Light source mounting system and method

• US 20080198598A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucifer Lighting Company
• Original Assignee: Lucifer Lighting Company
• Inventors: Ward, Pat
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/249.01
• 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 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/20 on convex supports or substrates, e.g. on the outer surface of spheres
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/40 on the sides of polyhedrons, e.g. cubes or pyramids
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A mounting system and method for a light source includes a light source support structure. The light source support structure positions the light source with respect to a source of electrical power which, when connected to the light source, will cause the light source to emit light energy. Further included in the mounting system and method of present invention is a mounting for a pair of electrical contacts which enable connection between the source of electrical power and the light source. Still further included in mounting system is a heat sink which is attachable to the light source support structure for conducting heat energy away from the light source.

Claims

1. A mounting system for an LED light source assembly, said LED light source assembly including one or more LEDs and supporting electrical componentry for transforming electrical energy received from an electrical power source into electrical energy usable by said one or more LEDs to cause said one or more LEDs to emit light energy, said mounting for an LED light source assembly comprising:

an LED light source support structure constructed and arranged for positioning the LED light source assembly with respect to the electrical power source;

said LED light source support structure including a mounting for at least a pair of electrical contacts for conducting electrical energy from said electrical power source to the supporting electrical componentry;

said LED light source support structure further including a heat sink mounted therein for conducting heat energy away from the LED light source assembly;

whereby said mounting for an LED light source assembly enables said LED light source assembly to be used in the place of a removable bulb in a lighting device including mountings for at least one removable bulb.

2. The mounting system for an LED light source assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting for at least a pair of electrical contacts accommodates electrical contacts selected from a group including slide fit electrical contacts, substantially U-shaped electrical contacts, and clips for use with wire loops.

3. The mounting system for an LED light source assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a lens assembly wherein said lens assembly is constructed and arranged to be positionable on said light source support structure for modifying the characteristics of the light rays emitted from the one or more LEDs.

4. The mounting system for an LED light source assembly as defined in claim 3 were in the modification of the characteristics of the light rays includes one or more of coloration, redirection of light intensity.

5. The mounting system for an LED light source assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said heat sink is formed from a thermally conductive polymer.

6. The mounting for an LED source assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said LED light source support structure further includes:

a mechanical mounting for a rotatable connection with an LED light source support structure connector;

said LED light source support structure connector including a plurality of openings for passage of said two wire electrical power source therethrough;

said LED light source support structure connector further including a pair of mechanical mountings constructed and arranged for rotatable interfitment with said mechanical mounting of said LED light source support structure;

whereby a plurality of LED light source support structures may be mechanically and flexibly connected one to another by said LED light source support structure connectors while maintaining contact with said two wire electrical power source.

7. An LED light source assembly and mounting system which may be substituted for a festoon style bulb in a lighting device, said lighting device including mountings for at least one festoon style bulb, said LED light source assembly and mounting system comprising:

one or more LEDs;

electrical componentry for transforming electrical energy received from an electrical power source to electrical energy usable by said one or more LEDs to cause said one or more LEDs to emit light energy;

an LED light source support structure constructed and arranged for positioning the LED light source assembly with respect to the electrical power source;

said LED light source support structure including a mounting for at least a pair of electrical contacts for conducting electrical energy from said electrical power source to the supporting electrical componentry;

said LED light source support structure further including a heat sink for conducting heat energy away from said one or more LEDs.

8. The LED light source assembly and mounting system as defined in claim 7 wherein said mounting for at least a pair of electrical contacts accommodates electrical contacts selected from a group including slide fit electrical contacts, substantially U-shaped electrical contacts, and clips for use with wire loops.

9. The LED light source assembly and mounting system as defined in claim 7 wherein said LED light source support structure is rotatable within the festoon bulb mountings.

10. The LED light source assembly and mounting system as defined in claim 7 further including a lens assembly wherein said lens assembly is constructed and arranged to be both mountable on said light source support structure and to modify the characteristics of the light rays emitted from said one or more LEDs.

11. An LED light source assembly and mounting system which may be substituted for a festoon style bulb in a lighting device, said lighting device including mounting for at least one festoon style bulb, said LED light source assembly and mounting system comprising:

one or more LEDs;

electrical componentry for transforming electrical energy received from an electrical power source to electrical energy usable by said one or more LEDs to cause said one or more LEDs to emit light energy;

an LED light source support structure constructed and arranged for positioning at least one LED light assembly with respect to the electrical power source;

said LED support structure including a mounting electrical connectors from said at least one LED light assembly for conducting electrical energy from said electrical power source to the supporting electrical componentry;

said LED light source support structure further including a heat sink for conducting heat energy away from said one or more LEDs;

an LED light assembly support structure for positioning said at least one LED light assembly with respect to said LED light source support structure.

12. The LED light source assembly and mounting system as defined in claim 11 wherein said LED light assembly support structure enables multiple combinations of LED light source assemblies to be positioned on intersecting planar surfaces for expanding the pattern of light energy emitted by said LED light source assemblies.

13. A method of replacing a festoon style bulb in a lighting device with an LED light source assembly and mounting system, said method comprising the steps of:

removing the festoon style bulb from the lighting device;

combining one or more LEDs with supporting electrical componentry, said supporting electrical componentry constructed and arranged to transform electrical energy received from an electrical power source into electrical energy usable by said one or more LEDs to cause said one or more LEDs to emit light energy;

positioning said combination of said one or more LEDs and said supporting electrical componentry in an LED light source support structure;

positioning electrical contacts for said supporting electrical componentry within said LED light source support structure for conducting electrical energy from said electrical power source to said electrical componentry;

mounting a heat sink to said LED light source support structure for conducting heat energy away from said one or more LEDs;

placing the combination of said LED light source support structure with the combination of said at least one LED and said supporting electrical componentry positioned therein and said heat sink mounted thereto into the location on the lighting device formerly occupied by the festoon style bulb.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 further including the step of mounting a lens over said one or more LEDs for modifying the characteristics of the of light energy emitted from said one or more LEDs.

15. A formable lighting fixture for LED light source assemblies usable with a two wire electrical power source, said formable lighting fixture comprising:

a plurality of LED light source support structures;

a plurality of LED light source support structure connectors positioned between said LED light source support structures;

each of said LED light source support structures including a portion constructed and arranged for positioning an LED light source assembly therein;

said LED light source support structure including a mounting for at least a pair of electrical contacts, said electrical contacts having a first end for making electrical contact with the LED light source assembly and a second end for making electrical contact with one of the two wires in the two wire electrical power source;

a mechanical mounting for rotatable connection with said LED light source support structure connector positioned on either end of said LED light source support structure;

said LED light source support structure connector including a plurality of spaces for passage of said two wire electrical power source therethrough;

said LED light source support structure connector further including a mechanical mounting constructed and arranged for rotatable interfitment with said mechanical mounting of said LED light source support structure;

whereby a plurality of LED light source support structures may be rotatably and mechanically connected one to another by said LED light support structure connectors while maintaining contact with said two wire electrical power source.

16. A formable light assembly usable with a two wire electrical power source comprising;

a plurality of LED light source assemblies, each of said LED light source assemblies including one or more LEDs and supporting electrical componentry for transforming electrical energy received from the two wire electrical power source into electrical energy usable by said one or more LEDs to cause said one or more LEDs to emit light energy;

a plurality of LED light source support structures for mounting one of said plurality of LED light source assemblies;

a plurality of LED light source support structure connectors positioned between said LED light source support structures;

each of said LED light source assembly support structures including a portion constructed and arranged for positioning an LED light source assembly therein;

said LED light source support structure including a mounting for at least a pair of electrical contacts for making electrical contact between said LED light source assembly and one of the two wires in the two wire electrical power source;

a mechanical mounting for rotatable connection with said LED light source support structure connector formed on either end of said LED light source support structure;

said LED light source support structure connector including a plurality of openings for passage of said two wire electrical power source therethrough;

said LED light source support structure connector further including a pair of mechanical mountings constructed and arranged for rotatable interfitment with said mechanical mounting of said LED light source support structure;

whereby a plurality of LED light source support structures may be rotatably and mechanically connected one to another by said LED light source support structure connectors while maintaining contact with said two wire electrical power source.

17. A formable lighting fixture for self-cooling light sources usable with a two wire electrical power source, said formable lighting fixture for self-cooling light sources comprising:

a plurality of light source support structures;

a plurality of light source support structure connectors positioned between said light source support structures;

each of said light source support structures including an upper portion with a top side, said top side being constructed and arranged for positioning a self-cooling light source therein;

said upper portion of said light source support structure providing room for at least a pair of electrical contacts for making contact with one the two wires in the two wire electrical power source on the bottom side of said upper portion of the light source support structure;

a lower portion of said light source support structure constructed and arranged for interfitment into said bottom side of said upper portion of said light source support structure;

a mechanical mounting for rotatable connection with said light source support structure connector positioned on either end of said light source support structure;

said light source support structure connector including a plurality of openings for passage of said two wire electrical power source therethrough;

said light source support structure connector further including a mechanical mounting constructed and arranged for rotatable interfitment with said mechanical mounting of said light source support structure;

whereby a plurality of light source support structures may be rotatably and mechanically interconnected one to another by said light source support structure connectors while maintaining contact with said two wire electrical power source.