Lighting apparatus

• US 20050213331A1
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keith Lewis
• Original Assignee: Keith Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,252,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0005 Devices preventing the lights from becoming dirty or damaged, e.g. protection grids or cleaning by air flow windshield wipers for cleaning optical devices of vehicles B60S1/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/50 Waterproofing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/00 Protecting lighting devices from damage protection from thermal damage F21V29/00; gas-tight or water-tight arrangements F21V31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/04 Resilient mountings, e.g. shock absorbers shock absorbing devices of vehicle headlamp housings B60Q1/0491; in general F16F15/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/13 the light being emitted at the end of the guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/12 Flameproof or explosion-proof arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Lighting apparatus is provided comprising a light source (10), the light source being encapsulated in a protective medium (11) to seal the light source against ingress of moisture, the lighting apparatus having a heat sink (12, 13), the heat sink having a first region (12) in communication with light source (10) to receive heat from the light source (10) and a second region (13) which projects externally of the protective medium, such that the heat sink can dissipate heat to the ambient area. The invention provides light apparatus which is particularly suitable for use with caving lamps, although other uses are possible, for example in traffic lights or the lights of a motor vehicle, where the encapsulation would provide protection against rain.

Claims

1. Lighting apparatus comprising a light source, the light source being encapsulated in a protective medium to seal the light source against ingress of moisture, the lighting apparatus including a heat sink, the heat sink having a first region in communication with the light source to receive heat from the light source, and a second region which projects externally of the protective medium, such that the heat sink can dissipate heat to the ambient area.

2. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

3. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the light source has a light emitting region adjacent to, and projecting from, the protective medium.

4. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the light source has a light emitting region protected by a cover, the cover being sealed to the protective medium and being such that light may pass through it.

5. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cover is made of glass.

6. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cover is made of transparent or translucent plastics material.

7. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cover comprises acollimating lens.

8. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which there is more than one light source arranged within the protective medium.

9. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the light source is arranged to transmit light to the ambient area via a light transmitting conduit such as a light pipe or fibre optic bundle.

10. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the heat sink comprises a metal plate.

11. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the metal is aluminium.

12. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the second region of the heat sink serves more than one purpose.

13. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the second region carries manufacturer'"'"'s information or advertising logo information.

14. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the second region is shaped into a bracket, for example to fit into a socket on a standard miner'"'"'s or caver'"'"'s helmet.

16. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the second region has a secondary function as part of a car body such as a car wing.

15. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim, in which the second region is shaped to form a box or other enclosure.