SCREENED ENCLOSURE LIGHTING SYSTEM

Abstract

A lighting system 1 for screened enclosures (2) wherein side edges (8) of an elongated housing strip (4) mount to a framework (3) of the screened enclosure using screen cable channels (21) located on a frame rail (5) of the framework.

Claims

1. A lighting system for screened enclosures comprising: an elongated housing strip having an outer surface, an inner surface, side edges and end edges; said elongated strip having a raised profile with a plurality of lights located on the outer surface of the elongated housing strip; said side edges capable of being squeezed inward to create an outward tension on the side edges when said side edges are placed within screen cable channels of a frame rail of a screened enclosure; and said elongated housing strip comprises a raised center panel with angled side panels that creates a trapezoidal shape when attached to a frame rail of a screened enclosure.

2. The lighting system for screened enclosures of claim 1 wherein: said plurality of lights are LED lights.

3. The lighting system for screened enclosures of claim 1 wherein: the side edges of the elongated housing strip have rounded profiles.

4. A method for installing a lighting system for screened enclosures wherein said lighting system comprises an elongated housing strip having an outer surface, an inner surface, side edges and end edges, said elongated strip having a raised profile with a plurality of lights located on the outer surface of the elongated housing strip, and said side edges capable of being squeezed inward; said method comprising the steps of: a. attaching at least one elongated housing strip to a frame rail of a screened enclosure by inserting side edges of the at least one elongated housing strip into screen cable channels of the frame rail; b. connecting the at least one elongated housing strip to a controller using an electrical wire; and c. connecting the controller to a power source using an electrical wire.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of: inserting an electrical wire into screen cable channel of a frame rail of the screened enclosure.

6. A system for installing a lighting system for screened enclosures wherein said lighting system comprises an elongated housing strip having an outer surface, an inner surface, side edges and end edges, said elongated strip having a raised profile with a plurality of lights located on the outer surface of the elongated housing strip, and said side edges capable of being squeezed inward; said system comprising: at least one elongated housing strip attached to a frame rail of a screened enclosure by inserting side edges of the at least one elongated housing strip into screen cable channels of the frame rail; the at least one elongated housing strip connected to a controller using an electrical wire; and the controller connected to a power source using an electrical wire.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising: an electrical wire inserted into screen cable channel of a frame rail of the screened enclosure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is an interior view of a screened enclosure wherein the lighting system of the present invention is installed on the framework;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an elongated housing strip of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a rear view of an elongated housing strip of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a front view of an elongated housing strip of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a side perspective cutaway view along line A-A of FIG. 1 of an elongated housing strip of the present invention attached to a frame rail of a screened enclosure;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a lighting system of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of an elongated housing strip of the present invention wherein lights are located on the outer surface of elongated housing strip; and

[0024] FIG. 8 is a front view of an elongated housing strip of the present invention wherein lights are located on the outer surface of elongated housing strip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows: [0026] 1. lighting system, generally [0027] 2. screened enclosure [0028] 3. framework [0029] 4. elongated housing strip [0030] 5. frame rail [0031] 6. outer surface of elongated housing strip [0032] 7. inner surface of elongated housing strip [0033] 8. side edge of elongated housing strip [0034] 9. end edge of elongated housing strip [0035] 10. hollow portion of elongated housing strip [0036] 11. light [0037] 12. electrical wiring [0038] 13. electrical connector [0039] 14. raised center panel [0040] 15. angled side panel [0041] 16. LED light [0042] 17. aperture [0043] 18. electrical source [0044] 19. controller [0045] 20. cap [0046] 21. screen cable channel [0047] 22. inner surface of a screen cable channel [0048] 23. rounded profile [0049] 24. remote control [0050] 25. component

[0051] With reference to FIG. 1, an interior view of a screened enclosure 2 wherein the lighting system 1 of the present invention is installed on a framework 3 of the screened enclosure 2 is illustrated. The lighting system 1 of the present invention comprises low profile elongated housing strip 4 that attaches to a frame rail 5, as further illustrated in FIG. 5, in a manner that makes it blend in with the frame rail 5 when visible in daylight. As illustrated here, a plurality of elongated housing strips 4 may be mounted on the frame rails 5 that form a roof 6 of the screened enclosure 2 so that the light emitted by the lighting system 1 shines downward on a patio surface and/or a pool or spa.

[0052] With reference to FIGS. 2-4, a side perspective view, a rear view and a front view, respectively, of an elongated housing strip 4 of the present invention are illustrated. The elongated housing strip 4 comprises an outer surface 6, an inner surface 7, side edges 8 and end edges 9. The elongated housing strip 4 may be a curved panel or have a raised profile of a predetermined shape that creates a hollow portion 10 within the inner surface 7 in which one or more lights 11, electrical wiring 12, electrical connectors 13 and so forth may be located and hidden from view. As illustrated here, the elongated housing strip 4 comprises a raised center panel 14 with angled side panels 15 creating a trapezoidal shape when attached to a frame rail 5. Said end edges 9 may further comprise attachment means, such as male/female connectors, snap connectors and so forth, located thereon to attach each elongated strip 4 together.

[0053] A plurality of lights 11, which are preferably LED lights 16, are located on the inner surface 7 of the elongated housing strip 4. Apertures 17 located on the elongated housing strip 4 allow the lights 11 to extend and/or shine through the elongated housing strip 4. Each elongated housing strip 4 preferably has one or more electrical connectors 13 to attach a plurality of elongated housing strips 4 together and/or to an electrical source 18 and/or controller 19 used for operating the lighting system 1, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The controller 19 may be a stationary hard wired control and/or remote control used for activating and deactivating the lights 11 and controlling a plurality of other functions in the lighting system 1.

[0054] With reference to FIG. 5, a side perspective cutaway view along line A-A of FIG. 1 of an elongated housing strip 4 of the present invention attached to a frame rail 5 of a screened enclosure 2 is illustrated. The elongated housing strip 4 connects to U-shaped screen cable channels 21 located on a frame rail 5 of a screened enclosure 2. The side edges 8 of the elongated housing strip 4 are held in place within the screen cable channels 21 by a spring fit wherein tension created by squeezing the side edges 8 of the elongated housing strip 4 together prior to inserting the side edges 8 into the screen cable channels 21 pushes the side edges 8 of the elongated housing strip 4 outward against an inner surface 22 of the U-shaped screen cable channels 21, thereby reducing and/or eliminating the need for mechanical fasteners during installation of the lighting system 1 of the present invention.

[0055] In addition, the side edges 8 of the elongated housing strip 4 may have rounded profiles 23 similar in shape to conventional screen cable to allow the edges 8 of the elongated housing strip 4 to be secured within the screen cable channels 21 on a frame rail 5. For example, the edges 8 of the elongated housing strip 4 may be rounded and malleable with a smooth or ridged surface that locks the edges 8 within the screen cable channels 21 by a friction fit. The rounded profiles 23 may be used in addition to or in instead of a spring fit to attach the elongated housing strip 4 to a frame rail 5.

[0056] External electrical wiring 12 not enclosed in the elongated housing strips 4 are preferably inserted into the screen cable channels 21 in the frame rails 5, thereby hiding the external electrical wiring 12 from view. The external electrical wiring 12 are preferably colored to match the color of the screened enclosure framework 2. The external electrical wiring 12 may be conventional electrical wires or may have shapes and structure similar to a conventional screen cable. For example, the external electrical wiring 12 may be rounded and malleable with a smooth or ridged surface.

[0057] Caps 20 may be used to conceal open ends of elongated housing strips 4 that terminate without connecting to another component to provide a finished look and to protect the contents of the elongated housing strips 4.

[0058] With reference to FIG. 6, a block diagram of a lighting system 1 of the present invention is illustrated. Each elongated housing strip 4 preferably has one or more electrical connectors or conventional manual electrical connections to attach a plurality of elongated housing strips 4 together. The elongated housing strips 4 are then connected to an electrical power source 18 and controller 19 used for operating the lighting system 1. The controller 19 may be a stationary hard wired control that can be operated manually or by a remote control 24 used for activating and deactivating the lights 11 and controlling a plurality of other functions in the lighting system 1. In addition, the lighting system 1 of the present invention may include additional components 25, such as spotlights and so forth, which are wired through the elongated housing strips 4.

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a side perspective view and a front view, respectively, of an elongated housing strip 4 of the present invention are illustrated wherein lights 11 are located on the outer surface 6 of elongated housing strip 4. The elongated housing strip 4 comprises an outer surface 6, an inner surface 7, side edges 8 and end edges 9. The elongated housing strip 4 may be a curved panel or have a raised profile of a predetermined shape that creates a hollow portion 10 within the inner surface 7 in which one or more lights 11, electrical wiring 12, electrical connectors 13 and so forth may be located and hidden from view. As illustrated here, the elongated housing strip 4 comprises a raised center panel 14 with angled side panels 15 creating a trapezoidal shape when attached to a frame rail 5. Said end edges 9 may further comprise attachment means, such as male/female connectors, snap connectors and so forth, located thereon to attach each elongated strip 4 together.

[0060] A plurality of lights 11, which are preferably LED lights 16, are located on the outer surface 6 of the elongated housing strip 4. Each elongated housing strip 4 preferably has one or more electrical connectors 13 to attach a plurality of elongated housing strips 4 together and/or to an electrical source 18 and/or controller 19 used for operating the lighting system 1, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The controller 19 may be a stationary hard wired control and/or remote control used for activating and deactivating the lights 11 and controlling a plurality of other functions in the lighting system 1.

[0061] It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.