Patents Examined by John A. Ward
  • Patent number: 9377181
    Abstract: An artificial candle has a delicate glowing shroud or sock that can flutter like a candle flame, and the shroud may surround a “wick” that can be seen through the shroud to glow. Such a diaphanous shroud can be actuated by a fan, air pump, solenoid or conductor, which can be provided adjacent to the shroud or distanced from the shroud, for example in a central body of a chandelier. The wick may be lighted by a light emitting diode (LED), and the shroud can include fluorescent material that absorbs and reradiates some of the light from the wick. The wick and the shroud can be coupled to a shaft that simulates a wax candle body. A standard threaded fitting can be provided so that the artificial candle can thread into a socket to replace a light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Mark A. Lauer
  • Patent number: 9258854
    Abstract: A PAR-type light bulb includes an LED lacking a phosphor coating, the LED covered by a lens having a phosphor coating, and a base comprising reverse threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventor: Jia H. Deng
  • Patent number: 9140420
    Abstract: A light fixture and method for producing downward-propagating illumination are disclosed. A downward-facing panel may produce diffuse light. The panel may be generally flat and may have an indentation, where the indentation may have a lining that also produces diffuse light. The panel and the lining may have essentially the same luminance, so that the indentation may be less visible for orientations other than directly below the indentation. The fixture may have a downlight recessed into the indentation, which may produce a directional beam that emerges downward from within the indentation. The directional beam may have a brightness controllable separately from the diffuse light, such as a dedicated dimmer switch. The indentation may be at the center of the panel. The panel may be incorporated into a ceiling tile, and may be bundled as part of a kit that can also include ceiling tiles with panels that don't have a downlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Allen Olsen, Michael Quilici
  • Patent number: 9127819
    Abstract: A light-directing apparatus for predominantly forward distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis. The light-directing apparatus includes a forward-reflective surface entirely within a lens member positioned over the light emitter. The lens member has an outer surface and an inner cavity including an emitter-light-receiving void and a light-reflecting void which is contiguous with the emitter-light-receiving void and is different in configuration than the emitter-light-receiving void. The forward-reflective surface is in the light-reflecting void in position in the path of light emitted rearwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9122000
    Abstract: There is provided an illuminator comprising: a light source; and a lens sheet that is arranged on the optical axis of the light source and that has a plurality of prisms, wherein the light source is composed of: a luminous element; and phosphors that irradiate with lights emitted from the luminous element, and the lens sheet includes prisms that have focal distances each different from the prisms adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Suzuki, Masaki Asai
  • Patent number: 9109775
    Abstract: An accent lighting source utilizes a light source having a metal heat dissipating housing with an aperture within which at least one point light source, such as from an LED, is mounted. The aperture is closed by a lens/diffuser structure. The light source is mounted within a housing for the accent light source. The housing has a design configuration that supports one or more of a preferred accent lighting installation on a horizontal or vertical surface. Exemplary horizontal surfaces include the top of a post member, a deck surface, a stair surface or an overhanging or ceiling surface. Exemplary vertical surfaces include a stair riser and the side of post or wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Fortress Iron, LP
    Inventors: Kevin T. Burt, Matthew Carlyle Sherstad, John David Irick
  • Patent number: 9109783
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes a primary enclosure and a secondary enclosure. The primary enclosure can include a fastening feature of a secondary enclosure receiver that is positioned adjacent to an aperture in the primary enclosure. The secondary enclosure can include a corresponding fastening feature that mechanically couples to the fastening feature of the primary enclosure, where the secondary enclosure surrounds the aperture when the secondary enclosure is mechanically coupled to the primary enclosure. The secondary enclosure can further include a passage through which a wire that traverses the aperture in the primary enclosure passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Jared Davis, Kevin Roy Harpenau, Jyoti Kathawate, Russell Bryant Green, Gregg A. Lehman
  • Patent number: 9103535
    Abstract: A system including a J-shaped portion defined via an elongated trough and an elongated leg. The trough having an elongated inner channel. The leg having an elongated inner surface exposed to the inner channel. The J-shaped portion having a first elongated end at the trough and a second elongated end at the leg. The first end having an elongated grasping lip curving toward the inner channel. The inner surface having a plurality of decorative light holders stationed along the inner surface. The holders are disposed between the inner channel and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph A. Nodland, Molly Strobel
  • Patent number: 9097417
    Abstract: A reduced emissions work light composed of a two module system for easy assembly and reassembly of component parts. The first module includes a bulb, a ballast, a ballast housing, an end cap, a socket fixture, and an electrical cable. A socket fixture is configured to secure a connection between the ballast housing and the bulb to create a single unitary body. The first module is placed inside a second module to form the reduced emissions work light containing only two separate components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: INTERLOG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Justin Kwon, Suk Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 9097411
    Abstract: A modular lighting system features a universal mounting method for lighting elements, such as LED lights, as well as various electrical devices, and is configurable in multiple modes of operation. In one aspect, LED strips are inserted into slots in the lower surface of the rail member. Another aspect allows operation with tube lamps, such LED tube lamps. In still another mode of operation, discrete electrical or electromechanical components may be employed, powered by electrical power available in the rail. In yet another more, an up and down, bidirectional lighting system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Joseph Guilmette
  • Patent number: 9084345
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a backlight module, a printed circuit board used for a backlight module, and a manufacturing method for the same. The printed circuit board comprises a light bar region and a heat dissipating region. The light bar region used for mounting a light bar of the backlight module and formed with a conductive circuit for supplying power for the light bar; and the heat dissipating region connected with the light bar region, wherein, a connection location of the light bar region and the heat dissipating region disposes with a cutting slot and the cutting slot locates at a side of the printed circuit board for mounting the light bar in order to prevent a short-circuit connection between the heat dissipating region and the conductive circuit of the light bar region through the cutting slot. The present invention can avoid the short circuit problem due to uncompleted etching of the conductive layer on the heat dissipating region of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Che-chang Hu, Kuang-Yao Chang, Qian Cao
  • Patent number: 9080762
    Abstract: A decorative display apparatus comprising a flameless candle with an integrated fountain is disclosed. The flameless candle with integrated fountain is designed to be a stand-alone device. The flameless candle with integrated fountain includes a translucent candle body containing a water reservoir to which an optional scent may be added, a power source which may be a battery, USB or DC supply from an AC converter, a pump and an integrated water and light diffuser. The flameless candle with integrated fountain may be operated in either candle-only mode or candle and fountain mode. The device may also be operated on a timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Ray
  • Patent number: 9080760
    Abstract: A light fixture assembly including an illumination assembly in the form of one or more light emitting diodes is interconnected to an electrical energy source by control circuitry. A mounting assembly supports the illumination assembly and a cover structure is disposed in heat transferring relation to the illumination assembly, wherein the cover structure and/or mounting assembly have enlarged surface areas formed of a heat conductive material, facilitating heat dissipation generated by the illumination assembly into the surrounding environment. At least one connector, formed of an electrically conductive material, is disposed in interconnecting, current conducting relation between a source of electrical energy and the illumination assembly. The mounting assembly is disposed in electrically segregated relation to the connector(s), wherein said interconnecting relation of said one connector at least partially defines an assembled orientation of the illumination assembly and mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Inventors: Daryl Soderman, Dale B. Stepps
  • Patent number: 9080736
    Abstract: Solar-powered lighting devices that may be portable and/or collapsible are described. The devices may include a housing including a first wall, a second wall, and one or more side walls between the first wall and the second wall, at least one solar panel to generate solar energy, and a rechargeable battery to store the solar energy generated. The devices may include a plurality of operating modes for controlling lights within the housing, and a microprocessor for controlling the operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: MPOWERD INC.
    Inventors: John Salzinger, Michael Muehlemann
  • Patent number: 9075170
    Abstract: It is disclosed an optical element (200) wherein one or more light-emitting diodes, LEDs, and additional optics may be provided in an integrated solution that may relatively easily be assembled and maintained in a desired position relatively each other. The optical element (200) may enable one or more LEDs and additional optics to be provided in an integrated solution that is relatively thin and compact in comparison with known devices, such that light from one or more LEDs may be injected into a thin light guide (205, 206) such as an optical fiber, an optical fiber array, a ribbon-shaped light-guiding structure, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N. V.
    Inventors: Hugo Johan Cornelissen, Maarten Marinus Johannes Wilhelmus Van Herpen, Liesbeth Van Pieterson
  • Patent number: 9068723
    Abstract: A configurable lamp assembly has a set of lamp-lens modules and a set of power modules. Each of the various lamp-lens modules can connect to one of the various power modules to provide a variety of lamp assemblies providing various illumination patterns operable from a number of supply voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventors: Dean Andrew Wilkinson, Nathan Howard Calvin
  • Patent number: 9060468
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ILLUMITEX, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Peter Klase, Dung T. Duong, Emil Radkov, Paul N. Winberg
  • Patent number: 9039253
    Abstract: Provided is an illumination device including a light source, a power supply to supply power to the light source, a housing including one side formed to be open, and including the light source and the power supply in the housing, at least one diffusion cover, disposed on the open side of the housing, through which light from the light source passes, and a power cover, disposed on the open side of the housing, to cover one side of the power supply. The illumination device may minimize a number of components or tools used for installing the illumination device. The illumination device may be readily installed by changing a structure and components included in the illumination device may be readily changed and repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joong Hun Jin, Min Ho Cha, Hyeong Won Yun
  • Patent number: 9028107
    Abstract: A lamp has an LED, a base, and a reflector. The base is rigidly connected to the LED and has a base contact surface. The reflector, which can be connected to the base, has a reflector contact surface, an entry opening, an exit opening, and a longitudinal direction (L) that runs from the exit opening to the entry opening. The reflector contact surface is arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) between the entry opening and the exit opening, and the base contact surface abuts the reflector contact surface. Thus, movement of the base and/or reflector towards each other is prevented when the reflector is connected to the base. The reflector is formed in such a way that a projection of the reflector contact surface in the longitudinal direction (L) of the reflector is free of undercuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Auer Lighting GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Becker, Markus Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9016914
    Abstract: A light source unit assembly includes a light source, a light guide member, a light source housing member housing the light source, a light guide member holder, and a mounting member. The light guide member includes a light entrance portion and a light exit portion from which the light entering the light entrance portion exits. The light guide member holder supports an end portion of the light guide member including the light exit portion. The mounting member is provided to a vehicular interior part and each of the light source housing member and the light guide member holder is independently mounted to the mounting member. Each of the light source housing member and the light guide member holder has a connecting portion with which the light source housing member and the light guide member holder are connected to each other such that the light entrance portion faces the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ukai, Hiroyasu Tahara