DEVICE FOR SECURING A SOURCE OF LED LIGHT TO A HEAT SINK SURFACE

• US 20140029258A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ideal Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ideal Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Schroll, Matthew David, Zantout, Alan Emad
• Granted Patent: US 9,249,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/249.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/004 by deformation of parts or snap action mountings, e.g. using clips
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks

Abstract

A device for securing a source of LED light to a heat sink includes an LED light source engaging surface that is arranged and configured to engage at least a portion of the source of LED light and which is provided with an integrated force applying spring. Further, the device may include a continuous metallic path extending between the sources of LED light and the surface.

Claims

1. A device for providing force onto one or more sources of LED light in a direction towards a mounting surface, wherein the force is provided at least in part by at least one continuous metallic path between the mounting surface and the one or more sources of LED light, wherein a portion of the at least one continuous metallic path is arranged to be deflected in an installed position.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a monolithic metal construction.

3. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more metal fasteners that secure the device to the mounting surface complete the at least one continuous metal path.

4. A device as recited in claim 3, wherein the device comprises a monolithic metal construction.

5. A device as recited in claim 3, wherein the device further comprises at least one aperture for receiving the one or more metal fasteners used to secure the device to the mounting surface.

6. A device as recited in claim 5, wherein the at least one aperture is a keyhole shaped to allow a fastener head of the at least one or more metal fasteners to pass only through a larger part of the at least one aperture.

7. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is arranged to be releasably lockable in the installed position.

8. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein the device is adapted to be slid in a generally parallel direction relative to the mounting surface to transition the device from a free position to the installed position.

9. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein the device is adapted to be rotated in a plane parallel to the mounting surface to transition the device from a free position to the installed position.

10. A device as recited in claim 1, the device further comprising a set of deflectable arms for grasping an accessory attachable to the device.

11. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one continuous metallic path contacts a surface of the one or more sources of LED light opposite the mounting surface.

12. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises at least one electrically insulating housing, the at least one electrically insulating housing having an electrical contact element disposed therein, the electrical contact element being electrically coupled to the one or more sources of LED light and electrically insulated from the portion once installed.

13. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one electrically insulating housing is attached to a side of the device that is closer to the mounting surface.

14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the at least one electrically insulating housing breaks a plane of the mounting surface.

15. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein the electrical contact element comprises one or more portions that are generally biased to engage the one or more sources of LED light.

16. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein the electrical contact element is connected to one or more wires.

17. A device as recited in claim 16, wherein the electrical contact element comprises at least one push-in type connector for engaging the one or more wires.

18. A device as recited in claim 16, wherein the device further comprises one or more routing elements for positioning the one or more wires through a path.

19. A device as recited in claim 1, the device further comprising one or more locating features co-operable with a feature of the one or more sources of LED light for use in locating the one or more sources of LED light.

20. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more locating features is one or more corresponding edge surfaces.

21. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more locating features is one or more corresponding apertures.

22. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one of the one or more locating features is deflected when the one or more sources of LED light is inserted.

23. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more locating features holds and secures the one or more sources of LED light prior to attachment to the mounting surface.

24. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more rib-like elements to stiffen part of the device.

25. A device for use in an LED holder, the device comprising a monolithic metal component, wherein in an installed position the monolithic metal component is deflected to provide force onto one or more sources of LED light in a direction towards a mounting surface.

26. A device as recited in claim 25, wherein the device is arranged to be releasably lockable in the installed position.

27. A device as recited in claim 26, wherein the device is adapted to be slid linearly in a generally parallel direction relative to the mounting surface to transition the device from a free position to the installed position.

28. A device as recited in claim 25, further comprising a set of elastic arms associated with the portion for grasping an accessory attachable to the device.

29. A device as recited in claim 25, wherein electrically insulating components are attached.

30. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein electrically insulating components form at least one electrically insulating housing attached to the monolithic metal component having disposed therein an electrical contact element that is electrically coupled to the one or more sources of LED light and electrically insulated from the monolithic metal component of the device.

31. A device as recited in claim 30, wherein the at least one electrically insulating housing is attached to a side of the device that is closer to the mounting surface.

32. A device as recited in claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the at least one electrically insulating housing breaks a plane of the mounting surface.

33. A device as recited in claim 30, wherein the electrical contact element is connected to one or more wires.

34. A device as recited in claim 30, wherein the electrical contact element comprises one or more portions that are generally biased to engage the one or more sources of LED light.

35. A device as recited in claim 33, further comprising one or more routing elements for positioning the one or more wires through a path.

36. A device as recited in claim 33, wherein the electrical contact element comprises at least one push-in type connector for engaging the one or more wires.

37. A device as recited in claim 25, further comprising at least one locating feature co-operable with a feature of the one or more sources of LED light for use in locating the one or more sources of LED light.

38. A device as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one locating feature associated with the one or more sources of LED light is one or more corresponding edge surfaces.

39. A device as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one locating feature associated with the one or more sources of LED light is one or more corresponding apertures.

40. A device as recited in claim 37, wherein one or more of the at least one locating feature is deflected when the one or more sources of LED light is inserted.

41. A device as recited in claim 37, wherein the at least one locating feature holds and secures the one or more sources of LED light prior to attachment to the mounting surface.

42. A device as recited in claim 25, further comprising one or more rib-like elements for stiffening part of the device.

43. A device as recited in claim 25, wherein the device is adapted to be rotated in a plane parallel to the mounting surface to transition the device from a free position to the installed position.

44. A device as recited in claim 25, wherein one or more metal fasteners secure the device to the mounting surface.

45. A device as recited in claim 44, further comprising at least one aperture for receiving the one or more metal fasteners used to secure the device to the mounting surface.

46. A device as recited in claim 45, wherein the at least one aperture is a keyhole shaped to allow a fastener head of the one or more metal fasteners to pass only through a larger part of the at least one aperture.