LED SOCKET ADAPTER ASSEMBLY

• US 20140078731A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Everbrite LLC
• Original Assignee: Everbrite LLC
• Inventors: Harruff, Gregory S.
• Application Number:
  US13/619,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20140078731A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/008 of straight tubular light sources, e.g. straight fluorescent tubes, soffit lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A light-emitting assembly for use in a fluorescent light system includes two socket apertures spaced a distance from one another. The assembly includes a reflector extending a length that is less than the distance, the reflector including a reflective surface. Light emitters are positioned on the reflector and spaced apart from one another, a first socket adapter is coupled to a first end of the reflector and arranged to be received within a first of the socket apertures, and a second socket adapter is coupled to a second end of the reflector and is arranged to be received within a second of the socket apertures opposite the first socket aperture.

Claims

1. A light-emitting assembly for use in a fluorescent light system including two socket apertures spaced a distance from one another, the assembly comprising:

a reflector extending a length that is less than the distance, the reflector including a reflective surface;

light emitters positioned on the reflector and spaced apart from one another;

a first socket adapter coupled to a first end of the reflector and arranged to be received within a first of the socket apertures; and

a second socket adapter coupled to a second end of the reflector and arranged to be received within a second of the socket apertures opposite the first socket aperture.

2. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, wherein the first socket adapter includes a D-shaped portion arranged to be received in the socket aperture.

3. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, wherein the first socket adapter includes a first body portion and a second body portion selectively attached to the first body portion to clamp the socket adapter to the reflector.

4. The light-emitting assembly of claim 3, wherein the first body portion includes a first reflector engagement surface, a first engagement member, and a first alignment member.

5. The light-emitting assembly of claim 4, wherein the second body portion includes a second reflector engagement surface, a second engagement member, and a second alignment member arranged such that the second engagement member engages the first engagement member and the second alignment member engages the first alignment member to attach the second body portion to the first body portion, the second reflector engagement surface being spaced a non-zero parallel distance from the first reflector attachment surface to clamp the reflector therebetween.

6. The light-emitting assembly of claim 5, wherein one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a T-shaped slot and the other of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a T-shaped portion that is received by the T-shaped slot.

7. The light-emitting assembly of claim 5, wherein one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a protrusion and the other of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a space sized to receive the protrusion to inhibit disengagement of the first engagement member and the second engagement member.

8. The light-emitting assembly of claim 5, wherein one of the first alignment member and the second alignment member includes a first boss and a second boss spaced apart from the first boss, and the other of the first alignment member and the second alignment member includes a first aperture sized to receive the first boss and a second aperture sized to receive the second boss.

9. The light-emitting assembly of claim 8, wherein the first boss and the second boss are each frustoconical and include a relieved portion.

10. The light-emitting assembly of claim 8, wherein the light emitters include LEDs.

11. A socket adapter for connecting a light-emitting assembly to a housing, the socket adapter comprising:

a first body portion including a first reflector engagement surface, a first engagement member, and a first alignment member;

a second body portion selectively attachable to the first body portion and including a second reflector engagement surface, a second engagement member, and a second alignment member arranged such that the second engagement member engages the first engagement member and the second alignment member engages the first alignment member to attach the second body portion to the first body portion, the second reflector engagement surface being spaced a non-zero parallel distance from the first reflector attachment surface to clamp a reflector therebetween;

an engagement portion coupled to the first body portion and arranged to engage one of a fluorescent light socket and a socket aperture formed in the housing.

12. The socket adapter of claim 11, wherein the engagement portion includes a D-shaped portion and the socket aperture is D-shaped such that the engagement portion is received in the D-shaped socket aperture.

13. The socket adapter of claim 11, further comprising at least two wedge members coupled to the engagement portion, the wedge members cooperating with the first body portion to connect the first body portion to the housing.

14. The socket adapter of claim 11, wherein the D-shaped portion and the wedge members are formed as one piece with the first body portion.

15. The socket adapter of claim 11, wherein one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a T-shaped slot and the other of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a T-shaped portion that is received by the T-shaped slot.

16. The socket adapter of claim 11, wherein one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a protrusion and the other of the first engagement member and the second engagement member includes a space sized to receive the protrusion to inhibit disengagement of the first engagement member and the second engagement member.

17. The socket adapter of claim 11, wherein one of the first alignment member and the second alignment member includes a first boss and a second boss spaced apart from the first boss, and the other of the first alignment member and the second alignment member includes a first aperture sized to receive the first boss and a second aperture sized to receive the second boss.

18. The socket adapter of claim 15, wherein the first boss and the second boss are each frustoconical and include a relieved portion.

19. The socket adapter of claim 11, further comprising a spacer member selectively engageable with the engagement portion to couple the first body portion to the fluorescent light socket.

20. The socket adapter of claim 19, wherein the engagement portion includes two hook members and a post member that cooperate to fixedly connect the spacer member to the first body portion.

21. The socket adapter of claim 20, wherein the post member inhibits rotation of the spacer member with respect to the first body portion.