CONNECTOR TERMINAL FOR LAMPS

• US 20120021656A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Norris, Brian K., O'Neal, Charles P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/709
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/06 with two current-carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts, having their axes parallel to each other

Abstract

An electrical connection device for a lamp housing is disclosed. The electrical connection device allows for simple and straightforward alignment of circuit connector terminals with conductive power connection pads on a lamp circuit board within a lamp housing.

Claims

1. A connector terminal assembly for a lamp housing, comprising:

a connector housing;

a first circuit connector disposed within the connector housing;

a second circuit connector disposed within the connector housing;

a first lamp connector disposed within the connector housing and conductively coupled to the first circuit connector;

a second lamp connector disposed within the connector housing and conductively coupled to the second circuit connector; and

a circuit board comprising;

a first circuit board surface;

a circuit board opening formed through the circuit board;

a first conductive power connection pad formed on the circuit board surface and disposed adjacent the circuit board opening; and

a second conductive power connection pad formed on the circuit board surface and disposed adjacent the circuit board opening;

wherein the circuit board is disposed between the first and second circuit connectors and the first and second lamp connectors;

wherein the first and second circuit connectors may be withdrawn through the circuit board opening when the connector housing is oriented in a first position; and

wherein the first and second circuit connectors may not be withdrawn through the circuit board opening when the connector housing is oriented in a second position rotated through a first angle from the first position.

2. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector housing comprises:

a first base section;

a second base section; and

an annular sealing surface disposed between the first and second base sections.

3. The connector terminal assembly of claim 2, wherein the first base section, the annular sealing surface and the second base section comprise an integral plastic housing.

4. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first circuit connector and the first lamp connector comprise a first integral conductive member; and

the second circuit connector and the second lamp connector comprise a second integral conductive member.

5. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second lamp connector each comprise:

an attachment area for receiving a FASTON®

connector; and

a threaded connector for receiving a ring terminal.

6. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second circuit connectors each comprise a conductive element having an approximately 90 degree bend therein.

7. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one tang projecting from a surface of the connector housing, the at least one tang operative to secure the connector housing in a lamp housing when mounted therein.

8. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the circuit board opening has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis; and

a first dimension of the circuit board opening along the longitudinal axis is greater than a second dimension of the circuit board opening along the transverse axis.

9. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a lamp housing having a lamp housing opening formed therethrough;

wherein the circuit board is coupled to the lamp housing; and

wherein the connector housing extends through the lamp housing opening.

10. The connector terminal assembly of claim 9, further comprising a lens coupled to the lamp housing.

11. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED lamp mounted to the circuit board.

12. The connector terminal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second circuit connectors are conductively coupled to respective ones of the first and second conductive power connection pads.

13. The connector terminal assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second circuit connectors are soldered to respective ones of the first and second conductive power connection pads.

14. A connector terminal assembly for a lamp housing, comprising:

a connector housing;

a first circuit connector disposed within the connector housing and having a first circuit connector distal end;

a second circuit connector disposed within the connector housing and having a second circuit connector distal end; and

a circuit board comprising;

a first circuit board surface; and

a circuit board opening formed through the circuit board;

wherein the circuit board is disposed between the first and second circuit connector distal ends and the housing;

wherein the first and second circuit connector distal ends may be withdrawn through the circuit board opening when the connector housing is oriented in a first position; and

wherein the first and second circuit connector distal ends may not be withdrawn through the circuit board opening when the connector housing is oriented in a second position rotated through a first angle from the first position.

15. The connector terminal assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a first lamp connector disposed within the connector housing and conductively coupled to the first circuit connector; and

a second lamp connector disposed within the connector housing and conductively coupled to the second circuit connector.

16. The connector terminal assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a first conductive power connection pad formed on the circuit board surface and disposed adjacent the circuit board opening; and

a second conductive power connection pad formed on the circuit board surface and disposed adjacent the circuit board opening.

17. The connector terminal assembly of claim 14, wherein said connector housing comprises:

a first base section;

a second base section; and

an annular sealing surface disposed between the first and second base sections.

18. The connector terminal assembly of claim 17, wherein the first base section, the annular sealing surface and the second base section comprise an integral plastic housing.

19. The connector terminal assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the first circuit connector and the first lamp connector comprise a first integral conductive member; and

the second circuit connector and the second lamp connector comprise a second integral conductive member.

20. The connector terminal assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second lamp connector each comprise:

an attachment area for receiving a FASTON®

connector; and

a threaded connector for receiving a ring terminal.

21. The connector terminal assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second circuit connectors each comprise a conductive element having an approximately 90 degree bend therein.

22. The connector terminal assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one tang projecting from a surface of the connector housing, the at least one tang operative to secure the connector housing in a lamp housing when mounted therein.

23. The connector terminal assembly of claim 14, wherein:

the circuit board opening has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis; and

a first dimension of the circuit board opening along the longitudinal axis is greater than a second dimension of the circuit board opening along the transverse axis.

24. The connector terminal assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a lamp housing having a lamp housing opening formed therethrough;

wherein the circuit board is coupled to the lamp housing; and

wherein the connector housing extends through the lamp housing opening.

25. The connector terminal assembly of claim 24, further comprising a lens coupled to the lamp housing.

26. The connector terminal assembly of claim 14, further comprising at least one LED lamp mounted to the circuit board.

27. The connector terminal assembly of claim 16, wherein the first and second circuit connectors are conductively coupled to respective ones of the first and second conductive power connection pads.

28. The connector terminal assembly of claim 27, wherein the first and second circuit connectors are soldered to respective ones of the first and second conductive power connection pads.

29. A method of installing a connector terminal assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a connector terminal assembly comprising;

a connector housing;

a first circuit connector disposed within the connector housing, the first circuit connector having an approximately 90 degree bend formed therein;

a second circuit connector disposed within the connector housing, the second circuit connector having an approximately 90 degree bend formed therein;

(b) providing a circuit board a circuit board, comprising;

a first circuit board surface;

a circuit board opening formed through the circuit board;

a first conductive power connection pad formed on the circuit board surface and disposed adjacent the circuit board opening; and

a second conductive power connection pad formed on the circuit board surface and disposed adjacent the circuit board opening;

(c) inserting the connector terminal assembly through the circuit board opening such that the first and second circuit connectors are disposed adjacent the circuit board surface; and

(d) rotating the connector housing until the first and second circuit connectors are aligned with respective ones of the first and second conductive power connection pads.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

(e) forming a conductive coupling between the first and second circuit connectors and respective ones of the first and second conductive power connection pads.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of forming a conductive coupling comprises soldering.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of forming a conductive coupling comprises welding.