Lighting assembly

• US 9,228,727 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DVA Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael W. May
• Inventors: May, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US14/256,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20140293595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/046 having multiple lighting devices, e.g. connected to a common ceiling base
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0085 at least one conductive element acting as a support means, e.g. resilient contact blades, piston-like contact
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/0625 the material diffusing light, e.g. translucent plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/10 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 : comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/16 : square or rectangular, e.g. for light panels
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 : Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 : Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/52 : in a parallel array of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 : involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs

Abstract

An elongate tubular lighting assembly having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends. The tubular lighting assembly has a source of illumination and first and second connectors respectively at the first and second body ends. The first connector has cooperating first and second parts having first and second surfaces. The first and second connector parts are configured so that the first and second surfaces are placed in confronting relationship to prevent separation of the first and second connector parts with the body in an operative state as an incident of the first connector part moving relative to the second connector part from a position fully separated from the second connector part in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position.

Claims

1. An elongate tubular lighting assembly having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends, the tubular lighting assembly comprising:

a source of illumination on or within the body; and

first and second connectors respectively that are configured to maintain the body in an operative state on a support for the tubular lighting assembly,

the first connector comprising cooperating first and second connector parts,

the first connector part at the first end of the body,

the second connector part configured to be on a support for the tubular lighting assembly,

the second connector comprising third and fourth connector parts,

the third connector part at the second end of the body,

the fourth connector part configured to be on the support,

the first and second connector parts respectively having first and second surfaces,

the first and second connector parts configured so that the first and second surfaces are placed in confronting relationship to prevent separation of the first and second connector parts with the body in the operative state as an incident of the first connector part moving relative to the second connector part from a position fully separated from the second connector part in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position.

2. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the source of illumination comprises at least one of:

a) a least one LED emitter panel; and

b) a gas-discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light.

3. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the third and fourth connector parts have surfaces that are respectively structurally substantially the same as the first and second surfaces of the first and second connector parts and configured to interact with each other at the second end of the body in substantially the same way that the first and second surfaces of the first and second connector parts are configured to interact with each other at the first end of the body.

4. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first and second connector parts are configured so that the first connector part moves against the second connector part as the first connector part moves toward the engaged position thereby causing a part of at least one of the first and second connector parts to reconfigure to allow the first and second surfaces to be placed in confronting relationship.

5. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 4 wherein the first connector part has an opening bounded by an edge and the second connector part has a first bendable part on which the second surface is defined, the second connector part configured so that the first bendable part:

a) is engaged by the edge of the opening and progressively cammed from a holding position, in which the first bendable part resides with the first connector part in the fully separated position, towards an assembly position as the first connector part is moved towards the engaged position; and

b) moves from the assembly position back towards the holding position with the first connector part in the engaged position.

6. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 5 wherein the second connector part has an actuator, the second connector part configured so that with the first connector part in the engaged position the actuator can be repositioned to thereby move the first bendable part towards its assembly position to allow the first connector part to be separated from the second connector part.

7. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 5 wherein the opening and second connector part are configured so that the edge and a surface on the second connector part cooperate to consistently align the second connector part with the opening as the second connector part is directed into the opening as the first connector part is changed between the fully separated position and the engaged position.

8. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 5 wherein the second connector part has a second bendable part that is configured the same as the first bendable part and cooperates with the edge in the same way that the first bendable part cooperates with the edge in moving between corresponding holding and assembly positions and the first and second bendable parts are movable towards each other in changing from the holding positions into the assembly positions.

9. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first connector part is part of a first end cap assembly that is at the first end of the body;

the third connector part is part of a second end cap assembly that is at the second end of the body;

the first end cap assembly comprises a first cup-shaped component defining a first receptacle opening into which the first end of the body extends; and

the second end cap assembly comprises a second cup-shaped component defining a second receptacle opening into which the second end of the body extends.

10. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 9 wherein the first end cap assembly further comprises at least a first connector board and the source of illumination and at least first connector board are configured to be electrically connected as an incident of the first end of the body and first end cap assembly being moved towards each other in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the body into a connected relationship.

11. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 10 wherein the second connector part is configured to be electrically connected with a power supply and there are electrical connector components on the at least first connector board and the second connector part that are configured to be electrically connected as an incident of the first connector part moving from the fully separated position into the engaged position.

12. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 11 wherein the electrical connector components on the first connector board comprise generally L-shaped pins each having a first portion extending in direction generally parallel to the length of the body and a second portion extending in a direction traverse to the length of the body and towards the second connector part when said first connector part is moved towards the second the second connector part and into the engaged position.

13. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the source of illumination comprises at least one LED emitter panel, and said at least one LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of DC powered LEDs.

14. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the source of illumination comprises at least one LED emitter panel, and said at least one LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of AC powered LEDs.

15. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the source of illumination comprises a multi-sided heat sink supporting a plurality of LED emitter panels lying in intersecting planes.

16. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 15 further comprising an uninterruptable battery power supply circuit mounted internal to the sides of the multi-sided heat sink.

17. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 15 wherein at least one LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of DC powered LEDs, and further comprising an AC to DC driver circuit mounted internal to the sides of the multi-sided heat sink.

18. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the body has a generally circular cross section.

19. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the body has a generally non-circular cross section.

20. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 9 in combination with a support on which the second and fourth connector parts are located and a power supply, the end cap assemblies and first and third connector parts configured so that as an incident of the first connector part moving from the separated position into the engaged position and the third connector part moving relative to the fourth connector part from a corresponding fully separated position into an engaged position, the second and fourth connector parts prevent each of the first and second end cap assemblies from separating from the connected relationship with the body.

21. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 9 wherein the body comprises a pair of conventional electrical connector pins at each end extending in a direction generally parallel to the length of the body, the first and third end connectors configured to mount over and encompasses said electrical pins within the respective first and second receptacles thereof at the first and second body ends, and at least the first end connector has conductive electrical components, the conductive electrical components having a portion extending in a direction traverse to the length of the body and configured to electrically connect to the electrical connector pins at the first body end as an incident of the first end connector being moved towards the first body end in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the body into a connected relationship with the first body end.

22. An elongate tubular lighting assembly having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends, the tubular lighting assembly comprising:

a source of illumination on or within the body; and

first and second connectors that are configured to maintain the body in an operative state and the illumination source operatively connected to a power supply,

the first connector comprising cooperating first and second connector parts,

the first connector part at the first end of the body,

the second connector part configured to be on a support for the body,

the second connector comprising cooperating third and fourth connector parts,

the third connector part at the second end of the body,

the fourth connector part configured to be on the support,

conductive connector components on the first and second connector parts configured to electrically connect between the source of illumination and a power supply,

the first and second connector parts configured to be held together independently of the conductive connector components to thereby maintain the body in the operative state.

23. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 22 wherein the first and second connector parts are configured to be snap-connected to each other and held together as an incident of relatively moving the first and second connector parts towards and against each other.

24. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 22 wherein the third and fourth connector parts are configured to be held together at the second end of the body in the same way that the first and second connector parts are held together at the first end of the body.

25. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 22 wherein the third and fourth connector parts are configured to be snap-connected to each other and held together as an incident of relatively moving the third and fourth connector parts towards and against each other.

26. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 25 wherein the first and second connector parts and third and fourth connector parts are configured to be snap-connected as an incident of the body with the first and third connector thereon moved transversely to the length of the body.

27. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 23 wherein the first and second connector parts are configured so that the conductive connector components on the first and second connector parts are electrically connected to each other as an incident of the first and second connector parts snap-connected to each other.

28. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 22 wherein the first connector part is part of a first end cap assembly, the first end cap assembly and illumination source configured so that one of the conductive components on the first connector part is electrically connected to the source of illumination as an incident of the first connector part and first end of the body being moved against and relative to each other in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the body.

29. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 28 wherein the first end cap assembly comprises a first cup-shaped component into which the first end of the body extends.

30. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 22 wherein the source of illumination comprises at least one LED emitter panel.

31. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 30 wherein the at least one LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of DC powered LEDs.

32. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 30 wherein the at least one LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of AC powered LEDs.

33. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 30 wherein the source of illumination comprises a multi-sided heat sink supporting a plurality of LED emitter panels lying in intersecting planes.

34. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 33 further comprising an uninterruptable battery power supply circuit mounted internal to the sides of the multi-sided heat sink.

35. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 33 wherein at least one LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of DC powered LEDs, and further comprising an AC to DC driver circuit mounted internal to the sides of the multi-sided heat sink.

36. An elongate tubular lighting assembly having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends, the tubular lighting assembly comprising:

a source of illumination on or within the body; and

a first end connector at the first end of the body,

the first end connector configured to engage a second connector part mounted on a support for the tubular lighting assembly to maintain the first end of the body in an operative state on said support,

the first end connector and second connector part respectively having first and second surfaces,

the first end connector and second connector part configured so that the first and second surfaces are placed in confronting relationship to prevent separation of the first end connector and the second connector part with the body in the operative state as an incident of the first end connector moving relative to the second connector part from a position fully separated from the second connector part in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position.

37. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 36 wherein the source of illumination comprises at least one of:

a) a least one LED emitter panel; and

b) a gas-discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light.

38. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 36 wherein the first end connector and second connector part are configured so that the first end connector moves against the second connector part as the first end connector moves toward the engaged position thereby causing a part of at least one of the first end connector and second connector part to reconfigure to allow the first and second surfaces to be placed in confronting relationship.

39. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 38 wherein the first end connector has an opening bounded by an edge and the second connector part has a first bendable part on which the second surface is defined, the edge of the opening configured so that a) the edge engages and progressively cams the first bendable part from a holding position, in which the first bendable part resides with the first end connector in the fully separated position, towards an assembly position as the first connector is moved towards the engaged position;

and b) the edge releases the first bendable part to move from the assembly position back towards the holding position with the first end connector in the engaged position.

40. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 38 further comprising a third end connector at the second of the body, the second end connector configured to engage a fourth connector part mounted on the support to maintain the second end of body in an operative state on said support, wherein the third end connector and fourth connector part have surfaces that are respectively structurally the same as the first and second surfaces of the first end connector and second connector part and interact with each other at the second end of the body in the same way that the first and second surfaces of the first end connector and second connector part interact with each other at the first end of the body.

41. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 40 wherein the first end connector is part of a first end cap assembly that is at the first end of the body, the first end cap assembly comprising a first cup-shaped component defining a first receptacle into which the first end of the body extends, the third end connector is part of a second end cap assembly that is at the second end of the body, the second end cap assembly comprising a second cup-shaped component defining a second receptacle into which the second end of the body extends.

42. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 41 wherein the first end cap assembly further comprises a first connector board and the source of illumination and the first connector board are configured to be electrically connected as an incident of the first end of the body and first end cap assembly being moved towards each other in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the body into a connected relationship.

43. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 41 wherein the first end cap assembly further comprises a first connector board and wherein the second connector part is electrically connected with a power supply and there are electrical connector components on the first connector board and the second connector part that are configured to be electrically connected as an incident of the first end connector moving from the fully separated position into the engaged position.

44. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 43 wherein the electrical connector components on the first connector board comprise generally L-shaped pins each having a first portion extending in direction generally parallel to the length of the body and a second portion extending in a direction traverse to the length of the body and towards the second connector part when said first end connector is moved towards the second connector part and into the engaged position.

45. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 36 wherein the at least one LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of DC powered LEDs.

46. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 36 wherein the at least one LED emitter panel comprises a plurality of AC powered LEDs.

47. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 36 wherein the source of illumination comprises a multi-sided heat sink supporting a plurality of LED emitter panels lying in intersecting planes.

48. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 37 wherein the plurality of LED emitter panels comprises a plurality of DC powered LEDs and further comprising at least one AC to DC driver circuit mounted internal to the sides of the multi-sided heat sink.

49. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 37 further comprising an uninterruptable power supply circuit mounted internal to the sides of the multi-sided heat sink.

50. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 36 wherein the body has a generally circular cross section.

51. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 36 wherein the body has a generally non-circular cross section.

52. The elongate tubular lighting assembly according to claim 41 wherein the body comprises a pair of conventional electrical connector pins at each end extending in a direction generally parallel to the length of the body, the first and third end connectors are configured to mount over and encompasses said electrical pins within the respective first and second receptacles thereof at the first and second body ends, and at least the first end connector has conductive electrical components, the conductive electrical components having a portion extending in a direction traverse to the length of the body and configured to electrically connect to the electrical connector pins at the first body end as an incident of the first end connector being moved towards the first body end in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the body into a connected relationship with the first body end.

53. A support connector for maintaining an end of an elongate tubular lighting assembly in an operative state on a support, the elongate tubular lighting assembly having a body with a length between spaced first and second ends, a source of illumination on or within the body, and a first end connector at the first end of the body, the support connector comprising:

a mounting portion configured to be on a support for the tubular lighting assembly and a second portion configured to engage the first end connector;

the second portion having a second surface configured to engage a first surface of the first end connector;

the second portion of the support connector configured so that the first and second surfaces are placed in confronting relationship to prevent separation of the end connector and the support connector with the body in the operative state as an incident of the end connector moving relative to the support connector from a position fully separated from the support connector in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position.

54. The support connector according to claim 53 wherein the source of illumination of the tubular lighting assembly comprises at least one of:

a) a least one LED emitter panel; and

b) a gas-discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light.

55. The support connector according to claim 53 wherein the second portion is configured so that the first end connector moves against the second portion as the first end connector moves toward the engaged position thereby causing a part of at least one of the second portion and the first end connector to reconfigure to allow the first and second surfaces to be placed in confronting relationship.

56. The support connector according to claim 55 wherein the first end connector has an opening bounded by an edge and the second portion of the support connector has a first bendable part on which the second surface is defined, the second portion configured so that the first bendable part:

a) is engaged by the edge of the opening and progressively cammed from a holding position, in which the first bendable part resides with the first end connector in the fully separated position, towards an assembly position as the first end connector is moved towards the engaged position; and

b) moves from the assembly position back towards the holding position with the first end connector in the engaged position.

57. The support connector according to claim 56 wherein the first bendable part is joined to another part of the support connector part through a live hinge.

58. The support connector according to claim 57 wherein the first end connector has a wall through which the opening is formed, the first surface defined by the wall inner surface, the wall having a third surface of its opposite side, and a fourth surface on the second portion of the support connector, the wall residing captively between the second and fourth surfaces with the first end connector in the engaged position.

59. The support connector according to claim 56 further comprising an actuator, the support connector configured so that with the first end connector part in the engaged position the actuator can be repositioned to thereby move the first bendable part towards its assembly position to allow the first end connector to be separated from the support connector.

60. The support connector to claim 56 wherein the second portion is configured cooperate with the edge of the opening to consistently align the second portion with the opening as the second portion is directed into the opening as the first end connector is changed between the fully separated position and the engaged position.

61. The support connector according to claim 56 wherein the second portion has a second bendable part that is configured substantially the same as the first bendable part and cooperates with the edge in the same way that the first bendable part cooperates with the edge in moving between corresponding holding and assembly positions and the first and second bendable parts are movable towards each other in changing from the holding positions into the assembly positions.

62. The support connector according to claim 53 further comprising conductive connector components configured to be electrically connected with a power supply.

63. The support connector according to claim 62 wherein the conductive connector components of the support connector are configured to be electrically connected to conductive components of the first end connector as an incident of the first end connector moving from the fully separated position into the engaged position.

64. The support connector according to claim 63 wherein the conductive connector components of the support connector are configured to receive a first portion of conductive pins of the first end connector extending in a direction traverse to the length of the body and towards the support connector when said first end connector is moved towards the support connector part and into the engaged position.

65. The support connector according to claim 63 wherein the support connector is configured to be held together with the first end connector independently of the conductive connector components to thereby maintain the body in the operative state.

66. The support connector according to claim 53 wherein the support for the elongate tubular lighting assembly comprises a reflector and the support connector is a component separate from the reflector and the mounting portion of the support connector is configured to be press connected to the reflector.