Lighting apparatus

• US 7,252,407 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keith Lewis
• Original Assignee: Keith Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/512,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 362/294, 362/373, 362/800, 362/267, 362/547
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0005 Devices preventing the lights from becoming dirty or damaged, e.g. protection grids or cleaning by air flow windshield wipers for cleaning optical devices of vehicles B60S1/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/50 Waterproofing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/00 Protecting lighting devices from damage protection from thermal damage F21V29/00; gas-tight or water-tight arrangements F21V31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/04 Resilient mountings, e.g. shock absorbers shock absorbing devices of vehicle headlamp housings B60Q1/0491; in general F16F15/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/13 the light being emitted at the end of the guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/12 Flameproof or explosion-proof arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• 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]

Abstract

Lighting apparatus is provided comprising a light source (10), the light source being encapsulated in a protective medium (11) to seal the light source against ingress of moisture, the lighting apparatus having a heat sink (12, 13), the heat sink having a first region (12) in communication with light source (10) to receive heat from the light source (10) and a second region (13) which projects externally of the protective medium, such that the heat sink can dissipate heat to the ambient area. The invention provides light apparatus which is particularly suitable for use with caving lamps, although other uses are possible, for example in traffic lights or the lights of a motor vehicle, where the encapsulation would provide protection against rain.

Claims

1. Lighting apparatus comprising a light emitting diode (LED), the LED being encapsulated in a protective medium, the lighting apparatus including a heat sink, the heat sink having a first region in communication with the LED to receive heat from the LED, and a second region which projects externally of the protective medium such that the heat sink can dissipate heat to the ambient area, wherein the LED is mounted on the first region of the heat sink and the mounting and the electrical components of the LED are encapsulated in the protective medium to seal the LED against ingress of moisture.

2. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, provided with a dimming device.

3. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the LED has a light emitting region adjacent to, and projecting from, the protective medium.

4. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the LED has a light emitting region protected by a cover, the cover being sealed to the protective medium and being such that light may pass through the cover.

5. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cover is made of glass.

6. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cover is made of transparent or translucent plastics material.

7. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the cover comprises a collimating lens.

8. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which there is more than one LED arranged within the protective medium.

9. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the LED is arranged to transmit light to the ambient area via a light transmitting conduit.

10. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the light transmitting conduit comprises a light pipe.

11. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the light transmitting conduit comprises a fibre optic bundle.

12. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the heat sink comprises a metal plate.

13. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the metal is aluminium.

14. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the second region of the heat sink serves more than one purpose.

15. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the second region carries manufacturer'"'"'s information or advertising logo information.

16. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the second region is shaped into a bracket, to fit into a socket on a standard miner'"'"'s or caver'"'"'s helmet.

17. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the second region is shaped to form a box or other enclosure.

18. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the second region has a secondary function as part of a car body or a car wing.

19. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the LED is mounted directly on the first region of the heat sink.

20. Lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which there are no hollows or voids within the lighting apparatus.