LED LIGHTING ASSEMBLY FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURES

• US 20120155073A1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: McCanless, Forrest, DeMasie, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/218
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

Described are LED lighting assemblies that may be used to replace a light source in a light fixture. The LED lighting assembly may include a thermally conductive extrusion, a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a diffuser. The diffuser is positioned below the light emitting diodes and also releasably engages the extrusion. The light fixture may include a housing, a reflector assembly with at least one longitudinally extending trough, at least one light source, and at least one lens assembly. As an example, the at least one lens assembly and the at least one light source are removed, and at least one LED lighting assembly is provided. At least a portion of the extrusion of the at least one LED lighting assembly is placed adjacent the at least one longitudinally extending trough. The diffuser of the at least one LED lighting assembly is connected to the at least one longitudinally extending trough.

Claims

1. A light fixture comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a reflector assembly comprising a longitudinally extending trough; and

c. an LED lighting assembly comprising;

i. a thermally conductive extrusion comprising an external lower surface and an external upper surface, wherein the external upper surface is configured to be positioned at least partially within the longitudinally extending trough;

ii. a plurality of light emitting diodes supported on the external lower surface of the extrusion; and

iii. a diffuser positioned below the plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein the diffuser comprises arms that releasably engage the extrusion.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are positioned on a first side of a printed circuit board.

3. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein a second side of the printed circuit board is positioned adjacent the external lower surface of the extrusion.

4. The light fixture of claim 3, further comprising a thermally conductive material positioned between the second side of the printed circuit board and the external lower surface of the extrusion or between at least a portion of the external upper surface of the extrusion and the longitudinally extending trough.

5. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the extrusion further comprises an interior aperture configured to receive a power source.

6. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the diffuser snap-fits onto the extrusion.

7. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a. at least one male protrusion extending from a first trough surface;

b. at least one male protrusion extending from a second trough surface;

c. an end portion extending from each diffuser arm, wherein the end portion of the diffuser arm is configured to engage the at least one male protrusion of the first or second trough surface.

8. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a. at least one slot on a first trough surface;

b. at least one slot on a second trough surface;

c. at least one male protrusion extending from each diffuser arm, wherein the at least one male protrusion of the diffuser arm is configured to engage the at least one slot of the first or second trough surface.

9. An LED lighting assembly comprising:

a. a thermally conductive extrusion comprising an external lower surface, an external upper surface, and an interior aperture configured to receive a power source, wherein the external upper surface is configured to be positioned at least partially within a longitudinally extending trough;

b. a plurality of light emitting diodes supported on the external lower surface of the extrusion; and

c. a diffuser positioned below the plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein the diffuser comprises arms that releasably engage the extrusion.

10. The LED lighting assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are positioned on a first side of a printed circuit board.

11. The LED lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein a second side of the printed circuit board is positioned adjacent the external lower surface of the extrusion.

12. The LED lighting assembly of claim 11, further comprising a thermally conductive material positioned between the second side of the printed circuit board and the external lower surface of the extrusion or between at least a portion of the external upper surface of the extrusion and the longitudinally extending trough.

13. The LED lighting assembly of claim 9, wherein the diffuser snap-fits onto the extrusion.

14. A method of replacing at least one light source with an LED lighting assembly in an existing light fixture comprising (i) a housing, (ii) a reflector assembly comprising at least one longitudinally extending trough, (iii) the at least one light source, and (iv) at least one lens assembly, the method comprising:

a. removing the at least one lens assembly;

b. removing the at least one light source;

c. providing at least one LED lighting assembly, wherein the LED lighting assembly comprises;

i. a thermally conductive extrusion comprising an external lower surface, an external upper surface, and an interior aperture configured to receive a power source, wherein the external upper surface is configured to be positioned at least partially within the at least one longitudinally extending trough;

ii. a plurality of light emitting diodes supported on the external lower surface of the extrusion; and

iii. a diffuser positioned below the plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein the diffuser comprises arms that releasably engage the extrusion;

d. positioning the external upper surface of the extrusion of the at least one LED lighting assembly at least partially within the at least one longitudinally extending trough; and

e. connecting the diffuser of the at least one LED lighting assembly to the at least one longitudinally extending trough.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising placing a thermally conductive material between at least a portion of the external upper surface of the extrusion of the at least one LED lighting assembly and the at least one longitudinally extending trough.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one longitudinally extending trough further comprises at least one male protrusion extending from a first trough surface and at least one male protrusion extending from a second trough surface, and the diffuser further comprises an end portion extending from each diffuser arm, wherein connecting the diffuser to the at least one longitudinally extending trough comprises engaging the end portion of the diffuser arm with the at least one male protrusion of the first or second trough surface.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one longitudinally extending trough further comprises at least one slot on a first trough surface and at least one slot on a second trough surface, and the diffuser further comprises at least one male protrusion extending from each diffuser arm, wherein connecting the diffuser to the at least one longitudinally extending trough comprises engaging the at least one male protrusion of the diffuser arm with the at least one slot of the first or second trough surface.