APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM FOR HANGING LIGHTS ALONG A SUSPENSION WIRE OF A BRIDGE
A light attachment apparatus includes an attachment bracket that is configured to engage a suspension member. The attachment bracket defines a LED module receiving aperture that is configured to receive a LED module and allow removal of the LED module.
1 . A light attachment apparatus for routing a string of lights along a suspension member, the apparatus comprising:
an attachment bracket that is configured to engage the suspension member, the attachment bracket defining a LED module receiving aperture; and
a LED module that is disposed in the LED module receiving aperture.
2 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment bracket includes a first wire receiving slot, and a second wire receiving slot.
3 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a first wire extending from the LED module, and a second wire extending from the LED module.
4 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first wire is disposed in the first wire receiving slot, and the second wire is disposed in the second wire receiving slot.
5 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first wire is in communication with a dongle, LED driver, and/or a controller.
6 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first wire includes four conductors, and the second wire includes four conductors.
7 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the LED module includes a lens, and is overmolded with a rubber, a thermoset, or a thermoplastic that forms a watertight seal about the lens.
8 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the LED module is overmolded with a polyamide overmolding material.
9 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suspension member is a wire or rope.
10 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suspension member is a vertical wire.
11 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suspension member includes a convex arcuate perimeter, and the attachment bracket includes a concave arcuate surface that is configured to contact the convex arcuate perimeter.
12 . The light attachment apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the dongle, LED driver or the controller is programmed with GS8206b protocol.
13 . A string of LED lights comprising:
at least a first LED module including
a lens;
a seal contacting the lens;
a rectangular housing; and
a first wire extending from the rectangular housing;
wherein the rectangular housing defines a length, a width, and a height, and a first ratio of the length to the width ranges from 1.44 to 2.07, and a second ratio of the width to the height ranges from 2.30 to 3.30.
14 . The string of LED lights of claim 13 , wherein the length ranges from 2.075 inches to 2.325 inches, the width ranges from 1.135 inches to 1.385 inches, and the height ranges from 0.345 of an inch to 0.595 of an inch.
15 . The string of LED lights of claim 13 , wherein the rectangular housing, and the seal are integral.
16 . The string of LED lights of claim 13 , wherein the rectangular housing, and the seal are unitary.
17 . The string of LED lights of claim 13 , wherein the lens includes a polyacrylic material.
18 . The string of LED lights of claim 13 , further comprising a second wire extending from the housing in a direction opposite of the first wire.
19 . The string of LED lights of claim 13 , further comprising a LED driver or a controller in communication with the first wire that is programmed with GS8206b protocol.
20 . The string of LED lights of claim 18 , further comprising a second LED module that is in communication with the second wire.
21 . The string of LED lights of claim 20 , wherein the first LED module is identically configured as the second LED module.
22 . The string of LED lights of claim 13 , wherein the rectangular housing defines a convex fillet that extends along a housing perimeter.
23 . The string of LED lights of claim 13 , wherein the lens is injection molded including an exposed portion, and an unexposed portion.
24 . The string of LED lights of claim 23 , wherein the exposed portion has an outer cylindrical or conical protrusion, and the unexposed portion includes a U-shaped frame portion.
25 . The string of LED lights of claim 24 , wherein the U-shaped frame portion includes a top platform, a pair of side walls that extend downwardly from the top platform, the outer cylindrical or conical protrusion extends from the top platform, and a pair of snaps extend downwardly from the top platform that are configured to capture a PCB.
26 . The string of LED lights of claim 25 , wherein the lens defines a first plane of symmetry, and a second plane of symmetry.
27 . The string of LED lights of claim 25 , wherein the PCB includes a bottom side, a top side, a plurality of circuitry components attached to the bottom side, and a LED attached to the top side that is in electrical communication with the plurality of circuitry components.
28 . The string of LED lights of claim 27 , further comprising a first set of four conductors extending from a first end of the PCB being in electrical communication with the plurality of circuitry components, and a second set of four conductors extending from a second end of the PCB being in electrical communication with the plurality of circuitry components.
29 . The string of LED lights of claim 28 , further comprising an overmolding that covers the lens, the PCB, and a portion of the first set of four conductors, and a portion of the second set of four conductors.
30 . A string of LED lights comprising:
at least a first LED module including
a lens;
a rectangular housing; and
a first cord extending from the rectangular housing;
wherein the rectangular housing defines a length, a width, and a height, and a first ratio of the length to the width ranges from 1.44 to 2.07, and a second ratio of the width to the height ranges from 2.30 to 3.30.
31 . The string of LED lights of claim 30 , wherein the length ranges from 2.750 inches to 3.250 inches, the width ranges from 1.500 inches to 2.000 inches, and the height ranges from 0.500 of an inch to 0.625 of an inch.
32 . The string of LED lights of claim 30 , wherein the rectangular housing is split into a top housing, and a bottom housing, and further comprising a longitudinal seal that mates with the top housing and the bottom housing.
33 . The string of LED lights of claim 32 , wherein the top housing includes a top arcuate cord engaging portion, and the bottom housing includes a bottom arcuate cord engaging portion.
34 . The string of LED lights of claim 33 , further comprising a top grommet that mates with the top arcuate cord engaging portion and a bottom grommet that mates with the bottom arcuate cord engaging portion.
35 . The string of LED lights of claim 34 , wherein the bottom grommet is unitary with the longitudinal seal.
36 . The string of LED lights of claim 35 , wherein bottom grommet and the longitudinal seal are attached to the bottom housing.
37 . The string of LED lights of claim 35 , wherein the top grommet is attached to the top housing and the top housing defines a seal receiving groove.
38 . The string of LED lights of claim 33 , wherein the top housing includes a top strain relief ridge disposed longitudinally inwardly from the top arcuate cord engaging portion.
39 . The string of LED lights of claim 38 , wherein the bottom housing includes a bottom strain relief ridge disposed longitudinally inwardly from the bottom arcuate cord engaging portion.
40 . The string of LED lights of claim 32 , wherein the top housing includes a plurality of downwardly extending snap features, and the bottom housing includes a plurality of downwardly extending snap receiving windows and a plurality of snap receiving ledges disposed underneath the plurality of downwardly extending snap receiving windows.
41 . The string of LED lights of claim 30 , further comprising an overmolding that is at least partially complementarily shaped to the top housing and the bottom housing, defining an opening that is spaced away from the lens.
42 . The string of LED lights of claim 41 , wherein the overmolding defines at least one bottom aperture.
43 . The string of LED lights of claim 30 , further comprising a PCB with a plurality of LEDs on a first side of the PCB, and circuity on a second side of the PCB.
44 . The string of LED lights of claim 43 , further comprising a plurality of push-on connectors configured to mate with a plurality of wires extending from the first cord.
45 . A light attachment apparatus for routing a string of lights along a suspension member, the apparatus comprising:
a first attachment bracket that is configured to engage the suspension member, the attachment bracket defining a first LED module receiving aperture;
a first LED module that is disposed in the LED module receiving aperture;
a second attachment bracket that is configured to engage the suspension member, the second attachment bracket defining a second LED module receiving aperture;
a second LED module that is disposed in the second LED module receiving aperture; and
a first fastener that engages the first attachment bracket, the second attachment bracket, and the suspension member.
46 . The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the first fastener is a strap, a cable tie, a zip tie, or a barb tie.
47 . The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the first fastener is a strap.
48 . The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the first attachment bracket defines a first fastener receiving thru-slot, and the second attachment bracket defines a second fastener receiving thru-slot that is aligned with the first fastener receiving thru-slot, and the first fastener extends through the first fastener receiving thru-slot, and the second fastener receiving thru-slot.
49 . The apparatus of claim 48 , wherein the first fastener is a cable tie.
50 . The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the suspension member defines a round perimeter, the first attachment bracket defines a first stepped profile is configured to contact the round perimeter, and the second attachment bracket defines a second stepped profile that is configured to contact the round perimeter.
51 . The apparatus of claim 50 , wherein the first attachment bracket is spaced away from the second attachment bracket a predetermined angle that ranges from greater than 90 degrees to less than 200 degrees.
52 . The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the first attachment bracket is identically configured as the second attachment bracket.
53 . A bracket for receiving a light module, the bracket comprising:
a body defining a light module receiving aperture;
a first wire receiving slot that is in communication with the light module receiving aperture; and
a first fastener receiving slot that extends through the body.
54 . The bracket of claim 53 , wherein the body defines a front face, and the light receiving aperture extends from the front face to a rear wall of the body.
55 . The bracket of claim 54 , wherein the first wire receiving slot extends from the front face toward the rear wall of the body.
56 . The bracket of claim 55 , wherein the light module receiving aperture forms an annular wall of the body, and the first wire receiving slot extends through the annular wall.
57 . The bracket of claim 56 , wherein the body defines a second wire receiving slot that is in communication with the light module receiving aperture, and the second wire receiving slot extends through the annular wall.
58 . The bracket of claim 57 , wherein the second wire receiving slot extends from the front face toward the rear wall of the body.
59 . The bracket of claim 53 , wherein the light module receiving aperture forms an annular wall of the body, and the first fastener receiving slot extends through the annular wall at a first location and at a second location that is in linear alignment with the first location.
60 . The bracket of claim 59 , wherein the first fastener receiving slot is disposed at a longitudinal midplane of the bracket.
61 . The bracket of claim 60 , wherein the body further defines a second fastener receiving slot, and a third fastener receiving slot that straddle the first fastener receiving slot.
62 . The bracket of claim 61 , wherein the first fastener receiving slot, the second fastener receiving slot, and the third fastener receiving slot are identically configured.
63 . The bracket of claim 59 , wherein the body defines a front face, the light receiving aperture extends from the front face to a rear wall of the body, and the body includes a plurality of standoffs that extend from the rear wall.
64 . The bracket of claim 63 , wherein the plurality of standoffs defines a stepped profile.
65 . The bracket of claim 64 , wherein the stepped profile defines a concave radius of curvature that ranges from 1.75 inches to 2.25 inches.
66 . The bracket of claim 53 , wherein the light module receiving aperture forms a front face, and an annular wall of the body having a rectangular shape with a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner.
67 . The bracket of claim 66 , wherein the first corner forms a first undercut disposed underneath the front face.
68 . The bracket of claim 67 , wherein the second corner forms a second undercut disposed underneath the front face.
69 . The bracket of claim 68 , wherein the third corner forms a third undercut disposed underneath the front face.
70 . The bracket of claim 69 , wherein the fourth corner forms a fourth undercut disposed underneath the front face.
71 . The bracket of claim 70 , wherein the rear wall defines a first thru-hole disposed underneath the first undercut, a second thru-hole disposed underneath the second undercut, a third thru-hole disposed underneath the third undercut, and a fourth thru-hole disposed underneath the fourth undercut.
72 . The bracket of claim 66 , wherein the front face defines a first insert receiving aperture or a first fastener receiving aperture at the first corner.
73 . The bracket of claim 72 , further comprising a keeper fastened to the bracket.
74 . The bracket of claim 53 , further comprising a keeper straddling the first wire receiving slot.
75 . The bracket of claim 54 , wherein the front face defines a first front depression on a first side of the light module receiving aperture.
76 . The bracket of claim 75 , wherein the front face defines a second front depression on a second side of the light module receiving aperture.
77 . The bracket of claim 54 , further comprising a first front glare shield protrusion.
78 . The bracket of claim 53 , wherein the light module receiving aperture forms a front face, and an annular wall that defines one or more undercuts disposed underneath the front face.
79 . The bracket of claim 54 , wherein the rear wall defines a pry slot that is in communication with the light module receiving aperture.
80 . The bracket of claim 67 , wherein the front face defines a front lead-in surface disposed above the first undercut.
81 . A method of assembling a string of lights on a suspension member, the method comprising:
attaching a first bracket at a first predetermined distance from a starting point on the suspension member; and
inserting a first light module into the first bracket.
82 . The method of claim 81 , further comprising capturing the first light module in the first bracket.
83 . The method of claim 82 , wherein capturing the first light module in the first bracket includes attaching a keeper to the first bracket.
84 . The method of claim 82 , wherein capturing the first light module in the first bracket includes sliding the first light module under one or more undercuts of the first bracket.
85 . The method of claim 81 , wherein attaching the first bracket at the first predetermined distance from the starting point on the suspension member includes using a first strap that engages the first bracket and the suspension member.
86 . The method of claim 85 , wherein attaching the first bracket at the first predetermined distance includes using a second strap that engages the first bracket and the suspension member.
87 . The method of claim 86 , wherein attaching the first bracket at the first predetermined distance includes using a third strap that engages the first bracket and the suspension member.
88 . The method of claim 81 , further comprising attaching a second bracket at the first predetermined distance from the starting point on the suspension member; and inserting a second light module into the second bracket.
89 . The method of claim 88 , further comprising capturing the second light module in the second bracket.
90 . The method of claim 89 , wherein capturing the second light module in the second bracket includes attaching a keeper to the second bracket.
91 . The method of claim 90 , wherein capturing the second light module in the first bracket includes sliding the second light module under one or more undercuts.
92 . The method of claim 91 , wherein attaching a second bracket at a first predetermined distance from a starting point on the suspension member includes using one or more straps that engage the first bracket and the suspension member.
93 . The method of claim 88 , further comprising forming an angular array with the first bracket and the first light module, and the second bracket and the second light module.
94 . A keeper member comprising:
an attachment plate portion defining a pivot aperture, and an arcuate slot.
95 . The keeper member of claim 94 , wherein the pivot aperture is cylindrical, and the arcuate slot defines a center of curvature that is disposed within the pivot aperture.
96 . The keeper member of claim 95 , wherein the attachment plate portion includes a rectangular configuration.
97 . The keeper member of claim 95 , further comprising a flange portion extending away from the attachment plate portion proximate to the arcuate slot a protrusion distance along a first direction that is perpendicular to the attachment plate portion to a free end.
98 . The keeper member of claim 97 , wherein the protrusion distance ranges from 0.375 of an inch to 0.625 of an inch.
99 . The keeper member of claim 97 , further comprising a visor plate portion extending from the flange portion at the free end along an orthogonal direction to the first direction defining a visor plate portion length, and along a direction that is opposite of the first direction defining a visor plate width.
100 . The keeper member of claim 99 , wherein the visor plate portion length ranges from 1.625 inches to 1.875 inches, and the visor plate width ranges from 0.815 of an inch to 1.065 inches.
101 . The keeper member of claim 99 , wherein the folded keeper member defines a cutout disposed between the visor plate portion and the flange portion.
102 . The keeper member of claim 94 , wherein the keeper member is manufactured using a stamping process.
103 . The keeper member of claim 97 , wherein the keeper member is folded.
104 . A visor member comprising:
a single visor planar portion; and
an attachment plate portion that extends perpendicularly to the single visor planar portion.
105 . The visor member of claim 104 , further comprising a flange portion connecting the single visor planar portion to the attachment plate portion.
106 . The visor member of claim 104 , wherein the single visor planar portion has a rectangular configuration, and the attachment plate portion has at least a partially rectangular configuration.
107 . The visor member of claim 106 , wherein the single visor planar portion defines a single visor planar portion surface area, and the attachment plate portion defines an attachment plate portion surface area that is less than the single visor planar portion surface area.
108 . The visor member of claim 104 , wherein the visor member is stamped and folded.
109 . The visor member of claim 104 , wherein the attachment plate portion includes an open arcuate slot, and a pivot aperture.
110 . A visor and bracket assembly comprising:
a bracket defining:
a light receiving aperture; and
a wire receiving slot; and
a visor attached to the bracket, the visor covering the wire receiving slot, and including a visor portion that extends next to the light receiving aperture, but not over the light receiving aperture or the wire receiving slot.
111 . The visor and bracket assembly of claim 110 , wherein the visor is a right-handed visor with the visor portion extending along a right side of the light receiving aperture.
112 . The visor and bracket assembly of claim 110 , wherein the visor is a left-handed visor with the visor portion extending along a left side of the light receiving aperture.
113 . The visor and bracket assembly of claim 111 or 112 , wherein the visor is configured to be flipped to form a right-handed visor or a left-handed visor.
114 . A keeper and bracket assembly comprising:
a bracket defining:
a light receiving aperture; and
a wire receiving slot; and
a keeper attached to the bracket, the keeper being configured to cover the wire receiving slot using a pivot aperture.
115 . A pixel assembly comprising:
a lens;
a seal contacting the lens;
a PCB; and
an inner housing that includes
a top member that defines a plurality of top snap features; and
a bottom member that defines a plurality of bottom snap features
wherein the top member and bottom member of the inner housing are configured to surround the PCB.
116 . The pixel assembly of claim 115 , wherein the plurality of top snap features includes a plurality of top female snap features, and the plurality of bottom snap features includes a plurality of bottom male snap features.
117 . The pixel assembly of claim 116 , wherein the plurality of top female snap features includes a plurality of windows.
118 . The pixel assembly of claim 117 , further comprising a plurality of downwardly extending lead-in surfaces that lead from the plurality of windows.
119 . The pixel assembly of claim 118 , wherein each of the plurality of windows includes a rectangular shape.
120 . The pixel assembly of claim 115 , wherein the PCB defines a notch, and the top member includes a nub that is configured to fit within the notch.
121 . The pixel assembly of claim 116 , wherein the plurality of bottom male snap features includes a plurality of tabs.
122 . The pixel assembly of claim 121 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs includes a rectangular shape.
123 . The pixel assembly of claim 122 , wherein the bottom member includes a middle partition portion, forming a first cord receiving slot disposed between one of the plurality of tabs and the middle partition portion, and a second cord receiving slot disposed between the middle partition portion, and another of the plurality of tabs.
124 . The pixel assembly of claim 123 , further comprising a first cord that is attached to the PCB, and that is configured to be disposed in the first cord receiving slot, and a second cord that is attached to the PCB, and that is configured to be disposed in the second cord receiving slot.
125 . The pixel assembly of claim 124 , further comprising a clip that is configured to be attached to the first cord and the second cord, keeping them spaced apart.