United States Patent [19]
`Sears et al.
`
`[54]
`[75]
`
`[73]
`
`STAIR LIGHTS
`Inventors: Lawrence A. Sears, Greeley; Gary
`Van Beek, North Gower, both of
`Canada
`Assignee: Diamond Stairlight Industries,
`Nepean, Canada
`Appl. No.: 661,207
`Filed:
`Feb. 27, 1991
`Int. Cl* ................................................. F21S 1/02
`U.S. Cl. .................................... 362/146; 362/246;
`362/800
`Field of Search ............... 362/146, 226, 240, 251,
`362/246, 361, 375, 800, 295
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,164,008 8/1979 Miller et al. .................... 362/800 X
`4,173,035 10/1979 Hoyt ............................... 362/812 X
`4,439,818 3/1984 Scheib ................................. 362/250
`4,612,606 9/1986 Roberts .....
`... 362/146
`4,884, 178 11/1989 Roberts ............................... 362/241
`4,947,291 8/1990 McDermott ......
`... 362/295 X
`5,038,255 8/1991 Nishihashi et al. ............. 362/240 X
`
`[21]
`[22]
`[51]
`[52]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`
`
`||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
`US005.222799A
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,222,799
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jun. 29, 1993
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`598868 5/1960 Canada .
`2045415 10/1980 United Kingdom .
`2099036 12/1982 United Kingdom .
`2208425 3/1989 United Kingdom .
`Primary Examiner—Stephen F. Husar
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Vorys, Sater, Seymoure &
`Pease
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A lighting strip for illuminating domestic stairways at
`the stair riser and stair tread that is both safe and rela
`tively inexpensive. The device provides a lighting strip
`for supplying low level lighting in staircases or the like
`having, a means for providing a low level regulated
`voltage output from an ac voltage supply, a plurality of
`light means, a housing means for receiving and holding
`the light means, and the housing means is adapted to be
`installed under the juncture of a stair riser and stair
`tread, and connector means connects the light means to
`the low level voltage output.
`
`10 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 1
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 29, 1993
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
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`5,222,799
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`
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 2
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 29, 1993
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
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`5,222,799
`
`
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 3
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 29, 1993
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
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`5,222,799
`
`
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 29, 1993
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`5,222,799
`
`
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 5
`
`

`
`1
`
`STAIR LIGHTS
`
`5,222,799
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to a device for providing low
`level illumination in a staircase or the like.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`In order that the invention may be understood and
`readily carried into effect the following description is
`made with reference to the accompanying drawings in
`which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printed circuit
`board strip according to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a housing according to
`the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the invention as assem
`bled; and
`FIGS. 4a–4a are schematic diagrams showing the
`invention in use.
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring to FIG. 1, a printed circuit board 1 is
`shown for mounting the light emitting diodes according
`to the present invention. The printed circuit board has
`nominal dimensions of 0.635 inches wide by 5 inches
`long, and is preferably made from single sided copper
`faced fibreglass reinforced plastic, although other mate
`rials could be used. Four light emitting diodes 3 are
`mounted on one surface, which we shall call the front
`surface 2 at regular intervals of approximately 1.2 inch
`centers. The number of light emitting diodes were
`chosen in this embodiment to be four to achieve a pre
`determined efficiency (amount of light vs. energy con
`sumed) and evenness of illumination over a desired area.
`However, this number can be varied for different re
`quirements. Printed circuit tracks for conducting power
`to the light emitting diodes are etched on the copper
`side of the board. The light emitting diodes are con
`nected in series with a current limiting resistor 4. A
`power supply is connected to the tracks on the board
`along one edge 5 which has holes pre-drilled to accom
`modate a connector such as a MOLEX* connector.
`This connector is not specifically shown in the diagrams
`as any suitable connector could be used. Holes 6 and 7
`are made in the printed circuit board to allow an attach
`ing screw (not shown) or the like to pass therethrough.
`FIG. 2 is a view of a housing, shown generally as 20,
`for mounting the printed circuit board 1 as illustrated in
`Figure The housing has a base clip 22 and a diffuser 23.
`The base clip has a back portion 21 and two elongated
`projections 24 and 25 which form an interior area 19.
`The interior surfaces of the projections 24 and 25 facing
`each other have grooves 27 and 26 moulded along their
`respective lengths. The length of the above clip is ap
`proximately 6 inches. These grooves allow the printed
`circuit board to be mounted in the base clip by inserting
`one end of the board into the grooves and sliding the
`board along the length of the base clip and to be sup
`ported by the said grooves in this base clip. Extending
`from each of the projections 24 and 25 are further pro
`jections 28 and 29. These projections also extend along
`the length of support clip and allow the diffuser 23 to be
`slidably fitted thereover.
`The diffuser 23 has a somewhat radial cross section
`along its length and is a quadrant, of a circle of radius
`0.75 inches. The peripheral edges of the diffuser are
`inwardly curved like a claw to allow the ends to mate
`with the outwardly curved ends 28 and 29 of the base
`clip 22. The diffuser is preferably made of a transparent
`acrylic type plastic and the support clip is preferably
`made of rigid PVC plastic, although other suitable ma
`terials are available.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Miniature strips of lights (called strip lighting) are a
`convenient solution to providing low level safety light
`ing in special situations. These liggts are especially good
`for illuminating alcoves, bookshelves, highlighting pic
`tures or walls or, if bright enough, task lighting and
`such like. Commercially available strip lighting is nor
`mally comprised of a strip of incandescent miniature
`light bulbs. Each of these light bulbs is normally con
`nected in parallel to a common power supply which
`supplies 110 volts to the bulbs. In some cases a lower
`voltage of 12 to 24 volts dc or ac is supplied to the bulbs.
`The strips are normally available in long lengths that
`can be cut to the required number of bulbs, to suit a
`particular situation.
`Incandescent bulbs have the disadvantage o being
`25
`relatively inefficient for any required wattage or lumi
`nosity. A large percentage of power supplied to incan
`descent bulbs is generated as heat. Therefore to supply
`a given power to a string of light bulbs, one needs a
`relatively bulky power supply due to the inefficiency of
`30
`the incandescent bulbs. Another disadvantage of incan
`descent light bulbs is that the life span is fairly short, and
`this requires bulbs to be changed at fairly regular inter
`vals. Any housing or covering around the strip lighting
`has to be easily removable in order to access the light
`bulbs. This adversely effects the compactness of any
`housing design. The addition of extra light bulbs at a
`later stage will also require considerable increase in
`power supply output. In a specific case of a domestic or
`like stairway it is desirable to illuminate a stair riser
`under the lip of the stair tread so as to make the riser and
`tread visible in the dark, but at the same time the strip
`light must be physically unobtrusive. Commercially
`available strip lighting suffer from the disadvantages,
`mentioned above, therefore these lights are not entirely
`suited to this specific application. It is preferable in a
`strip light for use in stair cases to have a long life, be
`compact and be supplied from a low voltage power
`source which is inherently safe. The light should also be
`50
`easily installed, by the average homeowner, with mini
`mal requirements for tools.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention seeks to provide a lighting strip
`for illuminating domestic stairways or the like that is
`both safe and relatively inexpensive and avoids the
`problems of the prior art lighting strips as mentioned
`above.
`In accordance with the present invention there is
`provided a lighting strip for supplying low level light
`ing in staircases or the like comprising, a means for
`providing a low level voltage output from an ac voltage
`supply; a plurality of light sources; housing means for
`receiving and holding said light sources; said housing
`means is adapted to be installed under the juncture of a
`stair riser and stair tread, connector means for connect
`ing said light sources to said low level voltage output.
`
`20
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 6
`
`

`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`5,222,799
`3
`4
`Referring to FIG. 3 an assembled stairlight unit is
`to a stair riser and stair tread on a staircase to pro
`shown generally by numeral 30. This stairlight unit is
`vide illumination thereof;
`provided with a power supply 32 which plugs into any
`connector means for connecting said light sources to
`said low level voltage output supply.
`standard 110 volt ac household outlet and which also
`has a brightness level switch which controls the dc
`2. A device as defined in claim 1, said plurality of
`power or current supplied to the light emitting diodes
`light sources are light emitting diodes.
`33 mounted on the printed circuit board 34. The combi
`3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said light
`nation of the assembled base clip 36, lens 38 and LED's
`emitting diodes include a current limiting means con
`shall be referred to as a light bar. The power supply has
`nected in series with said light emitting diodes.
`a standard two prong male connector to be inserted into
`4. A device as defined in claim 3, said current limiting
`any convenient standard household electrical recepta
`means is a resistor.
`cle. The printed circuit board is shown mounted as a
`5. A device as defined in claim 3, said light emitting
`slide fit in a base clip 36, over which is mounted the
`diodes and said current limiting resistor being mounted
`diffuser 38. The power cord 39 is normally supplied in
`on a circuit board means.
`a 7" length and is directly soldered to the power connec
`6. A device as defined in claim 1, said base clip having
`tions on the printed circuit board. An additional power
`grooves moulded therein said grooves for slidably re
`cord 40 of length 26 inches is attached in parallel to the
`ceiving a carrier for said light sources.
`power cord 39 at the printed circuit board 34. The
`7. A device as defined in claim 1, said low level volt
`power cord 40 is terminated in a connector 41 for con
`age output being switchable to selectively output a
`plurality of voltages.
`nection to a second light bar (not shown). In this fashion
`20
`successive connections can be made for the entire stair
`8. A device as defined in claim 4, said base clip having
`case. The voltage output of the power supply is nor
`grooves moulded therein said grooves for slidably re
`mally set to 12 volts. Each light bar normally draws 0.3
`ceiving a carrier for said light sources.
`watts when set at a maximum brightness level.
`9. A lighting strip kit for providing low level lighting
`Referring to FIGS. 4a–4a, where like numerals refer
`under staircase risers or the like comprising:
`a dc power supply;
`to similar structures as described in FIG. 3, the steps in
`the installation of the stairlights are sequentially shown
`a lighting bar having a plurality of ligh emitting diode
`by diagrams 50. The first step 51 in installing light bars
`light sources;
`w
`is to fix the back of each base clip in place under the lip
`housing means for receiving and holding said light
`at the juncture of the stair tread and riser of each stair
`sources; said housing means including a translucent
`with screws. Holes, as mentioned earlier, are pre-drilled
`diffuser, and a rigid plastic base clip having a front
`in the circuit board 34 and the back of the base clip 36
`portion for receiving said translucent diffuser
`for this purpose. The next step 52, requires wire 39 for
`thereon, said diffuser having peripheral edges
`connections between each unit to be tucked along the
`formed for cooperation with mating means on said
`edge of the carpet or the base board to previous light
`front portion of said base clip for removably at
`35
`bars. The wire is tacked into place using double headed
`taching said diffuser to said base clip and a flat back
`tacks or similar fixing devices. The carpet is then
`portion for installing said base clip in proximity to
`pressed back into place. The next step is shown by box
`a stair riser and stair thread of a strircase to provide
`numbered 53. At the end of each interconnecting wire is
`illumination thereof;
`a connector 41 which is snapped onto a corresponding
`a power cord for electrically connecting said dc
`connector on the next light bar. The transparent acrylic
`power supply to said light bar;
`diffuser cover 38 is slid onto place over the support clip,
`means for attaching said power cord to said light bar;
`step 54. The ac adaptor is plugged in (not shown) and
`means for attaching said light bar to a surface.
`turned on. The unit is now fully functional.
`10. A lighting device for providing low level lighting
`Further improvements or additions can be made to
`in staircases or the like comprising:
`the circuit and the device without departing from the
`means for providing low level voltage output from an
`spirit or scope of the invention.
`ac voltage supply;
`The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu
`a plurality of light emitting diodes connected in series
`sive property of privilege is claimed are defined as fol
`with a current limiting resistor; and said diodes and
`lows:
`resistor mounted on a circuit board;
`50
`1. A lighting device for providing low level lighting
`said housing means including a translucent diffuser,
`in staircase or the like comprising:
`and a rigid plastic base clip having a front portion
`means for providing low level voltage output from an
`for receiving said translucent diffuser thereon, said
`ac voltage supply; a plurality of light sources;
`diffuser having peripheral edges formed for coop
`a stranslucent diffuser;
`eration with mating means on said front portion of
`housing means for receiving and holding said light
`said base clip for removably attaching said diffuser
`to said base clip and a flat back portion for install
`sources;
`said housing means including a rigid plastic base clip
`ing said base clip in proximity to a stair riser and
`having a front portion for receiving said translu
`stair tread of a staircase to provide illumination
`cent diffuser thereon, said diffuser having periph
`thereof;
`eral edges formed for cooperation with mating
`connector means adapted to be attached to said cir
`means on said front portion of said base clip for
`cuit board for electrically connecting said light
`removably attaching said diffuser to said base clip
`emitting diodes to said low level voltage output.
`and a flat back portion for installing said base claip
`
`* * * * *
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 7
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`

`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`Page 1 of 3
`PATENT NO. : 5, 222, 799
`DATED
`3 June 29, 1993
`INVENTOR(S) : Lawrence A. Sears and Gary Van Beek
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`corrected as shown below:
`On the title page, item (30), insert the following:
`Canada 2,023,699 Aug. 21, 1990.
`
`Col. 3, line 55: The word "stranslucent" should be
`--translucent--.
`Col. 3, line 64: The word "claip" should be "clip".
`Col. 4, line 4: The term ––means for providing-- should be
`added before "low", and the word "supply" should be
`deleted.
`
`Col. 4, line 5: The word --wherein–- should be added before
`the word "said".
`Col. 4, lines 7 and 8: The phrase "said light emitting
`diodes include" should be deleted.
`
`
`
`Col. 4, line 8: The verb --is-- should be inserted after
`"means".
`Col. 4, line 10: The word --wherein–- should be added
`before the word "said".
`-
`Col. 4, line 12: The word --wherein—— should be added
`before the word "said".
`Col. 4, line 15: The word --wherein–- should be added
`before the word "said".
`
`
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 8
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`

`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TFADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`5, 222, 799
`4
`Page 2 of 2
`PATENT NO. :
`DATED
`: June 29, 1993
`INVENTOR(S) : Lawrence A. Sears and Gary Van Beek
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`corrected as shown below:
`
`Col. 4, line 18, The word --wherein–- should be added
`before the word "said".
`
`Col. 4, line 21: The word --wherein-- should be added
`before the word "said".
`Col 4. , line 16: The phrase "said grooves" should be
`deleted.
`Col. 4, line 22: The phrase "said grooves" should be deleted.
`Col. 4, line 18: --means for providing-- should be inserted
`after "said".
`
`Col. 4, line 41: The word "light" should be replaced with
`--lighting--.
`Col. 4, line 42: The word "light" should be replaced with
`--lighting--.
`Col. 4, line 43: The word "light" should be replaced with
`--lighting--.
`
`Col. 4, line 51: The word "said" should be deleted.
`
`
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 9
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`

`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`PATENT NO. : 5,222,799
`DATED
`: June 29, 1993
`INVENTOR(S) ; Lawrence A. Sears, et al.
`
`Page 3 of 3
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-indentified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`corrected as shown below:
`
`Column 4, 1ine 63, The phrase "means for providing" should be inserted
`before "low".
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`Twenty-sixth Day of April, 1994
`4. 04:4–
`
`BRUCE LEHMAN
`
`Attest:
`
`Attesting Officer
`
`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`
`
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1013, Page 10