LED LIGHTING SYSTEM STRIP

Abstract

An LED light strip system includes an elongated flexible strip supporting a plurality of LED lamps. A positively charged pin member is inserted into one of the plurality of holes and is in contact with the inner surface of the hole and a positively charged solder material component. A negatively charged pin member is inserted into one of the plurality of holes and is in contact with the inner surface of the hole and a negatively charged solder material component. A power source provides electricity through wiring extending through the positively and negatively charged pin members, such that electricity is transmitted through the wiring, to the pin members, and ultimately to the positively and negatively charged solder material component to illuminate the LED lamps. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: LED LIGHTING SYSTEM STRIP

[0001] SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to LED lighting strips, and more particularly to lighting strips configured to receive electrical power from multiple locations along the strip itself.

[0003] CONTEXT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Light-emitting diode (LED) light strips are commonly used to illuminate various dark and unlit areas, including small and enclosed spaces. Light strips are advantageous because they are relatively flexible, easy to install, and inexpensive to manufacture. However, they have significant drawbacks.

[0005] Current LED light strips receive electricity via positive and negative wiring that enters a single location through the light strip. The wiring is usually secured by soldering to the end of the strip. As a result, this limits how electricity is transmitted to the light strip, thus severely restricting how the light strips can be positioned and adjusted to fit into smaller, tight, angular spaces. The fact that they can only receive electricity from a single, limited location is also a major drawback. Summary of the invention

[0006] Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide an LED light strip system which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of previous systems.

[0007] This and other objects are achieved by the present invention, an elongated flexible strip supporting a plurality of LED lamps. A first plurality of holes on the strip and extending therethrough, each hole being circumscribed by a positively electrically charged solder material component. A second plurality of holes is circumscribed by a negatively electrically charged solder material component. An electrically conductive positively charged pin member is inserted into one of the plurality of holes and is in contact with the inner surface thereof and the positively charged solder material component. An electrically conductive negatively charged pin member is inserted into one of the plurality of holes and is in contact with the inner surface thereof and the negatively charged solder material component.A power source supplies electricity through conductive wiring from the pin element. positively charged and negatively charged pin element. Electricity is received by the wiring, the positively and negatively charged pin elements, and finally by the positively and negatively charged solder material components to illuminate the LED lamps.

[0008] To summarize, the invention relates to an LED light strip system comprising: an elongated flexible strip supporting a plurality of LED lamps; a first plurality of holes on and extending through the strip, said plurality of holes being circumscribed by a positively electrically charged solder material component; a second plurality of holes on and extending through the strip, said second plurality of holes being circumscribed by a negatively electrically charged solder material component; an electrically conductive positively charged pin member inserted into one of the plurality of holes and in contact with the positively charged solder material component; an electrically conductive negatively charged pin member inserted into one of the plurality of holes and in contact with the negatively charged solder material component; a power source providing electrical energy; and electrically conductive wiring extending from the positively charged pin element and from the negatively charged pin element to the power source; wherein electricity from the power source is transmitted through the wiring, the positively and negatively charged pin elements, and to the positively and negatively charged solder material components to illuminate the LED lamps.

[0009] According to one embodiment, each of the pin members comprises a first arm member and a second arm member, the first arm member being inserted into one of the plurality of holes and in contact with a solder material component circumscribing the holes, and the second arm member being attached to the wiring.

[0010] According to another variant, the system further comprises a protective cover enclosing each of the first arm elements of the spindle elements.

[0011] According to yet another variant, the positively charged pin element is fused to the positively charged solder material component and the negatively charged pin element is fused to the negatively charged solder material component.

[0012] According to yet another variant, the strip has first and second side edges, the electrically charged positively weld material component is a strip extending along and adjacent to the first side edge, and the electrically charged negatively weld material component is a strip extending along and adjacent to the second side edge.

[0013] According to one variant, the positively charged pin element is fused to the positively charged strip and the negatively charged pin element is fused to the negatively charged strip.

[0014] According to yet another variant, the strip has first and second lateral sides, the first and second pluralities of holes being located on the first lateral side and wherein the electrically charged positive solder material components are rings that circumscribe the first plurality of holes and the electrically charged negative solder material components are rings that circumscribe the second plurality of holes.

[0015] According to another variant, the positively charged pin element is fused to a positively charged ring and the negatively charged pin element is fused to a negatively charged ring.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the strip has first and second side edges, the positively electrically charged solder material component is a truncated strip that circumscribes two of the first plurality of holes located along and adjacent the first side edge, and the negatively electrically charged solder material component is a truncated strip that circumscribes two of the second plurality of holes located along and adjacent the second side edge.

[0017] According to yet another variant, the positively charged pin element is fused to the positively charged truncated strip and the negatively charged pin element is fused to the negatively charged truncated strip.

[0018] The novel features considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, and its additional features and advantages, will be better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Fig-1] illustrates the current way in which electricity is transmitted to LED lamps mounted on LED light strips.

[0020] [Fig.2] shows a first embodiment of the light strip system with LED of the present invention.

[0021] [Fig.3] is an exploded view of the flexible strip, the strips of welding material positively and negatively charged, and the pin element with cover, components of the first embodiment of the LED light strip system of the present invention.

[0022] [Fig.4] is a view similar to [Fig.3], but showing the pin member through a hole, the flexible strip, and the strip of positively charged solder material of the LED light strip system of the present invention.

[0023] [Fig.5] is a second embodiment of the LED light strip system of the present invention.

[0024] [Fig.6] is a third embodiment of the LED light strip system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] [Fig. 1] shows the current manner in which electricity is transmitted via a single fixed electrical connection to the LED lamps mounted on the light strips. The LED light strip system 3 comprises interconnected light strips 5 and 7 supplying electricity to the LED lamps 9 by means of the positive wiring 13 and the negative wiring 19, via the electrical contacts 11 and 17 on the strip 5 and the electrical contacts 15 and 21 on the strip 7. It is clear that previous light strip systems, as illustrated in [Fig.l], are severely limited because the electrical connections are restricted only to the designated end sections of the strip.

[0026] In contrast, the present invention allows for electrical connection along many different locations along the strip of the light strip. For example, the LED light strip system 1 includes a flexible strip 2 having a first side edge 4 and a second side edge 6. The strip 2 supports a plurality of LED lamps 8. A positively electrically charged solder material component in the form of the strip 10 extends along the side edge 4. A negatively electrically charged solder material component in the form of the strip 12 extends along the side edge 6. Holes 14 with internal surfaces 16 are circumscribed by the strip 10 and extend through the strip 2 and the strip. Holes 18 with internal surfaces 20 extend and are circumscribed by the strip 12 and through the strip 2 and the strip.

[0027] The electrically conductive positively charged pin member 22 includes a first ascending arm section 24 and a second arm section 26 extending laterally from the first arm section. The electrically conductive negatively charged pin member 28, identical to the pin member 22, also has first and second arm sections.

[0028] Covers 50 are provided to protect the first arm section 24 of the spindle member 22 and the first arm section of the spindle member 28. The covers 50 also help hold arm sections 22 and 28 in holes 14 and 18.

[0029] A positive electrically conductive wiring 32 is attached to the first arm section 24 of the pin member 22 and extends from the pin member to the power source 40. A negative electrically conductive wiring 34 is attached to the first arm section of the pin member 28 and extends from the pin member to the power source.

[0030] In operation, the pin member 22 is inserted into the hole 14 so as to be in contact with the inner surface 16 of the hole where it is fused with the solder material strip 10. The pin member 28 is inserted into the hole 18 so as to be in contact with the inner surface 20 of the hole where it is fused with the solder material strip 12. Electricity from the power source 40 is transmitted through the wirings 32 and 34 to the pin members 22 and 28 respectively, and then is sent through the pin members to the strips 10 and 12. Via an electrical circuit well known in the art, the electricity is then sent from the strips 10 and 12, where it is ultimately received by the LED lamps 8 and illuminates them.

[0031] The location and number of available holes 14 and 18 through the strips 10 and 12 on the strip 2 allows for electrical power to be supplied to many locations on the strip. This allows the strip 2 to be cut into various sizes and the strip to be formed into various positions, providing the LED light strip system 1 with versatility of use not available with previous LED light strips.

[0032] [Fig. 5] and 6 show alternative embodiments of the invention. In [Fig. 5], the light strip system 60 includes LED lamps 78 and a first side edge 62 and a second side edge 64. Electrically positively charged solder material components in the form of truncated strips 66 are located along and adjacent to the side edge 62 and circumscribe the holes 68 and 70. Electrically negatively charged solder material components in the form of truncated strips 72 are located along and adjacent to the side edge 64 and circumscribe the holes 74 and 76.

[0033] In [Fig. 6], the light strip system 80 includes LED lamps 82, a first side edge 84, and a second side edge 86. Electrically charged positively and negatively charged solder material components in the form of rings 88 and 90, respectively, circumscribe the holes 92 and 94 along the single side edge 84.

[0034] Pin elements 22 and 28 are also used in the embodiments illustrated in [Fig.5] and 6. Electricity is sent from the power source 40 in the same manner as previously described for the first embodiment, through the pin elements 22 and 28, to illuminate the lamps 78 and 82.

[0035] It is contemplated that the solder material used for strips 10 and 12, truncated strips 66 and 72, rings 88 and 90, and all other comparably shaped solder material components, may be made from any type of electrically conductive solder material.

[0036] Certain novel aspects and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one of its forms. However, it should be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details disclosed, as it is obvious that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. An LED light strip system (1) comprising: an elongated flexible strip (2) supporting a plurality of LED lamps (8); a first plurality of holes (14) on the strip and extending therethrough, said plurality of holes being circumscribed by a positively electrically charged solder material component (10); a second plurality of holes (18) on the strip and extending therethrough, said second plurality of holes being circumscribed by a negatively electrically charged solder material component (12); an electrically conductive positively charged pin member (22) inserted into one of the plurality of holes and in contact with the positively charged solder material component; an electrically conductive negatively charged pin member (28) inserted into one of the plurality of holes and in contact with the negatively charged solder material component;a power source (40) providing electrical energy; and electrically conductive wiring (32, 34) extending from the positively charged pin member and from the negatively charged pin member to the power source; wherein electricity from the power source is transmitted through the wiring, the positively and negatively charged pin members, and to the positively and negatively charged solder material components to illuminate the LED lamps.;

2. The system (1) of claim 1, wherein each of the pin members (22,28) comprises a first arm member (24) and a second arm member (26), the first arm member being inserted into one of the plurality of holes and in contact with a solder material component circumscribing the holes, and the second arm member being attached to the wiring.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a protective cover (50) enclosing each of the first arm members of the spindle members.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the positively charged pin element (22) is fused to the component of positively charged solder material (10) and the negatively charged pin element (28) is fused to the negatively charged solder material component (12).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the strip has first and second side edges (62,64), the positively electrically charged solder material component is a strip (66) extending along and adjacent to the first side edge, and the negatively electrically charged solder material component is a strip (72) extending along and adjacent to the second side edge.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the positively charged pin element is fused to the positively charged strip and the negatively charged pin element is fused to the negatively charged strip.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the strip has first and second lateral sides, the first and second pluralities of holes being located on the first lateral side and wherein the electrically charged positive solder material components are rings (88) that circumscribe the first plurality of holes (92) and the electrically charged negative solder material components are rings (90) that circumscribe the second plurality of holes (94).

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the positively charged pin element is fused to a positively charged ring (88) and the negatively charged pin element is fused to a negatively charged ring (90).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the strip has first and second side edges, the positively electrically charged solder material component is a truncated strip (66) that circumscribes two of the first plurality of holes located along and adjacent the first side edge, and the negatively electrically charged solder material component is a truncated strip (72) that circumscribes two of the second plurality of holes located along and adjacent the second side edge.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the positively charged pin element is fused to the positively charged truncated strip (66) and the negatively charged pin element is fused to the negatively charged truncated strip (72).

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