Combination of light tube with stabilizer

A light tube assembly includes a light tube and a stabilizer which includes a tubular body with copper members that are slidably engaged with curved slots in a base. A core with terminal plates is received in the tubular body and two locking pin 51s extend through grooves in the tubular body and are removably inserted into the base. An end cap is rotatably connected to the core and is positioned at three positions. The three positions allow the user to replace the base, to replace the light tube and to secure the light tube respectively.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connection between a light tube and a stabilizer by using locking pins to lock the stabilizer to the light tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional energy saving light tube generally includes a light tube and a stabilizer which is connected to one end of the light tube. The stabilizer is more durable than the light tube which has a limited term of life and needs to be replaced, and the stabilizer is much expensive than the light tube, so that the light tube and the stabilizer are made separately and a connection device is used to connected them. Therefore, the light tube can be replaced individually. In order to secure the connection between the light tube and the stabilizer, an extra locking device is developed to ensure the connection. This requires special design to the base of the stabilizer so as to be cooperated with the locking device and a high expense is expected.

The present invention intends to provide a connection device for connecting a light tube with a stabilizer and at least one locking pin is used to securely connect the stabilizer and the light tube. The connection device is cooperated with existed stabilizers of different brands by using a shorter locking pin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a light tube assembly that comprises a light tube having an insertion extending from an end thereof and two protrusions extend from two sides of the insertion. A stabilizer includes a tubular body in which a core is received. Two grooves are defined axially in the tubular body and two copper members of the tubular body are slidably engaged with curved slots in a base which is removably connected to an end of the tubular body. An end cap is rotatably connected to the other end of the tubular body and has two pawls so as to hook the core. An elongate through hole is defined through the end cap. The core has an elongate receiving hole defined therein which communicates with the elongate through hole of the end cap. A first recess and a second recess are defined in two facing insides of the receiving hole respectively. A positioning block protrudes from an inner periphery of the second recess. The insertion of the light tube extends through the elongate hole of the end cap and inserted into the receiving hole. The two protrusions on the insertion are stopped by the positioning block of the second notch. Two engaging recesses are defined in an outer periphery thereof and the two pawls of the end cap are engaged with the engaging recesses.

The base has two notches defined in a face thereof. Two locking pins inserted into the two grooves of the tubular body. Each locking pin has an inclined surface defined in a first end thereof and a tongue extends axially from a second end of each locking pin. The two respective tongues of the two locking pins are removably inserted into the notches of the base. Each locking pin is cooperated with a spring which biases the locking pin at a high position such that the inclined surface is in contact with the pawl corresponding thereto.

A positioning device is located between the end cap and the core to set the end cap at a first position, a second position and a third position relative to the core. In the first position, the two respective second ends of the locking pins are not inserted into the base and the through hole of the end cap is not in alignment with the first recess so that the insertion of the light tube cannot be inserted into the receiving hole of the core, and the base can be removed from the tubular body. In the second position, the two respective second ends of the locking pin51s are inserted into the base and the through hole of the end cap is in alignment with the first recess so that the insertion of the light tube can be inserted into the receiving hole of the core. In the third position, the two respective second ends of the locking pin51s are inserted into the base and the insertion of the light tube is rotated with the end cap and the protrusions are stopped by the positioning block so that the light tube is secured to the core.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, the light tube assembly of the present invention comprises a light tube10which has an insertion11extending from an end thereof and two protrusions12extend from two sides of the insertion11. Two conductive members13are connected to a surface of the insertion11.

A stabilizer20includes a tubular body50and two grooves53are defined axially in the tubular body50. A core40is received in the tubular body50and an end cap30is rotatably connected to a first end of the core40and located at a first end of the tubular body50. Two pawls31extend from an underside of the end cap30and an elongate through hole32is defined through the end cap30.

The core40has an elongate receiving hole42defined therein which communicates with the elongate through hole32of the end cap30. A first recess421and a second recess422are defined in two facing insides of the receiving hole42respectively, and a positioning block43protrudes from an inner periphery of the second recess422. The insertion11of the light tube10is allowed to extend through the elongate hole32of the end cap30and inserted into the receiving hole42when the end cap30is rotated to a correct position which will be described later. The two protrusions12on the insertion11are then stopped by the positioning block43of the second notch422to position the light tube10to the core40. Two engaging recesses41are defined in an outer periphery thereof and the two pawls31of the end cap30are engaged with the engaging recesses41.

A positioning device located between the end cap30and the core40to set the end cap30at a first position, a second position and a third position relative to the core40. The positioning device includes a first notch33, a second notch34and a third notch35defined in the underside of the end cap30, and a rib44extends from the first end of the core40. The rib44is engaged with one of the first, second and third notches33,34, so as to position the end cap30at the three positions.

A base60is connected to a second end of the tubular body20and has two curved slots62defined in a surface thereof. Two copper members54on the tubular body50are slidably engaged with the two curved slots62. Two notches61are defined in a face of the base60.

Two locking pin51s are inserted into the two grooves53of the tubular body50and each locking pin51has an inclined surface defined in a first end thereof and a tongue extends axially from a second end of each locking pin51. The two respective tongues of the two locking pin51s are removably inserted into the notches61of the base60. Each locking pin51cooperated with a spring52which biases the locking pin51at a high position such that the inclined surface is in contact with the pawl31corresponding thereto.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, when the end cap30is in the first position, each of the pawls31is located at the lowest position of the inclined surface of the locking pin51so that the two respective second ends of the locking pin51s are not inserted into the base60. The through hole32of the end cap30is not in alignment with the first recess421so that the insertion11of the light tube10cannot be inserted into the receiving hole42of the core40and the base60can be removed from the tubular body50.

FIGS. 4 and 5show that when the end cap30is in the second position, the two respective second ends of the locking pins51are inserted into the base60and the through hole32of the end cap30being in alignment with the first recess421so that the insertion11of the light tube10can be inserted into the receiving hole42of the core40.

FIGS. 6 and 7show that when the end cap30is in the third position, the two pawls31are moved upward along the inclined surface of the locking pin51so that the two respective second ends of the locking pins51are inserted into the base60and the insertion11of the light tube10is rotated with the end cap30so that the protrusions12are stopped by the positioning block43and the light tube10is secured to the core40.

FIG. 8shows that the light tube assembly is cooperated with another base80by using shorter locking pins70, wherein the base80does not have the notches61as disclosed inFIG. 1and each of the shorter locking pins70does not have the tongue on the second end thereof. Therefore, the locking pins70do not push the base80whichever position the end cap30is set.