System for removably retaining a voltage converting device

• US 8,498,098 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting Holding BV (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Dupre, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/976,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20120162865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 174/50
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a voltage converting system (10). The voltage converting system includes a housing (20) having a receptacle therein. The receptacle may removably receive a voltage converting device (50) such as a transformer, a power supply, or a driver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removably receiving a voltage converting device, comprising:

a housing (20) having a recessed receptacle, said recessed receptacle including a rear wall (22) and sidewall structure (24) extending upwardly from said rear wall (22) and generally defining a receptacle opening;

a first high voltage contact, a second high voltage contact, a first low voltage contact and a second low voltage contact all within said receptacle;

a first high voltage lead fixedly electrically coupled to said first high voltage contact and extending from said housing (20), a second high voltage lead fixedly electrically coupled to said second high voltage contact and extending from said housing (20), a first low voltage lead fixedly electrically coupled to said first low voltage contact and extending from said housing (20), and a second low voltage lead fixedly electrically coupled to said second low voltage contact and extending from said housing (20);

at least one positioning structure (30A, 32) within said receptacle, said at least one positioning structure (30A, 32) only enabling receipt of said voltage converting device within said receptacle in a predefined orientation range;

wherein said positioning structure (30A, 32) prevents contact between contacts of said voltage converting device and any of said first high voltage contact, said second high voltage contact, said first low voltage contact, and said second low voltage contact unless said voltage converting device is in said orientation range; and

wherein said apparatus enables removable receipt of said voltage converting device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one positioning structure (30A, 32) includes a first positioning protrusion extending outwardly from at least one of said rear wall (22) and said sidewall structure (24).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one positioning structure (30A, 32) includes a second positioning protrusion extending outwardly from at least one of said rear wall (22) and said sidewall structure (24).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receptacle opening is continuously open and obstruction free when said voltage converting device is received in said receptacle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sidewall structure (24) includes at least one recess area therein, said recess area having a recessed edge that is closer to said rear wall (22) than an immediately adjacent edge of said sidewall structure (24).

6. A voltage converting system for use in a luminaire, comprising:

a voltage converting device having a first converter high voltage contact, a second converter high voltage contact, a first converter low voltage contact, a second converter low voltage contact, and at least one converter positioning structure (60A, 60B, 62);

a housing (20) having a recessed receptacle, said recessed receptacle including a rear wall (22) and sidewall structure (24) extending upwardly from said rear wall (22) and generally defining a receptacle opening;

said housing (20) including a first housing high voltage contact, a second housing high voltage contact, a first housing low voltage contact, and a second housing low voltage contact all within said receptacle;

said housing (20) further including at least one housing positioning structure (30A, 32) within said receptacle, said at least one housing positioning structure (30A, 32) interfacing with said at least one converter positioning structure (60A, 60B, 62) only when said voltage converting device (50) is in a predefined orientation range with respect to said receptacle;

whereby said housing positioning structure (30A, 32) enables contact between said first converter high voltage contact, said second converter high voltage contact, said first converter low voltage contact, and said second converter low voltage contact and respective of said first housing high voltage contact, said second housing high voltage contact, said first housing low voltage contact, and said second housing low voltage contact only when said voltage converting device is in said predefined orientation range; and

whereby said voltage converting device is removably received in said receptacle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one housing positioning structure (30A, 32) includes a first positioning protrusion extending outwardly from at least one of said rear wall (22) and said sidewall structure (24).

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one converter positioning structure (60A, 60B, 62) includes a first positioning recess.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one housing positioning structure (30A, 32) includes a second positioning protrusion extending outwardly from at least one of said rear wall (22) and said sidewall structure (24).

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least two of said at least one housing positioning structure (30A, 32) are provided and at least two of said at least one converter positioning structure (60A, 60B, 62) are provided.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said voltage converting device (50) is in interference fit with said housing (20) when removably received therein.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first converter high voltage contact, said second converter high voltage contact, said first converter low voltage contact, and said second converter low voltage contact are in interference fit with respective of said first housing high voltage contact, said second housing high voltage contact, said first housing low voltage contact, and said second housing low voltage contact when said voltage converting device is removably received in said receptacle.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said voltage converting device (50) is maintained in said receptacle through interference fit alone.

14. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sidewall structure (24) includes at least one recess area therein, said recess area providing access to a side of said voltage converting device (50) when said voltage converting device (50) is removably received in said receptacle.

15. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said voltage converting device (50) is an LED driver.

16. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said receptacle opening is continuously open and obstruction free when said voltage converting device (50) is received in said receptacle.