LED socket

• US 7,611,376 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Landis, John Michael, Daily, Christopher George
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US11/943,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20090130889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 439/356, 439/419, 439/425, 439/617, 439/620.02, 439/620.21, 439/682, 439/683
• US Class Current: 439/419
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/002 making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing F21V21/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/09 for baseless lamp bulb
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/945 Holders with built-in electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2404 the contact members having teeth, prongs, pins or needles penetrating the insulation

Abstract

An LED electrical connector is attachable to a display panel or surface. The LED connector includes a housing having a base, a backplate, and a contact arrangement. The base and backplate form a housing for the contact arrangement and a channel for a cable. The base has a collar to receive an LED, with apertures for the LED contact legs. The contact arrangement includes a first contact having points, and a first terminal in common with the points. The first terminal engages the anode or cathode leg of the LED. A second contact has points and a second terminal interconnected to the points by a resistor. The second terminal configured to frictionally engage an anode or cathode leg. The first and the second contact points pierce insulation on the electrical cord to electrically engage the respective conductors of the cable, to energize the LED.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) electrical connector comprising:

a housing portion having a base portion and a backplate portion, and a contact arrangement, the base portion and backplate portion detachably coupled to form a hollow interior for housing the contact arrangement and a channel for receiving an electrical cable;

the base portion having a collar portion disposed on a first surface for receiving an LED, a pair of apertures for receiving a pair of contact legs of the LED, and at least one latching arm for coupling to the backplate portion;

the contact arrangement comprising;

a first contact portion having one or more points formed thereon, and a first mating terminal electrical common with the one or more points, the first mating terminal frictionally engaging one of an anode and a cathode of the LED; and

a second contact portion having one or more points formed thereon and a second mating terminal interconnected to the one or more points by a resistor, the second mating terminal configured to frictionally engage one of an anode and a cathode of the LED;

wherein the first contact portion points and the second contact portion points penetrate an insulating jacket of the electrical cable to electrically engage a first conductor and second conductor of the cable, to energize the LED; and

wherein the second contact portion further includes a first contact segment and a second contact segment, the first contact segment and the second contact segment being connected in series through the resistor.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the LED is removably secured in the collar by a first pair of flexible detents configured to engage an edge portion of the LED.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first mating terminal and the second mating terminal are comprised of opposing bent metal members defining a gap therebetween for frictionally engaging the LED anode and cathode legs.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are comprised of electrically conductive metal, the first contact portion and the second contact portion being electrically isolated by an insulating divider wall disposed within the base portion.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein each contact portion of the first contact portion and the second contact portion includes a plurality of projecting points configured to penetrate the insulating jacket of a predetermined thickness to engage an electrical conductor, to provide electrical communication between the conductor, the first contact portion and the second contact portion, and the LED when the electrical fixture is fully assembled.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the base portion further includes a plurality of arm portions depending from a periphery of the base portion, each arm portion of the plurality of arm portions including a lip that engages with a shelf portion of the backplate portion.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the base portion and backplate portion compress the electric cable therebetween when the lips of each portion of the plurality of arm portions are engaged with the shelf portions, and wherein the electric cable passes through a pair of opposing notches arranged at diametrically opposing sides of base portion.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the base portion further includes a divider wall, the divider wall arranged adjacent to the cable passing through the notches.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the divider wall includes a top surface and conical barbs projecting upward therefrom, the conical barbs arranged to impinge on the insulating layer of the cable to restrain the electrical cable from axial displacement after the backplate portion and the base portion are coupled by the plurality of latching arms.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the base portion further includes a bottom surface and a plurality of stud members, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion include an aperture with at least one spring member disposed therein, the at least one spring member being configured to frictionally engage the stud members and retain the contact portions on the bottom surface.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the spring members are flexible when pressed against the stud members to grip the stud members to prevent the contact portions from backing from the stud members.

12. A contact arrangement for use in a light emitting diode (LED) connector having a housing portion having a base portion and a backplate portion detachably coupled to form a hollow interior for housing the contact arrangement and a channel for receiving an electrical cable, the contact arrangement comprising:

a first contact portion having one or more points formed thereon, and a first mating terminal electrical common with the one or more points, the first mating terminal frictionally engaging one of an anode and a cathode of the LED; and

a second contact portion having one or more points formed thereon and a second mating terminal interconnected to the one or more points by a resistor, the second mating terminal configured to frictionally engage one of an anode and a cathode of the LED;

wherein the first contact portion points and the second contact portion points penetrate an insulating jacket of the electrical cable to electrically engage a first conductor and second conductor of the cable, to energize the LED; and

wherein the second contact portion further includes a first contact segment and a second contact segment, the first contact segment and the second contact segment being connected in series through the resistor.

13. The contact arrangement of claim 12, wherein each contact portion of the first contact portion and the second contact portion includes a plurality of projecting points configured to penetrate the insulating jacket of a predetermined thickness to engage an electrical conductor, to provide electrical communication between the conductor, the first contact portion and the second contact portion, and the LED when the electrical fixture is fully assembled.

14. The contact arrangement of claim 12, wherein each of the first contact portion and the second contact portion includes a removable tab portion, the tab portion providing electrical connectivity between the first contact portion and the second contact portion.