The present invention relates to a lighting display system. In particular, the invention relates to a channel for mounting on a suitable display surface, a light secured within the channel, and an electrical means for powering the light.
Lighting displays of the type used for seasonal holiday displays are well know in the art. These typically consist of a series of strings of lights strung together and connected to an electrical outlet. The lights normally are loosely affixed to the surface an article, such as a commercial or residential structure, boat, patio, and the like, with hooks, fasteners, or staples. The light are normally removed after the holiday and stored until the next holiday season.
This creates a number of problems. The installation, removal, and storage of the lights is bothersome, time consuming, and in some cases dangerous. Installation often requires the use of a ladder, and due to seasonal considerations may take place in inclement weather. Furthermore, the means of attachment often creates a display that is not pleasing. For example, the strings of lights may not be straight, and the repeated attachment and re-attachment creates wear and tear on the underlying surface.
The lights are removed due to the fact that the appearance is obtrusive and not pleasing, especially during the daytime when the lights are not illuminated. The long strings of lights make the structure look unpleasant. Additionally, conventional string lights do not weather well and are typically not suited to year round use.
Rope lighting offers an alternative that reduces some of these disadvantages. Rope lights are somewhat more durable, and can incorporate higher quality lights such as light emitting diodes. However, rope lights still need to be attached, and particularly in a manner that does not damage the lights, and then removed. Like string lights, rope lights still create an unpleasant appearance when they are not illuminated.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved lighting system.
And object of the present invention is to provide an improved lighting display system.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specification, drawings, and claims.
The present invention intends to overcome the difficulties encountered heretofore. To that end, a lighting display system is provided comprising in its basic form a channel for mounting on a suitable display surface, a light secured within the channel, and an electrical means for powering the light. Preferably, the channel conforms to the shape of the light, which is a rope light, in order to releaseably retain the light. The channel can be interconnected with other channels, with caps including pivot caps, to form a lighting display suitable for mounting to an underlying surface of some types, such as a commercial or residential structure.
In the Figures, a channel light system 10 is shown. The channel light system 10 is a modular lighting system for use as a decorative lighting system. Preferably, the system 10 utilizes LED lighting, and is permanently or semi-permanently affixed to a commercial or residential structure such as a house; or to a boat, patio, cabinets, or other similar surfaces/articles. The system 10 is particular suited for holiday display lighting, such as Christmas, New Years, Fourth of July, birthdays, and the like.
The system 10 is comprised of a channel 12, a rope light 14, a channel cap 16, and a pivot cap 18.
The channel 12 also includes raised ribs 38, 40 that extend longitudinally along the length of the channel 12. The ribs 38, 40 support the bottom of the rope light, and provide space to insert a mounting screw (not shown) that inserts into mounting holes 42 that are located periodically along the longitudinal axis of the channel 12. The gap prevents the head of the mounting screw from disturbing the rope light 14. The channel 12 can be easily mounted by securing the mounting screw through holes 42 and into an underlying surface.
The channel 12 comes in a variety of colors to match the color of the surface to which it will be mounted. For example, in the embodiment of a residential lighting display the channel 12 color can match the color of the roof, fascia, or siding of the home to create a seamless appearance particularly suited to year round display. The channel 12 can be constructed of any suitably rigid material, such as aluminum, plastic, and the like.
The top cap 44 includes cutouts 56, 58, which align with cutouts 60, 62 located in the bottom cap 46. Together, the cutouts 56, 58, 60, 62 provide access for wires as needed to make electrical connections to the rope light 14. The bottom cap 46 includes holes 68 to insert mounting screws (not shown) to secure the bottom cap 46 to any convenient underlying surface. The bottom cap 46 utilizes upwardly extending stakes 70, 72 that fit within slots 74, 76 located in the top cap 44. Outwardly extending ledges on the stakes 70, 72 secure with the slots 74, 76 to form a removeably secure snap fit between the top and bottom caps 44, 46. The top cap 44 also includes an indentation 64, which aligns with a further cutout 66 in the bottom cap 46, and allows for the insertion of a tool such as a screwdriver to remove the top cap 44 from the bottom cap 46.
Base cap 82 includes a base portion 96 from which a collar 98 extends upward. The base cap 82 includes feet 100, 102 and stops 104, 106, which function in an identical manner as the feet and stops of the end cap 16 described herein above. The base cap 82 also includes a hole 108 through which a mounting screw (not shown) can be inserted to mount the base cap 82 to a suitable underlying surface.
The ring cap 84 includes a ring 110, which fits around the collar 98 of the base cap 82. The overlay of the ring 110 and collar 98 defines the pivot point between the base cap 82 and the ring cap 84, as well as the pivot point of the pivot cap 18. The ring cap 84 also includes feet 112, 114 and stops 116, 118, which function in an identical manner as the feet and stops of the end and base caps 16, 82 described herein above.
The male and female caps 78, 80 matingly align as described hereinabove and as shown in
The end cap 14 and pivot cap 16 can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the like. Preferably, a flame retardant material would be used.
The rope light 14 is comprised of a flexible material generally in a tubular form. The material is generally some form of flexible plastic or resin such as PVC. Small lights are embedded in the material along with narrow electrical connectors. Preferably, the rope light 14 is comprised of light emitting diodes (LED) lights. The material itself can be clear or colored, and in the case of LED lights the lights can easily be different colors. The wires embedded in the rope light 14 can be easily connected to electrical wires via conventional connection means. The number of lights can vary not only by the number of lights on a string, but also the number of strings within the rope 14. Thus, rope lights 14 can be easily interconnected electrically. The rope light 14 include three strings of lights (see
The system 10 can be configured to adapt to any number of installation sites by cutting the channels 12 and the rope lights 14 to length. Then the channels 12 can be attached to the underlying surface, with the rope lights inserted. The electrical connections can be made, then the caps 16, 18 attached thereby creating a permanent or semi permanent display.
In one embodiment, the system 10 is adapted for use as display lighting for a commercial or residential structure.
The system 10 substantially eliminates the problems of the prior art. The system 10 allows for the use of high efficiency lighting, provides for a high quality lighting display, and is permanent or semi-permanent in nature. The appearance is unobtrusive and substantial enough to allow for year round use. This eliminates the need to remove seasonal lights, and creates a professional appearance, as well as allows for the use of high quality lighting products.
The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.