Connector of a light-emitting-diode lamp tube

By a simple insertion operation, a connector forms electric conduction by contact, and is therefore applied to a fluorescent lamp tube, a power-saving lamp tube or a similar lamp tube. A light-emitting-diode lamp tube of the present invention includes a light module and two end caps. The connector connects the two end caps at two ends of the light module, and is composed of an insulator body, a conductive plate and a connection terminal. The insulator body includes an insertion slot, the connection terminal is disposed in the insertion slot to connect with the conductive plate, and includes two elastic terminal units. By inserting directly a conductive terminal of the end cap into the connector, and forming electric conduction by contact with each elastic terminal unit, electricity is transmitted, thereby constituting a structure that can be assembled easily, and parts thereof can be replaced and repaired by an ordinary person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector of a light-emitting-diode lamp tube, and more particularly to a connector by which a user can utilize a simple insertion operation to form electric conduction by contact. Therefore, the connector is able to be applied to a fluorescent lamp tube, a power-saving lamp tube or a similar lamp tube.

b) Description of the Prior Art

An early fluorescent lamp tube is mostly made of glass and contains small amount of mercury. Therefore, one should be very careful when taking or installing the fluorescent lamp tube; if the fluorescent lamp tube is broken accidentally, the mercury will flow out and damage the environment. In addition, if a person touches or adsorbs the mercury by accident, then he or she may be poisoned. On the other hand, although a conventional fluorescent lamp is cheaper, its wastes can result in mercury pollution or the fluorescent lamp can be fragile.

For a new generation of the fluorescent lamp, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used to give out light, but the structure is still the same as the early design of the fluorescent lamp, so as to be used in an early lamp bracket.

Referring toFIG. 1, an ordinary LED lamp tube includes a hollow tube11, a light emitting module12and two external modules13, wherein the hollow tube11contains a base110that is covered by a lampshade111. The light emitting module12is provided with a circuit board120and plural LEDs121disposed on that circuit board120. In addition, the circuit board120is provided with a circuit that is connected electrically with the LEDs121, and two connecting blocks123are disposed in proximity to two sides of the circuit board120. The two external modules13are assembled at two ends of the hollow tube11, and each external module13is provided with an end cap130, a fixing block131and two terminals. The end cap130is assembled on the base110with a bolt133and the fixing block131is screwed on the base110with another bolt133. Each terminal includes a latch block136and a conductive pillar137. The latch block136is latched into the fixing block131, and a side of the latch block136is exposed from a lower side of the fixing block131and is welded with the connecting block123on an exterior side of the circuit board120. The conductive pillar137is extended from an end surface of the latch block136and is protruded outward from the end cap130.

However, the prior art is provided with following shortcomings:1. The assembling process of the external modules is tedious and complicated; therefore, the assembling cost is higher.2. The quality of welding is difficult to be determined by naked eyes; therefore, tiny cracks may be formed. Moreover, if the levels of welders are not consistent, the welding quality can be affected easily, thereby increasing the defective fraction.3. An ordinary LED lamp tube is still used in a conventional lamp holder. Therefore, when an LED lamp tube is inserted into a connecting seat of a conventional lamp holder, the LED lamp tube must be rotated by 90 degrees to be energized. Accordingly, the area of irradiation of the LED lamp tube will be deviated by 90 degrees, which prohibits an area below the LED lamp tube from being irradiated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a connector by which a user can utilize a simple insertion operation to form electric conduction by contact, so that the connector is able to be applied to a fluorescent lamp tube, a power-saving lamp tube or a similar lamp tube.

To achieve the abovementioned object, the lamp tube of the present invention is provided with a light module and two end caps, and the connector is used to connect the two end caps at an end side of the light module respectively. The connector includes at least an insulator body, a conductive plate and a connection terminal. The insulator body is provided with an insertion slot, and the connection terminal is disposed in the insertion slot and is connected with the conductive plate.

The connection terminal is provided at least with two elastic terminal units which are inserted directly into the connector through a conductive terminal of each end cap, and form electric conduction by contact with each elastic terminal unit to transmit electricity, thereby constituting a structure that can be assembled easily, and parts thereof can be replaced and repaired by an ordinary person.

By the abovementioned primary characteristics of structures, a bottom of the said insulator body is provided at least with a protruded positioning pillar.

By the abovementioned primary characteristics of structures, two sides of the said insulator body are formed respectively with an opening for transfixing with a welding unit of the conductive plate.

By the abovementioned primary characteristics of structures, an annular connecting unit is formed between a second conducting unit and each elastic terminal unit.

By the abovementioned primary characteristics of structures, the said connection terminal is provided with three elastic terminal units, and each elastic terminal unit is separated with the other by an included angle of 120°.

By the abovementioned primary characteristics of structures, a first conducting unit is provided with a through-hole for sheathing with the second conducting unit of the connection terminal.

By the abovementioned primary characteristics of structures, a slide positioning structure is further disposed between the lamp tube and the end cap. The slide positioning structure is provided at least with a rib and an annular slot for holding the rib; whereas, two sides of the rib are provided with a groove. By locking the rib with the annular slot, the lamp tube and the end cap can be positioned.

By the abovementioned primary characteristics of structures, the said rib is disposed on an inner annular wall of the end cap and the annular slot is disposed on an outer surface of the lamp tube in proximity to two end sides.

By the abovementioned primary characteristics of structures, the said rib is disposed on the outer surface of the lamp tube in proximity to two end sides, and the annular slot is disposed on the inner annular wall of the end cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2discloses a three-dimensional structural view of a connector of a preferred embodiment, according to the present invention; whereas,FIG. 3shows a cutaway structural view of the connector of the preferred embodiment, according to the present invention. The connector40comprises at least an insulator body41, a conductive plate42and a connection terminal43.

The insulator body41is provided with an insertion slot411, and a front end of the insertion slot411is formed with an insertion port412. Referring toFIG. 4at a same time, a rear end of the insertion port412is formed with an open pore413and two sides of the insulator body41are formed respectively with an opening414which is connected with the insertion slot411.

The conductive plate42is disposed on the insulator body41corresponding to the open pore413, the conductive plate42is provided with a first conducting unit421at the open pore413, and a welding unit422which is extended from a side of the first conducting unit421to a side of the insulator body41, with the welding unit422being transfixed out of the opening414.

The connection terminal43is disposed in the insertion slot411and is provided with a second conducting unit431which is connected with the first conducting unit421. The second conducting unit431is also extended toward the insertion port412with at least two elastic terminal units432. As shown in the drawings, the connection terminal43is provided with three elastic terminal units432, and each elastic terminal unit432is separated with the other by an included angle of 120°. An annular connecting unit433is formed between the second conducting unit431and each elastic terminal unit432, and each elastic terminal unit432is formed with an indented connecting unit434and an expansion unit435, a tail end of which is expanded outward. The first conducting unit421is provided with a through-hole423for sheathing with the second conducting unit431of the connection terminal43.

Referring toFIG. 5andFIG. 6, a light-emitting-diode lamp tube is provided primarily with a lamp tube20, and an interior of the lamp tube20is provided with a light module21. The light module21is provided with a circuit board211and plural LEDs212disposed on the circuit board211. Two end caps30are disposed on the lamp tube20at an end side opposite to the circuit board211, respectively. Each end cap30is provided with two electrical terminals31, and an interior side of each end cap30is provided respectively with a conductive terminal32. The conductive terminal32is connected with the electrical terminal31, and the connector40is used to constitute electric connection between the end cap30and the circuit board211.

Upon assembling, the connector40is emplaced on the circuit board211of the light module21and the insertion port412is made to face toward an exterior side of the circuit board211. The connector40is welded on the circuit board211by the welding units422of the conductive plate42, thereby constituting electric connection between the connector40and the circuit board211. Referring toFIG. 7at a same time, when the end cap30is to be inserted into the connector40, the conductive terminal32of the end cap30is inserted from the insertion port412, with that the expansion unit435of the elastic terminal unit432is first expanded outward roughly to facilitate keeping the conductive terminal32to move toward a rear end until the conductive terminal32is positioned. At this time, the indented connecting unit434is connected electrically with the conductive terminal32. In addition, a bottom of the insulator body41is provided at least with a protruded positioning pillar415, and the circuit board211is provided at least with a positioning hole213to hold the positioning pillar415, allowing the connector40to be positioned on the circuit board211more stably.

When the lamp tube of the present invention is inserted into a conventional lamp holder, the electrical terminal31and the conductive terminal32of the end cap30will form a current loop with the circuit board211by the connector40, allowing the LEDs212to give out light by receiving electricity. Accordingly, with a simple insertion operation, the end cap can be assembled with the lamp tube, such that the end cap and the lamp tube can be assembled, repaired and detected easily, and parts thereof can be replaced easily, thereby increasing the practicability.

Moreover, a slide positioning structure is further disposed between the lamp tube20and the end cap30. As shown inFIG. 5, the slide positioning structure is provided at least with a rib22and an annular slot23that can hold the rib22; whereas, two sides of the rib22are provided with a groove24respectively. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rib22is disposed on an inner annular wall of the end cap30, and the annular slot23is disposed on an outer surface of the lamp tube20in proximity to two end sides. Each groove24provides the rib22with elasticity to facilitate emplacing the rib22in the annular slot23; whereas, by locking the rib22with the annular slot23, the lamp tube20and the end cap30can be positioned.

When the lamp tube of the present invention is inserted into a conventional lamp holder and a current loop is formed, the rib22can slide inside the annular slot23, such that the lamp tube20can rotate by 360° relative to the end cap30, as shown inFIG. 8. Therefore, the lamp tube20and the circuit board211can rotate by a corresponding orientation to adjust an angle of irradiation.

On the other hand, the rib22can be also disposed on the outer surface of the lamp tube20in proximity to two end sides, and the annular slot23is disposed on the inner annular wall of the end cap30, as shown inFIG. 9. This configuration also enables the lamp tube20and the end cap30to be positioned and rotate with respect to each other.