LED light bulb for use in an illuminated aircraft sign

• US 20030235055A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pervaiz Lodhie
• Original Assignee: Pervaiz Lodhie
• Inventors: Lodhie, Pervaiz
• Granted Patent: US 6,886,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/470
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0038 Illumination systems for cabins as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/20 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An LED light bulb has a bulb base having an electrical contact, an outer sidewall, an insulator between the electrical contact and the outer sidewall. The LED light bulb further includes a bulb circuit board mounted upon the bulb base and extending upwardly therefrom. The bulb circuit board has a first side and a second side. A plurality of LEDs are mounted on the first and second sides of the bulb circuit board such that the plurality of LEDs are in electrical communication with the electrical contact through a resistor. A flange extending outwardly from the outer sidewall adjacent a bottom edge of the outer sidewall.

Claims

1. An LED light bulb comprising:

a bulb base having an electrical contact, an outer sidewall, an insulator between the electrical contact and the outer sidewall;

a bulb circuit board mounted upon the bulb base and extending upwardly therefrom, the bulb circuit board having a first side and a second side;

a plurality of LEDs mounted on the first and second sides of the bulb circuit board such that the plurality of LEDs are in electrical communication with the electrical contact through a resistor; and

a flange extending outwardly from the outer sidewall adjacent a bottom edge of the outer sidewall.

2. The LED light bulb of claim 1 further comprising a first conductor that electrically connects the electrical contact with the bulb circuit board.

3. The LED light bulb of claim 2 further comprising a second conductor that electrically connects the bulb circuit board to the outer sidewall.

4. The LED light bulb of claim 1 wherein the outer sidewall is generally cylindrical and wherein the bulb circuit board is positioned to frictionally engage the outer sidewall and extend upwardly above the outer sidewall.

5. An LED light bulb comprising:

a bulb base having an electrical contact, an outer sidewall, an insulator between the electrical contact and the outer sidewall;

a plurality of LEDs in electrical communication with the electrical contact through a resistor; and

a flange extending outwardly from the outer sidewall adjacent a bottom edge of the outer sidewall.

6. The LED light bulb of claim 5 wherein the plurality of LEDs includes four LEDs mounted on a bulb circuit board and disposed in a generally rectangular arrangement around the resistor.

7. The LED light bulb of claim 6 further comprising a rigid tray affixed to an upper edge of the outer sidewall, the rigid tray being adapted to support the bulb circuit board.

8. The LED light bulb of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of studs extending upwardly from the rigid tray, each of the plurality of studs being positioned between two of the plurality of LEDs.

9. The LED light bulb of claim 8 wherein the plurality of studs each extends upwardly above the bulb circuit board to approximately the same height as the plurality of LEDs.

10. The LED light bulb of claim 5 further comprising a first conductor that electrically connects the electrical contact with the bulb circuit board.

11. The LED light bulb of claim 10 further comprising a second conductor that electrically connects the bulb circuit board to the outer sidewall.

12. An LED light strip comprising:

a printed circuit board having a front surface;

a plurality of anode contacts disposed on the front surface;

a plurality of cathode contacts, each of the plurality of cathode contacts being positioned near one of the plurality of anode contacts;

a plurality of locking clips, each of the plurality of locking clips having a clip base and a forked end, the clip base of each of the plurality of locking clips being fastened to the printed circuit board and electronically connected to one of the plurality of cathode contacts such that the forked end is positioned over one of the plurality of anode contacts, the plurality of locking clips being electrically conductive; and

a plurality of LED light bulbs, each of the plurality of LED light bulbs having a bulb base that supports at least one LED, the bulb base having an electrical contact, an outer sidewall, an insulator between the electrical contact and the outer sidewall, and a flange extending outwardly from the outer sidewall,

the electrical contact being in electrical communication with the outer sidewall through the at least one LED, and

the flange being adapted to fit under the forked end of one of the plurality of locking clips and thereby hold the electrical contact against one of the plurality of anode contacts.

13. The LED light strip of claim 12 further comprising a sign that includes at least one translucent portion.

14. The LED light strip of claim 13 wherein the sign includes a base unit and a cover plate, the base unit having a plurality of recesses that each include one of a plurality of bulb apertures, each of the plurality of bulb apertures being shaped, spaced, and otherwise adapted to receive one of the plurality of LED light bulbs mounted upon the printed circuit board of the LED light strip, the cover plate being adapted to attach to the base unit to cover the plurality of recesses such that at least one translucent portion of the cover plate is positioned over the plurality of LED light bulbs.

15. The LED light strip of claim 14 further comprising a means for fastening the LED light strip to the base unit.

16. An LED light strip comprising:

a printed circuit board assembly;

a plurality of anode contacts disposed on the printed circuit board assembly;

a plurality of cathode contacts disposed on the printed circuit board assembly;

a plurality of LED light bulbs, each of the plurality of LED light bulbs having a bulb base that supports at least one LED and a resistor, the bulb ba se having an electrical contact, an outer sidewall, an insulator between the electrical contact and the outer sidewall, the outer sidewall including a flange extending outwardly from the outer sidewall, the electrical contact being in electrical communication with the outer sidewall through the resistor and the at least one LED; and

a means for removably attaching each of the plurality of LED light bulbs to the printed circuit board assembly such that the electrical contact of each of the plurality of LED light bulbs is in electrical communication with one of the anode contacts, and such that the outer sidewall is in electrical contact with one of the plurality of cathode contacts.

17. The LED light strip of claim 16 further comprising a sign that includes at least one translucent portion;

and a means for mounting the sign on the printed circuit board assembly such that the at least one translucent portion is positioned in proximity to the at least one of the plurality of LED light bulbs.

18. The LED light strip of claim 17 wherein the sign includes a base unit and a cover plate, the base unit having a plurality of recesses that each include one of a plurality of bulb apertures, each of the plurality of bulb apertures being shaped, spaced, and otherwise adapted to receive one of the plurality of LED light bulbs mounted upon the printed circuit board of the LED light strip, the cover plate being adapted to attach to the base unit to cover the plurality of recesses such that at least one translucent portion of the cover plate is positioned over the plurality of LED light bulbs.