Lighting system and method

Abstract

A lighting system includes a substrate of non-absorbent foam material having a first surface, an undercut groove formed in the first surface, and a light source disposed in the undercut groove. The lighting system can be used with various structures including, but not limited to spas, swimming pools, decks, marine products, and sheds.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising: an elastically flexible substrate of non-absorbent foam material having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, an undercut groove formed in the first surface, and an adhesive disposed on the second surface for attaching the substrate of non-absorbent foam material to a structure; and a light source disposed in the undercut groove; wherein the undercut groove has an opening that expands when the light source is inserted therethrough to dispose the light source in the undercut groove.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light strip.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a strip of light emitting diodes.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an incandescent lamp.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a strip of incandescent lamps.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a halogen lamp.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a strip of halogen lamps.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a xenon lamp.

10. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a strip of xenon lamps.

11. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an electric luminescent light strip.

12. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the substrate of non-absorbent foam material has a length, and wherein the undercut groove extends the length of the substrate of non-absorbent foam material or less than the length of the substrate of non-absorbent foam material.

13. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the undercut groove is continuous.

14. A lighting system comprising: an elastically flexible substrate of non-absorbent foam material having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, an undercut groove formed in the first surface, and an adhesive disposed on the second surface for attaching the substrate of non-absorbent foam material to a structure; and a light source disposed in the undercut groove; wherein the undercut groove has an opening that expands when the light source is inserted therethrough to dispose the light source in the undercut groove; and wherein the undercut groove is segmented.

15. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the undercut groove has at least one of a straight segment, a curved segment, a wavy segment, or any combination thereof.

16. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the substrate of non-absorbent foam material has at least one of a straight segment, a curved segment, a wavy segment or any combination thereof.

17. A cabinet for a spa, the cabinet comprising: a plurality of side panels each having a surface; a frame structure including a plurality of frame members, the frame structure supporting the side panels, and the side panels forming an enclosure about the frame structure; and a lighting system comprising: a substrate of non-absorbent foam material having a surface and an undercut groove formed in the surface of the substrate; and a light source disposed in the undercut groove; wherein the substrate of non-absorbent foam material is coupled to the surface of the at least one of the side panels.

18. The cabinet of claim 17, wherein the surface of the at least one of the side panels includes an indentation, the substrate of non-absorbent foam material disposed in the indentation and flush with the surface of the at least one of the side panels.

19. The cabinet of claim 17, further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the light source, the controller disposed within the cabinet.

20. A spa comprising: the cabinet of claim 17; and a spa shell coupled to the frame structure of the cabinet.

21. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the light source.

22. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a laser light strip.

23. A marine product comprising: a boat; and a lighting system attached to a surface of the boat, the lighting system comprising: an elastically flexible substrate of non-absorbent foam material having a surface and an undercut groove formed in the surface of the substrate; and a light source disposed in the undercut groove; wherein the undercut groove has an opening that expands when the light source is inserted therethrough to dispose the light source in the undercut groove.

24. The marine product of claim 23, wherein the surface of the boat is a floor of the boat.

25. A marine product comprising: a boat; and a lighting system attached to a surface of the boat, the lighting system comprising: an elastically flexible substrate of non-absorbent foam material having a surface and an undercut groove formed in the surface of the substrate; and a light source disposed in the undercut groove; wherein the undercut groove has an opening that expands when the light source is inserted therethrough to dispose the light source in the undercut groove; and wherein the undercut groove is segmented.

26. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the substrate of non-absorbent foam material has at least a second undercut groove formed in the first surface and a second light source disposed in the second undercut groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawing are not necessarily to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Like numerals denote like features throughout the specification and the drawing.

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective view depicting a lighting system of the present disclosure used with a conventional spa.

(3) FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the spa of FIG. 1A with the shell of the spa removed from the cabinet of the spa.

(4) FIG. 2A is an exploded front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure.

(5) FIG. 2B is a front perspective view of the lighting system of FIG. 2A.

(6) FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure.

(7) FIG. 4A is a top plan view of another illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure.

(8) FIG. 4B is a top plan view of another illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure.

(9) FIG. 4C is a top plan view of another illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure.

(10) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure.

(11) FIG. 6A is an end view of an embodiment of the undercut groove.

(12) FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the undercut groove of FIG. 6A.

(13) FIG. 6C is an end view illustrating a light source positioned within the undercut groove of FIG. 6A.

(14) FIG. 6D is a sectional view illustrating the light source positioned within the undercut groove of FIG. 6C.

(15) FIG. 7A is an end view of another embodiment of the undercut groove.

(16) FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the undercut groove of FIG. 7A.

(17) FIG. 8 is an end view illustrating two undercut grooves each having a light source positioned therein.

(18) FIG. 9 is a top plan view depicting an illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure used with a conventional boat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(19) The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawing are not necessarily to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Like numerals denote like features throughout the specification and the drawing.

(20) FIGS. 1A and 1B collectively depict a lighting system of the present disclosure used with a conventional spa 10. As shown in FIG. 1A, the spa 10 has a spa shell 20, a spa cabinet 30 and the lighting system of the present disclosure denoted by reference numeral 100. The spa shell 20 is typically made of a vacuum formed, continuous cast acrylic sheet, which is reinforced with fiberglass. One of ordinary skill in the art will of course recognize that the spa shell 20 can be made of other suitable materials including but not limited to gel coated fiberglass or stainless steel.

(21) As shown in FIG. 1B, the spa cabinet 30 includes side panels or skirts 32, which are attached to and supported by a frame 40. The spa cabinet 30 encloses the frame 40 and other components of the spa including but not limited to a pump system and a plumbing system (not shown). The spa cabinet 30 can be made of an opaque thermoplastic material, such as Acrylonitrile Butadien Styrene (ABS) or a wood, such as redwood or cedar.

(22) Referring still to FIG. 1B, the frame 40 includes vertical corner frame members 42, base frame members 44 and side frame members 46. The base frame members 44 and side frame members 46 are coupled to adjacent ones of the corner frame members 42. The side frame members 46 may also be coupled to their underlying base frame members 44. The side frame members 46 each include a pair of shell support members 48, which support an outer rim 22 of the spa shell 20, as shown in FIG. 1A. The frame 40 can be fabricated from wood, a composite material, or other suitable materials. The frame 40 can sit on a tray 50 that isolates the frame 40 from the surface on which the spa 10 is placed. The tray 50 can be made of a plastic material, a composite material, a metal material, or other suitable materials.

(23) FIGS. 2A and 2B collectively depict an illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure denoted in FIGS. 2A and 2B by reference numeral 200. As shown, the lighting system 200 comprises a thin ribbon-like substrate of non-absorbent foam material 210 (foam substrate 210), a light source 220, and a controller 230 for controlling the operation of the light source 220. The foam substrate 210 has a front side 212 and a back side 214 opposite the front side 212. The front side 212 of the foam substrate 210 can have a flat and smooth surface, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In other embodiments, the front side 212 of the foam substrate 210 can have a convex, concave, or wavy surface 213 that is smooth or textured. The back side 214 of the foam substrate 210 is typically but not limited to a flat and smooth surface 215 and can include a thin layer of adhesive material (not visible) to enable the lighting system 200 to be attached to the exterior surface of a corresponding one of the cabinet side skirts, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The exterior surface of side skirt can include an indentation which is dimensioned and shaped to receive the foam substrate 210 so that it is flush with the exterior surface of the side skirt. In other embodiments, the lighting system can be attached to the spa shell 20 to illuminate the interior of the spa 10. The foam substrate 210 can be a closed cell foam material, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), crosslinked polyethylene, neoprene, or any other non-absorbent material that is sufficiently elastic to allow the light source 220 to be inserted into the undercut groove 216 and held therein without the use of additional fastening means. The foam substrate 210 can be 5 mm to 12 mm thick, although foam substrates of other thicknesses can be used. The foam substrate 210 can also be a laminate of two or more substrates of either the same or different foam materials.

(24) Referring still to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the front side 212 of the foam substrate 210 includes an undercut groove 216 formed in surface 213 for securely receiving and retaining the light source 220 therein. The light source 220, in one embodiment, comprises a rigid or flexible strip 222 of light emitting diodes (LEDs). LED strip 222 includes at least one and preferably a plurality of individual LEDs 224 depending upon the desired length of the light source 220. The LEDs 224 can all be the same color or of different colors. At one end of the LED strip 222 is a wire 226 for connecting the LED strip 222 to the controller 230 that controls the operation of the LEDs 224 of the LED strip 222. The wire 226 can extend out through the back side 214 of the foam material 210. The wire 226 typically passes through an opening (not shown) extending through the corresponding side skirt of the spa cabinet, so that it can be connected with the controller 230, which is preferably enclosed within the spa cabinet. Because the LED strip 222 can be selected or cut to a desired length, various light patterns can be created in the foam substrate 210. Flexible versions of the LED strip 222 allow curving light patterns. The lighting source 220, in other embodiments, can comprise a laser light strip (e.g., laser light diffusing fiber technology), an incandescent lamp or a rigid or flexible strip of incandescent lamps, a halogen lamp or a rigid or flexible strip of halogens lamps, a xenon lamp or a rigid flexible strip of xenon lamps, an electric luminescent light strip (also referred to as an EL wire), or any other suitable lamp or strip of lamps.

(25) In some embodiments, the controller 230 is located within the spa cabinet and connected to the spa electronics, which supply the system 200 with electrical power. In some embodiments, the system 200 can include a photocell sensor (not shown) connected to the controller 230. The photocell sensor is located external to the spa so that it can detect environmental light (e.g., sunlight). When the level of environmental light sensed by the photocell sensor drops below a predetermined value, the controller is adapted to energize (turn-on) the light source of the system 200. When the level of environmental light sensed by the photocell sensor exceeds the predetermined value, the controller is adapted to de-energize (turn-off) the light source of the system 200. In some other embodiments, the system 200 can also or alternatively include a motion sensor (not shown) connected to the controller 230. The motion sensor is located external to the spa so that it can detect motion (e.g., a user). When motion is sensed by the motion sensor, the controller is adapted to energize (turn-on) the light source of the system 200. When no motion is sensed by the motion sensor, the controller is adapted to de-energize (turn-off) the light source of the system 200.

(26) FIG. 3 depicts another illustrative embodiment of the lighting system of the present disclosure, denoted by reference numeral 300. The lighting system 300 depicted in FIG. 3 is substantially identical to the lighting system 200 depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, except that the lighting system 300 comprises a thin sheet-like foam substrate 310 instead of the thin ribbon-like form substrate 210 used in the embodiment of the lighting system of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

(27) One of ordinary skill in will appreciate that the foam substrate, the light source, or both the foam substrate and the light source, can each be configured in any desired shape or pattern. FIGS. 4A-4C and FIG. 5 depict various other non-limiting illustrative embodiments of the lighting system of the present disclosure. The lighting system 400A of FIG. 4A comprises a foam substrate 410A and 410B that extends linearly, and an undercut groove 416A and a light source 420A that extend in a continuous linear and wavy manner. The lighting system 400B of FIG. 4B comprises a foam substrate 410B that extends linearly, and an undercut groove 416B and a light source 420B that extend in a segmented linear and wavy manner. The lighting system 400C of FIG. 4C comprises a foam substrate 410C that extends in a wavy manner, and an undercut groove 416C and a light source 420C that extend in a continuous linear manner. The lighting system 500 of FIG. 5 comprises a circular foam substrate 510, and a first undercut groove 516A and a first light source 520A that extend in a continuous wavy manner and a second undercut groove 516B and a second light source 520B the extend in a segmented linear manner. In other embodiments, the foam substrate and undercut groove and light source can each be configured in a geometrical shape, an irregular shape, as a number, a letter, a word, or any combination thereof and have any desired length and width.

(28) FIGS. 6A and 6B collectively depict an illustrative embodiment of the undercut groove of the present disclosure denoted by reference numeral 616. The undercut groove 616 formed in surface 613 on the front side 612 of the foam material 610 and has a dovetail structure comprising an opening 616o, a floor 616f opposite the opening 616o, and opposing undercut walls 616w extending from the opening 616o to the floor 616f. As shown in cross-section in FIG. 6B, an opening is provided in the floor 616f of the groove 616 and the thin layer of adhesive material 618 disposed on the back side 614 of the foam material 610, which allows the wire 626 of the light source 620 (FIGS. 6C and 6D) to pass through the foam substrate 610 and connect with the controller (not shown), which is enclosed in the cabinet of the spa. The undercut groove 616 can be formed in surface 613 of the foam substrate 610 using any conventional foam milling method.

(29) The light source 620 has a width that is equal to or slightly greater than the maximum width of the undercut groove 616. The elastically flexible nature of the foam substrate 610 compresses to allow the undercut groove 616 to expand and receive the light source 620 as it is inserted through the opening 616o of the groove 616 and pressed down toward the floor 616f to position the light source 620 in the groove 616. As shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the undercut groove 616 expands and substantially returns to its original shape when the light source 620 is positioned adjacent the floor 616f of the groove 616. Accordingly, the undercut walls 616w of the groove 616 securely hold the light source 620 in the groove 616 without the use of any additional fastening means, such as screw fasteners or adhesives, thereby coupling the light source 620 to the foam substrate 610.

(30) The structure of the undercut groove is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, and can have any other suitable structure for accommodating and retaining the structure of the corresponding light source. For example, but not limitation, FIGS. 7A and 7B collectively depict another illustrative embodiment of the undercut groove of the present disclosure denoted by reference numeral 716. The undercut groove 716 formed in surface 713 on the front side 712 of the foam substrate 710 comprises a C-shape structure having an opening 716o, a curved floor 716f opposite the opening 716o and opposing curved undercut walls 716w extending from the groove opening 716o to the curved groove floor 716f. The C-shape undercut groove 716 would be appropriate for use with, for example, a round light strip, such as an EL wire, whereas the dovetail shape undercut groove 616 described earlier would be appropriate for use with, for example, a flat or rectangular light strip, such as an LED strip. The curved undercut walls 716w of the groove 716 securely hold the light source 720 within the groove 716 without the use of any additional fastening means, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6D.

(31) In other embodiments, the foam substrate can include several grooves each of which contains a light source. For example, but not limitation, FIG. 8 depicts two undercut grooves 816 formed in surface 813 on the front side 812 of a foam substrate 810. Each undercut groove 816 holds a light source 820.

(32) FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative embodiment of the lighting system 900 of the present disclosure used with a boat 60. The lighting system 900 includes foam substrate 910 attached to a floor 62 or other surface of the boat 60, a plurality of undercut grooves 916, and a plurality of light sources 920 held in the undercut groove 916.

(33) One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the lighting system of the present disclosure can also be used for illuminating other structures including, but not limited to swimming pools, decks, other marine products, and sheds.

(34) It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated and described herein. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.