Patent Document

PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/986,934, filed Jan. 7, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,054, which is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/149,900, filed May 9, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,866,850, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/064,282, filed Feb. 26, 2008, the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention is directed to an LED assembly that can be connected thermally and/or electrically to a light fixture assembly housing. 
     2. Background 
     Light fixture assemblies such as lamps, ceiling lights, and track lights are important fixtures in many homes and places of business. Such assemblies are used not only to illuminate an area, but often also to serve as a part of the decor of the area. However, it is often difficult to combine both form and function into a light fixture assembly without compromising one or the other. 
     Traditional light fixture assemblies typically use incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs, while inexpensive, are not energy efficient, and have a poor luminous efficiency. To address the shortcomings of incandescent bulbs, a move is being made to use more energy-efficient and longer lasting sources of illumination, such as fluorescent bulbs, high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs, and light emitting diodes (LEDs). Fluorescent bulbs and HID bulbs require a ballast to regulate the flow of power through the bulb, and thus can be difficult to incorporate into a standard light fixture assembly. Accordingly, LEDs, formerly reserved for special applications, are increasingly being considered as a light source for more conventional light fixture assemblies. 
     LEDs offer a number of advantages over incandescent, fluorescent, and HID bulbs. For example, LEDs produce more light per watt than incandescent bulbs, LEDs do not change their color of illumination when dimmed, and LEDs can be constructed inside solid cases to provide increased protection and durability. LEDs also have an extremely long life span when conservatively run, sometimes over 100,000 hours, which is twice as long as the best fluorescent and HID bulbs and twenty times longer than the best incandescent bulbs. Moreover, LEDs generally fail by a gradual dimming over time, rather than abruptly burning out, as do incandescent, fluorescent, and HID bulbs. LEDs are also desirable over fluorescent bulbs due to their decreased size and lack of need of a ballast, and can be mass produced to be very small and easily mounted onto printed circuit boards. 
     While LEDs have various advantages over incandescent, fluorescent, and HID bulbs, the widespread adoption of LEDs has been hindered by the challenge of how to properly manage and disperse the heat that LEDs emit. The performance of an LED often depends on the ambient temperature of the operating environment, such that operating an LED in an environment having a moderately high ambient temperature can result in overheating the LED, and premature failure of the LED. Moreover, operation of an LED for extended period of time at an intensity sufficient to fully illuminate an area may also cause an LED to overheat and prematurely fail. 
     Accordingly, high-output LEDs require direct thermal coupling to a heat sink device in order to achieve the advertised life expectancies from LED manufacturers. This often results in the creation of a light fixture assembly that is not upgradeable or replaceable within a given light fixture. For example, LEDs are traditionally permanently coupled to a heat-dissipating fixture housing, requiring the end-user to discard the entire assembly after the end of the LED&#39;s lifespan. As a solution, exemplary embodiments of a light fixture assembly may transfer heat from the LED directly into the light fixture housing through a compression-loaded member, such as a thermal pad, to allow for proper thermal conduction between the two. Additionally, exemplary embodiments of the light fixture assembly may allow end-users to upgrade their LED engine as LED technology advances by providing a removable LED light source with thermal coupling without the need for expensive metal springs during manufacture, or without requiring the use of excessive force by the LED end-user to install the LED in the light fixture housing. 
     Exemplary embodiments of a light fixture assembly may include (1) an LED assembly and (2) an LED socket. The LED assembly may contain a first engagement member, and the socket may contain a second engagement member, such as angled slots. When the LED assembly is rotated, the first engagement member may move down the angled slots such that a compression-loaded thermal pad forms an interface with a light fixture housing. This compressed interface may allow for proper thermal conduction from the LED assembly into the light fixture housing. Additionally, as the LED assembly rotates into an engagement position, it connects with the LED socket&#39;s electrical contacts for electricity transmission. Thus, the use of the compressed interface may increase the ease of operation, and at the same time allow for a significant amount of compression force without the need of conventional steel springs. Further, the LED assembly and LED socket can be used in a variety of heat dissipating fixture housings, allowing for easy removal and replacement of the LED. While in some embodiments the LED assembly and LED socket are shown as having a circular perimeter, various shapes may be used for the LED assembly and/or the LED socket. 
     SUMMARY 
     Consistent with the present invention, there is provided a thermally-conductive housing; a removable LED assembly, the LED assembly comprising an LED lighting element; and a compression element, operation of the compression element from a first position to a second position generating a compression force causing the LED assembly to become thermally and electrically connected to the housing. 
     Consistent with the present invention, there is provided an LED assembly for a light fixture assembly, the light fixture assembly having a thermally-conductive housing, a socket attached to the housing, and a first engaging member, the LED assembly comprising: an LED lighting element; a resilient member; and a second engaging member adapted to engage with the first engaging member; operation of the LED assembly and the socket relative to each other from an alignment position to an engaged position causing the first engaging member to engage the second engaging member and the resilient member to create a compression force to reduce thermal impedance between the LED assembly and the housing. 
     Consistent with the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a light fixture assembly, the method comprising forming an LED assembly including an LED lighting element and a first engaging member; forming a socket attached to a thermally-conductive housing, the socket comprising a second engaging member adapted to engage with the first engaging member; and moving the LED assembly and the socket relative to each other from an alignment position to an engaged position, to cause the first engaging member to engage with the second engaging member and create a compression force establishing an electrical contact and a thermal contact between the LED assembly and a fixture housing. 
     Consistent with the present invention, there is provided a light fixture assembly comprising a thermally-conductive housing; a socket attached to the housing and comprising a first engaging member; and an LED assembly, comprising: an LED lighting element; a resilient member; and a second engaging member adapted to engage with the first engaging member; the LED assembly and the socket being movable relative to each other from an alignment position to an engaged position; the first engaging member, in the engaged position, engaging the second engaging member and fixedly positioning the LED assembly relative to the socket; and the resilient member, in the engaged position, creating a compression force forming an electrical contact and a thermal contact between the LED assembly and the housing. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a lighting assembly is provided comprising a light fixture and a light module comprising an LED lighting element and removably coupleable to the light fixture. The lighting assembly also comprises one or more resilient members configured to generate a compression force when the light module is removably coupled to the light fixture to thereby exert a generally axial force on at least a portion of the light module to resiliently maintain at least a portion of the light module in resilient contact with a surface of the light fixture or socket of the light fixture to thereby resiliently couple at least a portion of the light module to the light fixture or socket of the light fixture. One or both of the light module and light fixture comprises one or more engaging members that extend from a surface thereof, and one or both of the light module and the light fixture comprises one or more slots configured to removably receive the one or more engaging members therein when coupling the light module to the light fixture. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a light module removably coupleable to a light fixture is provided. The light module comprises a generally cylindrical housing and an LED lighting element at least partially disposed in the housing. The light module also comprises one or more electrical contact members configured to releasably contact one or more electrical contacts of a socket of a light fixture to provide an operative electrical connection between the light module and the socket of the light fixture when the light module is coupled to the light fixture. The light module also comprises one or more engaging members on the housing, the engaging members configured to releasably engage corresponding one or more engaging elements in the socket of the light fixture when coupling the light module to the socket. The engagement of the engaging members with the engaging elements of the socket axially drives at least a portion of the light module into resilient contact with a surface of a light fixture or socket of the light fixture when coupling the light module to the socket to thereby thermally couple the light module to the light fixture or socket of the light fixture. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment, a method for coupling a light module to a light fixture is provided. The method comprises aligning one or more tabs in one or both of the light module and a socket of the light fixture with one or more slots in one or both of the light module and the socket of the light fixture. The method also comprises axially introducing at least a portion of the light module into a cylindrical recess of the socket such that the one or more tabs axially advance into at least a portion of the one or more slots. The method also comprises rotating the light module relative to the socket such that the one or more tabs movably engage an inclined portion of the one or more slots, the inclined portion of the one or more slots being inclined such that at least a portion of the light module moves axially toward a bottom of the socket as the light module is rotated relative to the socket. The method also comprises generating a compression force as the light module is rotated relative to the socket to thereby exert a generally axial force on at least a portion of the light module to resiliently maintain at least a portion of the light module into resilient contact with the light fixture or socket of the light fixture. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment, a lighting assembly is provided comprising a heat dissipating member comprising a socket having a first threaded portion. The lighting assembly also comprises an LED module comprising an LED lighting element and a second threaded portion. The LED module and the socket are rotationally movable relative to each other from a disengaged position to an engaged position to couple the first and second threaded portions which establishes a thermal path from the LED module to the heat dissipating member or socket of the heat dissipating member. A compression element in one or both of the socket and the LED module and/or the threaded portions is configured to maintain a compression force between the LED module and the socket when coupling the LED module to the socket. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment, a removable LED module for use with a lighting assembly is provided. The LED module comprises and LED lighting element and one or more electrical contact members of the LED module configured to releasably contact one or more electrical contacts of a socket of the lighting assembly when coupling the LED module to the socket. The LED module further comprises one or more resilient members configured to move from a first position to a second position when coupling the LED module to the socket to generate a compression force to thereby exert a generally axial force on at least a portion of the light module to resiliently maintain at least a portion of the light module in resilient contact with the light fixture or socket of the light fixture to thereby thermally couple at least a portion of the light module to the light fixture or socket of the light fixture. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a light fixture assembly consistent with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an LED assembly of the light fixture assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of the second shell of the LED assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a socket of the light fixture assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the socket showing the travel of an engaging member of the LED assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a side view of the LED assembly of  FIG. 2  in a compressed state; 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of the LED assembly of  FIG. 2  in an uncompressed state; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the LED socket of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIGS. 8A-8B  are cross-sectional views of the light fixture assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the light fixture assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the light fixture assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a light fixture assembly according to a second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of a light fixture assembly according to a third exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a light fixture assembly according to a fourth exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of a light fixture assembly according to a fifth exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments consistent with the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. It is apparent, however, that the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings are not limiting, and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a light fixture assembly  10  consistent with the present invention. Light fixture assembly  10  includes a front cover  100 , a LED assembly  200 , a socket  300 , and a thermally-conductive housing  400 . 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of LED assembly  200 . LED assembly  200  may include a reflector, or optic,  210 ; a first shell  220 ; a lighting element, such as an LED  230 ; a thermally conductive material  240 ; a printed circuit board  250 ; a second shell  260 ; a thermal interface member  270 ; and a thermal pad  280 . 
     First shell  220  may include an opening  221  adapted to receive optic  210 , which may be fixed to first shell  220  through an optic-attaching member  222 . First shell  220  may also include one or more airflow apertures  225  so that air may pass through airflow apertures  225  and ventilate printed circuit board  250 , LED  230 , and thermally-conductive housing  400 . First shell  220  may also include one or more engaging members  223 , such as protrusions, on its outer surface  224 . While in this exemplary embodiment engaging members  223  are shown as being “T-shaped” tabs, engaging members  223  can have a variety of shapes and can be located at various positions and/or on various surfaces of LED assembly  200 . Furthermore, the number of engaging members  223  is not limited to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . Additionally, the number, shape and/or location of airflow apertures  225  can also be varied. However, in certain applications, ventilation may not be required, and airflow apertures  225  may thus be omitted. 
     Second shell  260  may include a resilient member, such as resilient ribs  263 . The thickness and width of ribs  263  can be adjusted to increase or decrease compression force, and the openings between ribs  263  can vary in size and/or shape. Ribs  263  in second shell  260  are formed so as to provide proper resistance to create compression for thermal coupling of LED assembly  200  to thermally-conductive housing  400 . Second shell  260  may also include one or more positioning elements  264  that engage with one or more recesses  251  in printed circuit board  250  to properly position printed circuit board  250  and to hold printed circuit board  250  captive between first shell  220  and second shell  260 . Positioning elements  264  may also engage with receivers (not shown) in first shell  220 . First and second shells  220  and  260  may be made of a plastic or resin material such as, for example, polybutylene terephthalate. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second shell  260  may also include an opening  261  adapted to receive thermal interface member  270 , which may be fixed to (1) second shell  260  through one or more attachment members  262 , such as screws or other known fasteners and (2) a thermal pad  280  to create thermal interface member assembly  299 . Thermal interface member  270  may include an upper portion  271 , and a lower portion  272  with a circumference smaller than the circumference of upper portion  271 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , lower portion  272  may be inserted through opening  261  of second shell  260  such that upper portion  271  engages with second shell  260 . Second shell  260  may be formed of, for example, nylon and/or thermally conductive plastics such as plastics made by Cool Polymers, Inc., known as CoolPoly®. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , thermal pad  280  may be attached to thermal interface member  270  through an adhesive or any other appropriate known fastener so as to fill microscopic gaps and/or pores between the surface of the thermal interface member  270  and thermally-conductive housing  400 . Thermal pad  280  may be any of a variety of types of commercially available thermally conductive pad, such as, for example, Q-PAD 3 Adhesive Back, manufactured by The Bergquist Company. While thermal pad  280  is used in this embodiment, it can be omitted in some embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , lower portion  272  of thermal interface member  270  may serve to position LED  230  in LED assembly  200 . LED  230  may be mounted to a surface  273  of lower portion  272  using fasteners  231 , which may be screws or other well-known fasteners. A thermally conductive material  240  may be positioned between LED  230  and surface  273 . 
     The machining of both the bottom surface of LED  230  and surface  273  during the manufacturing process may leave minor imperfections in these surfaces, forming voids. These voids may be microscopic in size, but may act as an impedance to thermal conduction between the bottom surface of LED  230  and surface  273  of thermal interface  270 . Thermally conductive material  240  may act to fill in these voids to reduce the thermal impedance between LED  230  and surface  273 , resulting in improved thermal conduction. Moreover, consistent with the present invention, thermally conductive material  240  may be a phase-change material which changes from a solid to a liquid at a predetermined temperature, thereby improving the gap-filling characteristics of the thermally conductive material  240 . For example, thermally conductive material  240  may include a phase-change material such as, for example, Hi-Flow 225UT 003-01, manufactured by The Bergquist Company, which is designed to change from a solid to a liquid at 55° C. 
     While in this embodiment thermal interface member  270  may be made of aluminum and is shown as resembling a “top hat,” various other shapes, sizes, and/or materials could be used for the thermal interface member to transport and/or spread heat. As one example, thermal interface member  270  could resemble a “pancake” shape and have a single circumference. Furthermore, thermal interface member  270  need not serve to position the LED  230  within LED assembly  200 . Additionally, while LED  230  is shown as being mounted to a substrate  238 , LED  230  need not be mounted to substrate  238  and may instead be directly mounted to thermal interface member  270 . LED  230  may be any appropriate commercially available single- or multiple-LED chip, such as, for example, an OSTAR 6-LED chip manufactured by OS RAM GmbH, having an output of 400-650 lumens. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of socket  300  including one or more engaging members, such as angled slot  310  arranged on inner surface  320  of LED socket  300 . Slot  310  includes a receiving portions  311  that receives and is engageable with a respective engaging member  223  of first shell  220  at an alignment position, a lower portion  312  that extends circumferentially around a portion of the perimeter of LED socket  300  and is adapted to secure LED assembly  200  to LED socket  300 , and a stopping portion  313 . In some embodiments, stopping portion  313  may include a protrusion (not shown) that is also adapted to secure LED assembly  200  to LED socket  300 . Slot  310  may include a slight recess  314 , serving as a locking mechanism for engaging member  223 . Socket  300  also includes a front cover retaining mechanism  330  adapted to engage with a front cover engaging member  101  in front cover  100  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 10 ). A front cover retaining mechanism lock  331  ( FIG. 5 ) is provided such that when front cover retaining mechanism  330  engages with and is rotated with respect to front cover engaging member  101 , the front cover retaining mechanism lock holds the front cover  100  in place. Socket  300  may be fastened to thermally-conductive housing  400  through a retaining member, such as retaining member  340  using a variety of well-known fasteners, such as screws and the like. Socket  300  could also have a threaded outer surface that engages with threads in thermally-conductive housing  400 . Alternatively, socket  300  need not be a separate element attached to thermally-conductive housing  400 , but could be integrally formed in thermally-conductive housing  400  itself. Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 7 , socket  300  may also include a tray  350  which holds a terminal block  360 , such as a battery terminal connector. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , to mount LED assembly  200  in socket  300 , LED assembly  200  is placed in an alignment position, in which engaging members  223  of LED assembly  200  are aligned with receiving portions  311  of angled slots  310  of socket  300 . In one embodiment, LED assembly  200  and socket  300  may have a circular perimeter and, as such, LED assembly  200  may be rotated with respect to socket  300  in the direction of arrow A in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when LED assembly  200  is rotated, engaging members  223  travel down receiving portions  311  into lower portions  312  of angled slots  310  until engaging members  223  meet stopping portion  313 , which limits further rotation and/or compression of LED assembly  200 , thereby placing LED assembly  200  and socket  300  in an engagement position. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , second shell  260  is shown in compressed and uncompressed states, respectively. The rotation of LED assembly  200 , and the pressing of engaging members  223  on upper surface  314  of angled slots  310  causes resilient ribs  263  of second shell  260  to deform axially inwardly which may decrease the height H c  of LED assembly  200  with respect to the height H u  of LED assembly  200  in an uncompressed state. Referring back to  FIG. 5 , as engaging members  223  descend deeper down angled slot  310 , the compression force generated by resilient ribs  263  increases. This compression force lowers the thermal impedance between LED assembly  200  and thermally-conductive housing  400 . Engaging members  223  and angled slots  310  thus form a compression element. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a light fixture assembly showing LED assembly  200  in a compressed state such that it is thermally and electrically connected to thermally-conductive housing  400 . As shown in  FIG. 6B , if LED assembly  200  is removed from socket  300 , resilient ribs  263  will return substantially to their initial undeformed state. 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the rotation of LED assembly  200  forces printed circuit board electrical contact strips  252  on printed circuit board  250  into engagement with electrical contacts  361  of terminal block  360 , thereby creating an electrical connection between LED assembly  200  and electrical contacts  361  of housing  400 , so that operating power can be provided to LED  230 . Alternate means may also be provided for supplying operating power to LED  230 . For example, LED assembly  200  may include an electrical connector, such as a female connector for receiving a power cord from housing  400  or a spring-loaded electrical contact mounted to the LED assembly  200  or the housing  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , while in this embodiment receiving portions  311  of angled slots  310  are the same size, receiving portions  311 , angled slots  310 , and/or engaging members  223  may be of different sizes and/or shapes. For example, receiving portions  311  may be sized to accommodate a larger engaging member  223  so that LED assembly  200  may only be inserted into socket  300  in a specific position. Additionally, the location and number of angled slots  310  are not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Furthermore, while the above-described exemplary embodiment uses angled slots, other types of engagement between LED assembly  200  and LED socket  300  may be used to create thermal and electrical connections between LED assembly  200  and thermally-conductive housing  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in a second exemplary embodiment of a light fixture assembly, LED assembly  230  may be mounted to a thermal interface member  270 , which may include a male threaded portion  232  with a first button-type electrical contact  233  insulated from threaded portion  232 . Male threaded portion  232  of thermal interface member  270  could rotatably engage with, for example, a female threaded portion  332  of socket  300 , such that one or both of male and female threaded portions  232 ,  332  slightly deform to create compressive force such that first electrical contact  233  comes into contact with second button-type electrical contact  333  and the thermal impedance between thermal interface member  270  and housing  400  is lowered. A thermal pad  280  with a circular center cut-out may be provided at an end portion of male threaded portion  232 . The thermal pad  280  can have resilient features such that resilient thermal interface pad  280  acts as a spring to create or increase a compression force to lower the thermal impedance between thermal interface member  270  and housing  400 . Male and female threaded portions  232 ,  332  thus form a compression element. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , in a third exemplary embodiment of a light fixture assembly, a resilient thermal interface pad  500  may be provided at an end portion of thermal interface member  270  such that resilient thermal interface pad  500  acts to create a compression force for low thermal impedance coupling. Socket  300  may include tabs  395  that engage with slots in thermal interface member  270  to form a compression element and create additional compression as well as to lock the LED assembly into place. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , in a fourth exemplary embodiment of a light fixture assembly, thermal interface member  270  may have a buckle catch  255  that engages with a buckle  355  on thermally-conductive housing  400 , thus forming a compression element. As shown in  FIG. 14 , in a fifth exemplary embodiment of a light fixture assembly, a fastener such as screw  265  may attach to a portion  365  of heat-dissipating fixture housing  400  so as to form a compression element and create the appropriate compressive force to provide low impedance thermal coupling between thermal interface member  270  and thermally-conductive housing  400 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , after LED assembly  200  is installed in thermally-conductive housing  400 , a front cover  100  may be attached to socket  300  by engaging front cover engaging member  101  on the front cover  100  with front cover retaining mechanism  330 , and rotating front cover  100  with respect to socket  300  to secure front cover  100  in place. Front cover  100  may include a main aperture  102  formed in a center portion of cover  100 , a transparent member, such as a lens  104  formed in aperture  102 , and a plurality of peripheral holes  106  formed on a periphery of front cover  100 . Lens  104  allows light emitted from a lighting element to pass through cover  100 , while also protecting the lighting element from the environment. Lens  102  may be made from any appropriate transparent material to allow light to flow therethrough, with minimal reflection or scattering. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , and consistent with the present invention, front cover  100 , LED assembly  200 , socket  300 , and thermally-conductive housing  400  may be formed from materials having a thermal conductivity k of at least  12 , and preferably at least  200 , such as, for example, aluminum, copper, or thermally conductive plastic. Front cover  100 , LED assembly  200 , socket  300 , and thermally-conductive housing  400  may be formed from the same material, or from different materials. Peripheral holes  106  may be formed on the periphery of front cover  100  such that they are equally spaced and expose portions along an entire periphery of the front cover  100 . Although a plurality of peripheral holes  106  are illustrated, embodiments consistent with the present invention may use one or more peripheral holes  106  or none at all. Consistent with an embodiment of the present invention, peripheral holes  106  are designed to allow air to flow through front cover  100 , into and around LED assembly  200  and flow through air holes in thermally-conductive housing  400  to dissipate heat. 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 1 , peripheral holes  106  may be used to allow light emitted from LED  230  to pass through peripheral holes  106  to provide a corona lighting effect on front cover  100 . Thermally-conductive housing  400  may be made from an extrusion including a plurality of surface-area increasing structures, such as ridges  402  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) as described more completely in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111715,071 assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Ridges  402  may serve multiple purposes. For example, ridges  402  may provide heat-dissipating surfaces so as to increase the overall surface area of thermally-conductive housing  400 , providing a greater surface area for heat to dissipate to an ambient atmosphere over. That is, ridges  402  may allow thermally-conductive housing  400  to act as an effective heat sink for the light fixture assembly. Moreover, ridges  402  may also be formed into any of a variety of shapes and formations such that thermally-conductive housing  400  takes on an aesthetic quality. That is, ridges  402  may be formed such that thermally-conductive housing  400  is shaped into an ornamental extrusion having aesthetic appeal. However, thermally-conductive housing  400  may be formed into a plurality of other shapes, and thus function not only as a ornamental feature of the light fixture assembly, but also as a heat sink for cooling LED  230 . 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Technology Category: f