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US 8,944,658 B1Granted
LED holder for lighting panels
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJagdish T. Madhav, Mark L Cloud
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel illumination light source positioning and holding mechanism and method of operation and installation is disclosed for a light panel comprising a panel having on a front side thereof a front film forming an illumination surface, and an insertion hole through the panel to the film, the positioning and holding mechanism may comprise a hollow insertion portion extending into the insertion hole, the hollow insertion portion receiving an LED assembly; a locking mechanism locking the insertion portion in place after insertion into the insertion hole; a light pipe reception and holding mechanism, with a light pipe inserted into the light pipe reception and holding mechanism. The positioning and holding mechanism may also comprise a parallel extending portion holding the LED.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a hollow front end tube dimensioned to extend into an insertion hole in a panel, the panel having a front film forming an illumination surface on a front side and the panel having a rear film on a back side, the hollow front end tube comprising a light pipe opening having a beveled countersunk edge;
- a first back end tube coupled to the hollow front end tube and dimensioned to extend into the insertion hole, the first back end tube comprising a locking mechanism to lock the first back end tube in place by physical interference with a material in an interior region of the panel after insertion of the first back end tube into the insertion hole;
- a second back end tube coupled to the first back end tube and having an aperture dimensioned to receive a light source, wherein the second back end tube includes a plurality of protrusions each having a hex nut receptor face, and wherein the hex nut receptor faces are separated by intermediate openings between protrusions of the plurality of protrusions;
- and
- a positioning flange disposed between the first back end tube and the second back end tube, wherein the positioning flange engages with the rear film to limit insertion of the hollow front end tube.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a light pipe alignment and positioning housing which extends into an insertion hole in a panel, the panel having a front film forming an illumination surface on a front side and the panel having a rear film on a back side;
- a locking mechanism to lock the light pipe alignment and positioning housing in place in the insertion hole by physical interference with a material of the panel;
- an insertion stopping flange formed on the light pipe alignment and positioning housing, wherein the insertion stopping flange engages with the rear film to limit insertion of the light pipe alignment and positioning housing;
- a plurality of protrusions formed on the light pipe alignment and positioning housing, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions having a hex nut receptor face, wherein the hex nut receptor faces are separated by intermediate openings between protrusions of the plurality of protrusions;
- a light emitting diode (LED) holder to hold an LED in an orientation that is approximately parallel to the illumination surface, wherein the LED holder and the light pipe alignment and positioning housing are integrally formed from a single piece of material;
- and
- an optical light redirecting element positioned within the LED holder to redirect light from the LED into the light pipe alignment and positioning housing.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- inserting a light source holder into an insertion hole in a panel, the panel having a front film forming an illumination surface on a front side and the panel having a rear film on a back side, the light source holder comprising:
- a hollow front end tube dimensioned to extend into the insertion hole, the hollow front end tube comprising a light pipe opening having a beveled countersunk edge,
- a first back end tube coupled to the hollow front end tube and dimensioned to extend into the insertion hole, the first back end tube comprising a locking mechanism to lock the first back end tube in place by physical interference with a material in an interior region of the panel after insertion of the first back end tube into the insertion hole,
- a second back end tube coupled to the first back end tube and having an aperture dimensioned to receive a light source, wherein the second back end tube includes a plurality of protrusions each having a hex nut receptor face, and wherein the hex nut receptor faces are separated by intermediate openings between protrusions of the plurality of protrusions, and
- a positioning flange disposed between the first back end tube and the second back end tube, wherein the positioning flange engages with the rear film to limit insertion of the hollow front end tube;
- and
- inserting the light source into the second back end tube.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.