Overmolded lens on leadframe and method for overmolding lens on lead frame
AssigneeBarnes Group Inc.
InventorsEdward Flaherty, Timothy Butkus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light emitting diode (LED) assembly including an LED, an optically transmissive cover and a base for supporting the LED. The optically transmissive cover encapsulates the LED and includes a stiffener for reinforcing a base portion of the cover. The base includes electrical leads extending therefrom that are electrically connected to the LED. To make the cover, at least one support frame is formed in a strip of substantially rigid material. The at least one support frame is connected to a processing portion of the strip. At least one lens is overmolded on the at least one support frame that is connected to the processing portion. The overmolded support frame is removed from the processing portion of the strip.
Claims21
A leadframe strip assembly for LED lens assemblies having lenses and rigid support frames for structurally supporting said lenses, comprising:
- a leadframe strip;
- at least one support frame disposed within said leadframe strip;
- and
- at least one optically transmissive lens formed of a relatively soft material overmolded onto said at least one support frame for structurally supporting said lens.
A leadframe strip assembly for use in manufacturing LED lens assemblies, comprising:
- a leadframe strip including a plurality of support frames;
- and
- a plurality of lens covers having a base portion and a dome portion integrally formed with said base portion, said dome portion being at least partially optically transmissive to allow light from an LED to pass therethrough, each of said plurality of support frames reinforcing said base portion of a corresponding one of said plurality of lens covers for providing structural integrally to said corresponding one of said plurality of lens covers.
A method of manufacturing a plurality of LED lens assemblies on a leadframe strip for use in an LED assembly, comprising the steps of:
- providing a strip of rigid material;
- forming at least one support frame in said strip that is connected to a processing portion of said strip;
- overmolding at least one lens on said at least one support frame that is connected to said processing portion;
- and
- removing the overmolded support frame from said processing portion of said strip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.