IP Verse

Led Light Holding System

Patent No. US12276396 (titled "Led Light Holding System") was filed by Sigma Switches Plus Inc on Aug 5, 2024.

What is this patent about?

’396 is related to the field of lighting systems, specifically addressing the need for an improved method of mounting LED light strips in recreational vehicles (RVs). Traditional methods involved cutting holes in the RV ceiling and using bezels to cover the imperfections, which was cumbersome and made electrical connections difficult. The patent aims to provide a more convenient and aesthetically pleasing solution for securing LED light strips to RV ceilings or similar paneling.

The underlying idea behind ’396 is to create a snap-fit light holder that can be easily installed between adjacent panels, such as ceiling boards in an RV. This is achieved by using an extruded light holder with flexible wings that grip the ceiling panels and a retention barb that engages with a retaining strip mounted on the underlying joist. The light holder is designed to securely hold an LED light strip within a channel, eliminating the need for adhesives or complex mounting procedures.

The claims of ’396 focus on a light holding system comprising an elongate light holder with resiliently bendable wings and a channel for receiving an LED light strip. The key elements include the wings, which define an outer contoured surface and have tips that contact the panels, and a retention barb that extends from the bottom of the channel. The wings are designed to be bent inward during installation, creating a biasing force that secures the light holder in place. The retention barb engages with retention nubs on a retaining strip, providing a snap-fit connection.

In practice, the light holder is installed by pressing the wings inward until the retention barb snaps into the retaining strip. The biased wings then exert pressure against the ceiling panels, ensuring a tight and secure fit. The channel in the light holder is designed to accommodate an LED light strip, with overhanging walls and catch surfaces that further secure the light strip in place. End caps can be added to the ends of the light holder to provide a finished look and to further secure the system.

This design differs from prior approaches by eliminating the need for cutting holes in the ceiling and using adhesives. The snap-fit mechanism allows for easy installation and removal, making it convenient for maintenance and repairs. The use of resiliently bendable wings provides a secure and adjustable fit, accommodating variations in panel thickness. The end caps further enhance the aesthetic appeal and provide a convenient location for making electrical connections, simplifying the overall installation process.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the mid-2020s when ’396 was filed, LED lighting was increasingly common, especially in applications like recreational vehicles where low power consumption and compact size were important. At a time when RV interiors were expected to have a high-quality fit and finish, lighting systems commonly relied on 12V DC power and were designed for easy installation and repair, as having electrical connections above the ceiling made installation more difficult.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because the prior art did not teach or suggest the specific combination of features in claim 1, particularly the wings being resiliently bendable between an uninstalled and installed position, where the tips of the wings are at different distances from the opening in each position. This limitation, combined with the other features of claim 1, was not found, taught, suggested, or rendered obvious by the prior art. Claims 2-5, 7-10, and 12-14 were allowable because they depend from claim 1. The examiner also stated that the prior art did not teach or suggest the specific combination of features in claim 6 and 11, particularly the wings being resiliently bendable between an uninstalled and installed position, where the tips of the wings are at different distances from the opening in each position. This limitation, combined with the other features of claim 6 and 11, was not found, taught, suggested, or rendered obvious by the prior art.

Claims

This patent includes 14 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 6, and 11. The independent claims are directed to a light holding system for use in an RV ceiling or between panels. The dependent claims generally add further details and limitations to the features described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Elongate light holder
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 11)		“The light holding system has an elongate light holder. The elongate light holder has wings that define an outer contoured surface. The wings have tips. A channel extends beneath the outer contoured surface and has lateral walls that define an internal width of the channel.”A light holder that is longer than it is wide, having wings and a channel.
Outer contoured surface
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 11)		“The light holding system has an elongate light holder. The elongate light holder has wings that define an outer contoured surface. The wings have tips. A channel extends beneath the outer contoured surface and has lateral walls that define an internal width of the channel.”The external surface of the wings of the elongate light holder, shaped in a specific way.
Retention barb
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 11)		“A ridge wall extends from a bottom surface of the bottom wall opposite the channel. The ridge wall includes a retention barb that is spaced from the bottom surface. A portion of the retention barb is wider than the ridge wall.”A barb on the ridge wall that helps to secure the light holding system.
Retention nubs
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 11)		“The panels abutting a joist that has a width and a retaining strip that is fastened to the joist between the panels. The retaining strip has upstanding walls that extend from a base. The upstanding walls define a groove and that groove includes retention nubs.”Protrusions within the groove of the retaining strip that aid in securing the light holding system.
Ridge wall
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 11)		“A channel extends beneath the outer contoured surface and has lateral walls that define an internal width of the channel. The lateral walls are joined to a bottom wall. A ridge wall extends from a bottom surface of the bottom wall opposite the channel. The ridge wall includes a retention barb that is spaced from the bottom surface.”A wall extending from the bottom surface of the bottom wall opposite the channel, including a retention barb.

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US12276396

SIGMA SWITCHES PLUS INC
Application Number
US18794130
Filing Date
Aug 5, 2024
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Aug 5, 2044
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents