Removable LED light module for use in a light fixture assembly

• US 8,152,336 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Korrus Incorporated (MKD Electric, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Journee Lighting, Inc. (EcoSense Lighting Inc.)
• Inventors: Alexander, Clayton, Mundell, Brandon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/409,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 362/373, 362/294, 362/800, 362/249.11, 439/427, 439/76.1, 313/317, 313/318.01, 313/318.12
• US Class Current: 362/249.11
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/14 Bayonet-type fastening
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/026 Fastening of transformers or ballasts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A removable LED light module for use in a light fixture assembly includes an LED lighting element and one or more resilient members to maintain a compression force between the LED light module and the light fixture to provide effective heat transfer from the LED light module to the light fixture. The LED light module can include a plurality of electrical contact members to facilitate an electrical connection between the LED light module and the light fixture assembly.

Claims

1. An LED light module removably coupleable to a thermally-conductive member, comprising:

an LED lighting element;

one or more resilient members configured to flex when coupling the LED light module to a socket to maintain at least a portion of the LED light module in resilient contact with a thermally conductive surface of the socket or thermally-conductive member to thereby thermally couple at least a portion of the LED light module to the thermally conductive surface; and

a plurality of electrical contact members electrically connected to the LED lighting element, at least one of the electrical contact members configured to releasably contact an electrical contact of the socket when the LED light module is coupled to the socket irrespective of the rotational orientation of the LED light module during coupling with the socket.

2. The removable LED light module of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board electrically coupled to the LED lighting element and configured to control the operation of the LED lighting element, the printed circuit board comprising said electrical contact members.

3. The removable LED light module of claim 1, wherein the electrical contact members are electrical contact strips or pads.

4. The removable LED light module of claim 1, wherein the electrical contact members are gold plated.

5. The removable LED light module of claim 1, wherein the one or more resilient members have a generally wishbone shape, each of the electrical contact members accessible through an opening between adjacent resilient members.

6. The removable LED light module of claim 1, wherein flexion of the one or more resilient members generates a compression force configured to maintain one or more surfaces of the LED light module in resilient contact with the thermally conductive surface.

7. The removable LED light module of claim 1, further comprising a wattage adjust control switch actuatable to adjust a wattage of the LED light module.

8. The removable LED light module of claim 1, further comprising an optic movable relative to a housing of the LED light module when the LED light module is coupled to the socket.

9. The removable LED light module of claim 8, wherein the LED lighting element is configured to move into a focal point of the optic when the LED light module is coupled to the socket and to move out of the focal point when the LED light module is disengaged from the socket.

10. The removable LED light module of claim 1, wherein the one or more resilient members are made of metal.

11. An LED light module removably coupleable to a light fixture assembly, comprising:

an LED lighting element;

one or more resilient members movable from a first position to a second position when the LED light module is coupled to a socket of the light fixture assembly to generate a compression force to thereby establish a resilient thermal connection between the LED light module and a surface or the light fixture assembly or socket of the light fixture assembly; and

one or more electrical contact members electrically connected to the LED lighting element, at least one of the one or more electrical contact members configured to releasably contact an electrical contact on the socket of the light fixture assembly when the LED light module is coupled to the socket irrespective of the orientation of the LED light module during coupling with the socket.

12. The removable LED light module of claim 11, wherein the one or more electrical contact members are gold plated.

13. The removable LED light module of claim 11, further comprising a wattage adjust control switch actuatable to adjust wattage of the LED light module.

14. The removable LED light module of claim 11, further comprising a printed circuit board electrically connected to the LED lighting element, the printed circuit board comprising the one or more electrical contact members.

15. The removable LED light module of claim 11, wherein the one or more resilient members are made of metal.

16. A light fixture assembly, comprising:

a thermally-conductive housing;

an LED light module removably coupleable to the thermally-conductive housing, comprising;

an LED lighting element;

one or more resilient members movable between a first position and a second position when the LED light module is coupled to the thermally-conductive housing to resiliently maintain one or more surfaces of the LED light module in resilient contact with one or more surfaces of the thermally conductive housing to thereby establish a thermal connection between the LED light module and the thermally conductive housing; and

a plurality of electrical contact members electrically connected to the LED lighting element and configured to releasably contact an electrical contact on the housing when the LED light module is coupled to the thermally conductive housing irrespective of the orientation of the LED light module during coupling with the thermally-conductive housing.

17. The light fixture assembly of claim 16, wherein the thermally-conductive housing comprises a socket configured to releasably couple to the LED light module, said socket comprising the electrical contact configured to releasably contact the electrical contact members of the LED light module, the socket dimensioned to cause the resilient members to compress when the LED light module is coupled to the socket.

18. The light fixture assembly of claim 17, wherein the socket is removably coupled to the thermally-conductive housing.

19. The light fixture assembly of claim 16, wherein the resilient members are made of metal.

20. The light fixture assembly of claim 16, wherein the electrical contact members of the LED light module are gold plated.

21. The light fixture assembly of claim 16, wherein the LED light module is releasably coupled to the thermally-conductive housing via the interaction of one or more protrusions on the LED light module and one or more slots in a socket of the thermally-conductive housing.

22. The light fixture assembly of claim 16, further comprising a wattage adjust control switch actuatable to adjust a wattage of the LED light module.