Lens clip and cap for led or light unit assembly

Claim 2

In a light emitting diode assembly attachable to a display panel, said assembly comprising: (a) a light emitting diode, having locking structure thereon, said structure defining a boss, (b) a lens cap receiving the diode forwardly therein, clips means integral with the cap and projecting sidewardly proximate the diode locking structure, (c) said clip means defining spring fingers projecting rearwardly at the side of the diode, the fingers defining first grooves to receive the boss on the diode and second grooves to receive portions of the display panel adjacent an opening formed therein, and wherein, (d) the spring fingers define first cam surfaces rearwardly of the first grooves and angled to be radially spread by the diode boss in response to forward insertion of the diode into the cap.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 including a retainer having the form of a ring receiving and extending about said fingers.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2 including said panel having said opening therethrough, said lens cap interfitting the panel and projecting into said opening.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 3 wherein the retainer engages the panel.

Claim 6

In a light emitting diode assembly attachable to a display panel, said assembly comprising: (a) a light emitting diode, having locking structure thereon, (b) a lens cap receiving the diode, clip means integral with the cap and projecting proximate the diode locking structure, said structure defining an annular boss, (c) a retainer holding said clip means in interfitting relation with said diode locking structure, (d) the cap defining an axis, the diode projecting axially forwardly within the cap, and the clip means comprising spring fingers projecting rearwardly at the side of the diode, and wherein (e) the retainer comprises a ring having a serrated bore in frictional engagement with the spring fingers, and the fingers define grooves releasably receiving said annular boss on the diode, inwardly of the ring.

Claim 7

In a light emitting diode assembly attachable to a display panel, said assembly comprising: (a) a light emitting diode, having locking structure thereon, (b) a lens cap receiving the diode, clip means integral with the cap and projecting proximate the diode locking structure, said structure defining an annular boss, (c) a retainer holding said clip means in interfitting relation with said diode locking structure, (d) the cap defining an axis, the diode projecting axially forwardly within the cap, and the clip means comprising spring fingers projecting rearwardly at the side of the diode, and wherein (e) the retainer comprises a ring having a serrated bore in frictional engagement with the spring fingers, and the fingers define grooves releasably receiving said annular boss on the diode, inwardly of the ring.

Claim 8

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the lens cap has a domed forwardly presented end.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the lens cap has a flat forwardly presented end.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the lens cap defines an axis and has an interior side wall defining axially extending serrations, the cap being translucent.

Claim 11

The assembly of claim 8 wherein the lens cap has an interior front end wall defining radially spaced serrations which extend circularly about said axis.

Claim 12

The assembly of claim 5 including said panel having an opening therethrough, said lens cap interfitting the panel and projecting into said opening.

Claim 13

The assembly of claim 10 wherein said ring has a serrated bore, and engages the panel.

Claim 14

In a light emitting diode assembly attachable to a display panel, said assembly comprising: (a) a light emitting diode, having locking structure thereon, (b) a lens cap receiving the diode, clip means integral with the cap and projecting proximate the diode locking structure, (c) a retainer in the form of a ring holding said clip means in interfitting relation with said diode locking structure, and wherein (d) the cap defines an axis, the diode projecting axially forwardly within the cap, and the clip means comprising spring fingers projecting rearwardly at the side of the diode, the spring fingers having tongue and groove interfit with the diode, inwardly of the retainer ring, said tongue and groove interfit being defined by a radially projecting annular boss on the diode, and first grooves defined by the fingers and receiving said boss, the spring fingers defining second grooves to receive portions of the display panel adjacent an opening formed therein, the spring fingers also defining first cam surfaces rearwardly of the first grooves and angled to be radially spread by the diode boss in response to forward insertion of the diode into the cap.

Claim 15

In a light emitting diode assembly attachable to a display panel, said assembly comprising: (a) a light emitting diode, having locking structure thereon, (b) a lens cap receiving the diode, clip means integral with the cap and projecting proximate the diode locking structure, (c) a retainer in the form of a ring holding said clip means in interfitting relation with said diode locking structure, and wherein (d) the cap defines an axis, the diode projecting axially forwardly within the cap, and the clip means comprising spring fingers projecting rearwardly at the side of the diode, the spring fingers having tongue and groove interfit with the diode, inwardly of the retainer ring, said tongue and groove interfit being defined by a radially projecting annular boss on the diode, and first grooves defined by the fingers and receiving said boss, the spring fingers defining second grooves to receive portions of the display panel adjacent an opening formed therein, the spring fingers also defining first cam surfaces rearwardly of the first grooves and angled to be radially spread by the diode boss in response to forward insertion of the diode into the cap.

Claim 16

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fingers define second cam surfaces rearwardly of the first grooves and angled to be radially spread by the diode boss in response to rearward retraction of the diode from the cap.

Claim 17

For use in a light emitting assembly attachable to a display panel, said assembly comprising (a) a light unit having locking structure thereon, said structure defining a boss and a light transmitting envelope forwardly of the boss, the improvement comprising (b) a lens cap for receiving the envelope forwardly therein, clip means integral with the cap and projecting sidewardly proximate the locking structure, (c) said clip means defining spring fingers projecting rearwardly at the side of the unit, the fingers defining first grooves to receive the boss and second grooves to receive portions of the display panel adjacent an opening formed therein, and wherein (d) the spring fingers defining first cam surfaces rearwardly of the first grooves and angled to be radially spread by said boss in response to forward insertion of said envelope into the cap.

Claim 18

For use in a light emitting assembly attachable to a display panel, said assembly comprising (a) a light unit having locking structure thereon, said structure defining a boss and a light transmitting envelope forwardly of the boss, the improvement comprising (b) a lens cap for receiving the envelope forwardly therein, clip means integral with the cap and projecting sidewardly proximate the locking structure, (c) said clip means defining spring fingers projecting rearwardly at the side of the unit, the fingers defining first grooves to receive the boss and second grooves to receive portions of the display panel adjacent an opening formed therein, and wherein (d) the spring fingers defining first cam surfaces rearwardly of the first grooves and angled to be radially spread by said boss in response to forward insertion of said envelope into the cap.

Claim 19

The assembly of claim 14 including said light unit which includes a resistive component within the envelope and adapted to be electrically energized to incandescence.

Claim 20

The assembly of claim 15 wherein the lens cap extends generally coaxially with said unit, the cap being translucent.

Claim 21

The assembly of claim 14 wherein the fingers define second cam surfaces rearwardly of the first grooves and angled to be radially spread by said boss in response to rearward retraction of the unit to remove the envelope from within the cap.

Claim 22

The assembly of claim 14 including said panel having said opening therethrough, said lens cap interfitting the panel and projecting into said opening.

Claim 23

The assembly of claim 14 wherein said cap has a smooth interior wall surface, the cap being translucent.

Claim 24

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cap defines a forward axis and has opposite exterior side walls which are substantially parallel and flat.

Claim 25

The assembly of claim 20 wherein the cap has generally rectangular external cross section in planes normal to said axis.

Claim 26

The assembly of claim 21 wherein said fingers are separated by forwardly extending slits rearwardly of corners defined by said cap generally rectangular external cross section.

Claim 27

The assembly of claim 20 including a light mask adjacent one of said flat side walls.

Claim 28

The assembly of claim 1 including a light mask adjacent the side of said cap.

Claim 29

The assembly of claim 5 wherein the cap defines a forward axis and has opposite exterior side walls which are substantially parallel and flat.

Claim 30

The assembly of claim 25 wherein the cap has generally rectangular external cross section in planes normal to said axis.

Claim 31

The assembly of claim 26 wherein said fingers are separated by forwardly extending slits rearwardly of corners defined by said cap generally rectangular external cross section.

Claim 32

The assembly of claim 25 including a light mask adjacent one of said flat side walls.

Claim 33

The assembly of claim 14 wherein the cap defines a forward axis and has opposite exterior side walls which are substantially parallel and flat.

Claim 34

The assembly of claim 29 wherein the cap has generally rectangular external cross section in planes normal to said axis.

Claim 35

The assembly of claim 30 wherein said fingers are separated by forwardly extending slits rearwardly of corners defined by said cap generally rectangular external cross section.

Claim 36

The assembly of claim 29 including a light mask adjacent one of said flat side walls.

Claim 37

In combination: (a) multiple lens caps adapted to receive light units, said caps including spring fingers projecting rearwardly and configured to interfit display panel means, and (b) said caps extending in a row, and there being light masks between adjacent caps.

Claim 38

In combination: (a) multiple lens caps adapted to receive light units, said caps including spring fingers projecting rearwardly and configured to interfit display panel means, and (b) said caps extending in a row, and there being light masks between adjacent caps.

Claim 39

The combination of claim 33 wherein each cap defines a forward axis and has opposite exterior side walls which are flat and substantially parallel, the masks located between said flat walls on adjacent caps.

Claim 40

The combination of claim 34 wherein said masks include tangs interfitting said caps to position the masks.

Claim 41

The combination of claim 34 wherein the masks include enlargements adjacent exterior corners defined by said caps.

Claim 42

The combination of claim 34 wherein each cap has a generally rectangular exterior cross section in planes normal to a forward axis defined by the cap.

Claim 43

In combination (a) multiple lens caps adapted to receive light units, caps including spring fingers projecting rearwardly and configured to interfit the light units and display panel means, (b) said caps extending in a row, successive caps located proximate one another, (c) each cap having a generally rectangular cross section in planes normal to a forward axis defined by the cap.

Claim 44

In combination (a) multiple lens caps adapted to receive light units, caps including spring fingers projecting rearwardly and configured to interfit the light units and display panel means, (b) said caps extending in a row, successive caps located proximate one another, (c) each cap having a generally rectangular cross section in planes normal to a forward axis defined by the cap.

Claim 45

The combination of claim 38 including said panel means interfitting said spring fingers.