FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a light system and method and more particularly, but not exclusively to a light system and method which a light includes replaceable parts.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Lights and lighting systems using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have become very common as a result of their low power usage. These LED lights come in the form of spotlights, motion activated security lights, flood lights and other domestic dwelling, office or factory lights.

Many of these lights consists of a housing including an LED array or LED bank, a driver or power supply, a reflector, a mounting bracket, a connector cable and a transparent cover. Some may also include motion activated sensors permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the housings.

When the LED bank and/or the power supply or driver fails the whole light including the housing and all its parts referred to above must be replaced. It is not possible to replace only the LED array and/or the driver/power supply. A new light, including the housing and all the parts replaces the broken light. This leads to unnecessary wastage as most of the parts of the light is still in proper working condition.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION l It is an object of this invention to provide a light system and method which, at least partially, alleviates some of the above-mentioned difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a light system comprising a housing having a light source, a driver to drive the light source, indication means to provide a signal indicating where power is received either at a power connector for the driver or a power connector between the driver and the light, or both.

There is provided for the light source to be removably connected in the housing for ease of replacement thereof.

There is provided for the driver to be removably connected in the housing for ease of replacement thereof. There is further provided for the light source to be removably electrically connected in the housing for ease of replacement thereof.

There is further provided for the driver to be removably electrically connected in the housing for ease of replacement thereof.

There is provided for the indication means to be a light. There is provided for the signal to be at least one colour emitted by the light depending on whether power is received at the power connector for the driver or the power connector between the driver and the light, or both. There is provided for the signal to be a different frequency of flickering of the light depending on whether power is received at the power connector for the driver or the power connector between the driver and the light, or both.

There is further provided for the indication means to be a number of lights for emitting a light signal depending on whether power is received either at the power connector for the driver or the power connector between the driver and the light, or both.

There is also provided for the indication means to be an audible indication means. In accordance with a second aspect of this invention there is provided a light method including the steps of: providing a light having a housing with a removable light source; having an indication means to signal when the light source fails; and selectively removing the light source when it fails. In accordance with a third aspect of this invention there is provided a light method including the steps of: providing a light having a housing with a removable driver; having an indication means to signal when the driver fails; and selectively removing the driver when it fails. In accordance with a fourth aspect of this invention there is provided a light method including the steps of: providing a light having a housing with a removable light source and driver; having an indication means to signal when the light source or driver, or both, fails; and selectively removing the light source and driver, or both when it fails.

There is further provided for the method to include the steps of replacing the light source or driver, or both, when the light source or driver, or both, fails.

These and other features of invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a light in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 shows an inside front view of the light of figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows an inside rear view of the light of figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a circuit diagram for a control means of the light of figures 1 to 3;

Figures 5 to 1 1 show different embodiments of lights in accordance with the invention;

Figures 12 and 13 show perspective views of the light of figures 1 to 3; Figure 14 shows a side view of the light of figures 1 to 3 and of figures

12 and 13;

Figure 15 shows a bottom view of the light of figures 1 to 3 and 12 to

14; Figure 16 shows an exploded perspective view of the light of figures

1 to 3 and 12 to 15;

Figure 17 shows an inside view similar to that of figure 2; Figure 18 shows the inside front view of figures 2 and 17 but with an

LED array removed from the light;

Figure 19 shows an inside view similar to that of figure 3; and

Figure 20 shows the inside view of figures 3 and 19 but with a driver of the light removed therefrom.

95 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings a light is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

The light 1 includes a housing 2 with a light source 6 in the form of an LED bank or array.

The housing includes a transparent front cover 7, a mounting bracket 3 an electrical loo cable 8 extending from the housing and which terminates in a plug 9. The housing 2 also includes a reflector as is known in the art. The housing 2 may have attached to it a motion sensor as is also known in the art.

The mounting bracket 3 includes mounting holes 4 and is adjustable so as to adjust the angle of the light.

105 Inside the housing LED support rails 15 engage on opposite sides of LED support plate 16 and the support plate is slidingly receivable between the rails 15. The support plate 16 includes the LED array as well as connectors, in this case male connectors 21 or a male connector 21 engageable with a female connector 14. An operatively outer section of the plate 16 extends through a slot and term inates outside the housing no 2. In use, the outer section of the plate may be grabbed and pulled to slide the plate out of engagement with the housing. In other words, the plate is slid out of the rails 15 causing the connectors to disconnect. The plate together with the LED array may then be replaced in case of failure of the LED array. This is explained in further detail below.

115 In similar fashion, a driver support plate 22 engages, slidingly, between driver support plate rails 23. An outer section of the driver support plate also terminates outside of the housing where it extends through a slot in the housing so that it may be grabbed and pulled from the housing. An opposite end of the support plate 23 includes the driver 10 itself as well as connectors which may include a mains supply male connector 120 25 and a female connector 24.

Two indicators in the form of visual indicators 11 and 12 are connected to the driver 10 and to control circuitry as shown in figure 4. The visual indicators are LED lights and may be of different colours.

With reference to figure 4, the electrical layout of the light is shown schematically. The 125 cable 8 or power supply live and neutral lines are connected to the driver and to a diode bridge 17 in series with a resistor 18 as is known in the art. The 1 ^st visual indicator or LED 11 is connected across the diode bridge as is also known in the art.

On the other side of the driver 10, a further series connected resistor 20 and LED indicator light 12 are connected between the driver and the LED bank or array (also 130 referred to as“LED fibremat”). Figures 5 to 11 show LED lights of different configurations. These lights may equally, easily and conveniently also include replaceable LED banks and drivers as described herein.

With reference to all the drawings but with specific reference to figures 17 and 18 and 19 and 20, it is shown that the LED support plate and driver support plate can be removably secured inside the housing. The support plates which support either the LED array or driver as well as the male connector replaceable by removing a failed array or driver together with its plate from the housing through the slots 26 and 27.

As appears from the circuit diagram of figure 4, both indicators 11 and 12 will light up when both the driver and LED array are in working condition. Should the LED light source or array fail, both indicator lights will remain switched on without the light source working. It would then be immediately apparent that the light source (LED array) should be replaced. The LED support plate can then be pulled from the housing and replaced with a new support plate including a new LED array and connector. If the LED light indicator 12 is switched off it means that the driver has failed. The driver can then be replaced by removing the driver plate and replacing it with a new driver plate including a new driver and connector. If both the indicator lights 11 and 12 are switched off, it means that the light itself does not receive power from mains supply.

In use, when a part such as the LED array or driver of a light fails, the whole light need not be replaced. Instead, only the driver and or LED array can be replaced. The indicator lights indicate which part needs to be replaced. One can thus purchase only the replacement part instead of purchasing a whole new light. The indicator lights conveniently indicate which part should be replaced. It is envisaged that the invention described herein will be convenient to use and will lead to saving of money and waste material. It will make a cheaper in that only a part of the light instead of a whole light is replaced. In addition, only a small part of the light i.e. the discarded driver and it support plate or LED array and it support plate become waste material instead of the light as a whole.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein. For example, instead of using a visual indicator consisting of 2 LED lights, one LED light capable of emitting different colours can be used. Furthermore, in addition or instead of a visual indicator, an audible indicator or a transmission signal including information of which part of a light has failed, can be implemented. Furthermore, other parts instead of only the LED array and driver may be replaceable. The light itself can of course be powered from any power source such as mains power, solar power and the like. The light may also include a day night switch. Still furthermore, seal devices may be included on the slots and/or plates to ensure a watertight seal and to prevent the ingress of water from outside the housing into the housing. A heat sink may also be included on the support plates as may be required i.e. either with the LED array and/or the driver. Contact grease may also be used on the connectors to ensure proper electrical contact and/or conductivity is achieved.