IP Library Granted Patent US 9,220,178
Granted Patent B2
US 9,220,178 · App. 13/992,321 · Granted Dec 22, 2015

Secure system for energy consuming device

Inventors: Kevin O'Connor (Phoenix, AZ); Megan E. Serwacki (Oswego, IL); Victor V. Zaderej (Wheaton, IL); Stephen L. Sheldon (Darien, IL)
Assignee: Molex, LLC
H05K7/12B60Q3/0206F21S2/005F21S8/038F21V15/01F21V19/0015F21V21/00F21V21/096F21V21/35F21V23/008F21V23/06F21V29/004F21V29/22F21V29/262F21V29/70F21V29/713H01R13/6205F21S48/328F21V17/105F21W2131/301F21Y2101/02F21Y2105/001H01R25/147Y10S362/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,220,178
App. No.
13/992,321
Granted
Dec 22, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A support structure includes a groove and a channel. The grove can be defined by a wall and a lip. An energy consumption device includes a housing that supports a magnet and a first and second terminal and the magnet helps couple the energy consumption device to the support structure. The housing is positioned in the groove and the groove helps retain the housing in the support structure while the channel allows the energy consumption device to be visible. To help secure the energy consuming device, a header can be provided on both ends of the support structure so that the housing can be translated along the groove but cannot be removed from the support structure.

Claims (17)

1. A system comprising:

a support structure that includes a base wall, a first wall and a second wall and a groove that opens toward the second wall, the groove defined by the a first wall and a first lip that extends from the first wall, the support structure providing a channel that is in communication with an exterior of the support structure;

a first powered contact and a second powered contact supported by the base wall, the first and second powered contacts electrically separated from the base wall and each other; and

an energy consuming device with a housing positioned in the groove, the energy consuming device including a first terminal and a second terminal and a magnet configured to urge the housing toward the base wall so that first and second terminals are respectively in electrical contact with the first and second powered contacts, the energy consumption device being in communication with an exterior of the support structure via the channel, wherein the housing is configured so as to be non-removable from the support structure while allowing, in operation, the energy consumption device to be translated along the groove, wherein the energy consuming device includes an LED array and a thermal bridge thermally coupled to the LED array, the thermal bridge urged against the base wall via the magnet so that the thermal bridge is pressed against the base wall with a force sufficient to provide at least 3 PSI.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a thermal resistance between the LED array and the base wall is less than 3° C./W.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first header and a second header coupled to the support structure, the first and second headers configured to limit translation of the energy consumption device along the groove.

4. A system comprising:

a support structure that includes a base wall, a first wall and a second wall and a groove that opens toward the second wall, the groove defined by the a first wall and a first lip that extends from the first wall, the support structure providing a channel that is in communication with an exterior of the support structure;

a first powered contact and a second powered contact supported by the base wall, the first and second powered contacts electrically separated from the base wall and each other; and

an energy consuming device with a housing positioned in the groove, the energy consuming device including a first terminal and a second terminal and a magnet configured to urge the housing toward the base wall so that first and second terminals are respectively in electrical contact with the first and second powered contact, the energy consumption device being in communication with an exterior of the support structure via the channel, wherein the housing is configured so as to be non-removable from the support structure while allowing, in operation, the energy consumption device to be translated along the groove, wherein the support structure comprises a top support structure and a bottom support structure, the top and bottom support structures secured together.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising at least one lock to secure the top and bottom structures together.

6. A system comprising:

a support structure that includes a base wall, a first wall and a second wall and a groove that opens toward the second wall, the groove defined by the a first wall and a first lip that extends from the first wall, the support structure providing a channel that is in communication with an exterior of the support structure;

a first powered contact and a second powered contact supported by the base wall, the first and second powered contacts electrically separated from the base wall and each other; and

an energy consuming device with a housing positioned in the groove, the energy consuming device including a first terminal and a second terminal and a magnet configured to urge the housing toward the base wall so that first and second terminals are respectively in electrical contact with the first and second powered contacts, the energy consumption device being in communication with an exterior of the support structure via the channel, wherein the housing is configured so as to be non-removable from the support structure while allowing, in operation, the energy consumption device to be translated along the groove, wherein the groove is a first groove, the support structure further providing a second groove facing the first groove, the second groove defined by the second wall and a second lip extending from the second wall, wherein the base wall, first and second wall and the first and second lip are a unitary structure, the system further comprising a first and second header configured to be mounted to the support structure, wherein the first header includes a lock that releasably couples the first header to the support structure and wherein the energy consuming device includes an LED array and a thermal bridge thermally coupled to the LED array, the thermal bridge urged against the base wall via the magnet so that the thermal bridge is pressed against the base wall with a force sufficient to provide at least 3 PSI.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein a thermal resistance between the LED array and the base wall is less than 3° C./W.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein a thermal resistance between the LED array and the base wall is less than 2° C./W.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 27, 2015
From: MOLEX INCORPORATED
To: MOLEX, LLC
Reel/Frame 036500/0910 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2015
From: O'CONNOR, KEVIN; SERWACKI, MEGAN; ZADEREJ, VICTOR; SHELDON, STEPHEN L.
To: MOLEX INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 036349/0327 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 61423392 · Dec 15, 2010
Provisional Application 61485470 · May 12, 2011
Provisional Application 61514748 · Aug 3, 2011
Related Publication 20130294081A1 · Nov 7, 2013