LED lamp assembly

• US 6,739,733 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: N.I.R., Inc.
• Original Assignee: N.I.R., Inc.
• Inventors: Dinan, Michael E., Reinhold, Eugene P., Plummer, Robert D., Lamke, Isadore I.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US09/521,808
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 362/226, 362/545, 362/800, 362/267, 362/310, 362/235, 362/249, 362/240, 313/512
• US Class Current: 362/646
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/13 the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/284 for encapsulating mounted components H05K1/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lamp finding particular application in boat trailers and other vehicular applications is provided with a generally unbreakable lens structure. The lamp preferably is provided with a plurality of LEDS arranged with rows and columns on a circuit card or board. The lamp is constructed by encapsulating the board and LED arrangement in a moldable lens material, which after removal from a suitable mold at least partially defines the lamp housing.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly including a housing, comprising:

a support circuit board;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted to said circuit board;

an electrical connection attached to said circuit board and extending outwardly of said lamp assembly;

a mold in place lens formed from material flowable about and encapsulating the circuit board and light emitting diodes to provide a one piece solid body about said circuit board and light emitting diodes;

said solid body being formed into a predetermined shape defining said lamp assembly and lens, at least electrical leads of said electrical connection extending outwardly of said solid body to provide electrical connections for said lamp assembly, the housing and the lens being formed from the same material, the material defining the predetermined shape of the of the housing for the lamp assembly.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said LEDS are positioned and arranged in rows and columns.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 2 wherein at least one of said rows of LEDS emit light having a color different from at least another row of said LEDS.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 3 wherein said lens material has at least one opening formed in it for permitting attachment of said lamp assembly to another structure.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 3 wherein said electrical connection is integrally formed with said circuit board.

6. The lens assembly of claim 5 wherein said lens material has a color associated with it.

7. The lens assembly of claim 6 wherein the color is red.

8. The lens assembly of claim 7 wherein said lens assembly withstands a force of at least 30 ft.lbs.per square inch of force without damage.

9. A lamp assembly having a predetermined shape, comprising:

a circuit board;

a least one light emitting unit connected to said circuit board;

an electrical connection attached to said light emitting unit; and

a moldable lens formed from material completely encapsulating the circuit board and light emitting unit to form a solid one piece unit, said lens and said lamp assembly being constructed of the same material, said material defining the predetermined shape of said lamp assembly.

10. The lamp assembly of claim 9 wherein said light emitting unit comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDS).

11. The lamp assembly of claim 10 wherein said LEDS are positioned and arranged in rows and columns.

12. The lamp assembly of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of one of said rows of LEDS emits light having a color different from at least a portion of another row of said LEDS.

13. The lamp assembly of claim 12 wherein said lens material has at least one opening formed in it for permitting attachment of said lamp assembly to another structure.

14. The lamp assembly of claim 9 wherein said electrical connection is integrally formed with said circuit board.

15. The lamp assembly of claim 9 wherein said lens material has a color associated with it.

16. The lamp assembly of claim 15 wherein the color is red.

17. The lamp assembly of claim 9 wherein said lens material withstands a force of at least 30 ft.lbs.per square inch without damage.

18. A lamp assembly including a housing having a predetermined shape, comprising:

a circuit board;

at least one light emitting unit connected to said circuit board; and

a lens formed from a moldable material, the material completely encapsulating the circuit board and light emitting unit so as to define a solid molded one piece lamp assembly unit, said material defining the predetermined shape of the housing for said lamp assembly, the housing and the lens being constructed of the same material, said material providing at least water resistance protection for the light emitting unit; and

an electrical connection extending through the solid body of the lamp assembly, said electrical connection providing an electrical power path for connecting an external power source to said light emitting unit.