Non-Curvilinear LED Luminaries

• US 20130265746A1
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DVA Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael W. May
• Inventors: May, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,702,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/147
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• 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 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An improved light emitting diode (LED) illuminating assembly is provided with a multiple sided LED lighting bar, also referred to as a multi-sided LED light bar, comprising a non-curvilinear LED luminary for enhanced LED lighting. The LED illuminating assembly can be used for overhead ceiling lighting, menu boards and other LED illuminating signs, as well as for other uses.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) illuminating assembly, comprising:

a multiple sided (multi-sided) LED lighting bar comprising a non-curvilinear LED luminary including

a multiple sided elongated tubular array comprising several sides comprising boards defining panels and having longitudinally opposite ends, said tubular array having a non-curvilinear cross-sectional configuration in the absence of a circular configuration, oval configuration, elliptical configuration and a substantially curved configuration, each of said sides having a generally planar surface as viewed from the ends of said array, and adjacent sides intersecting each other and converging at an angle of inclination;

an internal non-switching printed circuit board (PCB) driver comprising a driver board being selected from the group consisting of an inner driver board positioned within an interior of said tubular array and an outer driver board comprising one of said sides of said tubular array;

at least two of said sides comprising LED emitter boards providing elongated LED PCB panels, said internal driver driving said LED emitter boards;

a optimal count of LED emitters comprising a group of light emitting diodes (LED) securely positioned on each of said emitter boards for emitting and distributing light outwardly from said emitter boards in a light distribution pattern for enhanced LED illumination and operational efficiency; and

at least one end cap PCB connector providing a connector end board positioned at one of the ends of said tubular array and connected to said driver board and said emitter boards, and said connector end board having connector pins extending longitudinally outwardly for engaging a light socket.

2. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 including:

emitter traces for connecting said LED emitters in parallel and in series; and

said emitters comprise at least one row of substantially aligned aliquot uniformly spaced LED emitters.

3. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 including alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC) lines.

4. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 comprising a no wire design in the absence of electrical wires.

5. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 including an end cap positioned about said end cap PCB connector, said end cap having bracket segments providing clamps extending longitudinally inwardly for abuttingly engaging and clamping a portion of said emitter boards.

6. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a diffuser comprising an elongated light diffuser cover providing a light transmissive lens positioned about and covering said LED emitters for reflecting, diffusing and/or focusing light emitted from said LED emitters.

7. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said boards are generally rectangular;

each of said sides comprising emitter boards are selected from the group consisting of a single emitter board and multiple elongated emitter boards longitudinally connected end to end; and

said driver board is selected from the group consisting of a single driver board and multiple driver boards longitudinally connected end to end.

8. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sides comprising emitter boards are selected from the group consisting of all of said sides of said tubular array or all but one of said sides of said tubular array with the one other side comprising said driver board.

9. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a multiple sided heat sink comprising multiple metal sides positioned radially inwardly of said tubular array for supporting and dissipating heat generated from said emitter boards and driver board, said heat sink having a tubular cross-section generally similar to said cross-sectional configuration of said tubular array, and said cross-section of said heat sink having a non-curvilinear cross-section in the absence of a circular cross-section, oval cross-section, elliptical cross-section and a substantially curved cross-section.

10. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said cross-sectional configuration is selected from the group consisting of a delta, triangle, rectangle, square and pentagon;

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said delta or triangle is selected from the group consisting of an angle ranging from less than 180 degrees to an angle more than zero degrees and a 120 degree angle;

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said rectangular or square comprises a right angle of about 90 degrees; and

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said pentagon comprises an acute angle.

19. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein said window comprises a LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 1 including a diffuser comprising an elongated light diffuser cover providing a light transmissive lens positioned about and covering said LED emitters for reflecting, diffusing and/or focusing light emitted from said LED emitters.

11. A light emitting diode (LED) illuminating assembly, comprising:

a multiple sided (multi-sided) modular LED lighting bar comprising a non-curvilinear LED luminary including

a multi-sided elongated tubular array comprising multiple sides comprising generally rectangular modular boards defining panels and having longitudinally opposite ends, said tubular array having a non-curvilinear cross-sectional configuration in the absence of a circular cross-sectional configuration, oval cross-sectional configuration, elliptical cross-sectional configuration and a substantially curved cross-sectional configuration, each of said sides having a generally planar surface as viewed from the ends of said array, and adjacent sides intersecting each other and converging at an angle of inclination;

an internal non-switching printed circuit board (PCB) driver comprising a driver board being selected from the group consisting of an interior driver board positioned within an interior of said tubular array and an outer driver board comprising one of said sides of said tubular array;

several of said sides comprising modular LED emitter boards providing elongated LED PCB panels, said internal driver driving said LED emitter boards;

LED emitters comprising a group of light emitting diodes securely positioned and arranged on each of said emitter boards for emitting and distributing light outwardly from said emitter boards in a light distribution pattern for enhanced LED illumination;

end caps PCB connectors providing connector end boards positioned at the ends of said tubular array and connected to said internal driver board and said emitter boards, said connector end boards having power connector pins extending longitudinally outwardly for engaging at least one light socket;

end caps positioned about said end cap PCB connectors;

each of said sides comprising said emitter boards selected from the group consisting of a single emitter board and a multiple elongated emitter boards longitudinally connected end to end;

said driver board selected from the group consisting of a single driver board and multiple driver boards longitudinally connected end to end;

said sides comprising emitter boards selected from the group consisting of all of said sides of said tubular array or all but one of said sides of said tubular array with the one other side comprising said driver board; and

a multiple sided tubular heat sink comprising multiple metal sides positioned radially inwardly of said tubular array for supporting and dissipating heat generated from said emitter boards and driver board, said heat sink having a tubular cross-section generally similar to said cross-sectional configuration of said tubular array, and said cross-section of said heat sink having a non-curvilinear cross-section in the absence of a circular cross-section, oval cross-section, elliptical cross-section and a substantially curved cross-section.

12. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 11 including:

emitter traces for connecting said LED emitters in parallel and in series;

said emitters comprise at least one row of substantially aligned aliquot uniformly spaced LED emitters;

alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC) lines; and

said boards having matingly engageable connectors such that said connectors on said connector end boards matingly engage and connect to matingly engageable connectors on said driver board and said emitter boards.

13. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 11 including a diffuser comprising an elongated light diffuser cover providing a light transmissive lens positioned about and covering said LED emitters for reflecting, diffusing and/or focusing light emitted from said LED emitters.

14. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

said lighting bar comprises a two sided lighting bar;

said array comprises a two sided array;

said heat sink comprises a heat sink with at least two sides;

said emitter boards are arranged in a generally V-shaped configuration at an angle of inclination ranging from less than 180 degrees to an angle more than zero degrees; and

said driver is positioned in proximity to an open end of said V-shaped configuration.

15. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

said lighting bar comprises a three sided lighting bar;

said array comprises a three sided delta triangular array;

said heat sink is a tubular three sided heat sink with a delta triangular cross-section;

said angle of inclination is selected from the group consisting of an angle of about 120 degrees and an angle ranging from less than 180 degrees to an angle more than zero degrees; and

said driver is positioned within the interior of the delta triangular cross-section of said three sided heat sink.

16. A light emitting diode (LED) illuminating assembly, comprising:

an illuminated LED sign selected from the group consisting of an outdoor sign and an indoor sign, said illuminated LED sign comprising

a housing with light sockets;

at least one light transmissive panel providing an illuminated window connected to said housing;

multiple sided (multi-sided) modular LED light bars connected to said light sockets for emitting light through said illuminated window;

said illuminated window being movable from a closed position to an open position for access to said LED lighting bars;

each of said LED light bars comprising a non-curvilinear (LED) luminary including

a multi-sided elongated tubular array comprising a multitude of sides comprising generally rectangular modular boards defining panels and having longitudinally opposite ends, said tubular array having a non-curvilinear cross-sectional configuration in the absence of a circular cross-sectional configuration, oval cross-sectional configuration, elliptical cross-sectional configuration and a substantially curved cross-sectional configuration, each of said sides having a generally planar surface as viewed from the ends of said array, and adjacent sides intersecting each other and converging at an angle of inclination;

an internal non-switching printed circuit board (PCB) driver comprising a driver board being selected from the group consisting of an inner driver board positioned within an interior of said tubular array and an outer driver board comprising one of said sides of said tubular array;

at least two of said sides comprising modular LED emitter boards providing elongated LED PCB panels, said internal driver driving said LED emitter boards;

a group of LED emitters comprising a light emitting diodes mounted on each of said emitter boards for emitting and distributing light outwardly from said emitter boards in a light distribution pattern for enhanced LED illumination;

end caps PCB connectors providing connector end boards positioned at the ends of said tubular array and connected to said driver board and said emitter boards, said connector end boards having power connector pins extending longitudinally outwardly for engaging at least one light socket, and end caps positioned about said end cap PCB connectors;

each of said sides comprising emitter boards selected from the group consisting of a single emitter board and multiple elongated emitter boards longitudinally connected end to end;

said driver board selected from the group consisting of a single driver board and multiple driver boards longitudinally connected end to end;

said sides comprising emitter board selected from the group consisting of all of said sides of said tubular array or all but one of said sides of said tubular array with the one other side comprising said power board; and

a multiple tubular sided heat sink comprising multiple metal sides positioned radially inwardly of said tubular array for supporting and dissipating heat generated from said emitter boards and driver board, said heat sink having a tubular cross-section generally similar to said cross-sectional configuration of said tubular array, and said cross-section of said heat sink having a non-curvilinear cross-section in the absence of a circular cross-section, oval cross-section, elliptical cross-section and a substantially curved cross-section.

17. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein said illuminated LED sign comprises an outdoor menu board.

18. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein said illuminated LED sign comprises an indoor menu board.

20. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 16 including:

emitter traces for connecting said LED emitters in parallel and in series;

said emitters comprise at least one row of substantially aligned aliquot uniformly spaced LED emitters;

alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC) lines;

said boards having matingly engageable connectors such that said connectors on said connector end boards matingly engage and connect to matingly engageable connectors on said driver board and said emitter boards;

said cross-sectional configuration is selected from the group consisting of a delta, triangle, rectangle, square and pentagon;

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said delta or triangle is selected from the group consisting of an angle ranging from less than 180 degrees to an angle more than zero degrees and a 120 degree angle;

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said rectangular or square comprises a right angle of about 90 degrees;

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said pentagon comprises an acute angle; and

said LED light bars extend vertically, horizontally, transversely, longitudinally or laterally along portions of said housing.

21. A light emitter diode (LED) illuminating assembly, comprising:

an overhead LED lighting assembly providing overhead ceiling lighting including

translucent ceiling panels comprising light transmissive ceiling tiles;

at least one drop ceiling light fixture comprising light sockets and at least one multiple sided (multi-sided) modular LED lighting bar connected to said light sockets and positioned above said ceiling panels for emitting light downwardly through said translucent ceiling panels into a room;

each of said lighting bars comprising a non-curvilinear (LED) luminary including

a multi-sided elongated tubular array comprising multiple sides comprising general rectangular modular boards defining panels and having longitudinally opposite ends, said tubular array having a non-curvilinear cross-sectional configuration in the absence of a circular cross-sectional configuration, oval cross-sectional configuration, elliptical cross-sectional configuration and a substantially curved configuration, each of said sides having a generally planar surface as viewed from the ends of said array, and adjacent sides intersecting each other and converging at an angle of inclination;

an internal non-switching printed circuit board (PCB) driver comprising a driver board being selected from the group consisting of an interior driver board positioned within an interior of said tubular array and an outer driver board comprising one of said sides of said tubular array;

several of said sides comprising modular LED emitter boards providing elongated LED PCB panels, said internal driver driving said LED emitter boards;

LED emitters comprising a group of light emitting diodes securely positioned and arranged on each of said emitter boards for emitting and distributing light outwardly from said emitter boards in a light distribution pattern for enhanced LED illumination;

end caps PCB connectors providing connector end boards positioned at the ends of said tubular array and connected to said internal driver board and said emitter boards, said connector end boards having connector pins extending longitudinally outwardly for engaging at least one light socket, and end caps positioned about said end cap PCB connectors;

each of said sides comprising emitter boards selected from the group consisting of a single emitter board and multiple elongated emitter boards longitudinally connected end to end;

said driver board selected from the group consisting of a single driver board and multiple driver boards longitudinally connected end to end;

said sides comprising emitter board selected from the group consisting of all of said sides of said tubular array or all but one of said sides of said tubular array with the one other side comprising said driver board;

a multiple sided tubular heat sink comprising multiple metal sides positioned radially inwardly of said tubular array for supporting and dissipating heat generated from said emitter boards and driver board, said heat sink having a tubular cross-section generally similar to said cross-sectional configuration of said tubular array, and said cross-section of said heat sink having a non-curvilinear cross-section in the absence of a circular cross-section, oval cross-section, elliptical cross-section and a substantially curved cross-section; and

each of said translucent ceiling panels including a diffuser comprising an elongated light diffuser cover providing a light transmissive lens positioned about and covering said LED emitters for reflecting, diffusing and/or focusing light emitted from said LED emitters.

22. A LED illuminating assembly in accordance with claim 21 including:

emitter traces for connecting said LED emitters in parallel and in series;

said emitters comprise at least one row of substantially aligned aliquot uniformly spaced LED emitters;

alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC) lines;

said boards having matingly engageable connectors such that said connectors on said connector end boards matingly engage and connect to matingly engageable connectors on said driver board and said emitter boards;

said cross-sectional configuration is selected from the group consisting of a delta, triangle, rectangle, square and pentagon;

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said delta or triangle is selected from the group consisting of an angle ranging from less than 180 degrees to an angle more than zero degrees and a 120 degree angle;

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said rectangular or square comprises a right angle of about 90 degrees;

said angle of inclination of said intersecting sides of said pentagon comprises an acute angle; and

said drop ceiling light fixture further comprises at least one concave light reflector positioned above said LED lighting bar to reflect light generally downwardly through said diffuser towards a floor.