Illumination – With static structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-18
2001-02-06
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With static structure
C362S249070, C362S351000, C362S248000, C362S375000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183104
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a decorative lighting system and, more particularly, to a decorative lighting system providing the appearance of architectural trim, for mounting on buildings and other structures.
It has long been common practice to adorn architectural structures with lighting displays. Seasonal lighting displays are frequently hung, for example, on homes, particularly during the Christmas season. In simplest form such a display may consist of no more elaborate an arrangement than a string of lights wired together in a row, attached by staples or other suitable fastening means to the exterior of the home, and generally positioned to outline the various architectural features thereof. Because of the difficulty of installation, removal, and subsequent storage of long strings of lights, many homeowners are inclined to leave the lights in place, long after the holiday season for which they were intended has passed. As a result, the unprotected lights are subject to the deleterious effects of prolonged exposure to the elements, and when unlit, detract from the overall appearance of the structure to which they are applied.
Numerous lighting displays have been heretofore suggested in the art for purposes of home and other like structural decoration, which provide a neater, more attractive appearance, particularly when not in active use, and which include structure affording protection of the lighting elements from the weather to permit permanent installation if so desired. Generally such lighting systems provide a protective housing within which is disposed a row of lighting elements. Common to most of these approaches is structure permitting movable orientation of the lights contained within the housing from a position in which they are hidden within a protective and/or decorative housing, to an exposed position for active viewing when illuminated. Alternatively, structural components of the housing, rather than the lights themselves, are movable to reveal the otherwise enclosed or obscured lights for viewing as desired. These aforementioned arrangements require mechanical components which potentially complicate user assembly and installation, and which tend to increase manufacturing as well as resultant consumer costs.
Prior decorative lighting systems have also heretofore been directed to structural improvements permitting simplified user installation. One such system, particularly directed to the problem of customization of path length of various lighting track portions, utilizes a flexibly constructed mounting support structure having light sources interspersed along a length thereof, and which may be cut, for example by a scissor or other household implement, into segments as necessary to conform to particular selected paths of attachment to be highlighted. Such custom versatility is accomplished however by compromising a formalized housing structure directed to protection of functional components from adverse environmental influences. Also, the flexible base structure of such a system, which is generally attached to a support structure by means of a self adhesive backing, is potentially prone to buckling, particularly when the nature of the attachment surface or irregularities thereon do not permit conformable engagement over a length of attachment.
A lighting system permitting versatile sizing capability in a form providing facilitated user installation, long term structural integrity and extended protection of the operative components from exposure to the elements, and which is structurally configured to attractively accent the features of a structure to which it is mounted and which serves to effectively camouflage the lighting elements housed therein when not in active use, would therefore be highly desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a decorative lighting assembly which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a lighting assembly in a modular form advantageously comprised of structurally rigid components, which is easily user-installed, and which contemplates a relatively permanent installation.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a lighting system in which various lighting schemes, such as for example change in light pattern or color, may be user-selected for specialized adaptation to a particular holiday or event.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a lighting display in a form which is economical, convenient and which does not significantly detract from the appearance of the structure to which it is applied during periods of disuse.
A further object of the invention is to provide a lighting display in which light emitting elements thereof are obscured from view when not in active use and which can only be seen when lit, without requiring physical reorientation of portions of the display.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a decorative lighting system which may be readily user-installed for surface-mounted display on an architectural or other suitable support structure. The system comprises a set of modular component elements, which, when installed, are interconnected in a manner providing electrical continuity therebetween. The set of modular elements includes one or more pre-sized and formed light strip modules structurally suited for arrangement end-to-end, or in angular relation to an adjacent one of such light strip modules, to create a continuous lightable track system which may be user-installed to follow a user determined path, for example, in a manner accentuating architectural highlights. The light strip modules each includes a set electrically conductive pathways which advantageously run substantially the length thereof, and a plurality of light emitting means disposed along the length of the light strips and which are variously connected in parallel across selected pairs of the set of conductive pathways. In such manner, when an electrical potential is induced across a particular selected pair of pathways, the particular lights bridging the energized pair are caused to selectively light. Means are provided, conveniently in the form of a connector module, for electrically connecting adjacently paired light strip modules such that a each of the electrical pathways form a contiguous and discrete electrical track. Power to each of the pathways is received at a convenient point along the electrically contiguous system of discrete tracks, and means are optionally provided for permitting user-selectable energizing of one or more of the pathways and/or time variable energizing.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a lighting system includes a plurality of light strip modules each comprising a base member, advantageously of rigid, elongated configuration, and a cover conformably receivable in securable overlying engagement therewith. The material from which the cover is produced exhibits physical properties permitting passage of light, yet advantageously scattering light rays passing therethrough to a sufficient degree to obscure transparency of image. Mounting means are provided for fixing the base member to a surface location. At least two electrical pathways, advantageously numbering three or more, are disposed within the light strip module, and advantageously run substantially the length thereof. A plurality of light emitting means, conveniently for example light emitting diodes, are disposed along the length of the light strip module, connected across a selected pair of the electrical pathways. Means are provided, conveniently in the form of a connector module, for electrically connecting each of the electrical pathways in one light strip module to a corresponding discrete pathway in an adjacent light strip module, thereby permitting formation of a contiguous network of discrete electrical pathways. Power is conveniently introduced through a power distribution module which includes discrete power lines that may be selectively energized, each conne
Cariaso Alan
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Zeade Bertraud
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