Incandescent and LED light bulbs and methods and devices for converting between incandescent lighting products and low-power lighting products

• US 7,748,886 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kichler Lighting, LLC (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LD Kichler Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Uhler, George J., Pazula, Bruce Raymond, Dross, Jeffrey Richard, Janos, Joseph John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward; John A
• Application Number:
  US11/684,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20090103331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 362/378, 362/377, 362/353, 362/433, 362/435, 362/437, 362/441, 362/443, 362/448, 362/457, 362/446, 362/649, 362/650, 362/651, 439/226, 439/236, 439/336
• US Class Current: 362/650
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/08 for supporting tubular fluorescent lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/22 for screw type base, e.g. for lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part

Abstract

An irreversible electrical base for irreversibly converting an incandescent lighting product to a low-power lighting product is provided. Various methods of converting an incandescent lighting product to a low-power lighting product and converting a low-power lighting product to an incandescent lighting product, are provided. Various non-threaded incandescent light bulbs, non-threaded halogen incandescent light bulbs, and non-threaded LED-based light bulbs are provided. A keyless lighting fixture having an insert and twist connector is provided.

Claims

1. An electrical lighting base for removably receiving a removable incandescent bulb or socket, the removable incandescent bulb or socket having first and second external electrical contacts with approximately parallel central axes, with each external electrical contact having a narrow proximal portion and a wider distal portion, the electrical lighting base comprising:

a housing;

a end portion, assembled with the housing, the end portion including first and second openings each disposed a first distance from a central axis of the base, each opening having a wider portion and a narrower portion, wherein the wider portions are configured to accept the wider distal portions of the external electrical contacts, and the narrow portions are configured to accept the narrow proximal portions of the external electrical contacts and to retain the wider distal portions of the external electrical contacts;

first and second internal electrical contacts disposed in the housing such that each of the first and second internal electrical contacts engages a respective one of the first and second external electrical contacts when the external electrical contacts are retained in the narrow portions of the first and second openings; and

a cam, disposed in the housing and configured to allow the first and second external electrical contacts to engage the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in an unconverted orientation, and the cam is further configured to prevent the first and second external electrical contacts from engaging the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in a converted orientation.

3. The electrical lighting base according to any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the cam is disposed in the housing, and configured to allow the first and second external electrical contacts to engage the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in an unconverted orientation, and further configured to prevent the first and second external electrical contacts from being inserted into the first and second openings when the cam is in a converted orientation, thereby preventing engagement of the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts by the first and second external electrical contacts.

4. The electrical lighting base according to any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the cam is disposed in the housing, and configured to allow the first and second external electrical contacts to engage the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in an unconverted orientation, and further configured to at least partially close at least one of the first and second openings when the cam is in a converted orientation, thereby preventing engagement of the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts by the first and second external electrical contacts.

5. The electrical lighting base according to any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the cam is disposed in the housing between the end portion and the electrical contacts, and configured to allow the first and second external electrical contacts to engage the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in an unconverted orientation, and further configured to prevent the first and second external electrical contacts from engaging the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in a converted orientation.

6. The electrical lighting base according to any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the electrical lighting base is further adapted to removably receive a lower-energy lighting device, further wherein when the lower-energy lighting device is assembled with the electrical lighting base, the cam is moved from the unconverted orientation to the converted orientation.

7. The electrical lighting base according to any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the end portion further comprises third and fourth openings each disposed a second distance from the central axis of the base, the third and fourth openings being configured to accept external electrical contacts from a lower-energy lighting device.

8. The electrical lighting base according to claim 7, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

9. The electrical lighting base according to claim 6, wherein the cam comprises an engaging feature for engaging a contacting portion of the lower-energy lighting device, and further wherein when the lower-energy lighting device is assembled to the electrical lighting base, the contacting portion of the lower-energy lighting device pushes the engaging feature to move the cam from the unconverted orientation to the converted orientation.

10. The electrical lighting base according to any of claims 1 and 2, further comprising a projection on one of the cam and the end portion, and a corresponding recess on the other of the cam and the end portion, wherein the projection is received in the recess when the cam is in the converted orientation.

11. The electrical lighting base according to claim 10, further comprising a support structure for securing the projection in the recess when the cam is in the converted orientation.

12. The electrical lighting base according to any of claims 1 and 2, further comprising a projection on one of the cam and the housing and a corresponding recess on the other of the cam and the housing, wherein the projection is received in the recess when the cam is in the converted orientation.

13. The electrical lighting base according to claim 12, further comprising a support structure for securing the projection in the recess when the cam is in the converted orientation.

14. The electrical lighting base according to any of claims 1 and 2, further comprising means for preventing disassembly of the electrical lighting base.

15. The electrical lighting base according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the cam is flexed against the end cap in the unconverted orientation, such that the at least one projection snaps into the at least one recess when the cam is moved to the converted orientation.

16. The electrical lighting base according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the cam is flexed against the housing in the unconverted orientation, such that the at least one projection snaps into the at least one recess when the cam is moved to the converted orientation.

17. The electrical lighting base according to claim 6, wherein the low lower-energy lighting device comprises a fluorescent ballast.

18. The electrical lighting base according to claim 6, wherein the lower-energy lighting device comprises a fluorescent ballast having an integral fluorescent light bulb.

2. An electrical lighting base for removably receiving a removable incandescent bulb or socket, the removable incandescent bulb or socket having first and second external electrical contacts, the electrical lighting base comprising:

a housing;

a end portion, assembled with the housing, the end portion including first and second openings each disposed a first distance from a central axis of the base, wherein each of the first and second openings are configured to accept and retain a corresponding one of the external electrical contacts;

first and second internal electrical contacts disposed in the housing such that each of the first and second internal electrical contacts engages a respective one of the first and second external electrical contacts when the external electrical contacts are retained in the first and second openings; and

a cam, disposed in the housing and configured to allow the first and second external electrical contacts to engage the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in an unconverted orientation, and the cam is further configured to prevent the first and second external electrical contacts from engaging the corresponding first and second internal electrical contacts when the cam is in a converted orientation.