U.S. patent number 3,894,225 [Application Number 05/487,789] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-08 for tape-lamps.
Invention is credited to Albert L. Chao.
United States Patent |
3,894,225 |
Chao |
July 8, 1975 |
Tape-lamps
Abstract
A novel lamp assembly adaptable for numerous types of uses; the
assembly consisting of a row of mini-lamps wired in parallel
electrical circuit, the circuit and lamps being held in the manner
of a sandwich between two lengths of flexible tapes which can be
secured along any objects so to provide a row of illuminated lights
when the circuit is connected to a power source.
Inventors: |
Chao; Albert L. (Flushing,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
23937121 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/487,789 |
Filed: |
July 11, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/249.08;
40/541; 174/117A; 428/7; 439/56; 40/594; 362/389; 439/492 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S
4/20 (20160101); G09F 13/28 (20130101); F21V
21/0808 (20130101); H05K 1/189 (20130101); H05K
3/281 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
13/00 (20060101); G09F 13/28 (20060101); F21S
4/00 (20060101); H05K 3/28 (20060101); H05K
1/18 (20060101); F21S 001/14 (); F21V 021/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/1R,2R,2AD,2B,9R,1R,1T,52R,59,6.4W ;339/17F,157C
;40/13D,13N,132R,125A ;174/117A,117F,117FF |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peters, Jr.; Joseph F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Miller; Richard L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a tape-lamp assembly, the combination of a length of tape,
and a row of mini-lamps along said tape, said mini-lamps being in a
parallel electrical circuit, said tape comprises a pair of adjacent
tape members between which said circuit is contained, said tape
members being secured together by suitable adhesive therebetween,
said tape members are each made of flexible transparent plastic and
at least one said tape members has a row of openings therethrough
and in each of which one of said mini-lamps is located.
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein suitable
adhesive means is applied on at least one outer side of said tape
for securement to any of various objects such as wood, glass or the
like.
Description
This invention relates to electrically illuminated displays.
A principle object of the present invention is to provide
tape-lamps in which a length of tape can be applied to any object,
the tape having a row of electric mini-lamps so to serve as a quick
and easily constructed electrically illuminated display.
Another object is to provide tape-lamps in which the tape can be
retailed rolled up in rolls, so that in practical use, a consumer
can tear off any length of tape as desired for use.
Yet another object is to provide tape-lamps wherein the invention
is adaptable as a decorative Christmas decoration around a window
frame, a fence, and round tree limbs; and which is adaptable as an
illuminating garment decoration such as along a ladies belt, coat
collars and hems or the like.
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description
proceeds.
To the accomplsihment of the above and related objects, this
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be
made in the specific construction illustrated and described within
the scope of the appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail thereof showing its construction.
FIG. 3 is a further enlarged cross sectional view through line 3--3
of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows one specific application of the invention.
Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10
represents a tape-lamp assembly according to the present invention
wherein there is an electric circuit 11 consisting of a row of
mini-lamps 12 connected in parallel by means of thin wiring 13.
The circuit 11 together with the mini-lamps 12 are enclosed,
sandwich-like between a pair of bendable, translucent, plastic tape
members 14 and 15, one of which has a suitable adhesive means 16
applied on one side thereof, so that after enclosing the circuit
and mini-lamps, the tape members are firmly secured together so to
form in combination a tape 17 that for practical purposes can be
sold rolled up in rolls 18 from which any desired amount can be
unrolled and cut off for use, whenever wished.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a row of small openings 19 are provided
either on one or both tape members 14 and 15 for each containing
one of the mini-lamps, and allowing light rays from the exposed
mini-lamps to radiate outward.
In use, a desired length of tape 17 is unrolled and cut off. One
end edge 20 of the tape members 14 and 15 are rolled back or
skinned off so to expose the positive and negative wire leads 21
and 22 in order that they may be electrically connected to an
electric power source of very low voltage that is suitable for the
mini-lamps.
As shown in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the tape-lamps can
serve to decorate a window frame 23 or the like. Likewise, the tape
can be made suitable to form illuminated lettering as suggested at
24 on the window glass 25 of the same Figure.
It is understood that tapes 17 may be made with pressure sensitive
adhesive on one or both outer sides for quick and easy
application.
The mini-lamps may be provided in multiple colors, or in same
colors on a tape. The tape-lamps can be plugged into battery packs
or through a suitable transformer to a household electric outlet
socket.
Thus a useful tape-lamp construction is provided.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and
described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be
understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the
forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation
can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
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