Rotatable led cluster device

• US 5,160,201 A
• Filed: 07/22/1991
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Display Products
• Original Assignee: Display Products
• Inventors: Wrobel, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US07/733,333
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/250, 362/252, 362/800, 362/226, 362/287, 362/288, 362/429, 362/457
• US Class Current: 362/249.03
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/65 specially adapted for changing the characteristics or the distribution of the light, e.g. by adjustment of parts
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A panel illuminating module consisting of an array of light-emitting diodes is provided wherein the light from the array can be adjustably directed to a target after the module is installed within the panel. The module has two parts, an upper part carrying the light-emitting diodes, and a lower part which is designed to install into standard panel circuitry connectors. The upper part is attached to the lower part by a cylindrical shaft about which one of the two parts is rotatable. Spring tension normally holds the two parts together on the shaft and a locking pin normally prevents the two parts from rotating relative to one another. However, the two parts can be optionally pulled apart from one another (against the spring tension) to disengage the locking pin and to allow the two parts to rotate relative to one another.

Claims

1. A panel illuminating display module comprising:

(a) structural support means for affixing a plurality of light-emitting electrical units relative to one another, the light-emitting electrical units being electrically interconnected to form an array having a first electrical pole and a second electrical pole;

(b) a cylindrical base connector having a longitudinal axis, a first electrical pole and a second electrical pole, the base connector being adapted for reception within, and electrical connection to, a female connector socket having a pair of oppositely charged electrical poles, the cylindrical base connector further comprising a first cylindrical chamber having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft;

(c) means for electrically connecting the first and second electrical poles of the array to the first and second electrical poles of the electrically conductive cylindrical base connector, respectively;

(d) means for rotatably affixing the array to the conductive base connector, comprising a shaft having a cylindrical body and a cylindrical head disposed on one end of the body, the diameter of the shaft head being greater than the diameter of the shaft body, the portion of the shaft body distal to the shaft head being affixed within the first cylindrical chamber along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical base connector and the shaft head being rotatably affixed to the structural support means; and

(e) means for restricting the rotation of the array relative to the cylindrical base connector;

Wherein;

the shaft head is cylindrical and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the shaft body;

the shaft and the portion of the shaft body proximate to the shaft head are disposed within a second cylindrical chamber which is defined within the support structure;

the portion of the shaft body disposed within the structural support but not within the second chamber is disposed within a third chamber which is defined within the structural support, the third chamber having a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the second chamber;

the second and the third chambers intersect and, at the point of intersection, form a lip; and

a compression spring having an external diameter larger than the diameter of the third chamber is disposed around the shaft body within the second chamber, the spring impinging at its one end against the shaft head and at its other end against the lip formed by the intersection of the second and third chambers.

2. The panel illuminating display module according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the cylindrical base connector further comprises a conductive ring disposed about the periphery of the cylindrical base connector proximate to the support structure;

(b) a plurality of notches are defined in the conductive ring; and

(c) the structural support further comprises a conductive pin adapted to be received into one of the notches.

3. The panel illuminating display module according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) the first electrical pole of the cylindrical base connector is electrically connected to the shaft;

(b) the shaft is electrically connected to the first pole of the array;

(c) the second pole of the array is electrically connected to the conductive pin; and

(d) the conductive ring is electrically connected to the second pole of the cylindrical base connector.

4. The panel illuminating display module according to claim 2 wherein the number of notches is at least two.

5. The panel illuminating display module according to claim 2 wherein the number of notches is at least four.