Led Light Holder System
Patent No. US12181127 (titled "Led Light Holder System") was filed by Sigma Switches Plus Inc on Aug 5, 2024.
What is this patent about?
’127 is related to the field of interior lighting, specifically addressing the challenge of mounting LED light strips in recreational vehicles (RVs). Traditional methods involved cutting holes in the ceiling and using bezels, which were cumbersome and made electrical connections difficult to access for repairs. The patent aims to provide an inexpensive and aesthetically pleasing solution for mounting LED lights to RV ceilings, which typically use 12V DC electrical wiring, making LEDs a suitable choice due to their low energy consumption.
The underlying idea behind ’127 is a snap-fit system that allows an LED light strip to be easily mounted between adjacent ceiling panels in an RV. This is achieved using an extruded light holder with flexible wings that grip the ceiling panels and a retention barb that snaps into a retaining strip mounted on the joist between the panels. The light holder also features a channel to house the LED strip itself.
The claims of ’127 focus on a light holding system comprising an elongate light holder and an end cap. The light holder has wings that define an outer contoured surface and a channel for receiving an LED light strip. The wings are designed to be resiliently bendable, providing a biasing force against the ceiling panels. A retention barb on the light holder engages with retention nubs on a retaining strip attached to the joist. The end cap has a coped portion that complements the outer contoured surface of the light holder, providing a finished look.
In practice, the system works by first attaching a retaining strip with a grooved profile to the joist between the ceiling panels. The LED light strip is then placed within the channel of the elongate light holder. The light holder is then pressed into place, causing the wings to bend and grip the ceiling panels while the retention barb snaps into the groove of the retaining strip. The end caps are then fitted onto the ends of the light holder, providing a clean, finished appearance and further securing the assembly. The end caps also provide a connection chamber for making electrical connections.
This design differentiates itself from prior art by offering a tool-free, snap-in installation that doesn't require cutting large holes in the ceiling or making electrical connections above the ceiling. The flexible wings provide a secure and adjustable grip, accommodating variations in ceiling panel thickness. The end caps not only enhance the aesthetics but also conceal wiring and provide additional support. The sliding connection between the retention barb and the retaining strip allows for axial adjustment, ensuring a precise fit and alignment.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’127 was filed, LED lighting was increasingly common, especially in applications like recreational vehicles where low power consumption and compact size were desirable. At a time when RV interiors were expected to have a high-quality fit and finish, mounting lighting in a way that was both aesthetically pleasing and easy to install was a significant engineering constraint.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art, specifically Matsuda and Eloff, did not teach or suggest a light holding system for use in an RV ceiling that included a joist with a width, a retaining strip fastened to the joist, upstanding walls extending from a base, a groove defined by the upstanding walls, retention nubs within the groove, an elongate light holder with wings defining an outer contoured surface and tips, a channel extending beneath the outer contoured surface, overhanging walls adjacent to the outer contoured surface, lateral walls joined to a bottom wall, an opening adjacent to the outer contoured surface, a ridge wall extending from the bottom surface opposite the channel, a retention barb spaced from the bottom surface, resiliently bendable wings between installed and uninstalled positions, and specific distances between the wing tips and the opening in those positions. Similar reasoning was applied to dependent claims.
Claims
This patent contains 19 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 8, and 15. The independent claims are directed to a light holding system for use in an RV or between panels, comprising an elongate light holder and an end cap. The dependent claims generally add further details and limitations to the elements and features described in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US12181127
- Application Number
- US18794008
- Filing Date
- Aug 5, 2024
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Aug 5, 2044
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents