Retrofit System and Method for Replacing Linear Fluorescent Lamp with LED Modules
A system for replacing linear fluorescent lamps with LED modules in a cabinet sign includes an LED module support structure. The LED module support structure may be attached to the raceways of the cabinet sign or to the sockets formerly used for mounting fluorescent lamps between the raceways.
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This application is a continuation of prior filed co-pending U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/643,750, filed on Jul. 7, 2017, which is a continuation of prior filed U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/694,515, filed on Apr. 23, 2015, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,702,531, issuing on Jul. 11, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/099,722 filed on Jan. 5, 2015 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/983,140 filed on Apr. 23, 2014. By this reference, the entire disclosures, including the claims and drawings, of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser.No. 15/643,750, U.S. Pat. No. 9,702,531, and U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. Nos. 62/099,722 and 61/983,140, are hereby incorporated in the present disclosure as if set forth in their entirety.
FIELDThe present invention pertains to the mounting of LED light systems; more particularly, the present invention pertains to systems and methods for replacing linear fluorescent lamps in cabinet signs with LED modules.
BACKGROUNDLinear fluorescent lamps have been the light source of choice for commercial applications, to include signage, in the United States and other countries for much of the twentieth century. The many types of linear fluorescent lamps currently range from a nominal size of less than one foot to a nominal size of ten feet. Because of the many standard sizes of linear fluorescent lamps in commercial lighting, commercial signage is designed around the nominal length of the linear fluorescent lamps.
In commercial signage, linear fluorescent lamps are often mounted in a parallel fashion in what is known in the industry as cabinet signs. The structure of the interior of the prior art cabinet signs provides mounting points, typically the two fluorescent lamp sockets, between which each linear fluorescent lamp is placed. The two sockets both hold the linear fluorescent lamps in position and enable a female electrical connection to the prongs which extend outwardly from the ends of the linear fluorescent lamps. To accommodate small variations in the lengths of linear fluorescent lamps, one of the sockets, typically the socket at the top of the cabinet sign, includes a spring to assure that the linear fluorescent lamp is held in place and that a suitable electrical connection is established.
While it is generally cheaper to operate linear fluorescent lamps than the incandescent light bulbs that linear fluorescent lamps replaced, the continuing increases in the cost of electrical energy have resulted in the need for a source of light energy that is cheaper to operate and more reliable than linear fluorescent lamps.
Several decades ago LEDs became available as a lighting source. Initially, the low-light output of LEDs limited their use to indicator lights typically used with electronic control systems. Since the initial introduction of LEDs, their output of light energy has increased to where the light output of LEDs rivals the light output of both incandescent light bulbs and linear fluorescent lamps. In addition to being less expensive to operate than linear fluorescent lamps, LEDs have a much longer life; thus, the operational cost of LEDs per unit of time is much less than systems using conventional linear fluorescent lamps.
LEDs also provide other features not found in systems using linear fluorescent lamps. Those features include color and flexibility. Most linear fluorescent lamps emit white or off-white illumination. LEDs emit light in multiple colors. Further, LEDs are typically provided in modules, which LED modules are connected one to another by wires. Thus, for commercial lighting designers, LEDs provide more flexibility and less cost over time.
Since fluorescent lighting has been around for more than half a century, there are many cabinet signs designed for fluorescent lamps which are still serviceable and will remain serviceable for many years to come. Rather than building entirely new signage structures for the use of LED lights, the need has developed in commercial lighting applications for a system and method to replace linear fluorescent lamps with LED modules in existing prior art cabinet signs designed and built for the mounting of linear fluorescent lamps.
SUMMARYThe disclosed system and method for replacing linear fluorescent lamps with LED modules in existing prior art cabinet signs designed and built for the mounting of linear fluorescent lamps in sockets between raceways includes an LED module support structure. The LED module support structure may be attached to the raceways within the prior art cabinet signs or to the fluorescent lamp sockets mounted in the raceways.
In one embodiment, the LED module support structure is a hollow extrusion which may be directly attached to the raceways within the prior art cabinet sign. In another embodiment, the hollow extrusion LED module support structure may be connected to the raceways within the prior art cabinet sign with a three-sided connector. In yet another embodiment, the hollow extrusion LED module support structure is used to engage the sockets formerly used to support and provide electrical power to the linear fluorescent lamps.
In still another embodiment, the LED module support structure is an extrusion having a cross section including flanges, a single or double web therebetween and a central opening formed in the web. The extrusion may be directly attached to the raceways, connected to the raceways with a three-sided connector or formed to engage one or both of the sockets formerly used to support and provide electrical power to the linear fluorescent lamps.
In still yet another embodiment the LED modules support structure is a pair of substantially flat strips positioned in a substantially H-shaped holder. One end of the pair of substantially flat strips is formed into a grappling yoke for frictional engagement with the sides of the raceway.
A better understanding of the disclosed system for replacing linear fluorescent lamps in a cabinet sign may be had by reference to the drawing figures wherein:
A better understanding of the disclosed system and method may be had from an understanding of prior art cabinet signs in which linear fluorescent lamps provide illumination behind one or two translucent panels. The translucent panels are typically mounted in a frame whose dimensions are determined primarily by the length of the linear fluorescent lamps used in the prior art cabinet signs.
Shown in
The fluorescent lamp sockets 410 both physically mount and provide electrical energy to the linear fluorescent lamps 408. As shown in
As will be explained below, when converting a prior art cabinet sign 400, which was previously illuminated by linear fluorescent lamps, to a sign illuminated by LED modules, the raceways 406 will be left in place.
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If desired, two mounting tabs 102A, 102B may be formed at the end of the extruded hollow LED module support structure 102 as shown in
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As in the first version of the first embodiment 100, the main structural portion is a substantially square extruded hollow LED module support structure 102. As shown in
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Also shown in second version 150 of the first embodiment 100 in
The top end of the second version 150 of the first embodiment 100 is shown in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the extruded LED module support structure 102 may be attached to the raceways 406 using mounting tabs, or a three-sided connector 110 such as shown in
In some prior art cabinet signs, an extremely long linear fluorescent lamp may have been used. Herein it may be necessary to use to multiple sections of the extruded hollow LED module support structure 102. If so, a structure as shown in
The second embodiment 200 of the disclosed system shown in
The cross section of the extruded hollow LED module support structure 202 in the second embodiment 200 is that of a modified I-beam as shown in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that ends of the extruded hollow LED module support structure 202 will enable the formation of mounting tabs 102A, 102B, and 102C as shown above in
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When the extruded hollow LED module support structure 202, 252 is to be mounted to the raceway 406 of the prior art cabinet sign 400, as shown in
The presence of the substantially square central opening 210, 260 in the extruded hollow LED module support structure 202, 252 enables the extension of the substantially square central opening 210, 260 at the end of modified I-beam extruded hollow LED module support structure 202, 252 by removing portions of the flanges 204, 206, 254, 256 and a portion of the web 208, 258 as shown in
As shown in
In the third embodiment 300, shown in
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The bottom of the LED module support structure 302 may be attached to the raceway 406 by forming mounting tabs 102A, 102B and 102C such as those shown in
While the disclosed retrofit system and method for replacing linear fluorescent lamps with LED modules have been disclosed according to preferred and alternate embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that still other embodiments have been enabled according to the foregoing disclosure. Such other embodiments shall fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A system for replacing linear fluorescent lamps with light emitting diode (LED) modules in a sign, said sign being previously constructed and arranged for mounting linear fluorescent lamps in fluorescent lamp sockets, said system comprising:
- a) an extruded hollow LED module support structure having a first end and a second end, said extruded hollow LED module support structure being hollow from said first end to said second end, and wherein a cross section of said extruded hollow LED module support structure is a square;
- b) two or more LED modules mounted to one exterior side of said extruded hollow LED module support structure, wherein said two or more LED modules are mounted using at least one of an adhesive or one or more threaded fasteners;
- c) wires for electrically connecting said two or more LED modules one to another, said wires being positioned between each of said two or more LED modules such that said wires exit from an end of a first of said two or more LED modules and enter an opposing end of a second of said two or more LED modules, wherein said wires provide electrical energy to said two or more LED modules;
- d) each of said two or more LED modules comprising: 1) an LED module housing with one or more LEDs, said LED module housing comprising two openings positioned on each end of said LED module housing, wherein said openings are configured to allow said wires, between each LED module in said two or more LED modules, to enter said LED module housing through said two openings; 2) a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein said top portion and said bottom portion are discrete components of said LED module housing; 3) a lens positioned over each of said one or more LEDs; and 4) at least one mounting hole for receiving said one or more threaded fasteners; and
- e) an adapter positioned at each of said first end and said second end of said extruded hollow LED module support structure, said adapter having a central opening wherein said central opening enables an engagement of said extruded hollow LED module support structure with the fluorescent lamp sockets.
2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said central opening of said adapter is configured to engage an interior portion of the fluorescent lamp socket.
3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said central opening is configured to fit around a protrusion in said interior portion of the fluorescent lamp socket.
4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said central opening of said adapter is configured to engage the exterior of the fluorescent lamp socket.
5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said two or more LED modules are spaced apart from one another when operatively mounted on said extruded hollow LED module support structure such that each of said two or more LED modules do not make physical contact with any other of said two or more LED modules.
6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said one or more LEDs are linearly positioned along the longitudinal axis of each of said two or more LED modules.
7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said two or more LED modules includes three LEDs.
8. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said LED module housing comprises a rigid LED module housing.
9. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein each lateral edge of each of said two or more LED modules extends beyond each lateral edge of the hollow portion of said extruded hollow LED module support structure.
10. A system for replacing linear fluorescent lamps with light emitting diode (LED) modules in a sign, said sign being previously constructed and arranged for mounting linear fluorescent lamps in fluorescent lamp sockets, said system comprising:
- a) an extruded hollow LED module support structure having a first end and a second end;
- b) two or more LED modules mounted to at least one side of said extruded hollow LED module support structure;
- c) wires for electrically connecting at least two of said two or more LED modules one to another, said wires being suitable to provide electrical energy to said two or more LED modules;
- d) an adapter positioned at each of said first end and said second end of said extruded hollow LED module support structure, said adapter having an opening wherein said opening enables an engagement of said extruded hollow LED module support structure with the fluorescent lamp sockets;
- e) said two or more LED modules being mounted to said at least one side of said extruded hollow LED module support structure using at least one of an adhesive or one or more fasteners;
- f) each of said two or more LED modules comprising: 1) one or more LEDs; and 2) a lens positioned over at least one of said one or more LEDs; and
- g) said LED module housing having two openings on at least one end of said LED module, wherein said two openings are configured to allow said wires to pass therethrough.
11. The system as defined in claim 10, wherein said LED module housing defines at least one mounting hole oriented to receive said one or more fasteners.
12. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein said one or more fasteners is a threaded screw.
13. The system as defined in claim 10, wherein a cross section of said extruded hollow LED module support structure is a square.
14. The system as defined in claim 10, wherein said central opening is configured to fit around a protrusion in an interior portion of the fluorescent lamp socket.
15. A system for replacing linear fluorescent lamps with light emitting diode (LED) modules in a sign, said sign being previously constructed and arranged for mounting linear fluorescent lamps in fluorescent lamp sockets, said system comprising:
- a) an elongate LED module support structure having a first end and a second end;
- b) two or more LED modules mounted to at least one side of said elongate LED module support structure;
- c) wires for electrically connecting said two or more LED modules one to another, said wires being suitable to provide electrical energy to said two or more LED modules;
- d) an adapter positioned at each of said first end and said second end of said elongate LED module support structure, said adapter having a central opening wherein said central opening enables an engagement of said elongate LED module support structure with the fluorescent lamp sockets;
- e) each of said two or more LED modules comprising: 1) an LED module housing; 2) one or more LEDs; and 3) a lens positioned over at least one of said one or more LEDs;
- f) said LED module housing having two openings on at least one end of each of said two or more LED modules, wherein said two openings are configured to allow said wires to pass therethrough.
16. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein said elongate LED module support structure comprises a hollow extrusion.
17. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein said elongate LED module support structure is hollow from said first end to said second end.
18. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein said two or more LED modules are mounted to said at least one side of said elongate LED module support structure using at least one of an adhesive or one or more fasteners.
19. The system as defined in claim 18, wherein said one or more fasteners is a threaded screw.
20. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein said central opening is configured to fit around a protrusion in an interior portion of the fluorescent lamp socket.
21. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein a cross section of said elongate hollow LED module support structure is a square.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2018
Publication Date: Mar 7, 2019
Applicant: General LED Opco, LLC (San Antonio, TX)
Inventors: Aaron Gorman (New Braunfels, TX), Gray Lankford (San Antonio, TX)
Application Number: 16/175,932