Super bright LED utility and emergency light

• US 7,052,170 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suncor Stainless, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Suncor Stainless, Inc.
• Inventors: Striebel, Roman F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/755,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20040141318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 362/640, 362/645, 362/647, 362/652, 362/648, 362/267, 362/158, 362/249, 362/365, 362/364, 362/362, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/640
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1048 with lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1872 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/28 adjustable in more than one plane
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/027 for indicating kerbs, steps or stairs
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/08 for handles or handrails
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Lighting system mountable on a surface and including one or more miniature light sources and a multi-part housing including recesses for accepting the light sources and an electrical supply line. The light sources can include light emitting diodes. Separate parts of the housing are mated in a manner to fix the position of the electrical supply line between them, and may be formed with a recess that receives an asymmetrically shaped electrical supply line in only one possible orientation. Similarly, the recesses receiving the light sources may be shaped such that electrical connections with proper polarity are assured. Either or both parts of the housing may be fastened to the surface with adhesives and/or optional holes for receiving pins, nails, screws, bolts or the like. The lighting system is particularly suitable for emergency, railing, landscape and vehicle illumination applications, and may be powered by batteries and renewable energy sources.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a supply line housing having a length, a width, and a supply line recess along the length of the supply line housing dimensioned to receive an electric supply line having a positive lead and a negative lead;

at least one miniature light assembly, each of the at least one miniature light assembly including;

a light source enclosed in a light housing, and

a positive prong and a negative prong supplying power thereto protruding from the light housing; and

a mounting bar having a length and a width, and including;

a supply line housing recess along the length of the mounting bar dimensioned to receive the supply line housing and to fix the position of the electric supply line, and

at least one miniature light assembly recess along the width of the mounting bar for receiving the at least one miniature light assembly, the at least one miniature light assembly recess dimensioned and positioned such that the positive prong and the negative prong of each miniature light assembly disposed in each miniature light assembly recess punctures the electric supply line in order to make electrical contact with the corresponding positive and negative lead.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the supply line housing and the mounting bar are mated to form a substantially seamless structure.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the mounting bar forms an underside of a hand rail.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the mounting bar and the supply line housing together serve as a hand rail mounting base.

5. The lighting system of claim 4, wherein a portion of the mounting bar is adapted to fit within other railing components.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the electric supply line is asymmetrically shaped and is mateable with the supply line recess in only one possible orientation.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein

the negative prong comprises an insulated conductor directly connected to the light source;

the positive prong comprises two segments of insulated conductor electrically connected by a resistor, wherein one of the segments is directly connected to the light source; and

each miniature light assembly further comprises sealant disposed within the light housing affixing a relative position of the positive prong, the negative prong and the light source, and means for preventing said sealant from exiting the light housing.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein each miniature light assembly further comprises a diffusing lens affixed to the light housing proximate the light source.

10. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a power source electrically connected to the electric supply line.

11. The lighting system of claim 10, further comprising means for controlling the power source.

12. The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the power source control means comprises at least one of the group consisting of a photocell, a timer and a switch.

13. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the mounting bar and the supply line housing are composed of a rigid, structural material.

14. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein the rigid, structural material comprises a polymer.

15. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising means for orienting the at least one miniature light assembly such that proper polarity between the positive prong, the negative prong and the electric supply line leads is maintained.

16. The lighting system of claim 15, wherein the orientation means comprises a plurality of mated surfaces between each of the at least one miniature light assembly and the corresponding miniature light assembly recess in the mounting bar.

17. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the mounting bar further includes, near each of the at least one miniature light assembly recess, a feature enabling the prying of the at least one miniature light assembly out from within the at least one miniature light assembly recess in the mounting bar.

18. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the length of the mounting bar and the supply line housing include one or more curved sections.

19. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lengths of the mounting bar and the supply line housing include one or more articulating segments.

20. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the mounting bar further includes a plurality of through holes along the width of the mounting bar through which the mounting bar is fastenable to a surface.

25. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the supply line housing further includes a plurality of through holes through the width of the supply line housing through which the supply line housing is fastenable to a surface.

21. A miniature light, comprising:

an opaque housing having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion including an opening and an inside surface;

at least one light source located in the opening of the top portion of the housing for providing illumination to a region external to the housing through the opening;

an electrical component assembly comprising a first insulated conductor having a negative lead connected to the at least one light source, a resistor connected to the at least one light source, and a second insulated conductor having a positive lead connected to the resistor, the electrical component assembly located within the housing;

wherein the first insulated conductor and second insulated conductor each have an end extending out of the housing having sufficient strength and rigidity to puncture an insulating coating of an electric supply line.

22. The miniature light of claim 21, wherein the insulated conductor ends each exhibit one or more sharp features to facilitate puncture of the insulating coating of the electric supply line.

23. The miniature light of claim 21, further comprising:

a sealant surrounding the electrical component assembly within the housing, the sealant affixing the electrical component assembly within the housing; and

a means for preventing the sealant from exiting the opening.

24. The miniature light of claim 21, wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode.