ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 6 -- United States Patent no. 12,281,790, issued on April 22.
"Structural and lighting system" was invented by Joel A. Nichols (Columbia City, Ind.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A structural lighting system including a structural member having an outward facing portion and an inward facing portion. The structural member being configured to support a light transmissive environmental barrier. The outward facing portion of the structural member having a reduced light blocking shape as compared to the inward facing portion. A light source is coupled to the structural member, the light source being arranged to emit light from the inward facing portion."
The patent was filed...