Patent Grant
10767823
The present invention relates generally to LED lighting assemblies, and, more particularly, relates to an LED lighting assembly with a plurality of heat dissipating fins and/or a length adjusting shaft for the LED lighting assembly.
Existing light-emitting diode (LED) lights have become increasingly popular because they are known to be generally energy efficient, as compared to incandescent lights, and provide a high quality brightness and color. Further, LED lights are known to have a generally higher life expectancy as compared to incandescent lights. As an example, many newer LED lights have a life span of about 30,000 hours, compared to an estimated 7,500 hours for a compact fluorescent bulb and 1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb.
However, the environment in which the LEDs operate is important to their longevity. LEDs are semiconductor devices that, like most semiconductors, will degrade from excessive heat. LEDs and their drivers (i.e., electrical components) will degrade and operate less efficiently if exposed to heat gain and/or excessive temperature fluctuations. LEDs have been known to flicker, dim, or not work at all in extreme temperatures. In fact, exposure to too much heat has been considered one of the primary reasons for the failure of many LED lights. Accordingly, heat gain and excessive temperature fluctuations will decrease the life expectancy of the LED and tend to negate at least some of the positive benefits associated with LEDs.
Some known LED lighting structures require the presence of one or more fans that constantly run and pull air from the environment into the lighting structure and across a set of heat dissipating heat-sink fins. These fans require energy, add weight and cost to the lighting device, provide a point of potential electrical failure (which can serious damage the remaining components that will become too hot), and create noise.
LED lighting devices and systems have come into widespread use in homes and buildings. Known LED structures for regular ambient lighting currently dissipate heat by exposing one or more portions of the LED structure to atmospheric conditions. Some known LED lighting assemblies also expose portions, e.g., the power supply and/or driver/controller circuit, if applicable, to the atmosphere as those portions of LEDs also generate heat. In addition, a limited number of LED lighting assemblies have one or more heat sinks attached thereto to facilitate the dissipation of heat through convection. Many such LED lighting assemblies with heat sinks expose the heat sinks to the atmosphere to dissipate heat into the atmosphere. However the form, and although having a generally longer life than traditional bulbs, these known LEDs, when ran for normal periods of time, experience a drastic reduction in bulb intensity.
This is specifically applicable when LED lighting assemblies are obstructed or placed in enclosed spaces where hot air is not easily exchanged with cooler air. One example of this is LED lighting structures placed within a recessed lighting “can.” When an LED light is placed within small or enclosed areas, the space surrounding the LED bulbs is not cooled and much of the generated heat from the bulbs remains in that area. This effect is shown in
Furthermore, as LED lighting technology is still being developed or has increased manufacturing costs, when compared to those prior-art lighting assemblies, those costs are generally placed on the consumer. As such, LED lighting assemblies can range anywhere from three to ten times more per unit price than for traditional lighting assemblies, such as incandescent light bulbs. Many users dilute those additional initial up-front costs with the continued energy savings associated with LEDs. Therefore, most users desire to maintain the LED lighting assembly lifespan as long as possible to maximize cost efficiency.
In addition, recessed lighting cans within ceilings include varying dimensions. More particularly, such cans have varying depths between the height of the socket for the bulb and the level of the ceiling. Lighting fixtures currently provided have various distances between the sockets, which accept the bulbs, and the ceiling heights. This makes little or no difference if a bulb is inserted. However, if there is a retrofit or new light which is applied and which needs to be flush or partially flush with the ceiling, fixed length shafts between the fixed socket and the lighting appliance are inconvenient. Therefore, for lighting fixtures that are intended to hang relative to the cans at a desired position relative to the ceiling, users must select a lighting fixture with a desired length, which cannot be selectively varied to accommodate recessed lighting cans with varying recess depths.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides an LED lighting assembly that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type.
In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure, there is provided a mount for an LED lighting assembly for a recessed ceiling can that includes a length adjusting shaft having adjustment features formed on the shaft, and an electrical contact portion disposed at a first end of the length adjusting shaft. The electrical contact portion is electrically couplable with a light-bulb outlet disposed within the ceiling recess can and is electrically coupled to provide power to the LED lighting assembly. The housing can move along the shaft and includes a releasable engagement for engaging one of the adjustment features. There can also be included an external release disposed outside the housing that is coupled to the releasable engagement and configured to release the releasable engagement from the one of the adjustment features.
In accordance with another feature, the adjustment features comprise a plurality of slots formed in the shaft, and the releasable engagement comprises a shaft having a first end that engages the one of the slots to hold the housing in place relative to the shaft, and the external release comprises a button coupled to a second end of the shaft.
In accordance with another feature, the adjustment features comprise a plurality of notches formed in the shaft, and the releasable engagement comprises a shaft having a first end having a hook that is configured to engage the notches to hold a housing of the LED lighting assembly in place relative to the shaft, and the external release comprises a lever coupled to a second end of the shaft that is configured to release the hook from engagement with the notches to allow the housing to be moved downward along the shaft.
In accordance with another feature, a housing of the LED lighting assembly includes a trim portion above a sidewall portion, and a plurality of air flow exhaust ports are defined by the trim portion.
In accordance with another feature, an outer periphery of a housing of the LED lighting assembly has a concave outer surface, when viewed from an outside environment, shaped to direct the continuous flow of air away from the ceiling recess can when the electrical contact portion is coupled to the light-bulb outlet.
In accordance with another feature, a housing of the LED lighting assembly includes a circumferential skirt coupled to a radially outermost edge of each of a plurality of heat dissipating fins in the LED lighting assembly so as to define each of a plurality of air flow channels.
In accordance with another feature, a housing of the LED lighting assembly includes a trim portion and a sidewall portion, the housing defines a circumferential gap at least one of between the trim portion and the sidewall portion and defined by the trim portion, the circumferential gap operable as a main exhaust port guiding a flow of air into an outside environment.
In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure, there is provided a mount for an LED lighting assembly for a ceiling recess can, the LED lighting assembly having a housing having an outer periphery configured to fit flush against a surface of a ceiling in which the ceiling recess can is mounted, the mount includes a length adjusting shaft having adjustment features formed on the shaft that are configured to releasably retain the housing on the shaft. The mount further includes a releasable engagement for engaging one of the adjustment features, and an external release disposed outside the housing that is coupled to the releasable engagement and configured to release the releasable engagement from the one of the adjustment features.
In accordance with another feature, the adjustment features comprise a plurality of slots formed in the shaft, and the releasable engagement comprises a shaft having a first end that engages the one of the slots to hold the housing in place relative to the shaft, and the external release comprises a button coupled to a second end of the shaft.
In accordance with another feature, the adjustment features comprise a plurality of notches formed in the shaft, and the releasable engagement comprises a shaft having a first end having a hook that is configured to engage the notches to hold a housing of the LED lighting assembly in place relative to the shaft, and the external release comprises a lever coupled to a second end of the shaft that is configured to release the hook from engagement with the notches to allow the housing to be moved downward along the shaft.
In accordance with another feature, the housing includes a trim portion above a sidewall portion and the at least one LED, and at least one of the air flow exhaust ports is defined by the trim portion.
In accordance with another feature, an electrical contact portion electrically couplable with a light-bulb outlet disposed within the ceiling recess can and electrically coupled to power the LED lighting assembly, and wherein an outer periphery of the housing has a concave outer surface, when viewed from an outside environment, shaped to direct a continuous flow of air away from the ceiling recess can when the electrical contact portion is coupled to the light-bulb outlet.
In accordance with another feature, the housing includes a circumferential skirt to define a the plurality of air flow channels.
In accordance with another feature, the housing is disposed to visually conceal each of a plurality of heat dissipating fins inside the LED lighting assembly from an outside environment.
In accordance with another feature, the housing includes a trim portion and a sidewall portion, the trim portion disposed above the sidewall portion and extending radially away the sidewall portion and a main exhaust port opening formed as a circumferential gap between the trim portion and the sidewall portion.
In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure, there is provided a mount for an LED lighting assembly for connecting to and covering a recessed ceiling can, the LED lighting assembly having a housing include at least one LED, the mount includes a length adjusting shaft having adjustment features formed on the shaft that are configured to releasably retain the housing on the shaft, and a releasable engagement for engaging one of the adjustment features. The mount further includes an external release disposed outside the housing that is coupled to the releasable engagement and configured to release the releasable engagement from the one of the adjustment features. The housing is configured to fit flush against a surface of a ceiling in which the ceiling recess can is mounted and wherein the housing is sized to cover the recessed ceiling can.
In accordance with another feature, the adjustment features comprise a plurality of slots formed in the shaft, and the releasable engagement comprises a shaft having a first end that engages the one of the slots to hold the housing in place relative to the shaft, and the external release comprises a button coupled to a second end of the shaft.
In accordance with another feature, the adjustment features comprise a plurality of notches formed in the shaft, and the releasable engagement comprises a shaft having a first end having a hook that is configured to engage the notches to hold the housing in place relative to the shaft, and the external release comprises a lever coupled to a second end of the shaft that is configured to release the hook from engagement with the notches to allow the housing to be moved downward along the shaft.
In accordance with another feature, the housing comprised an airflow intake port and an air flow exhaust port, and at least one airflow channel within the housing around the at least one LED, and wherein the airflow intake port and the airflow exhaust port are configured so that heat produced by the at least one LED creates an airflow such that air from outside the housing is drawn into the air flow intake port, through the at least one airflow channel, and out of the air flow exhaust port.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an LED lighting assembly, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the shaft from a bottom end to a top end.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient ceiling mounted LED lighting assembly with a cooling feature that continuously cools the LEDs without a fan and directs hot air away from a recessed ceiling can. Embodiments of the invention provide a heat sink formed as a skirt disposed around a periphery of the LEDs and that is disposed between the LEDs and an outer periphery of a housing of the LED lighting assembly. In addition, embodiments of the invention provide for the heat sink fins and the housing to define a plurality of air flow channels disposed around the LEDs such that heat generated by the LEDs is transferred to the heat sink fins, driving a continuous flow of air through the air flow channels. In such embodiments, lower portions of the heat sink fins and housing may be considered air flow intake ports and upper portions of the heat sink fins and housing may be considered air flow exhaust ports. Embodiments of the present invention provide for the outer periphery of the housing to have a dimension exceeding a maximum opening dimension of a standard-sized recessed ceiling can, with the air flow channels disposed beneath the ceiling, in an installed configuration, and arranged to direct hot air away from the recessed ceiling can so as not to trap the hot air within the recess. Further embodiments of the present invention provide for a surface of the housing and heat sink fins having a concave shape that guides the hot air away from the LED lighting assembly and the recessed ceiling can. In additional embodiments, the LED lighting assembly includes a trim above a sidewall portion, the trim and the sidewall portion together defining a main exhaust port extending continuously, circumferentially between the trim and the sidewall portion to permit the continuous flow of hot air to escape into the atmosphere in a generally horizontal direction away from the LED lighting assembly and the recessed ceiling can. Yet other embodiments of the present invention, including an adjustable length shaft with a resistance member.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the LED lamp 202 and the shaft 204 may be removeably coupled to one another. In other embodiments, the LED lamp 202 and the shaft 204 may be fixedly coupled to one another. In a further embodiment, the LED lamp 202 and the shaft 204 may be selectively electrically and mechanically couplable to one another, with the LED lamp 202 including the LEDs and the shaft 204 including an electrical contact portion 206 operably configured to mechanically and electrically couple to a light socket with the recessed ceiling can. The shaft 204 is preferably an adjustable length shaft 204 and embodiments of the adjustable length shaft 204 provide novel and inventive features for mounting the LED lighting assembly 200 to the ceiling, which will be described in more detail herein below. Initially, the features of the self-cooling LED lamp 202 will be described.
Referring specifically now to
In one embodiment, the outer periphery 400 may be considered to be an exterior surface of the trim portion 302 and the trim portion 302 may have a maximum dimension that exceeds the maximum opening dimension of the standard-sized light bulb ceiling recess 1300. In another embodiment, the outer periphery 400 may be an exterior surface of the sidewall portion 301 and the sidewall portion 301 may have a maximum dimension that exceeds the maximum opening dimension of the standard-sized light bulb ceiling recess 1300. Yet, another portion of the outer periphery 400 of the housing 300 may have a dimension that exceeds the maximum opening dimension of the standard-sized light bulb ceiling recess 1300. As can be seen in
Referring now primarily to
In one embodiment, the LEDs 500 may be disposed on a substrate 502, such as, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB). In one embodiment, the LEDs 500 may be disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate 502 and arranged to emit light in a downward-facing direction, when installed. The LEDs 500 and/or the substrate 502 may be disposed within the housing 300. In one embodiment, the housing 300 may be considered to at least partially surround the LEDs 500. In a further embodiment, a light-emitting surface 504, such as a lens surface, together with the housing 300 may surround and house the LEDs 500 therein.
In one embodiment, the housing 300 may be a plastic or other polymer-based material. In another embodiment, the housing 300 may be a transparent material, such as glass. In yet another embodiment, the housing 300 may be a metallic or semi-metallic material. In yet another embodiment, the housing 300 is of a non-heat conductive material. The housing 300 may be externally visible and therefore provided in aesthetically appealing forms. In another embodiment, an external fixture may be disposed external to the housing 300; yet, the housing 300 should still be outward of the LEDs 500. In the depicted embodiment, the housing 300 is formed as a circumferential housing 300. In other embodiments, the housing 300 may be formed as other shapes and configurations, such as, for example, oval or rectangular-shaped.
In one embodiment, the LED lighting assembly 200 further includes a heat sink. The heat sink may be formed as a plurality of heat dissipating fins 700. The plurality of heat dissipating fins 700 may be considered a plurality of closely spaced, extended surfaces used to improve heat transfer from the interior air heated by the LEDs 500 to the cooler outside atmosphere. The plurality of heat dissipating fins 700 is preferably made of a highly heat conductive material, such as a conductive metallic material or other suitable material, such as a conductive polymer material. The heat dissipating fins 700 may be arranged around the LEDs 500 to draw heated air away from the LEDs 500 in all directions. In one embodiment, the heat dissipating fins 700 may be vertically-oriented fins. In other embodiments, the heat dissipating fins 700 may be oriented in other directions. In one embodiment, the heat dissipating fins 700 are disposed radially outward of the LEDs 500. In another embodiment, the plurality of heat dissipating fins 700 are each equidistant from one another and arranged to extend, preferably substantially closely together, and continuously around the LEDs 500 and the substrate 502 to increase the surface area of the heat sink and thereby its heat dissipating effectiveness. The heat dissipating fins 700 may be considered to extend around a center area of the LED lamp 202, the center area being the area in which the LEDs 500 are disposed and in which heat from the LEDs 500 is generated. In one embodiment, the heat dissipating fins 700 are considered to be disposed between the housing 300 and the LEDs 500, as shown in
Advantageously, the arrangement of the housing 300 and the plurality of heat dissipating fins 700 together form a plurality of air flow channels 800a-n, where “a” may be any number and “n” may be any number greater than “a.” Similar to the housing 300 and the heat dissipating fins 700, the plurality of air flow channels 800 may extend circumferentially around the LEDs 500 and the substrate 502. In another embodiment, the plurality of air flow channels 800 may be disposed radially outward of the LEDs 500. Each of the plurality of air flow channels 800 are preferably substantially adjacent to one another, separated only by a shared heat dissipating fin 700. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of air flow channels 800 are equidistant from one another and disposed continuously about a center area occupied by the LEDs 500 and/or the substrate 502.
Referring now primarily to
In one embodiment, as can be seen in
In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall portion 301 of the housing 300 is disposed to visually conceal the heat dissipating fins 700 from the outside environment, as shown in
As the housing 300 and the heat sink 700 substantially define the air flow channels 800 and the overall self-cooling engine, each of the air flow channels 800 can be considered to have an air flow intake port 902 and a corresponding air flow exhaust port 904. As can be seen in
In one embodiment, each air flow intake port 902 may be at least partially defined by a lower portion of the housing 300 and a lower portion of at least one of the plurality of heat dissipating fins 700. In a further embodiment, each air flow intake port 902 is defined by a lower portion of the sidewall portion 301 and a lower portion of at least two adjacent heat dissipating fins 700. In one embodiment, each air flow exhaust port 904 is at least partially defined by an upper portion of the housing 300 and an upper portion of at least one of the plurality of heat dissipating fins 700. In a further embodiment, each air flow exhaust port 904 is defined an upper portion of the sidewall portion 301 and an upper portion of at least two adjacent heat dissipating fins 700. In yet another embodiment, each air flow exhaust port 904 and/or air flow intake port 902 may be defined by other portions of the housing 300 and the heat sink 700; yet, should still be arranged such that the air flow intake port 902 is disposed below the air flow exhaust port 904 and below the LEDs 500.
As can be seen in
Referring again primarily to the embodiment depicted in
Referring now briefly primarily to
In some embodiments, the main exhaust port 402 may be defined by the trim portion 302 (e.g.,
Referring briefly to
Referring again primarily to
Having described various features and embodiments of the self-cooling LED lamp 202, the shaft 204 will now be described, with reference primarily to
In one embodiment, the shaft 204 may have a first end 208 and a second end 210. The first end 208 may be disposed opposite the second end 210. The electrical contact portion 206 may be disposed on the first end 208 and the second end 210 may be coupled to the self-cooling LED lamp 202. In a further embodiment, the second end 210 may be removeably couplable to the LED lamp 202. In yet a further embodiment, the second end 210 may be removeably couplable to the LED lamp 202 by a one-step coupling, e.g., twisting or rotational movement. For example, the LED lamp 202 may include a receptacle for the second end 210 with grooves, for example, and mating protrusions on the second end 210 of the shaft may permit selective mating coupling of the second end 210 with the LED lamp 202.
The LED lamp 202 should also be electrically couplable to the electrical contact portion 206 on the shaft 204. Electrical wiring and connectors of any known type (e.g., GU10, GUI24, Bi pins, plugs, etc.) may be disposed within the shaft 204 and/or the LED lamp 202. Further, the shaft 204 and/or the LED lamp 202 may be coupled together such that when the electrical contact portion 206 is electrically and mechanically coupled to the standard light-bulb outlet 1306 disposed within the standard-sized light bulb ceiling recess 1300 (see
Referring primarily now to
Referring again primarily to
Importantly for the shaft 204, there should be a resistance mechanism associated with the shaft 204 so that rotation of the shaft 204 does not cause the shaft 204 to collapse sooner than desired. In other words, the shaft 204 should not collapse until the electrical contact portion 206 and the LED lamp 202 is fully mechanically and electrically coupled to the standard light-bulb outlet 1306 within the recessed ceiling can 1300. Without a resistance mechanism, some embodiments of the shaft 204 would collapse immediately upon a rotational movement, even though the electrical contact portion 206 has not been fully coupled to the light-bulb outlet 1306. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a resistance member 608 is associated with the shaft 204. The resistance member 608 may provide a resistance force operable to resist a movement of the shaft length adjustment member 606 within the slot portions 602, 604. More specifically, the shaft 204 may be considered to transmit a rotational force from a user to couple the electrical contact portion 206 to the standard light-bulb outlet 1306. Further, the resistance member 608 is preferably operable to 1) resist a movement of the shaft length adjustment member 606 within the slot portions 602, 604 as the shaft 204 transmits the rotational force from the user to mechanically couple the electrical contact portion 206 to the standard light-bulb outlet 1306; and 2) permit a movement of the shaft length adjustment member 606 within the slot portions 602, 604 as a result of the shaft continuing to transmit the rotational force from the user after the electrical contact portion 206 is substantially mechanically coupled to the standard light-bulb outlet 1306. In other words, the resistance member 608 should be configured to provide sufficient resistance such that the user can rotate the shaft 204 to screw the light into the outlet 1306, but then once the light is screwed into the outlet 1306, the resistance member 608 should allow a continuing screwing/rotational movement of the shaft 204 to overcome the resistance member 608, moving the shaft length adjustment member 606 to the generally vertically-oriented slot portion 602, thereby causing the shaft 204 and the LED lamp 202 to automatically translate toward the first end 208 of the shaft 204. Advantageously, the resistance member 608 provides a functionally improved installation apparatus and method that is configured to initially resist a movement of the shaft length adjustment member 606 within the slot portions 602, 604 (when the user is screwing in the light) and subsequently to permit such movement of the shaft length adjustment member 606 within the slot portions 602, 604 (after the light is fully coupled to the outlet 1306).
In one embodiment, at least a portion of the resistance member 608 is disposed within the shaft 204. In another embodiment, the resistance member 608 is disposed on the shaft 204. In some embodiments, there may be more than one resistance member 608, together being operably configured to provide a sufficient amount of resistance force when desired and yet allow the resistance force to be overcome by the user when desired (as discussed herein above).
In one embodiment, the resistance member 608 includes a spring disposed within the shaft 204, the spring providing a resistance force operable to resist a movement of the shaft length adjustment member 606. In such embodiment, when the user screws the light into the socket, the light can be screwed all the way in and a continued screwing motion (after the light is screwed all the way in) causes the spring to be extended because the shaft length adjustment member 606 in the slot portions 602, 604 extends the shaft 204 slightly against the tension of the spring. When the shaft length adjustment member 606 is moved from the slot portion 604, which holds the shaft 204 in the extended configuration, to the slot portion 602, the biasing force of the spring automatically causes the shaft to collapse, moving the LED lamp 202 towards the electrical contact portion 206.
In other embodiments, there may other forms and configurations to provide a resistance force. These may be provided in replacement of or in addition to the spring. Referring now primarily to
It should be understood that although the slot portion 602 is depicted as absolutely vertically-oriented (i.e., parallel to an elongation direction of the shaft), other embodiments of the slot portion 602 may be disposed at other angles. For example, in other embodiments, the slot portion 602 may be at a slight incline.
In yet another embodiment, the resistance member 608 may be formed as, or include, a spring-ball detent that requires compression for the shaft length adjustment member 606 to move from the slot portion 604 into the slot portion 602. In yet another embodiment, the resistance member 608 may include an incline 1100 of the slot portion 604 that resists movement of the shaft length adjustment member 606 from the slot portion 604 to the adjacent slot portion 602. In yet another embodiment, the resistance member 608 may include the break-away tab 1200. The tab 1200 may be a one-time use tab that breaks off the first time the user is able to move the shaft length adjustment member 606 from the slot portion 604 to the slot portion 602. In one embodiment, the tab 1200 may be made of a plastic or other polymer material. An edge of the tab 1200 that meets an edge of the slot portion 604 may be formed relatively thin such that movement of the shaft length adjustment member 606 over the edge breaks the edge of the tab 1200 off. Advantageously, the resistance member 608 is able to prevent the shaft 204 from collapsing too soon.
Referring now briefly to
In contrast to embodiments where the airflow chamber is a single piece of material and separate and independent from an LED assembly, the airflow chamber 1714 in
Referring now to
A novel and efficient ceiling mounted LED lighting assembly has been disclosed with a cooling feature that continuously cools the LEDs without a fan and directs hot air away from a recessed ceiling can. Embodiments of the invention provide a heat sink formed as a skirt disposed around a periphery of the LEDs and that is disposed between the LEDs and an outer periphery of a housing of the LED lighting assembly. In addition, embodiments of the invention provide for the heat sink fins and the housing to define a plurality of air flow channels disposed around the LEDs such that heat generated by the LEDs is transferred to the heat sink fins, driving a continuous flow of air through the air flow channels. In such embodiments, lower portions of the heat sink fins and housing may be considered air flow intake ports and upper portions of the heat sink fins and housing may be considered air flow exhaust ports. Embodiments of the present invention provide for the outer periphery of the housing to have a dimension exceeding a maximum opening dimension of a standard-sized recessed ceiling can, with the air flow channels disposed beneath the ceiling, in an installed configuration, and arranged to direct hot air away from the recessed ceiling can so as not to trap the hot air within the recess. Further embodiments of the present invention provide for a surface of the housing and heat sink fins having a concave shape that guides the hot air away from the LED lighting assembly and the recessed ceiling can. In additional embodiments, the LED lighting assembly includes a trim above a sidewall portion, the trim and the sidewall portion together defining a main exhaust port extending continuously, circumferentially between the trim and the sidewall portion to permit the continuous flow of hot air to escape into the atmosphere in a generally horizontal direction away from the LED lighting assembly and the recessed ceiling can. Yet other embodiments of the present invention, including an adjustable length shaft with a resistance member.
This Non-provisional Utility Application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/407,119, filed on Jan. 16, 2017, which is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/377,482, filed on Dec. 13, 2016, which is a Divisional Application of U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/701,127, filed on Apr. 30, 2015, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,518,723, which is a Continuation-in-part Application of U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/820,695, filed on Mar. 4, 2013, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,052,417, which is a 371 National Stage Entry of International PCT Application No. PCT/US2012/32660, filed Apr. 7, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/473,576, filed Apr. 8, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/553,011, filed Oct. 28, 2011, the entireties of which are all hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120236580 | Cheng | Sep 2012 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190219236 A1 | Jul 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61553011 | Oct 2011 | US | |
| 61473576 | Apr 2011 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14701127 | Apr 2015 | US |
| Child | 15377482 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15407119 | Jan 2017 | US |
| Child | 16364796 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15377482 | Dec 2016 | US |
| Child | 15407119 | US | |
| Parent | 13820695 | US | |
| Child | 14701127 | US |
