Light-directing apparatus with protected reflector-shield and lighting fixture utilizing same

• US 8,764,232 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilcox, Kurt S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John A
• Application Number:
  US13/971,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 362/296.1, 362/296.02, 362/298.05, 362/296.07, 362/297, 362/310, 362/311.15, 362/227, 362235-237, 362/240, 362/243, 362/351, 362/360, 362/361, 362/245, 362/248, 362/328
• US Class Current: 362/245
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/085 of high-built type, e.g. street light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/16 using sheets without apertures, e.g. fixed
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/10 the elements being reflectors and screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/12 Combinations of only three kinds of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/00 Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements reflectors with provision for adjusting the curvature F21V7/16; light filters or the like with provision for controlling the colour or intensity F21V9/40; screens using adjustable parallel laminae or strips F21V11/04; screens using iris-type diaphragms F21V11/10; screens using movable sheets without apertures F21V11/18; adjustable mountings for lighting devices F21V21/14
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/005 with keying means, i.e. for enabling the assembling of component parts in distinctive positions, e.g. for preventing wrong mounting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light-directing apparatus for off-axial preferential-side distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis. The light-directing apparatus includes a shield member within a lens member positioned over the light emitter. The lens member has an outer surface and an inner surface defining an emitter void and a shield-receiving void which is on a non-preferential side of the lens member. The shield-receiving void is different in configuration than the emitter void. The shield member is in the shield-receiving void in position in the path of light emitted toward the non-preferential side.

Claims

1. A light-directing apparatus for off-axial preferential-side distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis, comprising:

a lens member positioned over the light emitter and having;

an inner surface defining an emitter void and a shield-receiving void which is on a non-preferential side of the lens member, the shield-receiving void being different in configuration than the emitter void; and

an outer surface; and

a shield member in the shield-receiving void in position in the path of light emitted toward the non-preferential side.

2. The light-directing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer surface is configured for refracting light from the emitter in a predominantly off-axial direction toward a preferential side.

3. The light-directing apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the lens member further includes a proximal end transverse to the emitter axis and defining a shield-insertion opening and an emitter-insertion opening;

and

the emitter void is an emitter-receiving void extending from the emitter-insertion opening and facing the emitter.

4. The light-directing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the shield-insertion opening and the emitter-insertion opening are in communication and form a single proximal-end opening.

5. The light-directing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the shield-receiving void is contiguous with the emitter-receiving void.

6. The light-directing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shield member includes a reflective front surface in the path of light emitted toward the non-preferential side to redirect such light toward the preferential side.

7. The light-directing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the reflective front surface is entirely within the lens member.

8. The light-directing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the reflective front surface of the shield member is non-planar.

9. The light-directing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the reflective front surface of the shield member has a plurality of sections angled with respect to each other.

10. The light-directing apparatus of claim 9 wherein the sections are each substantially planar.

11. The light-directing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the shield member includes a shield portion and a base portion.

12. The light-directing apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the lens member further includes a proximal end transverse to the emitter axis and defining a shield-insertion opening;

the shield portion extends from the base portion into the path of light emitted toward the non-preferential side;

the base portion extends from the shield portion away from the light emitter at the proximal end of the lens member; and

the reflective front surface is on the shield portion.

13. The light-directing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light emitter comprises an LED.

14. The light-directing apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the light emitter is an LED package including at least one LED and a primary lens over the LED;

the lens member is a secondary lens placed over and fully enclosing the primary lens; and

the shield member includes a reflective front surface generally facing the primary lens.

15. The light-directing apparatus of claim 14 wherein the lens member includes an outward flange around the opening(s) at the proximal end.

16. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the shield member is embedded in the lens which is molded about the shield member.

17. A lighting fixture with a plurality of light emitters spaced from one another on a mounting board, each light emitter having an emitter axis substantially parallel to the axes of the other light emitters, and light-directing apparatus positioned over the light emitters for off-axial preferential-side distribution of light from the emitters, the light-directing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of lenses each positioned over a respective one of the light emitters and each having;

an inner surface defining an emitter void and a shield-receiving void which is on a non-preferential side of the lens, the shield-receiving void being different in configuration than the emitter void; and

an outer surface; and

a plurality of shield members each disposed within the shield-receiving void of a respective one of the lenses and each in position in the path of light emitted from its respective light emitter toward the non-preferential side.

18. The lighting fixture of claim 17 wherein each lens is a separate piece.

19. The lighting fixture of claim 17 wherein:

each light emitter comprises an LED;

each lens is over and fully enclosing the corresponding light emitter; and

each shield member includes a reflective front surface generally facing the corresponding light emitter.

20. The lighting fixture of claim 17 wherein each shield member is embedded in the respective lens which is molded about such shield member.