US6609813B1 — Housing and mounting system for a strip lighting …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 53 words

A housing for a strip lighting device, comprising: an elongated tube which is at least partially translucent; and at least two longitudinally extending keys of substantially uniform cross-section on the exterior of said tube; wherein said keys are integrally formed with the tube, and extend substantially parallel with the axis of the tube.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 53 words

A housing for a strip lighting device, comprising: an elongated tube which is at least partially translucent; and at least two longitudinally extending keys of substantially uniform cross-section on the exterior of said tube; wherein said keys are integrally formed with the tube, and extend substantially parallel with the axis of the tube.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

A housing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said elongated tube has a substantially circular cross-section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

A housing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said keys define an included angle between the keys of less than 180° at the axis of the tube.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

A housing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said included angle is between 90° and 150°.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

A housing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said included angle is about 120°.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

A housing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said keys have a generally round cross-section.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

A housing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said keys have a generally rectangular cross-section.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 69 words

A housing as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising longitudinally extending formations integrally formed on the inside of said elongate tube for mounting a support strip for internal light sources, wherein said formations and said keys are relatively positioned so that the keys are generally equi-angularly distant from a diametral plane parallel to the plane of the support strip when mounted using said formations in said elongate housing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

A housing as claimed in claim 8 , wherein each said key is radially or chordally aligned with said formations.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

A housing as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said formations consist of a pair of ribs defining a groove to receive a strip within the tube.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A housing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each key is a rib, fin, groove, or shoulder.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

A housing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each key is a rib.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 87 words

A strip lighting device comprising: an elongated housing; at least two longitudinally extending keys of substantially uniform cross-section on the exterior of said housing, wherein said keys are integrally formed with the housing, and extend substantially parallel with the axis of the housing; a multiplicity of light sources arranged at intervals within the housing; and a diffuser to disperse or scatter light from said light sources whereby on activation of the light sources, a visible optical effect is produced when the housing is viewed from its outside.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 87 words

A strip lighting device comprising: an elongated housing; at least two longitudinally extending keys of substantially uniform cross-section on the exterior of said housing, wherein said keys are integrally formed with the housing, and extend substantially parallel with the axis of the housing; a multiplicity of light sources arranged at intervals within the housing; and a diffuser to disperse or scatter light from said light sources whereby on activation of the light sources, a visible optical effect is produced when the housing is viewed from its outside.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

A strip lighting device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said effect is that the housing glows so as to form a strip or line of light.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

A strip lighting device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the diffuser comprises the housing itself.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 57 words

A strip lighting device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the housing is tinted a colour so that the strip lighting device: is visible as that colour when the light sources within the housing are not activated, and is visible as a glowing form of that colour when the light sources within the housing are activated.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

A strip lighting device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said device is shaped or connected together with other strip lighting devices to form an illuminated display of one or more symbols.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

A strip lighting device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said one or more symbols include a numeral or letter of an alphabet.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

A strip lighting device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein each key is a rib, fin, groove, or shoulder.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The strip lighting device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a plurality of interconnected housings interconnected by a plurality of support elements.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 113 words

A support element for retaining and mounting a housing for a strip lighting device, said housing comprising: an elongated tube which is at least partially translucent; at least two longitudinally extending keys of substantially uniform cross-section on the exterior of said tube, wherein said keys are integrally formed with the tube, and extend substantially parallel with the axis of the tube, the support element comprising: a body; an opening or recess in the body, the opening or recess having a shape adapted to receive the elongated tube of said housing; and a pair of formations associated with said opening or recess to engage and locate the respective longitudinally extending keys of said housing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 113 words

A support element for retaining and mounting a housing for a strip lighting device, said housing comprising: an elongated tube which is at least partially translucent; at least two longitudinally extending keys of substantially uniform cross-section on the exterior of said tube, wherein said keys are integrally formed with the tube, and extend substantially parallel with the axis of the tube, the support element comprising: a body; an opening or recess in the body, the opening or recess having a shape adapted to receive the elongated tube of said housing; and a pair of formations associated with said opening or recess to engage and locate the respective longitudinally extending keys of said housing.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 56 words

A support element as claimed in claim 21 , including deflectable members located at an open end of said recess, said formations being formed on said deflectable members whereby said housing may be snap engaged with the support element by pushing said housing between said deflectable members until said formations engage and locate the respective keys.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of providing a building or other object with display or decorative illumination, comprising fitting the building or other object with plural strip lighting devices, each strip lighting device comprising: an elongated housing; at least two longitudinally extending keys of substantially uniform cross-section on the exterior of said housing, wherein said keys are integrally formed with the housing, and extend substantially parallel with the axis of the housing; a multiplicity of light sources arranged at intervals within the housing; and a diffuser to disperse or scatter light from said light sources whereby on activation of the light sources, a visible optical effect is produced when the housing is viewed from its outside.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of providing a building or other object with display or decorative illumination, comprising fitting the building or other object with plural strip lighting devices, each strip lighting device comprising: an elongated housing; at least two longitudinally extending keys of substantially uniform cross-section on the exterior of said housing, wherein said keys are integrally formed with the housing, and extend substantially parallel with the axis of the housing; a multiplicity of light sources arranged at intervals within the housing; and a diffuser to disperse or scatter light from said light sources whereby on activation of the light sources, a visible optical effect is produced when the housing is viewed from its outside.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-08-25	2007-02-24	2007-08-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-08-25	2011-02-24	2011-08-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-08-25	2015-02-24	2015-08-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Housing and mounting system for a strip lighting device

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