Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a lighting fixture where individual light sources can be removed and/or replaced from a strand of light sources. The preferred embodiment of the light fixture comprises a plurality of light sources strung together by a plurality of wire assemblies. Each light source preferably has one end of a tongue and groove connector where the opposing end of the connector is attached to an end of a wire assembly. The strand of light sources is then placed within a lens component, preferably an extrusion. The lens component is connected to a base component; wherein the plurality of light sources are mounted to the base component and contained within the lens component. The fixture can be mounted to, inter alia, a wall, a chair, or a railing in an area to be lit by the fixture.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a lighting system where individuals light sources can be removed and/or replaced from a strand of light sources.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Generally, theater and auditorium lighting systems incorporate low voltage lighting strips within extrusions that are then placed on stairs, chairs and walkways in order to illuminate walking areas for patrons and ushers. The prior art has contemplated different ways of arranging the light strips. Typically, the lighting strips are made up of wires soldered to light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) or LED circuit boards. A number of lighting systems are known including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,283,612, 6,145,996, and 6,116,748.  
           [0003]    These systems, however, do not generally provide for the efficient replacement of an LED that has malfunctioned or burned out. It is often cumbersome to replace an LED from a lighting strip and often the entire lighting strip must be replaced and not just the damaged LED. The present invention provides an easier and safer method of replacing one or more LEDs in a lighting strip.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention generally relates to a lighting fixture where individual light sources can be removed and/or replaced from a strand of light sources. The preferred embodiment of the light fixture comprises a plurality of light sources strung together by a plurality of wire assemblies. Each light source preferably has one end of a tongue and groove connector where the opposing end of the connector is attached to an end of a wire assembly. The strand of light sources is then placed within a lens component, preferably an extrusion. The lens component is connected to a base component; wherein the plurality of light sources are mounted to the base component and contained within the lens component. The fixture can be mounted to, inter alia, a wall, a chair, or a railing in an area to be lit by the fixture. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment strand of LEDs and wire assemblies.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a close-up top view of the preferred embodiment of the connectors.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective close-up view of an LED and board with the preferred embodiment of connectors.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the wire assembly.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in use casting light on stairs.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an improved light fixture.  
         [0013]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a side cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the improved light fixture  100  is shown. The light fixture  100  of the present invention can be used in, inter alia, theater and auditorium lighting systems to illuminate walkways and corridors for patrons and ushers. Preferably, the fixture  100  comprises two extruded parts, a lens component  20  and a base component  30 . Each extrusion is preferably made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) but can also be made of polycarbonate. The lens component  20  can also comprise acrylic.  
         [0014]    The lens component  20  preferably comprises two parts, a shield  21  and a lens  22 . Preferably, these two parts are co-extruded. The shield  21  is made of an opaque material such that it prevents light from emitting from the light fixture  100  except through the lens  22  that is generally made of a transparent material. As such, the light emitted from the light source  10  through the lens  22  will shine onto the walkways and corridors that need illumination rather than into the eyes of patrons, performers and/or ushers.  
         [0015]    The lens component  20  of the fixture  100  also preferably supports a strand of light sources  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the light source  10  (an LED on a circuit board is shown in FIG. 1) is mounted to the lens component  20  by sliding the circuit board of the light source  10  into a set of notches on the lens component  20 . The light source  10  is therefore held at a set angle to the lens  22  in the lens component  20 .  
         [0016]    The lens component  20  and the base component  30  preferably connect to one another via a sliding or snap-lock mechanism. As such, the entire fixture  100  can be mounted on a variety of surfaces such as stairs, chairs, walls or walkways via the base component  30  as shown in the preferred use depicted in FIG. 6. When the base component  30  is mounted to a surface, the lens  22  of the lens component  20  is preferably perpendicular to the base component  30  so that the light emitted from the light source  10  shines on to a desired area for illumination.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 depicts a preferred installation of the invention for illumination of steps  200 . In FIG. 6, the fixture  100  is mounted to a surface  210  near steps  200 . The light sources  10  illuminate the steps  200 . The shield  21  of the lens component  20  shields light from the light sources  10  such that the majority of the illumination from the light sources is cast downward onto the steps  200  rather than up and/or out from the fixture  100  away from the target area for illumination. Preferably, when the fixture  100  is mounted at least  18  inches above the target area to be illuminated, the light from the light sources  10  can cast light up to 48 inches from the mounted fixture  100 . This is approximately a seventy degree (70°) angle of illumination.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment strand of light sources  10 , (LEDs and circuit boards shown), that are mounted within the lens component  20 . Each light source is preferably a high brightness LED of material AlGalnP with super yellow emitted color and a lens color of water clear. The preferred LED model is an Alpinetech LP7615UYC LED.  
         [0019]    Each light source  10  preferably mates to a wire assembly  15  via a connector with polarity-determined geometry. For example, the preferred embodiment described herein uses tongue  13  and groove  14  components. FIGS. 3, 4 and  5  show varying views of a preferred embodiment of these components. The wire assembly preferably comprises wires that are #20 GA AWG FTI 90 degrees C., 300 volts, UL recognized. The wire assemblies are preferably made in pre-determined lengths such as 3, 4 and 6 inches.  
         [0020]    As described below, the polarity-determined geometry of the connectors  11  and  12  help insure that the light source  10  is connected to the strand of lights with the proper polarity. In addition to the tongue and groove arrangement described herein, the connectors  11 ,  12  and wire assemblies  15  can be mated with varying shaped connectors that only connect when the light source  10  is aligned to the proper polarity in the strand, e.g. a negative end of one light source  10  connects via a wire assembly  15  to the positive end of another light source  10 . For example, the first connector  11  could be a round shape and the second connector  12  could be square with corresponding wire assembly  15  having ends to receive said connectors  11 ,  12  based on their polarity.  
         [0021]    As depicted in the FIGS.  1 - 6 , each light source  10  preferably comprises a first connector  11  on one end and a second connector  12  on the other end of the light source  10 . Each connector  11 ,  12  has a tongue component  13 . Each wire assembly  15  has a first end  16  and a second end  17 . Each end  16 ,  17  of the wire assembly  15  has a groove component  14 . Each tongue component  13  on the light source  10  mates or slides into an opposing groove component  14  on the wire assembly  15 .  
         [0022]    Thus, light sources  10  are more easily removed and replaced when damaged and/or inoperative. This reduces the possibility of needing the cumbersome process of replacing an entire light fixture or entire strand of light sources as is often necessary in prior art light fixtures due to, inter alia, soldered connections.  
         [0023]    The polarity-determined geometry, as shown here the tongue  13  and groove  14  configuration, provides an advantage regarding the polarity of each light source  10 . Each light source  10  typically requires that the wire assembly  15  be connected properly vis-a-vis the polarity of the connection. For example, the positive and negative terminals of each light source  10  should be connected via wire assembly  15  to the proper positive and negative terminals of light sources  10  adjoining in a strand of light sources  10  such as in FIG. 2. If the polarity of a light source  10  is not properly matched in a strand of light sources, a light source  10  and/or the entire strand can often be rendered, at least temporarily, inoperative.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 shows a close up view of a preferred light source, an LED  10 , and the first connector  11  and second connector  12  at opposing ends. A light source  10  preferably has ends with opposing polarity, i.e. positive and negative polarity. Looking to FIG. 4, the tongue component  13  of each connector  11 ,  12  is placed in a predetermined position (the top and bottom of the connectors  12 ,  11  shown) such that the groove component  14  of the wire assembly  15  must be directed to a similarly situated tongue component  13 . Thus, the groove components  14  on each end of the wire assembly  15  are also placed in pre-determined positions (again, top and bottom position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.) Thus, the polarity of the strand of lights sources can be properly maintained by matching similarly situated tongue components  13  to groove components  14 . If a wire assembly  15  or light source  10  is twisted or turned so that the proper polarity would not be maintained in the strand then the tongue  13  and groove  14  components will not match and a connection of faulty polarity is unlikely to be made.  
         [0025]    This improvement assists with both the manufacture of strands and replacement of light sources  10 . This improvement avoids the common problem in which the wires were soldered to the light sources with the wrong polarity during manufacture of the strands. This often caused the fixtures to be nonfunctional.  
         [0026]    For replacement purposes, in a situation where the improved light fixture  100  contains a malfunctioning light source  10 , this invention is useful for easier and safer replacement of light sources. The lens component  20  can be disconnected from the base component  30 . The malfunctioning light source  10  is unmated from the adjacent wire assemblies  15  and a new functioning light source  10  can be placed in the strand. The tongue  13  and groove  14  components will only fit together if the polarity is correct, thus the chance of faulty replacement due to improper polarity is reduced. As such, the new light source  10  can be replaced more easily, quickly and properly without the need for soldering or replacement of entire strands of lights.  
         [0027]    In each of the above embodiments, the different positions and structures of the present invention are described separately in each of the embodiments. However, it is the full intention of the inventor of the present invention that the separate aspects of each embodiment described herein may be combined with the other embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.