Abstract:
An electrical connecting terminal used to connect a driving board with a lamp holder of an LED lamp has a base, an elastic sheet, and a plug pin (or a weld pin). A side of the base extends upwards and obliquely and is curved to form the elastic sheet adapted for electrical connection of an electrode of the lamp holder. The side of the base extends outward or is bent to form the plug pin or the weld pin adapted for electrical connection of the driving board. The structure and connecting procedure are simple, the assembly efficiency is high, the connection is stable, and the yield is increased greatly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a power source connection technique of an LED lamp, and more particularly to an electrical connecting terminal used to connect a driving board with a lamp holder of an LED lamp. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    In the existing technology, the driving board and the positive and negative electrodes of the lamp holder of an LED lamp are connected by using a guide wire. One end of the guide wire is welded to the driving board, and the other end of the guide wire is welded to the lamp holder, or the guide wire is suspended on the lamp adapter and then the lamp holder is locked to achieve an electrical connection. Such a connection by means of the guide wire, the working procedure is complicated and the assembly efficiency is low and the defect rate of the product is high. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connecting terminal used to connect a driving board with a lamp holder of an LED lamp. Its structure and connecting procedure are simple, and the connection is stable. 
         [0006]    In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the electrical connecting terminal used to connect a driving board with a lamp holder of an LED lamp has a base, an elastic sheet, and an electrical connecting pin (a plug pin or a weld pin). A side of the base extends upwards and obliquely and is curved to form the elastic sheet adapted for electrical connection of an electrode of the lamp holder. The side of the base, extending outward or being bent, is formed with the electrical connecting pin adapted for electrical connection of the driving board. 
         [0007]    The structure of the present invention is simple. When installed, the electrical connecting terminal is installed on the driving board in advance. Along with the installation of the driving board, the electrical connecting terminal is disposed in the lamp adapter. When the lamp holder is installed, the positive electrode of the lamp holder is elastically in contact with the elastic sheet of the positive electrode connecting terminal to achieve positive electrode electrical connection. At the same time, the elastic sheet of the negative electrode connecting terminal is compressed to contact with the negative electrode of the lamp holder to achieve negative electrode electrical connection. The connecting procedure is simple, the assembly efficiency is high, the connection is stable, and the yield is increased greatly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  are schematic views of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention as a positive electrode connecting terminal; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7  are schematic views of the first to third embodiments of the present invention as a negative electrode connecting terminal; 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  to  FIG. 10  are schematic views of the first embodiment of the present invention as a positive electrode connecting terminal in cooperation with a plastic core; 
           [0011]      FIG. 11  to  FIG. 13  are schematic views of the first embodiment of the present invention as a negative electrode connecting terminal in cooperation with a plastic core; 
           [0012]      FIG. 14  to  FIG. 17  are schematic views of the present invention in cooperation with an integral plastic core; 
           [0013]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view of the assembled LED lamp of  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20  are sectional views of the assembled LED lamp of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 21  is a schematic view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention as a negative electrode connecting terminal; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 22  to  FIG. 28  are schematic views of preferred embodiments the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 , the present invention discloses an electrical connecting terminal used to connect a driving board with a lamp holder of an LED lamp. The electrical connecting terminal has a base  10 , an elastic sheet  20 , and a plug pin  30  (or a weld pin  40 ). The base  10  can be a single plate (as shown in FIG.  21 ) or a frame in a □ shape or in a □ shape as shown in  FIG. 2 . In order to enhance the firmness of installation, the base  10  is formed with raised ribs  11 . A side of the base  10  extends upwards and obliquely and is curved to form the elastic sheet  20 . The elastic sheet  20  is adapted for electrical connection of an electrode of a lamp holder  600 . In order to increase contact points, the elastic sheet  2  is formed with a groove  21 . The side of the base  10  extends outward to form the plug pin  30  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 21 ). The plug pin  30  is adapted for electrical connection of a driving board  700 . Alternatively, the side of the base  10  extends outward and is bent to form the weld pin  40  (as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 ). The weld pin  40  is adapted for electrical connection of the driving board  700 . 
         [0019]    The electrical connecting terminal, as shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 , functions as a positive electrode connecting terminal  100  for connection of the driving board  700  and the positive electrode of the lamp holder  600 . The elastic sheet  20  and the plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) are formed on the side of the base  10 . The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is disposed close to a head portion  23  of the elastic sheet  20  and apart from a root portion  22  of the elastic sheet  20 . For the base  10  in a frame shape, the elastic sheet  20  and the plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) are formed on two opposing sides of the base  10 . 
         [0020]    The electrical connecting terminal, as shown in  FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 21 , functions as a negative electrode connecting terminal  200  for connection of the driving board  700  and the negative electrode of the lamp holder  600 . The elastic sheet  20  and the plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) are formed on the side of the base  10 . The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is disposed close to the root portion  22  of the elastic sheet  20 . For the base  10  in a frame shape, the elastic sheet  20  and the plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) are formed on the same side of the base  10 . 
         [0021]    As shown in the drawings, the positive electrode connecting terminal  100  and the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  are directly formed by punching a platy material. As shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 , the middle of the platy material is formed with the elastic sheet  20 , one side or two sides of the platy material are formed with the plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ). This saves the material greatly. 
         [0022]    When the aforesaid electrical connecting terminal is applied for electrical connection of the driving board  700  and the lamp holder  600 , the positive electrode connecting terminal  100  and the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  can be installed by means of respective plastic cores (as shown in  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 18 ) or installed by means of a common plastic core (as shown in  FIG. 14  through  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 ). 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 10 , the present invention discloses a positive electrode connector which is an electrical connector used to connect a driving board with the positive electrode of a lamp holder of an LED lamp. The positive electrode connector comprises a positive electrode plastic core  300  and a positive electrode connecting terminal  100 . The positive electrode plastic core  300  is fixed on the driving board  700  through a protruding post  301 . The positive electrode plastic core  300  is formed with an insertion hole  302  for insertion of a positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder. (The insertion hole  302  is a flared hole for guiding insertion of the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder.) A side of the insertion hole  302  is formed with a side trough  303  in communication with the insertion hole  302 . The base  10  of the positive electrode connecting terminal  100  is inserted into the side trough  303  from the inside of the LED lamp towards the lamp holder  600 . (The direction is opposite to the insertion direction of the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder). The elastic sheet  20  and the plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) are formed on the side of the base  10  towards the inside of the LED lamp. The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is exposed out of the positive electrode plastic core  300  for electrically connecting with the driving board  700 . The elastic sheet  20  is formed on the side of the base  10  towards the lamp holder  600 . (The plug pin  30  or the weld pin  40  is disposed close to the head portion  23  of the elastic sheet  20  and apart from the root portion  22  of the elastic sheet  20 .) The elastic sheet  20  is inserted into the insertion hole  302  and extends and curves towards the inside of the LED lamp. The elastic sheet  20  is elastically in contact with the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder (inserted in the insertion hole  302 ) to achieve electrical connection. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 11  through  FIG. 13 , the present invention discloses a negative electrode connector which is an electrical connector used to connect a driving board with the negative electrode of a lamp holder of an LED lamp. The positive electrode connector comprises a negative electrode plastic core  400  and a negative electrode connecting terminal  200 . The negative electrode plastic core  400  is fixed on the driving board  700  through a protruding post  401 . The negative electrode plastic core  400  is formed with an insertion slot  402 . An outer wall of the insertion slot  402  is formed with an oblique surface  103  and a step  404 . The base  10  of the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  is inserted into the insertion slot  402  from the lamp holder  600  towards the inside of the LED lamp. (The direction is the same as the insertion direction of the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder.) The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is formed on the side of the base  10  towards the lamp holder  600 . The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is exposed out of the negative electrode plastic core  400  for electrically connecting with the driving board  700 . The elastic sheet  20  is also formed on the side of the base  10  towards the lamp holder  600 . (The plug pin  30  or the weld pin  40  is disposed close to the root portion  22  of the elastic sheet  20 .) The elastic sheet  20  extends out of the insertion slot  402  and curves towards the inside of the LED lamp. The elastic sheet  20  is elastically in contact with the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder (inserted in the insertion hole  302 ) to achieve electrical connection. The root portion  22  (the elastic arm  22 ) of the elastic sheet  20  is against the oblique surface  403 , or the head portion  23  of the elastic sheet  20  is against the outer wall of the insertion slot  402 , providing a support for the elastic sheet  20  and preventing the elastic sheet  20  from being pressed and deformed so as to ensure electrical connection. The elastic sheet  20  is elastically in contact with the negative electrode  602  of the lamp holder by a spiral compression to achieve electrical connection. The head portion  23  of the elastic sheet  20  is spirally compressed to hook the step  404 . For the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , the head portion  23  is curved inwards, so the step  404  is formed at the end of the outer wall of the insertion slot  402 . For the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , the head portion  23  is curved outwards, so the step  404  is formed at the middle of the outer wall of the insertion slot  402 . 
         [0025]    The positive electrode connecting terminal  100  and the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  can be applied to an LED lamp. As shown in  FIG. 18 , the present invention discloses an LED lamp. The LED lamp is composed of a lampshade, a light source board, a driving board  700 , a lamp adapter  800 , and a lamp holder  600 . The lampshade is installed on the lamp adapter. The light source board is installed in the lampshade. The light source board is electrically connected with the driving board  700 . The lampshade and the light source board belong to the normal components of the LED lamp, not shown in the drawings. The features of the LED lamp are that the driving board is installed with the positive electrode connector and the negative electrode connector, respectively. The driving board  700  is fixedly inserted in the lamp adapter  800 . The lamp holder  600  is fitted on the lamp adapter  800 . The positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder is inserted into the insertion hole  302  and electrically in contact with the elastic sheet  20  of the positive electrode connecting terminal  100  to achieve positive electrode electrical connection. The negative electrode  602  of the lamp holder compresses the elastic sheet  20  of the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  to achieve negative electrode electrical connection. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 14  through  FIG. 17 , the present invention discloses an integral connector which is an electrical connector used to connect a driving board with a lamp holder of an LED lamp. The integral connector comprises an integral plastic core  500 , a negative electrode connecting terminal  100 , a negative electrode connecting terminal  200 . The integral plastic core  500  is fixed on the driving board  700  through a protruding post  501 . The integral plastic core  500  is formed with an insertion hole  502  for insertion of a positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder. (The insertion hole  502  is a flared hole for guiding insertion of the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder.) A side of the insertion hole  502  is formed with a side trough  503  in communication with the insertion hole  502 . The integral plastic core  500  is further formed with an insertion slot  504 . An outer wall of the insertion slot  504  is formed with an oblique surface  505  and a step  506 . The electrical connecting terminal is composed of the negative electrode connecting terminal  100  and the negative electrode connecting terminal  200 . The base  10  of the positive electrode connecting terminal  100  is inserted into the side trough  503  from the inside of the LED lamp towards the lamp holder  600 . (The direction is opposite to the insertion direction of the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder). The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is formed on the side of the base  10  towards the inside of the LED lamp. The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is exposed out of the integral plastic core  500  for electrically connecting with the driving board  700 . The elastic sheet  20  is formed on the side of the base  10  towards the lamp holder  600 . The elastic sheet  20  is inserted into the insertion hole  502  and extends and curves towards the inside of the LED lamp. The elastic sheet  20  is elastically in contact with the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder (inserted in the insertion hole  502 ) to achieve electrical connection. The base  10  of the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  is inserted into the insertion slot  504  from the lamp holder  600  towards the inside of the LED lamp. (The direction is the same as insertion of the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder.) The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is formed on the side of the base  10  towards the lamp holder  600 . The plug pin  30  (or the weld pin  40 ) is exposed out of the integral plastic core  500  for electrically connecting with the driving board  700 . The elastic sheet  20  is also formed on the side of the base  10  towards the lamp holder  600 . The elastic sheet  20  extends out of the insertion slot  504  and curves towards the inside of the LED lamp. The root portion  22  (the elastic arm  22 ) of the elastic sheet  20  is against the oblique surface  505 , or the head portion  23  of the elastic sheet  20  is against the outer wall of the insertion slot  504 . The elastic sheet  20  is elastically in contact with the negative electrode  602  of the lamp holder by a spiral compression to achieve electrical connection. The head portion  23  of the elastic sheet  20  is spirally compressed to hook the step  506 . 
         [0027]    The positive electrode connecting terminal  100  and the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  are integrally installed on the LED lamp. As shown in  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , the present invention discloses another LED lamp. Except the installation way, this LED lamp has the same electrical connecting structure as the LED lamp as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0028]    In order to explain the electrical connector and the LED lamp conveniently, the first embodiment of the negative electrode connecting terminal and the first embodiment of the negative electrode connecting terminal are described and shown as an example. The other embodiments to cooperate with the plastic core are identical to the first embodiment of the positive and negative electrode connecting terminals, and won&#39;t be described hereinafter. 
         [0029]      FIG. 22  through  FIG. 28  shows preferred embodiments of the present invention. The main structures of the positive electrode connecting terminal  100  and the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  are substantially similar to the aforesaid connecting terminals with the exceptions described hereinafter. The positive electrode connecting terminal  100  is vertically installed in the integral plastic core  500 . After the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  is installed in the integral plastic core  500 , the weld pin  40  is bent. This is convenient for installation and the electrical connection is more reliable. 
         [0030]    The elastic sheet  200  of the present invention is bent to form a curved shape, which can have even stress and better elasticity. The insertion direction of the positive electrode connecting terminal  100  and the plastic core is opposite to the insertion direction of the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder. The insertion direction of the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  and the plastic core is the same as the insertion direction of the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder. When the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder is inserted, the positive electrode  601  of the lamp holder compresses the elastic sheet  20  of the positive electrode connecting terminal  100 . The direction of the compression force applied to the elastic sheet  20  is perpendicular to the driving board  70 . The head portion of the elastic sheet  20  holds against the plastic core to increase its elasticity and won&#39;t be damaged so as to ensure the electrical connection. When the negative electrode  602  of the lamp holder is screwedly tightened, the negative electrode  602  of the lamp holder, the negative electrode  602  of the lamp holder compresses the elastic sheet  20  of the negative electrode connecting terminal  200 . The direction of the compression force applied to the elastic sheet  20  is transversely parallel to the driving board  70 . The oblique surface  403  provides a support for the elastic sheet  20 , preventing the elastic sheet  20  from be pressed and deformed so as to ensure the electrical connection. Before the driving board  700  is inserted into the lamp holder  600 , the negative electrode  602  of the lamp holder is not in contact with the elastic sheet  20  of the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  and the head portion  23  of the elastic sheet  20  is lifted and not mated with the step. After the driving board  700  is inserted into the lamp holder  600 , the negative electrode  602  of the lamp holder is in contact with the elastic sheet  20  of the negative electrode connecting terminal  200 , the elastic sheet  20  is pressed downward, and the head portion  23  of the elastic sheet  20  is to hook the step. Thus, when the driving board  700  is pulled out, the elastic sheet  20  of the negative electrode connecting terminal  200  won&#39;t be retracted easily and damaged. 
         [0031]    Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.