Abstract:
An illumination device including at least one arm supporting one or more light emitting devices, such arm pivoting from a closed configuration for passing through a hole to an open configuration for function. In a preferred embodiment, the illumination device includes three or five arms, light emitting diodes (LEDs) as the light emitting devices and, springs for automatically pivoting the arms to the open configuration.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is based on provisional application Ser. No. 60/517,946, filed on Nov. 6, 2003. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to the field of illumination devices and more specifically to illumination devices where a light bulb or other device is typically installed through an opening into a housing. 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly useful for replacing incandescent lamps used in automobiles, boats, aircraft and other vehicles, where the invention would be applied as a replacement for incandescent bulbs and use light emitting diodes (LEDs) as the source of illumination. Current LED devices produce very directional light emission. The placement and location of these LEDs in a light module should be spread out to maximize the projected effective area of light emission when viewed in operation. The result of spreading out the LEDs produces a light pattern. 
   The prior art describing incandescent lamps generally describes a glass bulb mounted in a brass bayonet base, a plastic base, or an integrated glass base, all having either single or dual contacts. One type of these incandescent lamps is described in Devir et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,278. Incandescent vehicle lamps have a perceived single point of light emission at the filament. The invention has multiple points of light emission that are distinct and create a light pattern. The preferred embodiment of the invention has provisions for several standard mounting bases having both single or dual contacts. 
   Lodhie et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,996, Wesson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,636, and Cheselske, U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,200 describe an automotive replacement LED lamp with multiple points of light emission from discreet LEDs. The LEDs in these lamps are located in a concentrated small area and in turn cause them to be perceived as a single point of light emission when viewed in operation. The nature of LEDs produces very directional light emission therefore these lamps have a small projected effective area of light when viewed in operation. The function of multiple LEDs in close proximity to each other within a confined area could be limited or prevented by an inability to adequately dissipate the heat produced by the LEDs. The invention has expanding arms that allows the light emitting devices to be spread out causing the projected effective area of light emission to be much larger and form a light pattern. The spread out light emitting devices also allows a much greater ability to dissipate heat. 
   Roney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,551 and Hochstein, U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,240 teach one approach to producing a light pattern and providing a large projected effective area of light when viewed in operation. Roney and Hochstien describe an array of LEDs mounted on a large fixed substrate with the LEDs spread out in a pattern. Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,588 has a similar approach but also incorporates a housing with lens. These lamps are not designed to fit through a standard automotive light module mounting hole and do not fit in standard automotive lamp sockets. The invention collapses to fit through a standard automotive mounting hole and mates to standard lamp sockets. 
   Examples of lighting fixtures on a single vehicle where the invention may be implemented can include headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, fog lights and other fixtures that will be known to those of skill in the art. Vehicles with such devices include and are not limited to motorcycles, boats, cars, busses, trucks, aircraft and other motorized or non-motorized devices. Other implementations of the invention may include decorative or functional lighting devices such as household or industrial lighting and hand-held flashlights that are designed around or with a bulb-type light source, and the choice of light source for the device is effectively limited by the opening, housing and connector type as configured for the light bulb. 
   By providing a new type of light source, this invention can provide a variety of lighting patterns with the lighting configured in a manner that will allow adequate heat dissipation. The invention is designed in a manner that allows a portion of the device to expand after installation within the lens, allowing a lighting pattern that is larger than the opening size for installation of a typical bulb. The expanded lighting area can allow multiple lighting patterns to be designed. The mounting portion of the lighting device can be designed for compatibility with existing or future connectors, mounting bases and electrical contact specifications. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the invention is to provide an illumination device with arms which fits through a standard light bulb hole in a closed configuration and automatically expands to an open configuration after passing through that hole to display a larger and more varied light pattern than would be available with a normal light bulb. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an illumination device that can use multiple light emitting devices such as LEDs to provide a greater amount of lighting than would be available with a single light emitting device. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a replacement to a standard light bulb application without modification to the light module containing the bulb or the light module wire harness or other connector. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an alternative light pattern to an automotive light module. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a distributed layout for the light sources that will allow one or more individual lighting elements to operate with sufficient thermal heat dissipation to allow proper operation of the device. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an illumination device with arms that open after passing through a hole comprising: an arm or set of arms with a means of supporting one or more light emitting devices, a means for said arms to deploy and/or move from a closed configuration for installation to an open configuration for function, a projected size in the said closed configuration that allows passage through a mounting hole, a socket for mating to an existing wire harness and accepting standard automotive light bulb electrical power, a means to accept and use electrical power with the acceptable voltage and current range provided by the said socket, a means of distributing and optionally adapting electrical power from the said socket to the said arms and attached light emitting devices, a body with a means of supporting the said arms, their motion, said socket, and light emitting devices. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention with three arms in the open configuration. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention with three arms in the closed configuration. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the invention installed in the taillight module of a vehicle with arms in a closed position. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the invention installed in the taillight module of a vehicle with arms in an open configuration. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the invention showing how it would interface with an existing wire harness of a light module. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the invention with five arms in the open configuration. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the invention with five arms in the closed configuration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
   The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention, an illumination device with arms that open after passing through a hole  20  for use in a housing designed for an incandescent light bulb such as the taillight module  81  of an automobile  80  or similar vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, the invention  20  can function as a brake signal, turn signal, taillight, headlight or other application. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , an embodiment of the present invention includes a body  30  that provides a structure to support the arm subassemblies  60  and their motion, the mating socket  50 , and tensioning devices to open and hold in place the arms, illustrated in this diagram as a set of springs  39 . In this embodiment, the body  30  also houses a base printed circuit board (PCB)  40 . The body may also house or support additional light emitting devices. 
   The PCB  40  is used to distribute and optionally adapt electrical power from the mating socket  50  using the wires  41  and distribute this power to the arm subassemblies  60  using wires  42 . The power adaptation may include, but is not limited to, regulating voltage, limiting current, and/or implementing a pulse width modulating generating device. The PCB  40  is installed inside the body  30  with the wires  42  passing through hole  32 . The wires  41  on the PCB  40  pass through the mating socket  50  and are bent into position. The mating socket  50  is a standard shape which mates with a connector such as a standard automotive wire harness  90  and wire harness socket  91 . The mating socket  50  is fastened into the body  30  using snaps  33  which are retained by walls  51 . Other fastening, connection and installation mechanisms may be used and implemented on one or more embodiments of the invention to allow the invention to be used as a replacement or substitute for a variety of bulbs in a variety of applications. 
   The arm subassembly  60  includes a structural arm  61  that houses the arm printed circuit board (PCB) subassembly  70 . The arm PCB  71  may be single or double sided and contains the light emitting devices  72  and can also contain other electrical components, such as resistors (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the light emitting devices are light emitting diodes (LEDs). The wires  42  pass through window  67  in the arm  61  and are electrically connected to the holes  73  in the arm PCB  71 . The arm closeout  62  is used to retain the arm PCB subassembly  70 . The arm closeout  62  is fastened to the arm  61  using snaps  65  which are retained by walls  66 . The spring  39  in held in place by pin  64 . The arm subassembly  60  mates to the body  30  using the trunnions  31  and holes  63 . The arm subassembly  60  is free to pivot about the axis of the trunnion  31 . The spring  39  applies a force on the arm subassembly  60  that causes the arm subassembly  60  to be in the open configuration as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   To accomplish an important function of the invention, there is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  the installation of the invention in a motor vehicle  80 . The invention  20  is put into the closed configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 . The closed configuration causes the invention  20  to have a projected size that allows passage through a standard mounting hole  82  in a typical lighting module  81  (shown without outer lens). Once the invention  20  passes through the mounting hole  82 , the arm subassemblies  60  automatically pivot to the open configuration as is shown if  FIG. 5 . The open configuration allows the light emitting devices to be spread out and in turn produces a distinct and discrete light pattern that has a large projected effective area when viewed in operation. 
   The length and size of the arms is specified to allow their expansion into the bulb housing internal volume after passing through the mounting hole. Embodiments of the invention may therefore have arms of different widths and lengths to accommodate a variety of bulb housings. Even within the same embodiment of the device, the arms may have different lengths to accommodate housings with asymmetrical bulb housings or bulb housings that may contain one or more restrictions. Furthermore, the location of the arms on the body is not necessarily evenly distributed or symmetrical. 
   In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the invention  25  is shown with an alternative number of arm subassemblies  60 . Other alternative embodiments may include the following elements; a projected size in a closed configuration that is greater than or different from a standard automotive light bulb which allows it to pass through a modified light bulb mounting hole; other means of deploying and maintaining in the deployed position the arms that may include a rotational gear mechanism, pins to be inserted or moved into position, or other mechanisms as will occur to those skilled in the art; a non-standard mating socket which will fit a modified light bulb wire harness; a non-standard mating socket that accepts standard automotive electrical power through an adapter or other third-party device; hook up wires that transmit electrical power from the wire harness and distributes it directly to the arms; an alternative substrate, such as metal strips, on each arm with light emitting devices on one or both sides. 
   The distribution and control of the light emitting devices on the arms may be done in a manner that allows individual activation of any given light source, and the intensity of light from each of the devices to be varied. In this manner, a given set of LEDs on the arms can be actuated to display a variety of patterns with varying timing. 
   Additional means may be provided to allow an operator to select a display pattern, or set the timing of display patterns. In such an instance, the connector, power distribution and PCBs would be able to handle and use command and control signals from one or more input devices. 
   While the lighting devices will typically use electrical power, other types of lighting devices and power sources may be used within the invention. For example, optical fibers or light pipes may be used to deliver the illumination to the arms. Other power sources and lighting devices may occur to those of skill in the art. 
   While the embodiments described herein are primarily for replacement of bulbs for existing applications, new applications, fixtures and connectors may be specifically designed to use embodiments of the invention described herein. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.