Patent US4754372A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4754372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fibrous covering material with built-in fiber optic lighting
Assignee: COLLINS & AIKMAN SUBSIDIARY Corp
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Filing: 1987-02-09
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Granted: 1988-06-28
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Expires: 2007-02-09
Abstract
Abstract An illuminable covering of a textile material having a fibrous face with at least one lighting source connected to the back of the textile material is disclosed. A plurality of light-transmissive fibers are connected to the light source and emanate therefrom, with their free end portions terminating adjacent the fibrous face of the textile material for transmitting light thereto when the light source is energized. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the textile material is a floor covering material such as a carpet or rug.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Harrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An illuminable covering comprising a textile floor covering material of a predetermined size and shape and having a fibrous face, at least one lighting means serving as an independent light source positioned on and connected to the back of said textile floor covering material, and a plurality of elongate light-transmissive fibers connected to said lighting means and emanating therefrom and having free end portions terminating adjacent the fibrous face of the textile floor covering material for transmitting light when said lighting means is energized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An illuminable covering comprising a textile floor covering material of a predetermined size and shape and having a fibrous face, at least one lighting means serving as an independent light source positioned on and connected to the back of said textile floor covering material, and a plurality of elongate light-transmissive fibers connected to said lighting means and emanating therefrom and having free end portions terminating adjacent the fibrous face of the textile floor covering material for transmitting light when said lighting means is energized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illuminable covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lighting means comprise a plastic housing and a light source disposed within said plastic housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An illuminable covering as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light source is an incandescent bulb.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An illuminable covering as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a primary backing connected to and supporting said textile floor covering material, and a secondary backing formed of cushioning material adhered to the back of said primary backing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An illuminable covering as claimed in claim 1, wherein said floor covering material is a tufted carpet comprising a primary backing and pile yarns forming tufts on the face of said carpet and having lower portions penetrating said primary backing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An illuminable covering as claimed in claim 5, wherein said free end portions of said light-transmissive fibers are positioned substantially erect and perpendicular to said primary backing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An illuminable covering as claimed in claim 6, wherein said pile tufts of said tufted carpet are relatively dense so that the pile tufts surrounding said end portions of the light-transmissive fibers aid in supporting the end portions in said substantially erect position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An illuminable covering as claimed in claim 6, wherein said light-transmissive fibers are not more than about 18 inches in length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
An illuminable modular fibrous covering unit adapted for overlying a wall or floor surface, comprising a fabric having a fibrous face and a primary backing, said fabric having pile yarns forming tufts on the face thereof and having lower portions penetrating said primary backing, at least one plastic housing connected to the back of said primary backing, an incandescent bulb disposed in said plastic housing, and a plurality of light-transmissive fibers connected to said plastic housing, said light-transmissive fibers having free end portions penetrating said primary backing and terminating in a substantially erect position adjacent the fibrous face of the fabric for transmitting light thereto when said lighting means is energized.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
An illuminable modular fibrous covering unit adapted for overlying a wall or floor surface, comprising a fabric having a fibrous face and a primary backing, said fabric having pile yarns forming tufts on the face thereof and having lower portions penetrating said primary backing, at least one plastic housing connected to the back of said primary backing, an incandescent bulb disposed in said plastic housing, and a plurality of light-transmissive fibers connected to said plastic housing, said light-transmissive fibers having free end portions penetrating said primary backing and terminating in a substantially erect position adjacent the fibrous face of the fabric for transmitting light thereto when said lighting means is energized.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for providing a visually discernible illuminable pattern on a floor within a structure, comprising a carpet covering the floor, said carpet having a fibrous face and a primary backing supporting the fibrous face, a plurality of lighting means serving as independent light sources connected to the back of said primary backing, a plurality of light-transmissive fibers connected to each of said lighting means, said light-transmissive fibers having free end portions penetrating said primary backing and terminating in a predetermined pattern adjacent the face of the carpet, and power means electrically connected to said lighting means so that when said lighting means are energized by said power means a visually discernible pattern appears along the face of the carpet.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for providing a visually discernible illuminable pattern on a floor within a structure, comprising a carpet covering the floor, said carpet having a fibrous face and a primary backing supporting the fibrous face, a plurality of lighting means serving as independent light sources connected to the back of said primary backing, a plurality of light-transmissive fibers connected to each of said lighting means, said light-transmissive fibers having free end portions penetrating said primary backing and terminating in a predetermined pattern adjacent the face of the carpet, and power means electrically connected to said lighting means so that when said lighting means are energized by said power means a visually discernible pattern appears along the face of the carpet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said carpet comprises a plurality of abuttingly arranged modular carpet units, at least some of said modular carpet units having said lighting means carried thereby.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a secondary backing of cushioning material adhered to the back of said primary backing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said carpet is a tufted carpet having pile yarns forming tufts on the face thereof and having lower portions penetrating said primary backing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said free end portions of said light-transmissive fibers are positioned substantially erect and perpendicular to said primary backing, and wherein said pile tufts of said tufted carpet are relatively dense so that the pile tufts surrounding said end portions of the light-transmissive fibers aid in supporting the end portions in said substantially erect position.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing a visually discernible illuminable pattern on a wall within a structure, comprising a covering mounted on the wall, said covering having a fibrous face and a primary backing supporting the fibrous face, a plurality of lighting means serving as independent light sources carried by the covering and positioned on the back of said primary backing, a plurality of light-transmissive fibers connected to each of said lighting means, said light-transmissive fibers having free end portions penetrating said primary backing and terminating in a predetermined pattern adjacent the face of said covering, and power means electrically connected to said lighting means so that when said lighting means are energized by said power means a visually discernible pattern appears in the covering.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing a visually discernible illuminable pattern on a wall within a structure, comprising a covering mounted on the wall, said covering having a fibrous face and a primary backing supporting the fibrous face, a plurality of lighting means serving as independent light sources carried by the covering and positioned on the back of said primary backing, a plurality of light-transmissive fibers connected to each of said lighting means, said light-transmissive fibers having free end portions penetrating said primary backing and terminating in a predetermined pattern adjacent the face of said covering, and power means electrically connected to said lighting means so that when said lighting means are energized by said power means a visually discernible pattern appears in the covering.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said power means is a low voltage power supply.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said lighting means comprise a plastic housing, and an incandescent bulb disposed within said plastic housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said covering is a tufted material having pile yarns forming tufts on the face thereof and having lower portions penetrating said primary backing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said end portions of said light-transmissive fibers are positioned substantially erect and perpendicular to said primary backing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-06-28 | 1991-12-28 | 1992-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-28 | 1995-12-28 | 1996-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-28 | 1999-12-28 | 2000-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |