PORTABLE LIGHT AND WORK LIGHT ADAPTER THEREFOR

• US 20130258650A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharrah, Raymond L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/217.13
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/10 for personal use, e.g. hand-held
• 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]

Abstract

In a portable light and/or a light source adapter therefor, the open end of a light body has one or more features, and a light source includes an adapter base for being disposed in the open end of the light body. The adapter base has one or more features in an asymmetric pattern complementary to that of the features of the light body, so the adapter base seats in the light body only with the complementary features in a predetermined rotational relationship for mating. The light source may be connected to an electrical connection of the adapter base that mates with the electrical connection of the light body when the adapter base is seated in the predetermined rotational relationship for mating. The light source may preferably be retained in the light body by a retainer.

Claims

1. A portable light and light source adapter comprising:

a light body having an open end for receiving a light source therein, the open end exposing a face including one or more raised bosses extending axially toward the open end in an asymmetric pattern and one or more electrical connections, said light body having a cavity for receiving a source of electrical power therein and optionally including an electrical switch for selectively energizing at least one of the electrical connections;

a light source including an adapter base disposed in the open end of said light body, said adapter base having one or more raised bosses extending into the open end of said light body, said one or more raised bosses being in an asymmetric pattern that is complementary to the asymmetric pattern of the one or more raised bosses extending from the face of said light body so that said adapter base cannot seat adjacent said face unless their complementary raised bosses are in a predetermined rotational relationship for mating;

said adapter base including one or more electrical connections that are located to mate with the one or more electrical connections on the exposed face only when said adapter base is seated adjacent said face in the predetermined rotational relationship for mating;

said light source including a source of illumination electrically connected to the one or more electrical connections of said adapter base; and

a retainer for retaining said light source disposed in the open end of said light body with said adapter base seated adjacent said face in the predetermined rotational relationship for mating.

2. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises an elongated light bar including:

an elongated tubular transparent or translucent housing extending from said adapter base; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on an elongated support disposed in said elongated tubular housing.

3. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 2 wherein said light emitting diodes are disposed on one surface of said elongated support for directing light to the side of said tubular housing when energized.

4. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 2 wherein said elongated support includes an electrical circuit board having conductors thereon for connecting said plurality of light emitting diodes to the one or more electrical connections of said adapter base.

5. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 4 wherein said electrical circuit board includes an electronic circuit for controlling the voltage applied to and/or the current flowing through said plurality of light emitting diodes.

6. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 4 wherein said elongated support includes:

an electrical circuit board having conductors thereon for connecting said plurality of light emitting diodes to the one or more electrical connections of said adapter base; and

a heat conductive member adjacent said electrical circuit board and thermally coupled thereto.

7. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 1 wherein said retainer includes a retainer ring having threads thereon for engaging threads at the open end of said light body.

8. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 1 wherein the one or more raised bosses that extend axially toward the open end of said light body in an asymmetric pattern define a curved boss over an angle of less than about 180°

and wherein the one or more raised bosses of said adapter base that extend into the open end of said light body define a curved boss over an angle complementary to that of the curved boss of said light body.

9. A light source adapter for a portable light, the portable light comprising a light body having an open end for receiving a light source therein, the open end exposing a face including one or more raised bosses extending axially toward the open end in an asymmetric pattern and one or more electrical connections, the light body having a cavity for receiving a source of electrical power therein and optionally including an electrical switch for selectively energizing at least one of the one or more electrical connections;

said light source adapter comprising;

a light source including an adapter base disposable in the open end of the light body, said adapter base having one or more raised bosses for extending into the open end of the light body, said one or more raised bosses being in an asymmetric pattern that is complementary to the asymmetric pattern of the one or more raised bosses extending from the face of the light body so that said adapter base cannot seat adjacent the face unless their complementary raised bosses are in a predetermined rotational relationship for mating;

said adapter base including one or more electrical connections to mate with the one or more electrical connections on the exposed face only when said adapter base is seated adjacent the face in the predetermined rotational relationship for mating;

said light source including a source of illumination electrically connected to the at least two electrical connections of said adapter base.

10. The light source adapter for a portable light of claim 9 wherein said light source comprises an elongated light bar including:

an elongated tubular transparent or translucent housing extending from said adapter base; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on an elongated support disposed in said elongated tubular housing.

11. The light source adapter for a portable light of claim 10 wherein said light emitting diodes are disposed on one surface of said elongated support for directing light to the side of said tubular housing when energized.

12. The light source adapter for a portable light of claim 10 wherein said elongated support includes an electrical circuit board having conductors thereon for connecting said plurality of light emitting diodes to the one or more electrical connections of said adapter base.

13. The light source adapter for a portable light of claim 12 wherein said electrical circuit board includes an electronic circuit for controlling the voltage applied to and/or the current flowing through said plurality of light emitting diodes.

14. The light source adapter for a portable light of claim 12 wherein said elongated support includes:

an electrical circuit board having conductors thereon for connecting said plurality of light emitting diodes to the one or more electrical connections of said adapter base; and

a heat conductive member adjacent said electrical circuit board and thermally coupled thereto.

15. The light source adapter for a portable light of claim 9 further comprising:

a retainer for retaining said light source disposed in the open end of the light body with said adapter base seated adjacent the face in the predetermined rotational relationship for mating.

16. The light source adapter for a portable light of claim 15 wherein said retainer includes a retainer ring having threads thereon for engaging threads at the open end of said light body.

17. The light source adapter for a portable light of claim 9 wherein the one or more raised bosses that extend axially toward the open end of the light body in an asymmetric pattern define a curved boss over an angle of less than about 180°

and wherein the one or more raised bosses of said adapter base that extend into the open end of said light body define a curved boss over an angle complementary to that of the curved boss of said light body.

18. A portable light and light source adapter comprising:

a light body having an open end for receiving a light source therein, the open end having an exposed a face including one or more features in an asymmetric pattern and one or more electrical connections, said light body having a cavity for receiving a source of electrical power therein and optionally including an electrical switch for selectively energizing at least one of the electrical connections;

a light source for emitting light in a predetermined direction and including an adapter base disposed in the open end of said light body, said adapter base having one or more features complementary to the features of said light body in an asymmetric pattern that is complementary to the asymmetric pattern of the one or more features of the face of said light body so that said adapter base cannot seat adjacent said face unless their complementary features are in a predetermined rotational relationship for mating;

whereby said light source when disposed in said light body can emit light in the predetermined direction relative to the light body.

19. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 18 wherein said adapter base includes one or more electrical connections that are located to mate with the one or more electrical connections on the exposed face only when said adapter base is seated adjacent said face in the predetermined rotational relationship for mating.

20. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 18 wherein said light source includes a source of illumination electrically connected to the one or more electrical connections of said adapter base for emitting light in the predetermined direction.

21. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 18 further comprising a retainer for retaining said light source in the open end of said light body with said adapter base seated adjacent said face in the predetermined rotational relationship for mating.

22. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 21 wherein said retainer includes a retainer ring having threads thereon for engaging threads at the open end of said light body.

23. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 18 wherein said light source comprises an elongated light bar including:

an elongated tubular transparent or translucent housing extending from said adapter base; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on an elongated support disposed in said elongated tubular housing for emitting light in the predetermined direction.

24. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 23 wherein said light emitting diodes are disposed on one surface of said elongated support for directing light to the side of said tubular housing when energized.

25. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 23 wherein said elongated support includes an electrical circuit board having conductors thereon for connecting said plurality of light emitting diodes to the one or more electrical connections of said adapter base.

26. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 25 wherein said electrical circuit board includes an electronic circuit for controlling the voltage applied to and/or the current flowing through said plurality of light emitting diodes.

27. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 23 wherein said elongated support includes:

an electrical circuit board having conductors thereon for connecting said plurality of light emitting diodes to the one or more electrical connections of said adapter base; and

a heat conductive member adjacent said electrical circuit board and thermally coupled thereto.

28. The portable light and light source adapter of claim 18 wherein the one or more features of said light body include one or more raised bosses that extend axially toward the open end of said light body in an asymmetric pattern define a curved boss over an angle of less than about 180°

and wherein the one or more features of said light source include one or more raised bosses of said adapter base that extend into the open end of said light body define a curved boss over an angle complementary to that of the curved boss of said light body.