Title: Threaded lens coupling to LED apparatus with compressible locking ring
Abstract: A lens adapted for securement to a holder, for transmission of light, comprising a lens body, defining an axis, threading on the lens body extending about said axis, for reception in threading associated with the holder.
Patent Number: 6,985,313 Issued on 01/10/2006 to Savage, Jr.
| Inventors:
|
Savage, Jr.; John M. (538 B. Via De La Valle, Solana Beach, CA 92126)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
821317 |
| Filed:
|
April 8, 2004 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
359/819; 359/811; 359/820; 359/823; 359/826; 359/830; 362/253; 385/92; 403/301 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
G02B 7/02 (20060101); G02B 6/36 (20060101); F21V 33/00 (20060101); B25G 3/00 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
359/819,811,820,823,826,830,642,702,704
362/23,157,158,253
385/88,92
60/223,253
403/301
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3827814 | Aug., 1974 | Laurent et al.
| |
| 4302076 | Nov., 1981 | Hashimoto.
| |
| 4470159 | Sep., 1984 | Peyman.
| |
| 4640579 | Feb., 1987 | Takizawa.
| |
| 5381272 | Jan., 1995 | Kato et al.
| |
| 5398498 | Mar., 1995 | Mort et al.
| |
| 5732176 | Mar., 1998 | Savage, Jr.
| |
| 5990606 | Nov., 1999 | Ross.
| |
| 6086218 | Jul., 2000 | Robertson.
| |
| 6288855 | Sep., 2001 | Devenyi.
| |
| 6293685 | Sep., 2001 | Polkow.
| |
| 6337775 | Jan., 2002 | Wilson.
| |
Primary Examiner: Ben; Loha
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Haefliger; William W.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 10/259,126,
filed Sep. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,053.
Claims
I claim:
1. A lens adapted for securement to a holder, for transmission of light, comprising
a) a lens body, defining an axis,
b) threading on the lens body extending about said axis, for reception in threading
associated with the holder,
c) the holder extending about the lens and configured to expand in response to
interfering engagement of the threading on the lens body with said threading associated
with the holder, allowing thread slippage to limit tightening of the holder onto
the lens,
d) and an axially compressible locking ring on the lens to be resiliently compressed
as the holder is tightened on the lens body, creating pressure and locking friction
at thread to thread interengagement locations.
2. The lens of claim 1 wherein said threading on the lens body includes multiple
threads extending about said axis.
3. The lens of claim 2 wherein said threads are foreshortened to allow for tightening
into the threading associated with the holder in less than about one full turn
of the lens relative to the holder.
4. The lens of claim 2 wherein said multiple threads on the lens body extend
only part way about said axis.
5. The lens of claim 4 wherein there are six of said threads on the lens body.
6. The lens of claim 5 wherein said lens body is generally cylindrical, and said
threading on said body extends peripherally of said body, and spirals about said axis.
7. The lens of claim 2 wherein said multiple threads on the lens body extend
only about half way about said axis.
8. The lens of claim 7 wherein there are six of said threads on the lens body.
9. The lens of claim 1 wherein said lens body is generally cylindrical, and said
threading on said body extends peripherally of said body, and spirals about said axis.
10. The lens of claim 9 including a light transmitting cap on said body at one
end thereof.
11. The lens of claim 1 wherein said locking ring consists of one of the following:
i) metal
ii) an elastomer.
12. The lens of claim 11 wherein the locking ring is an axially compressible
grommet on the lens to be resiliently compressed as the holder is tightened on
the lens body, creating pressure and locking friction at thread to thread interengagement locations.
13. The lens of claim 1 wherein said holder extends about the lens threading,
the threading associated with the holder having axial extent lesser than the axial
extent of said threading on the lens.
14. The lens of claim 13 wherein the threading associated with the holder includes
multiple threads each having more than one full turn about the lens body, and the
threading on the lens body includes multiple threads each having less than one
full turn about said axis.
15. The lens of claim 13 wherein the threading associated with the holder includes
six threads each having about two full turns about the lens body, and the threading
on the lens body includes six threads each having about one-half full turn about
said axis.
16. The lens of claim 1 wherein the locking ring is metallic.
17. The lens of claim 1 including an LED or LEDs in end alignment with the lens
and a plug carrying the LED or LEDs, within the holder.
18. The lens of claim 17 wherein the plug has pins, and there being multiple
female terminals carried by the holder, with less than all of said terminals receiving
said pins.
19. The lens of claim 18 wherein there are six of said female terminals, said
pins on the plug being one of the following:
i) two pins
ii) four pins.
20. The lens of claim 19 including circuitry to provide selected current or voltage
level energization to the LED or LEDs, via such pins.
21. The lens of claim 18 including circuitry to provide selected current or voltage
level energization to the LED or LEDs, via such pins.
22. The combination of claim 1 wherein said locking ring has teeth that project
to be axially compressible in teeth bending mode.
23. The combination of claim 22 wherein certain teeth have ends projecting in
one axial direction and other teeth have ends projecting in the opposite direction.
24. The combination of claim 23 including a mounting panel through which the
lens body projects, said certain teeth ends engaging the panel, and said other
teeth ends engaging the holder.
25. The combination of claim 22 wherein the locking ring is metallic.
26. A lens adapted for securement to a holder for transmission of light comprising
a) a lens body, defining an axis,
b) threading on the lens body extending about said axis, for reception in threading
associated with the holder,
c) and including said holder that extends about the lens and is configured to
expand in response to interfering engagement of the threading on the lens body
with said threading associated with the holder, allowing thread slippage to limit
tightening of the holder onto the lens,
d) there being an axially compressible locking ring on the lens to be resiliently
compressed as the holder is tightened on the lens body, creating pressure and locking
friction at thread to thread interengagement locations,
e) said locking ring consisting of one of the following:
x
1) metallic material
x
2) an elastomer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to generation and transmission of light, as
from an LED source or sources; and more particularly concerns improvements in coupling
devices enabling such transmission of light.
There is need for improvements in apparatus and methods to overcome deficiencies
and problems with prior coupling system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a major object to provide improved apparatus and methods as referred to.
Basically, the invention provides an improved lens adapted for transmission of
light comprising
- a) a lens body, defining an axis,
- b) threading on the lens body extending about said axis, for reception
in threading associated with the holder.
A further object is to provide threading on the lens body that includes multiple
threads extending about said axis. Such threads are typically foreshortened to
allow for tightening into the threading associated with the holder in less than
about one full turn of the lens relative to the holder.
An additional object is to provide such threads on the lens body that extend
only
part way about the axis, as for example only about one-half way about the axis.
Six such threads may advantageously be provided, to extend peripherally of the
body, spiralling about the axis.
Yet another object is to provide a lens holder that extends only part way about
said axis. As will be seen, the holder may extend about the lens threading, the
holder threading having axial extent greater than the axial extent of such threading
on the lens.
A yet additional object includes provision of threading associated with the holder
includes multiple threads each having more than one full turn about the lens body,
and the threading on the lens body includes multiple threads each having less than
one full turn about said axis.
The threading associated with the holder advantageously including six threads
each having about two full turns about the lens body, and the threading on the
lens body includes six threads each having about one-half full turn about said axis.
A yet further object is to provide lens threads and connector mating threads
or
retaining ring threads configured to permit the mating parts to be push onto the
lens and than with a half a turn to secure the two parts together. This feature
prevents the wire leads of the connector from being twisted during installation.
An additional object is to provide thread pitch that allows for the connector
or retaining ring and lens to be secured in only one full turn. In this regard
connector and retaining ring may have six separate half threads with equally spaced
wrap around the diameter. The lens mating six threads typically have two full turns
which permits the units to be secured to varying thickness panels for example from
a 32
nd of an inch to ¼
th inch thick.
Additionally, the mating lens and connector or retaining ring may be
configured to be secured by hand tightening. If the connector or retaining ring
are tightened past the secure point then the threads will slip back into a previous
thread. This feature prevents the plastic threads of the lens, connector or retaining
ring from being stripped. Also, when a rubber or metallic grommet is used between
the panel and the connector or retaining ring, it functions as a locking unit.
As the connector or retaining ring is tightened the grommet will compress. This
compression causes backpressure on the threads of the mating parts providing a
locking means. When a rubber seal is installed between the lens and the panel it
prevents the entry of water and dust through the panel opening.
A further object is to provide a metallic locking ring that has teeth or projections
to be axially compressible in bending mode. Certain teeth have ends that project
in one axial direction to engage a mounting panel and other teeth have ends projecting
in the opposite axial direction, to engage the end face of the holder.
An added object is to provide for leads of a 10 mm LED to be installed, using
A and B entry ports, a terminal being located in each of the chambers beneath the
entry ports completing the electrical connection. A four leaded flux LED can be
accommodated using the four connector entry ports with their associated terminal
contracts. The connector's four box terminals permit electricity to be introduced
into three of the four LED leads while the fourth lead is common to all. The LED
can then emit a full range of colors by electrically exciting various combinations
of the LED leads.
Yet another object is to provide a method of extracting heat from the LED via
connector terminals, which prevents over heating and extends the operating life
of the device. As will be seen, the LEDs can provide a point source of light. The
lens may have Fresnel rings, which disperses the LED point source of light and
spreads it over the entire lens surface, providing a wide viewing angle.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details
of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following
specification and drawings, in which:
DRAWING DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred form of threaded lens;
FIG. 2 is an end elevation taken on lines 2—2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a lengthwise section taken on lines 3—3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a right end elevation of a lens holder, defining a connector having
six terminals;
FIG. 5 is a section taken on lines 5—5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5, but rotated 90° about an axis defined by
the holder;
FIG. 7 is a left end elevation of the holder taken on lines 7—7
of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a section taken through an alternative lens holder in the form of
an interiorly threaded retaining ring;
FIG. 9 is an end view of the FIG. 8 ring, taken on lines 9—9
of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a side elevation taken on lines 10—10 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a side view of a terminal plug with four pins useful to plug into
four receptacle terminals as seen in FIG. 4;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a receptacle terminal;
FIG. 12
a is an end view taken on lines 12
a—12
a
of FIG. 12;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a receptacle terminal receiving endwise reception
of a terminal pin;
FIG. 14 is a view like FIG. 13 showing centering and interference connection
of the pin to the terminal;
FIG. 14
a is an end view taken on lines 14
a—14
a
of FIG. 14;
FIG. 15 is a side elevation showing a plug carrying an LED or LEDs, and having
two terminal pins;
FIG. 15
a is an end view taken on lines 15
a—15
a
of FIG. 15;
FIG. 16 is a top plan view showing another form of plug carrying an LED or LEDs,
and having four terminal pins;
FIG. 16
a is a side elevation taken on lines 16
a—16
a
of FIG. 16;
FIG. 16
b is a side elevation taken on lines 16
b—16
b
of FIG. 16;
FIGS. 17-20 are enlarged fragmentary sections showing progressive connectors
of an interiorly threaded retaining ring to an exteriorly threaded lens, in relation
to a mounting panel;
FIG. 21 is axially exploded view of a threaded lens, threaded retainer ring
and a locking ring also serves as a moisture seal, this being a preferred application
of the threaded lens;
FIG. 22 is a view of the FIG. 21 components, in axially assembled relation;
FIG. 23 is a view like FIG. 22, showing the locking ring and moisture seal component
assembled in an alternate position;
FIG. 24 is an exploded view of a threaded lens, threaded holder with connector
terminals, pin terminals; LED plug having four terminals, and locking ring and
in relation to a mounting panel;
FIG. 25 is a section showing the assembled positioning of the lens, panel and
locking ring of FIG. 24;
FIG. 26 is a section showing the assembled positioning of the holder, LED plug,
connector receptacle terminals, and supply power pin terminals;
FIG. 27 is an axially exploded view of a threaded lens, threaded holder with
connector terminals; pin terminals, the LED plug having two terminals; and locking
ring, in relation to a mounting panel;
FIG. 28 is a section showing assembled positioning of the holder, locking ring,
LED plug, connector receptacle terminals and supply power pin terminals, of the
FIG. 27 components; and
FIG. 29 is like FIG. 28, but showing the locking ring in position forward of
the mounting panel;
FIG. 30 is a view showing provision of a metallic locking ring, fitting on a
lens body, between a panel and a holder being assembled onto the lens body;
FIG. 31 is an axial view of the metallic locking ring, on the lens body threading; and
FIG. 32 is an enlarged edge view of the locking ring showing ends of radially
projecting teeth projecting at opposite sides of the ring, to be resiliently compressed
upon make-up between the holder and panel seen in FIG. 30.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, a lens
10 is adapted to be secured
to a holder, to be described, for transmission of light, as for example from an
LED or LED array. The lens
10 has a body
10a defining a central
axis
11, and the body in shown as generally cylindrical defining an inner
surface or bore
11a, an outer surface
12, and opposite ends
13 and
14. End
14 is shown in the form of an integral cap
having a dome
14a, and an outwardly projecting annular flange
14b.
The inner side of the dome defines Fresnel rings
15, for diffracting light
rays impinging in direction
17 on the rings, diffused light exiting from
the convex outer side
18 of the dome. The body may consist of molded plastic material.
Threading indicated at
19 is formed on the lens body extending about
said axis, for reception in threading associated with the holder. Such threading
spirals about axis
11, while advancing in direction
17, as shown.
Typically, multiple such threads
19a are employed, and are alike.
The threads are foreshortened in length to allow for tightening into mating internal
threading associated with the holder, to be described, in less than one full rotary
turn of the lens
10, relative to the holder. Each thread
19a extends
only part way about the axis
11 at the lens body periphery, and preferably
six threads
19a are employed, each of which extends only about half
way (180°) about axis
11.
FIGS. 5,
6 and
24 show one form of lens holder
25, which
is also integral with a reduced diameter connector
25a at one end
26 of the holder. The opposite end
27 of the holder is centrally
open at
27a, for threaded reception of the lens body
10a,
as the holder is rotated. At that time, the lens is typically retained by or mounted
to a panel
28, as shown in FIG. 25, with a locking ring
29 mounted
on the lens body and engaging wall
28a of the panel, and lens flange
14b engaging the opposite wall
28b of the panel.
FIGS. 17-20 and
21-
23 also show provision of a modified lens
holder in the form of a retaining ring
31. That ring has internal threads
at
32, the same as the internal threads
30 the holder
25.
See also FIGS. 8-10.
Lens threads and connector mating threads
30 or retaining ring threads
are formed to permit the mating parts to be pushed onto the lens and then with
a half a turn, secure the two parts together. This feature prevents the wire leads
protruding from the connector as at
85 from being twisted during installation.
Additional turning of the connector during assembly would tend to cause excessive
torque on the wires, which would cause an opposing twisting action on the connector.
The pitch of the threads allows for the connector or retaining ring and lens
to be secured in only one full turn. The connector and retaining ring typically
have six separate half threads, equally spaced wrap around the diameter. The lens
mating six threads have two full turns which permits the units to be secured to
varying panels from a 32
nd of an inch to ¼
th inch thick.
The mating lens and connector or retaining ring are configured to be secured
by hand tightening. If the connector or retaining ring are tightened past the secure
point, then the threads will slip back onto a previous thread, as by over-crest
slippage seen in FIGS. 19 and 20. This feature prevents the plastic threads of
the lens, connector or retaining ring from being stripped.
When a rubber grommet is used between the panel and the connector or retaining
ring it functions as a locking unit. As the connector or retaining ring is tightened
the grommet will compress. This compression causes backpressure on the threads
of the mating parts providing a locking means.
When a rubber seal is installed between the lens and the panel it prevents the
entry of water and dust through the panel opening.
FIGS. 17-20 show the thread interfitting sequence of the lens and holder elements,
and the functioning of the compressible locking ring
29, which may consist
of elastomeric material, such as rubber. The locking ring may alternatively consist
of axially compressible metallic material, to be resiliently compressed as the
holder is tightened on the lens body, creating pressure and locking friction at
thread to thread interengagement locations. The metallic ring may have the general
configuration of ring
29.
Note in FIGS. 22 and 23 the reception of an LED plug type unit
34 into
the interior
10c of the lens
10, with the dome
34a
of unit
34 proximate the Fresnel rings at the concave interior side
of the lens cap end
14. The leads
37 of the LED unit project from
or through a circuit board
38 to which the leads are mounted, to support
the unit
34. A flange
34b on unit
34 is closely received
in the bore of the lens, at location
40, for centering. The lens has threaded
attachment to the holder
31 as shown, and as described above. Holder ring
31 includes integral annular stiffeners
41 projecting outwardly.
Ring
31 may consist of molded plastic material.
FIGS. 27 and 28 show the plug type LED unit
34 assembled to a connector
25a as described above, the internal threads of holder
25
assembled to the lens threads at
44. The domed end
34a of
unit
34 is received into the lens interior as described above; and locking
ring
29 is held in compressed condition between the left end face of the
holder and the panel
28. The two pins or leads
37 of the LED unit
are received into two parallel female terminals
46 received into and carried
by slots
47 in the connector
25a.
FIGS. 12-14 show progressive reception of a pin or lead
37 into a terminal
46. The tapered end
37a of the pin or lead penetrates into
the tubular body
50 of the terminal, and between tapered guide
51
and internal barb
52. The guide and barb project laterally into the interior
50a of the body
50, with the guide slidably guiding the pin,
and the barb
52 having an edge
52a riding along the side of
the pin, with friction, to center the pin in the interior
50a. Edge
52a also gouges into the side of the pin to block endwise retraction
or loosening of the pin from the terminal. Both
51 and
52 are resilient
cantilever spring fingers. Wiring is retained to
46 at
46a.
Another form of LED unit is seen at
60 in FIGS. 11,
16,
16a
and
16b. Unit
60 has a polygonal body
61, a domed
end
62 from which light is emitted, and four pins
63 located at corners
of a square. Those pins or leads are adapted to receive controlled electrical energization
as from a circuit
64, to control different colored light emission from three
LEDs in the unit, the fourth pin being a common or ground. Color emission from
unit
60 can thereby be controlled, by light color mixing within
60,
for emission from domed end
62. FIGS. 24 and 26 show pins or leads
63
endwise received within, and electrically connected, to four female terminals
65.
The latter are in turn received in four slots
66 in the connector
25a.
A control circuit appears at
64, as in FIG. 16. See also FIGS. 5 and 6.
The connector
25a of FIGS. 4-7 is configured to receive the pins
of either type LED unit,
34 or
60, i.e. it has four slots
66
at corners of a square, to receive the four terminals
65 of a unit
60.
It also has two slots
47 to receive terminals
46 of a unit
43.
Slots
47 are located within the square (see FIG. 7) defined by slots
66.
A highly versatile and compact connector
25a is thereby provided.
The connector terminals also provide a method of extracting heat from the LED,
which prevents over heating and extends the operating life of the device.
FIGS. 29 and 30 show use of a moisture sealing ring
29 located in a
groove
29a in the lens body, adjacent the periphery of the lens
10,
to seal against the outer side of panel
28.
In FIG. 30, a lock washer
75 fits over the lens threads
44 at the
opposite side of panel
28. The flat metallic washer has radially inwardly
projecting teeth
76 which mesh with the threads
44 or thread grooves
44a, as seen in FIG. 31. The radially inner ends
76a and
76b of alternate teeth also project away from the plane of the washer,
at opposite axial sides thereof, to grip the panel
28 and the end face
25c
of the holder
25, as the assembly is made-up, thereby locking the assembly
in made-up condition. See FIG. 32. The teeth
76 are axially resilient compressible,
in bending mode, during make-up.
*
