Light fixture assembly

• US 8,534,873 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inteltech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inteltech Corporation
• Inventors: Soderman, Daryl, Stepps, Dale B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John A
• Application Number:
  US13/018,996
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/294, 362/373, 362/404
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• 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 29/767 the planes containing the fins or blades having directions perpendicular to the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/061 the material being glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/062 the material being plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• 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 a conductor assembly and control circuitry. A mounting assembly supports the illumination assembly and a cover structure is disposed in heat transferring relation to the mounting assembly, wherein both the mounting assembly and the cover structure are formed of heat conductive material, thereby effectively dissipating the heat generated by the LED illumination assembly. The conductor assembly, comprising at least one electrically conductive material connector, mechanically interconnects components, including the illumination source and the mounting assembly, into an assembled orientation. A non-conductive insulation assembly or a predetermined air space isolates the at least one conductive connector from the mounting assembly to avoid electrical contact there between.

Claims

1. A light fixture assembly comprising:

an illumination assembly including a light generating structure and electric control circuitry connected to said light generating structure,

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

a conductor assembly comprising at least one connector connected to a source of electrical energy and formed of an electrically conductive material,

said at least one connector disposed in electrically interconnecting, current conducting relation between the source of electrical energy and said illumination assembly,

said at least one connector disposed in a mechanically interconnecting position between said mounting assembly and said illumination assembly and in non-contacting, predetermined spaced relation to said mounting assembly, and

said mounting assembly disposed in electrically isolated relation to said at least one connector and in heat dissipating relation to said illumination assembly.

2. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said light generating structure comprises at least one LED.

3. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said light generating structure comprises a plurality of LEDs.

4. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one connector is disposed in current conducting relation to said at least one LED via said control circuitry.

5. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one LED is disposed in heat transferring relation to said mounting assembly.

6. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said control circuitry is disposed in heat transferring relation to said mounting assembly.

7. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said control circuitry comprises a printed circuit structure.

8. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said printed circuit structure is disposed in heat transferring relation to said mounting assembly.

9. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said light generating structure is disposed in heat transferring relation to said mounting assembly.

10. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said control circuitry comprises a printed circuit structure.

11. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said printed circuit structure is disposed in heat transferring, confronting engagement with said mounting assembly.

12. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said conductor assembly is disposed in interconnecting relation to said illumination assembly and said mounting assembly, said interconnecting relation at least partially defined by an assembled orientation of said illumination assembly with said mounting assembly.

13. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 said mounting assembly is formed of a sufficiently heat conductive material to define a heat sink.

14. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said mechanically interconnecting position of said one connector is at least partially defined by said illumination assembly and said mounting assembly disposed in heat transferring, confronting engagement with one another.

15. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined spaced relation of said one connector is at least partially defined by an air space of generally about 0.2 inches to generally about 0.25 inches disposed between correspondingly positioned surfaces of said one connector and said mounting assembly.

16. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein electrical energy passing through said one connector is sufficient to operate said light generating structure at generally about a maximum of 60 volts.

17. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein electrical energy passing through said one connector is sufficient to operate said light generating structure at generally about 50 volts.

18. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said air space is generally about 0.06 inches between said corresponding positioned surfaces of said one connector and said mounting assembly.

19. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said air space is generally about 0.06 inches between said corresponding positioned surfaces of said one connector and said mounting assembly.

20. A light fixture assembly comprising:

an illumination assembly comprising a light generating structure including at least one LED and further comprising electric control circuitry connected to said light generating structure,

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

a conductor assembly comprising at least one connector connected to a source of electrical energy and formed of an electrically conductive material,

said at least one connector disposed in electrically interconnecting, current conducting relation between the source of electrical energy and said electric control circuitry,

said at least one connector disposed in a mechanically interconnecting position between said mounting assembly and said illumination assembly and into an assembled orientation with one another,

said assembled orientation comprising said mounting assembly disposed in heat transferring, relation to said control circuitry,

said assembled orientation further comprising an unoccupied air space of predetermined dimension disposed between correspondingly positioned surfaces of said at least one connector and said mounting assembly, and

said mounting assembly defining a heat sink disposed in electrically isolated relation to said at least one connector and in heat dissipating relation to said illumination assembly.

21. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein said predetermined dimension of said air space is generally about 0.02 inches to generally about 0.25 inches, and disposed between correspondingly positioned surfaces of said one connector and said mounting assembly.

22. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein electrical energy passing through said one connector is sufficient to operate said light generating structure at generally about a maximum of 60 volts.

23. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 22 wherein electrical energy passing through said one connector is sufficient to operate said light generating structure at generally about 50 volts.

24. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 23 wherein said air space is generally about 0.06 inches between said corresponding positioned surfaces of said one connector and said mounting assembly.

25. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein said mounting assembly is formed of a sufficiently heat conductive material to define said heat sink.

26. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein said mounting assembly includes at least one aperture extending therethrough, said one aperture disposed and dimensioned to receive said one connector therethrough;

said unoccupied air space disposed in surrounding relation to said at least one connector and in electrically segregating relation between said mounting assembly and said at least one connector.

27. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein said conductor assembly comprises a plurality of connectors each formed of a conductive material and connected to the source of electrical energy, said plurality of connectors collectively disposed in electrically interconnecting, current conducting relation between the source of electrical energy and said control circuitry.

28. A light fixture assembly as recited in claim 27 further comprising a plurality of unoccupied air spaces at least equal in number to said plurality of connectors, each of said plurality of unoccupied air spaces disposed in surrounding relation to a different one of said plurality of connectors and in electrically segregating relation to said mounting assembly.