US6796680B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strip lighting
Assignee: Signify North America Corp
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Filing: 2000-01-28
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Granted: 2004-09-28
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Expires: 2020-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A strip lighting device includes an elongate housing, a plurality of light sources arranged at intervals within the housing, and a fastener for fastening the elongate housing to a surface. The elongate housing overlies the plurality of light sources and diffuses, disperses or scatters light from the light sources such that individuals of the plurality of light sources are substantially not distinguishable when the housing is viewed from the outside.
Inventors
- 👤 David Field Showers
- 👤 James Berry Quantrell
- 👤 Kenneth Robert Goddard
- 👤 Malcolm Wesley Oldis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:15
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V15/00; F21V15/01; F21V15/015; F21S; F21S4/00; F21S4/20; F21V15/013; F21V21/00; F21V21/005; H; H01; H01R; H01R25/00; H01R25/16; H01R25/161; H01R25/162; F21V23/00; F21V23/06; F21W; F21W2121/00; F21W2121/004; F21Y; F21Y2115/00; F21Y2115/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A strip lighting device which includes: an elongate housing comprising a hollow enclosure with at least one opening, wherein said elongate housing is at least partially translucent and is a single piece of material having one or more cavities to receive said light sources; a plurality of light sources arranged at intervals within said hollow enclosure; and a fastener, separate from said elongate housing, for fastening said elongate housing to a surface; wherein said housing overlies the plurality of light sources and diffuses, disperses, or scatters light emitted by the light sources such that individuals of the plurality of light sources are substantially not distinguishable when activated and viewed from outside said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A strip lighting device which includes: an elongate housing comprising a hollow enclosure with at least one opening, wherein said elongate housing is at least partially translucent and is a single piece of material having one or more cavities to receive said light sources; a plurality of light sources arranged at intervals within said hollow enclosure; and a fastener, separate from said elongate housing, for fastening said elongate housing to a surface; wherein said housing overlies the plurality of light sources and diffuses, disperses, or scatters light emitted by the light sources such that individuals of the plurality of light sources are substantially not distinguishable when activated and viewed from outside said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes multiple scattering elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said light sources are semiconductor light emitting devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 1 wherein an outer face of the elongate housing is transversely domed or convex.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A strip lighting device to claim 1 wherein said housing is a single piece of hollow material comprising a passageway in the hollow portion extending longitudinally of the housing, and wherein said light sources are disposed in said passageway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said elongate housing has a substantially uniform cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 5 wherein said light sources are semiconductor devices such as light emitting diode (LED) devices and wherein said semiconductor or LED devices are arranged on a printed circuit board strip extending along and mounted within said passageway.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 1 wherein said fastener comprises a mounting rail adapted to be fastened to said surface, and cooperable means on the rail and on said housing for effecting a snap or sliding engagement of the housing to the rail so that the housing is generally parallel to the rail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 8 wherein, on said engagement, the housing overlies said rail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 8 wherein said snap or sliding engagement is between longitudinally extending rib means on one of the rail and housing, and complementary groove means on the other of the rail and housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 10 further including opposed longitudinal undercut formations in said groove means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 1 further comprising a face that provides a substantially planar real surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 1 further comprising a connector to couple the housing to another similar strip lighting device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 13 wherein said connector permits said housing and said another similar strip lighting device to be relatively longitudinally displaced by thermal explosion or building subsidence, without being uncoupled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 14 wherein said connector comprises an integral molded body which defines a pair of generally tubular portions slidably engageable with the respective said housings so that their interiors are in communication within the connector, wherein said integral molded body further defines a relatively thin wall portion between said generally tubular portions, said thin wall portion being resiliently deformable to compensate for relative variations in the relative positions of the generally tubular portions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 15 wherein said integral molded body is in a material adopted to engage and sealingly grasp the respective said housings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 7 further including means to electrically and physically interconnect said circuit board strip to a similar circuit board strip of a similar device to which said device is coupled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 17 wherein said means to electrically and physically interconnect includes: an integral molded body with features which define spaced generally parallel channels or passages open at their outer ends to receive respective end fingers of the respective said strips, whereby the strips are aligned and generally co-planar; electrically conductive contact means in said channels or passages for engaging complementary contacts on said strips when said fingers are received in the channels; means carried by said body electrically connecting each of the contact means for one strip carried by said body with one or more of the contact means for the other strip; and resiliently deformable means on said body for latching said body to each of said strips.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 18 wherein said spaced channels are arranged along opposite sides of the integral molded body, and open laterally from the body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A strip lighting device according to claim 18 wherein said resiliently deformable latch means is provided as a pair of deflectable tongue portions with lugs, which tongue portions are defined by slits in a web portion of the integral molded body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
125 words
A structure having one or more features highlighted or decorated by one or more strip lighting devices comprising: an elongate housing comprising a hollow enclosure with at least one opening, wherein said elongate housing is at least partially translucent and is a single piece of material having one or more cavities to receive said light sources; a plurality of light sources arranged at intervals within said hollow enclosure; and a fastener, separate from said elongate housing, for fastening said elongate housing to a surface; wherein said housing overlies the plurality of light sources and diffuses, disperses, or scatters light emitted by the light sources such that individuals of the plurality of light sources are substantially not distinguishable when activated and viewed from outside said housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
125 words
A structure having one or more features highlighted or decorated by one or more strip lighting devices comprising: an elongate housing comprising a hollow enclosure with at least one opening, wherein said elongate housing is at least partially translucent and is a single piece of material having one or more cavities to receive said light sources; a plurality of light sources arranged at intervals within said hollow enclosure; and a fastener, separate from said elongate housing, for fastening said elongate housing to a surface; wherein said housing overlies the plurality of light sources and diffuses, disperses, or scatters light emitted by the light sources such that individuals of the plurality of light sources are substantially not distinguishable when activated and viewed from outside said housing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structure according to claim 21 wherein said highlighted or decorated feature of the structure is a corner or edge.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure according to claim 22 wherein said edge is an edge of a roof, a window or a door, or a corner between respective wall or roof sections.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A structure according to claim 22 wherein said edge is a gable or ridge line of a building roof.
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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) | 2007-09-28 | 2008-03-29 | 2008-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-28 | 2012-03-29 | 2012-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-28 | 2016-03-29 | 2016-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |