Lighted flooring

• US 8,444,287 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Lawrence Hardesty
• Original Assignee: Gary Lawrence Hardesty
• Inventors: Hardesty, Gary Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US12/986,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20110310595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/153, 362/153.1, 362/249.02, 362/249.04, 362/311.02, 362/311.14, 152/15, 152/16, 152/17, 521/77, 521/80, 521/81
• US Class Current: 362/153
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 23/24 Rigid cleaning-gratings; Tread plates or scrapers for cleaning the soles of footwear floor mats in general A47G27/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02038 characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02166 wherein the grooves are filled with inserts
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02172 Floor elements with an anti-skid main surface, other than with grooves
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2290/026 for lighting
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2290/044 against impact
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• 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 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• 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 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A portable flooring having integral illumination devices. The flooring comprises a panel having channels extending along a front portion of the panel. Light strips in the channels are supported by the back portion of the panel. The light strips have a covering that extends along the length of the light strips. A top surface of the covering and a top surface of the panel are on the same plane. The flooring can support large weighted objects.

Claims

1. A flooring comprising:

tiles connected together to form a panel, wherein the tiles have a front portion and a back portion;

at least one front rib disposed on the front portion of the tiles;

at least one back rib disposed on the back portion of the tiles;

a first channel formed across the at least one front rib on the front portion of the panel, wherein the first channel features angled side cuts that are narrow at a top of the first channel and wider at a bottom of the first channel;

a first light strip positioned in the first channel and a top surface of the at least one back rib contacts a bottom of the first light strip, wherein the first light strip is flush with a surface of the at least one front rib.

2. The flooring of claim 1 further comprising outer edges having a front outer edge side and a back outer edge side, wherein the back outer edge side comprises brackets that receive a first light strip wiring.

3. The flooring of claim 2, wherein the first light strip wiring is connected to a power converter having a corded plug.

4. The flooring of claim 2, wherein the outer edges are angled and act as a ramp.

5. The flooring of claim 1, wherein the first light strip further comprises a waterproof sheath surrounding the strip.

6. The flooring of claim 1, wherein the front and back ribs are positioned to form apertures between them.

7. The flooring of claim 1 further comprising a second channel on the front portion of the panel, wherein a second light strip is positioned in the second channel;

whereby the first and second light strip may be connected.

8. A flooring comprising:

a panel, wherein the panel has a front portion and a back portion;

front ribs are disposed on the front portion of the panel;

back ribs are disposed on the back portion of the panel;

recessed channels formed across the front ribs and extending along the front portion of the panel;

wherein the recessed channels feature angled side cuts that are narrow at a top of the recessed channels and wider at a bottom of the recessed channels;

light strips are disposed in the channels supported by the back portion of the panel and a top surface of the back ribs contacts a bottom of the light strips, wherein the light strips have a covering that extends along the length of the light strips;

wherein a top surface of the covering and the front portion of the panel are on the same plane.

9. The flooring of claim 8, wherein the panel comprises panel edges, wherein the panel edges are connected to outer edges that receive a light strip wiring.

10. The flooring of claim 8, wherein the light strips comprise wiring that connects the light strips along the outer edges.

11. A portable flooring comprising:

a panel having a front surface and a back surface;

front ribs are disposed on the front surface of the panel;

back ribs are disposed on the back surface of the panel;

a first, second, third and fourth channel formed across the front ribs and extending along the front surface of the panel;

wherein the channels feature angled side cuts that are narrow at a top of the channels and wider at a bottom of the channels;

a first light strip, second light strip, third light strip and fourth light strip supported by the first, second, third and fourth channels, respectively, and a top surface of the back ribs contacts bottoms of the first, second, third and fourth light strips;

wherein the first, second, third and fourth light strips are connected along an edge of the panel;

a covering surrounding the light strips;

wherein a top surface of the covering and a front surface of the panel are flush.

12. The portable flooring of claim 11, wherein the channels are symmetrical on a first and second half of the panel.

13. The portable flooring of claim 11, wherein the light strips are flexible.

14. The portable flooring of claim 11, wherein the light strips are recessed in their respective channels.

15. The portable flooring of claim 11, wherein the flooring can support large weighted objects.