Waterproof, miniature light-emitting diode (LED) device

• US 7,374,309 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Horizon Group USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Horizon Group USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Cutler-Bass, Judy
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, DANIELLE NICOLE
• Application Number:
  US11/397,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20070230168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/203
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Waterproof miniature LED device including a cylinder having a first housing part with an internal thread and a second housing part with an external thread and rotatably coupled to the first housing part via engagement of the threads, an LED light assembly mounted to the cylinder and a dome connected to the cylinder and covering the LED light assembly. The cylinder defines a chamber for receiving batteries. Each housing part is conductive to enable formation of an electrical circuit including the batteries, LED light assembly and conductive portions of the housing parts. Illumination provided by the LED light assembly is controlled by rotating the housing parts relative to one another causing formation or interruption of the electrical circuit. An elastic ring covers a space between the housing parts alongside the threads to prevent water from entering between the threads into the interior of the cylinder and interrupting the electrical circuit.

Claims

1. A miniature light-emitting diode (LED) device, comprising:

a cylinder including a first housing part having an internal thread and a second housing part having an external thread and rotatably coupled to said first housing part via engagement of said threads, said cylinder defining a chamber for receiving at least one battery, and said first and second housing parts alongside said threads defining a space;

an LED light assembly arranged in connection with said cylinder, at least a portion of each of said first and second housing parts being made of conductive material to enable formation of an electrical circuit including said at least one battery when present in said chamber, said LED light assembly and said conductive portions of said first and second housing parts, rotation of said first and second housing parts relative to one another causing formation or interruption of the electrical circuit and thus controlling illumination provided by said LED light assembly;

a dome connected to said cylinder in a position covering said LED light assembly; and

means for preventing water from entering between said threads, said means being arranged outward of said first and second housing parts, and surrounding a portion of an outer surface of each of said first and second housing parts, and being arranged to cover said space and thereby prevent water from entering into said space and then between said threads.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said means comprise an elastic ring arranged around said space and in contact with part of both said first and second housing parts.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said elastic ring is dimensioned to provide a friction fit against outer surfaces of said first and second housing parts.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said means are further arranged to prevent inadvertent movement of said first and second housing parts relative to one another to thereby prevent inadvertent changing of the on or off status of the device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said dome is faceted.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said first housing part includes a base, a tubular part extending upward from said base, a contact button arranged on said base inside of said tubular part, said internal thread being formed on an inner surface of said tubular part, said second housing part includes a first tubular part and a second, smaller diameter tubular part extending from said first tubular part, said external thread being formed on said second tubular part, said space being defined between a bottom-facing surface of said second housing part at an edge of said first tubular part and a top-facing surface of said tubular part of said first housing part.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of batteries arranged in said chamber and a non-conductive sleeve arranged around said batteries to electrically isolate said batteries from said cylinder.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for preventing water from entering enables said first and second housing parts to be rotatable with respect to one another.

9. A miniature light-emitting diode (LED) device, comprising:

a cylinder including a first housing part having an internal thread and a second housing part having an external thread and rotatably coupled to said first housing part via engagement of said threads, a space being defined between said first and second housing parts alongside said threads, said cylinder defining a chamber for receiving at least one battery;

an LED light assembly arranged in connection with said cylinder, at least a portion of each of said first and second housing parts being made of conductive material to enable formation of an electrical circuit including said at least one battery when present in said chamber, said LED light assembly and said conductive portions of said first and second housing parts, rotation of said first and second housing parts relative to one another causing formation or interruption of the electrical circuit and thus controlling illumination provided by said LED light assembly;

a dome connected to said cylinder in a position covering said LED light assembly; and

an elastic ring arranged outward of said first and second housing parts, and surrounding a portion of an outer surface of each of said first and second housing parts to cover said space and thereby prevent water from entering into said space and then between said threads.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said elastic ring is arranged in contact with part of both said first and second housing parts.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said elastic ring is dimensioned to provide a friction fit against outer surfaces of said first and second housing parts.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said elastic ring is arranged to prevent inadvertent movement of said first and second housing parts relative to one another to thereby prevent inadvertent changing of the on or off status of the device.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said dome is faceted.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein said first housing part includes a base, a tubular part extending upward from said base, a contact button arranged on said base inside of said tubular part, said internal thread being formed on an inner surface of said tubular part, said second housing part includes a first tubular part and a second, smaller diameter tubular part extending from said first tubular part, said external thread being formed on said second tubular part, said space being defined between a bottom-facing surface of said second housing part at an edge of said first tubular part and a top-facing surface of said tubular part of said first housing part.

15. The device of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of batteries arranged in said chamber and a non-conductive sleeve arranged around said batteries to electrically isolate said batteries from said cylinder.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein said means for preventing water from entering enables said first and second housing parts to be rotatable with respect to one another.

17. A miniature light-emitting diode (LED) device, comprising:

a cylinder including a first housing part having an internal thread and a second housing part having an external thread and rotatably coupled to said first housing part via engagement of said threads, said cylinder defining a chamber for receiving at least one battery;

an LED light assembly arranged in connection with said cylinder; and

a faceted dome connected to said cylinder in a position covering said LED light assembly,

at least a portion of each of said first and second housing parts being made of conductive material to enable formation of an electrical circuit including said at least one battery when present in said chamber, said LED light assembly and said conductive portions of said first and second housing parts, rotation of said first and second housing parts relative to one another causing formation or interruption of the electrical circuit and thus controlling illumination provided by said LED light assembly,

wherein a space is defined between said first and second housing parts alongside said threads, and said device further comprises an elastic ring arranged outward of said first and second housing parts, and surrounding a portion of an outer surface of each of said first and second housing parts to cover said space and thereby prevent water from entering into said space and then between said threads.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said elastic ring is arranged in contact with part of both said first and second housing parts.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said elastic ring is dimensioned to provide a friction fit against outer surfaces of said first and second housing parts.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein said elastic ring is arranged to prevent inadvertent movement of said first and second housing parts relative to one another to thereby prevent inadvertent changing of the on or off status of the device.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein said means for preventing water from entering enabling enables said first and second housing parts to be rotatable with respect to one another.