Removable LED lamp holder with socket

• US 7,850,362 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Santa's Best
• Original Assignee: 1 Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Yu, Jing Jing
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US12/099,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 362/640.647, 362652-654, 362657-659, 439/699.1, 439/699.2, 439/680
• US Class Current: 362/647
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0005 of sources having contact pins, wires or blades, e.g. pinch sealed lamp F21V19/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/09 for baseless lamp bulb

Abstract

Disclosed is an LED lamp assembly that allows an LED lamp to be removably replaced in a lamp holder. A solid, electrical connection is created between the LED pins and electrical terminals as well as connecting wires without soldering. An LED lamp is removably connected to a base that can be inserted in and removed from a socket that is attached to connecting wires. The LED lamp can be removed from the base for replacement of the LED lamp.

Claims

1. A water resistant LED lamp assembly for releasably attaching an LED element to a power connection comprising:

an LED element comprising a lamp base having a predetermined shape;

a lamp holder having a body portion, said body portion having a lamp holder opening formed in said body portion having a predetermined shape, so that said lamp base fits in said lamp holder body in a manner that provides a water resistant seal;

a socket comprising an extended portion that has a shape that substantially matches said predetermined shape of said opening formed in said body portion of said lamp holder, said socket formed to have a socket opening that has a shape that substantially matches said predetermined shape of said lamp base, so that a friction fit is created between said socket and said body portion of said lamp holder that provides a water resistant seal;

two terminal plates disposed on opposite sides of said body portion of said lamp holder;

a pair of LED pins that extend through a central opening in said socket that are bent around an outside surface of said extended portion of said socket so that said two LED pins abut against said two terminal plates to make an electrical contact when said socket is inserted in said lamp housing as a result of said extended portion forcing said LED pins in an outward direction against said terminal plates, said LED pins having a modulus of elasticity that causes said LED pins to push against said terminal plates with a sufficient force to create a solid electrical connection with said terminal plates while allowing said socket to be removed from said lamp holder;

a wedge securely attached on a lower portion of said socket to create a water resistant seal around power wires entering said LED lamp assembly.

2. The LED lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said socket further comprises:

a stop plate that limits the distance that said socket can be inserted into said lamp housing.

3. The LED lamp assembly of claim 2 further comprising:

a pair of wires connected to said power connection and to said two terminal plates.

4. A method of releasably connecting an LED element to an AC power source comprising:

providing a lamp holder comprising two conductive plates that are connected to said power source and a lamp holder opening having a predetermined shape;

providing an LED element that has a predetermined LED shape and two LED pins;

providing a socket that has an extended portion having a shape that substantially matches said predetermined shape of said lamp holder opening, and a socket opening having a shape that substantially matches said predetermined LED shape;

inserting said LED lamp into said socket so that said predetermined LED shape fits into said socket opening;

inserting said LED pins through a central opening in said socket;

bending portions of said LED pins that extend from said socket around said outside surface of said extended portion of said socket so that said LED element can be removed from said socket;

inserting said extended portion of said socket into said lamp holder opening, said extended portion having a size that forces said LED pins against said conductive plates to create a solid electrical connection while allowing said LED pins to be removed from said socket, said LED pins having a modulus of elasticity that forces said LED pins outwardly in substantially opposite directions against said conductive plates to create a solid electrical connection while allowing said socket and said LED pins to be removed from said lamp holder.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

connecting said two conductive plates to wires that are connected to said AC power source.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said process of inserting said extended portion of said socket in said lamp holder comprises:

inserting said extended portion of said socket in said lamp holder until a stop plate on said socket abuts against a surface in said lamp holder opening.