Flashlight housing

• US 7,153,004 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emissive Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Galli
• Inventors: Galli, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US10/919,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 362/218, 362/294, 362/345, 362/480, 362/249, 362/237, 362/373, 362/396, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/373
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/767 the planes containing the fins or blades having directions perpendicular to the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/87 Organic material, e.g. filled polymer composites; Thermo-conductive additives or coatings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention provides a lighting assembly that incorporates a high intensity LED package into an integral housing for further incorporation into other useful lighting devices. The present invention primarily includes three housing components, namely an inner mounting die, an outer enclosure and an outer housing that cooperate to enhance the heat management of the overall assembly. The inner and outer components cooperate to retain the LED package, provide electrical and control connections, provide integral heat sink capacity and includes an integrated reflector cup. Surface area enhancements on the outer surface of the outer enclosure are aligned with openings in the outer housing to allow efficient air flow around the LED assembly to enhance cooling. In this manner, high intensity LED packages can be incorporated into lighting assemblies with reduced risk of overheating and malfunction.

Claims

1. A flashlight assembly comprising:

a portable flashlight housing;

a lighting assembly including a lighting element and a heat sink wherein heat generated by said lighting element is absorbed by said heat sink, said lighting assembly disposed within said flashlight housing; and

a power source fully contained within said flashlight housing for selectively energizing said lighting assembly wherein said lighting assembly generates heat and light when energized,

wherein said flashlight housing further includes at least one opening, said opening positioned adjacent said heat sink whereby said heat from said energized lighting assembly is transferred via said heat sink from an interior of the flashlight housing to a surrounding environment through said at least one opening in said flashlight housing.

2. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, wherein said flashlight housing is formed from a polymer.

3. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, wherein said flashlight housing is formed from a polymer.

4. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, wherein said heat sink is metallic.

5. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, wherein said heat sink is a thermally conductive polymer composition.

6. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, wherein heat is transferred from a rear surface of said light source into said heat sink.

7. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, said lighting assembly further including a heat spreader plat positioned to transfer heat from a rear surface of said light source to a rear surface of said heat sink.

8. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, wherein said heat sink includes surface area enhancements disposed on a exterior surface of said heat sink adjacent said at least one opening, wherein air entering said at least one opening flows across said surface area enhancements and transfers heat away from said heat sink.

9. The flashlight assembly of claim 8, wherein said surface area enhancements are selected from the group consisting of:

a plurality of spaced apart concentric fins, an array of a plurality of spaced apart pins and a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal fins.

10. A flashlight assembly comprising:

a housing;

a lighting assembly disposed within said housing, said lighting assembly including a light emitting diode and a heat sink; and

a power source for selectively energizing said light emitting diode said light emitting diode generates heat and light when energized, said heat being transferred from said light emitting diode into said heat sink,

wherein said housing further includes at least one opening adjacent said heat sink whereby said heat from said energized light emitting diode is further transferred from said heat sink disposed within said housing to a surrounding environment through said at least one opening in said housing.

11. The flashlight assembly of claim 10, wherein said housing is formed from a polymer.

12. The flashlight assembly of claim 10, wherein said heat sink is metallic.

13. The flashlight assembly of claim 10, wherein said heat sink is a thermally conductive polymer composition.

14. The flashlight assembly of claim 10, wherein said heat sink includes surface area enhancements disposed on an exterior surface of said heat sink adjacent said at least one opening, wherein air entering said at least one opening flows across said surface area enhancements and transfers heat away from said heat sink.

15. The flashlight assembly of claim 14, wherein said surface area enhancements are selected from the group consisting of:

a plurality of spaced apart concentric fins, an array of a plurality of spaced apart pins and a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal fins.

16. A flashlight assembly comprising:

a housing;

a lighting assembly disposed within said housing, said lighting assembly including a light emitting diode and a heat sink; and

a power source for selectively energizing said light emitting diode said light emitting diode generates heat and light when energized, said heat being transferred from said light emitting diode into said heat sink,

wherein said housing further includes at least two openings adjacent said heat sink whereby said heat from said energized light emitting diode is further transferred from said heat sink disposed within said housing and ambient air enters a first opening, circulates around said heat sink to absorb said heat and exits a second opening thereby dissipating said heat to a surrounding environment.

17. The flashlight assembly of claim 16, wherein said housing is formed from a polymer.

18. The flashlight assembly of claim 16, wherein said heat sink is metallic.

19. The flashlight assembly of claim 16, wherein said heat sink is a thermally conductive polymer composition.

20. The flashlight assembly of claim 16, wherein said heat sink includes surface area enhancements disposed on an exterior surface of said heat sink adjacent said at least one opening, wherein air entering said at least one opening flows across said surface area enhancements and transfers heat away from said heat sink.

21. The flashlight assembly of claim 20, wherein said surface area enhancements are selected from the group consisting of:

a plurality of spaced apart concentric fins, an array of a plurality of spaced apart pins and a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal fins.