Patent ID: 8419225

Claim:
An LED lamp ( 10 ) comprising: a) a heat sink ( 12 ), said heat sink ( 12 ) defining a first region ( 24 ) adapted to receive in operative electrical and mechanical association an electronics module ( 16 ) and a second region ( 26 ) adapted to receive in operative electrical and mechanical association a light module ( 14 ), said heat sink ( 12 ) further defining a passageway ( 32 ) extending between said first region ( 24 ) and said second region ( 26 ); b) an electrical interconnector ( 18 ) disposed in said passageway ( 32 ) and having at least first and second electrical contacts ( 66 ) extending between said first region ( 24 ) and said second region ( 26 ), said first and second contacts ( 66 ) being exposed within each of said first and second regions ( 24 , 26 ) and adapted for making selectively attachable and detachable electrical connection in both said first and second regions ( 24 , 26 ); c) an electronics module ( 16 ) adapted to be, as a unit, received in and selectively replaceably detached from said first region ( 24 ), said electrical module ( 16 ) comprising i) a socket ( 68 ) adapted to make electrical connection to an external power source; ii) control circuitry ( 62 ) adapted to receive power from the power source and provide power to light emitting diodes (LEDs) ( 34 ); iii) a coupling structure ( 70 , 72 ) adapted to selectively attachably and detachably retain said electronics module ( 16 ) to said heat sink ( 12 ); and iv) a first electrical connector ( 64 ) adapted to selectively attachably and detachably form an electrical connection to portions of said first and second contacts ( 66 ) in said first region ( 24 ); and d) a light module ( 14 ) adapted to be, as a unit, received in and selectively replaceably detached from said second region ( 26 ), said light module ( 14 )comprising: i) at least one light emitting diode (LED) ( 34 ); (ii) an optical element ( 36 ) in register with the LED ( 34 ) adapted to shape light emitted therefrom; and iii) a second electrical connector ( 38 ) in operative association with said at least one LED ( 34 ) and adapted to selectively attachably and detachably form an electrical connection to portions of said first and second contacts ( 66 ) in said second region ( 26 ), wherein the electronics module ( 16 ) when retained in the first region ( 24 ) supplies power to the light module ( 14 ) when retained in the second region ( 26 ).