Illuminated landscape edging system

An illuminated edging system includes an edging section having an upper portion and a lower portion; a light strand (e.g. a rope light) disposed inside the upper portion; and an electrical connector at an end of the light strand and disposed inside the upper portion. The translucent upper portion and the lower portion are integrally formed of plastic. The upper portion and lower portion may be co-extruded so that they are of different materials. A translucent coupler joins adjacent edging sections. The coupler may be formed as a slotted cylinder surrounding the upper portion, the lower portion extending through the slot. A weather-resistant connector may be disposed inside the upper portion of the edging section, protecting the electrical connector.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to landscape edging products, including without limitation edging for lawns, sidewalks, trees, flower beds and the like, with lighting fixtures integrated therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Edging is used in a variety of landscaping applications, generally to separate one defined area from another (e.g. a lawn from a flower bed). A profile of a typical edging product1is shown inFIG. 1A. The edging is generally made of plastic and has an upper hollow tube portion2and a flat lower portion3. The edging is typically installed so that fins4anchor the lower portion3in the ground, with only the tube portion2visible above grade. Edging1is sold in rolls of various lengths (20 feet, 40 feet, 60 feet, etc.) and is typically installed in either a straight or curved path; different sections are coupled together using cylindrical couplers5fitted into, or around, the ends of respective tube portions2. As shown inFIG. 1B, each external coupler5fits around the exterior of the tube portions2of two adjacent sections of edging, and has a slot5athrough which extend the flat lower portions3. Multiple sections may be joined form edging with a uniform appearance and any desired length. The edging is typically made in a dark or neutral color to visually blend with the landscape.

Flexible strands of lights (sometimes called rope lights) are used in a number of applications for decorative purposes. For example, rope lights are often used in holiday decorations and accent lighting in the home (on deck railings, kitchen cabinets, crown moldings, etc.)

It is desirable to provide edging which integrates outdoor lighting for safety, convenience and appearance. In particular, it is desirable to adapt rope lights or the equivalent for outdoor installation in landscape edging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an illuminated edging system including an edging section having an upper portion and a lower portion; the upper portion is an elongated enclosure open only at an end thereof. A light strand (e.g. a rope light) is disposed inside the upper portion, with an electrical connector at an end of the light strand and disposed inside the upper portion. The lower portion is configured to be installed below grad, so that the upper portion with the light strand rests on the ground.

In an embodiment, the upper portion and the lower portion are integrally formed of plastic, and the upper portion is translucent. The upper portion and lower portion may be formed by a co-extrusion process, so that the upper portion is translucent and the lower portion is not translucent.

In an embodiment, the edging system has a plurality of edging sections and a translucent coupler for joining adjacent edging sections, with the coupler disposed on the exterior of the respective upper portions of the adjacent edging sections. The coupler may be formed as a slotted cylinder surrounding the upper portion, the lower portion extending through the slot. A weather-resistant coupling of the rope light may be disposed inside the upper portion of the edging section, between the light strand and the electrical connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

An embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2B.FIG. 2Ais a cross-sectional view of a section of edging20having an upper tube portion22and a lower portion23. A flexible strand21of lights (e.g. rope lights) is installed inside tube portion22. As shown inFIG. 2B, the tube portion22is an elongated enclosure, open only at the ends thereof, and has a substantially circular cross section. The light strand preferably has a circular cross-section, but may have any cross-sectional shape that fits conveniently into tube portion22.

Sections of the edging20are coupled together using a coupler25. In an embodiment, coupler25is an external coupler having the shape of a slotted hollow cylinder surrounding tube portion22; the lower portion23extends downward through the slot. In an alternative embodiment, the coupler is an internal coupler disposed on the interior of the respective upper portions of the adjacent edging sections.

The tube portion22and coupler25are made of transparent or translucent plastic so that light from strand21is visible. In an embodiment, the coupler25covers the tube portion22only in the vicinity of a joint between two sections of edging, as shown inFIG. 2B. Alternatively, the coupler25may be provided in long sections to form a continuous covering of tube portion22. The tube portion22(either along or in combination with the coupler25) protects the lights from weather and from physical damage (e.g. by weed trimmers, by being stepped upon, etc.). A UV inhibitor may be added to the plastic to protect the rope lights from the sun.

Either of tube portion22or coupler25may be formed without coloring, or may be colored so as to impart a color to the visible light emanating from strand21, or from a portion of the strand. Alternatively, the lights of strand21may themselves be of a variety of colors. The lights may be incandescent or have light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In an embodiment, tube portion22is transparent while a continuous coupler25may be any of a variety of colors. The color of the lighted edging may thus by changed by installing a different coupler.

The lower portion23of the edging20may be formed in an extrusion process along with upper portion22, so as to have the same translucent properties as the upper portion. Alternatively, the lower portion may be formed in a co-extrusion process so that the upper and lower portions are of different materials; the plastic of the lower portion therefore may be opaque while the upper portion is transparent or translucent. Both the upper and lower portions may also be made transparent.

In an embodiment, a weather-resistant electrical connector is located at each end of light strand21, to connect the lights in series.FIGS. 3A and 3Bshow a connection between two light strands, viewed from different angles. An electrical plug36at the end of light strand21mates with a socket33at the end of a neighboring light strand. The junction between strands is protected by a weather-resistant mechanical connector35having two sections31, fastened together by a coupling nut28threading onto a threaded portion32, and sealed using an O-ring34. AlthoughFIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate a connection for a two-wire rope lighting strand, other types of light strands are also contemplated, such as (but not limited to) 3-, 4- or 5-wire rope lights. All of the components shown inFIGS. 3A and 3Bare sized to fit inside the tube portion22of the edging20, so that the connectors when in use are protected both by the tube portion22and the coupler25. Thus, when the edging20is installed, only the tube portion22(with light shining therefrom) and the coupler25are visible above grade.FIG. 3Cis a perspective view of a weather-resistant connector35joining two light strands21inside a tube portion22of an edging section20. As shown inFIG. 3D, a single light strand may extend through the tube portions of several edging sections. Couplers25provide a mechanical connection between adjacent edging sections, while connectors35provide a weather-resistant mechanical and electrical connection between light strands.

In an embodiment, one end of the edging has a connector for making an electrical connection to a power source, as schematically illustrated inFIG. 4A. Plug36mates with socket33, with the electrical connection covered by coupling nut28threading onto thread32, as described above. Socket33in turn is coupled to power cord44and plug45, as shown inFIG. 4B. Plug45typically is polarized, and may advantageously have a fuse (e.g. a 2 W-5 W fuse) incorporated therein. Although plug45as shown is configured for connecting to a 120V power source, it will be appreciated that a low-voltage power source may be used instead, depending on the power requirements of light strand21. In another embodiment, the light strand is solar-powered, and connects to a solar collector/generator rather than an external power source.

Illuminated edging in connected sections, as described above, provides inexpensive, ground-level outdoor lighting. One possible installation is shown schematically inFIG. 5, where both edges of a sidewalk are illuminated, and accent lighting surrounds a tree.