Lamp device and method to retrofit a lighting fixture

Abstract

A device and method for retrofitting a light fixture from use with a lamp socket that employs an incandescent or metal halide lamp, to use with another lamp assembly. The lamp fixture has a collar with a base and an annular outer wall extending out from the base. The LED lamp device includes a neck base having an annular outer wall having a shaped outside surface that is placed into direct surface contact with the inner surface of the annular outer wall of the collar, to establish an effective heat-transferring interface. The shaped outer surface of the neck base provides proper fitting of the LED lamp device into the lighting fixture, and provides a heat-transferring interface over substantially all of the outer surface of the neck base, to dissipate heat away from the LED module. Aluminum material provides high thermal conductivity, light weight, availability, and low cost.

1 . A lamp fixture securable to a structure having an electrical power source, comprising:
 1) a collar having an annular wall and a base securable to the structure,   2) a lamp device comprising a neck base having an annular wall having a shaped outside surface that is placed into direct surface contact with the inner surface of the annular wall of the collar, to establish a heat-transferring interface between the lamp device and the collar, and having a distal end, and   3) a light module comprising at least one light source disposed at the distal end of the lamp device.   
     
     
         2 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 1  wherein the collar is made of a metal having a thermal conductivity of at least 50 W/mK. 
     
     
         3 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 1  wherein the lamp device further has a first recessed formed into the distal end to receive the light module. 
     
     
         4 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 3  wherein the first recessed level has an elongated slot having a length and a width sufficiently sized to allow passing therethrough the light module, and having at least one secondary slot extending transversely from a middle portion along the length of the elongated slot. 
     
     
         5 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 1  wherein the lamp device comprises an neck base having the shaped outside surface, and a lamp head moveably affixed to the distal end of the neck base, having formed therein the first recess to receive the light module. 
     
     
         6 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 5  wherein the lamp head has an annular rim that associates with a shoulder on the annular wall of the neck base to permit rotation of the lamp head with respect to the neck base. 
     
     
         7 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 6  wherein the light module revolves around an axial centering line of the neck base. 
     
     
         8 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 7  wherein the light module has a centerline disposed at an angle from the axial centering line of the neck base, the angle being from about 10° to about 70°. 
     
     
         9 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 1  wherein the lamp device is made from a material having a heat transfer coefficient of at least 50 W/mK, more preferably of at least 200 W/mK. 
     
     
         10 . The lamp fixture according to  claim 5  wherein the lamp head has a second recess formed to a depth less than the depth of the first recess, and being registered over the first recess, and further comprising a transparent lens disposed in the second recess. 
     
     
         11 . A lamp device for retrofitting into a conventional lamp fixture that has a collar that has a base and an annular outer wall extending out from the base, the lamp device comprising an annular wall having a shaped outside surface that is placed into direct surface contact with the inner surface of the annular wall of the collar, to establish a heat-transferring interface between the lamp device and the collar, and having a distal end configured to receive a light module comprising at least one light source. 
     
     
         12 . The lamp device according to  claim 11 , made from a material having a heat transfer coefficient of at least 50 W/mK, more preferably of at least 200 W/mK, and most preferably from aluminum. 
     
     
         13 . The lamp device according to  claim 11 , further having a first recessed formed into the distal end to receive the LED module. 
     
     
         14 . The lamp device according to  claim 11  wherein the outside surface of the annular wall has a first surface portion that is substantially cylindrical about a centerline of the device, and a second surface portion that has at least one frustoconical surface that tapers toward the centerline. 
     
     
         15 . The lamp device according to  claim 14 , wherein the lamp device comprises a neck base having the shaped outside surface, and a lamp head moveably affixed to the distal end of the neck base, having formed therein the first recess to receive the light module. 
     
     
         16 . The lamp device according to  claim 15  wherein the lamp head has an annular base portion that associates with a shoulder on the annular wall of the neck base to permit rotation of the lamp head with respect to the neck base. 
     
     
         17 . A method for retrofitting an existing lamp fixture to replace a threaded lamp socket with a lamp assembly, the lamp fixture having a collar having an annular wall with an inner wall surface, and a base to which the threaded lamp socket is secured for attaching the lamp fixture to the structure, and for communicating electrical power from an electrical power source to the threaded socket lamp, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. removing the threaded lamp socket from the collar;   b. providing a lamp device having an annular wall having a shaped outside annular surface and a light module;   c. affixing the lamp device to the lamp fixture, wherein the shaped outside annular surface is placed into direct surface contact with the inner surface of the annular wall of the metallic collar, to establish a heat-transferring interface between the adapter sleeve and the collar, and   d. connecting the electrical power source to the light module.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the lamp device is made from a material that has a heat transfer coefficient of at least 50 W/mK, more preferably of at least 200 W/mK, and most preferably is made from aluminum. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the outside surface of the annular wall has a first surface portion that is substantially cylindrical about a centerline of the device, and a second surface portion that has at least one frustoconical surface that tapers toward the centerline. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the lamp device comprises a neck base having the shaped outside surface, and a lamp head moveably affixed to the distal end of the neck base, having formed therein the first recess to receive the light module. 
     
     
         21 . The lamp device of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises an LED. 
     
     
         22 . The lamp device of  claim 11 , wherein the light source comprises an LED. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the connecting comprises connecting the electrical power source to the light module to provide power to an LED.