I UTILIZATION IN TAPEField of the invention This invention relates to light sources and lighting systems, and has a particularly advantageous application for the decorative illumination of structures and structural elements. The invention is especially effective when used with LED as a light source, although it is emphasized that the widest applications are included.
Prior art The British Patent publication 2102933 describes a luminous screen configuration consisting of multiple polycarbonate or transparent plastic tubes joined or connected by plug-in units with some recesses oriented in different directions to seat the tubes. Each of the tubes contains an array of light bulbs, filament lamps or light emitting diodes (LEDs). The application illustrates an independent structure of pipes and plug units, socket or union receptacle. A known lighting product in the form of a ribbon has a linear array of well spaced LED chips in a colored plastic tube, of forced fit having a rectangular cut. The tube is a little less than 1 cm wide and each LED chip is visible - from the outside when it is not activated and as a single point of light. The product is used to provide security lighting in low light, for example, as a "night light" indicator on the front edge of steps and stairs and in this way the rectangular tube is a carrier housing, protective for the indicator lamps LED low light level. Another known product has small bulbs or incandescent light bulbs embedded in intervals in an axial plane in a solid cylinder of plastic material. The lamps are arranged as series in parallel, electrically connected through a pair of longitudinally extending wires also embedded in the cylinder. Each lamp operates individually when the device is activated, so that the cylinder of the plastic material effectively serves as a carrier by forming a chain of separate incandescent lamps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present applicant has observed that a light tube structure in which multiple light-emitting diodes are arranged within a translucent, elongated tube provides a wide range of opportunities for novel strip lighting of structures such as courtyards. and the walls and 25 ceilings of the commercial facilities that includes the^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ j ^ m ^^ m ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ restaurants. This opportunity is further enhanced by the recent availability of almost improved luminance light-emitting diodes compared to traditional diodes, and of 5-color LED devices. In a sense, the invention is related to the decoration or enhancement of the characteristics of the structures. In another sense, the invention provides for the attachment of translucent housings containing LEDs 10 separated in walls or surfaces of a wide variety of structures. The invention provides a strip lighting device that includes: An elongate housing that is at least partially translucent; A multiplicity of light sources arranged at intervals within the housing; and The means for diffusing or scattering the light of the light sources whereby with the activation of the light sources a visible optical effect is produced when the housing is observed from the outside. In a particular application, the invention is directed to a structure having one or more features highlighted or decorated by one or more of the lighting devices in 25 strips described in the foregoing.g ^^^ dgéi ^ i | ^^? ^ Preferably, the highlighted or decorated feature of the structure is a corner or edge, for example, a side of a roof, window or door, or a corner between sections of walls or ceilings respectively. A particularly effective application 5 is to a pinion or trestle line of a building roof. The fringe lighting device (s) may be mounted along the edge or corner, or adjacent to, but displaced from the edge or corner. The housing of the strip lighting device can be practically white, but preferably it is a different color from white. In an application of the invention the structure is a commercial building and the color of the or each accommodation is chosen to coincide or complement the (s)color (s) of identification or logo shown in the building. The highlighted or decorated feature may otherwise be, for example, a pole, rail or edge. There may be assembly means that includes a lane ofAssembly adapted to be fastened to the surface, and the means cooperable in the strip and the housing for effecting a snap-fit or slidable connection of the housing to the strip so that the housing is generally parallel to, and preferably overlaps, the fringe. 25 The light sources are preferably light emitting diodeslight or other low voltage devices or semiconductors. The invention further provides, in a third aspect, a housing unit for illuminating stripes, which includes: A housing elongated at least partially but preferably substantially complete with a translucent material; One mounting rail; and Formations extending longitudinally, cooperable in the rail and in the housing for effecting a snap-fit or slidable coupling of the housing to the rail, so that the housing is generally parallel to, and preferably superimposed on, the strip. The pressure or sliding coupling can be obtained between the half rib extending longitudinally in one of the components, preferably the strip, and complementary slit means in the other. There may be cut formations in bias, longitudinal, opposite in the middle slit. The strip conveniently includes a substantially flat back coupling with the respective surface to which it is fastened. Preferably, in all the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the external or front face of the hollow, elongated housing is defined by a transverse segment in the form of a dome or convex. Preferably, in all aspects of the invention mentioned above, the interior of the housing is provided with support means for one or more tapes or strips extending longitudinally of the housing. One of these tapes or strips can be a support tape for the light sources and for the electrical connections of these light sources, and can thereby incorporate flat cable. A suitable support tape is the laminated printed circuit board (PCB). The tape or strip may be transversely oriented at any angle, for example, parallel to or normal to the support surface, or otherwise. The light sources can be on any side or side of the tape or support strip, or on both sides or sides. The connector means is preferably provided for physically coupling a pair of elongated housings, whereby the housings may be relatively displaced in the longitudinal direction in situ, for example, by thermal expansion or collapse of the building, without being uncoupled. Where the light sources are provided in a plurality of support ribbons or strips having electrically conductive surface elements and extending longitudinally of the housings, the connectors are also preferably provided for electrically and physically coupling the ribbons or support strips thereby belts or strips may also be displaced in the relatively longitudinal direction in situ without being decoupled, physically or electrically. It is particularly advantageous to provide such displacement between the housings and between the support tapes or strips carried by an arrangement of the housings. Another of these stripes or ribbons may be a refractor or optical diffuser, arranged in front or behind the light sources as appropriate. In all aspects of the invention, the housing may be hollow and / or may define a passage in which the light sources are placed. Otherwise, the housing can be substantially a solid, for example, a molding around the pre-positioned light sources, or with cavities to receive the light sources. Where the elongated housing is hollow, an extrusion of plastic (eg, polycarbonate) of substantially uniform cut and preferably translucent but not transparent is preferred. A translucent and also transparent housing may be preferable in some embodiments. The accommodation can be practically rigid. A suitable form of the flexible tubular segment is a folded ribbon structure, which can be compressed or accordioned. At present, the base strip, the hose segments and the coupling medium are also at leastThey are partially provided in translucent material. The means for diffusing, dispersing or diffusing may include, for example, a body portion of the housing and / or the light diffusing means in the passage. The invention, in another aspect, offers a connector for the physical coupling of a pair of generally tubular components, which includes: a molded, integrated body defining a pair of generally tubular portions slidably engageable with the respective tubular components so that their interiors are in communication within the connector; wherein the integrated molded body further defines a relatively thin wall portion between the generally tubular portions, the portion of the thin wall being resiliently deformable to compensate for relative variations in the relative positions of the generally tubular portions. The body material is preferably silicone rubber or the like. In still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector for the electrical and physical coupling of a pair or more of support strips having electrically conductive surface elements including: a molded body, integrated with features defining generally parallel channels or passages , separated, open in their outer edges to receive the respective end fingers of the respective strips, whereby the stripes are aligned and are generally coplanar; the electrically conductive contact means in the channels or passages for coupling complementary contacts on the strips, wherein the fingers are received in the channels or fingers [sic]; the means carried by the body electrically connecting each of the contact means for a strip carried by the body with one more of the contact means for the other strips; and resiliently deformable means in the body for engaging the body to each of the fringes. Preferably, each electrical connection means is provided with contacts as an electrically conductive integrated strip, more preferably, the strip is of appropriately conductive material, eg, phosphorus-bronze or other alloy, mounted to be elastically flexed by fingers . Preferably, the separate channels are arranged along opposite sides of the integrated, molded body and open laterally from the body. In one embodiment, these channels are provided in elongated side portions joined by a central crosspiece in an I or H configuration. The resiliently deformable engagement means ofstKSaMÁ.
Preference is provided as a pair of tongue portions that can be folded with lug welded connection terminals, whose tongue portions are defined by grooves in a tape portion of the molded body, integrated, e.g., bridging the elongated side portions. of the body. In still other aspects, the invention offers respectively: (i) a strip lighting system that includes multiple fringe lighting devices such ashas already been described, and (ii) a series of components for such a system including multiple fringe lighting devices, flexible tube segments and suitable coupling means, such as, for example, connectors according to the sixth and / or seventh aspects of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a simple arrangement of a strip lighting system; which incorporates multiple wrappings of light sources according to one embodiment of the invention, represented on the wall of a restaurant or other installation; Figure 2 is an end element represented aLuminous tube segment and a mounting rail ready for coupling; Figure 3 illustrates an advantageous strip lighting system for illuminating the roof lines of a building, according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention; Figure 4 illustrates an application of the invention for the frame of a display unit; Figure 5 is a fragmentary section of part of the unit of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a connector form for coupling two segments of light tube; Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the connector of Figure 6 in situ; Figure 8 is an isometric view of a connector for coupling the supporting bands of the flat cable, being a modality of the sixth aspect of the invention; Figure 9 is a side elevation sketch of the connector shown in Figure 8, with support strips inserted in position; Figure 10 shows an end portion of a support strip groove for cooperating with the connector of Figure 8; Figure 11 is an axial section of an end insert; Figure 12 is a section on line 12-12 of Figure 11;Figure 13 is an extreme, external elevation of the end insert; Figure 14 is an axial section of a segment of flexible tube to join segments of light tubes where they are not aligned; Figures 15 and 16 are an axial and extreme elevation cut of an interlocking ring. Figure 17 is a section on line 17-17 in Figure 16,Figure 18 is a fragmentary section illustrating assembling a pair of substantially rigid luminous tube segments to an intermediate, flexible luminous tube segment in the manner shown in Figure 14; Figures 19 and 20 represent two views of an end pin; Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view showing the termination of a segment of light tube by an end pin; Figure 22 represents, in a section, an elbow; Figure 23 shows an alternative form of the end cap; Figures 24 and 25 illustrate, in isometric views and in section, another alternative arrangement for interconnecting two of the end-to-end tube segments; and Figure 26 is an isometric, sectional view of a modified tube and rail unit.
Preferred Modes First of all with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the illustrated lighting system 10 includes some casings of light sources 12 each having an elongated hollow housing 14 of a translucent material. The housings 14 onwards will be mentioned as the light tube segments. These segments 14 are straight and practically rigid, and are joined by flexible segments 16. The segments of the light tubes 14 define respective internal passages 13 in which multiple light sources in the form of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 8 are arranged in intervals on strips supporting flat cable 9, for example, laminated printed circuit boards (PCBs). These laminates may be of any substantially rigid or flexible type. The LEDs are preferably of the surface mounted type. The electrical lead wires printed on these strips are electrically connected to an external power source / controller via junction boxes 20 and straight cable sheaths 22. The PCB laminate and other support strip may include local or extended layers or coatings for provide an optical effect, for example, reflection, in cooperation with the LEDs. The luminous tube segments 14 are fixed to the respective surfaces 5 of a structure 6, so that they extend along and adjacent to the surface, by the base strips in the form of mounting rails 30 on which the segments tubular 14 can be press fit so that they can be released. The mounting rails 30 in turn are fixed on the surface 5 by screws or the like concealed by the tubular segments hidden by the joined tubular segments. Other components of the strip lighting system illustrated include end inserts 40 to provide the tubular segments 14 with extreme coupling formations, the end plugs 50 (Figure 4) for terminating the tubular segments of light in addition to the connection boxes, and latching means 60 for engaging so that the inserts 40 can be disconnected to the hose segments 16 or the end plugs 50. Each segment of the substantially rigid lumen tube 14 consists of a uniform cutting extrusion in plastics material selected so that it is translucent in a form by means of which the light emitted by the interior LEDs is diffused or dispersed, so that the tube appears to shine when viewed from the outside. In this sense, an extended line or line of light is provided, that is, the tube appears to shine over a practically continuous area extending over its length and comprising the contained light sources. The translucent thermoplastic is preferably such that the LEDs are not visible to the eye when they are not activated or the exterior housing is observed outside., and are substantially not distinguishable when activated and observed from the outside. A suitable material is a polycarbonate polymer composition with suitable color pigment and a titanium dioxide bleaching agent to determine the optical dispersion and the degree of translucency or opacity. The color can be chosen to match a color of the LEDs, or it can be any other color, or white or colorless. The preferred color is UV stable. In an alternative embodiment, the extrusion material may contain dispersed, light diffusing elements, such as metal shavings or powder, which are effective to diffuse or disperse the emitted light and to cause a scintillation effect. In yet another variation of the tubular segment. The diffusion or scattering of the LED light can be facilitated by the presence of slits, ribs or other fine surface variations in the extruded segment. The material of the extrusion may include a component that is optically activated by electromagnetic radiation, such as sunlight or other radiation so that the emitted color, pattern or other optical characteristics can be modified. In Figure 2 a cut of the extrusion is illustrated. This includes an outer semicircular or semi-annular portion 23, generally straight sidewall portions 24a, 24b, and a thin-flared, thin-walled base structure in which a pair of longitudinally extending, hollow ribs 27a define a central slit or channel 27. The channel 27 has shallow shallow cuts 28a, 28b along each side defined back from the portions of the rounded rim 29a, 29b. The interiors of the sidewall portions 24a, 24b of the light tubular segment 14 are provided with a number, usually 4, of longitudinally extending ribs 19a that are uniformly positioned to define intermediate grooves 19b. These slits are provided for mounting ribbon cable 9, or optical diffuser or reflective ribbons or other accessories. This will be described later. Each mounting rail 30 is also an elongated extrusion of uniform cut formed in a material similar to the segments of the light tube 14. It has a main base web 31 with two integrated protruding ribs 32a, 32b of shallow V configuration in the cut. The external, lateral profile of this strip is hereby a close resemblance to the lateral profiles of the channel 27, including a slit V 34a, 34b of the matching flange portions 29a, 29b and a rib formation35a, 35b corresponding to the biased cuts 28a, 28b. The mounting rail 30 is dimensioned to be an interference fit in the channel 27. The shape of the thin, hollow wall of the base structure of the tubular segment 25 and the arrangement of the ribs 32a, 32b on the mounting rail 30 they allow both components to flex and deform so that the tubular segments 14 can be attached so that they can be disassembled to the mounting rails by pressing the tubular segments on themounting rails in the direction of the arrow 80 in Figure 3. The ribs 32a, 32b flex inwardly with each other and the hollow flanges 26a, 26b of the tube flex apart to allow the rib formations 35a, 35b press fit beyond the flanges 29a,29b in the biased sections 28a, 28b. In this way, the tubular light segment can be mounted to a surface such as a wall surface first by fixing the mounting rails in place against the wall with the fasteners 100 directed through the main core 31 of the wall.rail and then snapping the tubular segment in place. The mounting rails 30 have a smooth flat rear face 33 for coupling the external wall or surface on which the rail is mounted, and the fasteners are hidden from view in the assembled configuration. Theassembly lanes may include the provision forSupport electrical conductors in specific applications. If it is desired at any time to rearrange or dismantle the strip lighting, it is possible to fasten and pull the tubular segment 14 of the mounting rails by reversing the snap action. To facilitate snap-fitting, there must be a longitudinal groove in the center of channel 27, in the position indicated in Figure 2 at 127. It will be appreciated that the system illustrated is adaptable to provide lighting configurations of stripes that match or complement a structure or provide a specific form, for example a form that can be recognized. An advantageous application is illustrated in Figure 3. A construction 150, for example, a commercial facility such as a restaurant, includes a roof 152 with peripheral edges 153 and corners such as the trestle line 154 or pinion lines 156. Some of the these edges and corners are adapted with tubular segments of light 14 to form a strip lighting system for the ceiling. The strip lighting system in this way highlights and decorates the respective characteristics of the ceiling. The color of the tubular segments may be chosen to complement the color scheme of the construction and / or to match the identification color (s) or logo shown in the construction. Of course it will be understood that the fringe lighting system can be applied with similar effect to other lines d? construction, both internal and external. With good choice of characteristics, color and separation of the LEDs, the effect of lighting system of strips in the construction as illustrated in Figure 3 is to improve the profile of the roof line without creating reflections and without being unduly ostentatious . Light has a richness without excessive brightness. Undesirable dark spaces are eliminated or reduced. Greater adjustments of the electrical distribution board are avoided, and the inventive system does not include the inconvenience of the high maintenance and fragility of the neon tubes. The accessories are hidden and easy to install, and the outstanding structure that could attract birds is omitted. It is possible to obtain continuous, very long lines of light, while the neon tubes require regular interruption by the discharge boxes. In one variation, the mounting rails 30 may have an integrated leg or rib, e.g., section T, L, or X to elevate the rail from the edge or surface. It is possible to provide double rail extrusions. These variations can assist in the position of the tubular segments 14 as framed for surface mounted features. Figure 4 illustrates the application of strip lighting for a promotional screen, and Figure 5 is a promotional screen, and Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the leg in the cut T129 of the mounting rail 30. This highlights the application of the invention to the store accessories generally. Other applications 5 include patios, for example, to highlight posts or lanes, and sites for children in general. In alternative applications, the mounting rail can be independent. Figures 6 and 7 depict a mode 100 of the connector for coupling a pair of tubular segments 14 forform a longer beam of light for applications such as that shown in Figure 3. This connector is simple in its shape and effective in its adjustment for relative movement between tubular segments, for example, due to thermal expansion or contractions. The connector100 is an integrated molded piece, generally tubular in liquid silicone rubber consisting of a pair of substantially identical plug portions 102, 103 joined by a central portion of relatively thin wall 104. Each plug portion 102, 103 has a profile internal forclosely coincides with the outer profile of the tubular segments 14, so that each can be slidably coupled with and around one end of a respective tubular segment 14, so that the interiors of the tubular segments are in communication within the connector100-ga teg & «* - 5,« • 4 ¿¡lÉ¡% íß íÁaB? ' a > . .-Faith at. At its inner ends, each plug portion 102, 103 has an internal flange 106 defining a peripheral groove 107 for receiving and sealingly securing the end 14a of the tubular segment. The central portion 104, bridging the two flanges 106, is sufficiently thin to allow accommodating or compensating relative movement of the tubular segments without uncoupling the tubular segments, bending, elongation or otherwise elastically deforming. Another compensation is provided for sliding movement of the tubular segments longitudinally of the slit 107. The material of the connector must be chosen to facilitate and optimize this function. The liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is especially suitable, due to its excellent elastic memory in the deformation, its ability to fasten obturante tubular segments and durability in general. The molded parts thus achieve a substantially hermetic coupling with structural integrity, able to compensate thermal expansion and other displacement between the tubular segments 14. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a connector mode 110 for physically and physically bonding the cable support strips flat (usually PCB laminates) 9 within tubular segments 14, or within a coupling therebetween.
Again the conecfcor 110 is a molded part integrated in a suitable material. The molded part defines a solid body containing elongated, parallel side portions 112, 113 joined by a cross-piece, central 114 in an I or H configuration. The cavities within this body are closed by generally rectangular core portions 116, 117. A along the outside of the side portions 112, 113 are the respective channels 118, open laterally of the connector. Each channel is divided by a central block lug 120. Mounted against the upper and lower part of each channel is a metal spring strip, respectively 122 (for example of bronze phosphor, not shown in Figure 8) formed to pass over the lug 120 and under the intermediate lugs 124, and retained by the grooves 126 in the end ribs 128. The ends of the channels 118 are open, between the ribs 128, to receive the respective end fingers 140, 142 of the PCB laminates. 9 (Figure 10). These fingers force the contact of the strips 122 elastically separated, to ensure electrical contact with the contacts 144 on the upper and lower faces of the fingers of the strip. The PCB laminates 9 are hooked to the connector by engaging the lugs 132 in the corresponding openings 145 (Figure 10) in the laminates. The, i, Plugs 132 are provided on the elastically deformable tongues 130 defined on the open edges of the core portions 116, 117 by the grooves 134. The lugs 132 have an inclined, external, contact face 135 by means of which the fringe separates tab / pair of lugs, and a steep internal face 136 that provides the bolt function. The tabs 130 can be deformed manually to decouple the components. The connector 110 usually must include a training(not shown) to avoid coupling except in a correct orientation in relation to the strip. The connector 110 is also preferably such as to allow a relative longitudinal displacement of the respective laminates, for example, between the limits determined bythe cooperating joints without these being physically or electrically uncoupled. The connector 110 is preferably designed and colored to minimize the breaking of the uniformity of the light pattern emitted by the connected tubular segments. A number of various components described and illustrated herein may be sent to a site and mounted to a structure or series of walls in the manner described. The connectors 110 should be used to bridge the diode mounting strips through the interiors of the segmentsflexible tubular 16, and electric power would bes & íSílí ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^supplied to the diodes through the straight cable shells 22 and the junction boxes 20 (Figure 1) to which at least some of the tubular segments 14 would be attached. For convenience, the light levels of the multiple tubular segments must be controlled at a central point to obtain balance, or to obtain special effects. In another alternative arrangement, each tubular segment or respective subgroups of tubular segments may have a separate brightness control, for example, a current level adjustment device mounted on the tubular segment or adjacent mounting rail. It will be appreciated that the light emitting diodes can be of any suitable type, for example, the series of three-color diodes not available, but it is desirable to avoid excessive variations in the outputs between diodes for a given current, and to look for LED life products. prolonged The LEDs may be simply activated to provide constant and uniform illumination, or they may be handled in a variable sequence by internal or external programmed logic circuits for the illustrated configuration. By similar means, it is possible to obtain random and variable patterns, color and tone variations and color changes. Because the connectors 100 allow a relative longitudinal movement degree between tubular segmentsadjacent couplers LF2 and connectors 110 perform a similar function between adjacent coupled PCB laminates 9, the system can compensate at the same time or accommodate double movement, for example, due to expansion or collapse of the construction, externally in the arrangement of tubular segments 14 and internally in the content arrangement of the PCB laminates. The arrangement for this compensation is advantageous in most applications, in the real world, of the inventive concepts 10 As already noted, the tubular light segments 14 can be fitted with end inserts 40 to allow them to be connected To other accessories, an insert like this is illustrated in Figures 11 to 13. This is a molded part integrated in a suitable plastic material,preferably used for segments 14 and 42 and mounting rails 30. The insert mainly includes 3 axially successive portions, i.e., a plug portion 42 and an end flange 44 and a connecting portion 46. The plug portion 42 is precisely coupled to make an adjustmentinterferent in any of the open ends of a tubular segment of light 14 and thus has an external profile complementary to the internal profile of the tubular segments 14. The interior of the insert is provided with a shallow shoulder 29a, peripheral in the transition between theserving pin 42 and flange portion 44 and with a rib^^^^ ¡¡^^^ ¿¿^^^^ ¡^^^^^ ¡s ^^^^ - ^. ^^^.convex extending longitudinally 29b in the upper interior of the plug portion ^ 427 These characteristics are for locating and tightening the electrical connectors of the flat cable as and if required. The end flange 44 is a lateral elongation around the entire pin portion 42 and has an external profile that is closely coupled to that of each tubular segment 14. It can thus also be press-fitted onto a base strip 30 if necessary in a positionintermediate in the base strip. The connector portion 46 is a generally tubular coaxial extension from the flange 44 having two additional features at its external axial end: an external flange 47 and a frustroconical elongationextending at the periphery 48 of the internal bore 45. This elongation is to provide an O-ring seat, as will be explained below. The tab 47 locates an interlocking ring 60. A tubular segment assembled 14 for installationwould be adapted with at least one arrangement of light-emitting diodes 8 mounted on a suitable flat cable support strip 9. Usually, this strip would be mounted in a pair of lower slits 19b. If desired for specific purposes, a suitable diffusing strip can bemounted on another of the pair of slits, or a stripThe refractor may be mounted on yet another pair, usually between the light-emitting diodes and the diffusing strip relative to the curved front of the tube. Once they are in place, they can be retained by adjustment inserts 5 to either or both ends of the tube and fixed in place with a suitable adhesive or contact cement at the interface between the plug portion 42 on the inner surface. of the tube. Of course other fixing and closing arrangements are possible. The orientation of the plane of the strip 9 can vary in other modalities. For example, this plane may be normal to the surface 5 in Figure 2. In addition, the LEDs 8 may be on either or both surfaces of the strip 9. A flexible tubular segment 16 is shown in situ on theFigure 1 and detailed in Figures 14 and 18. The flexible tubular segment 16 is a thin-walled molded part of a translucent material similar to that of the tubular segments 14. The overall structure is of a corrugated or folded configuration under the which segment ishighly flexible and can be compressed in accordion form, flexed along its axis up to 90 ° or more. The segment is provided with end portions 84 including a tapered spike or male 85 and a pair of diametrically opposed curved tabs 86 that are positioned behindtapered end portion 85 so that an annular shoulder 88,^ - ^^ sas ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ to very shallow, turned back 88 on the inner end of pin portion 85 defines a seat ring 0 89 between this and the lugs 86. Another component to effect coupling of the flexible tubular segments 16 to rigid tubular segments 14 is molded locking ring 60 integrated manner (Figures 15 to 17). This consists mainly of a bayonet socket ring 62 and a ring means 64 for snap fit with a biased cut 65. The outer surface of the ring has ribs to improve tightening 63. The bayonet plug ring 62 has diametrically curved recesses Opposites 66 which coincide to receive the lugs 86 of the flexible tubular segments 16. The press-fit ring means 64 is slightly larger than the semi-circular, subtending or hugging its outer crown by approximately 250 ° and extending between the deformable wings 67a , 67b. Referring now to Figure 18, which depicts a section of an assembly of a flexible tubular segment 16 with the tubular segments 14, the locking ring 60 is applied to the insert 40 behind the flange 47 body; the wings 67a, 67b are deformed so that the locking ring snaps around the body of the insert and is then retained by engaging the flange 47 behind the skewed cut 65. The end formation 84 of a»•« > *,, jés & aÁ ^? S i í¿ ^ S & flexible tubular segment 16, with ring 0 90 in the seat 89, is then introduced into the locking ring having the lugs 86 through the recesses 66. Twisting each component, O-ring 90 which islocated in the seat 89 is clamped against the frustoconical end surface 48, thereby holding all the components together to form the assembly shown in Figure 18. The gasket is preferably fluid-tight and / or watertight. gas, especially if the system is 0 proposed for outdoor installation. Instead of the coupling of the tubular segment 14 to another tubular segment 16, the first can be finished, by means of the end plug 50 (Figures 19 to 21). The end plug 50 has an end formation 51 similar to the end portion 84 of the flexible tubular segment 16, including a spigot portion 55, the shoulder 58 and the seat of the O ring 59. However, in this case, the interior is closed by a transverse membrane 52 flush with the pin end of the pin, and the component is terminated by an external flange 0 54. The assembly of an end insert 40 using a locking ring 60 and the fastening of an O 90 ring is similar to that described above for the flexible tubular segment and is shown in Figure 19. The end inserts 40 can also be used to couple a pair of tubular segments to the ends^^^^^^^ 3 ¿^^^ 3 * ß9frespective of a tubular elbow component 220 (Figures 4, 22) defining a selected angle bent between the two segments. This component may be rigid or flexible, and may also conveniently be formed of liquid silicone rubber 5 (LSR) mentioned above. An alternative for the end plug 50 is shown in Figure 23, and consists of an LSR end piece 250 that fits over the end insert 40 and may include an inlet 252 for the wire 254 or other accessory. This allowsan effective hermetic seal around the cable. An alternative coupling arrangement is shown in Figures 24 and 25. In these, the tubular segments 14 are closed by end caps of polycarbonate 200 with inlets 201 for the conductive terminals 202. These terminals 202 are contained in a rubber coupler of liquid silicone 204 formed, like connector 100, for the profile of the tubular segments. The coupler 204 has central flanges 206 which retain the conductive terminals 202 and protrude and seal the inlets 201. The coupler 204 comprises and holds the respective end caps 200. The embodiments illustrated with the enclosed tubes 14, 16 separate the mounting rails 30. and different forms of coupling provide a lighting system ofstrips in which the LEDs are protected in an environmentIt can be sealed against the entry of moisture, but it is easily installed and dismantled. The installation can thus be -% *. substantially permanent or only temporary. Pipes can be easily separated individually for service of electric components, for example, replacement of useless diodes. The component bodies, the tubular segments 14, 16, the mounting rails 30, the electrical connectors 110, the end inserts 40, the locking ring 60 and the end plugs 50 can be provided in a single uniform color or in any configuration colors. By forming all the components in an optically diffusive translucent material, it is possible to obtain the advantageous continuity of the strip lighting. Variations in intensity are easily obtained with the choice of material and the configuration or control of the internal LEDs. In an alternative arrangement, the tubular segments 14 and the mounting rails 30 can be extruded into materials of very different colors. In still another variation, illustrated in Figure 26, the tubular segments 14 may be separable in the base portions 14a and lid 14b of different color and / or material.