Flexible elongated lighting system

A waterproof lightweight emergency lighting system comprising:

• an extruded elongated flexible housing member having an interior upper light transmission portion and an interior lower mounting portion of a different configuration, both portions extending substantially along the entire length of the housing member, the upper light transmission portion providing a directional transmission of light towards a predetermined field angle extending traversely to the length of the housing member that is substantially less than 360.degree., the upper light transmission portion having a variable thickness commensurate with the predetermined field angle to provide a variable refractive characteristic for directing the light, the housing member is capable of being bent to define an outline of an exit;
• a plurality of individual lighting elements having a predetermined preferred light transmission positioned within the housing member and spaced along a substantial portion of its length so that the axis of light transmission of each lighting element has substantially the same alignment with the upper light transmission portion, along a plane intersecting the housing member's longitudinal axis and the middle of the upper light transmission portion, for providing the final directional transmission of light from each of the lighting elements that contribute light to the predetermined field angle;
• power means for providing excitation to the lighting elements, and
• means for electrically interconnecting the lighting elements to the power means whereby the lighting elements transmit light through the housing member towards the predetermined field angle including an approximately flat bus strip mounting the lighting elements and providing common electrical connections to each lighting element, the bus strip being laterally flexible perpendicular to the plane and relatively rigid within the plane.

A light system comprising:

• an extruded, elongated, approximately tubular, flexible housing member having a hollow interior with a pair of planar surfaces to provide an upper light transmission portion of a cross-sectional variable thickness, the optical refraction characteristics of the upper light transmission of light providing a directional transmission of light towards a predetermined field angle extending traversely to a longitudinal axis of the housing member that is substantially less than 360.degree., and a lower mounting portion of a different configuration, the upper and lower portions extending substantially along the entire length of the housing member;
• a plurality of light-emitting elements positioned within the hollow interior of the housing member on a plane intersecting the housing member's longitudinal axis and the middle of the upper light transmission portion and spaced along the longitudinal axis of the housing member;
• an approximately flat bus strip mounting the light-emitting elements along one edge and providing common electrical connections to each element, the bus strip being laterally flexible perpendicular to the plane and relatively rigid in the plane, the lower portion of the housing member supporting the bus strip so that the light-emitting surfaces of the elements are operatively positioned adjacent the upper portion of the housing member to primarily distribute the light emitted from the elements within the predetermined field angle, and
• means for providing electrical power to illuminate the light-emitting elements.