Packaging for lighting modules

• US 8,038,320 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sloan Company Incorporated (Sloan), Sloanled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sloan Company Incorporated (Sloan)
• Inventors: Ferrie, Timothy, Sloan, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; Sharon
• Application Number:
  US11/823,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/249.04, 362/249.08, 362/362, 362/391, 362/812, 206/531, 206/539, 206/521, 206/15, 206/2, 206/7, 206/589, 206/593
• US Class Current: 362/249.01
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/103 V-shaped elements, e.g. racks, protuberances projecting from a supporting surface, supporting the articles locally at its sides B65D25/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/42 for ampoules; for lamp bulbs; for electronic valves or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports

Abstract

A package for holding a plurality of LED modules interconnected by wire. The package comprises a plurality of cradles each of which is sized to hold a respective one of the interconnected LED modules. Each of the cradles comprises first and second opposing side vertical surfaces partially defining a space for holding its respective one of the LED modules, each of the LED modules arranged in a respective one of the cradles. A plurality of holding tabs is included at least one of which is on one of the first and second opposing side vertical surfaces of each of the cradles and protruding into the module holding space. Each of the tabs is arranged to hold its respective one of the modules in its cradle, wherein the cradles are arranged adjacent to one another with the interconnecting wire running between adjacent cradles.

Claims

1. A package for holding a plurality of interconnected modules, comprising:

a plurality of cradles each of which is sized to hold a respective one of a plurality of removable interconnected modules, said cradles arranged adjacent to one another with a wall between adjacent ones of said plurality of cradles, each cradle comprising first and second opposing side vertical surfaces, lower opposing end surfaces, and a bottom surface, said surfaces at least partially defining a module holding space; and

a plurality of holding tabs at least one of which is on a respective one of said cradles on one of said first and second opposing side vertical surfaces and protruding into said module holding space, said tab arranged to hold its respective one of said modules in said cradle.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second opposing side vertical surfaces has at least one of said plurality of holding tabs.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein said cradles are adjacent to one another in a substantially flat orientation.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein said cradles are arranged in a plurality of rows.

5. The package of claim 1, made of a resilient material.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein said first and second opposing side vertical surfaces are made of a resilient material.

7. The package of claim 1, further comprising a cover over said cradles.

8. The package of claim 7, further comprising posts to hold said cover over said cradles without interfering with said cradles.

9. The package of claim 7, wherein said cover further comprises written information.

10. The package of claim 1, wherein said modules comprise LED modules.

11. A package holding a plurality of LED modules, comprising:

a plurality of LED modules interconnected by wire;

a plurality of cradles each of which is sized to hold a respective one of said plurality of interconnected LED modules, each of said cradles comprising first and second opposing side vertical surfaces, lower opposing end surfaces, and a bottom surface, said surfaces at least partially defining a module holding space for holding its respective one of said LED modules, each of said LED modules arranged in a respective one of said cradles;

a plurality of holding tabs at least one of which is on one of said first and second opposing side vertical surfaces of each of said cradles and protruding into said module holding space, each of said tabs arranged to hold its respective one of said modules in its one of said cradles, wherein said cradles are arranged adjacent to one another with said interconnecting wire running between adjacent cradles;

wherein said modules are removable from said cradles.

12. The package of claim 11, wherein each of said cradles further comprising a plurality of holding tabs, each of which is on one of said first and second opposing side vertical surfaces and protrudes into said module holding space.

13. The package of claim 11, wherein said first opposing side vertical surface has a different number of tabs than said second opposing side vertical surface.

14. The package of claim 11, wherein at least some of said cradles are adjacent to one another in rows in a substantially flat orientation.

15. The package of claim 11, made of a resilient material.

16. The package of claim 11, further comprising a cover over said cradles.

17. The package of claim 15, further comprising posts to hold said cover over said cradles without interfering with said cradles.

18. The package of claim 17, being stackable on others of said packages.

19. The package of claim 11, wherein said LED modules comprise LEDs that are visible for inspection when said modules are arranged in its respective one of said cradles.

20. The package of claim 19, wherein said LED modules can be illuminated while said modules are in said cradles.

21. The package of claim 11, wherein said interconnecting wires are accessible for cutting when said LED modules are mounted in said cradles.

22. A package for holding a plurality of interconnected modules, comprising:

a plurality of walls, the surfaces of said walls comprising first and second opposing side vertical surfaces, lower opposing end surfaces, and a bottom surface, respective ones of said opposing side vertical surfaces at least partially defining one of a plurality of module holding cradles, with each of said cradles sized to hold a respective one of a plurality of interconnected modules, said cradles arranged immediately adjacent to one another and separated by one of said plurality of walls with each of said cradles first and second opposing side vertical surfaces partially defining the module holding space, wherein said walls are made of a resilient material such that said first and second opposing side vertical surfaces of each of said cradles provides an opposing holding force.