Substantially inseparable LED lamp assembly

• US 8,083,393 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Santa's Best
• Original Assignee: 1 Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Yu, Jing Jing
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zettl, Mary
• Application Number:
  US11/957,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 313309-311, 313495-497, 362/267, 362/645, 362/647, 362/649, 362/373, 362650-658, 445/22, 445/23, 445/26, 445/27
• US Class Current: 362/654
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/06 the fastening being onto or by the lampholder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• 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 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/09 for baseless lamp bulb

Abstract

Disclosed are LED lamp assemblies that are substantially inseparable. The LED lamp assemblies use discrete components that are individually manufactured and then assembled in a manner that substantially prevents disassembly or disengagement of components. An interference fit can be used to substantially secure components of the LED lamp assemblies. Bonding techniques can also be used, including adhesive and solvent bonds, as well as thermal bonds, including sonic bonds.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a substantially inseparable LED lamp assembly from individual discrete components comprising:

providing a lamp cover that has a lamp base that has a first opening on a first end of said lamp cover;

providing a lampholder having an annular slot formed in said lampholder to which said lamp base is attached and a second opening that is on a second end that is opposite to said first end;

inserting said lamp base into said annular slot so that said lamp cover is substantially inseparable from said lampholder and provides a watertight seal with said lampholder;

providing an LED lamp having LED pin leads and an LED diode body;

soldering wires directly to said LED pin leads of said LED, so that said wires are substantially inseparable from said LED pin leads, said wires having a predetermined size and predetermined shape;

inserting said LED lamp through said second opening of said second end of said lampholder to a position where said LED lamp is oriented to allow light from said LED lamp to be transmitted through said lamp cover;

substantially permanently attaching said LED diode body directly to said lamp base, so that said LED lamp is substantially inseparable from said lamp base;

inserting a watertight sealing plug into said second opening of said second end of said lampholder, said plug having grooves along an outer surface that substantially match said predetermined size and said predetermined shape of said wires so that said plug forms a watertight seal with said wires between said lampholder and said plug so that said watertight sealing plug is substantially permanently sealed in said second opening to form a watertight seal at said second end of said lampholder, so that said plug is substantially inseparable from said lampholder using manually generated forces.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of substantially permanently attaching said LED lamp to said lamp base comprises bonding said lamp cover to said lamp base.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said process of sealing said plug in said first opening comprises bonding said plug in said first opening of said lamp base.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of substantially permanently attaching said LED lamp to said lamp base comprises creating an interference fit between said LED lamp and said lamp base.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said process of sealing said plug in said first opening comprises providing an interference fit between said plug and said first opening.