LED light source

A lighting source comprises a plurality of LED tubular lighting fixtures having upper and lower ends. Upper and lower mounting caps positioned at the ends of the fixtures have cups for receipt of the fixture ends that locate the fixtures within the caps in a pattern and allow for rotation of the fixtures within the cups. A locking bar extends between the mounting caps, for sealing the ends of the fixtures within the cups against the mounting caps and prevents further rotation of the fixtures. A circuit board located on the upper mounting cap is connected electrically to the LED fixtures. Wires extending from the upper ends of the tubular fixtures pass through apertures in the cups of the upper mounting caps to push connectors on the circuit board for connection to an external DC power source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a lighting source for use in such devices as street lamps and wherein the light source includes a plurality of LED tubular lighting fixtures.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical prior art light sources are discharge lamps that have to use a ballast/igniter circuit, lamp holder, which are affected by temperature, humidity, etc.

SUMMARY

A primary object of the present invention is an energy-efficient, environmentally sound RETRO-FIT, low power, long life light source that can operate on low voltage DC.

Another object of the present invention is such a light source that can be directly connected to alternative energy sources, battery backup, which in the event of an emergency, will provide pathway illumination.

Still another object is such a light source that provides output pattern, allowing a user to arrange the output beam in a variety of sectors.

These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, one illustrative embodiment of which comprises a lighting source including a plurality of LED tubular lighting fixtures having upper and lower ends. Upper and lower mounting caps positioned at the ends of the fixtures, have cups for receipt of the fixture ends that locate the fixtures within the caps in a pattern and allow for rotation of the fixtures within the cups. A locking bar extends between the mounting caps, for sealing the ends of the fixtures within the cups against the mounting caps and prevents further rotation of the fixtures. A circuit board located on the upper mounting cap is connected electrically to the LED fixtures. Wires extending from the ends of the tubular fixtures pass through apertures in the cups of the upper mounting caps to push connectors or terminals on the circuit board for connection to an external DC power source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawing, the light source10of the present invention is seen as including a plurality (8 as shown) of LED tubular lighting fixtures11. Light source10is typically used in street lamps, but can be used in a stand-alone, wide area light, like a pendant (chandelier) type fixture, emergency flood light and the like. The light source10can be a retro-fit inside any existing lamp post.

These fixtures11or LED tubes include a plurality of LEDs connected in series on a printed circuit board along with a high frequency electronic driver connected in series with the LEDs and adapted to be connected to a DC power source and voltage limiting devices connected in parallel with the LEDs. A heat sink shell and lens bonded to the shell form a watertight, exterior shell for enclosing the LED bearing circuit boards and directing and delivering light from the LEDs. The heat sink shells block the light in one direction while the lens permits direction of light in another direction. An example of same may be found in my co-pending patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 12/351,569, filed Jan. 9, 2009, entitled “LED Tubular Lighting Fixture” and its description is incorporated by this reference as though set forth at length herein.

Positioned at either end of the light source10are mounting caps12with cups13located therein. The cups13locate the upper11U and lower11L ends (FIG. 3) of the tubes11in a pattern within the mounting caps12, allow for sealing the open ends of the tubes11, permit different numbers of tubes11to actually be placed within the light source10and allow for rotation of the tubes11within the light source10. Wires W (FIG. 5) from the fixtures11extend outwardly from tubes11and through the cups13.

Typically, the pattern is circular, but the tubes11can be arranged in a square or triangular pattern, depending on the desired out-beam pattern.

A locking bar14extends between the mounting caps12and pulls the light source10together, seals the ends of tubes11within the cups13against the mounting caps12, and prevents rotation of the tubes once in place. The locking bar14is tightened against the mounting caps12by means of tapping screws15.

In a preferred embodiment, a circular circuit board16(FIGS. 4 and 5) with push terminals17is mounted above the top mounting cap12, separated from the board16by spacers18. The circuit board16provides continuity from the tube circuitry to external power. The cups13at the top cap12are provided with apertures through which the wiring from the tubes11pass, which wiring is terminated in the push terminals17that connect into the circuit board16. One of the circuit board push terminals17may then be connected to an external24volt DC source, to dimmers, motion sensors, battery backups, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, a single driver circuit is placed on the board, instead of the driving circuits within the individual tubes.

The mounting caps12and locking bar14are all of lightweight, but rugged plastic.

A toroidal diffuser (not shown), as of white plastic with matted finish, is placed above the top mounting cap12so that no light is lost skyward and the light is directed downward to where you want the light source to illuminate.

Circuitry to the light source could be configured so that some of the tubes are energized say, all the time, while the remaining tubes light up due to motion detected by a motion sensor.

In use, with the number of desired fixtures11placed in the cups13of the mounting caps12and with the lenses of the fixtures11in a desired position, the wires W of the fixtures11are passed through the apertures in the top cups12and connected to the push terminals17of the circuit board16. The locking bar14tightens the fixtures11in place. Where the circuit board16is mounted above the top mounting cap12, the tapping screw15will pass through board16as well.

The light source10may then be mounted on or bracketed to a street lamp post at the tapping screws. Wiring from the push terminals on the circuit board is connected to an external DC source and the light source10is now ready for use.

In certain instances one may want to have less than the full complement of tubes11within the light source10. An example is when the light source is placed within a lamp post for lighting a pathway in an apartment complex and one doesn't want lamps giving off light in another direction that may spill into the windows of nearby residents. One simply leaves out the tubes in the quadrant where one doesn't want the light to go. Ordinary conduit is placed where the tubes11have been omitted. The conduit would look the same as the tubes11such as shown inFIG. 2. In this way illumination in an unwanted or unnecessary direction is eliminated,

Rotation of the tubes to a desired position also provides directionality to some or all of the fixtures11of the light source10.

It should be obvious that changes, additions and omissions may be made in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.