Abstract:
An LED illumination device includes at least one LED plate including a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on an upper surface of a flat substrate and a device body having a mouth ring engageable with an illumination device socket disposed at a predetermined installation location, the LED plate and the device body being connected to each other by an electrical cable. The LED plate has an underside formed with an applying portion. The device body has an outer surface provided with a receiving portion. The applying portion of the LED plate is detachably applied to the receiving portion of the device body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-112619, filed on Apr. 23, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an light emitting diode (hereinafter, “LED”) illumination device using an LED. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3120848 discloses a vehicle-mounted indoor LED illumination device which can allow an LED illumination device to be built onto caps of various types of vehicle interior lights. The disclosed LED illumination device comprises an LED illumination device panel including a plurality of LEDs provided on a substrate and a connecting terminal including a cap engaging a socket and a connector. The LED illumination device panel and the connecting terminal are manufactured individually and connected to each other by a harness, thereby being connected as a connector. 
         [0006]    However, the LED illumination device panel needs to be fixed to a housing which is provided with a socket for the illumination device and has a curved inner face serving as a reflector. In this case, the LED illumination device panel is screwed thereby to be fixed or attached directly to the reflector by adhesive or two-sided adhesive tape thereby to be fixed. As a result, the above-mentioned fixing manner has the following problem. Firstly, when screwed, the LED illumination device panel is bored. On the other hand, when an adhesive is used, the adhesive is applied directly to the housing or the like. Accordingly, once positioned to be fixed, the housing or the like cannot be re-positioned again. 
         [0007]    Secondly, the housing for the illumination device also serves as a reflector which directs light beams irradiated from a light source in a predetermined direction. For this purpose, the housing has a curved inner face. When the LED illumination device panel is attached using a two-side adhesive tape, a gap is defined between the LED illumination device panel and the housing inner face, whereupon a sufficient securing force cannot be obtained. 
         [0008]    Thirdly, when the LED illumination device panel is affixed directly to an installation place, there is a possibility that the plate material may be broken when exchanged. Thus, the LED illumination device panel cannot easily be exchanged. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, when a fixing force is weak, the LED illumination device panel is sometimes detached from the installation place. In this case, there is a possibility that the connecting terminal may be pulled by the harness or the like such that the connecting terminal may be detached from the socket. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an LED illumination device in which an LED plate is affixed directly to a device body so that an interior of the housing is effectively used and the LED plate is detachably attachable to the device body so that fine adjustment can easily carried out after installation. 
         [0011]    The present invention provides an LED illumination device comprising at least one LED plate including a plurality of LEDs provided on an upper surface of a flat substrate, the LED plate having an underside, a device body provided with a cap engageable with an illumination device socket provided at a predetermined installation location, the device body having an outer surface, the LED plate and the device body being connected to each other by an electrical cable, an applying portion formed on the underside of the LED plate, and a receiving portion formed on the outer surface of the device body, the applying portion of the LED plate being detachably applied to the receiving portion of the device body. 
         [0012]    The applying portion provided on the LED plate is directly applied to the receiving portion formed individually from the LED plate and provided on the device body having a cap engageable with the illumination device socket previously provided in the illumination housing. Accordingly, even when the inner surface of the housing in which the illumination device socket is provided, the illumination device can be accommodated in the housing and fixed. Furthermore, since the applying portion is detachably attachable, the location of the illumination device can be fine adjusted. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, the LED plate applied to the device body is fixed nearer to the center of the illumination device LED plates as compared with the case where the conventional LED illumination plate is fixed in the housing. Consequently, the space in the housing can more effectively be used as compared with the case where the LED illumination device is installed in an inner location. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the applying and receiving portions comprise a hook-loop fastener. Accordingly, the LED plate can be fixed to the device body more easily. Furthermore, the location of the LED plate can be adjusted after application. Still furthermore, vibration transmitted from the device body to the LED plate can be absorbed by the structure of the fastener. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear upon reviewing the following description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an illumination device of a first embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the illumination device; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the illumination device; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram showing an electrical arrangement of the illumination device; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is also a schematic block diagram showing another electrical arrangement of the illumination device; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the illumination device, showing an example of use of the illumination device; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the illumination device, showing another example of use of the illumination device; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the illumination device of a second embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the illumination device, showing an example of use of the illumination device; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the illumination device, showing another example of use of the illumination device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the illumination device of a third embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the illumination device of a fourth embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a device body formed in the semblance of a lamp bulb in the fourth embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the illumination device of a fifth embodiment; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a device body formed in the semblance of a fluorescent lamp in the fourth embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    Several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , an LED illumination device  10  of a first embodiment is shown. The LED illumination device  10  comprises an LED plate  11  and a device body  12  both of which are connected to each other by an electrical cable  13  as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . The LED plate  11  comprises a flat substrate and eight LEDs mounted on an upper surface of the LED plate  11  and arranged in two rows each of which is composed of four LEDs. The LED plate  11  has an underside on which are provided elements (not shown) such as resistances composing a rectifier circuit, control circuit, etc., diodes, integrated circuits and the like. Furthermore, a hook-loop fastener  14   a  is bonded to the entire underside of the LED plate  11  so as to cover the aforesaid elements. The electrical cable  13  has an end  13   a  secured to a predetermined portion of the LED plate  11 . 
         [0032]    The number of LEDs mounted on the LED plate  11  should not be limited to eight. Any number of LEDs may be mounted on the LED plate  11 . Furthermore, emission colors and an emission pattern of the LEDs may be set desirably. 
         [0033]    The device body  12  has two ends on which are provided bases  15  which engage sockets of the illumination device, respectively. Each cap  15  comprises a conical metal cap and a metal cylinder both of which are connected together. Each of the aforesaid sockets is previously provided in a housing of the illumination device. The housing has a curved inner surface serving as a reflector. A plurality of sizes of caps  15  are provided in accordance with specifications of sockets of illumination devices. 
         [0034]    The electrical cable  13  has the other end  13   b  secured in the device body  12 . Furthermore, when the LED plate  11  is small so that a location for the rectifier circuit, control circuit, etc. cannot be ensured, these elements may be provided in the device body  12 . Furthermore, another hook-loop fastener  14   b  is bonded to an entire outer periphery of the device body  12 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are schematic block diagrams showing electrical arrangements of the illumination device respectively. DC power is supplied to the illumination device of  FIG. 4 , whereas AC power is supplied to the illumination device of  FIG. 5 . As shown in the figures, a plurality of LED plates  11  may be parallel connected, whereupon the number of LED plates  11  can be increased. Accordingly, when being connected to each other or one another, a plurality of LED plates  11  can be provided in the housing with irradiation directions being changed. 
         [0036]    The LED illumination device  10  arranged as described above is used as follows.  FIGS. 6 and 7  are perspective views of the LED illumination device  10 , showing examples of use thereof. The cap  15  is locked to the socket previously provided in the illumination device housing, whereby the device body  12  is fixed. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the device body  12  and the LED plate  11  are disposed so that the lengthwise directions of the two correspond with each other, and the hook-loop fastener  14   a  of the LED plate  11  is attached to the hook-loop fastener  14   b  of the device body  12 . Furthermore, the housing sometimes has a sufficient space in the axial direction with respect to the device body  12  depending upon the shape of the housing in which the device body  12  is to be enclosed although having less space in its lengthwise direction. In this case, the hook-loop fastener  14   a  of the LED plate  11  may be attached to the hook-loop fastener  14   b  of the device body  12  so that the lengthwise direction of the device body  12  crosses the lengthwise direction of the LED plate  11 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0037]    The housing of the illumination device is generally formed so as to have an inverted bowl-shaped longitudinal section in order that light may efficiently be reflected on the housing. In the embodiment, the LED plate  11  is directly attached to the device body  12 . Accordingly, the LED plate  11  is disposed in a space in the housing as compared with the conventional LED illumination device in which the LED plate is directly fixed or attached to the inverted bowl-shaped bottom of the housing. Consequently, a larger LED plate  11  can be disposed in the housing. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, the LED plate  11  is detachably attached to the device body  12  using the hook-loop fasteners  14   a  and  14   b . As a result, the LED plate  11  can easily be fixed to the device body  12  and at the same time, minute adjustment of the location, angle, etc. of the LED plate can readily be carried out after fixation. Additionally, minute oscillation is usually transmitted from the vehicle body through the housing or socket to the LED illumination device  10 . The oscillation can be absorbed by the structure of the hook-loop fastener to some extent. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 8 to 10  illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. The LED illumination device of the second embodiment is provided with a valve-like cap  15 A mounted on the device body  12 A as shown in  FIG. 8 . The LED plate  11  and the hook-loop fasteners  14   a  and  14   b  of the LED illumination device  10 A are similar to those in the foregoing embodiment and accordingly, description of these components will be eliminated. 
         [0040]    The device body  12 A has a distal end provided with the valve-like cap  15 A and a rear end. The electrical cable  13  has one end  13   a  connected to the LED plate  11  and the other end connected to the rear end of the device body  12 A. The rear end of the device body  12 A has a peripheral edge on which a pair of bases  16  comprising respective flat plates are mounted in order that the hook-loop fastener  14   b  may be attached to the device body  12 A. The back side of the hook-loop fastener  14   b  as shown in the first embodiment is bonded to the outer surfaces of the bases  16 . Accordingly, the cable  13  can be drawn out of either upper or lower side without interference with the hook-loop fastener  14   b.    
         [0041]    The LED illumination device  10 A arranged as described above is used as follows. The hook-loop fastener  14   b  is bonded to the bases  16  into a generally C-shape. Any one of the right and left sides and the rear of the hook-loop fastener  14   b  is selected.  FIG. 8  shows a case where the rear of the hook-loop fastener  14   b  is selected, and  FIG. 9  shows a case where the right side is selected. The hook-loop fastener  14   a  of the LED plate  11  is attached to the selected side of the hook-loop fastener  14   b  in the same manner as in the first embodiment. 
         [0042]    The hook-loop fastener  14   b  is disposed into the C-shape so as to cover the rear ends of the bases  16  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . However, a manner of bonding the hook-loop fastener  14   b  should not be limited. For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the lower ends of the bases  16  may be selected, and the hook-loop fastener  14   b  may be bonded into the C-shape so as to cover the selected end. Accordingly, although the direction of the LED illumination device  10  depends upon the direction of the socket with which the cap  15 A is engaged, the LED plate  11  can be fixed so as to extend in the direction which provides a best illumination efficiency. 
         [0043]      FIG. 11  illustrates a third embodiment of the invention. The LED illumination device  10 B of the third embodiment is provided with a wedge cap  15 B mounted on the device body  12 B as shown in  FIG. 11 . Since the LED illumination device  10 B is similar to the LED illumination device  10 A of the second embodiment in the other respects, the description of the other respects of the LED illumination device  10 B will be eliminated. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate a fourth embodiment of the invention. The foregoing first to third embodiments describing the vehicle-mounted illumination devices. The LED illumination device  10 C of the fourth embodiment is applied to an electrical bulb housing for use in ordinary residence. The LED illumination device  10 C comprises the LED plate  11  and the device body  12 C both of which are connected to each other by the electrical cable  13 . The LED plate  11 , the cable  13  and the hook-loop fasteners  14   a  and  14   b  of the LED illumination device  10 C are similar to those in the foregoing embodiments and accordingly, description of these components will be eliminated. 
         [0045]    The device body  12 C is formed into a general shape of electrical bulb as shown in  FIG. 13 . The cap  15 C has the same shape as the electrical bulb. As a result, the cap  15 C is engageable with a socket for the electrical bulb. The device body  12 C is made of a synthetic resin such as acrylic. The hook-loop fastener  14   b  is wound on and bonded to the device body  12 C. The hook-loop fastener  14   a  of the LED plate  11  is attached to the hook-loop fastener  14   b  of the device body  12 C, so that the LED illumination device  10 C is comprised. A plurality of LED plates  11  may be connected to each other or one another as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Accordingly, plural LED plates  11  can be attached to the periphery of the device body  12 C. Furthermore, the section of the device body  12 C should not be limited to a circular shape such as ordinary electrical bulbs. The device body  12 C may have a polygonal section in order that the LED plate may reliably be attached to the device body  12 C. 
         [0046]    In the above-described illumination device  10 C, the cap  15 C can be engaged with the socket for a conventional electrical bulb, and the LEDs are used. Consequently, electric power consumption can be reduced as compared with the case where an electrical bulb or fluorescent bulb is used, whereupon the electric power rate can be saved. 
         [0047]      FIG. 15  illustrates a fifth embodiment of the invention. The LED illumination device  10 D of the fifth embodiment is applied to a fluorescent bulb housing for use in ordinary residence. The hook-loop fastener  14   b  is helically wound on and bonded to the device body  12 D as shown in  FIG. 15 . A plurality of LED plates  11  connected to each other or one another as in the fourth embodiment are attached to the device body  12 D. Since the LED illumination device  10 D is similar to the fourth embodiment in the other respects, the description of the other respects of the LED illumination device  10 D will be eliminated. 
         [0048]    According to the LED illumination device  10 ,  10 A,  10 B,  10 C or  10 D of the invention, the LED plate  11  provided with plural LEDs are detachably attached via the hook-loop fasteners  14   a  and  14   b  to the device body  12 ,  12 A,  12 B,  12 C or  12 D. Accordingly, firstly, the socket previously provided in the illumination housing can be used. Secondly, since the LED plate is disposed on the device body  12 ,  12 A,  12 B,  12 C or  12 D, the space in the illumination housing can effectively be used. Thirdly, since the LED plate  11  is detachably attachable to the device body, the LED plate  11  can easily be fixed to the device body  12  and at the same time, minute adjustment of the location, angle, etc. of the LED plate can readily be carried out after fixation. 
         [0049]    The foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. Various changes and modifications will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such changes and modifications are seen to fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.