Illumination – Plural light sources – With support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-03
2001-01-30
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Plural light sources
With support
C362S382000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179440
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to flexible lighting strips, and more particularly to flexible lighting strips used to illuminate kitchen cabinets, decks, stairs or walkways.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flexible lighting strips, or rope lights, are known in the art for illuminating structures both indoors and outdoors. For example, ITC, Inc. in Holland, Michigan sells a flexible lighting strip under the trademark Sof-Touch to the Marine Industry. The ITC Sof-Touch product comprises a flexible lighting strip with a continuous flange running the length of the strip.
Generally, rope lights are installed by applying staples though the flange and thereby attaching the rope light to the desired surface. In some instances, installing a rope light in the desired location requires bending the rope light. However, conventional rope lights with continuous flanges are difficult for the consumer to bend and install.
Therefore, a need exists for a rope light which is easy to bend and install in the desired location. The present invention is designed to fill this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a rope light having multiple flanges disposed along the length of the flexible lighting strip and gaps between the flanges. Preferably, the flanges comprise flexible trapezoidal pieces, although other suitable shapes are contemplated. The gaps between the flanges allow easier bending of the flexible lighting strip while the multiple flanges still provide a means for attaching the flexible lighting strip to the desired location.
Also disclosed is an attachment strip which can be used as an alternative means to attach the rope light to a wall or other surface. The attachment strip can also be used to attach other decorative lighting fixtures to walls or other surfaces or to attach a variety of other items to other objects, such as vines to a trellis.
Thus, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a rope light that is easy to bend and install.
Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible lighting system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a rope light with multiple flanges and gaps between the flanges.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4128863 (1978-12-01), Premetz
patent: 4244014 (1981-01-01), Van Ess
patent: 4516193 (1985-05-01), Murphy
patent: 4597033 (1986-06-01), Meggs et al.
patent: 5410458 (1995-04-01), Bell
patent: 5544028 (1996-08-01), Carlin
patent: 5934792 (1999-08-01), Camarota
patent: 6030096 (2000-02-01), Lin
“Special Effects—The Basics”, web page print out, dated Sep. 9, 1998.
Advertisement—Sof-Touch™ Flexible Lighting System, Aura Lamp and Lighting, Inc., No date.
Advertisement—Sof-Touch™ Flexible Lighting System, ITC Incorporated, No date.
Aura Lamp & Lighting, Inc.
Bullwinkel Partners Ltd.
Cariaso Alan
Keshavan Belur
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