End Cap for a Tubular Light Source

• US 20140029247A1
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Gielen, Vincent Stefan David, Bukkems, Peter Johannes Martinus
• Granted Patent: US 9,587,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/217.13
• 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: F21S 8/031 the device consisting essentially only of a light source holder with an exposed light source, e.g. a fluorescent tube
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/008 of straight tubular light sources, e.g. straight fluorescent tubes, soffit lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/04 breaking the electric circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/942 for tubular fluorescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/96 with switch operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling

Abstract

An end cap (104) for a tubular light source (102), the tubular light source (102) being configured to be arranged in a lighting fixture (106) comprising at least one socket (108), wherein the end cap (104) comprises a housing (202), two connector pins (112) at least partly arranged on an outside of the housing (202) and adapted to fit in the socket, and a switch assembly comprising a switch element (110) arranged in between the two connector pins (112) and at least partly protruding from an opening in the housing (202), wherein a first side of the switch element (110) is adapted to fit into a slot in a socket (108) and wherein the switch assembly is configured to form a conductive path between the socket (108) and the tubular light source (102) through an axial rotation of the switch element (110) in relation to the housing (202) as the tubular light source (102) is rotatably mounted in the fixture (106).

Claims

1. An end cap for a tubular light source, the tubular light source being configured to be arranged in a lighting fixture comprising at least one socket defining a slot therein, the end cap comprising:

a housing defining an opening;

two connector pins at least partly arranged on an outside of the housing and adapted to fit in the socket; and

a switch assembly comprising a switch element arranged in between the two connector pins and at least partly protruding from the opening, wherein a first side of the switch element is adapted to fit into the slot in the socket and wherein the switch assembly is configured to form a conductive path between the socket and the tubular light source through an axial rotation of the switch element in relation to the housing as the tubular light source is rotatably mounted in the fixture.

2. The end cap according to claim 1, wherein the conductive path is formed at a second side of the switch element, wherein the second side is arranged in an inside of the housing.

3. The end cap according to claim 1, wherein the switch element is equipped with screw threads enabling axial movement through a rotation of the switch element.

4. The end cap according to claim 1, wherein the conductive path is formed through an axial movement of the switch element.

5. The end cap according to claim 1, wherein the tubular light source comprises a plurality of light emitting elements.

6. A tubular light source comprising:

an illuminator part comprising a plurality of light emitting elements; and

at least one end cap part according to claim 5 arranged on at least one end of the illuminator part.

7. The tubular light source according to claim 6, further comprising optics configured to mix light emitted by the light emitting elements.

8. A luminaire comprising:

a tubular light source according to claim 6; and

a fixture comprising at least one socket for receiving the at least one end cap and for connecting the tubular light source to an electrical power supply.