Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to lighting systems for outdoor deck areas, for lighting purposes as well as decorative purposes, and more particularly to several embodiments of a baluster light.
Outdoor deck areas are very popular as they add to the beauty of the home as well as provide a functional place to enjoy the outdoors. However, many decks do not have a sufficient lighting such that they can be enjoyed during the night time as well as the day time. Furthermore, the decks that currently employ lighting systems must run the wiring on the surface of the posts, railings, and deck surface, providing a look that is not aesthetically pleasing. Occasionally the wires are hidden by a conduit, but these materials are still not aesthetically pleasing.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a lighting system for an outdoor deck area that provides sufficient lighting while at the same time adding to the aesthetic value of the area. Therefore, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may substantially hide the wires from view and incorporate the light housings into the deck materials.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a lighting system that may be built specifically for the deck including the deck surface, railings, and posts to provide a total deck experience. Also, the deck may not need to be torn up and rearranged to put in the lighting system. The deck may be manufactured to allow the easy installation of the lighting system.
The lighting system does not have to be tailor-made for every home, but can be manufactured at a high production rate and can be installed at existing homes or businesses. Also, the embodiments do not need to be installed by a specialized carpenter, but instead can be installed by the homeowner. In this way, cost is minimized.
Embodiments of the present invention may protect the lighting assembly from environmental damage, including but not limited to water damage and insect damage.
Embodiments of the present invention include baluster lights which are mounted between the railing balusters and also mounted to the sides of posts.
In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other benefits will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.
a is an exploded view of a back plate.
b is a perspective view of a back plate completely assembled.
a is an exploded view of a light cover.
b is a perspective view of a light cover completely assembled.
a is an exploded view of a back plate, light cover, and a front mounting block.
b is an exploded view of a back plate, a front mounting block, a rear mounting block, and their attachment between railing balusters.
a is an illustration of a post without a post cover.
b is an illustration of a post cover with an embodiment of an attachment jig.
c is an exploded view of a post with a post cover, a back plate, and a cover.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to the figures described herein.
a is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a back plate assembly 100. The lamp assembly 103 attaches to the back plate or back plate housing 101. In this embodiment, back plate 101 may comprise one or more voids to facilitate passage through the back plate 101 or various connections as shown in the figures (e.g., voids 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d, 101e, and 101f). Also in this embodiment, insulation 102 (e.g., which may be comprised of silicone) fits into the back plate 101 to surround or encircle the lamp assembly 103 and protect the lamp assembly 103 from environmental damage including, but not limited to, water or insect damage. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a grommet 104 attaches to the back plate 101 to allow wiring to pass through the void 101b in the back plate 101 and connect to lamp assembly 103 but still maintain a seal around the lamp assembly 103 and protect the lamp assembly 103 from environmental damage including but not limited to water or insect damage (e.g., by the grommet 104 encircling the wiring). In an exemplary embodiment, the grommet 104 may be comprised of rubber.
b is a perspective view of a back plate assembly 100 completely assembled.
a is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a light or front cover assembly 200. The cover housing or front cover 201 comprises a horizontal void 202 and a vertical void 203. The lens 204 fits within the horizontal void 202 and vertical void 203. In this exemplary embodiment, the horizontal void 202 in front surface 205 of front cover 201 is small in comparison to the relatively larger vertical void 203 in bottom surface 206 of front cover 201. In an exemplary embodiment, the lens 204 may be transparent, etched, frosted, tinted, or textured, and the front cover 201 may be opaque. Also, in an exemplary embodiment, attachment of front cover 201 to back plate 101 is adapted to create a seal between the front cover assembly 200 and the back plate assembly 100 as the front cover 201 covers the lamp assembly 103. As aforementioned, insulation 102 and/or grommet 104 may assist with the creation of the seal. For example, insulation 102 may be between the front cover 201 and the back plate 101 when installed in order to create a seal.
b is a perspective view of a light or front cover assembly 200 completely assembled.
a, 3b, and 4c show examples of how a lighting system may be attached to various embodiments of deck supports. In these embodiments, a back plate assembly comprising a back plate 301 is adapted to be attached to the deck supports.
a is an exploded view of exemplary embodiments of a back plate 301, light or front cover assembly 200, and a front mounting block 300. Wiring 304 passes through the front mounting block 300 and the back plate 301 to reach the lamp assembly 103. The back plate 301 attaches to the front mounting block 300. The light or front cover assembly 200 attaches to the back plate 301.
b is an exploded view of a back plate 301, a front mounting block 300, a rear mounting block 302, and their attachment between railing balusters 303, which are attached to railing 305 and may be vertical. In this exemplary embodiment, the deck rail assembly may also comprise a rail cover 306. Wiring 304 passes through the railing 305, which may be horizontal, and further between the front mounting block 300 and the rear mounting block 302. The wiring 304 then passes through the front mounting block 300 and through a void in the back plate 301 and attaches to the lamp assembly 103. As the front mounting block 300 attaches to the rear mounting block 302, the railing balusters 303 become positioned (e.g., trapped or compressed) in between the two mounting blocks and thus secure the assembly in place. Once the wiring 304 has been installed, the front mounting block 300 and rear mounting block 302 may abut against the bottom surface of the railing 305.
a, 4b, and 4c show embodiments of the baluster light when mounted on a post 400 (e.g., a vertical post) with a post cover 403. In this embodiment, the post cover 403 encloses the post 400. The deck, post 400, and post cover 403 may be made from well known materials such as, but not limited to, wood, plastic, wood composites, and/or metal. In one embodiment, the wiring 304 passes between the post 400 and the post cover 403. In another embodiment, the wiring 304 passes between the post 400 and the post cover 403 but within notch 402. The wiring 304 may also pass between the post 400 and the post cover 403 but within notch 401. A jig 404 may be used to create the holes 405, 406, and 407. Hole 405 may be used to allow the wiring 304 to pass through the post cover 403 and then through a void in back plate 301 to connect to the lamp assembly 103. Holes 406 and 407 can be used to facilitate the mounting of the back plate 301 to a side (e.g., vertical side) of the post cover 403 and the post 400. The light or front cover assembly 200 then attaches to the back plate 301.
Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the optional or preferred features of the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.
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