Integrally formed linear light strip with light emitting diodes

Claim 2

An integrally formed single piece light strip having no internal voids, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a substrate including a printed circuit in electrical contact with said bus elements to conduct electricity thereon; and at least one light emitting diode (LED) including electrical contact prongs, said LED being mounted on the substrate strip with the electrical contact prongs communicating with the printed circuit on said substrate strip; an extruded plastic material completely encapsulating said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to thereby provide a protective barrier; and prong securing means for electrically connecting the LED contact prongs with the printed circuit when said LED contact prongs are crimped into electrical contact with said printed circuit; said prong securing means comprising an electrical connecting material including a plurality of alternating layers of conductive and non-conductive material, with two of said conductive layers being placed in contact with said printed circuit.

Claim 3

An integrally formed light strip system, comprising: a first integrally formed light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a substrate strip including a printed circuit thereon, said substrate strip contacting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; at least one light emitting diode (LED) being electrically connected to said printed circuit, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; and a plastic material extruded over said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to thereby provide a unitary light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; a second integrally formed light strip having a structure and function substantially identical to said first integrally formed light strip; and an electrical connector including channel flanges for reception in said channels of said first and second light strips in a friction fit to electrically connect said first and second light strips.

Claim 4

An integrally formed light strip system, comprising: a first integrally formed light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a substrate strip including a printed circuit thereon, said substrate strip contacting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; at least one light emitting diode (LED) being electrically connected to said printed circuit, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; and a plastic material extruded over said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to thereby provide a unitary light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; a second integrally formed light strip having a structure and function substantially identical to said first integrally formed light strip; and an electrical connector including channel flanges for reception in said channels of said first and second light strips in a friction fit to electrically connect said first and second light strips.

Claim 5

An integrally formed light strip system, comprising: a first integrally formed light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance; a substrate strip including a printed circuit thereon, said substrate strip contacting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; at least one light emitting diode (LED) being electrically connected to said printed circuit, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; and a plastic material extruded over said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to thereby provide a unitary light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; and a second integrally formed light strip having a structure and function substantially identical to said first integrally formed light strip; said extruded plastic material being extruded to form an outer protective barrier having substantially 3/8 inch square dimensions.

Claim 6

An integrally formed light strip system, comprising: a first integrally formed light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance; a substrate strip including a printed circuit thereon, said substrate strip contacting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; at least one light emitting diode (LED) being electrically connected to said printed circuit, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; and a plastic material extruded over said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said substrate strip and said LED to thereby provide a unitary light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; and a second integrally formed light strip having a structure and function substantially identical to said first integrally formed light strip; said extruded plastic material being extruded to form an outer protective barrier having substantially 3/8 inch square dimensions.

Claim 7

A light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate strip including a top surface and a bottom surface, said flexible substrate having a printed circuit and electrical contact with said bus elements to conduct electricity thereon, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) including electrical contact prongs and electrical contact with the printed circuit, said contact prongs are crimped into contact with said printed circuit; a plastic material extruded about said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate, and said at least one light emitting diode for substantially encapsulating said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate and said at least one LED for providing a unitary seamless protective barrier; prong-securing means for electrically connecting the LED contact prongs with said printed circuit wherein said prong securing means comprises an electrical connecting material including a plurality of alternating layers of conductive and non-conductive material, with two of said conductive layers being placed in contact with said printed circuit; and whereby said light strip is intrically formed as a single piece.

Claim 8

A light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate strip including a top surface and a bottom surface, said flexible substrate having a printed circuit and electrical contact with said bus elements to conduct electricity thereon, and at least one light emitting diode (LED) including electrical contact prongs and electrical contact with the printed circuit, said contact prongs are crimped into contact with said printed circuit; a plastic material extruded about said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate, and said at least one light emitting diode for substantially encapsulating said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate and said at least one LED for providing a unitary seamless protective barrier; prong-securing means for electrically connecting the LED contact prongs with said printed circuit wherein said prong securing means comprises an electrical connecting material including a plurality of alternating layers of conductive and non-conductive material, with two of said conductive layers being placed in contact with said printed circuit; and whereby said light strip is intrically formed as a single piece.

Claim 9

A light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate strip including a printed circuit and at least one light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected to said printed circuit that is illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity, said flexible substrate strip contacting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; a plastic material extruded about said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said at least one LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said at least one LED for providing a unitary seamless light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; whereby said light strip is integrally formed as a single piece; a second integrally formed light strip electrically connected to said first integrally formed light strip, said second integrally formed light strip including: first and second bus elements spaced from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate including a printed circuit thereon, said flexible substrate strip connecting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; at least one light emitting diode (LED) being electrically connected to said printed circuit, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; a plastic material extruded over said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate and said LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said LED to provide a unitary light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface on the bottom surface with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; and an electrical connector including channel flanges for reception in said channel of said first and second light strips in a friction fit to facilitate electrical connection of said first and second light strips.

Claim 10

A light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate strip including a printed circuit and at least one light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected to said printed circuit that is illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity, said flexible substrate strip contacting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; a plastic material extruded about said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said at least one LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said at least one LED for providing a unitary seamless light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; whereby said light strip is integrally formed as a single piece; a second integrally formed light strip electrically connected to said first integrally formed light strip, said second integrally formed light strip including: first and second bus elements spaced from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate including a printed circuit thereon, said flexible substrate strip connecting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; at least one light emitting diode (LED) being electrically connected to said printed circuit, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; a plastic material extruded over said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate and said LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said LED to provide a unitary light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface on the bottom surface with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; and an electrical connector including channel flanges for reception in said channel of said first and second light strips in a friction fit to facilitate electrical connection of said first and second light strips.

Claim 11

The light strip of claim 5, wherein said electrical connector includes upwardly-extending posts for engaging bores formed in said channels of said and first and second integrally formed light strips.

Claim 12

A light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate strip including a printed circuit and at least one light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected to said printed circuit that is illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity, said flexible substrate strip contacting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; a plastic material extruded about said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said at least one LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said at least one LED for providing a unitary seamless light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; whereby said light strip is integrally formed as a single piece; a second integrally formed light strip electrically connected to said first integrally formed light strip, said second integrally formed light strip including: first and second bus elements spaced from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate including a printed circuit thereon, said flexible substrate strip connecting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; at least one light emitting diode (LED) being electrically connected to said printed circuit, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; and a plastic material extruded over said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate and said LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said LED to provide a unitary light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface on the bottom surface with said bottom surface defining a channel therein, said plastic material of said first and second light strips is extruded to form an outer protective barrier having substantially 3/8 inch square dimensions.

Claim 13

A light strip, comprising: first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate strip including a printed circuit and at least one light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected to said printed circuit that is illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity, said flexible substrate strip contacting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; a plastic material extruded about said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said at least one LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said at least one LED for providing a unitary seamless light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface defining a channel therein; whereby said light strip is integrally formed as a single piece; a second integrally formed light strip electrically connected to said first integrally formed light strip, said second integrally formed light strip including: first and second bus elements spaced from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source; a flexible substrate including a printed circuit thereon, said flexible substrate strip connecting said first and second bus elements to electrically connect said printed circuit to said bus elements; at least one light emitting diode (LED) being electrically connected to said printed circuit, said LED being illuminated upon said bus elements conducting electricity; and a plastic material extruded over said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate and said LED to completely encapsulate said first and second bus elements, said flexible substrate strip and said LED to provide a unitary light strip protective barrier, said plastic material being extruded to define a top surface on the bottom surface with said bottom surface defining a channel therein, said plastic material of said first and second light strips is extruded to form an outer protective barrier having substantially 3/8 inch square dimensions.