Portable light with light source module and light source module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9453624-B2
Application number	US-201213346879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2012
Priority date	Jan 13, 2011
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

A portable light may comprise: a light body having a light source module disposable in an external opening having a given cross-sectional shape and size for receiving the light source module therein. The light source module may comprise: a light source, a reflector and a heat sink thermally coupled to the light source. The light source module may include a circuit board between the reflector and the heat sink for supporting the light source and being thermally coupled to the heat sink.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable light comprising:
a light body having a first cavity having a given cross-sectional shape and size and having a second cavity for receiving a source of electrical power therein, the first cavity having an external opening for receiving a light source module therein;
an actuator on said light body for controlling energizing a light source for selectively producing light when a source of electrical power is in the second cavity, and
a light source module having an exterior of the given cross-sectional shape and size for being placed into the first cavity of said light body,
said light source module comprising:
a light source for producing light when energized;
a reflector for receiving light from said light source and having a surface for reflecting the light produced by said light source towards an open end of said reflector, wherein said reflector is electrically conductive and provides a first electrical connection to said light source; and
a heat sink attached to said reflector and thermally coupled to said light source, wherein said heat sink is electrically conductive and provides a second electrical connection to said light source,
wherein said light source, said reflector and said heat sink form an integral module that is insertable into and securable in the first cavity of said light body; and further comprising:

a lens covering the open end of said reflector;
a lens ring holding said lens adjacent the open end of said reflector; and
a pair of electrical contacts on said light body for receiving electrical power from a source of electrical power when a source of electrical power is in the second cavity of said light body, wherein a first of said pair of electrical contacts makes contact with said reflector and a second of said pair of electrical contacts makes contact with said heat sink.

2. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said lens ring retains said light source module in the first cavity of said light body with said lens adjacent the open end of said reflector.

3. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said lens ring threads onto or press fits on said light body proximate the external opening thereof for retaining said light source module in the first cavity of said light body.

4. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said reflector has an exterior surface defining at least part of the given cross-sectional shape and size, wherein the first of said pair of electrical contacts makes contact with the exterior surface of said reflector and wherein the second of said pair of electrical contacts makes contact at a periphery of said heat sink and is coupled to a central tenninal of a battery when said light source module is disposed in the first cavity of said light body and a battery having a central terminal is disposed in the second cavity of said light body.

5. The portable light of claim 1 wherein:
the given cross-sectional shape and size is substantially cylindrical; or
said reflector has an external surface of the given cross-sectional shape and size; or
said reflector has an external surface having a circumferential groove therein and an O-ring in said groove; or
any combination thereof.

6. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said heat sink attaches at a rearward end of said reflector with said light source thermally coupled thereto, wherein said reflector has an opening in the rearward end for receiving light from said light source and has the open end with said lens at a forward end opposite the rearward end.

7. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said light source includes a light emitting diode and a circuit board supporting said light emitting diode, said circuit board being disposed between said reflector and said heat sink, said circuit board providing at least one electrical connection between said light emitting diode and said heat sink and providing at least one electrical connection between said light emitting diode and said reflector.

8. A portable light comprising:
a light body having a first cavity having a given cross-sectional shape and size and having a second cavity for receiving a source of electrical power therein, the first cavity having an external opening for receiving a light source module therein;
an actuator on said light body for controlling energizing a light source for selectively producing light when a source of electrical power is in the second cavity, and
a light source module having an exterior of the given cross-sectional shape and size for being placed into the first cavity of said light body,
said light source module comprising:
a light source for producing light when energized;
a reflector for receiving light from said light source and having a surface for reflecting the light produced by said light source towards an open end of said reflector, wherein said reflector is electrically conductive and provides a first electrical connection to said light source; and
a heat sink attached to said reflector and thermally coupled to said light source, wherein said heat sink is electrically conductive and provides a second electrical connection to said light source,
wherein said light source, said reflector and said heat sink form an integral module that is insertable into and securable in the first cavity of said light body; and further comprising:

a lens covering the open end of said reflector;
a lens ring holding said lens adjacent the open end of said reflector; and
a pair of electrical contacts on said light body for receiving electrical power from a source of electrical power when a source of electrical power is in the second cavity;
said circuit board including first and second electrical terminals for connecting respectively to terminals of a source of electrical power when a source of electrical power is in the second cavity.

9. The portable light of claim 8 wherein said circuit board is responsive to a switch for controlling energizing said light source for selectively producing light when a source of electrical power is in the second cavity.

10. The portable light of claim 8 wherein said light source module includes an insulating spacer between said heat sink and said reflector.

11. A portable light module comprising:
a light source for producing light when energized;
a reflector for receiving light from said light source and having a surface for reflecting the light produced by said light source towards an open end of said reflector, wherein said reflector is electrically conductive and provides a first electrical connection to said light source,
wherein said reflector defines a first electrical connection location on an exterior surface thereof for making an electrical connection to a first contact in a cavity into which said portable light module is inserted;
a heat sink attached to said reflector and thermally coupled to said light source, wherein said heat sink is electrically conductive and provides a second electrical connection to said light source,
wherein said heat sink defines a second electrical connection location on an exterior surface thereof for making an electrical connection to a second contact in a cavity into which said portable light module is inserted; and
an electrical insulator disposed between said reflector and said heat sink to electrically insulate said reflector and said heat sink;
wherein said light source, said reflector and said heat sink form an integral module having a given cross-sectional shape and size and placable in a cavity of substantially the given shape and size, and
wherein electrical connection can be made to said portable light module at the first and second electrical connection locations on the respective exterio

Assignees

• Sharrah Raymond L
• Dalton Matthew B
• Streamlight Inc

Inventors

• Sharrah Raymond L
• Dalton Matthew B

Classifications

• F21V7/0075

  for portable lighting devices · CPC title

• F21V23/00

  Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices {(characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508)} · CPC title

• F21V17/002

  with provision for interchangeability, i.e. component parts being especially adapted to be replaced by another part with the same or a different function (F21V17/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F21V21/0832 Primary

  Hook and loop-type fasteners · CPC title

• F21V23/0421

  the switch being part of, or disposed on the tail cap portion thereof · CPC title