Lighting apparatus

A lighting apparatus has a heat sink sleeve module, a light support module, a driver and two terminals. The heat sink sleeve module defines a containing space and has a first inner surface and a second inner surface. The light support module disposed at least partly in the containing space. The light support module having a top plate, a first side plate and a second side plate. The top plate is mounted with a LED module. The first side plate and the second side plate are respectively appressed to the first inner surface and the second inner surface.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to a lighting apparatus and more particularly related to a module style lighting apparatus.

BACKGROUND

LED technology is developing rapidly in recent years. More and more lighting devices are installed with LED modules.

LED modules have some features not found in the past and thus, there are various challenges and potential advantages to be discovered by finding technical problems, unexpected results and by figuring out innovative designs to achieve more technical benefits.

Installation is one important factor when designing lighting devices. With easier installation structure, it is more convenient for users to use LED lighting devices and brings better human life quality.

In addition, manufacturing cost and difficulty are necessary to be considered too for further promoting products to be used around the world. In the crowded field of LED lighting devices, any improvement may bring huge influence and great benefit for more people.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting apparatus includes a heat sink sleeve module, a light support module, a driver and two terminals.

The heat sink sleeve module comprising heat conductive material. For example, the heat sink sleeve module may be made of metal or plastic material with nice heat conductive characteristic.

The heat sink sleeve defines a containing space and has a first inner surface and a second inner surface. For example, the heat sink sleeve module may have a general tube shape and has two inner surfaces in its inner walls.

The light support module is disposed at least partly in the containing space. In other words, the light support module may be complete located in the containing space of the heat sink sleeve module or partly located in the containing space of the heat sink sleeve module.

The light support module has a top plate, a first side plate and a second side plate. The top plate is mounted with a LED module. The LED module may have one or more than one LED chips located close to each other or may have several parts located diversely on the top plate of the light support module.

The first side plate and the second side plate are respectively appressed to the first inner surface and the second inner surface of the top plate. With such design, heat may be easily transmitted from the first side plate and the second side plate to the heat sink sleeve module.

The first side plate and the second side plate are opposite to each other.

The driver is attached to the light support module. The driver may contain one or multiple electrical components and related wires.

The two terminals are used for guiding an external power source to the driver for the driver to generate a driving current to the LED module.

The lighting apparatus may be further coupled to a socket for getting the external power source.

In some embodiments, the light support module may include a base plate. The base plate is folded to form the top plate, the first side plate and the second side plate. For example, the base plate may be a foldable elongated sheet with two folded parts into a U shape structure defined by the top plate, the first side plate and the second side plate. The base plate may have more folded parts, like the examples explained as follows.

In some embodiments, the base plate is made of flexible material so as to be folded at predetermined positions. In some examples, the base plate is a metal sheet and may be folded at specific folded parts. In some other examples, the base plate may be a flexible circuit board, and the folded parts may have certain curve angle, instead of 90 degrees folding style.

In some embodiments, the inner sides of the first side plate and the second side plate are fixed with heat conductive elements. In other words, one side of the first side plate is appressed to first inner surface of the heat sink sleeve module and the other side of the first side plate is attached with the heat conductive elements.

In some embodiments, the heat conductive elements are heat conductive plates transmitting heat to the heat sink sleeve module via the first side plate and the second side plate. For example, the base plate may be a think sheet while aluminum or other metal plates are used as the heat conductive elements. A complete plate with various shapes may be used while other alternative structures may be used, too.

For example, fins, concave, convex structures may be used. Net structures may be used for decreasing material cost while increasing heat conductivity.

In some embodiments, the heat conductive plates have a greater hardness than the base plate. Specifically, the heat conductive plates or other heat conductive elements may be difficult to be folded, compared with the base plate of the light support module. In addition, the base plate may be thinner than the heat conductive elements.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module may have a top entrance for inserting the light support module into the containing space. The LED module is out of the containing space for emitting light outwardly.

In some embodiments, there is further a light shell fixed to the heat sink sleeve module for covering the LED module while allowing the light to exit via the light shell. The light shell may be used for protecting the LED module. In addition, the light shell may be transparent or translucent, depending on different requirements. Colors may also be adjusted by using different filter materials. Lens may also be used for different design needs.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module has a top shrinking part for the light shell to plug onto so that after the light shell is placed on the top shrinking part, an external surface of the light shell is continuous to an external surface of the heat sink sleeve module. In other words, the light shell may be plugged into the corresponding groove so that the overall external surface of the light shell and the heat sink sleeve module may be a continuous surface.

In some embodiments, the light shell and the heat sink sleeve module together form a box style housing for containing the light support module. Please be noted that the box style does not need to be 90 degrees between adjacent surfaces. The box style refers to a rectangular tube with one opening for exposing the LED module while the other opening for exposing the two terminals to be connected to external power source.

In some embodiments, the two terminals are exposed outside the box style housing for coupling to a corresponding socket. The socket may be a standard socket like Edison sockets or other customized sockets.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module has a tunnel for the light support module to move into the containing space via the top entrance. The ends of the two terminals may be elastic and have a larger raw span than a width of the tunnel. The ends of the two terminals are expanded back to the larger raw span after the light support module is installed in the containing space. The ends of the two terminals are hooked by hook structures of the heat sink sleeve module.

In other words, the two terminals may change their span during passing the tunnel and recovers to their raw span so that unless an external force is applied, the two terminals help the light support module to avoid re-enter the tunnel, thus structurally fix the light support module to the heat sink sleeve module.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module has a plug unit with the hook structures. The plug unit is designed to be plugged into the corresponding socket for fixing the heat sink sleeve module to the corresponding socket. In other words, the plug unit is plugged into a corresponding socket. The two terminals are fixed to the plug unit and also plugged into the corresponding socket to get the external power source, e.g. 110V or 220V power source. Battery may also be an external power source mentioned here. The plug unit helps position the two terminals to connect to corresponding metal conductive elements.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module may have a guiding groove for guiding the light support module moving in the tunnel. The heat conductive elements are attached on the inner side of the base plate, as mentioned above, and may form a structure convex structure so as to match the guiding groove to ensure the light support module to easily slide with respect to the guiding groove.

In some embodiments, the driver is fixed to the base plate. Heat generated by the driver is also transmitted to the heat sink sleeve module via the base plate.

In some embodiments, a driver plate part of the base plate is used for mounting the driver and the driver plate part is folded with respect to other part of the base plate to locate the driver inside the light support module. In other words, if the base plate is an elongated sheet, the driver is also mounted directly on the elongated sheet. The elongated sheet is folded so as to locate the driver to stay between the first side plate and the second side plate.

In some embodiments, the two terminals are two metal pins for providing structure connection between the light support module and the heat sink sleeve module.

In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus of claim1, the light support module may be a U shape structure defined by the top plate, the first side plate and the second side plate.

In some embodiments, the light support module may have an elastic force to be closely appressed to the first inner surface and the second inner surface of the heat sink sleeve module.

In some embodiments, heat dissipation glue may be applied between the heat sink sleeve module and the light support module.

In some embodiments, the first plate and the second plate have elastic protruding structures to be closed appressed to the first inner surface and the second inner surface respectively.

The features mentioned above may be partly or completely be used in different embodiments according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 5, which illustrates an embodiment of a lighting apparatus.

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of a lighting apparatus embodiment. InFIG. 1, a box style lighting apparatus is illustrated. The lighting apparatus has a heat sink sleeve module1, which may be made of metal that helps dissipates heat of its LED module and driver. The lighting apparatus has a plug at its bottom part and a light shell at its top part.

FIG. 2illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1. InFIG. 2, a light shell6may be transparent or translucent so that light from a LED module3may be emitted via the light shell6. The LED module3is mounted on a top plate of a light support module2. The light support module2is connected to two terminals5that provide structural support and electrical connection to an external power source.

The light support module2has a first side plate and a second side plate that are appressed to an first inner surface11and a second inner surface of the heat sink sleeve module1. The heat sink sleeve module1further has a plug unit13to be plugged into a corresponding socket. The two terminals5are fixed to the plug unit13. Ends of the two terminals5are hooked by two hook structures at ends of the plug unit13.

FIG. 3illustrates an example of a light support module of the embodiment ofFIG. 1. InFIG. 3, it is illustrated the light support module has a base plate21. The base plate21has a top plate that has a heat conductive plate22in its inner side. The first side plate and the second side plate also have heat conductive plates22in their inner side.

The external surface210is facing to the heat sink sleeve module. The base plate21is also mounted with a driver4. The driver4is contained between the first side plate and the second side plate. The base plate is folded at folded parts215forming a U style structure.

FIG. 4illustrates a base plate before being folded to the form used in the embodiment ofFIG. 1. InFIG. 4, it is shown that before being folded, the base plate22is an elongated sheet that has a top plate part213, a first side plate part211and a second side plate part212. The base plate22is folded at folded parts215to form the structure illustrated inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5shows another view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1. InFIG. 5, several guiding grooves12are illustrated for guiding the light support module to slide into the tunnel, the hollow opening, of the heat sink sleeve module1.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting apparatus includes a heat sink sleeve module, a light support module, a driver and two terminals.

The heat sink sleeve module comprising heat conductive material. For example, the heat sink sleeve module may be made of metal or plastic material with nice heat conductive characteristic.

The heat sink sleeve defines a containing space and has a first inner surface and a second inner surface. For example, the heat sink sleeve module may have a general tube shape and has two inner surfaces in its inner walls.

The light support module is disposed at least partly in the containing space. In other words, the light support module may be complete located in the containing space of the heat sink sleeve module or partly located in the containing space of the heat sink sleeve module.

The light support module has a top plate, a first side plate and a second side plate. The top plate is mounted with a LED module. The LED module may have one or more than one LED chips located close to each other or may have several parts located diversely on the top plate of the light support module.

The first side plate and the second side plate are respectively appressed to the first inner surface and the second inner surface of the top plate. With such design, heat may be easily transmitted from the first side plate and the second side plate to the heat sink sleeve module. The first side plate and the second side plate are opposite to each other.

The driver is attached to the light support module. The driver may contain one or multiple electrical components and related wires.

The two terminals are used for guiding an external power source to the driver for the driver to generate a driving current to the LED module.

The lighting apparatus may be further coupled to a socket for getting the external power source.

In some embodiments, the light support module may include a base plate. The base plate is folded to form the top plate, the first side plate and the second side plate. For example, the base plate may be a foldable elongated sheet with two folded parts into a U shape structure defined by the top plate, the first side plate and the second side plate. The base plate may have more folded parts, like the examples explained as follows.

In some embodiments, the base plate is made of flexible material so as to be folded at predetermined positions. In some examples, the base plate is a metal sheet and may be folded at specific folded parts. In some other examples, the base plate may be a flexible circuit board, and the folded parts may have certain curve angle, instead of 90 degrees folding style.

In some embodiments, the inner sides of the first side plate and the second side plate are fixed with heat conductive elements. In other words, one side of the first side plate is appressed to first inner surface of the heat sink sleeve module and the other side of the first side plate is attached with the heat conductive elements.

In some embodiments, the heat conductive elements are heat conductive plates transmitting heat to the heat sink sleeve module via the first side plate and the second side plate. For example, the base plate may be a think sheet while aluminum or other metal plates are used as the heat conductive elements. A complete plate with various shapes may be used while other alternative structures may be used, too.

For example, fins, concave, convex structures may be used. Net structures may be used for decreasing material cost while increasing heat conductivity.

In some embodiments, the heat conductive plates have a greater hardness than the base plate. Specifically, the heat conductive plates or other heat conductive elements may be difficult to be folded, compared with the base plate of the light support module. In addition, the base plate may be thinner than the heat conductive elements.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module may have a top entrance for inserting the light support module into the containing space. The LED module is out of the containing space for emitting light outwardly.

In some embodiments, there is further a light shell fixed to the heat sink sleeve module for covering the LED module while allowing the light to exit via the light shell. The light shell may be used for protecting the LED module. In addition, the light shell may be transparent or translucent, depending on different requirements. Colors may also be adjusted by using different filter materials. Lens may also be used for different design needs.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module has a top shrinking part for the light shell to plug onto so that after the light shell is placed on the top shrinking part, an external surface of the light shell is continuous to an external surface of the heat sink sleeve module. In other words, the light shell may be plugged into the corresponding groove so that the overall external surface of the light shell and the heat sink sleeve module may be a continuous surface.

In some embodiments, the light shell and the heat sink sleeve module together form a box style housing for containing the light support module. Please be noted that the box style does not need to be 90 degrees between adjacent surfaces. The box style refers to a rectangular tube with one opening for exposing the LED module while the other opening for exposing the two terminals to be connected to external power source.

In some embodiments, the two terminals are exposed outside the box style housing for coupling to a corresponding socket. The socket may be a standard socket like Edison sockets or other customized sockets.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module has a tunnel for the light support module to move into the containing space via the top entrance. The ends of the two terminals may be elastic and have a larger raw span than a width of the tunnel. The ends of the two terminals are expanded back to the larger raw span after the light support module is installed in the containing space. The ends of the two terminals are hooked by hook structures of the heat sink sleeve module.

In other words, the two terminals may change their span during passing the tunnel and recovers to their raw span so that unless an external force is applied, the two terminals help the light support module to avoid re-enter the tunnel, thus structurally fix the light support module to the heat sink sleeve module.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module has a plug unit with the hook structures. The plug unit is designed to be plugged into the corresponding socket for fixing the heat sink sleeve module to the corresponding socket. In other words, the plug unit is plugged into a corresponding socket. The two terminals are fixed to the plug unit and also plugged into the corresponding socket to get the external power source, e.g. 110V or 220V power source. Battery may also be an external power source mentioned here. The plug unit helps position the two terminals to connect to corresponding metal conductive elements.

In some embodiments, the heat sink sleeve module may have a guiding groove for guiding the light support module moving in the tunnel. The heat conductive elements are attached on the inner side of the base plate, as mentioned above, and may form a structure convex structure so as to match the guiding groove to ensure the light support module to easily slide with respect to the guiding groove.

In some embodiments, the driver is fixed to the base plate. Heat generated by the driver is also transmitted to the heat sink sleeve module via the base plate.

In some embodiments, a driver plate part of the base plate is used for mounting the driver and the driver plate part is folded with respect to other part of the base plate to locate the driver inside the light support module. In other words, if the base plate is an elongated sheet, the driver is also mounted directly on the elongated sheet. The elongated sheet is folded so as to locate the driver to stay between the first side plate and the second side plate.

In some embodiments, the two terminals are two metal pins for providing structure connection between the light support module and the heat sink sleeve module.

In some embodiments, the light support module may be a U shape structure defined by the top plate, the first side plate and the second side plate.

In some embodiments, the light support module may have an elastic force to be closely appressed to the first inner surface and the second inner surface of the heat sink sleeve module.

In some embodiments, heat dissipation glue may be applied between the heat sink sleeve module and the light support module.

In some embodiments, the first plate and the second plate has elastic protruding structures to be closed appressed to the first inner surface and the second inner surface respectively.

FIG. 6Aillustrates a first example of a base plate. InFIG. 6A, a base plate has a top plate603, a first side plate601and a second side plate602. A LED module62is mounted on the top plate603. On external surface of the first side plate601, several protruding structures61may be placed to enhance connection between the light support module and the heat sink sleeve module.

FIG. 6Billustrates another example of a base plate. UnlikeFIG. 6A, the base plate inFIG. 6Bis more flexible and the folded part may not have a folded angle of 90 degrees. Instead, there may be some curve angle between the first side plate641and its top plate. The heat conductive plate65attached to inner side of the first side plate641may have larger thickness and hardness than the first side plate641.

The features mentioned above may be partly or completely be used in different embodiments according to the present invention.

In addition to the above-described embodiments, various modifications may be made, and as long as it is within the spirit of the same invention, the various designs that can be made by those skilled in the art are belong to the scope of the present invention.