LED lamp

• US 9,388,948 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Demuynck, Randolph C., Medendorp, Nicholas W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Y M
• Application Number:
  US14/224,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20150276137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 362/223, 362/255, 362/256, 362/218, 362/217.08
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0045 by tongue and groove connections, e.g. dovetail interlocking means fixed by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/04 breaking the electric circuit
• 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

An LED lamp includes an elongated at least partially optically transmissive enclosure having a first end and a second end. LEDs are located in the enclosure and are operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path. A first pair of pins are mounted to the first end of the enclosure and a second pair of pins are mounted to the second end of the enclosure, the pins being in the electrical path. The LEDs are mounted on an LED board. A support structure for supporting the LED board is formed as one-piece with the enclosure and is formed of an optical material.

Claims

1. A lamp comprising:

an elongated at least partially optically transmissive enclosure having a first end and a second end;

at least one LED mounted on an LED board in the enclosure and operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path, a front of the enclosure being disposed to a first side of the LED board on which the at least LED is mounted and a back of the enclosure being disposed to a second side of the LED board;

the enclosure comprising a support structure for supporting the LED board, the support structure being formed as one-piece with the enclosure and being formed of an optical material, the support structure being arranged in the enclosure such that the LED board is positioned closer to the back of the enclosure than to the front of the enclosure;

a first end cap secured to the first end supporting an electrically conductive pin where the pin is in the electrical path, a ramp positioned under the LED board;

an electrical conductor electrically coupled to the pin, the electrical conductor being resilient and being configured such that the engagement of the electrical conductor with the LED board biases the electrical conductor into engagement with an electrical contact on the LED board to complete the electrical connection between the pin and the LED board, the ramp supporting the LED board against the electrical conductor.

2. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the enclosure and the support structure are formed of the same optically transmissive material.

3. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the support structure extends for substantially the length of the enclosure.

4. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a channel for receiving the LED board.

5. The lamp of claim 4 wherein the support structure comprises a first channel and a second channel for receiving opposite longitudinal edges of the LED board.

6. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a reinforcement member made of the optical material.

7. The lamp of claim 6 wherein the reinforcement member is formed as one-piece with the enclosure.

8. The lamp of claim 7 wherein the reinforcement member extends for substantially the entire length of the enclosure.

9. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the optical material diffuses light emitted by the at least one LED.

10. The lamp of claim 1 wherein LED board provides physical support for the at least one LED and forms part of the electrical path.

11. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the LED board comprises a thermally conductive material.

12. The lamp of claim 1 wherein a portion of the enclosure extends behind the at least one LED.

13. The lamp of claim 1 wherein a width of the enclosure is greater than a width of the LED board.

14. The lamp of claim 1 further comprising a second end cap secured to the second end.

15. The lamp of claim 14 wherein a second pin is supported by the second end cap, the second pin being in the electrical path.

16. A lamp comprising:

an elongated tubular enclosure having a first end and a second end and a first pin supported at the first end and a second pin supported at the second end, the enclosure comprising a first portion of optically transmissive material and a second portion of optically non-transmissive material where the first portion and the second portion extend substantially between the first end and the second end, the second portion extending for less than 180 degrees about the circumference of the tubular enclosure;

at least one LED mounted on an LED board in the enclosure and operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path, the first portion defining a front of the enclosure disposed to a first side of the LED board on which the at least one LED is mounted and the second portion defining a back of the enclosure disposed to a second side of the LED board;

the enclosure comprising a support structure for supporting the LED board, the support structure being arranged in the enclosure and forming part of the second portion such that the LED board is positioned closer to the back of the enclosure than to the front of the enclosure the support structure, the first portion and the second portion being formed as one-piece.

17. The lamp of claim 16 wherein the support structure is formed of optically non-transmissive material.