Impact resistant - long life trouble light

• US 20030076691A1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ferret Instruments Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ferret Instruments Incorporated
• Inventors: Russell, Donald Lewis, Becks, Eric Roger, Gauthier, Thomas Frederick
• Application Number:
  US09/682,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/023 having two or more, or different light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A trouble light apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention employs high output Light Emitting Diodes to provide improved service over existing trouble lights by having extremely long life lighting elements, being extremely resistant to impacts and shocks that easily damage incandescent and fluorescent lamps, uses low power and does not generate hazardous levels of heat. The invention also anticipates other fabrication methods and the use of various spectra of LEDs to cause diagnostic markers to fluoresce.

Claims

1. A trouble light apparatus using multiple light emitting diodes as the lighting element, comprising:

multiple Light Emitting Diodes arranged to provide a desired pattern of light a mounting arrangement to resist damage by impact

2. A trouble light apparatus using multiple Light Emitting Diodes as the lighting element with the LEDs mounted to a printed circuit board and enclosed within a high impact resistant plastic tube, comprising:

multiple Light Emitting Diodes mounted on a printed circuit board arranged to provide a desired pattern of light

high impact resistant plastic tube to enclose the circuit board

a means to cap the ends of the plastic tube to retain the circuit board

3. [Claim Reference] invention of the first claim where the LEDs are molded or otherwise embedded into the plastic fixture.

4. A device employing multiple LED lighting elements arranged in a form and fitted with appropriate connector to replace the existing incandescent lamp in a conventional trouble light, comprising:

multiple Light Emitting Diodes connected in electrically parallel and series circuits such that the forward voltage drops due to the semiconductor band gap potentials sum to less than the applied voltage

circuit elements, whether passive such as resistors or active such as voltage or current regulators, to adjust for the difference from the applied voltage to the summed band gap potentials of the LED circuits

a physical enclosure of a shape and size equal to or smaller than a conventional incandescent trouble light lamp

a contact base of the type used on conventional incandescent lamps to provide for electrical contact from the conventional trouble light lamp socket

5. A trouble light apparatus, powered by internal batteries, using multiple Light Emitting Diodes as the lighting element, comprising:

multiple Light Emitting Diodes arranged to provide a desired pattern of light batteries and mounting means

a mounting arrangement to resist impact

6. A trouble light apparatus using multiple Light Emitting Diodes as the lighting element, comprising:

multiple Light Emitting Diodes of specific spectral content that are used, either exclusively or along with the basic white LEDs such that certain materials are caused to fluoresce when illuminated by the work light.