Abstract:
A light bar assembly is disclosed which is configured to be placed adjacent at least one edge of a glass member such as a countertop, backsplash, or mirror. The light bar assembly includes a first support member having a second support member selectively secured thereto. An LED light strip is positioned in the lower support member so as to direct light into the glass member. If the light strip fails, the upper support member may be detached from the lower support member to provide ready access to the light strip for repair or replacement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a light bar assembly for illuminated an edge of a piece of material. More particularly, this invention relates to an LED light bar or light bars for illuminating a horizontally disposed glass countertop, a vertically disposed glass backsplash or a member requiring illumination. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a light bar assembly of the type described which includes a housing which is easily and conveniently accessible for repair or replacement should the LED&#39;s or the components thereof fail. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Countertops for cabinets, etc. in recent years have been comprised of Corian™, granite, stone, etc. Lately, there has been a tremendous interest in manufacturing the countertops from a glass material, usually recycled glass. Further, lighting devices such as LEDs have been provided to illuminate the countertops. However, should the lighting devices fail, it is extremely difficult to repair or replace the lighting devices and associated components without disturbing the glass countertop. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A light bar assembly is disclosed for illuminating a horizontally disposed glass countertop, a vertically disposed glass backsplash, or other piece of material. One or more of the light bars of this invention may be utilized with the edges of the glass countertop, the glass backsplash, or other piece of material. 
     In one embodiment, a horizontally disposed glass countertop is positioned on the upper end of a supporting structure such as a cabinet, sink or the like with the glass countertop having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end edge, a second end edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. The light bar of this invention is elongated and has first and second ends. The light bar assembly is positioned adjacent to one of the end or side edges of the countertop. The light bar assembly of this invention includes an elongated and horizontally extending lower support member having first and second ends. The light bar assembly of this invention also includes an elongated and horizontally extending upper support member which is selectively removably secured to the lower support member. The lower support member has a horizontally disposed lower wall with inner and outer ends, an upstanding wall, having an inner side, an outer side, an upper end, and a lower end, which extends upwardly from the outer end of the lower wall thereof. A vertically disposed slot extends downwardly into the upstanding wall of the lower support member from the upper end thereof. An elongated LED light strip is secured to the inner side of the upstanding wall of the lower support member. The LED light strip is selectively electrically connected to a source of electrical power. The upper support member includes a generally horizontally disposed upper wall, having inner and outer ends, a vertically disposed wall, having upper and lower ends which extends downwardly from the upper wall of the upper support member adjacent the outer end of the upper wall of the upper support member. The vertically disposed wall of the upper support member is selectively received in the slot in the upstanding wall of the lower support member to attach the upper support member to the lower support member. 
     The inner end of the lower wall of the lower support member is positioned adjacent one edge of the countertop. The inner end of the upper wall of the upper support member is positioned at the upper surface of the countertop adjacent at one edge thereof whereby light from the LED light strip will be directed into the countertop. In the preferred embodiment, a light bar assembly is positioned adjacent at a plurality of the edges of the countertop. 
     The light bar assembly of this invention may also be used with a vertically disposed backsplash or a mirror. 
     Therefore a principal object of the invention is to provide an improved light bar for use with either a horizontally disposed glass countertop, a vertically disposed glass backsplash or another piece of material. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a light bar for use with either a vertically disposed glass countertop, a vertically disposed glass backsplash or another piece of material wherein the light bar includes a first support member having a second support member selectively removably secured thereto to provide ready access to the interior of the light bar assembly should the LED light strip or components associated therewith need repair or replacement. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view illustrating the light bars of this invention being positioned adjacent some of the edges of a glass countertop to illuminate the same; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the light bar of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  wherein the upper support member is secured to the lower support member thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment of the light bar of this invention positioned adjacent one edge of a glass countertop; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the light bar of this invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the second embodiment of  FIG. 5  wherein the upper support member is secured to the lower support member thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view of the second embodiment of the light bar of this invention wherein the upper support member is secured to the lower support member thereof; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view illustrating the light bar of this invention being positioned adjacent an edge of a glass backsplash to illuminate the same; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the lower and upper support members. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to a glass countertop having an upper surface  12 , a lower surface  14 , end edges  16  and  18 , and side edges  20  and  22 . The thickness of the countertop  10  will vary somewhat. Glass is the preferred composition of the countertop  10  but other materials could be utilized as long as the material permits the passage of light therethrough. Countertop  10  will normally be installed on the upper end  24  of a cabinet such as a bathroom cabinet  26  or a kitchen cabinet. 
     The numeral  28  refers to the elongated light bar of this invention which may be positioned on the upper end  24  of cabinet  26  adjacent to one or more of the end and side edges of the countertop  10 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . Light bar  28  includes an elongated lower support member  30 , having ends  32  and  34 . Support member  30  includes a horizontally disposed lower wall  36  having an inner end  38  and an outer end  40 . It is preferred that a lip  42  be provided which extends upwardly from lower wall  36  although the lip  42  may not be included in all installations. 
     Lower support member  30  also includes an upstanding outer wall  44  which extends upwardly from the outer end  40  of lower wall  36  at a right angle with respect thereto. The outer wall  44  will be described as having an inner side  45 . Outer wall  44  has a vertically disposed slot  46  formed therein which extends downwardly thereinto from the upper end  48  thereof. Outer wall  44  has one or more openings  49  formed therein to permit electrical wires to be extended therethrough. 
     Light bar  28  also includes a horizontally disposed upper support member  50  which has an upper wall  52  with an inner end  53 , an outer end  54 , an upper surface  56  and a lower surface  58 . Preferably, the upper surface of the inner end  53  has a downwardly and inwardly extending portion  60  formed therein. Upper support member  50  includes a vertically disposed wall  62  which extends downwardly from upper wall  52  inwardly of outer end  54 . As will be described hereinafter, wall  62  is designed to be received in slot  46  of outer wall  44  of lower support member  30 . It is preferred that the inner end  53  of upper wall  50  be disposed inwardly of inner end  38  of lower wall member  36  when the upper support member  50  is secured to lower support member  30 . 
     The numeral  64  refers to an elongated LED light strip or tape which is secured to the inner side  45  of wall  44  of lower support member  30 . One end of light strip or tape  64  is electrically connected to a source of electrical power which is normally a 15-volt power source but could be a 12-24 volt power source. The ends of light bar  28  are closed by caps  66  and  68 , one of which may have an opening  69  formed therein to permit electrical wires to extend therethrough. 
     The light bar  28  is installed as will now be described. In one scenario, the countertop is first positioned on a supporting surface and secured thereto. In another scenario, the lower support member or members  30  are secured to the supporting surface prior to the countertop being secured to the supporting surface. In a further scenario, one or more of the lower support members are positioned on the supporting surface prior to the countertop being positioned on the supporting surface. This scenario is usually performed if one side or end of the countertop is going to abut a wall or the like. In this description, it is assumed that the countertop is first positioned on the support surface and secured thereto. After the countertop  10  has been positioned on the upper end of the cabinet  26  and secured thereto, the lower support member  30  is positioned adjacent one of the edges of the countertop  10  with the lower wall member  36  resting on the upper end  24  of cabinet  26  ( FIG. 4 ). If the lower wall member  36  has the lip  42  thereon, the lower support member  30  will be moved inwardly with respect to the countertop  10  until the lip  42  abuts against the edge of the countertop  10 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . If the lower wall member  36  does not have the lip  42  thereon, the lower support member  30  will be moved inwardly with respect to the countertop until the inner end  38  of lower wall member  36  abuts against the edge of the countertop  10 . In some cases, the inner end  38  of wall  36  may be partially slipped beneath the edge of the countertop  10 . The lower support member  30  is secured to the countertop  10  by any convenient means. 
     The upper support member  50  is then attached to the lower support member  30  by inserting the wall  62  downwardly into the slot  46 . When the upper support member  50  has been attached to the lower support member  30 , the inner end  54  of upper wall  52  of upper support member  50  will be positioned on the upper surface  12  of the edge of the countertop, as seen in  FIG. 4 . The engagement of the inner end  54  with the countertop  10  not only stabilizes the light bar  28  but also shields or hides the joint between the light bar  28  and the edge of the countertop  10 . The upper wall  52  of upper support member  50  also hides the lights of the light strip  64  somewhat from view. 
     When the light strip  64  is illuminated, the LED lights of the light strip  64  direct light into the countertop from the edge thereof to illuminate the countertop. If the light strip  64  should fail, the light strip  64  is easily replaced by simply detaching the upper support member  50  from the lower support member  30  to provide convenient access to the light strip  64  without disturbing or moving the countertop itself. The light strip  64  may be hardwired to a source of 15-volt power or secured to an electrical outlet as will be described hereinafter. 
     If desired, a light bar  28  may be installed at all the edges of the countertop  10  or at some of the edges of the countertop, as seen in  FIG. 1 . If the light bars  28  are installed, as seen in  FIG. 1 , the end caps  66  and  68  will not be needed. In that case, the ends of the adjoining light bars  28  will be mitered or abutted. Although the light bar  28  has been shown as being used with a horizontally disposed countertop  10 , the light bar or bars  28  could be used with a vertically disposed glass backsplash  72 , as seen in  FIG. 8 . The light strip or strips  64 , when energized, direct light into the countertop  10  or backsplash, to illuminate the same.  FIGS. 5-8  illustrate a slightly modified form of the upper wall of the upper support member which is designated by the reference numeral  52 ′. The upper wall  52 ′ does not have the tapered open surface  60  but has a downwardly and inwardly extending wall  70  formed therein. When the light bar  28 , having the wall  70  thereon, is utilized, the inner end of the wall  70  will slightly overlap the edge of the countertop  10  or the backsplash  72 . In either case, the end caps  66  and  68 , if used, will have a slightly different shape.  FIG. 9  illustrates a slightly different way of attaching the light bar  28  to a backsplash  72 . As seen in  FIG. 9 , the support member  30  is secured to a wall W by screws  82  in the same manner as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . As also seen in  FIG. 9 , the lip  42  rests on the upper end of the backsplash  72 . The end  38  of support member  30  is positioned between the wall W and backsplash  72  which tends to stabilize the connection therebetween. 
     The light bar  64  may be hardwired to a source of electrical power by electric wires  74  or have an electrical cord  78  extending therefrom to an electrical outlet. In both cases, the source of 120 volt power will be transformed into a source of 15-volt power or to a source of 12-24 volt power by a transformer  80 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a slightly modified form of the light bar which is designated by the reference numeral  88  which includes a lower support member  90  and an upper support member  92 . Lower support member  90  includes a lower wall  94 . A wall  96  extends upwardly from lower wall  94  and does not have a slot formed therein such as the slot  46  seen in  FIG. 6 . Wall  96  will be described as having an inner surface  98  and an outer surface  100 . An optional lip  102  extends upwardly from lower wall  94 , as seen in  FIG. 10 . 
     Upper support member  90  has an upper or top wall  104  which may be configured such as top wall  52  in  FIG. 3  or top wall  52 ′, as seen in  FIG. 6 . A wall  106  extends downwardly from top wall  104  and has a slot  108  extending into the lower end thereof. Wall  106  will be described as having an inner side  110  and an outer side  112 . 
     The upper support member  92  is secured to the lower support member  90  by means of the wall  96  of lower support member  90  being received in the slot  108  of upper support member  92 . A light strip  64  is secured to the inner side  110  of wall  106 . The electrical wires  74  may extend outwardly through one of the ends of light bar  88  or through an opening formed in wall  106  of upper support member  90 . 
     Although the invention has been described as being used with a countertop or backsplash, the invention may be used with any other piece of material such as a mirror. 
     Thus it can be seen that a novel invention has been provide which accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.