Abstract:
A light-emitting diode lamp assembly comprises a housing unit formed in a Y shape, a contact terminal for supplying electrical power and configured to be inserted into the housing unit, and a substrate configured to be mounted on the upper side of the housing unit and for receiving power from the contact terminal. The light-emitting diode lamp assembly further comprises a cover unit which is positioned on the upper part of the substrate and which can effectively release light released from an LED mounted on the substrate. The light-emitting diode lamp assembly is configured to be mounted on the inner side of a dashboard of various mechanical equipment, and is used to increase the discrimination between components on the dashboard and to improve profitability by simplifying the shape of the components and facilitating the assembly of the components.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a §371 application from PCT/KR2013/000519 filed Jan. 23, 2013, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0015814 filed Feb. 16, 2012, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a light emitting diode lamp assembly mounted on a dashboard of a mechanical tool, a vehicle or the like, including various kinds of electronic products, to enhance recognizability of the dashboard. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A filament lamp is generally used as a lamp for a dashboard or a license plate of a mechanical tool, a vehicle or the like including various kinds of electronic products. The filament lamp is inserted on the top of a socket and illuminates a room as the filament emits light when electrical power is applied through the socket, which facilitates indoor activities at night or in a dark place. 
     However, since the general filament lamp described above frequently experiences open circuit of the filament by a physical or electrical impact, the lifespan of the filament lamp is short. This creates a troublesome problem of having to replace the lamp frequently and incurring economic loss due to such frequent replacement, thereby burdening the user. 
     Therefore, various attempts have been made devising a lamp using an LED in order to overcome the disadvantages associated with the conventional lamp described above. 
     Generally, a light emitting diode (LED) is a lighting equipment which emits light by forward current. Since it is very robust to an impact, has a semi-permanent lifespan and is comparatively cheap. The light emitting diode is widely used in various fields and is commonly used in any place in which illumination is needed such as a dashboard of a vehicle, an audio system, an air conditioner and the like. In addition, since the light emitting diode needs to be supplied with power to operate and compositely configured together with other circuit elements, it is mounted on a printed circuit board and a mounting structure is required. 
     LED is a structure in which two through-holes spaced apart from each other are formed on a printed circuit board to communicate the top and bottom surfaces. Two legs of the light emitting diode are inserted into the through-holes and welded to a copper film on the printed circuit board by means of soldering. If the legs of the light emitting diode are inserted into the through-holes formed on the printed circuit board from a side opposite to the surface of the printed circuit board on which the copper film is formed, then the copper film and the end points of the legs of the light emitting diode are welded by soldering at the side on which the copper film of the printed circuit board is formed. The light emitting diode is fixed to the printed circuit board and mounting of the light emitting diode is completed. 
     However, if the light emitting diode is mounted on the printed circuit board in such conventional structure, the legs of the light emitting diode should be welded and fixed to the copper film through soldering. This leads to a problem in that productivity is lowered because the work time is extended due to degradation in workability. Furthermore, once the light emitting diode is mounted on the printed circuit board, it is difficult to separate and replace a damaged light emitting diode lamp. 
     It is known that Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-261626 entitled “Structure of mounting a substrate of a light emitting diode for illumination” has been proposed to solve the above problems to certain extent. 
     A pair of connectors are inserted into mounting grooves of a socket to be spaced apart from each other. A light emitting diode is coupled to the connectors by inserting the legs (lead frames) of the light emitting diode into the connectors to contact the inner surfaces of the connectors. However, since a pair of connectors are simply inserted and loaded in a space unit formed inside the socket, the loaded state of the connectors can be released due to external vibrations or the like to make the connectors loose or dislodge the light emitting diode. If the lead frames of the light emitting diode coupled to the inner surfaces of the connectors do not maintain a linear state and are bent, contact failure may occur between the light emitting diode and the connectors. 
     In addition, since a wire which supplies power to the lead frames of the light emitting diode directly contacts the connectors connected to a ground protrusion by welding, an external impact applied to the light emitting diode is directly transferred to the connectors. The welded state of the ground protrusion can be released or contact failure can occur from the external impact directly transferred to the connectors, thereby lowering the quality. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a further improved light emitting diode lamp assembly. In a light emitting diode lamp assembly, one or more light emitting diodes are mounted on a substrate on the top of a socket base. The lamp assembly is formed to directly conduct electricity to the substrate by inserting the end points of the contact terminal into the substrate. The lamp assembly is mounted inside the dashboard of a variety of mechanical apparatuses to enhance recognizability of the dashboard and improve profitability by simplifying the shape of components and facilitating assembly of the components. 
     Technical Solution 
     To accomplish the above object, the present invention includes an embodiment described below. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light emitting diode lamp assembly including: a housing unit having a cross section formed in a Y shape; a contact terminal inserted inside the housing unit and conducting electricity; a substrate unit on a top of the housing unit and receiving power from the contact terminal; and a cover unit positioned on a top of the substrate unit and effectively radiating light emitted from an LED mounted on the substrate unit. 
     The housing unit includes a body unit and a substrate resting unit. The body unit has contact terminal guide grooves formed on front and rear surfaces. The substrate resting unit is on a top of the body unit and has a cross section formed in a ‘           ’ shape. The substrate resting unit includes the grooves formed on a top surface of the substrate resting unit to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. A substrate resting surface is formed inside the grooves. A latch protrusion unit is formed at one side of the substrate resting surface and protrudes toward the outside to settle the contact terminal. A contact terminal guide through-hole allows the contact terminal to pass through to be inserted into a contact terminal guide hole of the body unit. A contact terminal fixing protrusion unit is formed between the latch protrusion unit and the contact terminal guide through-hole to fix the contact terminal. A plurality of air passage holes are formed on an inner bottom surface of the substrate resting unit to discharge heat to outside. A cover fixing unit is positioned on top of the substrate resting unit to fix the cover unit.
     The substrate unit is on the substrate resting unit of the housing unit, in which one or more surface-mounting type light emitting diodes are mounted on a top surface of the substrate unit. The substrate unit includes a housing resting protrusion unit including contact terminal fixing holes spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance inside the substrate. A cover fixing unit coupling hole is formed between the housing resting protrusion unit and another housing resting protrusion unit so that the cover fixing unit of the covering unit may be exposed to outside. 
     The substrate unit includes a first substrate formed in a horizontal direction, a second substrate formed under the first substrate, and a conductive unit for applying power supplied to the first substrate to the second substrate. 
     The conductive unit includes a connection pin inserted into the first substrate and the second substrate, and fixed by soldering. An insulator is positioned inside the connection pin and coated with an insulation material. 
     The contact terminal is inserted into the contact terminal guide groove through the contact terminal guide through-hole of the housing. The contact terminal includes a contact terminal body unit coupled to the latch protrusion unit. A contact terminal extended protrusion unit is formed in a “           ” shape by extending one end of the contact terminal body unit toward outside. The contact terminal extended protrusion unit includes the contact terminal latch through-hole to be engaged with and fixed to the contact terminal fixing protrusion unit. A contact terminal fixing unit is extended to the other end of the contact terminal extended protrusion unit. The contact terminal fixing unit is bent downward in a “         ” shape and inserted into the contact terminal guide hole of the body unit.
     The cover unit is on top of the housing unit and includes a plurality of grooves formed at a lower portion to expose the housing resting protrusion unit of the substrate unit. A coupling protrusion unit is formed inside the cover unit to be coupled to the cover fixing unit of the housing unit. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The present invention may pursue following effects by the configuration described above. 
     In a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention, one or more light emitting diodes are coupled to and mounted on a substrate on top of a socket base. This enables the lamp assembly mounted inside the dashboard of a variety of mechanical apparatuses to enhance dashboard recognizability, and to improve profitability by simplifying the shape of components and facilitating assembly of the components. 
     In addition, since the light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention is inserted into a general socket, the assembly of components can be easily accomplished. Since the lamp assembly may maintain a semi-permanent lifespan of use owing to the LED elements, it is very economical. In addition, an effect of expressing a distinguished indoor lighting color depending on the preference of a user or characteristics of a vehicle can be obtained owing to the characteristics of the LED elements having diverse lighting emitting colors. 
     In addition, productivity and maintainability are improved by reducing work time when a work or a maintenance task is performed, and profitability is improved by simplifying the shape of components and facilitating assembly of the components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3 to 4  are perspective views showing a socket base of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5A to 5B  are perspective views showing a substrate unit of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a contact terminal of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a state of combining a substrate unit and contact terminals of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 Socket base 
                 20 
                 Substrate unit 
               
               
                 30 
                 Contact terminal 
                 40 
                 Cover unit 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings illustrating the embodiments of the present invention, elements having like functions will be denoted by like reference numerals and details thereon will not be repeated. 
     In addition, detailed descriptions of already known functions or specific descriptions of constitution related to the present invention will be omitted. 
       FIGS. 1 to 7  of drawings attached show an example of a specific implementation of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention.  FIGS. 3 to 4  are perspective views showing a socket base of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention.  FIGS. 5A to 5B  are perspective views showing a substrate unit of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a contact terminal of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a state of combining a substrate unit and contact terminals of a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a light emitting diode lamp assembly according to the present invention includes a housing unit  10  having a cross section formed in a Y shape. A contact terminal  30  is inserted inside the housing unit  10  and conducts electricity. A substrate unit  20  rests on the top of the housing unit  10  and receives power from the contact terminal  30 . A cover unit  40  is positioned on the top of the substrate unit  20  and effectively radiates light emitted from an LED mounted on the substrate unit  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the housing unit  10  includes a body unit  11  having contact terminal guide grooves  111  formed on the front and rear surfaces. A substrate resting unit  12  rests on the top of the body unit  11  and has a cross section formed in a ‘           ’ shape.
     The substrate resting unit  12  includes the grooves  121  formed on the top surface of the substrate resting unit  12  spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and a substrate resting surface  122  formed inside the grooves. 
     A contact terminal guide through-hole  124  allows the contact terminal  30  described below to pass through so as to be inserted into a contact terminal guide groove  111  of the body unit  11 . A latch protrusion unit  123  formed at one side of the contact terminal guide through-hole  124  and protruding toward the outside to settle the contact terminal are included inside the substrate resting unit  12 . In addition, the substrate resting unit  12  includes a contact terminal fixing protrusion unit  125  formed between the latch protrusion unit  123  and the contact terminal guide through-hole  124  to fix the contact terminal  30 . A plurality of air passage holes  126  are formed on the inner bottom surface of the substrate resting unit  12  to discharge heat to outside. A cover fixing unit  127  is positioned on the top of the substrate resting unit  12  to fix the cover unit  40 . 
     The contact terminal fixing protrusion unit  125  may be engaged with and fixed to a contact terminal latch through-hole  321  of the contact terminal  30  described below. 
     The cover fixing unit  127  is positioned on the top of the substrate resting unit  12 , and an insertion through-hole  1271  is formed inside thereof. The insertion through-hole  1271  has a predetermined depth so that a coupling protrusion unit  42  of the covering unit  40  can be inserted therein to fix the covering unit  40  to the housing unit  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the substrate unit  20  rests on the substrate resting unit  12  of the housing unit  10 . One or more surface-mounting type light emitting diodes  24  are mounted on the top surface of the substrate unit  20 . A housing resting protrusion unit  211  including the contact terminal fixing holes  213  spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance are formed inside the substrate, so that one end point of the contact terminal  30  fixed to the housing unit  10  may pass through the contact terminal fixing hole  213  and protrude upward. 
     In addition, a plurality of cover fixing unit coupling holes  214  is formed between the housing resting protrusion unit  211  and another housing resting protrusion unit  211  so that the cover fixing unit  127  of the covering unit  40  may be exposed to outside. 
     A general light emitting diode can be used as the light emitting diode  21 , and since it is not a core technique of the present invention, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     In addition, the substrate unit  20  includes a first substrate  21  formed in the horizontal direction, a second substrate  22  formed under the first substrate  21 , and a conductive unit  23  for applying power supplied to the first substrate  21  to the second substrate  22 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, the first substrate  21  and the second substrate  22  are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance as shown in  FIG. 5A  or the first substrate  21  is positioned perpendicular to the second substrate  22  as shown in  FIG. 5B . 
     The conductive unit  23  includes a connection pin  231  inserted into the first substrate  21  and the second substrate  22 , and fixed by soldering. An insulator  232  is positioned around the connection pin  231  and coated with an insulation material so that the incoming power from the contact terminal  30  flows into the second substrate  22  through the first substrate  21 . 
     In addition, the substrate unit  20  may increase heat dissipation effect by forming the two substrates to be perpendicular to each other. The heat dissipation effect may be obtained separately by installing components on the first substrate  21  and the second substrate  22 . 
     The contact terminal  30  is inserted into the contact terminal guide groove  111  through the contact terminal guide through-hole  124  of the housing  10 . The contact terminal  30  includes, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a contact terminal body unit  31  coupled to the latch protrusion unit  123 . A contact terminal extended protrusion unit  32  is formed in a “           ” shape by extending one end of the contact terminal body unit  31  toward the outside. The contact terminal extended protrusion unit  32  includes the contact terminal latch through-hole  321  to be engaged with and fixed to the contact terminal fixing protrusion unit  125 , and a contact terminal fixing unit  33  extended to the other end of the contact terminal extended protrusion unit  32 . The contact terminal fixing unit  33  is bent downward in a “         ” shape and inserted into the contact terminal guide groove  111  of the body unit.
     The contact terminal body unit  31  is extended toward outside from one upper end of the contact terminal extended protrusion unit  32  and inserted in the inner side of the latch protrusion unit  123 . This allows an end point of the contact terminal body unit  31  to be inserted into the contact terminal fixing hole  213  of the substrate  20 . 
     The contact terminal fixing unit  33  includes an extended protrusion  331  formed at the lower end portion of the contact terminal fixing unit  33  to be extended toward outside from both sides. This allows the extended protrusion  331  to be inserted as far as the bottom surface of the contact terminal guide groove  111 . A contact terminal body extension piece  332  is formed between the extended protrusions  331  to be inclined toward the inside. The contact terminal body extension piece  332  is formed to be inclined toward the inside to be slidingly insertable without being latched when it is combined with a contact terminal binding piece (not shown) formed inside the socket (not shown) at a later time. In addition, a latch protrusion  333  is formed at one side of the extended protrusion  331 . The latch protrusion  333  is latched to the bottom surface of the substrate resting unit  12  to prevent the contact terminal  30  from moving upwardly higher than the latch protrusion  333  when the contact terminal  30  is pulled from the bottom toward the top. 
     The cover unit  40  rests on top of the housing unit  10  and includes a plurality of grooves  41  formed at the lower portion to expose the housing resting protrusion unit  211  of the substrate unit  20  to outside. A coupling protrusion unit  42  is formed inside the cover unit  40  to be coupled to the cover fixing unit  127  of the housing unit  10 . When the coupling protrusion unit  42  is combined with the cover fixing unit  127  of the housing unit  10 , the coupling protrusion unit  42  is inserted into the cover fixing unit  127  by applying an adhesive or ultrasonic waves on the bottom surface of the coupling protrusion unit  42 . 
     The present invention is effective in that lifespan of a lamp is extended since a light emitting diode is used rather than a filament light bulb. The inconvenience of frequently replacing a conventional filament light bulb when the filament is open circuited due to an external impact is solved since the light emitting diode is fixed on top of the substrate by soldering, and maintenance cost can be saved since a general socket is used. 
     Since the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the figures are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all the technical spirits of the present invention, it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modifications capable of replacing them at the point of the application. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     Productivity and maintainability are improved by reducing work time when a work or a maintenance task is performed, and profitability is improved by simplifying the shape of components and facilitating assembly of the components.