# US 2012/0238128 A1 · Lighting Connector Devices and Uses Thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0238128 A1 - Document ID: US20120238128A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/481,771 - Filed: 2012-05-25 - Published: 2012-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-01 - Assignees: Huithan Light Engine Ltd. - Inventors: Paul Chung Wai Lo; Teddy Yeung Man Lo; Eddie Ping Kuen Li; Sue-Anne Tean Leung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120238128A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/506: assembled by snap action of the parts - H01R 12/616: {having contacts penetrating insulation for making contact with conductors, e.g. needle points} - H01R 25/14: Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length (supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35) - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A lighting connector which includes (a) an upper housing having plural connector pins, and one or more interlocking grooves; and (b) a lower housing, the lower housing having a plurality of connector pin guide holes, and one or more interlocking tongue portions. The lower housing is connectable with the upper housing to form the lighting connector by coupling at least one of the one or more interlocking grooves with at least one of the one or more interlocking tongue portions, and by coupling at least one of the plural connector pins with at least one of the connector pin guide holes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting connector, the lighting connector comprising: (a) an upper housing having: plural connector pins, and one or more interlocking grooves; and (b) a lower housing, the lower housing having a plurality of connector pin guide holes, and one or more interlocking tongue portions, the lower housing being connectable with the upper housing to form the lighting connector by coupling at least one of the one or more interlocking grooves with at least one of the one or more interlocking tongue portions, and by coupling at least one of the plural connector pins with at least one of the connector pin guide holes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the plural connector pins comprises an embedded portion situated within the upper housing, and plural protruding portions, at least one of the protruding portions being configured to couple with a respective corresponding one of the at least one connector pin guide holes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lighting connector according to claim 2, the upper and lower housings being shaped so as to interface with at least two lengths of lighting apparatus, so as to mechanically and electrically connect the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus to one another upon coupling of the upper and lower housings to form the lighting connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lighting connector according to claim 3, wherein each of the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus interfacing with the connector comprises an encapsulant and at least one conductive bus embedded within the encapsulant, and, upon coupling of the upper and lower housings, the protruding portions of each connector pin penetrate the encapsulant of at least one of the lighting apparatuses so as to contact the at least one conductive bus and to effect an electrical coupling between the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lighting connector according to claim 4, the lower housing further comprising at least one opening for receiving an end portion of a length of lighting apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lighting connector according to claim 5, further comprising a gasket in a lining of the at least one opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The lighting connector according to claim 4, wherein the upper housing and lower housing are shaped to facilitate interfacing of the connector with end portions of two lighting apparatuses at a right angle, so as to provide, upon coupling of the upper housing and the lower housing, an L-branch lighting connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The lighting connector according to claim 4, wherein each of the connector pins are made of an electrically conductive material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The lighting connector according to claim 4, wherein the embedded portion of each of the connector pins is insert-molded into the upper housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The lighting connector according to claim 4, wherein the protruding portions of each of the connector pins comprise a barbed tip, inverted “V” tip, or a “U” tip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The lighting connector according to claim 4, wherein the upper and lower housings are made of a thermoplastic. ### Claim 12 A method of electrically and mechanically connecting at least two lengths of lighting apparatus so that the end portions of the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus are at a right angle, each lighting apparatus having at least one conductive bus, using a connector having: an upper housing having one or more interlocking grooves, a lower housing having one or more interlocking tongue portions, connector pins embedded in the upper housing, and one or more openings and/or slots formed in the lower housing, the method comprising: coupling an end portion of a first one of the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus into at least one of the one or more openings and/or slots; coupling a second one of the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus into at least one of the one or more openings and/or slots; and pressing the upper housing and the lower housing so as to couple corresponding ones of the interlocking grooves of the upper housing with interlocking tongue portions of the lower housing, so as to penetrate the connector pins into the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus so as to contact the conductive buses of the respective lighting apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus comprise an encapsulant, and the connector pins penetrate to the encapsulant in the pressing step. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the penetration of the respective at least two lengths of lighting apparatus effects an electrical connection between the at least one conductor buses of the at least two lengths of lighting apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A lighting system comprising at least one lighting connector of claim 1.