Abstract
A Flexible LED illumination device, according to the present invention, comprises a translucent positioning strip having a plurality of slots disposed at the center, a plurality of light modules mounted inside of the translucent positioning strip, a plurality of power conductors in communication to the plurality of light modules, a translucent housing covering the plurality of light modules, an elongated light diffuser tube disposed at the top of the translucent housing, and wherein said elongated light diffuser tube is configured to refract light from the plurality of light modules, a potting glue disposed at the bottom of the plurality of power conductors, and exposed power conductors extruding in between the plurality of light modules. The flexible LED illumination device is constructed with flexible material to allow bending to any shapes, and weatherproofing.
Claims
1. A flexible LED illumination device comprising: a translucent positioning strip having a plurality of slots disposed at a center thereof; a plurality of light modules being securely mounted in the translucent positioning strip through the plurality of slots, and wherein said plurality of light modules further comprises a plurality of LEDs being mounted at a top surface of a circuit board, a power terminal for electricity connection being disposed at the bottom of the circuit board, and a current regulator mounted at a bottom of the circuit board; a plurality of power conductors attached to the power terminal and said power conductors being configured to connect the plurality of light modules to a power source; a translucent housing being molded to cover a top and sides of the translucent positioning strip and the plurality of light modules; an elongated light diffuser tube disposed at a top of the translucent housing, and wherein said elongated light diffuser tube being configured to diffuse light from the plurality of LEDs simulating a neon sign; a potting glue disposed at the bottom of the translucent housing and covering the plurality of power conductors; an exposed wire extruding in between the plurality of light modules, and wherein said exposed wire is being configured for electrical connection means during installation thereof.
2. The flexible LED illumination device, according to claim 1, wherein said elongated light diffuser tube comprises an air gap disposed at a cross-center section thereof.
3. The flexible LED illumination device, according to claim 1, wherein said air gap is configured to diffuse and refract light emitted from the plurality of LEDs.
4. The flexible LED illumination device, according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots is molded to accommodate the plurality of light modules.
5. The flexible LED illumination device, according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light modules is capable of emitting red, blue, green, and white lights.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) The present invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of a flexible LED illumination device according to the present invention;
(3) FIG. 2 is a front view of one of the embodiments of the flexible LED illumination device according to the present invention;
(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of LED modules of one of the embodiments of the flexible LED illumination device;
(5) FIG. 4 is a projected view of the plurality of LED modules of one of the embodiments of the flexible LED illumination device;
(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective of view of another embodiment of the plurality of LED modules;
(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective of view of the 3.sup.rd embodiment of the plurality of LED modules;
(8) FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of the electrical connection of the 2.sup.nd embodiment of the plurality of LED modules;
(9) FIG. 8 is an illustration of another embodiment of the exposed power conductors.
(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the 1.sup.st embodiment of the exposed power conductors.
(11) FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a translucent positioning strip with a plurality of slots;
(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the translucent positioning strip, and the plurality of LED modules during assembly.
(13) FIG. 12 is an isometric view of attaching the potting glue to the flexible LED illumination device.
(14) FIG. 13 is an illustration of another embodiment of the plurality of power conductors extruding at the bottom of the flexible LED illumination device.
(15) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the plurality of power conductors with a quintet of conductors to accommodate the RGBW feature of the plurality of light modules.
(16) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the flexible LED illumination device where the elongated light diffuser tube has a flat surface.
(17) FIG. 16 is an illustration of the flexible LED illumination device being bent in a direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(18) Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the phraseologies and terminologies used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
(19) It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element may be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
(20) Referring now to the drawings, wherein, like reference numerals designate the components or elements throughout the ensuing enabling description, the present invention provides a flexible LED illumination device regarded as 100.
(21) With reference to FIG. 1, the flexible LED illumination device 100 comprises an elongated light diffuser tube 102, a plurality of power conductors 104, and an exposed power conductors 106. The flexible LED illumination device 100 is configured to be flexible and be bent into any shape to accommodate different design parameters as expected in the field. As viewed in FIG. 1, the plurality of power conductors 104 and exposed power conductors 106 are extruding at the bottom of the flexible LED illumination device 100. During installation, the flexible LED illumination device 100 is adept at being cut into a plurality of segments. The plurality of power conductors 104 is configured as the primary input and termination connection of the power source of the flexible LED illumination device 100. Moreover, the exposed power conductors 106 is configured as a jumping wire for 1.sup.st embodiment of the flexible LED illumination device 100, which can serve as a new primary input of power when the flexible LED illumination device 100 is sliced into smaller segments.
(22) As seen in FIG. 2, the elongated light diffuser tube 102 further comprises an air gap 202 disposed at the middle or at the cross-center section of the elongated light diffuser tube 102. The air gap is provided in the elongated light diffuser tube 102 to diffuse and further refract light emitted from the plurality of LEDs 304 (not shown). The elongated light diffuser tube 102 can include any number of different shapes and can be constructed from different materials having varying levels of opaqueness.
(23) Going back to FIG. 2, the flexible LED illumination device 100 further comprises a translucent housing 204. The translucent housing 204 is provided to cover the sides and a portion of the bottom of the flexible LED illumination device 100. Said translucent housing 204 is attached at the bottom of the elongated light diffuser tube 102. The translucent housing 204 is configured to protect the components within the flexible illumination device 100 from being stretched, provide another protective layer, and provide weatherproofing. Although described above with regard to specific shapes, sizes, materials, or intended uses, this is for illustrative purposes only. To this end, other embodiments are contemplated wherein one or more of the device components are formed from other materials or include different shapes, sizes, or components than those described or include different shapes, sizes, or components than those described or illustrated. With this, the elongated light diffuser tube 102 is given with a semi-circle cross section for efficient refraction of light emitted and simulates a Neon tube.
(24) With reference to FIG. 3, a plurality of light modules 302 further comprises a plurality of LEDs 304 attached to the top surface of a circuit board 306. Furthermore, a plurality of resistors 308 is being mounted at the surface of the circuit board 306 to protect the plurality of light modules 302 from a current surge.
(25) The plurality of light module 302 is arranged in a longitudinal direction of the translucent housing 204, and connected with each other through the plurality of power conductors 104, as shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, said plurality of power conductors 104 are being attached to the power terminal 402 located at the bottom of the circuit board 306, as shown in FIG. 4.
(26) In another embodiment of the plurality of light module 302, shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of light module 302 is provided with a shell 502 to further protect the plurality of LEDs 304, the circuit board 306, and the current regulator 308 from impact, damage, moisture, and water leak. The embodiment provides an optical lens 504 to further enhance the reflection of light from the plurality of LEDs 304. In another embodiment of the optical lens 504, a pattern of geometrical shapes is disposed on top of the optical lens 504 for better refraction and reflection of light from the plurality of LEDs 304, as shown in FIG. 6. The same with the original embodiment, the current embodiments of the plurality of light module 302 is connected through the plurality of power conductors 104 as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.
(27) In the illustration supplied by FIG. 8, an embodiment of the exposed power conductors 106 are provided. Said exposed power conductor 106 is unitary with the plurality of power conductors 104. Unlike in the original embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the exposed power conductor is a U-shaped jumper connector.
(28) FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of a translucent positioning strip 1002. The translucent positioning strip 1002, an extruded silicone flex strip, is configured to hold and protect the plurality of light modules 302 and the plurality of power conductors 104. The plurality of light modules 302 is slotted to the translucent positioning strip 1002 through the plurality of slots 1004. Said insertion of the plurality of modules 302 to the plurality of slots 1004 is viewed in FIG. 11. Furthermore, a potting glue 1202 is disposed at the bottom of the translucent housing 204 and covers the plurality of power conductors 104 as shown in FIG. 12. During assembly, the translucent positioning strip 1002, the plurality of light modules 302, and potting glue 1202 are attached to firmly secure the attachments and additional feature for weatherproofing. Lastly, the elongated light diffuser tube 102 is fixed on top of the translucent positioning strip 1002 to complete the original embodiment of the flexible LED illumination device 100.
(29) FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of the flexible LED illumination device 100, where the plurality of power conductors 104 extrudes at the bottom in the same manner as the exposed power conductors 106. Initially, the plurality of power conductors 104 and exposed wire 106 are positioned horizontally at the bottom of the translucent positioning strip 1002. Afterward, silicon glue or potting material is filled to firmly secure the position, thus creating the potting glue 1202. The position of the plurality of power conductors 104 is arranged to be easily hidden during the installation process.
(30) In reference to FIG. 14, the illustration previews another embodiment of the present invention where the plurality of power conductors 104 comprises a quintet of conductors. Said quintet of conductors is structured to accommodate red, green, blue, and white backlight produced by the plurality of light modules. Also, the embodiment comprises translucent positioning strip 1002, translucent housing 204, elongated light diffuser tube 102, and potting glue 1202 (not shown).
(31) In the illustration provided in FIG. 15, said illustration shows another embodiment of the present invention where the elongated light diffuser tube 102 with a flat surface. The flat surface of the elongated light diffuser tube 102 for this embodiment allows the flexible LED illumination device 100 to be bent in the direction of 1, as shown in FIG. 16. Furthermore, the elongated light diffuser tube 102 is transparent allowing the light emitted from the plurality of LEDs 304 to be radiated.
(32) Additional advantages and modifications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art in view of these teachings. The present invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, representative contrivances, and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the general concept as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
