Light fixture assembly having improved heat dissipation capabilities

• US 8,360,614 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inteltech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inteltech Corporation
• Inventors: Soderman, Daryl, Stepps, Dale B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John A
• Application Number:
  US12/902,852
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/145, 362/404, 362/373, 362/294
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/713 in direct thermal and mechanical contact of each other to form a single system
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• 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]

Abstract

A light fixture assembly including an illumination assembly in the form of one or more light emitting diodes is interconnected to an electrical energy source by control circuitry. A mounting assembly supports the illumination assembly and a cover structure is disposed in heat transferring relation to the illumination assembly, wherein the cover structure, which has an enlarged surface area formed of a heat conductive material, defines a decorative exterior of the light fixture and is disposed exterior of a mounting surface, thereby effectively dissipating the heat generated by the LED illumination assembly towards the environment being illuminated by the light fixture.

Claims

1. A light fixture assembly having heat dissipating capabilities, said light fixture assembly comprising:

an illumination assembly,

a mounting assembly formed of heat conductive material and disposed in supporting engagement with said illumination assembly,

a cover structure, said cover structure at least partially formed of a heat conductive material and connected in heat transferring engagement relation to said illumination assembly,

said cover structure including an enlarged exterior surface area exposed to an area being illuminated by said illumination assembly,

said heat conductive material of said cover structure being sufficiently heat conductive to define a heat sink,

said enlarged exterior surface area having a greater transverse dimension than said mounting assembly and extending radially outward from said mounting assembly and said illumination assembly, and

said enlarged exterior surface area disposed to radiate heat outwardly from said mounting assembly and said illumination assembly into said area being illuminated.

2. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting assembly is at least partially integrally formed with said cover structure.

3. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said mounting assembly comprises an enclosure structured to contain portions of said illumination assembly, said enclosure being at least partially recessed within a mounting surface.

4. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a surface area of said cover structure is at least 32 square inches per square inch of light emitting surface.

5. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said illumination assembly comprises at least one LED.

6. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein a surface area of said cover structure is at least 0.34 square inches per die having a lumen efficiency of less than 56%.

7. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein a surface area of said cover structure is at least 0.24 square inches per die having a lumen efficiency of less than 81%.

8. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a surface area of said cover structure is at least 1.5 square inches per watt consumed by said illumination assembly.

9. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a surface area of said cover structure is at least 2 square inches per watt consumed by said illumination assembly.

10. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said enlarged surface area of said cover structure includes a stepped configuration.

11. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said enlarged surface area of said cover structure comprises an anodized exterior surface structured to maximize heat radiating characteristics of said cover structure.

12. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said enlarged surface area of said cover structure comprises a powder coated exterior surface structured to maximize heat radiating characteristics of said cover structure.

13. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said enlarged surface area of said cover structure further comprises an anodized exterior surface structured to maximize heat radiating characteristics of said cover structure.

14. A light fixture, said light fixture comprising:

an LED light source,

a mounting connected in supporting engagement with said LED light source and structured to position said LED light source on a mounting surface in an illuminating position relative to an area being illuminated,

a cover structure, said cover structure formed of a heat conductive material and connected in heat transferring engagement with said mounting assembly and in heat transferring relation to said LED light source,

said conductive material of said cover structure being sufficiently heat conductive to define a heat sink for said LED light source,

said cover structure including an enlarged decorative exterior surface having a greater transverse dimension than said LED light source, said enlarged decorative exterior surface being disposed exteriorly of the mounting surface in an exposed position relative to the area being illuminated and structured to radiate heat outwardly, away from the mounting surface, said mounting assembly and said LED light source.

15. A light fixture as recited in claim 14 wherein said enlarged decorative exterior surface is anodized and powder coated so as to maximize heat dissipating characteristics of said cover structure.