LED tube reusable end cap

• US 7,997,770 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alternative Petroleum Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alternative Petroleum Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Meurer, William Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; Anabel
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, DANIELLE NICOLE
• Application Number:
  US12/378,413
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 362/551, 362/555, 362/559, 362/102, 362/171, 362/172, 362/178, 362/222, 362/223, 362/224, 362/657, 362/658, 362/659, 362/311.02
• US Class Current: 362/311.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A replacement for the standard fluorescent lamp tube has a plurality of LED devices mounted on a circuit board. The enclosure within which the circuit board is held has a clear or frosted lens mounted on a heat sink. The lens and heat sink each are arcuately shaped and together form a circular tube. A power converter is mounted below the circuit board and transfers its heat to the heat sink. A pair of pins mounted on the power converter extend beyond one end of the tube. An end cap has means for snapping onto and off the end of the tube and has clearance holes for the pins to protrude through and extend beyond so as to be fitting into mechanical and electrical contact with a standard lamp mounting fixture.

Claims

1. A longitudinally extensive lighting assembly, comprising:

an electrical circuit having a plurality of light emitting diodes;

a power converter interconnected with the electrical circuit for directing direct current to the light emitting diodes;

a lens covering the light emitting diodes, the lens having a semi-circular shape and a first pair of longitudinally directed edges;

a heat sink having a semi-circular shape and a second pair of longitudinally directed edges;

the first and second pairs of edges mutually engaged thereby forming a rigid, longitudinally directed circular tube with two opposing open ends;

a pair of electrically conductive contact pins of the power converter extending longitudinally beyond one end of the tubular enclosure; and

an end cap mounted on the one end of the tubular enclosure, the end cap having a circular flange split into two opposing portions, the portions engaged in strained opposition around the tubular enclosure at one of the open ends.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein the circular flange has a pair of opposing circular holes therein, and the tubular enclosure having outwardly directed upsets engaged within the circular holes thereby securing the end cap on the tubular enclosure.

3. An end cap for a tubular lighting assembly, the end cap comprising a circular body having a pair of longitudinal clearance holes there through for accepting contact pins of the lighting assembly, and a circular flange split into two directly opposing portions for diametrical gripping an outside surface of the lighting assembly, the circular flange having a pair of opposing radially-directed circular holes therein for receiving outwardly-directed upsets of the lighting assembly, the circular flange and radially directed holes for securing the end cap to the lighting assembly.