AU2010241445A1

AU2010241445A1 - Improvements in Relation to LED Light Fittings

Info

Publication number: AU2010241445A1
Application number: AU2010241445A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Leon Fonstin; John Schmidli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-13
Filing date: 2010-11-15
Publication date: 2011-06-02

Description

1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT "Improvements in Relation to LED Light Fittings" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 Improvements in Relation to LED Light Fittings 5 Background and Summary of the Invention This invention concerns LED strip light fittings and in particular fittings which utilize strip lights incorporating LEDs attached to rigid printed circuit boards. The term LED is a recognized abbreviation for Light Emitting Diodes. 10 It is well known to affix LEDs over the face of rigid flat printed circuit boards in order to provide a more planar style of light source. It is also generally known to replace elongate tubular fluorescent tube lamps with tubular lamps of the same size and shape but comprising a printed circuit board including LEDs mounted within a 15 tubular housing such that the fining has a pair of pins at each end and can be located into a conventional fluorescent tube fitting. However if the complexity of such end connectors is not desired, such tubular light fittings can only conveniently be mounted by some sort of a sprung clip which fastens around the tubular housing. This limits the manner by which the tube can be fastened. In many instances, such 20 clips are inconvenient and/or the tubular housing may also extend further out than is desired from the surface it is mounted to. There is a need for a light fitting which provides the energy advantages of an LED light source together with a lower profile than provided by existing light fittings and 25 the ability to be fastened by a variety of fasteners at any point along the length of the fitting. Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention provides an LED strip light fitting comprising: 30 - a printed circuit board including one or more LEDs; and - a rigid support base having a first side and second side opposite said first side; wherein: 3 - the printed circuit board is attached to said first side, and - said second side has a pair of opposed grooves adapted to retain a fastening clip therebetween. 5 In another aspect the invention provides a method of supporting from a mounting point an LED strip light fitting comprising a printed circuit board including an array of LEDs, said method comprising: - retaining said printed circuit board on a first side of a rigid support base; - engaging a fastening clip with a pair of opposed grooves which are formed on 10 a second side of the a base opposite said first side; and - attaching said fastening clip to said mounting point. Brief Description of the Drawings 15 In order that the invention may be more fully understood there will now be described, by way of example only, preferred embodiments and other elements of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings where: Figure 1 is a view of portion of a light fitting according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 20 Figure 2 is a view of the light fitting as in Figure 1 but with an end cap fitted to each end of the light fitting; Figure 3 is an enlargement of portion of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the light fitting in Figure 2; Figure 5 is an end view of the fitting in Figures 2 and 4; 25 Figure 6 shows a variety of clips (in Figures 6A to 6D) that may be used to fasten the light fitting in Figure 2 to a supporting structure, and (in Figure 6E) a different view of a portion of the clip in Figure 6D; Figure 7 is a view showing how one of the clips in Figure 6 slides into engagement with the fitting shown in Figure 1; 30 Figure 8 is a view showing how another of the clips in Figure 6 engages with the fitting shown in Figure 2; Figure 9 is an end view of components of a light fitting according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 4 Figure 10 is an isometric view showing the components in Figure 9; Figure 11 is an exploded view of a shorter and otherwise modified version of the light fitting shown in Figure 4; Figure 12 is a perspective view of another clip and Figure 13 shows that clip 5 engaged with a light fitting of the type shown in Figure 2; Figure 14 is an isometric view of a further clip and Figure 15 shows that clip engaged with a fitting of the type shown in Figure 2; Figure 16 is an exploded view of a taller (higher profile) version of the light fitting shown in Figure 11; 10 Figure 17 is an isometric view of portion of a light fitting according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 18 is an exploded view of the components of the light fitting shown in Figure 17; Figure 19 is an isometric view of a light fitting according to a further 15 embodiment of the invention; and Figure 20 is an exploded view of the fitting shown in Figure 19. Description of Examples of the Invention 20 Referring to the light fitting and components shown in Figures 1 to 5, the light fitting 10 comprises an elongate body 12 within which is retained a printed circuit board (PCB) 14 upon which is mounted an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 16 and associated electronic components to provide for the LEDs to be lit by a 12 or 24 volt power supply through leads 18 and 19. The PCB with its mounted LEDs is of a type 25 generally available through normal commercial channels. The body 12 is a continuous extruded section of clear acrylic material. It comprises a support base portion 22 and a cover portion 24 which have been moulded integrally as a single extruded section. The support base 22 has a lower generally planar main portion 26 from which a pair of upstanding ribs 28 rise. 30 The support base portion 22 and the cover 24 portion meet at a pair of edges 30 and 32. A pair of ribs 34 moulded as part of the body 12 extend inwards from respective edges 32 of the body. The PCB 14 is retained within the body 12 by sliding between 5 the ribs 34 and 28 such that each edge of the PCB is held between a respective rib 34 and rib 28. Two end caps 36 and 37 clip into respective ends of the body 12. The end caps 36 and 37 are shaped to match the cross-section profile of the body 12 and each end cap includes a pair of resilient clip portions 39 formed thereon which engage 5 against the inside of the edges 30 and 32. The end caps include a cut-out 38 which provides access for the leads 18 and 19 at one end of the body 12. On the outside of the support base 22, adjacent the respective edges 30 and 32, are downwardly extending curled protrusions 40 and 42. Each protrusion (when viewed 10 in cross-section) forms an arc which curls inwards to form respective one of a pair of opposed grooves 44 and 46. These grooves are adapted to retain a fastening clip therebetween where the fastening clip may be slid into, or snapped into, the grooves. Four examples of suitable fastening clips 48, 56, 64 and 80 are shown in Figure 6. 15 Clips 48, 56, 64 and 80 are all moulded from a plastics material. Clip 80 is formed of spring steel wire. A generally oval-shaped clip 48 seen in Figure 6A has a pair of rounded ends 49 and a pair of straight sides 50. A pair of tabs 51 extend from respective straight sides 50 20 such that the clip 48 may be engaged with the base 22 by sliding the tabs 50 along within the grooves 44 and 46 to any desired position along the length of the body 12. The clip 48 has an elongated aperture 52 which may be used to attach the light fitting onto an appropriate hook or protrusion. 25 As an alternative, clip 56 seen in Figure 6B also has a pair of rounded ends 57 and 58 and a pair of tabs 59. But one of the rounded ends 58 is wider than the other, such that when the clip 56 is slid into the grooves 44 and 46 as described above in relation to clip 48, but now with narrower end 57 first, the wider end 58 remains protruding from the end of the body 12. This is the situation shown in Figure 7. The clip 56 has 30 an aperture 60 therethrough which may be used to hang the light fitting on a hook. Clip 64 seen in Figure 6C is circular and of generally button-shape. It has a radially outwardly extending lip 65 at one side of its perimeter rim 66. The lip 65 is sized to 6 engage into both grooves 44 and 46 simultaneously. Thus, when so engaged, the clip 64 is held captive by and between the grooves. The clip 64 has a central boss portion 67 which has a bore 68 therein which passes completely through the clip. 5 Clip 80 has three straight intermediate coplanar portions 81, 82 and 83 joined by bends 86 and 87, plus a straight long end portion 84 joined to portion 81 by a bend 89, and a straight short end portion 85 joined to portion 80 by a tight 180" bend 90. The long end portion 84 is the only straight portion which is not co-planar with the other straight portions. In use the clip 80 snap fits into the grooves 44 and 46 in the 10 manner shown in Figure 8 where the long end portion 84 is located at the end of the body 12 and protrudes outwardly from the base 22 in order to provide a hook to hang the light fitting from. The bend 86 cannot enter its adjacent groove so forms a stop to prevent the clip from moving. 15 To install the clip 80, the portions 82 and 83 are pressed toward each other to elastically deform the clip about bend 87 and are then allowed to snap out to engage the grooves 44 and 46 respectively. The long end portion 84 can be replaced by any other shape to suit. 20 Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the body 112 of the light fitting 110 shown therein has its support base 122 and its cover 124 formed as two separate components. The base 122 is an aluminium extrusion and the cover 124 is a clear acrylic extrusion. They engage together with inwardly depending lips 125 on the cover snap-fitting into channels 123 on the base. Under the cover 124, the base 122 has a pair of grooves 25 129 which support the PCB (not shown). The PCB is slid along the base with the PCB's edges engaging the grooves 129. The planar main portion 126 of the base (when viewed in cross section) has a pair of upwardly extending flange portions 127 which curve inwards to form the grooves 30 129. It also has a pair of downwardly extending flange portions 142 which curve first outwardly to form the longitudinal channels 123 into which the lips 125 locate (in order to hold the cover 124 to the base) and then turn abruptly downwardly inwards 7 to form the pair of grooves 144 and 146 which in use serve to retain any one of the fastening clips (described above) therebetween. The light fitting 210 shown in Figure 11 has a body 212 made from the same clear 5 acrylic profile as that described above in relation to Figure 1. The relatively short PCB 214 carries only twelve LEDs 16 in a 2-abreast array. The PCB has a central hole 215 near its end where the leads 18 and 19 extend from. The plastic end cap 236 includes a downwardly extending pin 253 extending from a resilient arm 254 which protrudes from the inner wall of the cap 236. When assembled, the pin 253 snap-fit 10 engages into the hole 215, so preventing relative movement of the cap 236 and the PCB 214. The PCB has a similarly located 217 hole (largely hidden in Figure 11) at its other end and this is similarly engaged by a pin 261 resiliently held by an arm 262 on the other end cap 237. The configuration of the arms 254 and 262 shown are slightly different and any suitable form can be used. With the caps 236 and 237 each 15 engaged with the respective holes in the PCB, the caps are prevented from inadvertently falling off and the PCB is securely fastened. Referring now to Figures 12 and 13, the clip 156 is made from spring steel wire. It has a pair of legs 158 and 160 extending from either end of the central generally 20 V-shaped portion 161 and substantially at right angles to the plane of portion 161. Each leg 158 and 160 carries a respective foot 162 and 164 which bends twice through approximately 90" angles and which together provide a means by which the legs may be retained within a hole provided at a mounting point to which the light fitting is to be mounted. The clip is resiliently bent to snap fit it into the grooves on 25 the body 12. The central arm portions 180 and 182 of the portion 161 are at that stage slightly curved due to the forces on them and this causes the elbows 157 to extend inward so they are clear of the grooves. The light fitting may then be conveniently hung from the legs by clipping the feet through a relatively small hole of the mounting point. 30 Referring now to Figures 14 and 15, the clip 166 shown therein has a central V-shaped portion 171 similar to that of the clip 156 in Figure 12. The legs 168 and 170 extending from the central V-shaped portion are connected to the central 8 V-shaped portion via a respective small dog-leg 176 and the legs then extend in a plane substantially parallel to the respective arm of the central portion. The dog-leg provides an offset by which the outer sections of the legs can extend generally parallel to but outside the respective grooves. Again a pair of feet at the end of the 5 legs are formed by a pair of short sections aligned substantially at right angles to each other. As can be seen from Figure 15, this type of clip provides a convenient means by which the light fitting can be mounted from its end by springing the feet inwards towards each other and poking them through a mounting hole where they are allowed to spring apart again. 10 The filing 270 in Figure 16 has a body 272 with the same profile as the body 12 in Figure 11 except that it is substantially raised and it is extruded from translucent polycarbonate rather than a transparent plastic. This provides a light source which is more diffuse. 15 The fitting illustrated in Figures 17 and 18 comprises a pair of the body portions 12 as shown in Figure 11 aligned side by side and engaged at each end with a mounting clip which has a single engaging lug on each side and two pairs of engaging lugs facing inwards which together engage the grooves in the housings. 20 The PCB clip shown in Figures 19 and 20 provide for a lower profile installation. Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions 25 may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention. For example, printed circuit boards are traditionally flat, but curved and other shaped boards may be utilised. Also the supply voltage for the fitting may be chosen to suit the particular application. Any suitable clear plastic material may be 30 used instead of acrylic for the body 12 or cover 124. In this specification the term extrusion is considered a form of moulding.

9 It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features. 5 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

1. An LED strip light fitting comprising: 5 - a printed circuit board including one or more LEDs; and - a rigid support base having a first side and second side opposite said first side; wherein: - the printed circuit board is attached to said first side, and - said second side has a pair of opposed grooves adapted to retain a fastening 10 clip therebetween.

2. A light fitting according to claim 1 wherein said first side and said second side meet at a pair of edges and said grooves are located adjacent respective said edges. 15 3. A light fitting according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a transparent or translucent cover is attached to said base to cover said first side and said printed circuit board.

4. A light fitting according to claim 3 wherein said transparent or translucent cover has been moulded from the same material as said support base. 20

5. A light fitting according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said transparent or translucent cover and said support base have been moulded simultaneously as an integral extrusion. 25 10. A method of supporting from a mounting point an LED strip light fitting comprising a printed circuit board including an array of LEDs, said method comprising: - retaining said printed circuit board on a first side of a rigid support base; - engaging a fastening clip with a pair of opposed grooves which are formed on 30 a second side of the a base opposite said first side; and - attaching said fastening clip to said mounting point. 11

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the fastening clip is elastically sprung into engagement with the grooves.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11 wherein said first side and said second 5 side meet at a pair of edges and said grooves are located adjacent respective said edges.

13. A method according to any one of claims I to 12 wherein said rigid support base forms part of a housing having a transparent or translucent cover and said 10 printed circuit board is slid into said housing to engage between a pair of ribs on each respective side edge of the printed circuit board, 15 Dated this 15th day of November 2010 Leon Fonstin and John Schmidli by their patent attorneys Morcom Permat