Solid state electric light bulb

• US 7,172,314 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plastic Inventions and Patents Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Plastic Inventions and Patents Incorporated
• Inventors: Currie, Robert M., Sorella, Eliot
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US10/901,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/307, 362/800, 362/243, 362/245, 362/246, 362/650, D26/2
• US Class Current: 362/240
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/9453 for screw type coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A solid state light bulb for attachment to a lamp socket. The light bulb uses a number of super bright LEDs or color LEDs mounted within a hollow housing to replace a standard bulb such as a 60 Watt bulb. A stepped, reverse conical interior wall distributes and diffuses the light to project the appearance of a normal bulb. An upper lens of the housing may be removable to form a spot light effect.

Claims

1. A solid state light bulb mountable on a household lamp socket, comprising:

a bulb socket for electrically connecting said solid state light bulb to the household lamp socket;

a base having at least one light emitting diode (“

LED”

) electrically connected to said bulb socket;

a diffuser surrounding at least a portion of said at least one LED for diffusing light from said LEDs;

said diffuser having a translucent outer wall and a substantially conical inner wall; and

said conical inner wall having a plurality of stepped, concentric rings forming said conical inner wall, each said concentric ring having an outer face angled to reflect light from said at least one LED substantially radially outward from said concentric ring;

an end cap attached at a distal end of said diffuser from said base for defining a light passage way within said inner conical wall;

wherein said end cap is a lens for focusing light in said light passage way to a remote location.

2. The solid state light bulb of claim 1, further comprising:

a converter for converting AC current of the household lamp socket to DC prior to powering said at least one LED;

a step down transformer for converting the voltage of the household lamp socket to drive said at least one LED; and

a central housing for housing said transformer and said converter.

3. The solid state light bulb of claim 1, wherein said substantially conical inner wall extending the entire length of the diffuser from the center of said base to said distal end of the diffuser.

4. A solid state light bulb mountable on a household lamp socket, comprising:

a bulb socket for electrically connecting said solid state light bulb to the household lamp socket;

a base having at least one light emitting diode (“

LED”

) electrically connected to said bulb socket;

a diffuser surrounding at least a portion of said at least one LED for diffusing light from said LEDs;

said diffuser having a translucent outer wall and a substantially conical inner wall; and

said stepped inner wall having a plurality of stepped, concentric rings forming said conical inner wall, each said concentric ring having an outer face angled to reflect light from said at least one LED substantially radially outward from said concentric ring;

wherein said end cap is a diffuser cap for diffusing axially directed light from said LED outwardly to provide uniform lighting throughout the illuminated portion of said solid state bulb.

5. A solid state light bulb mountable on a household lamp socket, comprising:

a bulb socket for electrically connecting said solid state light bulb to the household lamp socket;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (“

LEDs”

) electrically connected to said bulb socket;

a diffuser surrounding at least a portion of said LEDs for diffusing light from said LEDs;

said diffuser having a translucent outer wall and defining a substantially conical inner wall extending the entire length of the diffuser;

an end cap attached at a distal end of said diffuser from said base for defining a light passage way within said inner conical wall.

wherein said end cap is a lens for focusing light in said light passage way to a remote location.

6. The solid state light bulb of claim 5, further comprising:

a converter for converting AC current of the household lamp socket to DC prior to powering said at least one LED;

a step down transformer for converting the voltage of the household lamp socket to drive said at least one LED; and

a central housing for housing said transformer and said converter.

7. The solid state light bulb of claim 5, wherein said conical inner wall has a plurality of stepped, concentric rings forming said conical inner wall, each said concentric ring has an outer face angled to reflect light from said at least one LED substantially radially outward from said concentric ring.

8. A solid state light bulb mountable on a household lamp socket, comprising:

a bulb socket for electrically connecting said solid state light bulb to the household lamp socket;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (“

LEDs”

) electrically connected to said bulb socket;

a diffuser surrounding at least a portion of said LEDs for diffusing light from said LEDs;

said diffuser having a translucent outer wall and defining a substantially conical inner wall extending the entire length of the diffuser;

an end cap attached to the distal end of said diffuser from said base for defining a light passage way within said inner conical wall.

wherein said end cap is a diffuser cap for diffusing axially directed light from said LED outwardly to provide uniform lighting throughout the illuminated portion of said solid state bulb.

9. A solid state light bulb mountable on a household lamp socket, comprising:

a bulb socket for electrically connecting said solid state light bulb to the household lamp socket;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (“

LEDs”

) electrically connected to said bulb socket;

a diffuser surrounding at least a portion of said LEDs for diffusing light from said LEDs;

said diffuser having a translucent outer wall and a substantially conical inner wall defining an interior light passage way; and

an end cap attached to said diffuser and enclosing said interior light passage way;

wherein said end cap is removable for focusing non-diffused light from the bulb on a remote location.

10. The solid state light bulb of claim 9, further comprising:

a converter for converting AC current of the household lamp socket to DC prior to powering said at least one LED;

a step down transformer for converting the voltage of the household lamp socket to drive said at least one LED; and

a central housing for housing said transformer and said converter.

11. The solid state light bulb of claim 9, wherein said substantially conical inner wall extending the entire length of the diffuser from the center of said base to said distal end of the diffuser.

12. The solid state light bulb of claim 9, wherein said end cap is a lens for focusing light in said light passage way to a remote location.

13. The solid state light bulb of claim 9, wherein said end cap is a diffuser cap for diffusing axially directed light from said LED outwardly to provide uniform lighting throughout the illuminated portion of said solid state bulb.