Lighting device

The present invention relates to a lighting device including a light transmittable shell, a conductive unit and a light source. The light transmittable shell has an inner space and a mounting opening connected to the inner space. The light source is mounted around the mounting opening such that the LEDs in the light source are arranged along the edge of the mounting opening. The light from the light source transmits through the light transmittable shell from the edge of the mounting opening, leading to a glowing effect of the light transmittable shell, improving the lighting efficiency of the lighting device. Furthermore, the LEDs are distributed along the edge of the mounting opening and have direct contact with the flowing air in open space, so the heat-dissipation of the LEDs is effective enough without extra cooling components.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of TW application serial No. 108138727 filed on Oct. 25, 2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lighting device, particularly to a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting device with a light transmittable shell.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With reference toFIG. 13, EP3188264B1 recites an LET) lighting device, including an LED light source91, a lamp base92, a supporting element93, and a lamp cover94. The lamp cover94and the lamp base92are connected to form an enclosed accommodation space, in which the light source91and the supporting element93are mounted. The light source91is fixed at the center of the enclosed accommodation space with the supporting of the supporting element93. The light source91is mounted in the enclosed accommodation space which has no connection to any open space. Therefore, there is no air circulation around the light source91, and the heat-dissipation effect to the light source91is poor. Besides, the lamp cover94is simply a shell for the light source, and the light from the light source94is transmitted directly through the lamp cover94. The supporting element93at the middle of the device is also not visually aesthetic.

With reference toFIG. 14, EP3301354A2 recites an LED lamp, including an LED light bar95and a protective cover96in a tubular shape. The light bar95is mounted inside the protective cover. The main technical feature in this patent is to reduce the size of the protective cover, and therefore reduce the distance between the light bar95and the open space to improve the heat-dissipation effect. However, the protective cover96still forms an enclosed space in which the light bar95is mounted, and the gap between the light bar95and the wall of the protective cover96may still block the heat from escaping. Besides, the tube-shaped protective cover96is slender and curved, which makes it fragile in structure and is not suitable for common lamp cover material such as glass.

With reference toFIG. 15, US20110163683A1 recites an LED lamp including a light strip97, a lamp base98, and a lamp cover99. Similarly, the lamp cover and the lamp base form an enclosed accommodation space, and the light strips are mounted along the inner surface of the lamp base. The main technical feature of said application is the light strips mounted on the inner surface of the lamp base so that the heat generated by the LEDs on the light strips may be conducted to the outside directly through the wall of the lamp cover. However, the heat may still accumulate in the accommodation space and cause temperature rise. Besides, the LEDs distributed on the surface on the bulb may not be visually aesthetic.

To sum up, the heat-dissipation efficiency is a main concern in the design of an LED lighting device. However, the LED lighting devices of the prior art are restricted by the traditional form and traditional manufacturing technique of light bulbs, and no advanced technical feature that overcomes the aforementioned problem has appeared. Therefore, the conventional LED lighting device needs to be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Since the LED lighting devices of the prior arts is unable to overcome the problems of heat-dissipation efficiency and exterior designing, the present invention provides a lighting device, the lighting device including a light transmittable shell, a conductive unit, and a light source. The light transmittable shell has a mounting opening and an inner space, the mounting opening communicating with the inner space. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED), and the light source is mounted around the mounting opening, such that the LEDs are arranged along the edge of the mounting opening. The conductive unit is mounted on an inner surface of the light transmittable shell, and has two opposite ends that are connected to the power source and the light source respectively.

The light transmittable shell is made of light transmittable material such as transparent glass, frosted glass, or acrylics. Since the light source is mounted around the mounting opening, the shape and the lighting direction of the light source a determined mainly according to the shape and facing direction of the mounting opening. The light from the light source is not only radiated directly toward the outside of the mounting opening, but also is transmitted through the light transmittable shell and scatters toward the other side of the mounting opening, or is transmitted across the inner space and through the light transmittable shell, leading to a glowing effect of the light transmittable shell. The light from the light source can be emitted in all directions around the lighting device, therefore raising light utilization efficiency. The light emitted directly toward the outside of the mounting opening is the main illumination, and the light emitted to the opposite direction and other directions may provide indirect illumination or environmental illumination. The shape of the light transmittable shell may be spherical, hemispherical, cubical or planar, etc., and the shape of the lighting device is not restricted to any limitation.

Furthermore, since the light source is mounted on the light transmittable shell, the light transmittable shell is the supporting element of the light source, and there is no need for an extra supporting element. Without the extra supporting element, the material cost and assembly cost for the manufacture of the lighting device are lowered, and the lighting device may have a simplified appearance.

Furthermore, since the LEDs are arranged along the edge of the mounting opening and the mounting opening is connected to the inner space and the outside of the lighting device, each LED is in contact with the air flowing between the inner space and the outside, and can be cooled by the contacting light transmittable shell or by the flowing air by convection. Compared to the LED light bulb of the prior arts in which the LEDs are mounted compactly in the middle or on the inner surface of the enclosed protective shell, air can flow through the mounting opening into the inner space of the lighting device of the present invention. Therefore, the LEDs of the lighting device of the present invention have direct contact with ambient air, thereby ensuring an improved heat-dissipation effect.

To sum up, the light source is mounted around the mounting opening of the light transmittable shell, so that the light from the light source may be transmitted through the light transmittable shell to provide illumination. The lighting source doesn't need another supporting element to maintain the position and shape, and therefore the components of the lighting device are simplified. The LEDs in the light source are arranged along the edge of the opening, so that the density of the LEDs is low and the LEDs have direct contact with flowing air. The heat-dissipation efficiency is good enough such that the lighting device doesn't need an extra cooling component. Without an extra cooling component, the design of the lighting device can be simplified, and the cost of manufacture is also lowered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIG. 1, the present invention provides a lighting device, including a light transmittable shell10, a conductive unit20and a light source30. The light transmittable shell10has a mounting opening100and an inner space, and the inner space communicates with the mounting opening100. The light source30includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the light source30is mounted around the mounting opening100, such that the LEDs are arranged along the edge of the mounting opening100.

The conductive unit20is mounted on an inner surface of the light transmittable shell10, having two opposite ends that connect to an external power source and the light source30respectively. The conductive unit20may be copper wires that are fixed to the inner surface with a transparent insulation tape.

Preferably, the light transmittable shell10has a connecting end11, and the lighting device further includes a lamp cap40and a power unit50. The lamp cap40is connected to the connecting end11, and the power unit50is mounted inside the lamp cap40and electrically connected to the lamp cap40. When the lighting device is connected to the external power source, the power unit50is electrically connected to the external power source through the lamp cap40, a first end of the conductive unit20is connected to the power unit50through the lamp cap40, a second end of the conductive unit20extends along the inner surface of the light transmittable shell10toward the mounting opening100, and the second end of the conductive unit20is electrically connected to the light source30.

In the embodiment, the lamp cap40is mounted on the light transmittable shell10and is connected to an external power source such as a lamp base. The power unit50converts the power from the external power source and provides appropriate power to the light source30.

In another embodiment, the lighting device may not include the lamp cap40, and is connected to an external power supply module that includes the power unit50. The first end of the conductive unit20is connected to the external power supply module and the power unit50within the external power supply module. The first end of the conductive unit20may extend through the connecting end11of the light transmittable shell10to reach the power supply module.

With reference toFIG. 2, in a first embodiment of the present invention, the edge of the mounting opening100is curved toward the inner space and forms an accommodation slot101. The light source30, which might be covered with an insulation tube such as rubber, is mounted in the accommodation slot101. Preferably, the accommodation slot101is glued with transparent insulation gel, so that the light source is fixed tightly in the accommodation slot101and is insulated appropriately.

The light transmittable shell10can come in different shapes and sizes as required. The light transmittable shell10may be a sphere, a hemisphere, an ellipsoid, or a cube in shape. Furthermore, the connecting end11and the mounting opening100can also be placed in different relative positions or directions, so that the lighting devices can provide different options in terms of visual effect and main illuminating directions.

For example, with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3, the light transmittable shell10is spherical, and the mounting opening100is a round opening.

With reference toFIG. 1, in one embodiment, the lamp cap40is mounted on the outer surface of the light transmittable shell10. In one aspect, the lamp cap40may be directly connected to the surface of the light transmittable shell10by gluing. In another aspect, as shown inFIG. 1, the connecting end11of the light transmittable shell10is a protruding part of the light transmittable shell10that is on the outside of the lighting device, and the lamp cap40is connected to the connecting end11, such that the lamp cap40and the mounting opening100are facing opposite directions. The lighting device of the present embodiment may be suitable for installation at a lamp base on the ceiling such that the light transmittable shell10is suspended, the mounting opening100is facing the space underneath, and the light source30will be mainly illuminating the space underneath. The light transmitting through the light transmittable shell10to the other directions may light up the ceiling and provide the space with the reflected and indirect light source30.

With reference toFIG. 3, in a third embodiment, the angle between the directions that the mounting opening100and the lamp cap40are facing is less than 180 degrees for example 90 degrees. That is, the mounting opening100is at a side face of the lamp cap40. The lighting device of the present embodiment, for instance, can be installed at a lamp base located at a wall, such that the mounting opening100is facing downward to provide main illumination to the space underneath. The light device may also be hung by a pendant cable from the ceiling such that the opening100is facing the side to provide illumination to the wall for example.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, the lamp cap40is mounted in the inner space of the light transmittable shell10. In one aspect, the lamp cap40may be directly connected to the inner surface of the light transmittable shell10by gluing. In another aspect, as shown inFIG. 4, the connecting end11of the light transmittable shell10is a protruding part of the light transmittable shell10on the inner surface of the lighting device, and the lamp cap40is placed in the inner space connected to the connecting end11, so that the lamp cap40is facing the mounting opening100from the inner space. With reference toFIG. 5, the lighting device of the present embodiment may be applied to a desk lamp. Preferably, the first end of the conductive unit20extends to an inner surface of the connecting end11to connect to the power unit50inside the lamp cap40.

With reference toFIG. 6, in a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the light transmittable shell10may further include patterns102. The patterns102may be formed on the light transmittable shell10by laser engraving, polishing, or spray coating. When the lighting device lights up, the light transmitted through the light transmittable shell10and scattering through the patterns102may highlight the patterns102and provide visual effects. Besides, in another embodiment, the light transmittable shell10may also include at least one through hole. The at least one through hole provides a window for better thermal convection and ensures the cooling of the light source30. When the light source30lights up, the light transmitted through the light transmittable shell10may also scatter through the edge of a through hole and provide further visual effects.

With reference toFIG. 7, in a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the light transmittable shell10further comprises at least one protruding rib103that protrudes from the outer surface or the inner surface of the light transmittable shell10. That is, the protruding rib103is a protrusion of the light transmission shell10from either surface. For instance, the protruding rib103may be parallel to the mounting opening100, or may intersects the mounting opening100at a specific angle. The protruding rib103may be formed in any shape, pattern and size. When the light transmits through the light transmittable shell and scatters through the protruding rib103, a decent lighting visual effect is presented.

With reference toFIG. 8, in a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the light transmittable shell10is a planar shell, or a slightly curved shell that is almost flat as a plate. In this case, the mounting opening100of the light transmittable shell10is the edge of the planar shell.

With reference toFIG. 9andFIG. 10, in a seventh and an eighth embodiment of the present invention, the light transmittable shell10is a cubical shell, and the mounting opening100is a square opening. The light transmittable shell10includes a bottom wall12and a surrounding wall13. One end of the surrounding wall13is connected to the edge of the bottom wall12, and an opposite end of the surrounding wall13forms the mounting opening100of the light transmittable shell10. The surrounding wall13and the bottom wall12define the inner space of the light transmittable shell10, and the connecting end11is formed on the bottom wall12.FIG. 8shows the sixth embodiment in which the connecting end11is a protrusion formed on the outside surface of the bottom wall12.FIG. 9shows the seventh embodiment in which the connecting end11is a protrusion formed on the inner surface in the inner space.

With reference toFIGS. 11 and 12, in the ninth and tenth embodiments of the present invention, the light transmittable shell10includes two mounting openings100, and the lighting device includes two light sources30that are mounted around the two mounting openings100. The light transmittable shell10includes a surrounding wall13and a bottom wall12. The surrounding wall13has two opposite ends, and the two mounting openings100are formed at the two opposite ends of the surrounding wall13of the light transmittable shell10. The edge of the bottom wall12is connected to the inner surface of the surrounding wall13, and the connecting end11is formed on one side of the bottom wall12, so that the lamp cap40is facing toward one of the mounting openings100. The two light sources are each electrically connected to the power unit50in the lamp cap40through one respective conductive unit20. The two conductive units20are mounted on the inner surface of the surrounding wall13and the two sides of the bottom wall12to connect to the power unit50in the lamp cap40.

In the ninth embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 11, the surrounding wall13is a cylindrical wall. In the ninth embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 12, the surrounding wall13is a rectangular prism wall.

Preferably, the light source30is a soft LED light strip, a hard LED light strip, or a double-sided LED light strip. The light source30is shaped according to the shape of the mounting opening100. The double-sided LED light strip may be an LED light strip having two opposite sides, and the light of the LED light strip can be emitted from the both sides of the LED light strip, such as the LED light strip recited in the publication of TW201621210. The light emitted from such LED light source30will not be blocked by the substrate and is able to provide effective illumination in all directions. Utilizing such LEI) light source30in the present lighting device not only enables the light to be transmitted directly outside the mounting opening100effectively, but also provides a better glowing visual effect as the light is transmitted through the light transmittable shell10.