Self-energizing LED lamp

• US 5,303,124 A
• Filed: 07/21/1993
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Display Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Data Display Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Wrobel, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US08/095,301
• Time in Patent Office: 265 Days
• Field of Search: 362/20, 362/157, 362/227, 362/249, 362/800, 362/812, 439/611, 439/613, 439/615, 40/550, 40/564, 40/570, 40/572
• US Class Current: 362/20
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/00 Fastening of light sources or lamp holders fastening electric light source solely by the coupling device H01R33/00 ; special means for attaching candle to candle holder F21V35/003
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An illuminating module with battery backup consisting of an array of light-emitting diodes is provided wherein the module combines the battery backup with the LED array in a self-contained light bulb-like unit which can be retrofitted into an existing incandescent light bulb socket. The batteries and the LED array are attached to a planar baseboard which further includes two base connectors. The base connectors are adapted to fit into existing light bulb sockets and are rotatably mounted on an edge of the baseboard to enable screwing them into light bulb sockets while the baseboard is kept stationary. The backup batteries are recharged from an external source of electrical current flowing through the base connectors. An automatic switching device switches the supply of electrical power for the LED array from the external source of electrical power to the backup batteries, when the flow of external electrical power is disrupted. A circuit causes the LED array to flash on and off to indicate interruption of external power, to prolong battery life, and to make the module more conspicuous in emergency conditions.

Claims

1. An illuminating module which can be retrofitted into an existing incandescent light bulb socket having a female connector socket which is energized by an external source of electrical power, the module comprising:

(a) a planar baseboard having an upper baseboard surface and a parallel lower baseboard surface;

(b) a plurality of light emitting electrical units affixed to the upper baseboard surface or to both upper and lower baseboard surfaces, the light emitting electrical units being electrically interconnected in a desired pattern to form an array, the array having opposite electrical poles;

(c) an electrically conductive cylindrical base connector adapted to connect to the female connector socket, the base connector having oppositely charged electrical poles and being affixed to the baseboard, and wherein the base connector is rotatable about its longitudinal axis while the baseboard is kept stationary;

(d) means for electrically connecting the array with the oppositely charged poles of the female connector to form a closed circuit;

(e) battery means affixed to the baseboard for supplying electrical power to the array when the flow of external electrical power to the female connector is disrupted;

(f) recharging means for recharging the battery means from the source of external electrical power; and

(g) automatic switching means for automatically switching the supply of electrical power for the array from the external source of electrical power to the battery means, when the flow of external electrical power is disrupted.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the base connector is affixed to an edge of the baseboard with its longitudinal axis in the plane of the baseboard.

3. The module of claim 1 wherein the battery means are releasably affixed to the baseboard.

4. The module of claim 1 wherein the light emitting electrical units are light-emitting diodes.

5. The module of claim 1 comprising two cylindrical base connectors wherein the cylindrical base connectors are affixed to an edge of the baseboard with their longitudinal axes in parallel with, or transverse to, each other and in the plane of the baseboard, with the base connectors oriented appropriately and spaced apart sufficiently to connect into existing female connector sockets.

6. The module of claim 1 comprising three or more plurality of cylindrical base connectors wherein the cylindrical base connectors are affixed to an edge of the baseboard with their longitudinal axes in parallel with, or transverse to, each other and in the plane of the baseboard, with the base connectors oriented appropriately and spaced apart sufficiently to connect into existing female connector sockets.

7. The module of claim 1 further comprising a T-shaped member with an upper surface and a lower surface, the member transversely disposed across a notch defined in the baseboard, with the base connector rotatably mounted on the member, the member further comprising:

(a) an electrically conductive upper strip conductor affixed to the upper member surface, the upper strip conductor being electrically connected at its one end to a first of the two array electrical poles and at its other end in electrical contact with a first of the two base connector electrical poles; and

(b) an electrically conductive lower strip conductor affixed to the lower member surface, the lower strip conductor being electrically connected at its one end to the second of the two array electrical poles and at its other end in electrical contact with a second of the two connector base electrical poles.

8. The module of claim 7 wherein the T-shaped member has an opening extending between the upper member surface and the lower member surface, and wherein the upper and lower conductive strips terminate at one end proximate to the corresponding member opening;

the module further comprising;

(a) an electrically conductive shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end, the upper shaft end being adapted with a shaft head of greater diameter than that of the member opening, the shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within the member opening, the lower shaft end being adapted with a downwardly directed electrical contact point;

(b) an electrically conductive cylindrical base connector having an upper base connector end with a diameter greater than that of the member opening and lower base connector end adapted to connect to the female connector socket, the connector being affixed around, and electrically insulated from, the lower shaft end such that the longitudinal axis of the base connector is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

(c) an electrically conductive coiled spring having an upper spring end with a diameter less than that of the shaft head and a lower spring end with a diameter greater than the member opening, the spring being slidably affixed around the upper shaft end such that the lower spring end impinges the upper strip conductor and the upper spring end impinges the underside of the shaft head, the spring being adapted to urge the upper base connector end against the lower strip conductor;

wherein the base connector can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by rotating the shaft using a thumb wheel concentrically affixed to the upper portion of the cylindrical base connector, and

wherein electrical current can be caused to flow through the base connector to the lower strip conductor, through the lower strip conductor to the array of light-emitting electrical units, through the array of the light-emitting electrical units to the upper strip conductor, through the upper strip conductor to the coiled spring, through the coiled spring to the shaft, and through the shaft to the downwardly directed electrical contact point.

9. An illuminating module which can be retrofitted into an existing incandescent light bulb socket having two female connector sockets which are energized by an external source of electrical power, the module comprising:

(a) a planar baseboard having an upper baseboard surface and a parallel lower baseboard surface;

(b) a plurality of light emitting diodes affixed to the upper baseboard surface, or to both upper and lower baseboard surfaces, the light emitting diodes being electrically interconnected in a desired pattern to form an array, the array having opposite electrical poles;

(c) two T-shaped mounting members, each member transversely disposed across a corresponding notch defined in the baseboard, the notches spaced apart sufficient to match the spacing of the female connector sockets;

(d) two electrically conductive cylindrical base connectors adapted to connect to the female connector sockets, the base connectors having oppositely charged electrical poles and being rotatably mounted on the corresponding T-shaped members with their longitudinal axes in parallel to each other and to the plane of the baseboard, wherein the base connectors are rotatable about their longitudinal axes while the baseboard is kept stationary;

(e) means for electrically connecting the array with the oppositely charged poles of one of the female connectors to form a closed circuit;

(f) battery means affixed to the baseboard for supplying electrical power to the array when the flow of external electrical power to the female connectors is disrupted;

(g) recharging means for recharging the battery means from the source of external electrical power; and

(h) automatic switching means for automatically switching the supply of electrical power for the array from the external source of electrical power to the battery means, when the flow of external electrical power is disrupted.

10. The module of claim 9 further comprising flashing means to cause the light-emitting diodes to turn on and off when the flow of external electrical power is disrupted.

11. The module of claim 9 wherein each T-shaped member further comprises:

(a) an electrically conductive upper strip conductor affixed to the upper member surface, the upper strip conductor being electrically connected at its one end to a first of the two array electrical poles and at its other end in electrical contact with a first of the two base connector electrical poles; and

(b) an electrically conductive lower strip conductor affixed to the lower member surface, the lower strip conductor being electrically connected at its one end to the second of the two array electrical poles and at its other end in electrical contact with a second of the two connector base electrical poles.

12. The module of claim 11 wherein each T-shaped member has an opening extending between the upper member surface and the lower member surface, and wherein the upper and lower conductive strips terminate at one end proximate to the corresponding member opening;

the module further comprising;

(a) an electrically conductive shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end, the upper shaft end being adapted with a shaft head of greater diameter than that of the member opening, the shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within the member opening, the lower shaft end being adapted with a downwardly directed electrical contact point;

(b) an electrically conductive cylindrical base connector having an upper base connector end with a diameter greater than that of the member opening and lower base connector end adapted to connect to the female connector socket, the connector being affixed around, and electrically insulated from, the lower shaft end such that the longitudinal axis of the base connector is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

(c) an electrically conductive coiled spring having an upper spring end with a diameter less than that of the shaft head and a lower spring end with a diameter greater than the member opening, the spring being slidably affixed around the upper shaft end such that the lower spring end impinges the upper strip conductor and the upper spring end impinges the underside of the shaft head, the spring being adapted to urge the upper base connector end against the lower strip conductor;

wherein the base connector can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by rotating the shaft through a thumb wheel concentrically affixed to the upper portion of the cylindrical base connector, and

wherein electrical current can be caused to flow through the base connector to the lower strip conductor, through the lower strip conductor to the array of light-emitting electrical units, through the array of the light-emitting electrical units to the upper strip conductor, through the upper strip conductor to the coiled spring, through the coiled spring to the shaft, and through the shaft to the downwardly directed electrical contact point.

13. The module of claim 11 wherein the battery means are releasably affixed to the baseboard.

14. An illuminating module which can be retrofitted into an existing incandescent light bulb socket having two female connector sockets which are energized by an external source of electrical power, the module comprising:

(a) a planar baseboard having an upper baseboard surface and a parallel lower baseboard surface;

(b) a plurality of light-emitting diodes affixed to the upper member surface, or to upper and lower member surfaces, the light emitting diodes being electrically interconnected in a desired pattern to form an array, the array having opposite electrical poles;

(c) a first T-shaped mounting member with an upper surface and a lower surface, the member transversely disposed across a first notch defined in the baseboard, the member having an opening extending between the upper member surface and the lower member surface;

(d) an electrically conductive upper strip conductor affixed to the upper member surface, the upper strip conductor being electrically connected at its one end to a first of the two array electrical poles and terminating at its other end proximate to the member opening;

(e) an electrically conductive lower strip conductor affixed to the lower member surface, the lower strip conductor being electrically connected at its one end to the second of the two array electrical poles and terminating at its other end proximate to the member opening;

(f) an electrically conductive shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end, the upper shaft end being adapted with a shaft head of greater diameter than that of the member opening, the shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within the member opening, the lower shaft end being adapted with a downwardly directed electrical contact point;

(g) an electrically conductive cylindrical base connector having an upper base connector end with a diameter greater than that of the member opening and lower base connector end adapted to connect to a corresponding female connector socket, the connector being affixed around, and electrically insulated from, the lower shaft end such that the longitudinal axis of the base connector is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

(h) an electrically conductive coiled spring having an upper spring end with a diameter less than that of the shaft head and a lower spring end with a diameter greater than the member opening, the spring being slidably affixed around the upper shaft end such that the lower spring end impinges the upper strip conductor and the upper spring end impinges the underside of the shaft head, the spring being adapted to urge the upper base connector end against the lower strip conductor;

wherein the base connector can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by rotating the shaft through a thumb wheel concentrically affixed to the upper portion of the cylindrical base connector, and

wherein electrical current can be caused to flow through the base connector to the lower strip conductor, through the lower strip conductor to the array of light emitting diodes, through the array of the light emitting diodes to the upper strip conductor, through the upper strip conductor to the coiled spring, through the coiled spring to the shaft, and through the shaft to the downwardly directed electrical contact point;

(i) a second T-shaped mounting member with an upper surface and a lower surface, the member transversely disposed across a second notch defined in the baseboard spaced apart from the first notch sufficient to match the spacing of the female connector sockets, the member having an opening extending between the upper member surface and the lower member surface;

(j) a shaft having an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end, the upper shaft end being adapted with a shaft head of greater diameter than that of the member opening, the shaft being slidably and rotatably disposed within the member opening, the lower shaft end being adapted with a downwardly directed electrical contact point;

(k) a second electrically conductive cylindrical base connector having an upper base connector end with a diameter greater than that of the member opening and lower base connector end adapted to connect to a corresponding female connector socket, the connector being affixed around, and electrically insulated from, the lower shaft end such that the longitudinal axis of the base connector is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

wherein the first and second base connectors are spaced apart sufficient to connect into the female sockets;

(1) a coiled spring having an upper spring end with a diameter less than that of the shaft head and a lower spring end with a diameter greater than the member opening, the spring being slidably affixed around the upper shaft end such that the lower spring end impinges the upper strip conductor and the upper spring end impinges the underside of the shaft head, the spring being adapted to urge the upper base connector end against the lower strip conductor;

wherein the base connector can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by rotating the shaft through a thumb wheel concentrically affixed to the upper portion of the cylindrical base connector;

(m) battery means releasably affixed to the baseboard for supplying electrical power to the array when the flow of external electrical power to the female connectors is disrupted;

(n) recharging means for recharging the battery means from the source of external electrical power; and

(o) automatic switching means for automatically switching the supply of electrical power for the array from the external source of electrical power to the battery means, when the flow of external electrical power is disrupted.

15. The module of claim 14 wherein each base connector is adapted for threaded projection into a depending female connector socket.

16. The module of claim 14 wherein each base connectors is adapted for projection into a corresponding female connector socket having two or more connection grooves, the base connector having an equivalent number of projections adapted to cooperate with, and interlock within, the connection grooves.

17. The module of claim 14 further comprising flashing means to cause the light-emitting diodes to turn on and off when the flow of external electrical power is disrupted.