Flexible LED light strip for a bicycle and method for making the same

摘要

An integrally-formed single-piece flexible light strip includes a substrate populated with at least one LED light circuit. A clear flexible plastic housing is molded around the LED light circuit to completely encapsulate the light circuit. A flexible electrical cable and contoured strain relief for the electrical cable are also integrally formed as part of the light strip to maintain complete environmental and physical protection and eliminate any non-flexible portions of the light strip such as when a connector is used. The light strip is manufactured in a cost efficient manner, and is impervious to moisture penetration and highly resistant to physical damage, thereby allowing the light strip to be used in a variety of applications and environments. The shape of the illustrated light strip is specially designed for attachment to the round tubing of a bicycle frame. The light strip includes an electrical circuit allowing a reduction in the number of wires between the strip and its associated external control and power.

主权项

1. An encapsulated flexible LED light strip comprising:
a flexible substrate having a rectangular-shaped central portion and a plurality of support tabs laterally extending from elongate lateral sides of the central portion and spaced apart along the elongate lateral sides of the central portion; an LED light circuit at the central portion of the flexible substrate and having at least three spaced-apart LED lights; a substantially voidless flexible plastic housing encapsulating the LED light circuit and the central portion of the flexible substrate; wherein the flexible plastic housing has a length extending between opposed ends, a width extending between opposed lateral sides, and a thickness extending between opposed front and rear sides; wherein the encapsulated flexible LED light strip has a minimum flexibility of the length such that when the length is shorter than 200 mm every 80 mm section of the length can bend over an arc of 20 degrees and when the length is 200 mm or longer every 150 mm section of the length can bend over an arc of 20 degrees; wherein the length is in the range of 80 mm to 2.0 m; wherein the length to the width has a ratio of at least 8:1; at least one flexible electrical cable extending from the LED light circuit and through the flexible plastic housing; and wherein the flexible plastic housing forms a contoured strain relief for the at least one flexible electrical cable.