Abstract:
A lighting system having a tubular, translucent housing including a light source disposed within the a recess of the housing. The light source includes one or more light-emitting elements on one or both sides. The lighting system is sized to fit within a receiving member, which may be a portion of a landscape structure or may be a stand-alone unit. Adjustment of the orientation of the housing relative to the receiving member changes the direction of light emitted by the light-emitting elements.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/027,483 filed Jul. 22, 2014 and entitled UNIVERSAL TUBE LIGHT SYSTEM, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Landscape edging (also referred to as “lawn edging” or “garden edging”) exists to define borders between landscape areas, such as a lawn and a mulched garden bed. Landscape edging can be metal, plastic, wood, brick or a number of other materials, so long as it gives the look of a clean edge. Many people prefer the finished look that a clean edge lends to a landscape design. Landscape edging also provides functional benefits such as: 1) containing lawn grasses, which spread via stolons, so that grass does not start growing in planting beds; and 2) containing mulch in a planting bed, preventing it from spilling out. Landscape edging generally comes in long rectangular sections with a “lip” formed by a partially hollow top to strengthen the portion of the edging above ground and define a border. The bottom side is buried at the border of two areas so that the landscape edging frames and separates the two areas. Illumination of lawn and shrubbery adds safety lighting at night and is aesthetically pleasing. 
     SUMMARY 
     Currently, conventional landscape lighting systems are obtrusive and do not have the ability to direct light in a specific direction near a target area in a subtle way. Stake lights, in particular, are very noticeable, suffer from maximum exposure to the elements, and are not suitable to direct light into a specific direction. 
     Described herein is a tube light system that illuminates adjacent walkways for safety and visibility, and addresses problems and shortcomings of prior light systems. The embodiments described herein may be incorporated into landscape edging during the manufacturing process or may be retro-fitted into existing landscape edging to direct light in a subtle way close to the ground. Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure allow the tube light system to be secured in such a way as not to depend on the tolerances of the landscape edging to hold it together. 
     In one example, the tube light system includes an elongated, tubular housing extending between a first end and a second end, the housing having a closed recess connecting the first and second ends and sized to fit within a receiving member, and a light source fixed in the recess of the housing, the light source having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the light source including one or more light-emitting elements on any of the first and second surfaces. The one or more light-emitting elements are completely enclosed within the housing, and adjusting the orientation of the housing relative to the receiving member changes the direction of light emitted by the at least one light-emitting element. 
     In another example, a lighting assembly may include the tube light system described above fitted within a receiving member. 
     In yet another example, a method of manufacturing a lighting assembly may include: 1) constructing two substantially mirror sections of an elongated, tubular housing, the housing having a closed recess connecting first and second ends of the housing and sized to fit within a receiving member, 2) constructing a light source, the light source including at least one light-emitting element, 3) disposing the light source within one of the two substantially mirror sections of the housing, 4) fixedly mating the other of the two substantially mirror sections of the housing to the one of the two substantially mirror sections, so that the light source is fixedly disposed within the closed recess, 5) vertically cutting a receiving member to create an opening, and 6) disposing the housing within the receiving member such that the light source emits light through the opening of the receiving member. 
     The tube light system of this disclosure is durable and maintenance free, and can easily be replaced as an element of a landscape lighting system if it ceases to function properly. The tube light system of the current disclosure has few moving parts and is easy to install. It may also provide a compact and pleasing appearance that blends into the landscape, without being too obvious during the daylight hours. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following more particular description of the embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the embodiments. 
         FIGS. 1 a - b    is a pictorial illustration of one embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in an exploded view; 
         FIG. 2  is another pictorial illustration of one embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in an assembled view; and 
         FIGS. 3-8  are other pictorial illustrations of embodiments of the present disclosure, including the tube light assembly contained in landscape edgings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the description that follows, features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments. 
     The terms “comprise,” “include,” and/or plural forms of each are open ended and include the listed parts and can include additional parts that are not listed. “And/or” is open ended and includes one or more of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 a   , the tube light system  10  of the present disclosure may include a light source  12  disposed in an elongated, tubular housing  14 . The housing  14  of the tube light system  10  may include two substantially mirror half sections  16  and  18  that are preferably injection molded plastic, but can be made from other material, or extruded, and could be formed as identical parts. One or both half sections  16 ,  18  may be translucent or otherwise manufactured using an optically clear plastic. A length of the housing  14  may be about 5.5 inches, although the length can vary. An outer surface of the housing  14  may also incorporate one or more deflectable friction members  38 , such as preload pads or fins, the purpose of which will be described below. 
     The housing  14  may contain a suitable recess  26  between a first and second end of the housing  14  for the light source  12  and other circuit components. The recess  26  may also provide a space for a manufactured seal such as an “o” ring and a male/female latch feature (not shown). A length of the recess can vary, but may be about 1.5 inches. The light source  12  of the tube light system  10  may have one or more light-emitting elements  20 , such as a light-emitting diode (LED), mounted directly on a surface of a printed circuit board  22 , which also carries at one or both of its ends at least one electrical element  24 , such as a wire or a terminal ( FIG. 3 ), which may be either stationary or movable, and may be waterproof. The tube light system  10  will therefore be able to be powered from either end. It is contemplated within this disclosure that the printed circuit board  22  can also accommodate further light-emitting elements  20  with light sources  12  oriented in the same or different directions, a rectifier, or a number of other electronic components. In a further embodiment, the printed circuit board  22  can be configured so that the light is directed on all sides like as a horizontal lamp. For example, the printed circuit boards  22  can be constructed so that the light-emitting elements  20  are mounted on opposite sides of the circuit board  22  ( FIG. 1 b   ), so that the light source is diffused from within the recess  26  of the housing  14  and emits light of near equal intensity in all directions from within the housing  14 . The housing  14  may also have a suitable opening  28  through which protective substances, such as silicone or epoxy, can be injected, thus making the tube light assembly  10  highly resistant to water, dirt, sunlight and damage. 
       FIG. 2  shows the tube light system  10  of  FIG. 1 a    in an assembled state. After placing the printed circuit board  22  (including the light sources  20 ) into one section  16  or  18  of the elongated housing  14 , the other section  16  or  18  of the housing  14  may then be affixed to the other section using epoxy, sealant, cement, or separate seal feature using a mechanical latch incorporated into the housing  14  first to capture and hold the printed circuit board  22  in position, and to provide appropriate protection and resistance to the entrance of water and other foreign elements. As seen in  FIG. 2 , when assembled, each end of the sections  16  and  18  together define openings  46  configured to allow portions of the one or more electrical element  24  to extend outside of the housing  14 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the at least one electrical element  24  may be a terminal. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , one advantage of the elongated housing  14  is that it is designed to fit inside an otherwise unused hollow top  36  (or similar member) of commercially available lawn or landscape edgings  30 . Since not all landscape edgings  30  have identical sizes, the tube light system  10  allows a variation of shapes and sizes of the elongated housing  14 , as well as variation in the size of the assembled light tube assembly  10 . For example, the size and shape of the assembled tube light system  10  may be selected to fit into a hollow top  36  that has a diameter of about 0.68 inches to about 1.10 inches. Appropriate sections of the hollow top  36  may be cut vertically to allow light from the light source  12  to illuminate the surrounding area. 
     The elongated housing  14  may also serve to hold two adjoining landscape edging sections  32  and  34  together, and can provide protection for electrical connections with further light fixtures or a power source (not shown). The tube light system  10  may also serve to hold together two adjoining sections  32 ,  34  having a round or similar profile. The elongated housing  14  could alternatively be incorporated into one or more plates or other fixtures (not shown) that join sections  32 ,  34  of the landscape edging  30 . The elongated housing  14  permits the light source  12  to be redirected by changing its position in relation to the hollow top  36  (or similar member). Since the outside of the housing  14  fits inside the hollow top  36 , the light source  12  can be rotated both up and down inside the hollow top  36 , as further described below. It is therefore possible to precisely direct the light source  12  alongside a walkway on one side of the edging  30 , and later to rotate the light source  12  to illuminate a landscape on the opposite side. In this way, the tube light system  10  maintains a low profile but provides directional light to needed areas. The landscape edging  30  may further include a spacer  40  between edging  32 ,  34  to maintain a continuous barrier. 
     To rotate the elongated housing  14  in relation to the hollow top  36  of the edging  30 , one need only to grasp the exposed section of housing  14  located outside of the edging  30  and, using a hand or a suitable tool, such as a pair of pliers, rotate the housing  14  relative to the hollow top  36  so that the light source  12  is properly directed and illuminating the desired location. Friction force is created by inserting the assembled sections  16 ,  18  of housing  14  that contain friction fins  38  ( FIG. 1 ) into the hollow top  36  of the edging  30 . The friction members  38  deflect upon insertion into the hollow edging top  36  depending on the internal diameter and wall thickness of the hollow top  36 . It is the deflection of the friction members  38  along with the deformation of the inside of the hollow top  36 , or a combination of both, that results with a suitable friction force which maintains the tube light system  10  in its desired position after it is moved. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 a - b   , one or more separate, translucent covers  62  of various colors and light transmittance can be removably installed (for example, by a snap fit) over the hollow top  36  of the edging  30  to partially encapsulate the half sections  16 ,  18 , as well as some portion of each end of the tube light system  10 . This feature advantageously allows for different configurations of both color and light transmittance emanating from the tube light system  10  and also conceals any spaces  64  between the light source  12  and the edging  30  due to natural expansion and contraction of the material. The cover  62  may extend about 0.75 inches or more to each side of the light source  12  to cover the joint  66  between the light source  12  and edging  30 . The covers  62  could be made in white or in a variety of translucent colors, including red and blue. In this example, one or both of the half sections  16 ,  18  could be made from clear polycarbonate and the cover  62  made from transparent polycarbonate. It is contemplated by this disclosure that the cover  62  may be made from optically clear polycarbonate but configured so that different colored lenses could be installed on or removed from the cover  62  without the need to remove the cover  62 . It is also contemplated by this disclosure that the covers  62  may be manufactured with the light source  12  fixedly incorporated therein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the tube light system  10  may also include one or more hollow insulation sleeves  42 , which may be made from foam or another suitable material that is capable of being cut or trimmed. The sleeves  42  may include one or more legs  44 . The hollow core  50  of the sleeve  42  is sized to fit over an end portion of the housing  14 . By trimming at least one of the one or more legs  44  to accommodate the variability in size and shape of the hollow top  36  of the landscape edging  30 , a snug fit may be obtained within the hollow top  36 . 
     In a further embodiment, shown in  FIG. 7 , the tube light system  10  can be installed as a stand alone system which does not require and depend upon the hollow top  36  of the landscape edging  30 . The housing  14  of the tube light system  10  may be encased in an appropriately sized stand-alone tube  52 , which may be made of high or low density polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride, or other similar material. A portion of the tube  52 , carrying electrical elements  42 , would extend below the landscape  54  and be powered by a connection to direct burial landscape wire  56  connecting the tube light system  10  to a power source. 
     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 8 , the stand-alone tube light system  10  of  FIG. 7  can be attached or affixed to the landscape  54 , as well as to timber, brick, cement, or the like, using one or more snap clips  58  that partially encircle and hold the tube light system  10  in position. The snap clips  58  may be made of high or low density polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride, or other similar material, and may be held in place using a stake or screw  60  attached to the bottom side of the snap clip  58  via a dovetail cutout or similar feature. Like the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , this embodiment also eliminates the effects from expansion and contraction between the edging  30  and the tube light system  10 . 
     It is contemplated by this disclosure that the hollow top  36  may be installed as a separate unit to commercially available landscape edging  30 . While the hollow top  36  and the landscape edging  30  are normally extruded as one piece, if designed with specific features, the hollow top  36  and edging  30  could be adjoined in the field. In this example, a copper ribbon could be extruded as part of the hollow top  36  and covered by a membrane which may be polyethylene. The tube light system  10  would incorporate an adapter or other means to pierce through the membrane, resulting in contact to the electrical conductors, providing power for the tube light system  10 . The circuit is then continued through the printed circuit board  22  of the tube light system  10 , feeding the adjacent section(s) of edging  30  or similar by the same method. This process can be repeated and is only limited by the capacity of the power supply, the capacity of the printed circuit board  22 , or the capacity of the concealed conductors inside the hollow top  36 . 
     It is also contemplated within this disclosure that the tube light system  10  may serve as a modular “building block” which can be incorporated with other tube light systems  10 . Each time a tube light system  10  is added, a connection with electrical wires is required. Commercially existing “connectors” that do not require wire ends to be stripped may be used for this purpose. One connector (not shown) may be placed into each side of the hollow end of top  36  of the elongated housing  14 , protected and invisible from the outside, and preferably a sufficient length of electrical wire is incorporated that allows the tube light system  10  to be easily removed and replaced later, if such replacement is ever required. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to various examples, it would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various other examples are possible, without departing from the spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.