Abstract:
An illuminating post cap having a housing defining a support surface and further defining a shroud circumscribing an opening adjacent the support surface. A strip assembly has a substrate operably supported by the support surface, and a lighting member is electrically connected to the substrate and operably receivingly disposed within the shroud in a characteristic close mating relationship.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Sep. 13, 2007 for U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/993,643. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention is directed to ornamental lighting and more particularly without limitation to an illuminating post cap on a barrier. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  depicts an illuminating post cap at nighttime in accordance with the present embodiments. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  depicts a strip assembly having four LEDs suited for use in the post cap of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  depicts a strip assembly having six LEDs suited for use in the post cap of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  depicts a strip assembly operably installed in a post cap having internal support features in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the strip assembly and post cap of  FIG. 4  detailing the manner in which each LED is operably receivingly engaged and recessed in the shroud defined by the cap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a nighttime depiction of an illuminating post cap  100  that is constructed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. It will be noted that the post cap  100  directs light downwardly to illuminate the post  102  upon which it is supported as well as the railings  104  attached to the post  102 . Shedding light onto the post  102  is a desirable nighttime feature that enhances the aesthetic value of the ornamental barrier of which the post cap  100  forms a part. As discussed below, each light inside the post cap  100  is recessed within a shroud that directs the emitted light downwardly in these depicted embodiments. Directing the light downwardly onto the post  102  prevents the undesirable glare that is otherwise associated with lighting that is directed horizontally, as in previously attempted solutions in the art. 
         [0009]    The claimed embodiments are not limited to a particular number and size or intensity of the lights illuminating the cap  100 .  FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative illuminating post cap  100  according to the present embodiments, like that marketed by De-Kor™ as the Grande Cap, the Rondi Cap, and the Little Rondi Cap. The Grande Cap and the Rondi Cap have six light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) per side, and the Little Rondi Cap has four LEDs per side. 
         [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a strip assembly  107  made of four direct-current (“dc”) LEDs  106  mounted electrically in series with one-another on a rigid substrate  108 . Preferably, the LEDs  106  are hermetically sealed to make them weatherproof for outdoor use or high humidity indoor use. Connectors  110  are mounted at each end of the substrate  108  and electrically connected to the LEDs  106 . Electrical leads  112  are depicted connected to one of the connectors  110 . The leads  112  can be routed through the post  102  and railing  104  to supply power to the LEDs  106 . Another strip assembly (not shown) can be electrically connected to the strip assembly  107  via another lead connected to the other connector  110 .  FIG. 3  similarly shows another strip assembly  107   a  made of six LEDs  106  connected to the substrate  108 . 
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the cap  100 , depicting how the strip assemblies  107  are receivingly engaged and thereby supported by features provided in the cap  100 . Preferably, the cap  100  is constructed of a casting or a molding to provide the support features. 
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the cap  100  operably attached to the post  102 . In these illustrative embodiments the cap  100  defines a support surface  114  upon which an edge of the substrate  108  rests. The LEDs  106  are spaced apart so that each LED  106  aligns with a shroud surface  116  defining an opening into which the respective LED  106  is receivingly engaged in a close mating relationship. The support surface  114  and shroud  116  cooperate to operably support the strip assembly  107  in place without the need of any additional fastener. In the depicted embodiments there is an individual shroud  116  for each of the LEDs  106 . Alternatively, two or more LEDs  106  can be receivingly disposed within a shared shroud. 
         [0013]    The shroud  116  completely surrounds the LED  106  and operably extends beyond a distal end  118  of the LED  106 . This construction ensures that the light emitted by the LED  106  is directionally disposed in accordance with the orientation of the shroud  116 . For example, in the depicted embodiments the shroud  116  directs all the light emitted by the LED  106  downwardly onto the post  102  and the railings  104  ( FIG. 1 ) below. That advantageously provides a desired aesthetic lighting effect and improves nighttime visibility by preventing glare by the LEDs. 
         [0014]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this detailed description is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangements of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms. For example, the particular elements may vary in type or arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0015]    In addition, although that described herein is directed to an illuminating post cap for decorative purposes, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments are not so limited and various other systems can utilize that which is disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present invention.