# US 10,871,283 B2 · Watertight LED arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,283 B2 - Document ID: US10871283B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/514,737 - Filed: 2019-07-17 - Published: 2020-01-23 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-17 - Assignees: Schluter Systems L.P. - Applicants: Schluter Systems L.P. - Inventors: Werner Schluter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871283B2 ## CPC - F21V 31/005: {Sealing arrangements therefor} - F21K 9/90: Methods of manufacture - F21S 4/28: rigid, e.g. LED bars - F21V 3/062: {the material being plastics} - F21V 15/01: Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts (F21V15/02 takes precedence {housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04}) - F21V 23/001: {the elements being electrical wires or cables} - F21V 23/005: {the substrate is supporting also the light source} - F21V 27/02: Cable inlets - F21Y 2103/10: comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A watertight LED arrangement is provided that extends in a longitudinal direction (L). The arrangement includes a strip-shaped LED board (3) provided with a multiplicity of LEDs (2) on its upper side and at least one cable (4) electrically connected to the LED board (3). A one-piece, elastically formed watertight sheath (6) which surrounds the LED board (3) and defines a light emission wall (5) at least on its upper side opposite the LEDs (2) receives the LED board (3) in a form-fitting manner. The sheath bears directly against the underside of the LED board (3), and a cavity (7) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) is provided between the upper side of the LED board (3) and the light emission wall (5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A watertight LED arrangement (1) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), comprising: a strip-shaped LED board (3) provided with a multiplicity of LEDs (2) on its upper side; at least one cable (4) electrically connected to the LED board (3); and a one-piece, elastically formed watertight sheath (6) which surrounds the LED board (3) and defines a light emission wall (5) at least on its upper side opposite the LEDs (2), the sheath (6) receiving the LED board (3) in a form-fitting manner; wherein the sheath bears directly against the underside of the LED board (3), and a cavity (7) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) is provided between the upper side of the LED board (3) and the light emission wall (5); and wherein the LED board (3) is provided on at least one of its free ends with a leaf region (10) angled in the direction of the light emission wall (5). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cable (4) projects outwardly from the underside of the LED board (3) and is passed through the underside of the sheath (6). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein longitudinal edges of the LED board (3) are enclosed by the sheath (6) in a form-fitting manner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sheath (6) has a substantially cuboid outer shape, wherein in the upper region of the sheath (6) projecting protrusions (8) are formed, which project laterally transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) and extend in the longitudinal direction (L), the protrusions (8) terminating flush with the light emission wall (5). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sheath (6) is made of silicon and/or PVC and/or PU. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein a first sheath region (6a) forming the upper side and at least parts of the longitudinal sides of the sheath (6) and a second sheath region (6b) forming at least parts of the underside of the sheath (6) are manufactured in successive working steps, the sheath regions (6a, 6b) being connected to one another in a form-fitting manner in order to achieve the one-piece-formation of the sheath (6). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first sheath region (6a) is manufactured from a first material which is partially transparent such that the upper side of the LED board (3) is not visible from the outside through the first material when the LEDs (2) are switched off. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first material is colored a grey tone, or wherein the first sheath region (6a) is provided on its upper side with a translucent, colored coating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first sheath region (6a) has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and includes recesses (9) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) for receiving the longitudinal edges of the LED board (3) in a form-fitting manner. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 7, wherein the second sheath region (6b) is manufactured from a second material which is transparent such that the underside of the LED board (3) is visible from the outside through the second material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an end cap (12) connected in a watertight connection to the sheath (6) on one end face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 11, wherein the watertight connection is an adhesive joint or a welded joint. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 11, wherein the end cap (12) has a projection (16) projecting into the cavity (7), the cross section of the projection (16) being adapted to the cross section of the cavity (7). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 11, wherein the side walls (13) of the end cap (12), looking at the longitudinal side of the LED arrangement (1) from the outside, each have a chamfer (14), which tapers from the underside of the sheath (6) in the direction of the light emission wall (5), whereby triangular side walls (13) result. ### Claim 15 A method of manufacturing a watertight LED arrangement (1) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), comprising: obtaining an elongated LED board (3) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and provided on its upper side with a plurality of LEDs (2) and having a predetermined length; connecting a cable (4) to the LED board (3); obtaining a substantially U-shaped first sheath region (6a) which is manufactured by extrusion from a watertight material and which forms an upper side defining a light emission wall (5) and at least parts of longitudinal sides of a sheath (6) of the LED arrangement (1) and has recesses (9) arranged opposite one another at a distance from the upper side and extending in the longitudinal direction (L) for receiving the longitudinal edges of the LED board (3) in a form-fitting manner; positioning the LED board (3) provided with the cable (4) in the recesses (9) of the first sheath region (6a) such that the upper side of the LED board (3) faces the light emission wall (5) and the free ends of the LED board (3) are arranged at approximately the same distance (a) from the free ends of the first sheath region (6a); closing end faces of the arrangement by inserting the assembly into a suitably formed casting mold; and casting a second sheath region (6b) forming at least a part of an underside of the sheath (6) and sealing the end faces of the sheath (6) using a watertight material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein, after positioning the LED board, a cavity (7) formed between the upper side of the LED board (3) and the light emission wall (5) and extending in the longitudinal direction (L) is closed at the ends, in particular in that a leaf region (10) which is provided on at least one free end of the LED board (3) and whose shape is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the cavity (7) is angled in the direction of the light emission wall (5). ### Claim 17 A watertight LED arrangement (1) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), comprising: a strip-shaped LED board (3) provided with a multiplicity of LEDs (2) on its upper side; at least one cable (4) electrically connected to the LED board (3); and a one-piece, elastically formed watertight sheath (6) which surrounds the LED board (3) and defines a light emission wall (5) at least on its upper side opposite the LEDs (2), the sheath (6) receiving the LED board (3) in a form-fitting manner; wherein the sheath bears directly against the underside of the LED board (3), and a cavity (7) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) is provided between the upper side of the LED board (3) and the light emission wall (5); and wherein the LED board (3) is provided on at least one of its free ends with a sealing element extending upwards in the direction of the light emission wall (5), the sealing element being formed in a blade or a film. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 17, wherein the cable (4) projects outwardly from the underside of the LED board (3) and is passed through the underside of the sheath (6). ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The LED arrangement (1) according to claim 17, wherein longitudinal edges of the LED board (3) are enclosed by the sheath (6) in a form-fitting manner.