Modular LED light

• US 9,188,324 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Original Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Inventors: Jelinek, Mark, Mertens, Gerd, Brummel, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US14/512,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 439/110, 439/207, 439/211
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• 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 19/005 by permanent fixing means, e.g. gluing, riveting or embedding in a potting compound
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/002 Arrangements of cables or conductors inside a lighting device, e.g. means for guiding along parts of the housing or in a pivoting arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light comprising at least a housing for a light module and a controller being electrically connected to a cable and to the light module may be mounted very easily if the housing comprises a cable duct for housing the at least one cable, wherein the cable duct comprises at least a first electrical connector being attached to the cable duct and if the controller comprises at least a second electrical connector and a third electrical connector, wherein the second electrical connector is complementary to the first electrical connector, and if the cable duct and/or the controller comprise a first support structure for attaching the cable duct with the controller, wherein the first support structure attaches the cable duct with the controller, when the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector get plugged.

Claims

1. A light comprising:

a housing that houses a light module and a controller with a casing, the controller being electrically connected to a cable and to the light module, wherein;

the housing comprises a cable duct configured to house the at least one cable;

the housing comprises or is attached to at least a first connector at least partially disposed in the cable duct and connected with the at least one cable;

the controller comprises at least a second connector and a third connector, wherein the second connector is complementary to the first connector;

at least one of the housing and the controller comprises a first support structure for attaching the housing with the controller; and

the first support structure attaches the housing to the controller when the first connector and the second connector are plugged together;

wherein the light module comprises at least a fourth connector, at least one of the light module and the controller comprises a second support structure configured to attach the light module with the controller, and the second support structure attaches the light module with the controller when the third connector and the fourth connector are plugged together.

2. The light of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first support structure and the second support structure are integrated at least in part in the first connector and the second connector, in the third connector and the fourth connector, or in all four of said first to fourth connectors.

3. The light of one claim 1, wherein the cable duct extends in a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction extends across a width of the cable duct, and the second connector and third connector are spaced apart in at least one of the longitudinal direction and the transversal direction.

4. The light of claim 1, wherein the housing has a profile with a base leg and a pair of legs extending from the base leg such that the base leg and the pair of legs form a compartment for at least one of the controller and the light module.

5. The light of claim 4, wherein the light module covers the compartment.

6. A light comprising:

a housing that houses a light module and a controller with a casing, the controller being electrically connected to a cable and to the light module, wherein;

the housing comprises a cable duct configured to house the at least one cable;

the housing comprises or is attached to at least a first connector at least partially disposed in the cable duct and connected with the at least one cable;

the controller comprises at least a second connector and a third connector, wherein the second connector is complementary to the first connector;

at least one of the housing and the controller comprises a first support structure for attaching the housing with the controller; and

the first support structure attaches the housing to the controller when the first connector and the second connector are plugged together;

wherein the housing has a profile with a base leg and a pair of legs extending from the base leg such that the base leg and the pair of legs form a compartment for at least one of the controller and the light module;

wherein the legs each have at least a first attachment member, the controller has at least a second attachment member, and the first and second attachment members engage and thereby attach the cable duct with the controller.

7. The light of one claim 6, wherein the light module has at least one interlocking member that blocks at least one of the first or second attachment members from releasing the engagement between the first and second attachment members.

8. The light of one of claim 6 wherein at least one of the second and third connectors is fixed to the casing of the controller.

9. The light of claim 6 wherein:

the light module comprises a base, the base having a recess defining a light exit window;

the light module further comprises at least one rest defining the position of a printed circuit board relative to the light exit window;

the printed circuit board spans the recess; and

the printed circuit board and the base are attached to each other.

10. A kit for forming a light, comprising:

a housing configured to house a light module and a controller, the housing comprising at least a cable duct for housing at least one cable, wherein the housing comprises or is attached to at least a first connector at least partially disposed in the cable duct, the first connector configured to be connected to the at least one cable;

the controller comprising at least a second connector and a third connector, wherein the second connector is for mating the first connector to electrically connect the controller to the at least one cable; and

the light module configured to be electrically connected to the controller;

wherein at least one of the cable duct and the controller comprise a first support structure configured to attach the housing with the controller; and

wherein the first support structure is configured to attach the housing to the controller when the first connector and the second connector are plugged together;

wherein the light module comprises at least a fourth connector, at least one of the light module and the controller comprises a second support structure configured to attach the light module with the controller, and the second support structure attaches the light module with the controller when the third connector and the fourth connector are plugged together.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first support structure and the second support structure are integrated at least in part in the first connector and the second connector, in the third connector and the fourth connector, or in all four of said first to fourth connectors.

12. The kit of claim 10, wherein the cable duct extends in a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction extends across a width of the cable duct, and the second connector and third connector are spaced apart in at least one of the longitudinal direction and the transversal direction.

13. The kit of claim 10, wherein the housing has a profile with a base leg and a pair of legs extending from the base leg such that the base leg and the pair of legs form a compartment for at least one of the controller and the light module.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the light module covers the compartment.

15. The kit of claim 13, wherein the legs each have at least a first attachment member, the controller has at least a second attachment member, and the first and second attachment members engage and thereby attach the cable duct with the controller.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the light module has at least one interlocking member that blocks at least one of the first or second attachment members from releasing the engagement between the first and second attachment members.

17. The kit of claim 10 wherein at least one of the second and third connectors is fixed to the casing of the controller.

18. The kit of claim 10 wherein:

the light module comprises a base, the base having a recess defining a light exit window;

the light module further comprises at least one rest defining the position of a printed circuit board relative to the light exit window;

the printed circuit board spans the recess; and

the printed circuit board and the base are attached to each other.

19. A kit for forming a light, comprising:

a housing configured to house a light module and a controller, the housing comprising at least a cable duct for housing at least one cable, wherein the housing comprises or is attached to at least a first connector at least partially disposed in the cable duct, the first connector configured to be connected to the at least one cable;

the controller comprising at least a second connector for mating the first connector to electrically connect the controller to the at least one cable; and

the light module configured to be electrically connected to the controller;

wherein at least one of the cable duct and the controller comprise a first support structure configured to attach the housing with the controller;

wherein the first support structure is configured to attach the housing to the controller when the first connector and the second connector are plugged together;

wherein the housing has a profile with a base leg and a pair of legs extending from the base leg such that the base leg and the pair of legs form a compartment for at least one of the controller and the light module; and

wherein the legs each have at least a first attachment member, the controller has at least a second attachment member, and the first and second attachment members engage and thereby attach the cable duct with the controller.

20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the controller further comprises a third connector, the light module comprises at least a fourth connector, at least one of the light module and the controller comprises a second support structure configured to attach the light module with the controller, and the second support structure attaches the light module with the controller when the third connector and the fourth connector are plugged together.

21. The kit of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first support structure and the second support structure are integrated at least in part in the first connector and the second connector, in the third connector and the fourth connector, or in all four of said first to fourth connectors.

22. The kit of claim 19, wherein the cable duct extends in a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction extends across a width of the cable duct, and the second connector and third connector are spaced apart in at least one of the longitudinal direction and the transversal direction.

23. The kit of claim 22, wherein the light module covers the compartment.

24. The kit of claim 23, wherein the light module has at least one interlocking member that blocks at least one of the first or second attachment members from releasing the engagement between the first and second attachment members.

25. The kit of of claim 19, wherein at least one of the second and third connectors is fixed to the casing of the controller.

26. The kit of claim 19, wherein:

the light module comprises a base, the base having a recess defining a light exit window;

the light module further comprises at least one rest defining the position of a printed circuit board relative to the light exit window;

the printed circuit board spans the recess; and

the printed circuit board and the base are attached to each other.