US 7,549,786 B2
LED socket and replaceable LED assemblies
Robert Edward Higley, Durham, N.C. (US); and Faramarz Hafezi, Wake Forest, N.C. (US)
Assigned to Cree, Inc., Durham, N.C. (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/614,261.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/868162, filed on Dec. 01, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2008/0130275 A1, Jun. 05, 2008
Int. Cl. F21V 23/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 362—646  [362/800; 362/652; 362/640] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
2. A socket for releasably mounting an LED lamp comprising an LED chip mounted on a mounting substrate having electrical contacts. the socket comprising:
socket power contacts for contacting the electrical contacts on the mounting substrate of the LED lamp and supplying power to the LED chip; and
a mechanism for maintaining said socket power contacts in electrical contact with said electrical contacts during operation and for allowing the LED lamp to be readily removed and replaced by hand when it is desired to replace the LED lamp, wherein said mechanism for maintaining said socket power contacts in electrical contact with said lamp power contacts comprises a spring biased tray which can be depressed with finger pressure to replace the LED lamp, and which when not depressed provides a spring force to bias said socket power contacts against the lamp power contacts of an LED lamp in said tray.