LIGHT SOURCE AND LIGHT FITTING

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a light source (1) comprising a housing (3), a light source connector (5) at a first end (7) of the housing (3), for connecting the light source to a light fitting, and a light emitting diode, LED, circuit (9), configured to emit light through a second end (11) of the housing (3). The housing may be substantially symmetric about a symmetry axis (13) extending from the first to the second end of the housing (7), (11). The housing (3) has, at the first end (7), a first end portion (15), comprising a thread (19), made in an insulating material, and being configured to be connected to a light fitting. A light fitting comprising such a light source is also considered.

Claims

1. A light source comprising a housing, a light source connector at a first end of the housing, for connecting the light source to a light fitting, and a light emitting diode, LED, circuit, configured to emit light through a second end of the housing, wherein the housing is substantially symmetric about a symmetry axis extending from the first to the second end of the housing, wherein the housing having, at the first end, a first end portion comprising a thread, the thread being made from an insulating material, and being configured to be connected to a light fitting.

2. Light source according to claim 1, comprising a second, preferably approximately cylindrical, end portion at the second end of the housing, the second end portion having a larger width than the first end portion.

3. Light source according to claim 2, wherein an intermediate portion of the housing, between the first and second end portions, has the shape of a frustum of a cone.

4. Light source according to claim 2, wherein the LED circuit is placed on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being located in the second end portion and having a normal being parallel with said symmetry axis, wherein preferably a lens is placed on top of said printed circuit board in said second cylindrical portion.

5. Light source according to claim 1, wherein an electric connector is located in the first end portion and is connected to the light emitting diode, LED, circuit, preferably the electric connector being at least partly surrounded by said thread, the electric connector preferably having at least partly the shape of a cylinder and being adapted for electrical connection to a light fitting at an arbitrary rotational position.

6. Light source according to claim 4, wherein a connector, preferably a connector board, preferably being arranged perpendicular to the printed circuit board, connects the electric connector to the printed circuit board.

7. Light source according to claim 1, wherein the housing, including the thread, is made in one piece in a plastic material, such as polyamide, polycarbonate, or polypropylene.

8. Light source according to claim 1, wherein the thread is an outer thread.

9. Light source according to claim 1, wherein the first end portion is substantially cylindrical.

10. Light source according to claim 8, wherein the thread extends in the elongation of the first end portion.

11. Light source according to claim 1, wherein the housing is circular symmetric about the symmetry axis.

12. A light fitting comprising a light source according to claim 1, wherein the light fitting has a light fitting connector portion comprising a thread configured to mate with the thread of the light source, and wherein the light fitting connector portion is substantially cylindrical with the same outer width as the first end portion of the light source.

13. Light fitting according to claim 12, wherein the light fitting connector portion and the first end portion of the light source have the same color.

14. Light fitting according to claim 12, wherein the light source housing makes up the outer face of the light fitting at the end thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a light source according to the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the light source in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the light source in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a light source being connected to a light fitting.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a light fitting including a connected light source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present disclosure relates to a light source and a light fitting including such a light source. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of such a light source 1.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a corresponding side view. The light source 1 comprises a housing 3, a light source connector 5, at a first end 7 of the housing 3, and is configured to emit light through a second end 11 thereof.

[0028] The housing 3 may be substantially symmetric about a symmetry axis 13 extending from the first to the second end 7, 11 of the housing 3. In the illustrated case, the housing 3 is circular symmetric about the symmetry axis 13. However other shapes are possible, for instance a housing cross section across the symmetry axis 13 may have a polygonal shape.

[0029] The light source comprises a light emitting diode, LED, circuit, which will be described in greater detail later.

[0030] The housing 3 comprises, at its first end 7, a first end portion 15, having a thread 19, in the illustrated case an outer thread, which is made in an insulating material, and is configured to be connected to a light fitting as will be shown. This is in contrast to known types of light sources, for instance of the types E27 or GU14, where a thread is provided but also being used as an electric connector of the light source. In the illustrated case, the thread does not have an electric function, but only a retaining function. The thread 19 may also have an insulating function. This means that no outer insulation need be provided at this location. Should the thread be exposed to some extent, the electric circuit connecting the light source to the light fitting is still protected.

[0031] The first end portion 15 may be substantially cylindrical with a cylinder axis coinciding with the symmetry axis 13 of the housing 3, and as illustrated the thread 19 may extend in the elongation of the first end portion 15. As will be shown, this configuration allows the light source to seamlessly constitute the elongation of a light fitting. The second end 11 of the housing 3 may comprise another approximately cylindrical end portion 21, having a larger width or diameter than the first end portion 15. This wider portion provides a suitable location for a LED circuit as will be shown.

[0032] An intermediate portion 23 of the housing 3, between the first 15 and second 21 end portions may be shaped as the frustum of a cone.

[0033] The housing 3, including the thread 19, may be made in one piece in a plastic material, typically by injection molding. Suitable materials include for example polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP).

[0034] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the light source 1 in FIG. 1. A LED circuit 9 of the light source 1 may as shown be placed on a printed circuit board, PCB, 25, including, in addition to light emitting diodes, driving and other electronics therefore. Preferably, the LED circuit PCB 25 is located in the wider second end portion 21 of the housing 3 where more space is provided. The PCB 25 may therefore extend in a plane and having a normal N being parallel with the symmetry axis 13 of the housing 3, the PCB 25 thereby directing the light emitted along that axis 13.

[0035] An electric connector 33 may typically be located in the first end portion 15. The connector 33 may be of a female coaxial power connector type having an inner opening providing room for a connecting pin of a light fitting male coaxial power connector. A pin may be provided in the center of this opening which in turn projects into a central opening of the light fitting male coaxial power connector, as is well known per se. The electric connector in its entirety may be hidden inside the first end portion, for example at least party inside of the thread 19, such that electric leads are not exposed when the light source is connected to a light fitting. The electric connector 33 may as illustrated have at least partly the shape of a cylinder and may be configured, thanks to the coaxial power connector configuration, for electrical connection to a light fitting at an arbitrary rotational position. This means that the connectors of the light source and the light fitting will swivel mutually while their threads are connected to each other.

[0036] A connector board 35, which may be perpendicular to the PCB 25, may be used to connect the electric connector 33 to the printed circuit board 25. As shown, a pin 37 of the connector 33 may be inserted in a sleeve 38 on the connector board 35. A bent sheet metal tab 39 may be connected to the connector board 35 at one end, while the other end of the tab 39 reaches into the space between the connector 33 and the housing 3 to contact a connector tab 40 of the connector 33. The other end 42 of the connector board 35 may be inserted in the PCB 25 to make contact between leads on the connector board 35 and the PCB 25.

[0037] As illustrated, a lens 27 may be placed on top of said printed circuit board 25 in the second cylindrical portion 21, although also a flat transparent layer or diffusor may be considered as alternative to a lens, for instance.

[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates assembly of a light source 1 to a light fitting connector portion 29 of a light fitting. The light fitting connector portion 29 comprises an inner thread 31 configured to mate with the outer thread 19 of the light source 1. In the illustrated case, the light fitting connector portion 29 is substantially cylindrical with the same outer width as the first end portion 15 of the light source 1. Therefore, the light fitting comprises a light source 1 that seamlessly connects with the remainder of the light fitting. It is even possible to let the light fitting connector portion 29 and the first end portion 15 of the light source have the same color. The light fitting male coaxial power connector 41 is also indicated in FIG. 4.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a light fitting 28 including the connected light source 1 after the assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 has been completed. A power cord of known type, not shown in FIG. 5, may be used for connecting the light fitting 28 to electric power. The light source 1 housing 3 makes up the outer face of the light fitting 28 at the end thereof, meaning that no further light fitting shade is needed.

[0040] The present disclosure is not restricted to the above examples and may be varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, instead of an outer thread 19 extending from the first end portion 15, there may be provided an inner thread in the first end portion that mates with an outer thread on the light fitting.