Patent Grant
10161604
This invention generally relates to lighting systems, and, more particularly, to an LED lighting system.
The background information is believed, at the time of the filing of this patent application, to adequately provide background information for this patent application. However, the background information may not be completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amended during prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to the background information are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
Fluorescent light fixtures have typically been installed in a variety of applications. Typically, such fluorescent fixtures include florescent lamps with electrical connectors on each end with are connected with spaced apart lamp holders or sockets. A ballast is attached within the lamp and wiring attaches the ballast to the lamp holders. Power is supplied to the ballast by wiring brought into the light fixture. A ballast cover is used to cover the ballast and wiring. Linear, or longitudinally extending, fluorescent lamps are then placed in the lamp holders for operation of the fixture.
Since the introduction of the fluorescent lamp at the 1939 World Fair, fluorescent lighting technology has greatly advanced. For example, over the years, lamp and ballast manufacturers have developed fluorescent lamp-ballast systems with improved efficiencies. More recently, light emitting diode (LED) lamps have been developed. An LED lamp is a solid-state lamp that uses LEDs as the source of light. An LED may comprise a conventional semiconductor light emitting diode or an organic or polymeric light emitting diode. LED lamps may have one or more advantages over fluorescent lamps, for example, LED lamps do not contain mercury, they may turn on more instantaneously, they may have a longer service life, and they may have a greater efficiency.
It may be desired to provide advantages of LEDs to lighting systems.
In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an LED lighting system having at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp with a sole LED lamp holder on each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps is presently provided. An LED lamp mount is configured to connect, and unconnect, with the LED lamp holder and hold and energize each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps. The LED lamp mount is configured for mounting the LED lighting system.
In at least one other embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for installing a lighting system comprising the steps of: installing an LED lamp mount proximate or with an item or area to be illuminated; and connecting a sole lamp holder to the LED lamp mount and holding a longitudinally extending LED lamp, having a length substantially greater than a width, therewith.
In at least one further embodiment of the present disclosure, an LED lighting system comprises at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp having a length substantially greater than a width, a sole LED lamp holder on each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps, a longitudinally extending track LED lamp mount having a longitudinally extending slot, and a locking mechanism on the sole LED lamp holder configured to hold a portion of the LED lamp holder in the slot, upon a rotation of the LED lamp holder.
The following figures, which are idealized, are not to scale and are intended to be merely illustrative of aspects of the present disclosure and non-limiting. In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments and aspects of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The same reference numbers may be used in the figures to refer to the same or like parts. The presently disclosed embodiments, aspects, and features of the present invention are not to limit the presently claimed invention as other and different embodiments, aspects, and features will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure.
LED lamp mount 106 has a length substantially greater than a width. Each sole LED lamp holder 104 holds its longitudinally extending LED lamp 102 with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of LED lamp mount 106. For example, each longitudinally extending LED lamp 102 has an axial end mounted with LED lamp mount 106 and its whole length extending from LED lamp mount 106. An end cap 110 may be on the end of each longitudinally extending LED lamp 102, the end extending from LED lamp mount 106.
In the example of the LED lighting system of the present disclosure shown in
LED lamp mount 206 has a length substantially greater than a width. Each sole LED lamp holder 204 holds its longitudinally extending LED lamp 202 with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of LED lamp mount 206. For example, each longitudinally extending LED lamp 202 may have a base 212 configured to electrically connect and be held with its sole LED lamp holder 204. In this example of the lighting system of the present disclosure, an end cap 210 may be on each axial end of each longitudinally extending LED lamp 202. Each LED lamp 202 may comprise a diffuser 201 and a heat sink 203.
LED lamp mount 206 may comprise a track with a slot 208 and each LED lamp holder 204 may slide within slot 208. Other electrical hardware may be incorporated with LED lamp mount 206. For example, an electrical connector 214 may be configured to connect with a power source for energizing each longitudinally extending LED lamp 202.
LED lamp holder 104 may comprise a locking device 116 having a portion received into slot 108, stopping a rotation of longitudinally extending lamp 100 in LED lamp mount, or track, 106. For example, a portion of sole LED lamp holder 104 may be inserted into slot 108 and, upon about a 90° rotation of LED lamp holder 104 in slot 108, a portion of locking device 116 may extend into slot 108 and stop the rotation of LED lamp holder 104 in slot 108.
Upon LED lamp holder 104 being inserted into 108 and rotated into a locking position, LED lamp holder 104 may be become in electrical communication with LED lamp mount 106. For example, LED lamp mount 106 may have one or more electrical contact strips 122 disposed therewith. In this example, an electrical contact between LED lamp holder 104 and longitudinal extending LED lamp 100 may be maintained upon sliding LED lamp holder 104 in slot 108.
Electrical connector 114 may comprise power lead wire 118 and quick connect 120, or other electrical connector. Electrical connector 114 may be configured to electrically connect with LED lamp holder 104, upon a 90° rotation thereof. The electrical connection may be maintained upon sliding electrical connector 114 in slot 108. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, electrical connector 114 is configured to connect LED lamp mount 106 to a power source and energize longitudinally extending lamp 100.
A portion of the locking device 116 may be received with slot 108 which may be a retractable extension biased toward slot 108. Locking device 116 may be configured to be retracted from the slot by hand and enable the rotation of LED lamp holder 104 in slot 108 and removal of longitudinally extending LED lamp 100 from LED lamp mount 106.
For example, LED lamp holder 104 may comprise a pair of tabs, 124 and 125, extending outward therefrom. Tabs 124 and 125 may have a width less than a width of slot 108 and configured to be received into slot 108. LED lamp holder 104 may be configured to rotate in slot 108 and to cooperate tabs 124 and 125 with portions of LED lamp mount 106 and hold longitudinally extending LED lamp 100 LED lamp mount 106. In this example, LED lamp holder 104 is configured to slide about the longitudinal axis of LED lamp mount 106 upon cooperation of tabs 124 and 125, with portions of LED lamp mount 106. Upon rotation of LED lamp holder 104 and cooperation of tabs 124 and 125 with portions of LED lamp mount 106, locking device 116 may be engaged with LED lamp mount 106 and stop its rotation. For removal of LED lamp 100 from LED lamp mount 106, locking device 116 may be retracted by hand by applying a force, by hand, to protuberance 117 and sliding locking device 116 out of slot 108.
LED lamp holder 104 and LED lamp mount 106 may be configured to electrically connect longitudinally extending LED lamp 100 to a power source, upon rotation and cooperation of tabs 124 and 125 with portions of the track or LED lamp mount 106. For example, LED lamp holder 104 may have first tab 124, second tab 125, and an electrical contact 126 extending from an insulating support 128. LED lamp mount 106 may have one or more electrical contacts, or contact strips 122, disposed therewith. Electrical contact 126 may be configured and disposed to become in electrical contact with contact strip 122 upon a rotation of LED lamp 100 in LED lamp mount 106. First tab 124 and/or second tab 125 may be configured and disposed to also become in electrical contact with LED lamp mount 106, or other electrical contacts in LED lamp mount 106, upon a rotation of LED lamp 100 in LED lamp mount 106.
A method for installing a lighting system is presently disclosed. The method comprises installing an LED lamp mount 106 proximate or with an item or area to be illuminated. A sole lamp holder, 104 or 204, is connected to LED lamp mount 106 or 206, thereby holding a longitudinally extending LED lamp, 102 or 202, having a length substantially greater than a width, therewith. A portion of sole lamp holder, 104 or 204, may be placed into slot, 108 or 208, in LED lamp mount 106 or 206 and LED lamp holder 104 or 204 may be rotated to hold the longitudinally extending LED lamp, 102 or 202, to LED lamp mount 106 or 206. Rotation of longitudinally extending LED lamp, 102 or 202, may cooperate outward extending tabs, extending outward from sole lamp holder, 104 or 204, with a portion of the LED lamp mount, 106 or 206, and hold the longitudinally extending lamp to the lamp mount. Rotation of longitudinally extending LED lamp, 102 or 202, may cooperate at least one electrical contact 126, on sole lamp holder 104 or 204, with at least one electrical contact 122 on LED lamp mount, 106 or 206, and electrically connect longitudinally extending LED lamp, 102 or 202, with the LED lamp mount, 106 or 206. LED lamp 100 may be rotated about its longitudinal axis to cooperate with LED lamp mount 106.
In at least one embodiment of the presently disclosed LED lighting system, the lighting system comprises at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp having a length substantially greater than a width. A sole LED lamp holder is on each of the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamps. A longitudinally extending track LED lamp mount has a longitudinally extending slot. A locking mechanism is on the sole LED lamp holder and is configured to hold a portion of the LED lamp holder in the slot, upon a rotation of the LED lamp holder. For example, a locking mechanism may comprise two tabs configured and disposed to cooperate with the track LED lamp mount, upon rotation of the sole lamp holder. Optionally, the mechanism may comprise locking device configured to extend into the slot, but is not required.
Electrical contacts may be on the LED lamp holder and on the longitudinally extending track lamp mount, wherein the electrical contacts on the LED lamp holder and on the longitudinally extending track lamp mount are configured and disposed to become in electrical communication upon rotation of the LED lamp holder in the slot. The LED lighting system of the present disclosure may comprise a sign configured and disposed to have at least one surface illuminated with the at least one longitudinally extending LED lamp.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/103,099, filed Jan. 14, 2015, entitled LED Lamp System, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080007957 | Satoh | Jan 2008 | A1 |
| 20100265700 | Galluccio | Oct 2010 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160201883 A1 | Jul 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62103099 | Jan 2015 | US |
