Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a lighting apparatus in which a plurality of lighting blocks is inserted into a base member at positions desired by a user so as to improve the aesthetics of the lighting apparatus and enable easy repair and replacement.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0124892, filed on Dec. 15, 2009, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     The lighting industry has played a key role in advance in human culture and has been closely connected to the advancement of the human race since the dawn of time. 
     Recently, advances in the lighting industry have progressed at a vigorous pace and numerous studies related to light sources, light emitting methods, driving methods and efficiency enhancement have been conducted. 
     Examples of current light sources used in lighting apparatuses include incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps and discharge lamps. These light sources have been used for a variety of purposes, such as domestic, industrial, and outdoor purposes. 
     However, light sources operating based upon electrical resistance, such as incandescent bulbs, etc., have problems of low efficiency and high heat loss, discharge lamps are expensive and exhibit poor energy efficiency, and fluorescent lamps have a problem of environmental pollution due to use of mercury. 
     To solve disadvantages of these light sources, interest in light emitting diodes, which have a great number of advantages, such as high efficiency and realization of various colors and designs, etc., is increasing. 
     In particular, demand for a surface light source having more uniform optical characteristics than point/linear light sources is increasing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a lighting apparatus. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus in which a plurality of lighting blocks is inserted into a base member at desired positions so as to improve the aesthetics of the lighting apparatus. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus in which lighting blocks are easily repaired and replaced. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve this object and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a lighting apparatus includes at least one lighting block having receptacles, and a base member including a plurality of connectors detachably and electrically connected with the receptacles and an electronic module to supply power to the at least one lighting block through one receptacle and one connector under the condition that the corresponding receptacle and connector are connected. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a lighting apparatus includes at least one lighting block having first and second receptacles, and a base member including a plurality of first and second connectors detachably and electrically connected with the respective receptacles and an electronic module to supply power to the at least one lighting block through the receptacles and the connectors under the condition that the receptacles and the corresponding connectors are respectively connected. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a lighting apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a lighting block in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a lighting apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram illustrating another configuration of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic views illustrating assembly states of a base member of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating another assembly state of the base member of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross-sectional views illustrating insertion of the lighting block into the base member of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lighting block in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of a base member of a lighting apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which show by way of illustration specific embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood by those of ordinary skill in this technological field that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural, electrical, as well as procedural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a lighting apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a lighting block in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a lighting apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     A lighting apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes at least one lighting block  100  having receptacles  110  and  120 , and a base member  200  including a plurality of connectors  210  and  220  detachably and electrically connected with the receptacles  110  and  120  and an electronic module  270  to supply power to the at least one lighting block  100  through the receptacle  110  and any one connector  210  under the condition that the receptacle  110  and the corresponding connector  210  are connected. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the respective connectors  210  and  220  are provided on one surface of the base member  200  at a designated interval in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and the connectors  210  and  220  include recesses  211 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the recesses  211  are provided on one surface of the base member  200  at designated intervals in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the lighting block  100  includes a housing  101 , a substrate  102  disposed within the housing  101 , and at least one light emitting diode (LED)  103  mounted on the substrate  102 . The receptacles  110  and  120  are electrically connected to the substrate  102 . 
     The receptacles  110  and  120  include first and second rod parts  110  and  120  protruded to the outside of the housing  101  so as to be inserted into the recesses  211 . 
     Further, the first rod part  110  alone may be electrically connected to the substrate  102 . 
     The lighting apparatus in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention further includes an adapter  260  (with reference to  560  of  FIG. 5 ) located at a position separated from the base member  200  by a designated interval and electrically connected to the electronic module  270 , and a plug  240  electrically connected to the adapter  260 . 
     The adapter  260  may be provided within the base member  200 . 
     In the lighting block  100 , when the first rod part  110  is electrically connected to one connector  211  under the condition that the first rod part  110  is inserted into the connector  211 , the LEDs  103  are driven under the control of the electronic module  270 . 
     A pin  250  of the plug  240  is inserted into a socket  310  of a commercial power source  300 , and power is supplied to the electronic module  270  of the lighting apparatus through the pin  250 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     The lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be implemented in a Lego type in which a plurality of lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  is freely inserted into the base member  200 . 
     That is, a Lego type lighting apparatus includes a plurality of lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b , each of which includes LEDs  103  and a rod part  110 , and a base member  200  including recesses  211  electrically connected with the rod parts  110  of the lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  such that the rod parts  110  are inserted into the recesses  211  and an electronic module  270  to control the LEDs  103 . 
     In such a Lego type lighting apparatus, when the plural lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  are inserted into the base member  200 , the LEDs  103  of the respective lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  are driven. 
     Here, the number of the recesses  211  of the base member  200  is greater than the number of the respective rod parts  110  of the plural lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b , and thus the respective lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  may be freely inserted into the base member  200 . 
     If the total number of the rod parts  100  of the plural lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  is equal to the number of the recesses  211  of the base member  200 , the plural lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  may be inserted into the base member  200  in the same manner as Lego blocks, thereby forming the lighting apparatus. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention,  FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic views illustrating assembly states of a base member of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention, and  FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating another assembly state of the base member of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     For example, states in which the lighting blocks  100  are inserted into the base member  200  in the same manner as Lego blocks, as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , are different. That is, disposition states of the lighting blocks  100  on the base member  200  in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  are different. 
     Therefore, the lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention is advantageous in that the plural lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  may be inserted into the base member  200  according to user&#39;s preferences. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , both the electronic module  270  and the adapter  260  are installed within the base member  200 . 
     Further, when the plug  240  is inserted into the socket  310  so as to be connected to the commercial power source  300  and the lighting blocks  100  are inserted into the base member  200 , the lighting apparatus performs lighting. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , an electronic module  570  alone is installed within the base member  500 , and an adapter  560  and a plug  560  are connected to the base member  500  by a wire  530 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , plural lighting blocks  105  and  106  which are inserted into the base member  200  have different thicknesses, thereby providing a three-dimensional effect. 
     That is, in  FIG. 8 , a thickness t 2  of the lighting block  105  is greater than a thickness t 1  of the lighting block  106 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross-sectional views illustrating insertion of the lighting block into the base member of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention, and  FIG. 11  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lighting block in accordance with the present invention. 
     That is, each of the respective rod parts  110  and  120  of the lighting block  100  includes a first connection part  125   a  having a first diameter W 1  and a second connection part  126   a  connected to the first connection part  125   a  and having a second diameter W 2  smaller than the first diameter W 1 . 
     A first electrode terminal  125   b  is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first connection part  125   a , and a second electrode terminal  126   b  is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second connection part  126   a.    
     Further, each of the recesses of the base member  200  includes a first hole  225   a  having a third diameter W 3  and a second hole  226   a  formed within the first hole  225   a  and having a fourth diameter W 4  smaller than the third diameter W 3 . A third electrode terminal  225   b  is formed on the inner wall of the first hole  225   a , and a fourth electrode terminal  226   b  is formed on the inner wall of the second hole  226   a.    
     The electronic module is electrically connected to the third electrode terminal  225   b  and the fourth electrode terminal  226   b.    
     Therefore, the lighting block  100  and the base member  200  are electrically connected by inserting the rod parts  110  and  120  of the lighting block  100  into the recesses of the base member  200 . 
     Further, only the first rod part  110  of the lighting block  100  may be electrically connected to the substrate, and in this case, only the first rod part  110  is electrically connected to the corresponding recess  211  into which the first rod part  110  is inserted and power of the electronic module  270  may be supplied to the LEDs  103  through the first rod part  110  and the corresponding recess  211 . 
     Here, the second rod part  120  of the lighting block  100  functions as a support member to fix the position of the lighting block  100 , and is preferably made of an insulating material. 
     When one rod part  110  of the lighting block  100  is inserted into one recess of the base member  200 , the lighting block  100  is electrically connected to the base member  200 . 
     Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 11 , one rod part  121   a  out of two rod parts  121   a  and  121   b  formed on a lighting block  100  serves to electrically connect the lighting block  100  to the base member  200  and the other rod part  121   b  serves to stably fix the lighting block  100  when the lighting block  100  is mounted on the base member  200 . 
     Therefore, the lighting block  100  may be freely inserted into the base member  200  regardless of position and direction, thereby creating an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the lighting apparatus according to user&#39;s preferences. 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , when the rod part of the lighting block  100  is inserted into the recess of the base member  200 , the first electrode terminal  125   b  formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first connection part  125   a  of the lighting block  100  contacts the third electrode terminal  225   b  formed on the inner wall of the first hole  225   a  of the base member  200 . 
     Further, the second electrode terminal  126   b  formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second connection part  126   a  of the lighting block  100  contacts the fourth electrode terminal  226   b  formed on the inner wall of the second hole  226   a  of the base member  200 . 
     Thus, the first electrode terminal  125   b  does not contact the fourth electrode terminal  226   b  and the second electrode terminal  126   b  does not contact the third electrode terminal  225   b , thereby preventing generation of shorts. 
       FIG. 12  is a plan view of a base member of a lighting apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the lighting apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     A lighting apparatus in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention includes at least one lighting block (here, lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b ) having first and second receptacles, and a base member  600  including a plurality of first and second connectors  611  and  612  detachably and electrically connected with the receptacles  100   a  and  100   b  and an electronic module to supply power to the lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  through the receptacles and the connectors  611  and  612  under the condition that the receptacles  100   a  and  100   b  and the corresponding connectors are respectively connected. 
     In the above-described lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment, one rod part  121   a  of the two rod parts  121   a  and  121   b  formed on the lighting block  100  serves to electrically connect the lighting block  100  to the base member  200  and the other rod part  121   b  serves to stably fix the lighting block  100  when the lighting block  100  is mounted on the base member  200 . 
     Therefore, the lighting block  100  in accordance with the first embodiment may be freely inserted into the base member  200  regardless of position and direction, thereby creating an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the lighting apparatus according to user&#39;s preferences. 
     On the other hand, in the lighting apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment, the respective receptacles  110  and  120  (with reference to  FIG. 1 ) are electrically connected to the first and second connectors  611  and  612 , respectively. 
     That is, the respective receptacles are electrically connected to substrates of the lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b  and supply power to LEDs of the lighting blocks  100   a  and  100   b.    
     The lighting apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment may further include an adapter installed within the base member  600  and electrically connected to the electronic module and a plug  640  electrically connected to the adapter, in the same manner as the lighting apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment. 
     The plug  640  is connected to the base member  600  through a cable  630 . 
     A pin  650  of the plug  640  is inserted into a socket  310  of a commercial power source  300 , and power is supplied to the electronic module of the lighting apparatus through the pin  650 . 
     The first and second connectors  611  and  612  may be alternately arranged on one surface of the base member  600  in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and the respective connectors  611  and  612  may be formed in lines or columns A 1  and A 2 . 
     As described above, in the lighting apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment, the first and second connectors are electrically connected to the respective receptacles. Therefore, the lighting blocks in accordance with the second embodiment cannot be inserted into the base member at desired positions in desired directions, in the same manner as the first embodiment, and may be inserted into the base member so as to coincide with a pattern of the first and second connectors. 
     As described above, a lighting apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention allows a plurality of lighting blocks to be inserted into a base member at positions desired by a user, thereby improving the aesthetics of the lighting apparatus. 
     Further, in the lighting apparatus in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the lighting blocks can be easily repaired and replaced. 
     Moreover, the lighting apparatus in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is implemented by inserting the plural lighting blocks into the base member in the same manner as Lego blocks. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.