Circuit board mount for LED light tube

• US 8,596,813 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ivey, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US13/179,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/217.13
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• 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: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of LED-based lights for replacing a conventional fluorescent light bulb in a fluorescent light fixture and embodiments of a circuit board mount for an LED-based light tube having an elongate housing with at least one circuit board spanning the housing. One embodiment disclosed herein of a circuit board mount comprises an end cap configured to fit over an open end of the housing. The end cap comprises an end wall, at least one pin connector extending through the end wall and at least one fitted slot extending from the end wall configured to receive an end of the circuit board, the at least one fitted slot having an elastic member within the at least one fitted slot configured to cushion the circuit board.

Claims

1. A circuit board mount for an LED-based light tube having an elongate housing with at least one circuit board in the housing, the circuit board mount comprising:

an end cap configured to fit over an open end of the housing, the end cap comprising;

an end wall;

at least one pin connector extending through the end wall; and

at least one fitted slot carried by and formed within the end wall configured to receive an end of the circuit board, wherein the end cap is configured to apply stress to the circuit board to keep the circuit board stationary and cushioned and

wherein the end cap further comprises an elastic member within each of the at least one fitted slot.

2. The circuit board mount of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one fitted slot has at least one beveled edge configured to guide the circuit board into the at least one fitted slot.

3. A circuit board mount for an LED-based light tube having an elongate housing with at least one circuit board in the housing, the circuit board mount comprising:

an end cap configured to fit over an open end of the housing, the end cap comprising;

an end wall;

at least one pin connector extending through the end wall; and

at least one fitted slot carried by the end wall configured to receive an end of the circuit board, wherein the end cap is configured to apply stress to the circuit board to keep the circuit board stationary and cushioned and

wherein the end cap further comprises a fitting in which the at least one fitted slot is formed, the fitting carried by the end wall.

4. The circuit board mount of claim 3, wherein the end cap further comprises an elastic member within each of the at least one fitted slot.

5. The circuit board mount of claim 3, wherein the at least one pin connector is two pin connectors with one of the at least one fitted slots extending lengthwise between the two pin connectors.

6. The circuit board mount of claim 3, wherein the fitting is an elastic material.

7. The circuit board mount of claim 3, wherein each of the at least one fitted slot has at least one beveled edge configured to guide the circuit board into the at least one fitted slot.

8. The circuit board mount of claim 3, wherein each of the at least one fitted slot is defined by at least two walls extending from an interior surface of the end wall.

9. The circuit board mount of claim 8, wherein at least one wall of each of the at least one fitted slot has at least one beveled edge configured to guide the circuit board into the at least one fitted slot.

10. The circuit board mount of claim 8, wherein the end cap further comprises an elastic member within each of the at least one fitted slot.

11. An LED-based light for replacing a conventional fluorescent light bulb in a fluorescent light fixture, the LED-based light comprising:

an elongate housing having two open ends;

a circuit board extending through the elongate housing between the two open ends;

a plurality of LEDs mounted on a surface of the circuit board; and

two end caps, each end cap fitted over an open end of the housing, each end cap having an end wall and at least one pin connector, wherein at least one of the end caps comprises;

at least one fitted slot carried by and formed within the end wall and configured to receive an end of the circuit board, wherein the end cap is configured to apply stress to the circuit board to keep the circuit board stationary and cushioned, wherein each of the at least one fitted slot has an elastic member against which the circuit board is received.

12. The LED-based light of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one fitted slot is defined by at least two walls extending from an interior surface of the end wall.

13. The LED-based light of claim 12, wherein each of the at least one fitted slot has at least one beveled edge configured to guide the circuit board into the at least one fitted slot.

14. The LED-based light of claim 11, wherein the at least one pin connector is two pin connectors with one of the at least one fitted slots extending lengthwise between the two pin connectors.

15. The LED-based light of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one fitted slot has at least one beveled edge configured to guide the circuit board into the at least one fitted slot.

16. The LED-based light of claim 11, wherein the end cap further comprises a fitting in which the at least one fitted slot is formed, the fitting carried by the end wall.

17. The LED-based light of claim 16, wherein the fitting is an elastic material.