Abstract:
An exterior molding system adapted to provide decoratively illuminated lighting for a building and which incorporates first and second lighting panels each having a plurality of illuminating devices. The lighting panels are attachable to a soffit that is itself attached to a building. The second light panel is hinged to the first light panel so as to enable the second light panel to be deployed either opened or folded up under the first light panel. The second light panel includes illuminating devices that are visible when the second light panel is opened and that are hidden when the second light panel is folded under the first light panel. A remote control panel is in electrical communication with the illuminating devices. The control panel receives electrical power and selectively powers at least one (1) illuminating device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/033,855, which was filed Aug. 6, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to building illumination. More particularly it relates to a selectively deployable exterior molding system having decorative illumination. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Americans traditionally celebrate some holidays such as Christmas, New Years, President&#39;s Day, Halloween, and the Fourth of July by displaying holiday decorations. Holiday decorative items easily comprise a multimillion dollar a year and growing industry. 
     Among the favorite and most popular of all specialty decorations is outdoor lighting. Outdoor decorative lighting can be used to adorn things such as trees, bushes, roof lines, overhangs, and the like to provide an eye appealing and highly festive decoration. 
     While outdoor decorative lighting on buildings is very popular their use does take a relatively long time and significant effort to set up, to take down and then to store away for next year. Consequently many outdoor building decorative lighting displays are left up for months after the holiday. In addition to the time and effort to put up, take down and store building decorative lighting their use often requires the use of ladders. Ladders present serious safety issues, especially when used by people who do not use ladders often and/or when used in inclement weather. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for decorative exterior lighting on buildings that can be used and enjoyed without the disadvantages of excess time, effort and danger. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for exterior decorative lighting that can be safely used without ladders and which requires little time and effort to use. 
     In one (1) embodiment the present invention is an illuminated molding system for mounting to a building exterior. The molding system includes a soffit and a first light panel affixed and suspended from that soffit. The first light panel having a first plurality of illuminating devices. Also included is a second light panel that is hinged to the first light panel so as to enable the second light panel to be deployed either opened or folded up under the first light panel. The second light panel includes a second plurality of illuminating devices that are visible when the second light panel is opened and that are hidden when the second light panel is folded up. Also included is a control panel that is remotely located from the soffit and in electrical communication with the first and second plurality of illuminating devices. The control panel is for receiving electrical power and for selectively powering at least one (1) illuminating device of the first and second plurality of illuminating devices. 
     That illuminated molding system can beneficially have the first plurality of illuminating devices implemented as a plurality of embedded sockets that are disposed about the first panel and a plurality of illuminating lamps retained in the plurality of embedded sockets. The control panel should be capable of selectively energizing a pattern of the first and second plurality of illuminating devices. In addition, a first fastener is preferably included for retaining the second light panel opened and a second fastener can be included for retaining the second light panel folded up under the first light panel. At least the second fastener may be a thumb screw and can mate with a second fastener. In use the soffit is attached at one (1) side to a ledger strip and at the other side to a fascia board. Electrical communication with the first and second plurality of illuminating devices is provided by electrical wiring, which may pass through a protective boot. 
     In another embodiment the invention is an illuminated molding system for mounting to a building exterior having an existing soffit. That illuminated molding system then comprises a first light panel for being affixed to and suspended from the building soffit, the first light panel having a first plurality of illuminating devices. Also included is a second light panel hinged to the first light panel so as to enable the second light panel to be deployed either opened or folded up under the first light panel. The second light panel then having a second plurality of illuminating devices that are visible when the second light panel is opened and that are hidden when the second light panel is folded up. Also included is a control panel for being remotely located from and in electrical communication with the first and second plurality of illuminating devices. That control panel is for receiving electrical power and for selectively powering at least one (1) illuminating device of the first and second plurality of illuminating devices. 
     That embodiment illuminated molding system can beneficially have the first plurality of illuminating devices implemented as a plurality of embedded sockets that are disposed about the first panel and a plurality of illuminating lamps retained in the plurality of embedded sockets. The control panel should be capable of selectively energizing a pattern of the first and second plurality of illuminating devices. In addition, a first fastener is preferably included for retaining the second light panel opened and a second fastener can be included for retaining the second light panel folded up under the first light panel. At least the second fastener may be a thumb screw and can mate with a second fastener. Electrical communication with the first and second plurality of illuminating devices is provided by electrical wiring, which may pass through a protective boot made of rubber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a soffit lighting system  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2 a    is a sectional view of the soffit lighting system  10  of  FIG. 1  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ) when deployed; 
         FIG. 2 b    is another sectional view of the soffit lighting system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , but now shown folded; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of light panels  20   a ,  20   b  and their adjoining hinge  26  used in the soffit lighting system  10  of  FIG. 1  and taken along section line B-B (see  FIG. 2 a   ); 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a control panel  50  of the soffit lighting system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an electrical block diagram of the soffit lighting system  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  soffit lighting system 
               20   a  first light panel 
               20   b  second light panel 
               22  soffit panel 
               24  recessed area 
               26  hinge 
               28  quick-connect fastener 
               30  fastener insert 
               40  light 
               41  illumination 
               42  wiring 
               43  socket 
               44  rubber boot 
               50  control panel 
               52  electrical enclosure 
               54  row switch 
               56  main switch 
               80  fastener 
               100  building 
               102  gutter 
               103  wall structure 
               104  ledger strip 
               105  eave 
               106  fascia board 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted within  FIGS. 1-5 . However, the invention is not limited to what is specifically illustrated and described. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Any such work around also falls with the scope of this invention. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. In addition, unless otherwise denoted all directional signals such as up, down, left, right, inside, outside are taken relative to the illustration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the present invention describes a foldable soffit lighting system  10  for homes and buildings  100  and which includes integrated holiday lights  40 . The soffit lighting system  10  implements a hinged system for discreetly contain the lights  40  when the lights  40  are not going to be used. The soffit lighting system  10  thus avoids problems with the annual installation and removal of holiday decorative lighting displays. 
     The soffit lighting system  10  includes a first light panel  20   a  mounted to an eave  105  of the building  100 . The soffit lighting system  10  further includes a second light panel  20   b  that is attached to the first light panel  20   a  by a hinge  26 . Each light panel  20   a ,  20   b  includes rows of recessed lights  40  (also see  FIGS. 2 a   ,  3 , and  5 ). The light panels  20   a ,  20   b  are envisioned as being introduced in a variety of colors and in various standard lengths such as six or eight feet (6-8 ft.). The light panels  20   a ,  20   b  are preferably made of a plastic material such as vinyl, but other materials such as another plastic, wood, aluminum, steel or another metal can also be used. 
     Refer now to  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    for sectional views of the soffit lighting system  10  when deployed ( FIG. 2 a   ) and when folded ( FIG. 2 b   ). The soffit lighting system  10  may be installed as a replacement soffit for a building  100  or used in new construction. The light panels  20   a ,  20   b  are preferably attached to a soffit panel  22  (shown in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   ) or they may be added to an existing soffit of the building  100 . 
     One (1) edge of the soffit panel  22  is beneficially attached to a ledger strip  104  of a wall structure  103 . The other edge of the soffit panel  22  is beneficially attached to the bottom of a fascia board  106  (shown supporting a gutter  102 ). The first light panel  20   a  is then affixed and suspended from the soffit panel  22  adjacent to the wall structure  103  using a plurality of fasteners  80  such as screws. The second light panel  20   b  can then pivot on the hinge  26 . The hinge  26  enables the second light panel  20   b  to be deployed either open such that the lights  40  are visible (shown in  FIG. 2 a   ) or folded up under the first light panel  20   a  (shown in  FIG. 2 b   ). When folded under the first light panel  20   a  the lights  40  are hidden. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   , the second light panel  20   b  is retained in either its deployed or folded position using quick-connect fasteners  28 . The quick-connect fasteners  28  are preferably thumb screws to provide not only strength but quick attachment and detachment so as to minimize the time required to deploy or conceal the light  40 . The quick-connect fasteners  28  are envisioned to work in conjunction with correspondingly positioned and mating fastener inserts  30  that are installed “flush” with the bottom of the ledger strip  104  and the fascia board  106  of the building  100 . 
     Refer now to  FIG. 3  for a sectional view of the light panels  20 ,  20   b  and the hinge  26  taken along section line B-B (see  FIG. 2 a   ) when the light panel  20   b  is partially pivoted on the hinge  26 . The lights  40  are preferably miniature illuminating devices such as incandescent bulbs, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), or another lamp type. The lights  40  are installed within embedded sockets  43  that are mounted in recessed areas  24  of each light panel  20   a ,  20   b . The sockets  43  provide plug-in, screw-in, or another removable attachment to provide easy replacement of the lights  40  as needed. 
     The soffit lighting system  10  preferably is electrically wired using a discreet wiring arrangement with interconnecting wiring  42  that runs internal to the light panels  20   a ,  20   b  and thus is hidden from view. The wiring  42  can be hidden by integral molding or wire routing within grooves such as along rear surfaces which can then be sealed using a color-matching caulk. Other wiring techniques which result in hidden wiring can also be used. A particular embodiment of the soffit lighting system  10 , shown in  FIG. 3 , has a rubber boot  44  which provides a flexible conduit for wiring  42  running between the first light panel  20   a  and the second light panels  20   b . The rubber boot  44  provides environmental as well as physical damage protection for the wiring  42 . The wiring  42  is envisioned as exiting the first light panel  20   a  and discreetly routed through the eave  105  to terminate at a control panel  50  which is beneficially located within the building  100  (reference  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  respectively present a front view of the control panel  50  and an electrical block diagram of the soffit lighting system  10 . Wiring  42  from the light panels  20   a ,  20   b  is bundled according to rows of lights  40 , routed through the building  100 , and connected to corresponding row switches  54  located on the control panel  50 . This enables a user to selectively energize particular rows or a selected number of rows of lights  40 . 
     The control panel  50  is preferably installed in a convenient location within the building  100 . Ideally it should have a similar appearance as a conventional wall-mounted light switch. The control panel  50  includes a rectangular electrical enclosure  52  having a main switch  56  as well as the row switches  54 . All switches  54 ,  56  are preferably arranged along the front of the electrical enclosure  52 . The main switch  56  energizes the soffit lighting system  10  by selectively providing power from an AC power source to the row switches  54 . The row switches  54  in turn selectively provide power to specific rows of lights  40 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention. While only one particular configuration is shown and described that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used by a common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the soffit lighting system  10  it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1, 2   a , and  2   b.    
     The method of installing and utilizing the soffit lighting system  10  may be achieved by: procuring a required number of soffit lighting systems  10  to complete an installation project on the building  100  with each soffit lighting system  10  having the desired color, length, and width; installing the control panel  50  at a convenient location within the building  100 ; connecting existing AC power to the main switch  56  of control panel  50 ; routing wiring  42  between the light panel  20   a ,  20   b  and the control panel  50  in a discreet manner within eave  105  and wall structure  103  of the building  100  in accordance with all federal, state and local electrical codes; installing fastener inserts  30  into the ledger strip  104  and he fascia board  106  of the eave  105  with the fastener inserts  30  in proper position to mate with the quick-connect fastener  28  of the second light panels  20   b ; attaching the soffit panel  22  to the ledger strip  104  and fascia board  106  using fasteners  80 ; attaching the first light panel  20   a  to a the soffit panel  22  and adjacent to the wall structure  103 , while giving care to the alignment of respective fastener inserts  30  and quick-connect fasteners  28 ; positioning the second light panel  20   b  in an outwardly extending and coplanar manner so as to expose the lights  40 ; securing the second light panel  20   b  to the fascia board  106  by inserting the quick-connect fasteners  28  through the second light panel  20   b  and into corresponding fastener inserts  30 ; installing the lights  40  into sockets  43 , if not previously installed; repeating the previous steps for any additional units of the soffit lighting system  10  in a longitudinal end-to-end manner along the eaves  105  until completion of the project; preparing the soffit lighting system  10  to display a decorative theme by setting the row switches  54  of the control panel  50  to energize particular rows of lights  40 , or selecting any desired row or rows of the lights  40 , as desired; activating the lights  40  at such time as illumination  41  is desired, by using the main switch  56  of the control panel  50 ; and, benefiting from decorative illumination  41  of eave  105  of a building  100  in an attractive and discrete manner afforded a user of the soffit lighting system  10 . 
     When illumination  41  from the soffit lighting system  10  is not desired the second light panel  20   b  may be folded against the first light panel  20   a  and secured in position using the quick-connect fasteners  28  so as to discretely contain and hide the lights  40 . 
     The low-profile of the soffit lighting system  10  and the use of internal wiring  42  results in the lights  40  being unobvious, thereby allowing a user to leave the lights  40  up year round if desired. It is envisioned that the soffit lighting system  10  would be installed during initial construction of a building structure  100  or as part of a renovation project. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.