Substantially inseparable LED lamp assembly

• US 8,388,213 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• 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:
  US13/311,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 362/267, 362/645, 362/647, 362/649, 362/373, 362650-658, 445/22, 445/23, 445/26, 445/27, 313309-311, 313495-497
• US Class Current: 362/645
• 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 holder that is formed as an annulus with a first opening on a first end of said annulus and a second opening on a second end of said annulus;

substantially permanently securing a lamp cover to said first end of said annulus so that said lamp cover is substantially inseparable from said lamp holder and forms a watertight seal with said lamp holder;

providing an LED lamp having LED pin leads;

attaching wires directly to said LED pin leads of said LED lamp that have a predetermined size and a predetermined shape;

inserting said LED lamp through said second opening of said second end of said annulus 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 lamp directly to said annulus so that said LED lamp is substantially inseparable from said annulus;

inserting a plug into said second opening of said second end of said annulus, said plug having indentations 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;

substantially permanently sealing said plug in said second opening to form a watertight seal at said second end of said annulus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of substantially permanently securing a lamp cover to said first end of said annulus comprises bonding said lamp cover to said annulus.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of bonding said lamp cover to said annulus comprises bonding said lamp cover to an annular slot in said first end of said annulus.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said process of bonding comprises adhesively bonding said lamp cover to said annular slot.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said process of bonding comprises thermally bonding said lamp cover to said annular slot.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said process of bonding comprises sonically bonding said lamp cover to said annular slot.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of bonding said lamp cover to said annulus comprises bonding said lamp cover to an inside surface of said annulus.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said process of substantially permanently attaching said LED lamp to said annulus comprises bonding said LED lamp to an inside surface of a lamp base of said lamp holder.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of substantially permanently securing said lamp cover to said first end of said annulus comprises providing an interference fit between said lamp cover and said first opening.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said process of substantially permanently securing said lamp cover to said first end of said annulus comprises inserting a lamp base having barbs into an annular slot having engagement sockets.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of substantially permanently attaching said LED lamp to said annulus comprises bonding said LED lamp to an inside surface of said annulus.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of substantially permanently attaching said LED lamp to said annulus comprises securing said LED lamp to said annulus with a clip.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of substantially permanently attaching said LED lamp to said annulus comprises providing an interference fit between said LED lamp and said annulus.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of sealing said plug in said second opening comprises providing an interference fit between said plug and said second opening.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said process of substantially permanently attaching said LED lamp to said annulus with an interference fit comprises inserting said plug having barbs into said second end of said annulus that has barb sockets.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said process of sealing said plug in said second opening comprises bonding said plug in said second opening of said annulus.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said process of bonding said plug in said second opening of said annulus comprises adhesively attaching said plug in said second opening of said annulus.

18. An LED lamp assembly that is constructed of individual components that are separately fabricated and are assembled to provide a substantially inseparable LED lamp assembly comprising:

a lamp holder that is shaped as an annulus, said annulus having a first opening on a first end and a second opening on a second end;

a lamp cover substantially permanently attached to said first end of said annulus so that said lamp cover is substantially inseparable from said lamp holder and a watertight seal is formed between said lamp cover and said lamp holder;

an LED lamp inserted through said second opening of said annulus and substantially permanently attached in said annulus so that said LED lamp is substantially inseparable from said lamp holder and forms a watertight seal with said lamp holder in a position that orients said LED lamp to allow light to be transmitted through said lamp holder, said LED lamp having LED lead pins attached to said LED lamp;

wires that are conductively connected directly to said LED lead pins and extend through said second opening of said second end of said annulus, said wires having a predetermined size and shape;

a plug having indentations along an outer surface that substantially match said predetermined size and shape of said wires, said plug substantially permanently inserted in said second opening to prevent disassembly of said LED lamp assembly and to create a watertight seal between said plug and said second opening in said annulus.

19. The LED lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein said lamp cover comprises a lamp cover that is bonded to said first opening of said annulus.

20. The LED lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein said lamp cover provides an interference fit between said lamp cover and said first end of said annulus.

21. The LED lamp assembly of claim 20 wherein said interference fit is formed by barbs disposed on said lamp holder and barb sockets disposed in an annular slot in said annulus.

22. The LED lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein said LED lamp comprises an LED lamp that is substantially permanently attached to said lamp holder by bonding said LED lamp to said annulus.

23. The LED lamp assembly of claim 18 further comprising:

a clip that substantially permanently attaches said LED lamp to said lamp holder.

24. The LED lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein said LED lamp creates an interference fit between said LED lamp and said lamp holder.

25. The LED lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein a bond is formed between said plug and said second opening.

26. The LED lamp of claim 25 wherein said bond is formed from an adhesive.

27. The LED lamp of claim 26 wherein said bond is formed between said lamp cover and an annular slot formed in said first end of said annulus.

28. The LED lamp of claim 26 wherein said bond is formed between an exterior surface of a lamp base of said lamp cover and an interior surface of said annulus.

29. The LED lamp assembly of claim 28 wherein said plug creates an interference fit with said second opening of said annulus.

30. The LED lamp assembly of claim 29 wherein said plug has barbs that engage sockets on an interior surface of said lamp holder so that said plug is substantially permanently attached to said lamp holder.

31. The LED lamp assembly of claim 29 wherein said plug has a size that creates said interference fit with said second opening.

32. The LED lamp of claim 25 wherein said bond is a bond formed from a thermal weld between said lamp holder and said lamp cover.

33. The LED lamp of claim 25 wherein said bond is a bond formed from a sonic weld between said lamp holder and said lamp cover.

34. The LED lamp of claim 25 wherein said bond is a bond that is formed from a weld between said lamp holder and said lamp cover that is created by a solvent.

35. The LED lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein a bond is created between said plug and said second opening.

36. The LED lamp assembly of claim 35 wherein said bond comprises an adhesive bond.

37. The LED lamp assembly of claim 35 wherein said bond comprises a thermal bond.

38. The LED lamp assembly of claim 35 wherein said bond comprises a bond formed by sonic waves.

39. The LED lamp assembly of claim 35 wherein said bond comprises a bond formed by solvents.