Conversion cradle incandescent lamp to LED lamp

• US 7,153,008 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Grote Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Kevin Scott, Koehler, Jay Frederick, Grote, William Dominic III
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAYNE, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US10/920,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20060039159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 362/487, 362/497, 362/498, 362/499, 362/506, 362/507, 362/538, 362/540, 362/541, 362/542, 362/547, 362/548, 362/549, 362/651, 362/650, 362/649, 362/368, 362/373, 362/800, 362/490, 362/488, 362/545, 362/646
• US Class Current: 362/487
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• 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: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• 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 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A LED lamp mounting assembly for use in motor vehicle lamps is described. The LED lamp mounting assembly connects a LED lamp to a pre-existing incandescent lamp socket in a motor vehicle. The LED lamp mounting assembly therefore allows a LED lamp to be operated from incandescent lamp hardware. In one embodiment, the LED lamp mounting assembled includes a LED lamp assembly, a heat sink, a cradle, printed circuit boards and an electrical connector. The electrical connector is insertable into the incandescent lamp socket and connects to the printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards power the LED lamp assembly and the heat sink adsorbs excess heat created by the LED lamp assembly. The motor vehicle lamp becomes a LED lamp without any changes to the existing incandescent lamp hardware.

Claims

1. A device for replacing an incandescent lamp with an LED lamp in a motor vehicle comprising:

an incandescent lamp socket;

an electrical connector including a base, wherein said base is constructed and arranged to be insertable into said incandescent light bulb socket;

a cradle including an outer rim and a basin, said basin defining a recess and including a circuit board chamber, wherein said outer rim is mountable upon said motor vehicle;

a heat sink defining a second recess, wherein said recess of said basin receives said heat sink;

a license lamp printed circuit board, wherein said license lamp printed circuit board is positioned between said heat sink and said cradle;

a drive printed circuit board, wherein said drive printed circuit board is received inside said circuit board chamber of said basin; and

an LED lamp operatively coupled to said electrical connector, wherein said LED lamp is received inside the second recess of said heat sink.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said heat sink is composed of aluminum.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said cradle is composed of plastic.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said drive circuit board is coupled to said basin using epoxy.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said base is constructed and arranged to be received by a bayonet-based bulb socket.

6. The device of claim 1, said heat sink including a flange, wherein said license lamp printed circuit board is sandwiched in between said flange and said cradle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said LED lamp, said cradle, and said heat sink are coupled using fasteners.