Patent Publication Number: US-11644163-B2

Title: Cast in-ground lighting assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     In-ground or below grade lighting systems provide a number of desirable benefits and enhancements to building designs and architectural features. In-ground linear lighting can be used to create unobtrusive, directional or decorative illumination in pedestrian or vehicular traffic areas, which will not obstruct traffic. Placing the lighting features in-ground has an added benefit of making the lighting vandal resistant. In-ground lighting can be used to delineate pathways and access points or to direct illumination on architectural structures and facades. However, in-ground lighting systems are exposed to a number of environmental factors, including water, salt water, corrosive materials and chemicals, requiring special design considerations. Examples of in-ground lighting systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,478,916; 9,638,381; 9,784,440 and 10,082,260. 
     In-ground light fixtures intended to be used in roadways, driveways and entrances, which may be called “drive over” lighting fixtures, further require a durable and structurally sound assembly. In-ground drive over resistant lighting fixtures have a shell or body made from metal, often stainless steel or aluminum, where the shell or body is fixed in the ground to be back-filled and surrounded by concrete or pavers. After setting the concrete or pavers around the body, a secondary waterproof sealed lighting fixture is then installed in the body. The strong supporting metal body together with the lighting fixture is then capable of supporting considerable weight of drive over traffic without being distorted or crushed. Stainless steel is usually the preferred material body as it resists corrosive elements which may be present in many soil conditions, or where salt water or chemicals could cause materials such as aluminum to have a galvanic reaction, resulting in corrosion and weakening of the fixture. 
     The high cost of the metal components and the lighting fixture plus additional costs associated with complicated installation cause the application of existing drive over lighting fixtures to be prohibitively expensive to install for many locations. Existing available inground lighting fixtures are also limited to single cans or in some cases straight line assemblies, as the cost and complexity of manufacturing and installing curved or custom fixtures is more expensive and complex making them impractical. An in-ground lighting structure having a simple yet variable design which could be installed more easily with less associated expense, and which would also resist corrosion, would be beneficial to the industry and could become a preferred option for in-ground lighting systems. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a cast concrete durable light fixture design that will reduce the parts and materials required and facilitate a simpler installation of a drive over in-grade or in-ground lighting fixture. The cast concrete design enables curves and other nonlinear shapes and even crossover configurations to be manufactured as easily as straight or linear configurations. Casting fixtures as precast interlocking sections from concrete, polymer concrete mixtures or other non-corrosive structural materials, which will withstand heavy drive over traffic, solves the environmental problems associated with present metal body in-ground lighting system applications in a cost-effective configuration. 
     The present invention optimizes the advantages of light emitting diode (LED) lights for in-ground lighting architectural products. LED versions can provide colored or color changing effects. The miniature size of LEDs enables the creation of narrow linear images. The long life of the LEDs are particularly suitable for the in-ground applications due to their long useful lifetime as compared to other types of lights, and the LED&#39;s require limited maintenance. Recent developments of long flexible LED strips with miniaturized electronics using standard line voltages, which can be run continuously in lengths as long as 300 feet, enable new fixture designs to be created which are free-form as well as straight linear lines. In addition, because of the LED low energy requirements, they can be used economically due to their energy efficiency. The cast concrete durable light fixture designs of the present invention also allow the installation of the cast concrete shell and body components to be installed on location, and the subsequent installation of the lighting and electrical components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is an end view of the first embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is an end view of the second embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention depicting the channel for LED lighting arrays, drainage hole and interlocking connector feature and lens support ledges; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a side view of the first embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5 B  is a side view of the second embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6 A  is a top view of the first embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6 B  is a top view of the second embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of a third embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention having a curved design; 
         FIG.  8    is a top view of illustrating the steps of forming an angled corner assembly using the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  9    is a top view of a finished corner assembly formed from the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  10 A  is a perspective view of a light diffusing lens for the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  10 B  is a perspective view of a clear lens for the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of an assembly having multiple discrete LEDs for the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of a strip LED light assembly for the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of a light diffusing lens for the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of a mold assembly for casting the concrete body of the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the cast concrete body of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG.  16    is an end view of the alternative embodiment of the cast concrete body of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  17 A-E  are end views of alternative configurations of the cast concrete body of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  18    is an isometric view of a representative embodiment of a fixture junction cast concrete body; and 
         FIG.  19    is an isometric view of a representative embodiment of a crossover junction cast concrete body. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view and  FIG.  2    is an end view of a first embodiment of the cast concrete body  10  of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention. The cast concrete body  10  includes a base  12  and sidewalls  14  extending upward from the outer edges of the base  12 . The cast concrete body  10  may also include endcaps  16 . The cast concrete body  10  may be formed in the shape of a square or rectangle with three-quarters of an inch to twelve inch wide base and three-quarters of an inch to six inch tall sides, and up four or even eight feet in length. The base  12  may include one or more drain holes  18  that can also be used to allow wiring access to the interior of the cast concrete body  10 . The top edges  20  of the sidewalls  14  as well as the endcaps  16  preferably include a shoulder  22  formed to support the edges of a lens  24 , as illustrated in the end view of  FIGS.  1  and  2   . The base  12  and sidewalls  14  form an open channel  26  for placement of electrical elements including lights, preferably light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixtures, however other types of lighting devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCD) and laser lights may also be incorporated into the channel  26 . The cast concrete body  10  is constructed of sufficiently durable materials so as to allow the cast concrete body  10  to be installed in-ground or even in-pavement, with only the upper surface of the lens  24  and top edges  20  of the sidewalls  14  being exposed. The base  12 , sidewalls  14  and endcaps  16  of the lighting fixture cast concrete body  10  are formed from concrete, polymer concrete mixtures or other non-corrosive castable or moldable structural materials including high strength plastics and high strength polymers. For in-ground, drive-over installations, the cast concrete body  10  must be capable of supporting a small vehicle, and thus at least 150 kPa (kilo Pascals) and preferably it should be capable of supporting up to 700 kPa to withstand the weight of trucks. 
       FIG.  3    is a perspective view and  FIG.  4    is an end view of a second embodiment of the cast concrete body  30  of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention. The cast concrete body  30  includes a base  32  and sidewalls  34  extending upward from the outer edges of the base  32 . The base  32  may include one or more drain holes  38 . As depicted in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the cast concrete body  30  forms an open-ended channel  36  for receiving the LED lighting arrays. The top surfaces  40  of the sidewalls  34  each include shoulders  42  to support a lens  24 . The respective ends  44  and  46  of the cast concrete body  30  preferably include interlocking male  54  and female  56  connector features. The connector features are depicted as having square shapes, although it should be understood that the connector features could have other cross-sectional shapes including round, oval, triangles and rectangular shapes. The connector features allow the easy assembly of two or more of the cast concrete bodies  30  end to end allowing assemblies up to several hundred feet in length. The ends of the cast concrete body  30  may be sealed with endcaps  60  having similar male and female connecting features as necessary to secure the open ends of the channel  36  as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . The endcaps  60  may also include a shoulder (not shown) to support the end of the elongated lens. In addition, the endcaps may include a hole or punch-out, or they may be drilled, to accommodate wiring for the light devices. 
       FIG.  5 A  is a side view of the first embodiment of the cast concrete body  10  and  FIG.  5 B  is a side view of the second embodiment of the cast concrete body  30  of the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention.  FIG.  6 A  is a top view of the first embodiment and  FIG.  6 B  is a top view of the second embodiment of the in-ground lighting assemblies of the present invention. 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  5 A and  6 A , the respective ends of the cast concrete body  10  are sealed by the endcaps  16 . By comparison, as depicted in  FIGS.  5 B and  6 B , the respective ends of the cast concrete body  30  are open, and the male  54  connecting features extend from the end  44  of the base  32  of the cast concrete body  30 . The female  56  connecting features are illustrated by the dashed lines at the end  46  of the base  32  of the cast concrete body  30 . It should be appreciated that the cast concrete body  10  of  FIGS.  5 A and  6 A  may alternatively be configured to have one end thereof incorporate the open-channel end design of  FIGS.  3 ,  4  and  5 B , to terminate the ends of an assembly including one or more of the cast concrete bodies  30 . 
       FIG.  7    is a top view of a third embodiment of the cast concrete body  70  of an in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention having a curved design. The cast concrete body  70  has a base (hidden in  FIG.  7   ) and sidewalls  74  defining a channel  76  similar to the construction of the above described embodiments. However, the cast concrete body  70  is formed to a curved or arcuate shape as opposed to the linear designs of  FIGS.  1  and  3   .  FIG.  7    thus illustrates the flexibility of the present invention in allowing a non-linear cast concrete body  70  to be formed and joined end-to-end to allow free form designs. The multiple cast concrete bodies  70  depicted in  FIG.  7    include respective ends  80  and  82  preferably include interlocking male  84  and female  86  connector features, similar to those described above with respect to  FIGS.  3  and  4   .  FIG.  7    depicts two cast concrete bodies  70  spaced apart in preparation for assembly in the top half of the figure, and two cast concrete bodies  70  joined together in the bottom half of the figure. The end faces of the cast concrete bodies  70  are preferably glued together with a flexible waterproof adhesive and sealant such as MVIS™ Veneer Mortar made by Laticrete International Inc., which allows linear expansion and contraction during climatic changes. 
       FIGS.  8  and  9    are top views illustrating the steps of forming an angled corner assembly  90  using the cast concrete body  30  described above. The angled corner assembly  90  is formed by cutting one of the cast concrete bodies  30  into three segments, with the two end segments  92  and  94  having opposingly matched angles as depicted in  FIG.  8   . The two end segments  92  and  94  are then glued together to form the corner. The angle of the corner can be formed from 180 degrees down to about 20 degrees. The angled corner assembly  90  may require a specially formed or cut lens segment. Alternatively, the angled corner assembly  90  may be sealed with a precast cap formed from the same material used for the cast concrete body  30 . The finished angled corner assembly  90  is depicted in  FIG.  9   . 
       FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  illustrate two basic alternative lens designs for the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention.  FIG.  10 A  illustrates a light diffusing lens  24 A that will provide a soft, glowing light.  FIG.  10 B  illustrates a clear lens  24 B that provides a more transmissive lens so that the light may be focused on an architectural feature. Each of the lenses  24 A and  24 B have a generally trapezoidal shape with a width sufficient to fit within the cast concrete body described above, and a length sufficient to extend the length of the cast concrete body. The lenses  24 A and  24 B may be formed from glass or high strength acrylic, plastic or natural stone material. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various other types of lenses sizes and shapes may be used with the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention, for example a beam splitting lens to define light bars or a lens having concave or convex upper or lower surfaces to define a diffusing of focusing lens to diffuse or focus the light beam to highlight a specific feature or provide a desired lighting effect. Further, the lens could be formed with refracting structures molded or extruded on the underside of the lens, or the lens may be formed to include microstructures within the lenses to provide specific lighting effects. 
       FIG.  11    is a perspective view of the channel  26  of the in-ground lighting assembly  10  illustrating a sequence of individual light emitting elements  110  or light emitting diodes (“LED”) each having a lens  112  that may be shaped to focus or diffuse the light beam, mounted under a clear cover lens  24 .  FIG.  12    is a perspective view the channel  26  of the in-ground lighting assembly  10  illustrating a LED light strip  114  within the channel  26 . The light strip illustrated in  FIG.  12    is available in lengths up two several hundred feet long, and when assembled in the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention they provide a continuous light over substantial lengths and geometries 
       FIG.  13    is a perspective, exploded view of the mold assembly  130  for forming the cast concrete body of the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention.  FIG.  14    is a perspective view of the assembled mold assembly  130  of  FIG.  13   . The mold assembly  130  includes a mold base  132 , a flexible mold  134  and a precast  136 . The mold base may be made from wood, plastic or mortar. The flexible mold  134  is preferably formed from a silicon or similar elastomeric material that holds its shape when supported within the mold base  132  and partially filled with concrete. The precast  136  is shaped to fit into the flexible mold  134 , and displace the concrete to define all of the top features of the channel body of the cast concrete body  10 . The concrete is allowed to cure for 24 to 48 hours within the mold assembly  130 . After the concrete cures, the precast  136  is removed and then the remaining mold assembly with the hardened concrete is flipped over, allowing the mold base  132  to be removed. Finally, the flexible mold  134  is removed from the cast concrete body  10 . The flexible mold  132  may be left on the cast concrete body  10  to protect it during transportation to an installation location, however the flexible mold  134  is reusable. As an alternative to forming all of the structural features of the cast concrete body  10  in the molding process, some of the features for example the drain holes or portions of the channel may be drilled or cut into the cast concrete body  10  as a subsequent fabrication step. 
       FIG.  15    is another configuration of an embodiment of the cast concrete body  210 , which includes a base  212  and sidewalls  214  extending upward from the outer edges of the base  212 .  FIG.  16    is an end view of the cast concrete body of  FIG.  15   . The cast concrete body  210  does not include endcaps as in the configuration of  FIG.  1   . The ends of the base  212  include a slot  216  formed into each lateral end face of the base  212  in the same location. The slot  216  is preferably a ½ inch to 1 inch deep horizontal channel. However, the slot may also be an axial channel extending into the base  212 . The slot  216  is configured to receive a connector tube  218 , preferably formed from stainless steel, aluminum, ceramic or durable composite or plastic material. The connector tube  218  may be hollow and includes a square or rectangular cross section. The connector tube  218  may also include a centrally located weep hole on its upper and lower surfaces as well as openings at its ends to allow water to drain from the concrete body  210 . The configuration of the cast concrete body  210  having slots  216  at each lateral end allows the concrete bodies  210  to be formed in a single mold. While the configuration of the concrete body  210  of  FIG.  15    depicts a linear structure, the configuration may be cast as a curved or arcuate shape. In addition, the concrete body may be cut axially to any given length, and then the slot  216  may be cut with a concrete saw blade. 
       FIGS.  17 A,  17 B,  17 C,  17 D, and  17 E  depict alternative end view cross sectional shapes for the cast concrete body  210 . As depicted in  FIGS.  17 A- 17 E , the cast concrete body  210  may be formed in the shape of a square or rectangle with three-quarters of an inch to twelve-inch-wide base and three-quarters of an inch to six-inch-tall sides. The lateral end faces of the cast concrete body  210  include the axial channels for receiving a connector tube. The concrete cast body  210  may be formed in lengths from one foot to four or even eight feet in length. As noted above the concrete cast body may be cut axially to a desired length, or to provide an angled connection. 
     In the configurations of  FIGS.  15 - 17   , the base  212  may include one or more drain holes  238  that align with the weep holes of the connector tube  218 . The top edges  220  of the sidewalls  214  include a first shoulder  222  formed to support the edges of a lens  224 . The upper side of the sidewalls  214  may also include a second shoulder  226 , positioned below the first shoulder  222 . The second shoulder  226  is formed to support a secondary inner lens  228 . The secondary inner lens  228  seals each section of cast concrete body  210  during installation and creates a restricting cavity which guides a flexible LED array  232  ( FIG.  16   ) along an illumination cavity  230  defined by the inside surfaces of the sidewalls  214 , enabling the LED array  232  to be installed, replaced, or maintained from one end of an interconnected series of cast concrete bodies  210  without the need to remove the lenses  224  or secondary inner lenses  228 . The lens  224  and secondary lens  228  are preferably each sealed and bonded to the sidewalls  214  during assembly. The lens  224  and secondary lens  228  may be secured to the sidewalls with a waterproof adhesive glue or grout. The end of a cast concrete body  210  that terminates the lighting assembly is preferably sealed with a removable endcap. 
     The sidewalls  214  may also include inwardly sloping interior surfaces  240  that taper to a central channel  242 . The central channel  242  may provide support for a series of rolling elements such as wheels, rollers or bearings  244  spaced within the central channel  242  to allow the flexible LED array to be installed atop the wheels, rollers or bearings  244 . Alternatively, the flexible LED array may be configured to have wheels, rollers or bearings to cooperatively run across the base  212  or the central channel  242  defined by the sidewalls  214 , during installation of the LED array from one end of an interconnected series of cast concrete bodies  210 . As another alternative, the inwardly sloping interior surfaces  240  or the central channel  242  may be coated with a light layer of lubricant, preferably a dry Teflon lubricant, to allow the flexible LED array to easily slide into place without wheels, rollers or bearings. 
     The inwardly sloping interior surfaces  240  of the sidewalls  214  may be coated or painted with a reflective coating to focus the light towards the lenses. In addition, while the electrical light elements are preferably light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixtures, other types of long length lighting devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCD) and laser lights may also be incorporated into the central channel  242 . The cast concrete body  210  is constructed of sufficiently durable materials so as to allow the cast concrete body  210  to be installed in-ground or even in-pavement, with only the upper surface of the lens  224  and top edges  220  of the sidewalls  214  being exposed. The base  212 , sidewalls  214  and endcaps of the lighting fixture cast concrete body  10  are formed from concrete, polymer concrete mixtures or other non-corrosive castable or moldable structural materials including high strength plastics and high strength polymers. The base  212  and the sidewalls  214  may also include reinforcing metal rods or fiber materials. The configuration of the cast concrete body  10  adapted to allow wheels, rollers or bearings  224  to guide a long length of a flexible LED array  224 , or similar lighting device, into one end of series of interconnected cast concrete bodies  210  after the completion of the installation of the cast concrete bodies  210  allows the labor intensive aspects of the installation to be completed during the construction process. The lighting elements can be fabricated offsite, delivered and installed at the end of the construction process. In addition, the lighting array may be removed and repaired or replaced by accessing only one end of the installation. Thus, for example, a ninety five foot long channel formed by end to end installed cast concrete bodies  210  may be installed in ground, the surrounding pavement, walkways and landscaping can be installed, and then the lighting elements may be installed through one end of the channel and connected to a power supply. If maintenance is required, the endcap is removed, the lighting array is pulled out and repaired or replaced, and the end cap is reinstalled. 
     In some installations, it may be advantageous to allow the light structure to branch into two directions or cross over at a junction.  FIG.  18    is an isometric view of a representative embodiment of a fixture junction cast concrete body  310 .  FIG.  19    is an isometric view of a representative embodiment of a crossover junction cast concrete body  410 . 
     The fixture junction cast concrete body  310  of  FIG.  18    includes a base  312 , sidewalls  314  and channels  316  on the lateral end faces. The top edges  320  of the sidewalls  314  include a first shoulder  322  formed to support the edges of a lens (not shown). The upper side of the sidewalls  314  may also include a second shoulder  326 , positioned below the first shoulder  322 . The second shoulder  326  is formed to support a secondary inner lens (not shown). The secondary inner lens seals each section of cast concrete body  310  during installation and creates a restricting cavity which guides a flexible LED array  232  ( FIG.  16   ) along a first illumination cavity  342  or branched into a second illumination cavity  344 , each defined by the inside surfaces of the sidewalls  314 . The second illumination cavity  344  may diverge from the first illumination cavity  342  at any desired angle from about zero degrees to about ninety degrees. The base  312  may include drain holes  338 . 
     The fixture junction cast concrete body  310  allows a pair of LED arrays to be installed, replaced, or maintained from one end of an interconnected series of cast concrete bodies of  FIGS.  1 - 17   . The lens and secondary inner lens may be finally installed after the LED array is in place, allowing the installer to easily divert one LED array into the second illumination cavity  344 . The lens and secondary lens are preferably each sealed and bonded to the sidewalls  314  during assembly, or after installation of the LED array, as described above. The sidewalls  314  may also include inwardly sloping interior surfaces  340  that taper to define the first illumination cavity  342  and second illumination cavity  344 , each of which may include a series of wheels, rollers or bearings to allow the flexible LED array to be installed atop the wheels, rollers or bearings. 
     The crossover junction cast concrete body  410  of  FIG.  19    includes a base  412 , sidewalls  414  and channels  416  on the lateral end faces. The top edges  420  of the sidewalls  414  include a first shoulder  422  formed to support the edges of a lens (not shown). The upper side of the sidewalls  414  may also include a second shoulder  426 , positioned below the first shoulder  422 . The second shoulder  426  is formed to support a secondary inner lens (not shown). The secondary inner lens seals each section of cast concrete body  410  during installation and creates a restricting cavity which guides a flexible LED array  432  ( FIG.  16   ) along a first illumination cavity  442 . A second LED array may be installed into a second illumination cavity  446 , also defined by the inside surfaces of the sidewalls  414 , but having a depth allowing the second LED array to pass over (or under) the first LED array. The second illumination cavity  446  may intersect the first illumination cavity  442  at any desired angle. The base  412  may include drain holes  438 . 
     The crossover junction cast concrete body  410  allows a pair of LED arrays to be installed, replaced, or maintained from the respective ends of an intersecting pair of interconnected cast concrete bodies of  FIGS.  1 - 17   . The lens and secondary inner lens may be finally installed after the LED arrays are in place, allowing the installer to easily divert one LED array over or under the second LED array at the crossover junction. The lens and secondary lens are preferably each sealed and bonded to the sidewalls  414  during assembly, or after installation of the LED arrays, as described above. The sidewalls  414  may also include inwardly sloping interior surfaces  440  that taper to define the first illumination cavity  442  and second illumination cavity  446 , each of which may include a series of wheels, rollers or bearings to allow the flexible LED array to be installed atop the wheels, rollers or bearings. 
     The cast concrete bodies  10 ,  30 ,  70 ,  210 ,  310  and  410  are preferably formed from concrete, polymer concrete mixtures or other non-corrosive castable or moldable structural materials including for example plastics and high strength thermoplastic or resin materials capable of bearing substantial loads. The pre-cast lighting fixture is a self-supporting structure capable of being placed in the ground without additional structural materials or the need to pour concrete in place. Pre-cast lighting fixture sections of various lengths can be interconnected to form infinitely continuous lines of light in roadways, entrances or pathways, without the need for complicated forms or shuttering to be built to set the lights in place. The pre-cast lighting fixture may alternatively be used to house other electronic components for intelligent roadways and pathways, for example housing cellular, wi-fi or other wireless communication technologies enabling vehicular communication and automation. 
     The pre-cast light fixture defines a channel running the full length of the body, with white or light colored reflective sides, which may be angled or shaped to reflect light in a specific pattern. The pre-cast light fixture is designed to contain sealed waterproof LED array or interconnecting arrays or continuous sealed LED strips which may be secured in place by adhesive materials or channels made from plastic or non-corrosive metal or other materials, or a secondary channel cast in to the base of the main channel. Each side of the channel preferably has the shoulders or ledges formed to support a flush fitting lens or pair of lenses. The lens may be made of plastic or glass or formed from light transmissive materials including natural stone. 
     Preferably, the lens should be capable of supporting the weight of automobile and truck traffic for in-pavement locations, thus at least capable of supporting 150 kPa to 700 kPa. However, for architectural lighting uses the lens may not need to be capable of supporting vehicular traffic. The lens may be trapezoidal with its narrowest width at the upper position to leave an even space which will allow a sealant or grout material to be applied to secure and seal the lens in position. The main channel within the cast concrete body may have open ends to allow continuous LED lighting arrays or strips to run from section to section of the pre-cast units to create continuous lines of light, or they may have closed ends to seal the fixture as an individual unit. Interlocking connectors and recesses at opposite ends of the fixtures enable fixtures to align and lock together to form continuous linked lines or shapes. 
     Abutting ends of interconnecting pre-cast sections are preferably glued with a flexible waterproof adhesive/sealant which allows linear expansion and contraction during climatic changes. The linear lighting arrays are secured within the channel, which is enclosed by structural weight bearing plastic or glass lenses, each being longer than a single pre-cast section so that it bridges the joint of each section. The lenses will be supported by load bearing shoulders or ledges which are formed in the pre-cast structure, and are designed to be sealed in place with a waterproof adhesive glue or grout. 
     Assembly and installation of the cast concrete body sections is achieved by setting the first section on a level bed of sand or other level surface; applying a thin film of adhesive sealant to the end face of the cast concrete body section containing the female interconnector recesses and then placing a second cast concrete body section having the male interconnectors in to place to form a continuous channel. Multiple sections are interconnected until the complete linear or curvilinear light is in place. Open ends are sealed with endcaps, or where circles or similar forms are created the last section is set in place as a keystone after removing the interlocking male interconnectors. Waterproof LED or other illuminating lamps are installed in the channel by appropriate support structures such as formed supports or recesses in the channel, or other secondary supports of non-corrosive materials. Liquid tight connectors enable power to be supplied to the lights through round holes cast or drilled into the cast concrete body sections or at the ends of connected runs, and cable routing components enable continuous power connector cords or wire to be run throughout the lighting channel to allow power connections. 
     Alternatively, the lenses of the assembly may be formed as a structural architectural glass having embedded LEDs within the glass. The embedded LEDs are provided with electrical power circuitry within the glass which allows for the design of an illuminating lens capable of color change and being digitally addressed and controlled to display or project messages or images. These types of glass assemblies are currently available and readily adapted to be included as the lens or under a clear lens in the in-ground lighting assembly of the present invention. 
     Various alternative styles are envisaged where the design details allow for different conditions and finished appearance. The invention has been described in detail above in connection with the figures, however it should be understood that the system may include other components and enable other functions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing disclosure is meant to be exemplary and specification and the figures are provided to explain the present invention, without intending to limit the potential modes of carrying out the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereto.