US 6,394,623 B1Granted

Translucent flexible rope light and methods of forming and using same

AssigneeNeon King Limited

InventorPui-Hing Tsui

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Abstract

The present invention provides an elongate rope light and method of forming and using the same. The rope light preferably has a plurality of exposed elongate main body conductors, at least one exposed elongate light string conductor connected to at least one of the main body conductors and positioned to extend substantially the entire length of the rope light, and a plurality of lights positioned along the light string conductor. The light string conductor is preferably positioned substantially parallel to the plurality of main body conductors. The rope light also includes a substantially solid and translucent, flexible sheath having a continuous annular shape. The sheath is positioned to encase each of the plurality of exposed main body conductors, the at least one exposed light string conductor, and the plurality of lights along substantially the entire length of the rope light so that conducting outer surfaces of the plurality of exposed main body conductors, the at least one exposed light string conductor and the plurality of lights are readily visible to a user through the sheath and so that light illumination through the sheath is enhanced.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An elongate rope light comprising:

a plurality of exposed elongate main body conductors having first and second ends and positioned to extend substantially parallel for substantially the entire length of the rope light, the plurality of exposed elongate main body conductors being formed of a plurality of elongate strands positioned in a twisted configuration;
at least one exposed elongate light string conductor connected to at least one of the plurality of main body conductors and positioned to extend substantially the entire length of the rope light and substantially parallel to the plurality of main body conductors;
a plurality of spaced-apart lights connected to and positioned along the exposed elongate light string conductor to extend outwardly therefrom, the plurality of exposed elongate main body conductors and the at least one exposed elongate light string conductor including reflective metallic material for enhancing illumination of each of the plurality of lights;
and
a substantially solid and translucent, flexible sheath having a continuous annular shape positioned to encase each of the plurality of exposed main body conductors, the at least one expose light string conductor, and the plurality of lights along substantially the entire length of the rope light so that conducting outer surfaces of the plurality of exposed main body conductors, conducting outer surfaces of the at least one exposed light string conductor and the plurality of lights are readily visible to a user through the sheath and so that light illumination through the sheath is enhanced.

2 more elements

An elongate rope light comprising:

at least one exposed elongate main body conductor having first and second ends and positioned to extend substantially parallel for substantially the entire length of the rope light, the at least one exposed elongate main body conductor including a plurality of elongate strands positioned in a twisted configuration;
at least one exposed elongate light string conductor connected to the at least one main body conductor and positioned to extend substantially the entire length of the rope light and substantially parallel to the at least one main body conductor, the at least one exposed elongate main body conductor and the at least one exposed elongate light string conductor including reflective metallic material for enhancing illumination of the at least one light;
and
a substantially solid and translucent, flexible sheath having a continuous annular shape positioned to encase each of the at least one exposed main body conductor, the at least one exposed light string conductor, and the at least one light along substantially the entire length of the rope light so that conducting outer surfaces of the at least one exposed main body conductor, conducting outer surfaces of the at least one exposed light string conductor and the at least one light are readily visible to a user through the sheath and so that light illumination through the sheath is enhanced.

1 more element

A method of forming an elongate rope light, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a first end of at least one exposed elongate main body conductor to a first end of at least one exposed elongate light string conductor;
positioning the at least one exposed elongate main body conductor and the at least one exposed light string conductor to extend substantially parallel the entire length of the rope light;
attaching at least one light to the at least one exposed elongate light string conductor;
enclosing the at least one exposed elongate main body conductor, the at least one exposed elongate light string conductor and the at least one light in a substantially solid, translucent, flexible sheath so that conductive outer surfaces of the at least one exposed elongate main body conductor, conductive outer surfaces of the at least one exposed elongate light string conductor, and the at least one light are readily visible to a use through the sheath and so that light illumination through the sheath is enhanced;
and
twisting a plurality of elongate reflective, metallic strands to form the at least one elongate main body conductor.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.