Patent Application
20220341553
The present disclosure relates to lighting systems. More specifically, the disclosure relates to suspension lighting systems, particularly for outdoor use.
Functional and decorative outdoor lighting has been predominately comprised of hanging lights, string lights and ground lighting—i.e., lights which project light upward from the ground. Unfortunately, none of these existing lighting systems provides consistent illumination combined with an aesthetically pleasing concept. Hanging lights are largely decorative having limited useful illumination. String lights can be spread out, but abundant wiring has a negative aesthetic and illumination is often spotty. Finally, ground lighting has little effect above a few feet and can be easily blocked.
Until the invention of the present application, these and other problems in the prior art went either unnoticed or unsolved by those skilled in the art. The present invention provides suspended lighting that is both consistently illuminating and aesthetically enhancing to most any area. The disclosed lighting system performs multiple functions without sacrificing portability features, design, style or affordability.
There is disclosed herein an improved outdoor lighting system and method which avoids the disadvantages of prior lighting systems and methods while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
The system provides a visually stimulating flexile, tension hung lighting system housed within an unconventional silicone lens, offering flexible installation and conceptual yet functional design. The lighting strip bends up and down giving it the unique ability to traverse open spaces wall to wall, wall to ceiling, or floor to ceiling.
Generally speaking, the lighting system comprises a flexible body section, a flexible lens, a plurality of LEDs, a support cable, and a power system. The flexible body section comprises two opposing ends defining a length and a first longitudinal cavity extending through the body section for the entire length, while the flexible lens has a second longitudinal cavity and is attachable to the flexible body section. The plurality of LEDs is positioned within the second longitudinal cavity, with the body section, lens and LEDs forming a lighting structure. The support cable is threaded into and through the first longitudinal cavity and each end is fixed to a surface to thereby suspend the lighting structure. Finally, a power cable electrically connects to the plurality of LEDs and a power source.
In specific embodiments, the flexible lens is comprised of silicone and may be either translucent or transparent.
In other specific embodiments, an end cap secured to each opposing end of the flexible body. Further, the flexible lens preferably has a length equal to the length of the flexible body section.
In another specific embodiment of the lighting system, a first anchor is fixed to a first surface and a second anchor is fixed to a second surface, wherein the opposing ends of the support cable are attached to the first and second anchors to suspend the lighting system, wherein at least one of the first and second anchors comprises a turnbuckle.
In a specific embodiment, a 0.75″ wide round lens, offers superior color quality and performance while creating uniform illumination without pixilation. Various color temperatures ranging from 2000K to 5700K may be provided, including two options of 2700K (27D) or 3000K (30D) and a tunable white (2K4K or 27K6)—using the latest in LED Technology tunable white grants independent control for adjusting color temperature and brightness.
In a specific embodiment, the system is useable with two dimmers or a controller (CDMX-1) for fast and accurate adjustment with options for pre-set scenes.
These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings.
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail at least one preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any of the specific embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
Generally speaking, with reference to
The body section 12 of the system 10 is preferably comprised of a flexible extrudable material to allow sufficient bending in at least two directions (e.g., up and down), as illustrated in
The lens 14 is preferably comprised of a flexible transparent or translucent material, such as silicone, extruded to form a tube-like structure. A cavity 32 runs through the lens 14 to house LEDs 18. In a preferred embodiment, the lens 14 is approximately 0.75 inches wide to offer superior color quality and performance while creating uniform illumination without pixilation. The lens 14 preferably removably attaches to the body section 12 via a friction fit or snap fit with the lateral sidewalls 26. Other attachment means are contemplated as well, as would be known by those of skill in the art. An end cap 34 is attached at each end of the body section 12 and lens 14 assembly to enclose the lights. A sealable opening within the end cap 34 allows the support cable 16 and any electrical cable to pass into the lighting device without also letting in moisture from the environment.
The body section 12 can be produced in numerous lengths—e.g., 12-inch sections to 40 foot sections—for customized displays. Likewise, the lens 14 can also be customized to a specific length. Preferably, the length of the lens 14 is substantially identical to the length of the body section 12. Together, the body section 12, lens 14 and LEDs 18 form a lighting structure which is suspended by the support cable. However, in other embodiments, the lens 14 may be made in multiple smaller sections, which then attach to a single body section 12 in a continuous light or in discontinuous increments of light, as desired. In fact, multiple lighting structures may be suspended by a single support cable 16 and connected together by a cable connector 40 similar to that shown in
The support cable 16 can be any high-tensile strength cable or metal rope, most preferably aircraft cable. The cable 16 may be made taut using a turnbuckle 42 (see
Power to the light assembly is preferably provided by 14-gauge electrical cable 20, suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Flexible, watertight cable connectors 44 (
In a most preferred assembly of the disclosed lighting system, a tunable controller 50 is connected to the power source 22, as illustrated in
The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
This application claims the filing priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/178,805 titled “Flexible Suspension Lighting” and filed on Apr. 23, 2021. The '805 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63178805 | Apr 2021 | US |
