Abstract:
An apparatus and method for lighting a staircase are provided, having one or more lighting devices adapted for mounting on the staircase adjacent the treads of the staircase, controlled by pressure sensitive pads placed above and below the staircase on the floors of upper and lower joined by the staircase. The pressure sensitive pads may be installed under the floor covering of the upper and/or lower levels, or alternatively, may be incorporated into throw rugs or mats that can be placed adjacent the upper and lower ends of the staircase. The lighting devices and pressure sensitive pads may be connected by wires, or wirelessly, or a by a combination of wired and wireless connections, in various embodiments of the invention.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/543,846, filed Feb. 11, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to individually lighting the steps of a staircase, and more particularly to automatically illuminating the steps when a person is approaching and using the staircase.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Attempting to traverse a poorly illuminated staircase can be dangerous. It is, therefore, both desirable and necessary to provide some form of lighting to facilitate use of any staircase which is otherwise poorly illuminated during times of the day when it might be used by a person wishing to ascend or descend the staircase, while moving between a lower and an upper level connected by the staricase. It is wasteful of energy, however, to keep a staircase fully illuminated at all times. It is desirable, therefore, to provide means for illuminating the staircase only when a person is desirous of using the staircase.  
         [0004]     In one prior approach to providing on demand lighting for a staircase, an overhead light is provided and controlled by manually operable switches placed near the bottom and the top of the staircase. While such a solution is simple, particularly if installed at the same time the building containing the staircase is being constructed, there are drawbacks. In the dark, it may be difficult to locate the switch, and, while groping around in the dark for the switch, a person may fall on the staircase. Even if the switch is safely located in the dark, a person coming out of a dark area, or who has been sleeping, for example, may be somewhat blinded by the brightness of the overhead light. Also, a person carrying a child or some sort of load in their arms may have difficulty in reaching for the switch. Furthermore, it may be difficult to install such a lighting system after construction of the building in which the staircase is located, given that building codes generally require that wiring be run inside of the walls of the building. It is desirable, therefore, that a staircase lighting arrangement be capable of turning on and off automatically, when illumination is needed, and provide illumination that will facilitate passage without blinding a person approaching the staircase from a darkened area.  
         [0005]     In another prior approach, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,601, to Donahue, a light means is mounted on each of the risers of the stairs of a staircase, and pressure sensitive switch means are provided on each tread of the staircase so that foot pressure on any of the treads will cause the light means to illuminate the stairs. This approach has a serious drawback, however, in that a person must locate the staircase in the dark and step up or down onto one of the treads, while still in the dark, before the staircase is illuminated. It is desirable that the staircase illumination apparatus be capable of sensing the presence of a person approaching the staircase and turning on the illumination before the person reaches the staircase.  
         [0006]     It is desirable, therefore, to provide an improved apparatus, and method for lighting a staircase in a manner which addresses one or more of the problems described above.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The invention provides an improved apparatus and method for lighting a staircase through the use of one or more lighting devices adapted for mounting on the staircase adjacent the treads of the staircase, controlled by pressure sensitive pads which are placed above and below the staircase on the floors of upper and lower levels joined by the staircase. The pressure sensitive pads may be installed under the floor covering of the upper and/or lower levels, or alternatively, may be incorporated into throw rugs or mats that can be placed adjacent the upper and lower ends of the staircase. The lighting devices and pressure sensitive pads may be connected by wires, or wirelessly, or a by a combination of wired and wireless connections, in various embodiments of the invention.  
         [0008]     In one form of the invention, an apparatus is provided for lighting a staircase having one or more vertically spaced treads connecting lower and upper levels whereby one or more persons may ascend or descend. The apparatus includes at least one lighting device, and first and second pressure sensitive pads. The lighting device is adapted for mounting on the staircase adjacent at least one of the one or more treads for illuminating the at least one of the one or more treads. The first pressure sensitive pad is adapted for placement on one of the upper or lower levels adjacent the staircase for controlling the lighting device, and the second pressure sensitive pad is adapted for placement on the other of the upper or lower levels adjacent the staircase for controlling the lighting device.  
         [0009]     A lighting apparatus, according to the invention, may further include a controller operatively connected between the lighting device and the first and second pressure sensitive pads for switching the lighting device to an ON condition when a predetermined force is applied to one of the upper or lower pressure sensitive pads. The controller may alternatively be configured for maintaining the lighting device in the ON position for a predetermined period of time after the predetermined force is applied to the one of the upper and lower pressure sensitive pads. The controller may also be configured such that after the lighting device is turned on by applying the predetermined force one of the upper and lower pressure sensitive pads, the controller maintains the lighting device in the ON condition until a predetermined force is applied to the other of the upper and lower pressure sensitive pads. The controller may be further configured to maintain the lighting device in the ON position for a predetermined period of time after the predetermined force is applied to the other of the upper and lower pressure sensitive pads. At least one of the predetermined force applied to the upper pad, the predetermined force applied to the lower pad, or the predetermined period of time may also be adjustable.  
         [0010]     The invention may also take the form of a method for lighting a staircase, using a staircase lighting apparatus according to the invention. The invention may further take the form of a staircase using an apparatus or a method according to the invention.  
         [0011]     Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1 a  perspective view of a staircase including a first embodiment of a staircase lighting apparatus, according to the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an electrical schematic corresponding to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of an alternate embodiment of a staircase lighting apparatus, according to the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of a second alternate embodiment of a staircase lighting apparatus, according to the invention. 
     
    
       [0016]     While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1 a  perspective view of a staircase  100  including a first embodiment of a staircase lighting apparatus  102 , according to the invention, for automatically illuminating the staircase  100  when the person is approaching or using the staircase  100 . The staircase  100  includes a plurality of steps, formed by a plurality of vertically spaced treads  104  joined by risers  106  along a stringer  108 , connecting lower and upper levels  110 ,  112 , whereby one or more persons may ascend or descend the staircase  100 .  
         [0018]     The staircase lighting apparatus  100  includes a plurality of lighting devices  114  mounted on the risers  106  of the staircase, with one lighting device  114  mounted adjacent each tread  104  for illuminating that particular tread  104 . The lighting apparatus  100  further includes a first pressure sensitive pad  116  placed on the lower level  110 , adjacent the staircase  100 , and a second pressure sensitive pad  118  placed on the upper level  112 , for controlling the lighting devices  114 . It will be noted that, while in  FIG. 1  the pressure sensitive pads  116 ,  118  have been illustrated as lying atop the floor covering on the first and second levels  110 ,  112 , it is contemplated that in some embodiments of the invention one or both of the pressure sensitive pads  116 ,  118  may be located under the floor covering on the upper and/or lower levels  110 ,  112 .  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first embodiment of a lighting apparatus  102 , according to the invention, includes a controller  120  operatively connected between the lighting devices  114  and the first and second pressure sensitive pads  116 ,  118  for switching the lighting devices  114  to an ON condition when a predetermined force is applied to one of the upper or lower pressure sensitive pads  116 ,  118 . Specifically, the lighting devices  114  are connected by wires in a parallel circuit relationship to one another and a power source  122 . The controller  120  is disposed in the lighting circuit to deliver electrical power to the lighting devices  114  when triggered to do so by signals received over wires  124 ,  126  connected between the controller  120  and the first and second pressure sensitive pads  116 ,  118 .  
         [0020]     It is contemplated that the power source  122  may be connected to a commercial utility grid through a standard electrical outlet, or otherwise permanently wired into the electrical wiring of a building in which the staircase  100  is installed. It is further contemplated that in various embodiments of the invention, the power source  122  may be partially or fully battery powered, or may include transformers or other electrical components required for transforming utility line voltage to a lower voltage for use in a lighting apparatus according to the invention.  
         [0021]     The controller  120  of the first exemplary embodiment of a lighting apparatus  102 , according to the invention, is configured such that, after the lighting devices  114  are turned on by applying the predetermined force one of the upper and lower pressure sensitive pads  116 ,  118 , the controller  120  maintains the lighting devices  114  in the ON condition until a predetermined force is applied to the other of the upper and lower pressure sensitive pads  116 ,  118 , so that the lighting devices  114  will not turn off while a person is on the staircase  100 . The controller  120  is further configured to maintain the lighting devices  114  in the ON position for a predetermined period of time after the predetermined force is applied to the other of the upper and lower pressure sensitive pads  116 ,  118 , so that the lighting devices  114  do not switch off and plunge the person using the staircase  100  into darkness the moment that he or she steps off of the second pressure sensitive pad  116 ,  118 .  
         [0022]     It is also preferred, that at least one of the predetermined force applied to the upper pad  118 , the predetermined force applied to the lower pad  116 , or the predetermined period of time that the lighting devices  114  remain on be adjustable, to suit the needs and desires of persons using the staircase  100 . For example, in a home with a pet, such as a housecat or a dog, it may be desirable to set the actuation force to a level high enough that the pet will not trigger the lighting apparatus, in order to save on utility bills, given that pets can easily negotiate the staircase  100  in the dark. It may be desirable, in some cases, to prolong the period of time that the lighting devices  114  stay illuminated, after a person uses the staircase  100 , to provide time for safely crossing a hallway or room adjoining the staircase  100  to reach switches for other lighting devices.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows an alternate embodiment of a lighting apparatus  200 , according to the invention, having upper and lower pressure sensitive pads  202 ,  204  wirelessly linked to a plurality of independently powered lighting devices  206 . In such an arrangement, the pressure sensitive pads  202 ,  204  and lighting devices  206  are battery powered, with the controller and wireless transmitters and receivers being incorporated into the pressure sensitive pads  202 ,  204  and lighting devices  206 . By virtue of this arrangement, the lighting apparatus  200  can be attached to an existing staircase, without the need for wiring, thereby greatly simplifying installation and allowing use on staircases where utility power is not available.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows another alternate embodiment of a lighting apparatus  300 , according to the invention, having upper and lower pressure sensitive pads  302 ,  304  wirelessly linked to a plurality of lighting devices  306  connected in parallel to a common power source  308 . The common power source  308  may be connected to a utility grid, or partially or fully battery powered in various embodiments of the invention. In the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4 , the pressure sensitive pads  302 ,  304  are battery powered, with the controller and wireless transmitters and receivers being incorporated into the pressure sensitive pads  302 ,  304  and common power source  308 .  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable to mount lighting devices  400  the stringer  108 , or the wall adjacent each tread  104 , rather than on the risers  106 . It will be further understood that lighting devices, in a lighting apparatus according to the invention, may also be used on staircases which do not have risers. The lighting devices in any embodiment of the invention may be attached to the bottom sides of the treads, or form part of the surface or the nosing of the treads.  
         [0026]     It will be understood, by those having skill in the art, that, the controllers in the embodiments of the invention shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  may incorporate some or all of the control functionality described above in relation to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0027]     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0028]     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.