Rotary image projector

A rotary image projector includes a lamp shade, a power board, a driver, and a projection module. The power board is mounted to the lamp shade. The driver is disposed in the lamp shade and electrically connected to the power board. The projection module is driven to rotate by the driver and has a luminous element, a collective lens, and at least two projection assemblies. The luminous element is electrically connected to the power board. The collective lens is spaced apart from the luminous element. Each one of the at least two projection assemblies is disposed on one of two sides of the collective lens away from the luminous element and has a positioning sleeve, a film, and at least one imaging lens. The film is mounted to the positioning sleeve. The at least one imaging lens is mounted to the positioning sleeve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a projector, and more particularly to a rotary image projector.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional projector includes a lamp shade, a driver, a light-emitting assembly, a collective lens, and a projection module. The driver is disposed in the lampshade and has a driving shaft. The driving shaft rotates after the driver is supplied with electrical power. The light-emitting assembly and the collective lens are disposed in the lampshade and are spaced apart from each other. The driving shaft of the driver extends through the light-emitting assembly and the collective lens. The projection module is disposed in the lampshade, is disposed on one of two sides of the collective lens away from the light-emitting assembly, and has at least one film and an imaging lens. The driving shaft of the driver extends through the at least one film and is fixed on the collective lens.

When the conventional projector is in use, the driving shaft of the driver and the imaging lens are driven to rotate by the driver. The light-emitting assembly, the collective lens, and the at least one film do not rotate. Light emitted by the light-emitting assembly travels through the collective lens, the at least one film, and the imaging lens sequentially, and then an image corresponding to a pattern disposed on the at least one film is projected onto a floor or a wall.

However, the driver of the conventional projector only drives the imaging lens to rotate when the conventional projector is in use, so the image corresponding to the pattern disposed on the at least one film can only move rather than rotate about a center.

To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional projector, the present invention tends to provide a rotary image projector to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a rotary image projector.

The rotary image projector includes a lamp shade, a power board, a driver, and a projection module. The power board is mounted to the lamp shade. The driver is disposed in the lamp shade, is electrically connected to the power board, and has a driving shaft. The projection module is mounted to the driving shaft of the driver, is driven to rotate by the driver, and has a luminous element, a collective lens, and at least two projection assemblies. The luminous element is electrically connected to the power board. The collective lens is spaced apart from the luminous element.

The at least two projection assemblies are disposed on one of two sides of the collective lens away from the luminous element, are spaced apart from each other, and each one of the at least two projection assemblies has a positioning sleeve, a film, and at least one imaging lens. The positioning sleeve is disposed on one of the two sides of the collective lens away from the luminous element. The film is mounted to the positioning sleeve. The at least one imaging lens is mounted to the positioning sleeve and disposed on one of two sides of the film away from the luminous element. Light emitted by the luminous element travels through the film and the at least one imaging lens of each one of the at least two projection assemblies to form an image. The images formed rotate about a center since the at least two projection assemblies are driven to rotate by the driver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, and 6, a rotary image projector in accordance with the present invention includes a lamp shade10, a power board20, a supporting board30, a driver40, a projection module50, a fixing element60, and an electrical connection module70.

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 3, the lamp shade10has a base11, a shield12, and a cover13. The base11is disposed at a lower part of the lamp shade10. The shield12has a bottom edge embedded in a top edge of the base11. The shield12is transparent and has a containing space121formed therein. The cover13is disposed at an upper part of the lamp shade10, and has a bottom edge embedded in a top edge of the shield12. The cover13has a hanging ring131mounted at a top of the cover13. In the present invention, the base11and the shield12are quadrilaterals. In other embodiments, the base11and the shield12may be circular or polygonal as long as the base11and the shield12can be assembled.

With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the power board20is mounted to the cover13of the lamp shade10, and the power board20is located on one of two sides of the cover13adjacent to the base11.

With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the supporting board30is mounted to the cover13of the lamp shade10, is located on one of the two sides of the cover13adjacent to the base11, and is spaced apart from the power board20. A space is formed between the supporting board30and the cover13when the supporting board30is mounted to the cover13.

With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the driver40is disposed in the lamp shade10, is disposed in the space formed between the supporting board30and the cover13, is fixed on the supporting board30, and is electrically connected to the power board20. The driver40has a driving shaft41passing through the supporting board30and extending into the containing space121of the shield12via the space formed between the supporting board30and the cover13. The power board20supplies the driver40with electrical power after connected to an external supply, such that the driving shaft41rotates relative to the driver40.

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 4, the projection module50is mounted to the driving shaft41of the driver40, is disposed in the containing space121of the shield12, is above the base11, and is driven to rotate by the driver40. The projection module50has a rotating base51, a light-emitting assembly52, at least two projection assemblies53, and a pressing element57. With reference toFIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the rotating base51is mounted to the driving shaft41of the driver40, and has a first casing511, a second casing512, and at least one bolt516. The first casing511sleeves the driving shaft41of the driver40. The fixing element60is mounted to a portion of the driving shaft41extending into the first casing511, and the first casing511abuts against the fixing element60. In such an arrangement, the first casing511is supported by the fixing element60, so the first casing511will not fall. In the present invention, the fixing element60is an anti-slip nut.

With reference toFIGS. 2, 7, and 8, the second casing512is mounted to one of two sides of the first casing511away from the driver40, and has a mounting hole513and at least two containing grooves514. With reference toFIG. 7, the mounting hole513is formed in the second casing512. The at least two containing grooves514are formed on the second casing512, are disposed at a spaced interval, and each one of the at least two containing grooves514has an engagement groove515. The engagement groove515is formed on the corresponding containing groove514and is adjacent to the mounting hole513. With reference toFIG. 4, the at least one bolt516extends through the second casing512and the first casing511, such that the first casing511and the second casing512are assembled together to form the rotating base51.

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 6, the light-emitting assembly52is mounted within the first casing511of the rotating base51, and has a heat radiating plate521, a luminous element522, and a collective lens523. The heat radiating plate521is disposed within the first casing511, and the heat radiating plate521partially extends out of a top surface of the first casing511. The luminous element522is disposed within the first casing511, is electrically connected to the power board20, and abuts against the heat radiating plate521. The power board20supplies the luminous element522with electrical power to enable the luminous element522to illuminate after the power board20is connected to an external supply. Furthermore, the luminous element522is an LED (Light-emitting diode; LED) light board. The collective lens523is disposed within the first casing511, is disposed on one of two sides of the luminous element522away from the heat radiating plate521, and is spaced apart from the luminous element522. Light emitted by the luminous element522is refracted into several beams traveling near one another after travelling through the collective lens523.

With reference toFIGS. 2, 7, and 8, each one of the at least two projection assemblies53is mounted in a respective one of the at least two containing grooves514of the second casing512, such that the at least two projection assemblies53are disposed on one of two sides of the collective lens523away from the luminous element522. The at least two projection assemblies53are spaced apart from each other, and each one of the at least two projection assemblies53has a positioning sleeve, a film54, a pressing plate55, and at least one imaging lens56. The positioning sleeve is disposed on one of the two sides of the collective lens523away from the luminous element522, is mounted in the corresponding containing groove514of the second casing512, and has a first half cylinder531and a second half cylinder532.

The first half cylinder531has multiple studs534, at least one positioning groove536A, an engagement block537A, a mounting portion538A, and a positioning rod539A. The multiple studs534protrude on one of two sides of the first half cylinder531facing the second half cylinder532at spaced intervals. The at least one positioning groove536A is formed on an inner surface of the first half cylinder531. The engagement block537A protrudes on an outer surface of the first half cylinder531, and the contour of the engagement block537A corresponds to the contour of the engagement groove515of the corresponding containing groove514, such that the engagement block537A engages in the engagement groove515. The mounting portion538A protrudes on the outer surface of the first half cylinder531, and is spaced apart from the engagement block537A. The positioning rod539A protrudes on a top surface of the first half cylinder531.

With reference toFIGS. 7 and 8, the second half cylinder532has multiple receiving grooves535, at least one positioning groove536B, a positioning rod539B, an engagement block537B, and a mounting portion538B. The multiple receiving grooves535are formed on one of two sides of the second half cylinder532facing the first half cylinder531, and each one of the multiple receiving grooves535corresponds to a respective one of the multiple studs534and receives the corresponding stud534. The first half cylinder531and the second half cylinder532are assembled to form the positioning sleeve via the connection of each one of the multiple studs534with the corresponding receiving groove535. The at least one positioning groove536B is formed on an inner surface of the second half cylinder532and aligns with the at least one positioning groove536A of the first half cylinder531.

After the first half cylinder531and the second half cylinder532are assembled, the at least one positioning groove536A and the at least one positioning groove536B form an annular groove together. The positioning rod539B protrudes on a top surface of the second half cylinder532. The engagement block537B and the mounting portion538B protrude on an outer surface of the second half cylinder532. The positions where the engagement block537B and the mounting portion538B are located are symmetrical to the positions where the engagement block537A and the mounting portion538A are located. The engagement blocks537A,537B form an engagement assembly protruding on an outer surface of the positioning sleeve together, and the engagement assembly engages in the engagement groove515of the corresponding containing groove514.

With reference toFIGS. 7 and 8, the film54is mounted on one of two ends of the positioning sleeve adjacent to the engagement blocks537A,537B, and the film54has a pattern disposed thereon. The pressing plate55is disposed on the film54and has two concave portions551, two through holes552, and a light passing hole553. The two concave portions551are formed on the pressing plate55at a spaced interval, and each one of the two concave portions551either aligns with the positioning rod539A of the first half cylinder531or the positioning rod539B of the second half cylinder532. Each one of the two through holes552is disposed through the pressing plate55and either aligns with the mounting portion538A of the first half cylinder531or the mounting portion538B of the second half cylinder532. The light passing hole553is formed through the pressing plate55, and the two concave portions551and the two through holes552all surround the light passing hole553.

To position the film54on the positioning sleeve, make the two positioning rods539A,539B pass through the two concave portions551. Next, insert two fixing bolts into the two through holes552of the pressing plate55, the film54, and the two mounting portions538A,538B of the positioning sleeve. In such an arrangement, the pressing plate55can be mounted on the positioning sleeve, and the film54can be positioned between the positioning sleeve and the pressing plate55so as to be mounted on the positioning sleeve.

With reference toFIGS. 2, 7, and 8, the at least one imaging lens56is mounted within the annular groove formed by the at least one positioning groove536A and the at least one positioning groove536B and is disposed on one of two sides of the film54away from the luminous element522. In such a configuration, the light travelling through the collective lens523in turn travels through the film54and the at least one imaging lens56to form an image corresponding to the pattern on the film54.

With reference toFIGS. 7 and 8, the pressing element57is mounted to the mounting hole513of the second casing512to press the engagement blocks537A,537B of the positioning sleeve of each one of the at least two projection assemblies53into the engagement groove515of the corresponding containing groove514. Therefore, each one of the at least two projection assemblies53can be positioned in the second casing512.

With reference toFIGS. 7 and 8, in the present invention, the first half cylinder531of each one of the at least two projection assemblies53has two said positioning grooves536A spaced apart from each other. The second half cylinder532has two said positioning grooves536B, and each one of the two positioning grooves536B aligns with a respective one of the two positioning grooves536A of the first half cylinder531to form two said annular grooves. Each one of the at least two projection assemblies53has two said imaging lenses56, and the two imaging lenses56are respectively mounted within the two annular grooves and are spaced apart from each other. The imaging lens56disposed away from the film54magnifies an image formed via the imaging lens56disposed adjacent to the film54. The second casing512has four said containing grooves514. The projection module50has four said projection assemblies53, and each one of the four projection assemblies53is mounted in a respective one of the four containing grooves514.

With reference toFIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the electrical connection module70has a first torsion spring71, a first conductive sleeve72, a second torsion spring73, a second conductive sleeve74, and a conductive piece75. The first torsion spring71is mounted on the supporting board30, and one of two ends of the first torsion spring71is electrically connected to a positive terminal of the power board20via a wire. The first conductive sleeve72sleeves a portion of the first casing511that sleeves the driving shaft41of the driver40, surrounds the driving shaft41, and has a first connection portion721. The other one of the two ends of the first torsion spring71abuts against the first conductive sleeve72. The first connection portion721is electrically connected to a positive contact of the luminous element522via a wire. The second torsion spring73is mounted on the supporting board30, is spaced apart from the first torsion spring71, and one of two ends of the second torsion spring73is electrically connected to a negative terminal of the power board20via a wire.

The second conductive sleeve74sleeves the driving shaft41and is above the first conductive sleeve72. One of the two ends of the second torsion spring73abuts against the second conductive sleeve74. The conductive piece75sleeves the driving shaft41, is disposed between the first casing511and the fixing element60, and has a second connection portion751. The second connection portion751is electrically connected to a negative contact of the luminous element522via a wire. The power board20, the first torsion spring71, the first conductive sleeve72, the luminous element522, the conductive piece75, the driving shaft41, the second conductive sleeve74, and the second torsion spring73form a closed loop, such that an electric current flows in the closed loop. In such a configuration, the electric current flows through the luminous element522in a manner that the wires will not be twisted while the projection module50is driven to rotate by the driver40.

In the present invention, the first torsion spring71and the second torsion spring73are conductive and elastic, so the first torsion spring71abuts against the first conductive sleeve72tightly and the second torsion spring73abuts against the second conductive sleeve74tightly during the rotation of the driving shaft41. Hence, poor contacts between the first torsion spring71and the first conductive sleeve72and between the second torsion spring73and the second conductive sleeve74are avoided.

With reference toFIGS. 2, 7, and 9, when in use, connect the power board20with the external supply, and then the driver40and the luminous element522of the light-emitting assembly52are supplied with electrical power. Supplied with electrical power and mounted with the projection module50, the driving shaft41is driven to rotate by the driver40and drives the projection module50to rotate along. Simultaneously, the light emitted by the luminous element522is refracted into several beams traveling near one another after travelling through the collective lens523, and then the several beams of light pass through the light passing hole553of the pressing plate55of each one of the at least two projection assemblies53and travel through the film54and the two imaging lenses56to form an image corresponding to the pattern on the film54. Since the shield12is transparent, the several beams of light travel through the shield12, and the image formed by a corresponding one of the at least two projection assemblies53will be projected on a position such as a wall or a floor out of the lamp shade10. The projection module50keeps rotating as the pattern on the film54of each one of the at least two projection assemblies53is projected, so the images projected keep rotating about a center as shown inFIG. 9.

A user can change the color of the light emitted by the luminous element522and the pattern on the film54of each one of the at least two projection assemblies53according to practical needs. Moreover, the pattern on the film54of one of the at least two projection assemblies53can be different from the pattern on the film54of the other one of the at least two projection assemblies53. In this way, different projecting effects can be achieved by the present invention. The present invention can also be utilized as an insert ground stage light, a hanging projector lamp, a handheld projector lamp, or a street lamp.

With the aforementioned technical characteristics of the present invention, the rotary image projector has the following advantages.

Since the projection module50is mounted to the driving shaft41of the driver40, the driving shaft41drives the projection module50to rotate when in use. During the rotation, the light-emitting assembly52in the projection module50rotates along with the film54and the at least one imaging lens56of each one of the at least two projection assemblies53. In such a configuration, the images formed by the at least two projection assemblies53rotate about the center on a floor or a wall as shown inFIG. 9.