Light fixture assembly and led assembly

• US 20090213595A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korrus Incorporated (MKD Electric, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Journee Lighting, Inc. (EcoSense Lighting Inc.)
• Inventors: Mundell, Brandon S., Alexander, Clayton
• Granted Patent: US 7,866,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/373
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A removable light fixture assembly is provided. The light fixture assembly includes an LED lighting element and a compression element. Operation of the compression element from a first position to a second position generates a compression force which reduces thermal impedance between the LED assembly and a thermally-conductive housing.

Claims

1. A light fixture assembly, comprising:

a thermally-conductive housing;

an LED assembly removably coupleable to a socket of the thermally-conductive housing, the LED assembly comprising

an LED lighting element; and

a compression element configured to move from a first position to a second position to generate a compression force between the LED assembly and the thermally-conductive housing, causing the LED assembly to become thermally connected to the housing.

2. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, further comprising a thermal interface member

positioned between the LED assembly and the housing, the thermal interface member configured to provide a path for thermal energy between the LED lighting element and the housing when the LED assembly is coupled to the housing.

3. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein the thermal interface member comprises a phase change material.

6. The LED assembly of claim 1, wherein the socket includes a front cover retaining mechanism adapted to engage with a front cover engaging member on a front cover of the housing.

37. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein the LED assembly comprises one or more electrical contact strips releasably engageable to an electrical contact member on the housing to provide an electrical connection between the LED assembly and the housing.

38. The light fixture assembly of claim 37, wherein the electrical contact member on the housing comprises an electrical contact disposed on the socket.

4. An LED assembly removably coupleable to a light fixture assembly, the light fixture assembly having a thermally-conductive housing with a socket, and a first engaging member, the LED assembly comprising:

an LED lighting element;

a resilient member operatively coupled to the LED lightning element; and

a second engaging member adapted to releasably engage the first engaging member to releasably couple the LED assembly to the housing,

wherein the engagement of the first and second engaging members causes the resilient member to move from an uncompressed state to a compressed state to create a compression force to form a thermal contact between the LED assembly and the housing.

5. The LED assembly of claim 4, wherein the socket is integrally formed with the housing.

7. The LED assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a thermal interface member positioned between the LED lighting element and the housing.

8. The LED assembly of claim 4, wherein the resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient radially outwardly extending deformable ribs.

9. The LED assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the first engaging member comprises an angled slot;

the second engaging member comprises a tab; and

rotation of the LED assembly relative to the socket causes the tab to travel along the slot and the resilient member to deform to create a compression force between the thermal interface member and the housing.

10. The LED assembly of claim 7, wherein the thermal interface member comprises a first portion having a first circumference and a second portion having a second circumference, the second circumference being smaller than the first circumference.

11. The LED assembly of claim 7, wherein the LED lighting element indirectly contacts the thermal interface, and wherein the thermal interface positions the lighting element within the LED assembly.

12. The LED assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a printed circuit board including one or more electrical contact strips,

wherein the one or more electrical contact strips on the printed circuit board is configured to releasably engage an electrical contact member of the socket to provide an electrical connection between the LED assembly and the housing to provide operating power to the lighting element.

14. The LED assembly of claim 11, further comprising a thermally conductive substrate that supports the LED lighting element.

13. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. A light fixture assembly, comprising:

a thermally-conductive housing;

a socket attached to the housing and comprising a first engaging member; and

an LED assembly, comprising;

an LED lighting element;

a resilient member operatively coupled to the LED lighting element; and

a second engaging member adapted to engage with the first engaging member;

the LED assembly and the socket being movable relative to each other from a disengaged position to an engaged position;

the first engaging member, in the engaged position, engaging the second engaging member and fixedly positioning the LED assembly relative to the socket; and

the resilient member, in the engaged position, creating a compression force forming a thermal contact between the LED assembly and the housing.

20. The light fixture assembly of claim 19, the LED assembly further comprising:

a thermal interface member positioned between the LED lighting element and the housing.

39. The light fixture assembly of claim 19, wherein the LED assembly comprises one or more electrical contact strips releasably engageable to an electrical contact member on the socket to provide an electrical connection between the LED assembly and the housing.

21. An LED assembly for a light fixture assembly, the light fixture assembly having a thermally-conductive housing, a socket attached to the housing, and a first engaging member, the LED assembly comprising:

an LED lighting element; and

a second engaging member adapted to engage with the first engaging member;

operation of the LED assembly and the socket relative to each other from an alignment position to an engaged position causing;

the first engaging member to engage the second engaging member, and

at least one of the first and second engaging members to deform so as to create a compression force to form a thermal contact between the LED assembly and the housing.

40. The LED assembly of claim 21, further comprising one or more electrical contact strips releasably engageable to an electrical contact member on the socket when the LED assembly is coupled to the housing to provide an electrical connection between the LED assembly and the housing.

22. An LED assembly for a light fixture assembly, the light fixture assembly having a thermally-conductive housing, a socket attached to the housing, and a first engaging member, the LED assembly comprising:

an LED lighting element; and

a second engaging member adapted to engage with the first engaging member;

operation of the LED assembly and the socket relative to each other from an alignment position to an engaged position causing;

the first engaging member to engage the second engaging member; and

at least one of the first and second engaging members to deform so as to create a compression force lowering the thermal impedance between the LED assembly and the housing.

23. The LED assembly of claim 22, comprising a resilient electrically conductive element mounted to at least one of the LED assembly and the light fixture assembly for supplying operating power to the LED assembly from the housing.

24. The LED assembly of claim 22, comprising a connection member for removably supplying operating power to the LED lighting element.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. A removable LED assembly for use in a light fixture assembly having a thermally-conductive housing, comprising:

an LED lighting element;

a thermal interface member removably coupled to the LED lighting element and configured to resiliently contact the thermally-conductive housing when the LED assembly is coupled to a socket of the light fixture assembly; and

a compression element configured to move from a first position to a second position to generate a compression force between the LED assembly and the thermally-conductive housing, causing the LED assembly to become thermally connected to the housing.

28. The LED assembly of claim 27, comprising a connection member for removably supplying operating power to the LED lighting element.

29. The LED assembly of claim 27, comprising a resilient electrically conductive member mounted to at least one of the LED assembly and the housing, the compression force causing the LED to become electrically connected to the housing.

30. The LED assembly of claim 27, further comprising a printed circuit board electrically connected to the LED lighting element, the printed circuit board comprising one or more electrical contact members configured to contact an electrical contact on the housing when the LED assembly is coupled to the housing.

31. The LED assembly of claim 30, wherein the electrical contact members are electrical contact strips or pads.

32. The LED assembly of claim 27, wherein the compression element comprises a resilient member with a generally wishbone shape.

36. The LED assembly of claim 30, wherein the electrical contact members of the printed circuit board are configured to contact an electrical contact of the socket

33. A method for assembling a light fixture, comprising:

aligning an LED assembly having an LED lighting element with a socket of a housing; and

moving the LED assembly and the socket relative to each other to releasably engage a first engagement member of the socket with a second engagement member of the LED assembly to cause a resilient member of the LED assembly to move from an uncompressed state to a compressed state to generate a compression force between the housing and LED assembly, thereby establish a thermal contact between the LED assembly and the housing.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein moving includes rotating the LED assembly relative to the socket.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein moving the LED assembly and the socket relative to each other further comprises releasably engaging one or more electrical contact strips of the LED assembly to an electrical contact member on the socket to establish an electrical connection between the LED assembly and the housing.

41. A light fixture assembly, comprising:

a thermally-conductive housing;

a socket attached to the housing and comprising a first threaded portion; and

an LED assembly, comprising;

an LED lighting element; and

a second threaded portion;

the LED assembly and the socket being movable relative to each other from a disengaged position to an engaged position where the first and second threaded portions are releasably coupled to each other to fixedly position the LED assembly relative to the socket.

42. The light fixture assembly of claim 41, wherein the threaded coupling of the first and second threaded portions generates a compression force between the LED assembly and the housing.

43. A light fixture assembly, comprising:

a thermally-conductive housing;

a socket attached to the housing and comprising a buckle; and

an LED assembly, comprising;

an LED lighting element; and

a buckle catch;

the LED assembly and the socket being movable relative to each other from a disengaged position to an engaged position where the buckle and buckle catch are releasably coupled to each other to fixedly position the LED assembly relative to the socket.

44. The light fixture assembly of claim 43, wherein the coupling of the buckle and buckle catch generates a compression force between the LED assembly and the housing.