초록 ▼

A replaceable vehicle lamp assemble may be made by placing LEDs directly on a heat conducting support that is thermally connected to an exterior heat radiating element. In one embodiment, the lamp structure is substantially snap fitted together. The LEDs are mounted on a heat conductive post and fla

A replaceable vehicle lamp assemble may be made by placing LEDs directly on a heat conducting support that is thermally connected to an exterior heat radiating element. In one embodiment, the lamp structure is substantially snap fitted together. The LEDs are mounted on a heat conductive post and flange. A coupler encircles the post and couples through the flange to a base thereby trapping the flange in place. The coupler also includes latching features to mount in a socket hole of a reflector assembly. The heat conductive flange is then exposed on the exterior to ambient air, thereby providing cooling for the LEDs.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A replaceable vehicle lamp assemble comprising:an LED light source mounted on a thermally conductive structure joined to a heat-sinking element;a mechanical coupler for detachable mounting to a housing or reflector, the coupler generally facing the light source, the coupler providing a support fo

1. A replaceable vehicle lamp assemble comprising:an LED light source mounted on a thermally conductive structure joined to a heat-sinking element;a mechanical coupler for detachable mounting to a housing or reflector, the coupler generally facing the light source, the coupler providing a support for the thermally conductive structure;an electrical connector supported by the coupler, andelectrical connections extending from the electrical connector to the LED light source to form a replaceable lamp;wherein the heat-sinking element includes a metal flange exposed on the lamp assembly exterior to exterior air at least in part on two sides of the flange; the flange being intermediate the coupler and the electrical connector with electrical connections extending through the flange. 2. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is sealed to the thermally conductive structure to encircle the electrical connections. 3. The lamp assembly in claim 1, further including a seal adjacent and encircling the thermally conductive structure to seal between the lamp assembly and a housing or reflector when joined to the coupler. 4. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive structure includes a tubular metal portion generally extending between a mounting for the LED light source and the heat-sinking element. 5. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the coupler holds the heat-sinking element, and the coupler latches to a base, providing an electrical connector, and the assembly also includes electrical connections that extend from the electrical connector through the coupler, and through the heat-sinking element to the LED light source. 6. The lamp in claim 5, wherein the coupler includes an attachment feature to mate with the electrical connector. 7. The lamp in claim 6, wherein the attachment feature includes at least one radially extending arm with a camming face to press against an adjacent socket face of the housing or reflector. 8. A replaceable vehicle lamp assemble comprising:a) a base having a first wall defining a first receptacle for electrical connection, a second wall defining a second receptacle including a latching feature, and at least one electrical connection extending from the first receptacle to the second receptacle;b) a coupler having a tubular portion having an interior wall defining a central passage, a first arm extending from the tubular portion latched to the latching feature in the base; and at least a second arm having a coupling face, the second arm extending radially relative to the tubular portion;c) an adapter having a thermally conductive tubular portion with an axial dimension, an exterior wall, an interior wall defining an internal passage, and a heat dissipating portion extending exteriorly away from the tubular portion, the heat dissipating portion having a wall defining a coupling passage, sized and shaped to permit the passage of at least a portion of the first arm of the coupler through the coupling passage, the coupler being positioned around the adapter and the first arm of the coupler extending through the coupling passage, and latched with the base in the second receptacle; thereby trapping the heat dissipating portion between the coupler and the base; andd) an electric lamp supported by the adapter, the electric lamp having at least one electrical connection extending through the adapter, and through the coupler to connect with the electrical connection. 9. The lamp assembly in claim 8, wherein the base includes an upstanding protrusion formed on the interior of the second receptacle and the coupler is latched to the upstanding protrusion. 10. The lamp assembly in claim 9, wherein the base includes a latch feature on the interior of the second receptacle and the first arm of the coupler is latched to the base in the second receptacle. 11. The lamp assembly in claim 9, wherein a compressible seal is positioned between the base and the heat-dissipating portion. 12. The lamp assembly in claim 9, wherein the heat-dissipating portion includes heat radiation features. 13. The lamp assembly in claim 9, wherein the coupler includes a bayonet coupling supporting a camming feature. 14. The lamp assembly in claim 9, wherein the adapter and heat dissipating portion are formed from a metal material with high heat conductivity. 15. The lamp in claim 9, wherein the adapter and the lamp are snuggly mounted one to another along adjacent and conformal surfaces providing thermal conducting there between, and the coupler and the adjacent lamp surface are respectively formed from materials with high heat conductivities thereby providing a heat conductive path from the lamp to the flange. 16. The lamp in claim 9 wherein the adapter and the lamp include corresponding interior and exterior surfaces enabling an axial coupling between the adapter and the lamp. 17. The lamp in claim 16, wherein the axial coupling is a telescope like coupling. 18. A replaceable vehicle lamp assemble comprising:a) a base having a first wall defining a first receptacle for electrical connection, a second wall defining a second receptacle including a latching feature, and at least one electrical connection extending from the first receptacle to the second receptacle;b) a coupler having a tubular portion having an interior wall defining a central passage, a first latching feature formed to cooperatively couple to the latching feature of the base; and a second latching feature formed to detachably couple with a housing or reflector;c) an adapter having a tubular portion with an axial dimension, an exterior wall, and an interior wall defining an internal passage; the adapter having a flange portion extending radially from the tubular portion, the tubular portion and flange being formed from a material with a high heat conductivity, and the tubular portion and the flange portion being in substantial thermal conductive contact one to the other; the flange portion having a wall defining a coupling passage, sized and shaped to permit the mechanical connection between the latching feature of the base and the first latching feature of the coupler; the coupler being positioned around the adapter and the latching feature of the base latched to first latching feature of the coupler thereby trapping the flange between the coupler and the base;d) a compressible seal being positioned between the base and the flange; ande) an electric lamp supported by the adapter, having at least one electrical connection extending through the internal passage of the adapter, and the internal passage of the coupler to connect with the electrical connection in the second receptacle; the adapter and the lamp mounted one to another, the adapter and the lamp include corresponding, adjacent and conforming surfaces enabling coupling between the adapter and the lamp while providing substantial thermal conduction there between, and the coupler and the adjacent lamp surface are respectively formed from materials with high heat conductivities thereby providing a heat conductive path from the lamp to the flange; andf) the lamp includes a lamp body with one or more LEDs mounted on the lamp body to conduct heat from the one or more LEDs during operation to the lamp body.