Abstract:
A flexible lighting strip in the form of a T-molding covers a board edge of a video or arcade game cabinet, allowing decorative lighting to be applied to the cabinet. The T-molding includes a flexible casing having a head portion with an upper surface formed of a transparent or translucent plastic material, and a hollow channel formed in the head portion that extends along the casing. The channel accommodates insertion of a flexible lighting strip formed of a flexible printed circuit board substrate with light emitting diodes mounted on the substrate, so emitted light shines through the transparent upper surface of the casing. The casing has an anchor strip for insertion into a groove formed in the cabinet board edge to anchor the casing to the board edge via frictional engagement. A method is provided for applying the lighted T-molding to a video or arcade game cabinet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/812,809, filed Apr. 17, 2013, and said provisional application and all contents thereof are hereby incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The coin-operated arcade and video game industry is approximately 40 years old. Although it is a mature industry from the standpoint that there is a large installed base of arcade and video games around the world, there is always the possibility that a new, highly sought after, high earning game will reinvigorate the market for a new product. In order to sell new games, besides the demand for replacement of older, dilapidated equipment, these games need to attract surplus revenue with respect to the existing equipment already installed at a particular location. Further, this surplus revenue must be sufficiently high to pay for the new equipment and provide profit net of operating costs within a reasonable portion of the expected lifetime of the game. 
         [0003]    One of the objects of this invention is to take advantage of all necessary innovations to providing novel, desirable, yet cost effective coin-operated arcade or video games in cabinets that attract game players. 
         [0004]    In recent years the intensity of light emitting diodes (LEDs) has increased dramatically while at the same time the cost of the manufacture has dropped significantly. This has made it possible to create eye-catching visual adjuncts to video game entertainment to help attract game players. For example, large arrays of LEDs can create a sense of motion, modulate the sense of tension or excitement, or otherwise enhance the mood of the game. 
         [0005]    Installation of LED arrays must capture and present the LEDs in a durable, reliable, highly visible manner. As such, LED installations require at least the following: a circuit that connects the LEDs to a power and optionally a control source, the ability to conform the array to the arbitrary shapes in at least one axis, and a protective covering or coating to prevent damage to the LEDs or the connecting circuitry. 
         [0006]    Currently there are several techniques used to implement linear LED arrays. The “Great Wall” LED array strip captures LEDs and their circuitry in a soft material via “potting” or immersion into plastic. These strips can bend in an axis perpendicular to the radiated light. These circuits can be exposed to the environment, but they still need to be captured in some way, particularly for protection from damage. Typically this is done through bracketry that sandwiches the array behind a bezel. Otherwise, the array may be pushed into a transparent or translucent casing from the rear side. 
         [0007]    Newer technology has facilitated the creation of what are known as LED tape strips, hereinafter referred to as “LED strips”. These LED strips have a flexible printed circuit board (“PCB”) substrate and conform much better to arbitrary surfaces and do so in a wide axis of radiation which leads to a wider variety of potential installations. However, capturing and mounting these LED strips provides significant challenges. Although LED strips can be protected from the environment via potting, capturing techniques require the additional significant expense of the bands and do not lend themselves well to the same techniques as the Great Wall strips. 
         [0008]    Currently, the most cost-effective construction of an arcade game typically utilizes machined engineered wood products such as medium density fiber board (MDF) or particleboard. These boards are machined to shapes and assembled by abutting the edges of boards into a generally box shape. One result of these abutments is the exposure of the machined edges of the boards. These edges are unsightly and prone to damage, so a protective surface is typically installed. Currently, a plastic extruded product referred to as “T-molding” is used. The cross section of a typical, generally commercially available prior art T-molding is shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
         [0009]    Usually the cabinet is constructed such that the T-molding is at least on the front left and right vertical edges of the cabinet. Some manufacturers have used black colored T-molding to minimize the visual interruption. Later, chrome colored T-molding has been used to add some visual flair to the edges of the cabinet. This particular feature has proven to be so popular that some companies now use chrome T-molding on virtually all of their game cabinets. 
         [0010]    Other manufactures have created a game cabinet that features LED lighting that runs the entire height of the cabinet on the left and right edges. In order to accomplish that design, a clear plastic piece was sandwiched between the cabinet wall on the inside and a metal plate on the outside. Then the LED tape was installed behind the clear plastic pointed outwardly. While this construction is visually compelling, it is also exorbitantly expensive as the sidewalls of the cabinet essentially became a three-ply wall consisting of layers of wood, plastic and metal. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    To provide a cost-effective yet better-performing decorative lighted strip in the form of T-molding for cabinets for arcade games incorporating LEDs, one aspect of the invention herein includes a T-molding that incorporates an LED strip within a hollow channel formed in a flexible, extruded T-molding casing having a translucent or transparent upper surface that allows display of the LED-generated light through the casing while also protecting the LED strip from damage arising from environmental exposure to elements such as physical impact and liquids. Another aspect of the invention includes the described T-molding casing provided without the LED strip in order to allow the user flexibility to provide lighting means of the user&#39;s choice within the hollow channel. Another aspect of the invention includes cabinets for arcade or video games incorporating T-molding casings having the hollow channel with LED strip. The invention provides benefits lacking in the prior art devices in that the invention allows for flexibility and cost-effectiveness in the installation, repair, and replacement of the T-molding and the LEDs, as well as flexibility and cost-effectiveness in programming and controlling the light displays that prior art devices have failed to provide. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 9 , of an embodiment of the invention with an LED strip. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a prior art T-molding. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of a diagram of an LED strip. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a diagram of an LED strip. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of  FIG. 7 , of an embodiment of the invention without an LED strip. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention without an LED strip. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top view of an embodiment of the invention without an LED strip. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention without an LED strip. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with an LED strip. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention with a coextruded portion. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               1  prior art T-molding 
               10  casing of T-molding 
               12  anchor strip of T-molding 
               13  barbs of anchor strip 
               14  head portion of T-molding 
               15  coextruded portion of T-molding 
               16  channel formed in T-molding 
               18  top surface of T-molding 
               20  LED strip 
               22  substrate of LED strip 
               24  LED (light emitting diode) of LED strip 
               26  controller chip of LED strip 
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    An aspect of the invention includes a flexible T-molding provided in an elongated form as generally depicted in  FIG. 9 . A cross-sectional view of a typical, generally commercially available prior art T-molding  1  is shown in  FIG. 2 , which is contrasted to the cross-sectional view of the claimed T-molding shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the invention includes a housing or casing  10  having a head portion  14  which has an outer upper surface that is preferably formed to have a flat, domed, or flattened-dome shape as shown in  FIG. 1 , but can be any suitable shape adapted to the particular installation as desired. The head portion  14  includes a hollow channel  16  surrounded by the head portion  14 , formed along the entire length along a longitudinal axis of the T-molding, and shaped to accommodate insertion of a flexible lighting strip. 
         [0035]    The T-molding casing  10  can preferably include an anchor strip portion  12  integrally molded with and extending downwardly from a lower or bottom surface of the head portion  14  and formed along the entire length of the T-molding, shaped and adapted to form an attachment between the T-molding and the board of the game cabinet. The pointed anchor strip  12  generally includes a number of outwardly extending flanges or flange-like projections that form laterally-extending barbs  13 ,  13  (as shown in a cross-sectional view in  FIG. 1 ) provided at intervals along the lateral sides of the anchor strip  12 . The anchor strip  12  is shaped and adapted to be inserted into a groove formed in the cabinet edge. The flanges extend along the length of the anchor strip  12  along the longitudinal axis of the casing, with the flange ends being shaped and adapted to serve as barbs that abut sides of the groove formed in the cabinet edge, so as to anchor the anchor strip in the groove by means of a tight frictional engagement between the barbs and the sides of the groove in the board. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the T-molding casing  10  is preferably formed of a clear flexible material such as plastic. The T-molding casing is preferably formed by extrusion. The T-molding casing  10  in its top or upper surface area  18  of the head portion  14  should be as transparent or translucent as possible so as to allow light emitted by the LEDs within the channel  16  to transmit through the top surface  18  of the head portion  14  so that the emitted light is visible outside the T-molding casing  10 . Translucent or transparent material having coloring can be employed. Other views of the casing  10  are shown in  FIGS. 5-8 . 
         [0037]    Another aspect of the invention is depicted in  FIG. 10 , wherein the head portion  14  includes the top surface area  18  which is as transparent or translucent as possible, and also includes a coextruded portion  15 . The coextruded portion  15  is formed of a material different from that of the top or upper surface area  18 , or is formed of a material that has a different color, opacity, or hardness from that of the top or upper surface area  18 . The co-extruded portion  15  thus can preferably be made of a secondary plastic material that is different from or has different physical characteristics than those of the plastic material of the upper surface  18 . Accordingly the co-extruded portion  15  can have characteristics that differ from those of the transparent area  18 , as desired, such as higher opacity to provide a solid background to the LEDs offering a different visual effect; different coloration to provide a different decorative effect; higher degree of hardness to suit physical demands of a particular installation; or higher resistance to heat degradation or deformation to enhance product operational life. 
         [0038]    The flexible lighting strip is preferably an LED strip  20  that includes light emitting diodes (LEDs)  24  which provide light and can be programmed to provide a variable light display. The LED strip  20  includes a flexible substrate  22  on which are formed LEDs  24  and controller chips  26 . The LED strip  20  preferably is formed of a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) substrate  22  containing circuitry allowing for varied programming of the patterns, timing, and coloring of the light emissions generated by the LEDs  24 . The LED strip  20  typically will include means for connection at one or both of its ends for connecting the LED strip  20  to a power source, to a controller for programming its light display, and/or to other LED strips. 
         [0039]    The installation of the T-molding is accomplished as follows. The edges of any cabinet boards where the T-molding is to be installed need to have a groove or channel machined in to them, in a direction perpendicular to the edge and along the longitudinal axis of the edge. The groove typically can be machined in using a router. 
         [0040]    Then, starting on one end, the casing  10  as shown in  FIGS. 5-8  without the LED strip  20  is installed. The casing  10  is typically provided in pieces having lengths of about five to seven feet, depending on the length needed for the installation in question. The casing  10  is installed onto the board edge by placing the anchor strip  12  bearing the flanges that form the barbs  13  onto the board edge and pushing the anchor strip  12  into the groove or channel in the cabinet board edge. The anchor strip  12  can be pushed into place in the groove by pounding or hammering on the upper surface of the casing  10  using a hammer or mallet, so that the barbs  13  enter and engage with the sides of the groove, and thus hold the T-molding casing  10  in place by forming a tight frictional engagement between the barbs  13  and the sides of the groove. This pounding-in continues along the length of the T-molding casing  10  from the starting end to the finishing end. Any extra length of the T-molding casing  10  is then cut off. 
         [0041]    Then, an LED strip  20  (a portion of which is shown in a general diagram in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) is inserted into an end of the channel  16  formed in the casing  10  and is fed into the channel  16 . The insertion can be accomplished by a number of means. A preferred means is to push the LED strip  20  into the channel  16  and continue pushing so as to feed the LED strip  20  all the way along the length of the channel  16  by pushing force. However, because the LED strip  20  might not be sufficiently rigid to be pushed all the way through the channel  16 , another preferred means is to attach a leading end of the LED strip  20  to the leading end of a carrier, using double-sided tape or other affixing means. The carrier preferably is a thin, flat, flexible strip of plastic or other suitable material that is rigid in its longitudinal direction but can bend slightly in vertical directions toward its upper and lower surfaces, in order to follow bends in the channel  16 . The carrier is sufficiently narrow to be inserted into the channel  16 . The carrier is attached to the bottom side of the LED strip  20  on their leading ends. These leading ends are then inserted and fed into the channel  16 , whereby the LED strip is pulled through the channel by the leading end of the carrier until the entire length of the channel  16  contains the LED strip  20  borne on the carrier. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the leading end of the carrier strip is then detached from the leading end of the fed-through LED strip  20  and the carrier is removed from the channel by pulling while the LED strip  20  is held in place within the channel  16 . In another preferred aspect of the invention, the carrier is left inside the channel  16  with the LED strip  20 , so that the carrier can be used later to facilitate easy removal of the LED strip  20  for repair or replacement. 
         [0042]    A power source is preferably connected to the LED strip  20  at one or more ends of the T-molding as desired. An optional control means for controlling the light display of the LEDs can be connected to the LED strip  20  at one or more ends of the T-molding as desired. To finish the ends of the T-molding, a metal bracket (or cap) is then installed on ends of the T-molding to prevent the LED strip  20  from being removed and to protect the exposed wires at the end of the LED strip  20 . 
         [0043]    When installed in the boards of a game cabinet (not shown in the drawings), the head portion  14  of the T-molding then protects the edge of the board by providing a smooth, durable, liquid-resistant edging to the board and providing a finished look. 
         [0044]    In arriving at the claimed solution, the inventors determined that it would not be generally satisfactory to pot (immerse or embed) LED strips into the plastic of the T-molding. This is because, as the T-molding is flexed to accommodate curved edge shapes of the game cabinet, for example, the LED strips would flex at a different radius than the T-molding, and either stretch, compress, or bend the circuit in the LED strip, and accordingly, damage the circuit and the LED strip. And so the inventors developed the present invention utilizing the new extruded clear plastic T-molding casing  10  with a hollow channel  16  down the middle as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 . The LED strip  20  which includes LEDs  24  and chips  26  supported on flexible PCB substrate  22  is inserted into the hollow channel  16  in the middle of the T-molding casing  10  as described in the preceding paragraphs. 
         [0045]    In one aspect of the invention, the LED strip  20  is contained within the channel  16  but is not physically attached to the interior of the T-molding casing  10  along the longitude of the T-molding. The LED strip  20  lies within the channel  16  with some freedom of movement independent of that of the T-molding, and no glue or other attachment is made between the LED strip  20  and the inside walls of the hollow channel  16  along the longitude. Thus, the assembly protects the LED strip  20  from damage that would be caused when a T-molding was bent, stretched, or compressed, because the assembly allows the LED strip  20  more freedom to bend on an axis independent of that of the T-molding. The assembly allows the LEDs  24  to shine brightly through the transparent upper surface  18  of the plastic T-molding while also protecting the LED strip  20 . 
         [0046]    This protection is most notable in that, in an aspect of the invention, the assembly provides for simple installation of the T-molding onto the cabinet by pounding the T-molding casing  10  onto the cabinet edge using a hammer or mallet to drive the anchor strip  12  of the T-molding casing  10  into the groove or channel that was machined into the edge of the cabinet board. The pounding-in occurs before insertion of the LED strip  20 , so that the LED strip  20  is not damaged during the pounding-in. 
         [0047]    Another key benefit arising from the invention is the ability to easily slide the LED strip  20  out of the channel  16  of the T-molding casing  10  for service or replacement. The user has the option to repair or replace the LED strip without removing the installed T-molding casing  10 , and then easily slide the LED strip  20  back in. 
         [0048]    Another key benefit is that the channel  16  of the T-molding casing  10  acts generally as a protective open space surrounding the LED strip  20 . The channel  16  preferably has a shape that accommodates the inserted LED strip  20  and also provides open space at the sides and above the upper surface of the LED strip  20 . Unlike prior art devices, this airspace generally prevents T-molding material from coming into direct contact with the LEDs  24  and controller chips  26  themselves. This greatly assists in preventing material degradation of the casing  10  and the LEDs and chips  24 ,  26 , that would be caused by direct contact between them that yields abrasive effects, compression effects, and the like. The open space or air pocket also allows for cooling so as to reduce degradation and discoloration of the casing  10  caused by heat generated by the LED strip  20 , and can extend the operational life of the LED strip  20  and its components LEDs  24  and chips  26  by providing this space that allows heat from the LEDs to dissipate. 
         [0049]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that key benefits provided by the invention consisting or consisting essentially of the casing  10 , and also by combination of the casing  10  with LED strips  20 , as designed by the inventors herein is the simplicity and economy provided by the casing design, its combination with known LED strips, and its ease and flexibility in installation, removal and repair. Thus, one aspect of the invention could preferably entail the exclusion of elements not specifically disclosed herein. Such excluded elements could, in certain circumstances, impair the cost-effectiveness of the claimed invention by introducing parts or steps that increase costs and decrease the simplicity of installation, operation, and repair of the claimed invention. The invention as illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 
         [0050]    The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications would be obvious to those skilled in the art. The above-described embodiments of the present invention have been provided to illustrate various aspects of the invention. However, it is to be understood that different aspect of the invention shown in different specific embodiments can be combined to provide other embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the claims.