Patents by Inventor Rick Kauffman

Rick Kauffman 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: 20170284606
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an LED based light unit that produces an output lighting pattern that meets desired lighting characteristics using a reduced number of LED elements. The present disclosure provides a number of point sources that are directed into a desired direction such that, when combined with other point sources, a synthesized light output is provided that minimizes the LED headcount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: RICK KAUFFMAN, DONALD SIPES, DONALD VANDERSLUIS, ROBERT FUGERER
  • Patent number: 9470371
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an LED based light unit that produces an output lighting pattern that meets desired lighting characteristics using a reduced number of LED elements. The present disclosure provides a number of point sources that are directed into a desired direction such that, when combined with other point sources, a synthesized light output is provided that minimizes the LED headcount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Evolucia, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Donald Sipes, Donald Vandersluis, Robert Fugerer
  • Publication number: 20140204577
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an LED based light unit that produces an output lighting pattern that meets desired lighting characteristics using a reduced number of LED elements. The present disclosure provides a number of point sources that are directed into a desired direction such that, when combined with other point sources, a synthesized light output is provided that minimizes the LED headcount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: EVOLUCIA LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: RICK KAUFFMAN, DONALD SIPES, DONALD VANDERSLUIS, ROBERT FUGERER
  • Patent number: 8635049
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an LED based light unit that produces an output lighting pattern that meets desired lighting characteristics using a reduced number of LED elements. The present disclosure provides a number of point sources that are directed into a desired direction such that, when combined with other point sources, a synthesized light output is provided that minimizes the LED headcount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Evolucia, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Donald Sipes, Donald VanderSluis, Robert Fugerer
  • Publication number: 20120162985
    Abstract: A desired output from a solid state lighting assembly is generated using a combination of a light assembly and an external protective lens. Provided are aspects in which the spreading and/or steering of aimed beams from individual light elements is achieved by through sections formed into an external protective lens. This may be embodied either in a luminaire originally designed to utilize solid state lighting elements, such as LEDs, or in a retrofit device or mechanism designed to convert an existing luminaire that uses a traditional light source into a luminaire that uses solid state lighting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SUNOVIA ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Donald Sipes
  • Publication number: 20120051055
    Abstract: A luminaire for re-use, a retro-fit device, or mechanism, that are designed to both fit into an existing luminaire while also making efficient use of LEDs or other solid state light elements is provided. Thermal elements are provided that act to remove heat generated by light elements. A housing is provided that may be configured to receive LEDs, or other optical elements, that are aimed to provide light in a desired direction through mounting to a facet or mounting surface, and have effective thermal environment control through one or more fins mounted to the side of the facet opposite the light element. Luminaires are provided for both original designs that utilize solid state light elements, and retrofit assemblies designed to convert an existing luminaire (that uses a traditional light source or sources) into a luminaire that uses solid state light elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SUNOVIA ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Donald Sipes, Donald VanderSluis, Robert Fugerer
  • Publication number: 20120051054
    Abstract: A luminaire for re-use, a retro-fit device, or mechanism, that are designed to both fit into an existing luminaire while also making efficient use of LEDs or other solid state light elements is provided. Thermal elements are provided that act to remove heat generated by light elements. A housing is provided that may be configured to receive LEDs, or other optical elements, that are aimed to provide light in a desired direction through mounting to a facet or mounting surface, and have effective thermal environment control through one or more fins mounted to the side of the facet opposite the light element. Luminaires are provided for both original designs that utilize solid state light elements, and retrofit assemblies designed to convert an existing luminaire (that uses a traditional light source or sources) into a luminaire that uses solid state light elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SUNOVIA ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Donald Sipes, Donald VanderSluis, Robert Fugerer
  • Publication number: 20120051051
    Abstract: Light assemblies are disclosed which incorporate mechanisms by which light losses due to angle of incidence from a lens covering an LED, or other solid state source or sources, are reduced. Assemblies may incorporate low-loss covers in luminaires originally designed to utilize LEDs or in an LED retrofit device or mechanism designed to convert an existing luminaire that uses a traditional light source or sources into a luminaire that uses LEDs. The low loss covers include discrete surfaces that correspond to individual LEDs, small arrays of LEDs, or small groups of LEDs. The discrete surfaces may be substantially orthogonal to the rays of light that are incident upon the surfaces from the associated LED(s) to reduce the amount of light reflected back to the associated LED(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SUNOVIA ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Donald Sipes, Donald VanderSluis, Robert Fugerer
  • Publication number: 20110246146
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an LED based light unit that produces an output lighting pattern that meets desired lighting characteristics using a reduced number of LED elements. The present disclosure provides a number of point sources that are directed into a desired direction such that, when combined with other point sources, a synthesized light output is provided that minimizes the LED headcount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SUNOVIA ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Donald Sipes, Donald VanderSluis, Robert Fugerer
  • Patent number: 7789539
    Abstract: A compact luminaire which includes a housing, a ballast, and a first and second electrical component. The housing has a back and a perimeter wall which extends generally perpendicularly from the back. The perimeter wall has a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion disposed in a downward direction with respect to the top wall portion and sidewall portions connecting the top wall portion and the bottom wall portion. The ballast is mounted to the back adjacent the bottom wall portion and is substantially equidistant to the side wall portions and the first and second electrical components are mounted to the housing on opposite sides of the ballast in a balanced fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Howard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Edward Bilson, Barbara Bilson, legal representative, Jason Cook
  • Publication number: 20100073939
    Abstract: A roadway luminaire generally includes a housing and a door pivotably connected to the housing. The housing includes a rear wall having an opening sized and shaped to receive a mounting arm for mounting the luminaire thereto, a top wall extending from the rear wall and an arm receiving channel formed in the top wall adjacent the rear wall for receiving an end of the mounting arm. The channel is formed with a step arrangement having a plurality of steps ascending in order along a length of the channel. The steps permit angular mounting adjustment of the housing with respect to the mounting arm depending on which step the end of the mounting arm rests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Edward Bilson, Barbara Bilson, Gerald Ballard
  • Patent number: 7637766
    Abstract: A receptacle assembly for a twist-lock photocontrol that is mounted on a luminaire housing. The assembly includes a receptacle and a spring clamp. The receptacle has a disc portion with a hub extending from the central portion of the back side, a perimeter side wall with a castellated bottom edge that engages stops on the luminaire housing. Three fingers extend from the back side of the disc and terminate at a lip edge. The spring clamp has a substantially flat, ring-shaped body that includes a top surface, an opening, an inner edge, an outer edge, and at least one pair of spring members. The receptacle is attached to a luminaire housing using the spring clamp. The orientation of the receptacle can be adjusted and can be locked into a stationary position without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Howard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Jason Cook, Gerald Ballard, William E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20090116247
    Abstract: A compact luminaire which includes a housing, a ballast, and a first and second electrical component. The housing has a back and a perimeter wall which extends generally perpendicularly from the back. The perimeter wall has a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion disposed in a downward direction with respect to the top wall portion and sidewall portions connecting the top wall portion and the bottom wall portion. The ballast is mounted to the back adjacent the bottom wall portion and is substantially equidistant to the side wall portions and the first and second electrical components are mounted to the housing on opposite sides of the ballast in a balanced fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Edward Bilson, Jason Cook, Barbara Bilson
  • Publication number: 20090088021
    Abstract: A receptacle assembly for a twist-lock photocontrol that is mounted on a luminaire housing. The assembly includes a receptacle and a spring clamp. The receptacle has a disc portion with a hub extending from the central portion of the back side, a perimeter side wall with a castellated bottom edge that engages stops on the luminaire housing. Three fingers extend from the back side of the disc and terminate at a lip edge. The spring clamp has a substantially flat, ring-shaped body that includes a top surface, an opening, an inner edge, an outer edge, and at least one pair of spring members. The receptacle is attached to a luminaire housing using the spring clamp. The orientation of the receptacle can be adjusted and can be locked into a stationary position without tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Jason Cook, Gerald Ballard, William E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20080037259
    Abstract: A luminaire assembly generally includes a reflector having a center of symmetry and a lamp supported within the reflector, wherein the lamp is offset from the reflector center of symmetry, whereby light emitted from the lamp is reflected by the reflector in an asymmetric pattern. In a method of illuminating a roadway having traffic moving in a flow direction, a luminaire having a reflector and a lamp is mounted at a side of the roadway and light emitted from the lamp is reflected with the reflector whereby a greater portion of the reflected light is directed in the traffic flow direction than is directed against the traffic flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Chris Walker, Edward Bilson, Rick Kauffman
  • Patent number: 6059427
    Abstract: A roadway luminaire is provided which includes a mast mount docking station securable to an end of a pole mast. The mast mount docking station includes a power plug electrically coupled to the power conductors. The luminaire includes a corresponding power plug which is electrically and mechanically coupled to the mast mount docking station via a twist-lock feature including mating keys and keyways in the docking station and luminaire, respectively. The luminaire includes several plug-in components such as a plug-in photoelectric cell, a plug-in starter and a capacitor press-fit into a molded cavity in the luminaire. The power plug of the luminaire is adaptable to be used with all international voltages. The twist-lock feature provides for a fool-proof mechanical and electrical connection to ensure that the correctly rated luminaire is connected to the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Mark T. Wedell, Timothy D. Cathey, Margaret A. Self, John DeCandia, Greg Marik, Thomas A. Zimmerman, Edward B. Bilson, R. W. (Rick) Kauffman
  • Patent number: D572857
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Howard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Gerald Ballard
  • Patent number: D597693
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Howard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Barbara Bilson, legal representative, Jason Cook, Edward Bilson
  • Patent number: D615238
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Howard Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Edward Bilson, Barbara Bilson, legal representative, Gerald Ballard
  • Patent number: D645604
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Kauffman, Donald Sipes, Donald VanderSluis, Robert Fugerer