Pressure equalized lighting subassembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10823388-B2
Application number	US-201916295752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 7, 2019
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

Provided is a lighting subassembly that includes a printed circuit board having one or more lighting elements thereon and a single through-hole at a center region thereof for air flow, a lens to cover the one or more lighting elements, and an overmold body covering the lighting assembly. The overmold body secures the lens in place and covers a back surface of the printed circuit board opposite the one or more lighting elements and includes a plurality of through-holes corresponding to the through-hole of the printed circuit board. A vent is also included in the lighting subassembly and is disposed adjacent to the through-hole of the printed circuit board in between the overmold body and the printed circuit board, configured to only allow air to flow therethrough such that the through-holes and the vent together create a venting system to allow airflow through the lighting subassembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting subassembly comprising:
a printed circuit board having one or more lighting elements thereon and a single through-hole at a center region thereof for air flow;
a lens configured to cover the one or more lighting elements and the through-hole;
an overmold body configured to secure the lens in place, and to cover a back surface of the printed circuit board opposite the one or more lighting elements, and including a plurality of through holes corresponding to the through-hole of the printed circuit board; and
a vent disposed adjacent to the through-hole of the printed circuit board in between the overmold body and the printed circuit board, configured to only allow air to flow therethrough,
wherein the through-holes and the vent together create a venting system to allow airflow through the lighting subassembly.

2. The lighting subassembly of claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board further comprising lighting components on the back surface, spaced a predetermined distance apart from the through-hole therein, and are configured to perform operation of the one or more lighting elements.

3. The lighting subassembly of claim 2 , wherein the overmold body is configured to overmold the printed circuit board not covered by the lens and a part of the lens itself, and to hold the vent in place.

4. The lighting subassembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of through-holes forming a hole pattern on an outside surface of the overmold body, the hole pattern being aligned with the through-hole of the printed circuit board to allow air to be expelled therefrom.

5. The lighting subassembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of through-holes forming the hole pattern, each extend vertically through the overmold body to the outside surface of thereof opposite a side thereof adjacent to the printed circuit board.

6. The lighting subassembly of claim 5 , wherein the overmold body creates a clearance at a location of the vent and secures the vent in a predetermined position while providing the clearance for air flow.

7. The lighting subassembly of claim 6 , wherein air flows from an area between the lens over the one or more lighting elements and a top surface of the printed circuit board, and then through the through-hole of the printed circuit board and through the plurality of through-holes forming the hole pattern at the outside surface of the overmold body to the ambient environment.

8. The lighting subassembly of claim 1 , wherein the through-hole of the printed circuit board is larger in diameter than the plurality of through-holes of the overmold body.

9. A lighting assembly comprising:
a lighting subassembly comprising:
a printed circuit board having one or more lighting elements thereon and a single through-hole at a center region thereof for air flow;
a lens configured to cover the one or more lighting elements and the through-hole;
an overmold body configured to: secure the lens in place, and to cover a back surface of the printed circuit board opposite the one or more lighting elements, and including a plurality of through-holes corresponding to the through-hole of the printed circuit board; and
a vent disposed adjacent to the through-hole of the printed circuit board in between the overmold body and the printed circuit board, configured to only allow air to flow therethrough,
wherein the through-holes, and the vent together create a venting system to allow airflow through the lighting subassembly.

10. The lighting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the printed circuit board further comprising lighting components on the back surface, spaced a predetermined distance apart from the through-hole therein, and are configured to perform operation of the one or more lighting elements.

11. The lighting assembly of claim 10 , wherein the overmold body is configured to overmold the printed circuit board not covered by the lens and a part of the lens itself, and to hold the vent in place.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of through-holes forming a hole pattern on the outside surface of the overmold body, the hole pattern being aligned with the through-hole of the printed circuit board to allow air to be expelled therefrom.

13. The lighting assembly of claim 12 , wherein each through-hole of the overmold body extends vertically therethrough to an outside surface thereof opposite a side thereof adjacent to the printed circuit board.

14. The lighting assembly of claim 13 , wherein the overmold body creates a clearance at a location of the vent and secures the vent in a predetermined position while providing the clearance for air flow.

15. The lighting assembly of claim 14 , wherein air flows from an area between the lens over the one or more lighting elements and a top surface of the printed circuit board, and then through the through-hole of the printed circuit board and through the plurality of through-holes forming the hole pattern at the outside surface of the overmold body to the ambient environment.

16. A lighting subassembly comprising:
a printed circuit board having one or more lighting elements thereon and at least one through-hole at a region thereof for air flow;
a lens configured to cover the one or more lighting elements;
a body configured to secure the lens in place and to cover a back surface of the printed circuit board opposite the one or more lighting elements; and
a vent disposed adjacent to the through-hole of the printed circuit board in between the body and the printed circuit board and configured to allow air to flow and prevent water from flowing therethrough, the vent comprised of a microporous material or structure that prevents water from flowing but allows air to flow,
wherein the through-hole on the printed circuit board and the vent together create a venting system to allow airflow through the lighting subassembly.

17. The lighting subassembly of claim 16 , wherein air flows from an area between the lens over the one or more lighting elements and a top surface of the printed circuit board, and then through the through-hole of the printed circuit board and through the vent, for flow to the ambient environment.

18. The lighting subassembly of claim 16 , wherein the body is configured to be overmolded over the printed circuit board to hold the vent in place, the body including a plurality of through holes corresponding to the at least one through-hole of the printed circuit board.

19. The lighting subassembly of claim 16 , wherein the microporous material or structure comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

20. The lighting subassembly of claim 16 , wherein the at least one through-hole is a single through-hole at a center region of the printed circuit board.

Assignees

• Current Lighting Solutions Llc

Inventors

• Tavernese Luigi
• Spahnie Brian Morgan
• Spivock Robert

Classifications

• F21V29/83 Primary

  the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21S4/10 Primary

  with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights · CPC title

• F21Y2103/10

  comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements · CPC title

• F21V19/0025

  the fastening means engaging the conductors of the light source, i.e. providing simultaneous fastening of the light sources and their electric connections · CPC title