Omni-directional LED lamps

• US 5,594,433 A
• Filed: 08/09/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen K. Terlep Sr
• Original Assignee: Stephen K Terlep
• Inventors: Terlep, Stephen K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/513,098
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 340/908.1, 340/981, 340/982, 340/983, 340/907, 340/908, 340/321, 340/332, 340/473, 362/180, 362/182, 362/186, 362/800
• US Class Current: 340/908.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/02 free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes E01F9/688 takes precedence; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/04 for waterways
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/20 Electroluminescent [EL] light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0023 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0066 in the form of an LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0071 adapted to illuminate a complete hemisphere or a plane extending 360 degrees around the source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Omni-directional LED lamps are disclosed in three embodiments. In a first embodiment, two LEDs are mounted side by side in a miniature bayonet base that can fit into a conventional miniature bayonet socket. The side-by-side LEDs face semi-spherical mirror reflectors that distribute the unidirectional light emitted from the LEDs over an omni-direction. A second embodiment has two LEDs facing one another with a spherical mirror reflector between to cause unidirectional light to be omnidirectional. In a third embodiment, a semi-spherical reflector is mounted in the top of a lens cover above an LED. The components are housed in a sealable casing for marine applications where the casing can be mounted to a dock piling.

Claims

1. An omni-directional LED lamp useful for traffic control and warning devices that reflects light in a 360 degree circumferential direction without having to rotate any components, comprising:

a first LED;

a first semi-spherical reflector having a continuous convex reflective surface, the first semi-spherical reflector mounted above the first LED, wherein light from the first LED is reflected substantially in a 360 degree circumference rendering the first LED omni-directional; and

a first clear plastic tubular holder for tightly holding the first semi-spherical reflector oriented directly above the first LED in a stationary non rotating position, wherein the first semi-spherical reflector reflects light in a 360 degree circumferential direction.

2. The omni-directional LED lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

a second LED positioned side-by-side to the first LED, the second LED electrically connected in series to the first LED;

a second semi-spherical reflector having a continuous convex reflective surface, the second semi-spherical reflector mounted above the second LED, wherein light from the second LED is reflected substantially in a 360 degree circumference rendering the second LED omni-directional; and

a second clear plastic tubular holder sized for tightly holding the second semi-spherical reflector oriented directly above the first LED in a stationary non rotating position, the second semi-spherical reflector reflects light of the second LED in a 360 degree circumferential direction, wherein the first clear plastic tubular holder and the second clear plastic tubular holder are side by side to one another.

3. The omni-directional LED lamp of claim 2, further comprising:

a miniature bayonet base; and

prongs on opposite sides of the bayonet base; and

a miniature bayonet socket, wherein the base and prongs are sized to fit both the first LED and the second LED lamp into the miniature bayonet socket.

4. The omni-directional LED lamp of claim 1, wherein the first semi-spherical reflector includes:

a mirror finish deposited on a plastic shape.

5. The omni-directional LED lamp of claim 1, wherein the first semi-spherical reflector includes:

a semi-spherical metal ball bearing.

6. The omni-directional LED lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

a miniature bayonet base attached to a lower surface of the first LED beneath the first clear plastic tubular holder; and

prongs on opposite sides of the bayonet base; and

a miniature bayonet socket, wherein the base and prongs are sized to fit the lamp into the miniature bayonet socket.

7. An omni-directional LED lamp useful for traffic control and warning devices that reflects light in a 360 degree circumferential direction without having to rotate any components, comprising:

a first LED;

a single spherical reflector having a continuous spherical convex reflective surface, the single spherical reflector mounted above the first LED, wherein light from the first LED is reflected substantially in a 360 degree circumference rendering the first LED omni-directional;

a second LED oriented in a direction opposite and facing the first LED with the spherical reflector positioned between the first LED and the second LED, the second LED electrically connected in series to the first LED, wherein light from the second LED is reflected by the spherical reflector substantially in a 360 degree circumference rendering the second LED omni-directional; and

a single clear plastic tubular holder sized for tightly holding the first LED, the spherical reflector, and the second LED in a vertical row and in stationary non rotating positions to one another; and

a single mount support attached beneath the second tubular LED for supplying power to both the first LED and the second LED.

8. The omni-directional LED lamp of claim 7, wherein the spherical reflector includes:

a mirror finish deposited on a plastic shape.

9. The omni-directional LED lamp of claim 7, wherein the spherical reflector includes:

a semi-spherical metal ball bearing.

10. The omni-directional LED lamp of claim 7, the single mount support including:

a single miniature bayonet base attached to a lower end of the first LED beneath the clear plastic tubular holder; and

prongs on opposite sides of the bayonet base; and

a single miniature bayonet socket, the base and prongs sized to fit the lamp into the miniature bayonet socket.

11. An omni-directional warning light that reflects light in a 360 degree circumferential direction without having to rotate any components, comprising:

an LED light source;

a dome shaped colored lens cover covering the LED light source, the lens cover having a color chosen from one of yellow, orange and red; and

a semi-spherical reflector having a continuous convex reflective mirror finish surface mounted inside the lens cover located above and facing the LED light source, wherein emitted light from the LED light source is reflected substantially in a 360 degree circumference rendering the light source omni-directional.

12. The omni-directional warning light source of claim 11, further comprising:

a casing for mounting to a base of the LED light source; and

batteries within the casing and electrically connected to the LED for powering the LED light source.

13. The omni-directional warning light source of claim 11, further comprising:

a photo-cell switch for activating the LED light source.

14. The omni-directional warning light source of claim 11, further comprising:

a bolt screw for mounting the casing to an external support.