WO2009077578A1

WO2009077578A1 - Supporting device for lenses and optics especially coupled with punctiform light sources such as leds

Info

Publication number: WO2009077578A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/067834
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimo Gattari
Original assignee: Iguzzini Illuminazione SpA
Current assignee: Iguzzini Illuminazione SpA
Priority date: 2007-12-19
Filing date: 2008-12-18
Publication date: 2009-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-19
Also published as: EP2232131A1; ITFI20070286A1; CN101939588A

Abstract

A supporting and anchoring device to mounting headers, for lenses and optics especially coupled with punctiform light sources such as LEDs, comprising a main body (10) preferably cylindrical in shape, provided with openings (11, 12) at the top and bottom faces, said opening at the bottom face (12) having dimensions adapted to house the corresponding LED device (13) arranged on said header, said opening at the top face (11) having dimensions adapted to contain the optics intended for said LED device (13) and any possible non-reflective devices, and characterised in that it includes appropriate anchoring means to said header so as not to require the use of external fastening means.

Description

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR LENSES AND OPTICS ESPECIALLY COUPLED WITH PUNCTIFORM LIGHT SOURCES SUCH AS LEDS. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of lighting devices, and in particular relates to the field of LED (Light Emitting Diode) devices and to the supporting devices used to anchor lenses and optics coupled with said LED devices to supports such as printed circuits, mounting headers and the like. State of the art Modern lighting devices and apparatuses make an increasingly frequent use of Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs, due to their simplicity of use and superior characteristics - as compared to the traditional light sources consisting in incandescent and fluorescent lamps - in terms of average lifetime, flexibility of use and possibility of being integrated in small spaces. For this reason, an increasing number of applications use LED devices arranged on headers, printed circuits and the like, and increasing attention is therefore paid to the devices adapted to contain, support and anchor the lenses and optics related to said LED devices to said printed circuits.

The most common solutions involve the use of supporting devices for LED-related lenses and optics that exploit one or more anchors to the header or printed circuit on which they are assembled, which anchors are made by gluing or using screws or rivets or similar fastening means. These solutions, however, have some drawbacks because either they do not allow an easy removal of the device when it is necessary, or they require additional fastening means that imply extra costs and assembly times, which impact on the economic character of the final product. Therefore, there is a clear need for a supporting device for LED-related lenses and optics that is characterised by the possibility to be assembled, mounted and possibly removed on/from its header or printed circuit, without using additional fastening or removing means, and that enables to have a precise and reproducible centring of the lens on the LED so as to provide a uniform light diffusion. Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a supporting device for LED-related lenses and optics, characterised by the possibility to be assembled, mounted and possibly removed on/from its header or printed circuit, without using additional fastening or removing means.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows four views of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention, arranged on a specific mounting header. Detailed description of the invention

The accompanying Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the device object of the present invention. It is comprised of a main body 10 preferably cylindrical in shape, provided with openings 1 1 , 12 at the top and bottom faces. The opening at the bottom face 12, in contact with the mounting header, is dimensioned to be adapted to house the corresponding LED device 13 arranged on said header, while the opening at the top face 1 1 is dimensioned to be adapted to contain the optics intended for said LED device and any possible non-reflective devices such as that described in European Patent Application No. 1710495. Said main body 10 is further equipped with appropriate anchoring means to said header such that it does not require to use external fastening means such as screws, rivets, glues and the like. Said anchoring means preferably consist of at least two hooks 14 projecting beyond said bottom face 12 and including a pin having a substantially rectangular section and fitted with a tooth 15 adapted to engage with a corresponding opening 16 on the header or printed circuit used. Said hooks 14 are preferably arranged in positions which are diametrically opposite to one another.

Advantageously, the device according to the present invention is provided with further centring means and further supporting means. Said centring means, adapted to facilitate the mounting of said device onto said mounting header, preferably consist of at least two further pins 17 substantially cylindrical in shape, and having a length such that they project beyond said bottom face 12 and adapted to engage with corresponding openings 18 on the header or printed circuit used. Said pins 17 are preferably arranged in positions which are diametrically opposite to one another and appropriately spaced apart from said hooks 14. Said supporting means, adapted to optimise the stability of said device on said mounting header, preferably consist of at least two tabs 19 having a substantially rectangular section and dimensions adapted to ensure the correct stability for the device according to the present invention when assembled on said header or on said printed circuit. Said tabs 19 are preferably arranged in positions which are diametrically opposite to one another and appropriately spaced apart both from said hooks 14 and from said pins 17.

In order to further improve the stability of the device according to the present invention, at their end connected to said cylindrical body 10, said pins may be provided with a shape having a substantially rectangular section and dimensions substantially similar to those of said tabs 19, so as to provide further resting means to the device according to the present invention. Advantageously, the device according to the present invention will include appropriate hooking means adapted to engage with possible non-reflective devices of the type described in European Patent Application No. 1710495. Said appropriate hooking means preferably consist of two openings 20 obtained on the side surface of said cylindrical body 10, and adapted to engage with the corresponding hooking and fastening means present on said possible non- reflective devices.

Claims

1. A supporting device for lenses and optics related to LEDs and punctiform light sources, comprising a main body (10) preferably cylindrical in shape, provided with openings (1 1 , 12) at the top and bottom faces, said opening at the bottom face (12) having dimensions adapted to house the corresponding LED device

(13) arranged on said header, said opening at the top face (11 ) having dimensions adapted to contain the optics intended for said LED device (13) and any possible non-reflective devices, characterized in that it includes appropriate anchoring means to said header such that they do not require to use external fastening means.

2. A device according to claim 1 , characterised in that said anchoring means preferably consist of at least two hooks (14) projecting beyond said bottom face (12) and including a pin having a substantially rectangular section and fitted with a tooth (15) adapted to engage with a corresponding opening (16) on the header or printed circuit used.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that said hooks (14) are arranged in positions which are diametrically opposite to one another.

4. A device according to claims 1 - 3, characterised in that it includes centring means adapted to facilitate the mounting of said device onto said mounting header.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that said centring means comprise at least two further pins (17) substantially cylindrical in shape and having a length such that they project beyond said bottom face (12) and adapted to engage with corresponding openings (18) on said mounting header.

6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that said pins (17) are preferably arranged in positions which are diametrically opposite to one another and appropriately spaced apart from said hooks (14).

7. A device according to claims 1 - 6, characterised in that it includes resting means adapted to optimise the stability of said device on said mounting header.

8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that said resting means comprise at least two tabs (19) having a substantially rectangular section and dimensions adapted to ensure the correct stability for the device according to the present invention when assembled on said header.

9. A device according to claim 8, characterised in that said tabs (19) are arranged in positions which are diametrically opposite to one another and appropriately spaced apart both from said hooks (14) and from said pins (17).

10. A device according to claims 5 - 9, characterised in that, at their end connected to said cylindrical body (10), said pins (17) are provided with a shape having a substantially rectangular section and dimensions substantially similar to those of said tabs (19) so as to provide further resting means to the device according to the present invention.

1 1. A device according to claims 1 - 10, characterised in that it includes appropriate hooking means adapted to engage with possible non-reflective devices.

12.A device according to claim 1 1 , characterised in that said appropriate hooking means consist of two openings (20) obtained on the side surface of said cylindrical body (10) and adapted to engage with the corresponding hooking and fastening means present on said possible non-reflective devices.