Glass LED light bulbs

• US 8,439,528 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Lenk, Ronald J., Betts-Lacroix, Jonathan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US12/681,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20110050098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 362/311.02, 362/373, 362/294, 362/545, 36224902-24906, 362/362, 362/293, 315/32
• US Class Current: 362/311.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/58 characterised by the coolants
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/049 Patterns or structured surfaces for diffusing light, e.g. frosted surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/06 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/061 the material being glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A glass LED bulb, which includes a body of glass, the body having at least one hollow portion, and at least one LED contained within the at least one hollow portion. A thermally conductive material is preferably included within the at least one hollow portion. The body of glass can be bulb-shaped or alternatively shaped like an incandescent bulb.

Claims

1. A glass LED bulb comprising:

a solid body of glass, the body having at least one hollow portion formed therein;

at least one LED contained within the at least one hollow portion; and

a thermally conductive material within the at least one hollow portion,

wherein the thermally conductive material fills the at least one hollow portion.

2. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body of glass has a bulb-shape.

3. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body of glass has an incandescent bulb-shape.

4. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive material is a fluid, a gel or a plastic.

5. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fluid, gel or plastic is optically transparent.

6. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fluid, gel or plastic contains means, or is itself the means, to disperse and/or to color shift the light.

7. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fluid, gel or plastic is electrically insulating.

8. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fluid contains a means to gel when exposed to air.

9. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fluid, gel or plastic is hydrated polyacrylimide.

10. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein said fluid, gel or plastic provides mechanical relief for the glass.

11. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one hollow portion comprises a plurality of hollow portions having interconnections.

12. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 11, wherein said interconnections are used to interconnect said at least one LED.

13. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a power source for the LEDs, which is included in the bulb.

14. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 13, wherein said power source for the LEDs is compatible with pre-existing power sources, permitting the bulb to be used in pre-existing fixtures.

15. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bulb-shaped body of glass contains means to disperse and/or means to color shift the light.

16. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 15, wherein said means to disperse the light is bubbles in said glass.

17. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 15, wherein said means to disperse the light is a collection of Mie scatterers in said glass.

18. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 15, wherein said means to color shift the light is a dye in said glass.

19. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 15, wherein said means to color shift the light is a collection of Rayleigh scatterers in said glass.

20. A glass LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein interconnections between the at least one LEDs is made on a printed circuit board.