Lighting device used in an exit sign

• US 5,410,453 A
• Filed: 12/01/1993
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G.B. Building Systems Corporation, Dual-Lite, Inc. (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Signal Corporation (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Ruskouski, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/160,583
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 362/812, 362/800, 362/31, 362/20, 362/240, 362/250, 362/249, 40/570, 40/564, 40/580, 40/573
• US Class Current: 362/20
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0083 Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0023 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed between the light guide and the light source, or around the light source
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/00 Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising G09F9/00, G09F11/00 take precedence; control of displays in general using static means to present variable information G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0454 Slidable panels or parts
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1831 using more than one light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/13 the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

In a lighting fixture such as an exit sign, a light emitting diode lighting device is provided for mating engagement with an electrical socket of the lighting fixture. The light emitting diode device has a plurality of light emitting diodes recessed in apertures for directing light into a desired illumination pattern.

Claims

1. A lighting device for illuminating indicia of an exit sign having an enclosure with an electrical socket mounted therein, comprising:

(a) a housing having a plurality of light directing apertures in one side thereof;

(b) illumination means in said housing, said illumination means including a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted On circuit mounting means, at least one of said diodes recessed in each of said plurality of light directing apertures, whereby light from said light emitting diodes is directed by said light directing apertures into the enclosure to illuminate the indicia of the exit sign; and

(c) a mounting base assembly on said housing for electrically connecting said illumination means to the exit sign, said mounting base assembly matingly received in the electrical socket of the exit sign through relative rotational and axial movement therebetween.

2. The lighting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said light directing apertures have a frustoconical shape.

3. The lighting device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said frustoconical shape has an angle of about twenty three degrees with its vertex.

4. The lighting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said apertures extend parallel to one another.

5. The lighting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least some of said apertures are skewed relative to one another.

6. The lighting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said circuit mounting means is a printed circuit board.

7. The lighting device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said housing has a slot therein in which said printed circuit board is positioned.

8. The lighting device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said printed circuit board is electrically connected to said mounting base assembly.

9. The lighting device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said printed circuit board has electrical components thereon for said illumination means.

10. The lighting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mounting base assembly permits orientation of said housing relative to said mounting base assembly.

11. An exit sign, comprising:

(a) a sign housing defining an enclosure therein and having indicia to be illuminated;

(b) an electrical socket in said sign housing; and

(i) a lighting device housing having a plurality of light directing apertures in one side thereof;

(ii) illumination means in said lighting device housing, said illumination means including a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a printed circuit board, said lighting device housing having a slot therein in which said printed circuit board is positioned, at least one of said diodes recessed in each of said plurality of light directing apertures, whereby light from said light emitting diodes is directed by said light directing apertures into said enclosure of said sign housing to illuminate said indicia; and

(iii) a mounting base assembly on said lighting device housing for electrically connecting said illumination means to said electrical socket, said mounting base assembly matingly received in said electrical socket through relative rotational and axial movement therebetween.

12. The exit sign in accordance with claim 11, wherein said light directing apertures have a frustoconical shape.

13. The exit sign in accordance with claim 12, wherein said frustoconical shape has an angle of about twenty three degrees with its vertex.

14. The exit sign in accordance with claim 11, wherein said apertures extend parallel to one another.

15. The exit sign in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least some of said apertures are skewed relative to one another.

16. The exit sign in accordance with claim 15, wherein said printed circuit board is electrically connected to said mounting base assembly.

17. The exit sign in accordance with claim 15, wherein said printed circuit board has electrical components thereon for said illumination means.

18. The exit sign in accordance with claim 11, wherein said mounting base assembly permits orientation of said lighting device housing relative to said mounting base assembly and said sign housing.

19. The exit sign in accordance with claim 11, further including a primary electric power circuit operationally connected to said electrical socket for supplying power to said lighting device and emergency electric power circuit operationally connected to said primary electric power circuit to detect failure thereof and thereafter provided auxiliary power to said lighting device through said electrical socket.

20. The exit sign in accordance with claim 19, wherein said emergency electric power supply is at least one rechargeable battery.

21. The exit sign in accordance with claim 20, wherein said emergency electric power circuit includes a charging device for keeping said at least one rechargeable battery fully charged during periods of nonuse.

22. An exit sign, comprising:

(a) a sign housing defining an enclosure with at least one electrical socket therein and having indicia to be illuminated; and

(b) at least one lighting device within said enclosure for illuminating said indicia, each lighting device comprising;

(i) a lighting device housing having a plurality of light directing apertures in one side thereof;

(ii) illumination means in said lighting device housing, said illumination means including a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on circuit mounting means, at least one of said diodes recessed in each of said plurality of light directing apertures, whereby light from said light emitting diodes is directed by said light directing apertures into said enclosure of said sign housing to illuminate said indicia; and

.

(iii) mounting base means on said lighting device housing for electrically connecting said illumination means to said at least one electrical socket, said mounting base means permitting relative movement between said lighting device housing and said at least one electrical socket.

23. The exit sign in accordance with claim 22, wherein said at least one electrical socket is two electrical sockets spaced apart within said enclosure and said at least one lighting device is two lighting devices spaced from one anther within said enclosure to fully illuminate said indicia.

24. The exit sign in accordance with claim 23, wherein said two lighting devices have their respective apertures facing one another.

25. The exit sign in accordance with claim 22, wherein said light directing apertures have a frustoconical shape.

26. The exit sign in accordance with claim 25, wherein said frustoconical shape has an angle of about twenty three degrees with its vertex.

27. The exit sign in accordance with claim 22, wherein said apertures extend parallel to one another.

28. The exit sign in accordance with claim 22, wherein at least some of said apertures are skewed relative to one another.

29. The exit sign in accordance with claim 22, wherein said circuit mounting means is a printed circuit board.

30. The exit sign in accordance with claim 29, wherein said lighting device housing has a slot therein in which said printed circuit board is positioned.

31. The exit sign in accordance with claim 29, wherein said printed circuit board has electrical components thereon for said illumination means.

32. The exit sign in accordance with claim 22, wherein said mounting base means permits orientation of said lighting device housing relative to said sign housing.

33. The exit sign in accordance with claim 22, further including a primary electric power circuit operationally connected to said at least one lighting device for supplying power to said at least one lighting device and emergency electric power circuit operationally connected to said primary electric power circuit to detect failure thereof and thereafter provided auxiliary power to said at least one lighting device.

34. The exit sign in accordance with claim 33, wherein said emergency electric power circuit includes at least one rechargeable battery.

35. The exit sign in accordance with claim 34, wherein said emergency electric power circuit includes a charging device for keeping said at least one rechargeable battery fully charged during periods of nonuse.

36. The exit sign in accordance with claim 34, wherein said rechargeable battery is mounted within said lighting device housing.

37. The exit sign in accordance with claim 33, wherein said emergency electric power circuit is mounted within said lighting device housing.