Glass LED light bulbs

• US 8,752,984 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2013
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, BAO Q
• Application Number:
  US13/863,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20130223047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 362/311.02, 362/373, 362/294, 362/545, 36224902-24906, 362/362, 362/293, 362/800, 313/315, 313/316, 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. An LED bulb comprising:

a solid body, 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 is configured to transfer heat from the at least one LED to the body.

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

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

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

5. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein the fluid, gel, or plastic is optically transparent.

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

7. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein the fluid, gel, or plastic is electrically insulating.

8. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein the thermally conductive material is a fluid that contains a means to gel when exposed to air.

9. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 4, wherein the fluid, gel, or plastic is hydrated polyacrylimide.

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

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

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

13. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a power source for the at least one LED, which is included in the bulb.

14. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 13, wherein the power source for the at least one LED is compatible with pre-existing power sources, permitting the bulb to be used in pre-existing fixtures.

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

16. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 15, wherein the means to disperse the light is bubbles in the body.

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

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

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

20. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one LED includes a plurality of LEDs, and wherein interconnections between the LEDs are made on a printed circuit board.

21. An LED bulb comprising:

a solid body, the body having a plurality of hollow portions formed therein;

at least one LED contained within the plurality of hollow portions; and

a thermally conductive material within the plurality of hollow portions.

22. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 21, wherein the body has a bulb-shape.

23. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 21, wherein the body has an incandescent bulb-shape.

24. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 21, wherein the thermally conductive material is a fluid, a gel, or a plastic.

25. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 24, wherein the fluid, gel, or plastic is optically transparent.

26. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 24, wherein the fluid, gel, or plastic contains means, or is itself the means, to disperse and/or to color shift the light.

27. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 24, wherein the fluid, gel, or plastic is electrically insulating.

28. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 24, wherein the thermally conductive material is a fluid that contains a means to gel when exposed to air.

29. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 24, wherein the fluid, gel, or plastic is hydrated polyacrylimide.

30. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 24, wherein the fluid, gel, or plastic provides mechanical relief for the body.

31. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 21, wherein the plurality of hollow portions include interconnections.

32. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 31, wherein the interconnections are used to interconnect the at least one LED.

33. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 21, further comprising a power source for the at least one LED, which is included in the bulb.

34. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 33, wherein the power source for the at least one LED is compatible with pre-existing power sources, permitting the bulb to be used in pre-existing fixtures.

35. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 21, wherein the bulb-shaped body contains means to disperse and/or means to color shift the light.

36. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 35, wherein the means to disperse the light is bubbles in the body.

37. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 35, wherein the means to disperse the light is a collection of Mie scatterers in the body.

38. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 35, wherein the means to color shift the light is a dye in the body.

39. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 35, wherein the means to color shift the light is a collection of Rayleigh scatterers in the body.

40. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 21, wherein the at least one LED includes a plurality of LEDs, and wherein interconnections between the LEDs are made on a printed circuit board.