After market LED taillight bulb

• US 6,357,902 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Poultry Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brian Horowitz
• Inventors: Horowitz, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARD, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/669,007
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/499, 362/249, 362/240, 362/800, 362/226, 362/545, 439/619
• US Class Current: 362/545
• 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: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) assembly designed to be used in a light bulb mounting assembly in a vehicle, such as taillight or turn indicator assembly. The LED assembly having a plurality of LEDs mounted upon a single circuit board that may be arranged in numerous colors, patterns and shapes to give a distinctive look to the light generating assembly. The LED assembly is contained within a durable water and shock resistant structure with a compatible plug member to be used in conjunction with existing light bulb mounts present in the vehicle. The LED assembly can be used to easily replace existing incandescent light bulbs present in the vehicle and provide additional color and lighting patterns eliminating the need for tinted glass bulbs or light transmissive covers to generate variations in colored light.

Claims

1. A replacement light assembly for a vehicle having a female receptacle adapted to receive the replacement light assembly and provide electricity thereto, the assembly comprising:

a circuit board having a first and second side and an outer perimeter;

a plurality of LEDs mounted on the first side of the circuit board;

at least one electrical component coupled to the plurality of LEDs via at least one wire, wherein the at least one electrical components are connected to the second side of the circuit board;

a housing comprising a first and second housing member that are connected together so as to define a recess having interior walls wherein the circuit board is mounted within the housing such that the outer perimeter of the circuit board is positioned adjacent the inner walls of the first and second housing members so that the circuit board and the housing define a space so that the second side of the circuit board is positioned within the space; and

a rectangular plug member connected to the housing that is adapted to fit in a receptacle in the vehicle wherein the plug member has a first end that is adapted to be positioned within the female receptacle and at least one exposed face positioned adjacent the first end and wherein the at least one wire extends through the plug member so as to extend out of the first end and is positioned adjacent the at least one exposed face so as to permit electrical contact to the light assembly when positioned in the female receptacle.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further defines a plug member recess positioned adjacent the recess that receives the circuit board wherein the plug member recess receives the plug member and retains the plug member therein when the first and second housing members are interconnected.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the plug member has a coupler mounted on a first side and wherein at least one of the first and second housing members defines a coupler that engages with the coupler mounted on the first side of the plug member so as to retain the plug member in the plug member recess.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the coupler mounted on the first side of the plug member comprises an opening and the coupler on at least one of the first and second housing members defines a protrusion that extends into the opening so as to retain the plug member in the plug member recess.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing members define positioning tabs in the recess so that the circuit board is retained in the recess by the positioning tabs.

6. The assembly of claim 1, comprising interconnecting couplers mounted on the first and second housing members so that the first and second housing members can be connected together.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the interconnecting couplers comprise locking tabs and openings formed on the first and second housing members to permit secure engagement therebetween.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the interconnecting couplers and the couplers connecting the plug member to the housing comprise snap connections such that the assembly can be fully assembled without the use of tools.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprise a mounting structure with a light transmissive cover lens.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the space is an enclosed space.

11. A replacement light assembly for a vehicle having a light receptacle, the assembly comprising:

a circuit board having a first and a second side and an outer perimeter;

a plurality of LEDs mounted on the first side of the circuit board;

at least one electrical components coupled to the plurality of LEDs via at least one wire, wherein the at least one electrical components are connected to the second side of the circuit board;

a plug member coupled to at least one electrical component by at least one wire, wherein the plug member has a first end that is adapted to be positioned within the light receptacle; and

a housing comprised of a first and a second matching housing member that are interconnected together so as to denied a first recess and a second recess wherein the first and the second recess each has interior walls, wherein the circuit board is mounted in the first recess so as to be more protected wherein the outer perimeter of the circuit board is positioned adjacent the inner walls of the fist recess, and the plug member is mounted in the second recess so as to extend therefrom to permit electrical connection from the vehicle light receptacle to the plurality of LEDs via the plug member.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing further defines positioning tabs which retain the circuit board in the first recess.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing further defines a positioning pin about which the plug member is mounted to retain it in the second recess.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the electrical components are retained in the enclosed space of the housing member so as to be protected from damage.

15. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising interconnecting couplers mounted on the first and second housing members so that the first and second housing members can be connected together.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the interconnecting couplers comprise locking flanges that are slidably attached to flange receiving areas present on the opposing housing member.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second housing members are connected together by snapable connections such that the assembly can be fully assembled without the use of tools.

18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the circuit board is mounted in the first recess so as to be protected from water.

19. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the plug member has at least one exposed face positioned adjacent to the first end and wherein the at least one wire extends through the plug member so as to extend out of the first end and is positioned adjacent the at least exposed face so as to permit electrical contact to the light assembly when positioned in the light receptacle.

25. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising interconnecting couplers mounted on the first and second housing members so that the first and second housing members can be connected together.

26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the interconnecting couplers comprise locking tabs and openings formed on the first and second housing members to permit secure engagement therebetween.

20. A replacement light assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a circuit board having a first and second side;

a plurality of LBDs mounted on the first side of the circuit board;

at least one electrical components coupled to the plurality of LEDs via at least one wire, wherein the at least one electrical components are connected to the second side of the circuit board;

a housing comprising a first and second housing member that are connected together so as to define a recess having inner walls wherein the circuit board is mounted within the housing in a manner such that the inner walls of the recess flushly fit against the contour of an edge of the circuit board wherein the circuit board forms a top side enclosing an upper plane of the housing wherein the LEDs extend from the upper plane of the housing;

a plug member connected to the housing that is adapted to fit in a receptacle in the vehicle wherein the at least one wire extends through the plug member so as to be coupled with electrical connectors positioned within the receptacle.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the housing further defines a plug member recess positioned adjacent the recess that receives the circuit board wherein the plug member recess receives the plug member and retains the plug member therein when the first and second housing members are interconnected.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the plug member has a coupler mounted on a first side and wherein at least one of the first and second housing members defines a coupler that engages with the coupler mounted on the first side of the plug member so as to retain the plug member in the plug member recess.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the coupler mounted on the first side of the plug member comprises an opening and the coupler one at least one of the first and second housing members defines a protrusion that extends into the opening so as to retain the plug member in the plug member recess.

24. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the first and second housing members define positioning tabs in the recess so that the circuit board is retained in the recess by the positioning tabs.

27. The assembly of claims 23, wherein the interconnecting couplers and the couplers connecting the plug member to the housing comprise snap connections such that the assembly can be filly assembled without the use of tools.

28. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the assembly further comprise a mounting structure with a light transmissive cover lens.