Patents by Inventor Kurt Wilcox

Kurt Wilcox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150124449
    Abstract: An LED light fixture includes a heat sink structure, at least one LED board in thermal engagement with the heat sink structure, the at least one LED board having at least one LED emitter thereon, and an on-board connector on the LED board for connecting electrical wiring to the LED emitter(s). At least one enclosing member forms with the heat sink an interior space enclosing a corresponding LED board, the rigid enclosing member defining a wiring aperture therethrough in alignment with the on-board connector. The LED light fixture also has an exterior wireway structure including a one-piece duct which has an end portion engaged with the wiring aperture and forms a channel for wires to the on-board connector. The wireway structure further includes a single-piece rigid cover secured with respect to the enclosing member and enclosing the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Wilcox, Andrew Bendtsen, Dan Quella
  • Publication number: 20140247590
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a high output, high color quality light are disclosed. In some embodiments, such a light may include a light fixture including one or more LEDs configured to output a cumulative light output; wherein the cumulative light output comprises an intensity of greater than or equal to 10,000 lumens; and wherein the cumulative light output comprises a CRI of at least 90.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Kurt Wilcox, Brian Kinnune, Nick Medendorp, Yuequan Hu
  • Publication number: 20140159084
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) package comprising an encapsulant designed to improve color spatial uniformity in comparison to hemispherical encapsulants is described. In some embodiments, the encapsulant comprises a segment of a hemisphere as a lower portion and an upper portion of a second shape. In some embodiments this second shape is defined by a spline curve. The encapsulant improves color uniformity over a wide range of angles while only minimally affecting other attributes such as photometric polar distribution, extraction efficiency, and luminous intensity. Embodiments of the present invention can also utilize light emitting systems comprising such LED packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Mario Castillo, Kurt Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20140078740
    Abstract: An LED light fixture a housing, a heat sink secured with respect to the housing, the heat sink has a base with front and back surfaces, and an LED arrangement mounted at the front surface of the heat sink The back surface of the heat sink is open to water/air flow thereover. The LED light fixture also includes at least one closed channel extending along the base and spaced therefrom for receiving wire connections for the LED arrangement. The at least one closed channel receives wiring extending to/from the second LED module. The LED arrangement may include at least first and second LED modules, the first LED module being proximal to the housing with the at least one closed channel receiving wiring extending to/from the second LED module. The first and second LED modules may be in end-to-end relationship to one another such that the second LED module is distal from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Don Miletich
  • Patent number: 8622584
    Abstract: An LED light fixture includes a housing forming a chamber enclosing at least one drive and an extruded portion extending therefrom. In some embodiments, the housing has a dimension in the extruded direction no less than one-third of the fixture length, and the sides of the extruded portion and of the housing have substantially congruent profiles such that enclosure and heat-dissipation functions of the fixture are facilitated without substantial discontinuity in fixture configuration therealong viewed from positions below. A plurality of substantially rectangular LED-array modules are mounted to the LED-adjacent surface which has length and width dimensions accommodating multiple modules of predetermined width and lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Don Miletich
  • Publication number: 20130051002
    Abstract: A high-efficiency LED lamp is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide a high-efficiency, high output solid-state lamp. The lamp includes an LED assembly, an optical element disposed to receive light from the LED assembly, and an optical overlay. The optical element includes a primary exit surface, wherein the primary exit surface is at least about 1.5 inches from the LED assembly. In example embodiments, the optical element is roughly cylindrical in shape, but can take other shapes and be made from various materials. An LED lamp according to some embodiments of the invention has an efficiency of at least about 160 lumens per watt. In some embodiments, the lamp has a light output of at least 1200 lumens. In some embodiments, the LED lamp produces light with a color rendering index (CRI) of at least 90 and a warm white color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Draper, Kurt Wilcox, Jason Taylor, Paul Kenneth Pickard, Gerald H. Negley, Mark Edmond
  • Patent number: 8313222
    Abstract: An LED floodlight fixture includes a housing, an LED heat sink secured to the housing and an LED arrangement mounted on the heat sink in non-water/air-tight condition with respect to the housing. The heat sink including (i) a base having an LED-adjacent surface and an opposite surface and (ii) a heat-dissipating section having heat-dissipating surfaces extending from the opposite surface. The LED arrangement is mounted to the LED-adjacent surface in non-water/air-tight condition with respect to the housing. The housing preferably forms at least one venting gap to provide cool-air ingress to and along the heat-dissipating surfaces by upward flow of heated air therefrom. The base of the heat sink has one or more venting apertures to provide cool-air ingress to and along the heat-dissipating surfaces by upward flow of heated air therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20120176790
    Abstract: An LED floodlight fixture includes a housing, an LED heat sink secured to the housing and an LED arrangement mounted on the heat sink in non-water/air-tight condition with respect to the housing. The heat sink including (i) a base having an LED-adjacent surface and an opposite surface and (ii) a heat-dissipating section having heat-dissipating surfaces extending from the opposite surface. The LED arrangement is mounted to the LED-adjacent surface in non-water/air-tight condition with respect to the housing. The housing preferably forms at least one venting gap to provide cool-air ingress to and along the heat-dissipating surfaces by upward flow of heated air therefrom. The base of the heat sink has one or more venting apertures to provide cool-air ingress to and along the heat-dissipating surfaces by upward flow of heated air therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: RUUD LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8092049
    Abstract: An LED floodlight fixture includes (1) a housing that has (a) at least one end-portion and (b) a single-piece extrusion including (i) a base having an LED-adjacent surface and an opposite surface and (ii) a heat-dissipating section having heat-dissipating surfaces extending from the opposite surface, and (2) an LED arrangement mounted to the LED-adjacent surface in non-water/air-tight condition with respect to the housing. The housing preferably forms at least one venting gap to provide cool-air ingress to and along the heat-dissipating surfaces by upward flow of heated air therefrom. Additionally and/or alternatively, the base of the single-piece extrusion has one or more venting apertures to provide cool-air ingress for such purpose. One aspect of the invention involves the heat-dissipating section of the extrusion including a closed extruded wireway therealong enclosing wires extending to/from electrical component(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Alan J. Ruud, Wayne Guillien, Don Miletich, Kurt Wilcox, Russell S. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7952262
    Abstract: A modular LED unit having a number of LED modules separately mounted on individual interconnected preferably-extruded heat sinks, each heat sink having: a base configured to engage and hold an LED module in place and, in preferred forms, to facilitate the ganging of heat-sink/LED modules; and a plurality of fins, including inner-fins and side-fins, projecting from the opposite surface of the base and extending therealong, the side-fins having interlocking features to facilitate the ganging of heat-sink/module units together and, in preferred forms, to facilitate interconnection of the modular LED unit to other portions of a lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak, Steven J. Patkus, Alan J. Ruud
  • Patent number: 7744259
    Abstract: The inventive directionally-adjustable LED spotlight is comprised of a fixed heat sink and an LED-array-bearing structure. The LED-array-bearing structure is adjustably attached in a heat transfer relationship to the fixed heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Walczak, Kurt Wilcox, Wayne Guillien
  • Patent number: 7686469
    Abstract: An LED floodlight fixture including a housing that forms a substantially water/air-tight chamber, electronic LED driver(s) within the chamber, and an LED assembly secured with respect to the housing adjacent thereto in non-water/air-tight condition, the LED assembly having at least one LED-array module mounted on an LED heat sink. In certain preferred embodiments the housing is a perimetrical structure such that the substantially water-tight chamber substantially surrounds the LED assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak, Wayne Guillien
  • Publication number: 20090251898
    Abstract: An LED floodlight fixture includes (1) a housing that has (a) at least one end-portion and (b) a single-piece extrusion including (i) a base having an LED-adjacent surface and an opposite surface and (ii) a heat-dissipating section having heat-dissipating surfaces extending from the opposite surface, and (2) an LED arrangement mounted to the LED-adjacent surface in non-water/air-tight condition with respect to the housing. The housing preferably forms at least one venting gap to provide cool-air ingress to and along the heat-dissipating surfaces by upward flow of heated air therefrom. Additionally and/or alternatively, the base of the single-piece extrusion has one or more venting apertures to provide cool-air ingress for such purpose. One aspect of the invention involves the heat-dissipating section of the extrusion including a closed extruded wireway therealong enclosing wires extending to/from electrical component(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kinnune, Alan J. Ruud, Wayne Guillien, Don Miletich, Kurt Wilcox, Russell S. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7425084
    Abstract: A bollard luminaire comprising a ground-mountable tubular vertical housing having a base portion and an upper portion, an annular lens member atop the housing in substantial axial alignment therewith, an upper reflector at the top of the lens member directing and reflecting light through the annular lens member, the housing and lens member being configured and the upper reflector positioned such that it receives upwardly directed light from below, and an LED module inside the base portion of the housing, the LED module being substantially centrally positioned, oriented for upward light emission, and having LED/optical-element sets themselves providing substantially vertically collimated light. In preferred embodiments, the housing is light-transmissive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak
  • Publication number: 20080078524
    Abstract: A modular LED unit having a number of LED modules separately mounted on individual interconnected preferably-extruded heat sinks, each heat sink having: a base configured to engage and hold an LED module in place and, in preferred forms, to facilitate the ganging of heat-sink/LED modules; and a plurality of fins, including inner-fins and side-fins, projecting from the opposite surface of the base and extending therealong, the side-fins having interlocking features to facilitate the ganging of heat-sink/module units together and, in preferred forms, to facilitate interconnection of the modular LED unit to other portions of a lighting fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: RUUD LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt Wilcox, Steven Walczak, Steven Patkus, Alan Ruud
  • Publication number: 20080080196
    Abstract: An LED floodlight fixture including a housing that forms a substantially water/air-tight chamber, electronic LED driver(s) within the chamber, and an LED assembly secured with respect to the housing adjacent thereto in non-water/air-tight condition, the LED assembly having at least one LED-array module mounted on an LED heat sink. In certain preferred embodiments the housing is a perimetrical structure such that the substantially water-tight chamber substantially surrounds the LED assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: RUUD LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Alan Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven Patkus, Wayne Guillien
  • Publication number: 20080080190
    Abstract: The inventive directionally-adjustable LED spotlight is comprised of a fixed heat sink and an LED-array-bearing structure. The LED-array-bearing structure is adjustably attached in a heat transfer relationship to the fixed heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Steven R. Walczak, Kurt Wilcox, Wayne Guillien
  • Publication number: 20080080192
    Abstract: A bollard luminaire comprising a ground-mountable tubular vertical housing having a base portion and an upper portion, an annular lens member atop the housing in substantial axial alignment therewith, an upper reflector at the top of the lens member directing and reflecting light through the annular lens member, the housing and lens member being configured and the upper reflector positioned such that it receives upwardly directed light from below, and an LED module inside the base portion of the housing, the LED module being substantially centrally positioned, oriented for upward light emission, and having LED/optical-element sets themselves providing substantially vertically collimated light. In preferred embodiments, the housing is light-transmissive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak
  • Patent number: D576330
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak, Robert D. Giese
  • Patent number: D576332
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak