portion.

12. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light refracting portion comprises a corner prism.

13. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light refracting portion comprises a mirror.

14. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light refracting portion comprises fiber optics.

15. A floor assembly comprising:

a floor surface and having at least one light emitting portion for emitting light therethrough, said light emitting portion comprising a light refracting portion for guiding light passing therethrough and a protective top over said light refracting portion, said protective top creating a level surface with said floor surface; and

at least one light source disposed below said light refracting portion for providing light to the light refracting portion.

16. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

17. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a controller, said light emitting diode coupled with said controller.

18. A floor assembly as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a light guide portion coupled with said light refracting portion for receiving light from said LED and transmitting it to said light refracting portion.