Connector for light-emitting diode strip

An anchoring connector for joining first and second light strips of the type having a top side, a bottom side, and two ends, each light strip containing a plurality of light-emitting diodes and a plurality of conductors electrically connected to said light-emitting diodes on said top side, each strip having one of said light-emitting diodes at an end of said strip, comprising:

• a base portion,
• a channel in said base portion, said channel extending across said base portion and having first and second ends,
• a plurality of gripping members secured in said channel of said base portion for gripping said bottom sides of said first and said second light strips when they are inserted into opposite ends of said channel,
• a closable lid attached to said base portion by a hinge, said lid including first and second openings for admitting said light-emitting diodes at said ends of said first and said second light strips,
• a plurality of electrodes in said lid arranged to contact said plurality of conductors on said top sides of said first and said second light strips, thereby connecting said plurality of conductors of said first and second strips when said lid is closed,
• whereby when said first light strip is inserted into said channel from said first end of said channel and said second light strip is inserted into said channel from said second end of said channel and said first and said second light strips abut one-another at the center of said channel and said lid is closed, said gripping members grip said bottom sides of said light strips, said light-emitting diodes at said ends of said first and said second light strips are admitted into said first and said second openings in said lid and said plurality of electrodes in said are urged into contact with said plurality of conductors so that said light-emitting diodes on said second light strip can receive current from said conductors on said first strip when said first strip is energized.

An anchoring connector for a light strip having a light-emitting diode at an end, comprising:

• an anchor portion and a wire portion,
• said anchor portion having a base and a closable lid secured to said base by a hinge, said lid having at least one opening for admitting said light-emitting diode,
• said strip having at least one electrode having a curved arm that is slidably affixed to a conductor on said strip at said end and extending outward therefrom,
• said wire connector portion containing at least one terminal arranged to receive a wire for energizing said terminal,
• said wire portion being arranged to slidably mate with said anchor portion and thereby urge said terminal on said wire portion into contact with said electrode on said anchor portion, thereby connecting said strip with said wire.