Lighted flooring

• US 8,220,949 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas J. Hamar, Jerry Milatz
• Original Assignee: Douglas J. Hamar, Jerry Milatz
• Inventors: Hamar, Douglas J., Milatz, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANSON JR, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US13/038,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20110149558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 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 plurality of strips assembled to form a panel:

at least one strip comprising a wood strip;

at least one strip comprising a top, a bottom and at least one side, said top comprising a light emitting portion; and

at least one light source disposed below said light emitting portion, said light emitting portion comprising a corner prism and a protective top, said protective top creating a level surface with said top.

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

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

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