THERMAL PIPE CAP
A light fixture includes a body, a hollow arm extending out from the body, a pipe cap at a distal end of the arm, and one or more solid state light emitting devices supported by the pipe cap. The pipe cap thermally couples the one or more solid state light emitting devices to the arm.
1 . A light fixture, comprising:
a body;
a hollow arm extending out from the body;
a pipe cap at a distal end of the arm; and
one or more solid state light emitting devices supported by the pipe cap;
wherein the pipe cap thermally couples the one or more solid state light emitting devices to the arm.
2 . The light fixture of claim 1 further comprising electrically conductive wires incorporated in the pipe cap to connect to the solid state light emitting devices configured to deliver power.
3 . The light fixture of claim 1 further comprising one or more optics supported by the pipe cap.
4 . The light fixture of claim 1 further comprising an environmentally protective feature supported by the arm.
5 . The light fixture of claim 4 , wherein the protective feature is at least one of a sealed transparent cap, a sealed translucent cap, and a screen.
6 . The fixture of claim 1 further comprising an optical feature supported by the arm.
7 . The light fixture of claim 5 , wherein the optical feature is configured to disperse, diffuse and/or guide the emitted light according to a selected intent.
8 . The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the pipe cap comprises a disk portion and an overhanging portion extending from an edge of the disk portion.
9 . The light fixture of claim 5 wherein the overhanging portion of the pipe cap surrounds an exterior portion of the distal end of the arm and is in thermal contact therewith.
10 . The light fixture of claim 5 wherein the pipe cap comprises a substantially hollow insertable portion into the distal end of the arm, the insertable portion having a proximal end coupled to the disk portion and a distal end, the hollow portion being in thermal contact with an interior wall portion of the distal end of the arm.
11 . The light fixture of claim 9 wherein the overhanging portion of the pipe cap securely fits onto the distal end of the arm.
12 . The light fixture of claim 9 wherein the overhanging portion of the pipe cap is threaded onto the distal end of the arm.
13 . The light fixture of claim 9 , further comprising a thermal interface material between the overhanging portion of the pipe cap and the arm.
14 . The light fixture of claim 10 wherein the pipe cap comprises a plurality of thermally conductive fins extending from the disk portion of the pipe cap to the insertable portion the pipe cap.
15 . The light fixture of claim 10 wherein the pipe cap comprises a solid core extending from the disk portion of the pipe cap to the insertable portion the pipe cap
16 . The light fixture of claim 10 wherein the pipe cap comprises a hollow pipe extending from the disk portion of the pipe cap to the insertable portion the pipe cap.
17 . The light fixture of claim 14 wherein each of the thermally conductive fins of the pipe cap comprises a first edge extending between the proximal and distal ends of the insertable portion and along at least a portion of the insertable portion, a second edge extending from the first edge along an interior portion of the disk from the insertable portion proximal end to a center of the disk, and a third edge extending from the center of the disk to the distal end of the insertable portion at the first edge.
18 . The light fixture of claim 14 wherein each of the thermally conductive fins of the pipe cap comprises a first edge extending between the proximal and distal ends of the insertable portion and along at least a portion of the insertable portion, a second edge extending from the first edge along an interior portion of the disk from the insertable portion proximal end to a center of the disk, a third edge extending from the distal end of the first insertable portion radially inward to a central axis of the disk , and a fourth edge extending from the third edge along the central axis to the center of the disk.
19 . The light fixture of claim 14 wherein the thermally conductive fins of the pipe cap provide a thermal pathway between the one or more solid state light emitting devices and the arm.
20 . The light fixture of claim 14 wherein the thermally conductive fins of the pipe cap provide structural support for the one or more solid state light emitting devices.