Lighting apparatus

A lighting apparatus includes a housing, a light source disposed in the housing and at least one adjustable assembly disposed at an end of the housing. The adjustable assembly includes a connection element fixed to the end of the housing, a cap capping the connection element, at least one electrical terminal and an adjusting mechanism. A part of the connection element is located in the cap. The electrical terminal is disposed at the cap and electrically connected to the light source. The adjusting mechanism includes a gear, a positioning element, a clasp and a track. The gear and the positioning element are respectively disposed at the connection element and the cap. Positions of the gear and the positioning element can be exchanged. The clasp and the track are respectively disposed at the connection element and the cap. Positions of the clasp and the track can be exchanged.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior U.S. Patent Application No. 12/703,284, filed Feb. 10, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an electrical apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lighting apparatus.

2. Detailed Description of the Related Art

Commercial light fixtures commonly use fluorescent lamps or incandescent lamps to radiate light for illumination. These lighting fixtures have the common drawbacks of high power consumption, quick light attenuation, short service life, fragility, and the inability to be reclaimed. Light emitting diode elements (hereinafter LED elements) may be used to replace fluorescent or incandescent bulbs to obtain the environmental and economic benefits of LED technology. However, LED elements are directional and when used with exiting light fixtures, they do not necessarily provide the illumination where it is needed.

Standard light tubes are mounted in a light fixture by means of sliding connector pins into end sockets and then turning the tube 90 degrees so that the pins engage electrical contacts in the sockets. The lamp tube emits light omni-directionally and its orientation in the sockets is of no consequence, making orientation of pin connectors on different models of fixtures inconsequential. However, LED elements emit light generally at a narrowly-angled conical path. An LED lighting tube retrofitted into the exiting light fixture may not be oriented to emit light in the desired direction as the angular presentation of the light to the surface to be illuminated can be offset by the variation of the pin connectors.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to provide a lighting apparatus with an adjustable assembly.

In one embodiment, a lighting apparatus includes a housing, a light source and at least one adjustable assembly. The light source is disposed in the housing, and the adjustable assembly is disposed at an end of the housing and includes a connection element, a cap, at least one electrical terminal and an adjusting mechanism. The connection element is fixed to the end of the housing. The cap caps the connection element, wherein the cap includes a side wall, an end wall and an opening, the side wall is disposed at the end wall, the opening is disposed at the side wall and opposite to the end wall, the side wall and the end wall together form an accommodating space, the connection element passes through the opening, and a part of the connection element is located in the accommodating space. The electrical terminal is disposed at the end wall and extends outside the cap. The electrical terminal is electrically connected to the light source. The adjusting mechanism includes a gear, a positioning element, a clasp and a track. One of the gear and the positioning element is disposed at the connection element, the other of the gear and the positioning element is disposed at the cap and located in the accommodating space, one of the clasp and the track is disposed at the connection element, and the other of the clasp and the track is disposed at the cap and located in the accommodating space. When the cap is at a first position, the positioning element is engaged with the gear to be restricted by the gear such that the cap is not rotated relative to the connection element. When the cap is at a second position, the positioning element is not restricted by the gear and the clasp is disposed at the track such that the cap is adapted to be rotated relative to the connection element and the clasp is adapted to slide along the track.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the track has a first trench and a second trench, wherein the clasp clasps the first trench when the cap is at the first position, and the clasp is disposed at the second trench when the cap is at the second position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning element is a protrusion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the adjusting assembly further includes a medium element disposed in the cap, the positioning element includes a ring-shaped body encircling the medium element and a rod disposed at the ring-shaped body. The rod is engaged with the gear when the cap is at the first position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the clasp is a protrusion.

Because the housing and the connection element of the lighting apparatus of each of the embodiments can be rotated relative to the cap, the lighting apparatus of each of the embodiments is applicable to the present exiting light fixture and the light from the lighting source can be directed to illuminate the desired surface or area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe exemplary embodiments of the present sensing system, in detail. The following description is given by way of example, and not limitation.

FIG. 1Ais a partially-exploded schematic view of a lighting apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 1Bis a partially-exploded schematic view of an adjustable assembly ofFIG. 1A,FIG. 1Cis another partially-exploded schematic view of the adjustable assembly ofFIG. 1B,FIG. 1Dis a cross-sectional schematic view of the lighting apparatus of the first embodiment as the cap is at a first position, andFIG. 1Eis a cross-sectional schematic view of the lighting apparatus of the first embodiment as the cap is at a second position. Referring toFIGS. 1A to 1E, a lighting apparatus200includes a housing210, a light source220and at least one adjustable assembly230(two adjustable assemblies230are schematically shown inFIG. 1A). The housing210may include a transparent front portion212and a rigid back portion214. The rigid back portion214may be a heat sink. The transparent front portion212may be sliding disposed at the rigid back portion214such that the transparent front portion212and the rigid back portion214together form an accommodating space216.

The light source220is disposed in the housing210. Particularly, the light source220may include a circuit board222and a plurality of LED elements224. The LED elements224are electrically disposed on the circuit board222. The circuit board222is disposed on the rigid back portion214such that the light source220is located in the accommodating space216. When the LED elements224operate to illuminate light, the heat generated by the LED elements224can be transferred to the outside environment through a plurality of heat conductive channels (not shown) of the circuit board222and the rigid back portion214such as the heat sink.

The adjustable assemblies230are disposed at two opposite ends218of the housing210. Each of the adjustable assemblies230includes a connection element231, a cap232, at least one electrical terminal233(two electrical terminals233are schematically illustrated inFIG. 1B) and an adjusting mechanism234. The connection elements231of the adjustable assemblies230may be inserted into the rigid back portion214to be fixed to the ends218of the housing210, respectively. The cap232of each adjustable assembly230caps the connection element231, wherein the cap231includes a side wall232a, an end wall232band an opening232c. The side wall232ais disposed at the end wall232b, the opening232cis disposed at the side wall232aand opposite to the end wall232b, the side wall232aand the end wall232btogether form an accommodating space232d, the connection element231passes through the opening232c, and a part of the connection element231is located in the accommodating space232d. The electrical terminals233, such as pins, are disposed at the end wall232band extend outside the cap232. The electrical terminals233are electrically connected to the circuit board222of the light source220. In one embodiment, the electrical terminals233can be electrically connected to the circuit board222of the light source220through wires (not shown). The electrical terminals233of each of the adjustable assemblies230can be inserted into one of two sockets of a standard fluorescent or incandescent light fixture (not shown).

In each of the adjustable assemblies230, the adjusting mechanism234includes a gear234a, a positioning element234b, a clasp234cand a track234d. The positioning element234bis, for example, a protrusion, and the clasp234cis, for example, a protrusion. One of the gear234aand the positioning element234b(e.g. the gear234a) is disposed at the connection element231, the other of the gear234aand the positioning element234b(e.g. the positioning element234b) is disposed at the cap232and located in the accommodating space232d. One of the clasp234cand the track234d(e.g. the track234d) is disposed at the connection element231, and the other of the clasp234cand the track234d(e.g. the clasp234c) is disposed at the cap232and located in the accommodating space232d. In another embodiment, the positioning element234bis disposed at the connection element231, the gear234ais disposed at the cap232and located in the accommodating space232d, the clasp234cis disposed at the connection element231, and the track234dis disposed at the cap232and located in the accommodating space232d.

Referring toFIG. 1D, when the cap232of each adjustable assembly230is at a first position, the positioning element234bis engaged with the gear234ato be restricted by the gear234asuch that the cap232is not rotated relative to the connection element231. Referring toFIG. 1E, when the cap232of each adjustable assembly230is at a second position, the positioning element234bis not restricted by the gear234aand the clasp234cis disposed at the track234dsuch that the cap232is adapted to be rotated relative to the connection element231and the clasp234cis adapted to slide along the track234dto direct the light from the LED elements224to illuminate the desired surface or area. In one embodiment, the track234dhas a first trench T1and a second trench T2, wherein the clasp234cclasps the first trench T1when the cap232is at the first position, and the clasp234cis disposed at the second trench T2when the cap232is at the second position.

When the housing210and the connection elements231are adjusted to an adequate position, the user can shift the caps232to the first position such that the final position of the housing210and the connection elements231is maintained. Because the caps232can be shifted to the second position to disengage the positioning element234band the gear234asuch that the housing210and the connection elements231can be rotated relative to the caps232. The lighting apparatus200of the first embodiment is applicable to the present exiting light fixture and the light from the lighting source220can be directed to illuminate the desired surface or area.

FIG. 2Ais a partially-exploded schematic view of a lighting apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2Bis a partially-exploded schematic view of an adjustable assembly of a second embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2Cis another partially-exploded schematic view of the adjustable assembly ofFIG. 2A,FIG. 2Dis a cross-sectional schematic view of the adjustable assembly of the second embodiment as the cap is at a first position, andFIG. 2Eis a cross-sectional schematic view of the adjustable assembly of the second embodiment as the cap is at a second position. Referring toFIGS. 2A to 2E, the main difference between the lighting apparatus300of the second embodiment and the lighting apparatus200of the first embodiment lies in that each of the adjustable assemblies330of the lighting apparatus further includes a medium element335disposed in the cap332, the positioning element334bincludes a ring-shaped body B1encircling the medium element335and a rod R1disposed at the ring-shaped body B1. More specifically, the medium element335has a trench335aand the ring-shaped body B1is disposed in the trench335ato encircling the medium element335. The rod R1is engaged with the gear334awhen the cap332is at the first position (shown inFIG. 2D).

Because the caps332can be shifted to the second position to disengage the rod R1of the positioning element334band the gear334asuch that the housing310and the connection elements331can be rotated relative to the caps332. The lighting apparatus of the second embodiment is applicable to the present exiting light fixture and the light from the lighting source320can be directed to illuminate the desired surface or area.

According to the above description, because the housing and the connection element of the lighting apparatus of each of the embodiments can be rotated relative to the cap, the lighting apparatus of each of the embodiments is applicable to the present exiting light fixture and the light from the lighting source can be directed to illuminate the desired surface or area.