Base for retrofit LED lighting device

• US 8,147,267 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xeralux, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Oster, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyeon, Hae Moon
• Application Number:
  US12/874,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20120058663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 439/339, 439/340, 439/345, 439/642, 439/641, 439/647, 439/648, 439/657, 439/168, 439/220, 439/232, 439/375, 439/667
• US Class Current: 439/339
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/46 for bayonet type base
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A modified screw-in (Edison) type base for LED lighting devices that enables directional LED devices to be used in existing sockets. A movable center contact in a standard Edison type threaded base that enables the base to be screwed into a socket to make electrical contact while allowing the base to be rotated at least a half turn to allow a directional LED device to be aimed were the light is desired. The modified screw-type base that has a movable mount enabling a directional LED device to be firmly screwed into a standard bulb socket, then rotated to aim the light where it is desired.

Claims

1. A screw-in type base for a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting device comprising:

an LED light source; and

a movable conductor mounted in the center of the base, and configured to make electrically conductive contact with a center conductor of a socket the base is screwed into,

wherein the movable conductor is configured to remain in electrical communication with the LED light source.

2. The base of claim 1 where the movable conductor includes a spring around the movable conductor to ensure firm contact with the center conductor of the socket regardless of how tightly the base is screwed in to the socket.

3. The base of claim 1 with a cap placed at an end of the movable conductor to hold the conductor in place in the base.

4. The base of claim 1 with insulating material surrounding the movable conductor to insulate the movable conductor from metal threads of the base.

5. The base of claim 1, further comprising metal threads in electrical communication with the LED light source.

6. The base of claim 5, wherein the metal threads and the movable conductor are electrically connected to the LED light source via wires.

7. A screw-in type base for an LED lighting device comprising:

an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, wherein the inner cylinder is at least partially inside the outer cylinder, and wherein the inner cylinder is configured to rotate up to one-quarter turn clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the outer cylinder and wherein further rotation of the inner cylinder causes the outer cylinder to turn; and

a light-generating portion of the device connected to the inner cylinder and configured to rotate with the inner cylinder, wherein the light-generating portion comprises an LED light source; and

a metal contact in electrical communication with the LED light source, and configured to make electrically conductive contact with a center conductor of a socket the base is screwed into.

8. The base of claim 7 with a slot in the outer cylinder and a small tab in the side of the inner cylinder such that the tab protrudes through the slot in the outer cylinder, enabling the inner cylinder to rotate up to one-quarter turn clockwise or counterclockwise before further rotation causes the outer cylinder to also turn.

9. The base of claim 7 where the outer and inner cylinder are made of an insulating material to protect the user from electric shock hazard.

10. The base of claim 7 in which electronics to power and regulate the LED light source are mounted within the inner cylinder.