Patent ID: 8210715

Claim:
A socket assembly comprising: a lighting package; a socket housing having a receptacle that removably receives the lighting package, the socket housing being manufactured from a dielectric material, the socket housing holding power contacts that engage the lighting package to power the lighting package; and a thermal management structure coupled to the socket housing, the thermal management structure having a lighting package interface engaging the lighting package and a heat sink interface configured to engage a heat sink, the thermal management structure creating a continuous metal path between the lighting package interface and the heat sink interface, the thermal management structure being positioned at the receptacle in thermal engagement with the lighting package, the thermal management structure being configured to engage a heat sink to dissipate heat from the lighting package to the heat sink along the continuous metal path; wherein the lighting package includes a bottom facing the heat sink, the thermal management structure includes fingers engaging the bottom of the lighting package and dissipating heat from the lighting package.