Lens system for enhancing LED light output

• US 6,361,192 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barr-One, LLC
• Original Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
• Inventors: Fussell, David A, Gibboney, James W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/426,310
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 362/246, 362/255, 362/256, 362/355, 362/356, 362/357, 362/84, 362/331, 362/311, 362/268, 362/329, 362/335, 362/340, 362/447, 362/810, 362/800, 313/512, 257/98
• US Class Current: 362/331
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/001 being candle-shaped with varying lighting effect of simulating flames F21S10/04; string of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/02 Combinations of only two kinds of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/81 Imitation candle

Abstract

A light source enhancing lens assembly 10 has a carrier 20, a light source 30 carried by the carrier 20, a first lens 40 which refracts and diffuses light emitted from the light source 30 and a second lens 70 to defocus and further distribute the light emitting from the first lens 40. The light source 30 is inserted into the first lens 40, so that light from the LED is refracted within a first bore 48 and diffused by a frosted first outer surface 60 of the first lens 40. The first lens 40 inserts into a second bore 40 of the second lens 70. Light from the first lens 40 is further defocused by a series of parallel, spaced apart lens sections 82 located on the second outer surface 78 of the second lens 70.

Claims

1. A lens assembly for evenly distributing light from a light source, comprising:

a first lens having a first outer surface, said first lens having a distribution means for refracting and diffusing light; and

a second lens in spaced relation to said first lens and having a second outer surface, said second lens having means for defocusing light emitted by said first lens, wherein said second outer surface has a plurality of parallel, spaced apart lens sections formed thereon.

2. The lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens is carried within said second lens.

3. The lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said second lens has a bore formed therein for receiving said first lens.

4. The lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has a first bore and said second lens has a second bore, said first lens being received within said second bore of said second lens.

5. The lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has a first bore and said second lens has a second bore, said first lens being received within said second bore of said second lens, said first and said second bores being co-axial.

6. The lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said second lens has a bore formed therein that has a bore end, said bore end being hyperbolically-shaped.

7. The lens assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has a bore formed therein that has a bore end, said bore end being hemispherically shaped.

8. A light assembly for evenly distributing light from a light source, comprising:

a first lens having a first end and an opposing second end and a first bore formed therein, and wherein said second end of said first lens is hyperbolically shaped;

a second lens having a second bore formed therein, said first lens being carried within said second bore; and

a light source carried within said first bore.

9. The light assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said first lens has an outer surface that is frosted.

10. The light assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said first lens has an outer surface that is distressed.

11. The light assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said second lens has a second outer surface with a plurality of spaced apart lens sections formed thereon.

12. The light assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said first and said second lenses carry a fluorescent material.

13. The light assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said second bore is longer than said first lens so that the position of said first lens within said second bore can be adjusted.

14. The light assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said first bore is formed in said first end of said first lens and wherein said first bore is hemispherically shaped.

15. A light assembly for evenly distributing light from a light source, comprising:

a light emitting diode having an output of at least 6000 mcd;

a first lens having a first outer surface, said first lens having a first bore dimensioned to receive said light emitting diode; and

a second lens having a second bore dimensioned to receive said first lens.

16. The light assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said first lens carries a fluorescent material.

17. The light assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said first lens has an outer surface that is frosted.

18. The light assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said second lens has an outer surface that carries a plurality of spaced apart lens sections.

19. A lens assembly for evenly distributing light from a light source, comprising:

a first lens having a first outer surface, said first lens having a distribution means for refracting and diffusing light; and

a second lens in spaced relation to said first lens and having a second outer surface, said second lens having means for defocusing light emitted by said first lens, wherein said second lens has a bore formed therein that has a bore end, said bore end being hyperbolically-shaped.

20. The lens assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein said first lens is carried within said second lens.

21. The lens assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein said second lens has a bore formed therein for receiving said first lens.

22. The lens assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein said first lens has a first bore and said second lens has a second bore, said first lens being received within said second bore of said second lens.

23. The lens assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein said first lens has a first bore and said second lens has a second bore, said first lens being received within said second bore of said second lens, said first and said second bores being co-axial.

24. The lens assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein said first lens has a bore formed therein that has a bore end, said bore end being hemispherically shaped.

25. A lens assembly for evenly distributing light from a light source, comprising:

a first lens having a first outer surface, said first lens having a distribution means for refracting and diffusing light; and

a second lens in spaced relation to said first lens and having a second outer surface, said second lens having means for defocusing light emitted by said first lens, wherein said first lens has a bore formed therein that has a bore end, said bore end being hemispherically shaped.

26. The lens assembly as recited in claim 25, wherein said first lens is carried within said second lens.

27. The lens assembly as recited in claim 25, wherein said second lens has a bore formed therein for receiving said first lens.

28. The lens assembly as recited in claim 25, wherein said first lens has a first bore and said second lens has a second bore, said first lens being received within said second bore of said second lens.

29. The lens assembly as recited in claim 25, wherein said first lens has a first bore and said second lens has a second bore, said first lens being received within said second bore of said second lens, said first and said second bores being co-axial.

33. The lens assembly as recited in claim 25, wherein said second outer surface of said second lens is in the form of a candle flame.

30. A light assembly for evenly distributing light from a light source, comprising:

a carrier;

a light emitting diode having an output of at least 6000 mcd carried by said carrier; and

a lens carried by said carrier and having a convex-shaped, cylindrical body and an outer surface, said lens having a first bore formed therein and dimensioned to receive said light emitting diode, said first bore having a bore end.

31. The light assembly as recited in claim 30, wherein said outer surface is frosted.

32. The light assembly as recited in claim 30, wherein said bore end is hyperbolically shaped.