Retaining structure for a light engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10371359-B2
Application number	US-201815902310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2018
Priority date	Jun 27, 2012
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

Various embodiments may relate to an LED retrofit lamp, including a lamp tube, an LED light engine disposed in the lamp tube, and end caps arranged at two open ends of the lamp tube, the LED light engine including a circuit board and at least one light source disposed on the circuit board. The LED retrofit lamp further includes one pair of retaining structures fixed at two opposite ends of the circuit board, respectively, and at least one pair of elastic tension structures connected to the retaining structures. The elastic tension structure goes through the end cap from one side of the end cap and is locked at the other side of the end cap. In addition, various embodiments may also relate to a process for manufacturing the LED retrofit lamp.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retaining structure for a light engine of a solid-state lamp, the retaining structure comprising:
an intermediate portion;
a first portion extending from the intermediate portion and configured to engage a circuit board of the light engine; and
a second portion extending from the intermediate portion and configured to engage an elastic tension structure;
wherein the retaining structure is configured to be at least partially inserted within a lamp tube of the solid-state lamp such that, with engagement of the second portion and the elastic tension structure, the elastic tension structure applies tension that biases the light engine toward an end of the lamp tube.

2. The retaining structure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises:
a first leg portion comprising a first arm portion configured to engage a first through-hole of the circuit board of the light engine; and
a second leg portion comprising a second arm portion configured to engage a second through-hole of the circuit board of the light engine.

3. The retaining structure of claim 2 , wherein:
the first arm portion is bendable to provide a first retainer ring portion at an end of the first portion distal to the intermediate portion, wherein the first retainer ring portion is configured to be at least partially inserted through the first through-hole of the circuit board of the light engine in having the first portion engage the circuit board of the light engine; and
the second arm portion is bendable to provide a second retainer ring portion at an end of the second portion distal to the intermediate portion, wherein the second retainer ring portion is configured to be at least partially inserted through the second through-hole of the circuit board of the light engine in having the second portion engage the circuit board of the light engine.

4. The retaining structure of claim 3 , wherein:
the first retainer ring portion is configured to at least partially overlap itself in the first through-hole of the circuit board; and
the second retainer ring portion is configured to at least partially overlap itself in the second through-hole of the circuit board.

5. The retaining structure of claim 2 , wherein:
the first arm portion comprises a first hook portion disposed at an end of the first portion distal to the intermediate portion, wherein the first hook portion is configured to be at least partially inserted through the first through-hole of the circuit board of the light engine in having the first portion engage the circuit board of the light engine; and
the second arm portion comprises a second hook portion disposed at an end of the second portion distal to the intermediate portion, wherein the second hook portion is configured to be at least partially inserted through the second through-hole of the circuit board of the light engine in having the second portion engage the circuit board of the light engine.

6. The retaining structure of claim 2 , wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are disposed opposite one another within a common plane.

7. The retaining structure of claim 2 , wherein the second portion comprises:
a third leg portion comprising a third arm portion configured to engage the elastic tension structure; and
a fourth leg portion comprising a fourth arm portion configured to engage the elastic tension structure.

8. The retaining structure of claim 7 , wherein each of the third arm portion and the fourth arm portion is of generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile such that, in engaging the elastic tension structure, the elastic tension structure is prevented from escaping the second portion.

9. The retaining structure of claim 7 , wherein the second portion is configured such that, in engaging the elastic tension structure, the elastic tension structure passes along the third leg portion, along the intermediate portion between the circuit board and the intermediate portion, and along the fourth leg portion.

10. The retaining structure of claim 7 , wherein the third arm portion and the fourth arm portion are disposed opposite one another within a common plane.

11. The retaining structure of claim 7 , wherein the first portion and the second portion extend from the intermediate portion such that:
the first arm portion and the second arm portion oppose one another within a first common plane;
the third arm portion and the fourth arm portion oppose one another within a second common plane; and
the first common plane and the second common plane are orthogonal to one another.

12. The retaining structure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion face away from each other and intersect each other.

13. The retaining structure of claim 1 , wherein a connection line of the first portion and a connection line of the second portion intersect each other.

14. The retaining structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion is generally C-shaped.

15. The retaining structure of claim 1 , wherein the retaining structure is comprised entirely of a plastic or a metal.

16. An assembly comprising:
the retaining structure of claim 1 ; and
the elastic tension structure, wherein the elastic tension structure is comprised of a rubber or a silicone.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the elastic tension structure comprises:
an elastic rod portion;
a first stop portion formed along a length of the elastic rod portion and configured to pass through a first through-hole of an end cap of the solid-state lamp such that the first stop portion does not pass readily back through the first through-hole after having passed through the first through-hole; and
a second stop portion formed along the length of the elastic rod portion and configured to pass through a second through-hole of the end cap of the solid-state lamp such that the second stop portion does not pass readily back through the second through-hole after having passed through the second through-hole.

18. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first stop portion and the second stop portion is of generally conic shape.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein:
the first stop portion includes a first base surface;
the second stop portion includes a second base surface; and
the first base surface and the second base surface face each other along the length of the elastic rod portion.

20. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the elastic tension structure is formed as a singular piece.

Assignees

• Ledvance Gmbh

Inventors

• Li Hao
• Chen Xiaomian
• Chen Peng
• Liu Tingming

Classifications

• F21V19/003 Primary

  Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources · CPC title

• F21K9/90

  Methods of manufacture · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• F21K9/272

  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 title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title