POSITIONABLE OUTDOOR LIGHTING

• US 20090027900A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LD Kichler Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LD Kichler Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Ascherl, John Joseph, Janos, Joseph John
• Application Number:
  US11/931,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/373
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/29 employing universal joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/71 using a combination of separate elements interconnected by heat-conducting means, e.g. with heat pipes or thermally conductive bars between separate heat-sink elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/777 the planes containing the fins or blades having directions perpendicular to the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

In one embodiment, a submersible LED lighting assembly is provided with at least one LED carried by a housing and thermally coupled to a heat sink carried by the housing to permit the submersible LED lighting assembly to be used in a dry environment. The exemplary lighting assembly is further provided with a water-tight light-transmitting member covering the at least one LED and cooperating with the housing to seal the at least one LED to permit the submersible LED lighting assembly to be used while immersed in water.

Claims

1. A submersible LED lighting assembly, comprising:

a housing, comprising an outer wall portion defining an internal cavity;

a printed circuit board disposed in the internal cavity, the printed circuit board carrying at least one LED, wherein the at least one LED is thermally coupled to a heat sink carried by the housing, the heat sink being at least partially disposed in the cavity of the housing; and

a light-transmitting member covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board carrying the at least one LED and cooperating with at least the housing and the heat sink to seal the at least one LED to permit the submersible LED lighting assembly to be used while immersed in water; and

wherein the housing further comprises at least one opening permitting water to enter the opening and contact the heat sink.

2. The submersible LED lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer wall portion comprises a plurality of projections generally arranged to form facets for securing the submersible LED lighting assembly underwater between objects.

3. The submersible LED lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a base extending from the outer wall portion, the base comprising a plurality of openings permitting water to enter the opening and contact the heat sink, and further wherein the outer wall portion and base of the housing are integrally molded from plastic material.

4. The submersible LED lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a base extending from the outer wall portion, the base comprising a plurality of openings permitting water to enter the opening and contact the heat sink, and further wherein the outer wall portion and base of the housing are integrally molded from plastic material.

5. An LED lighting assembly, comprising:

a housing, comprising an outer wall portion defining an internal cavity and a plurality of projections extending outwardly from an outer surface of the outer wall portion;

a printed circuit board disposed in the internal cavity, the printed circuit board carrying at least one LED, wherein the at least one LED is thermally coupled to the housing; and

a light-transmitting member covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board carrying the at least one LED; and

wherein at least a portion of the outer wall portion and the plurality of projections comprise a thermally conductive material to function as a heat sink to permit the LED lighting assembly to be used in a dry environment.

6. The LED lighting assembly of claim 5, wherein the light-transmitting member cooperates with at least the housing to seal the at least one LED to permit the LED lighting assembly to be used while immersed in water.

7. The LED lighting assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of projections are generally arranged to form facets for securing the LED lighting assembly underwater between objects.

8. The LED lighting assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of projections are generally arranged to form facets for securing the LED lighting assembly underwater between objects.

9. The LED lighting assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the plurality of projections comprise a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the outer surface of the outer wall portion, the plurality of fins being generally arranged to form facets for securing the LED lighting assembly underwater between objects, and wherein the facets are arranged such that a cross section of the housing appears as substantially a regular polygon having between 5 and 10 sides;

the at least one LED is thermally coupled to the housing via at least the printed circuit board; and

the light-transmitting member comprises at least one of a light-transmitting cover sealed against the housing with a water-tight seal to form a water-tight cavity proximate the at least one LED and a light-transmitting potting material covering the at least one LED.

10. A submersible LED lighting assembly, comprising:

at least one LED carried by a housing and thermally coupled to a heat sink carried by the housing to permit the submersible LED lighting assembly to be used in a dry environment; and

a water-tight light-transmitting member covering the at least one LED and cooperating with the housing to seal the at least one LED to permit the submersible LED lighting assembly to be used while immersed in water.

11. The submersible LED lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises an outer wall portion comprises a plurality of projections generally arranged to form facets for securing the submersible LED lighting assembly underwater between objects.

12. The submersible LED lighting assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises a base extending from the outer wall portion, the base comprising a plurality of openings permitting water to enter the opening and contact the heat sink, and further wherein the outer wall portion and base of the housing are integrally molded from plastic material.

13. The submersible LED lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises an outer wall portion and a base extending from the outer wall portion, the base comprising a plurality of openings permitting water to enter the opening and contact the heat sink, and further wherein the outer wall portion and base of the housing are integrally molded from plastic material.

14. A mounting accessory for a lighting product, the mounting accessory comprising:

a ball member comprising a stem portion for connecting with a base portion of the lighting product and a ball portion extending from the stem portion, the ball portion having a spherical outer surface;

a mounting member, adapted to be affixed to a mounting surface, the mounting member including an opening through which the stem portion extends, and a first spherical socket surface surrounding the opening and engaging the spherical outer surface of the ball member; and

a ball retaining member, assembled with the mounting member to secure the ball member therebetween, the ball retaining member including a second spherical socket surface engaging the spherical outer surface of the ball member;

wherein the ball portion and the first and second spherical socket surfaces provide a ball and socket connection for adjusting the orientation of the light source.

15. The mounting accessory of claim 14, wherein the mounting member comprises a mounting flange having at least one opening for receiving a mounting fastener therethrough.

16. The mounting accessory of claim 15, further comprising a weighted member removably attached to the mounting flange, the weighted member being capable of retaining a lighting product in a submerged underwater condition and supporting the lighting product in a selected orientation when the lighting product is assembled with the mounting accessory.

17. The mounting accessory of claim 16, wherein the weighted member is configured to prevent movement of a lighting product that is light enough to move when submerged under water in response to a force applied by one of (a) a force applied by electrical wires providing electricity to the lighting product;

(b) a force applied by moving water in a pond; and

(c) a force applied by the buoyancy of water, when the lighting product is assembled to the mounting accessory, is submerged in water, and is subjected to a corresponding one of the forces.

18. The mounting accessory of claim 15, wherein the mounting member comprises a mounting stake assembled with the mounting flange, the mounting stake being configured to be embedded in a ground surface.

19. The mounting accessory of claim 14, wherein the mounting member comprises a mounting stake configured to be embedded in a ground surface.

20. The mounting accessory of claim 14, further comprising a weighted member removably attached to the mounting member, the weighted member being capable of retaining a lighting product in a submerged underwater condition and supporting the lighting product in a selected orientation when the lighting product is assembled with the mounting accessory.

21. The mounting accessory of claim 20, wherein the weighted member is configured to prevent movement of a lighting product that is light enough to move when submerged under water in response to a force applied by one of (a) a force applied by electrical wires providing electricity to the lighting product;

(b) a force applied by moving water in a pond; and

(c) a force applied by the buoyancy of water, when the lighting product is assembled to the mounting accessory, is submerged in water, and is subjected to a corresponding one of the forces.

22. A submersible LED lighting assembly, comprising:

a housing, comprising an outer wall portion defining an internal cavity, the outer wall portion of the housing comprising a plurality of projections generally arranged to form facets for securing the submersible LED lighting assembly underwater between objects, and wherein the facets are arranged such that a cross section of the housing appears as substantially a regular polygon having between 5 and 10 sides;

a printed circuit board disposed in the internal cavity, the printed circuit board carrying at least one LED, wherein the at least one LED is thermally coupled to a heat sink via at least the printed circuit board, the heat sink being at least partially disposed in the cavity of the housing; and

a light-transmitting member covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board carrying the at least one LED and cooperating with at least the housing and the heat sink to seal the at least one LED to permit the submersible LED lighting assembly to be used while immersed in water, the light-transmitting member comprising at least one of a light-transmitting cover sealed against the housing with a water-tight seal to form a water-tight cavity proximate the at least one LED and a light-transmitting potting material covering the at least one LED; and

wherein the housing further comprises at least one opening permitting water to enter the opening and contact the heat sink;

further wherein the outer wall portion of the housing comprises a plurality of projections generally arranged to form facets for securing the submersible LED lighting assembly underwater between objects, and wherein the facets are arranged such that a cross section of the housing appears as substantially a regular polygon having between 5 and 10 sides.