Patent Publication Number: US-7896527-B2

Title: Light-emitting diode illuminating equipment with replaceable shell

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This present invention relates to a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment, and more particularly relates to a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment with a replaceable shell. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A light-emitting diode (LED) has advantages of power saving, vibration resistance, fast response, production ability, and so on, so the illuminating equipment with light sources of LEDs is currently being studied and developed. Such as a conventional illuminating equipment, the shield thereof are usually function-oriented and with smaller consideration of appearance beautification. If the appearance design of the illuminating equipment is also considered, the difficulties in manufacturing and shield design will rise. Furthermore, if the request for replacing difference appearance shields is considered, the total cost of the illuminating equipment will increase much and the replacement is time-consuming and inconvenient. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment with a replaceable shell to solve the problems mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A scope of the invention is to provide a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment with a replaceable shell. 
     The light-emitting diode illuminating equipment of the invention includes an illuminating apparatus and a replaceable shell. The illuminating apparatus includes a heat-dissipating plate device, M heat-conducting devices, N diode light-emitting devices, a hollow barrel, and a transparent shield, wherein M and N are natural numbers, and N is larger or equal to M. The heat-dissipating plate device includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A plurality of heat-dissipating fins extend from the second surface. Each of the heat-conducting devices includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion extends from the first portion and includes a flat end. Each of the diode light-emitting devices is disposed on the flat end of one of the heat-conducting devices and converts an electric energy into a light. It is noticed that because N is larger or equal to M, there is at least one of the diode light-emitting devices disposed on the flat end of each of the heat-conducting devices. The hollow barrel includes a circumference, which the hollow barrel is engaged through to the heat-dissipating plate device to expose the heat-dissipating fins to the air and to form a space for accommodating the heat-conducting devices and the diode light-emitting devices. The transparent shield is engaged to the hollow barrel to cover the diode light-emitting devices. 
     The replaceable shell is detachable to be engaged to the illuminating apparatus. In an embodiment, the replaceable shell is engaged to the heat-dissipating plate device of the illuminating apparatus. In another embodiment, the replaceable shell is engaged to the hollow barrel of the illuminating apparatus. In the latter embodiment, the hollow barrel includes a first fixing column and a second fixing column. The replaceable shell is detachable to be engaged to the first fixing column. The illuminating apparatus is detachable to be engaged through the second fixing column to a support. In another embodiment, the replaceable shell includes a clamping portion, and the hollow barrel includes a fixed portion accordingly. The clamping portion is detachable to be engaged to the fixed portion. In another embodiment, the hollow barrel is made of magnetic material, and the replaceable shell includes a magnet. The replaceable shell is magnetized through the magnet on the hollow barrel. 
     The light-emitting diode illuminating equipment of the invention further includes a partition plate device. The partition plate device is disposed in the hollow barrel to divide the space into a first room and a second room. The partition plate device thereon includes P first holes. P is a natural number, and P is smaller or equal to N. Each of the diode light-emitting devices corresponds to one of the first holes. It is noticed that because P is smaller or equal to N, each of the first holes corresponds to at least one of the diode light-emitting devices. Furthermore, the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment further includes a heat-insulating plate device disposed in the first room. The heat-insulating plate device thereon includes M second holes. The second portion of each of the heat-conducting devices corresponds to one of the second holes and passes through the corresponding second hole. 
     Therefore, although the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment of the invention includes the replaceable shell, the structure with good heat-dissipating efficiency is still kept. Besides, the replaceable shell could be attached only to the hollow barrel, the heat-dissipating fins, or other place to engage. The replaceable shell could be easily and fast detached or attached without influencing the original heat-dissipating structure. Therefore, the replaceable shell of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment could be replaced with different shells to beautify the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment, which is both practical and beautiful. 
     The advantage and spirit of the invention may be understood by the following recitations together with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to a first preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross section of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment along the line X-X in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross section of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment along the line Y-Y in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2C  is a cross section of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to an embodiment along the line X-X in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2D  is a side view of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment. 
         FIG. 2E  is a side view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to a second preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is a breakdown diagram illustrating a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to a third preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to a fourth preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a breakdown diagram illustrating a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to an fifth preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is front view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  according to a first preferred embodiment. The light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  of the invention includes an illuminating apparatus  12  and a replaceable shell  16 . The light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  could be mounted on a support  2 . The replaceable shell  16  is a style shell for beautifying the appearance of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1 . The replaceable shell  16  is detachable to be engaged to the illuminating apparatus  12 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2A and 2B .  FIG. 2A  is a cross section of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  along the line X-X in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2B  is a cross section of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  along the line Y-Y in  FIG. 1 . According to the first preferred embodiment, the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  includes a heat-dissipating plate device  122 , six first heat-conducting devices  124 , six diode light-emitting devices  126 , a hollow barrel  128 , and a transparent shield  130 . The heat-dissipating plate device  122  includes a first surface  1222  and a second surface  1224  opposite to the first surface  1222 . Each of the first heat-conducting devices  124  includes a first portion  1242  and a second portion  1244  extending from the first portion  1242  and including a flat end  1246 . Each of the diode light-emitting devices  126  is disposed on the flat end  1246  of one of the first heat-conducting devices  124  and converts an electric energy into a light. The hollow barrel  128  includes a circumference  1282 , which the hollow barrel  128  is engaged through to the heat-dissipating plate device  122  to form a space S for accommodating the first heat-conducting devices  124  and the diode light-emitting devices  126 . The transparent shield  130  is engaged to the hollow barrel  128  and covers the diode light-emitting devices  126 . Furthermore, the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  further includes a plurality of heat-dissipating fins  132 . The heat-dissipating fins  132  extend from the second surface  1224  and are exposed to the air. 
     It is noticed that although there is only one diode light-emitting device  126  disposed on the flat end  1246  of the second portion  1244  of each of the first heat-conducting devices  124  in the first preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited to this. That is to say, there could be more than one diode light-emitting devices  126  disposed on the flat  1246  of the second portion  1244  of each of the first heat-conducting devices  124 . For example, the diameter of the second portion  1244  of the first heat-conducting device  124  is larger enough to allow two or more diode light-emitting devices  126  to be disposed thereon. Alternatively, the flat end  1246  is formed by bending and pressing the second portion  1244  such that there is enough area for accommodating several diode light-emitting devices  126  disposed thereon. Incidentally, the first heat-conducting devices  124  are not limited to be columnar. 
     According to the first preferred embodiment, the heat-dissipating plate device  122  includes six first grooves (not denoted in the figures) formed on the first surface  1222  of the heat-dissipating plate device  122 . The first portion  1242  of each of the first heat-conducting devices  124  corresponds to one of the first grooves and is mounted on the corresponding first groove. A heat-conducting material is filled between the first portion  1242  of each of the first heat-conducting devices  124  and the corresponding first groove for enhancing the heat-conducting efficiency of the first heat-conducting devices  124  to the heat-dissipating plate device  122 . Furthermore, the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  includes two second heat-conducting devices  134  mounted on the first surface  1222  of the heat-dissipating plate device  122 . Besides, the heat-dissipating plate device  122  also includes two grooves (not denoted in the figures) on the first surface  1222 . Each of the second heat-conducting devices  134  corresponds to one of the second grooves and is mounted on the corresponding second groove. The second heat-conducting devices  134  are conducive to distributing the heat transferred through the first heat-conducting devices  124  to the heat-dissipating plate device  122  more uniformly on the heat-dissipating plate device  122  and further to enhancing the heat-dissipating efficiency of the heat-dissipating plate device  122 . Similarly, it is conducive to distributing the heat transferred to the heat-dissipating plate device  122  more uniformly to fill with a heat-conducting material between each of the second heat-conducting devices  134  and the corresponding second groove. 
     Incidentally, the quantity and the disposition of the second heat-conducting devices  134  are not limited to the first preferred embodiment. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the second heat-conducting devices  134  are mounted on the second surface  1224  of the heat-dissipating plate device  122 , as shown in  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 2C  is a cross section of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment according to the embodiment along the line X-X in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment, the second heat-conducting devices  134  are disposed between the heat-dissipating fins  132 . It is also conducive to distributing the heat transferred to the heat-dissipating plate device  122  uniformly so as to enhance the heat-dissipating efficiency of the heat-dissipating plate device  122 . In application, the second heat-conducting devices  134  are not limited to be disposed between the heat-dissipating fins  132 . The quantity and the disposition depend on actual product design. For example, the second heat-conducting devices  134  could be disposed on the surface  1224  of the heat-dissipating plate device  122  in a radial pattern. 
     According to the first preferred embodiment, the illuminating apparatus  12  includes a partition plate device  136  which is disposed in the hollow barrel  128  to divide the space S into a first room S 1  and a second room S 2 . The partition plate device  136  includes six first holes  1362  thereon. Each of the diode light-emitting devices  126  corresponds to one of the first holes  1362 . It is noticed that each of the first holes  1362  corresponds to one of the diode light-emitting devices  126  in the first preferred embodiment, but in a practical product design, each of the first holes  1362  is not limited to correspond to only one of the diode light-emitting devices  126  and the shape thereof is not limited to be circular. Furthermore, the diode light-emitting devices  126  are not limited to be disposed in the second room S 2 ; that is, they could be disposed in the first room S 1  or the first holes  1362 . 
     According to the first preferred embodiment, the illuminating apparatus  12  includes a heat-insulating plate device  138  which is disposed in the first room S 1  to divide the first room S 1  into a third room S 12  and a fourth room S 14 . The heat-insulating plate device  138  includes six second holes  1382  thereon. The second portion  1244  of each of the first heat-conducting devices  124  corresponds to one of the second holes  1382  and passes through the corresponding second hole  1382 . The heat-insulating plate device  138  is used for preventing or reducing the heat transferred from the heat-dissipating plate device  122  to the fourth room S 14 , even to the second room S 2  to influence the lighting efficiency and the operation life of the diode light-emitting devices  126 . For further enhancing the heat-insulating efficiency, the illuminating apparatus  12  includes a plurality of heat-insulating sleeves  142  covering the second portion  1244  of each of the first heat-conducting devices  124 . Thereby, when the heat generated in operation by the diode light-emitting devices  126  is transferred through the first heat-conducting devices  124  to the heat-dissipating plate devices  122 , the heat is not dissipated into the fourth room S 14 . 
     Furthermore, the illuminating apparatus  12  includes a heat-insulating ring  140  which the hollow barrel  128  is engaged through to the heat-dissipating plate device  122 . Thereby, the heat on the heat-dissipating plate device  122  is not transferred to the hollow barrel  128 . With the heat-insulating design of the heat-insulating plate device  138 , the heat on the heat-dissipating plate device  122  could be insulated mostly. Incidentally, if the partition plate device  136  has the property of insulating heat, the partition plate device  136  and the heat-insulating plate device  138  could be designed to be integrated into single component. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2D .  FIG. 2D  is a side view of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1 . According to the first preferred embodiment, the replaceable shell  16  is detachable to be engaged to the hollow barrel  128 . The hollow barrel  128  includes a first fixing column  1284  for the detachable engagement with the replaceable shell  16 . The replaceable shell  16  includes a fixing piece  162 . The first fixing column  1284  includes a female thread. The replaceable shell  16  could be engaged to the hollow barrel  128  by screwing a screw  18  to fix the fixing piece  162  to the first fixing column  1284 . In addition, the hollow barrel  128  includes a second fixing column  1286 . The illuminating apparatus  12  could be detachable to the support  2  through the second fixing column  1286  (referring to  FIG. 1 ). Furthermore, the second fixing column  1286  could be a hollow tube for allowing a power cord (not shown in the figures) passing through so that a power could supply power through the power cord to the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1 . In an embodiment, the second fixing column  1286  includes a male thread, and the support  2  includes a female thread accordingly. By matching the male thread with the female thread, the illuminating apparatus  12  is engaged to the support  2 . It is noticed that the location of the first fixing column  1284  is not limited to the location shown in  FIG. 2D , and the first fixing column  1284  could be at either side of the hollow barrel  128  (at this case, two first fixing columns for structure balance are suggested). 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2E .  FIG. 2E  is another side view of a light-emitting diode equipment  1 ′ according to an embodiment. In the embodiment, the first fixing column  1284  and the second fixing column  1286  are integrated, and the structure is need to be partially modified. As shown in  FIG. 2E , the first fixing column  1284  is of two segments. The first segment  1284   a  is connected to the hollow barrel  128  and forms a male thread thereon. The second segment  1284   b  includes a male thread and a female thread. The male thread of the first segment  1284   a  is engaged to the female thread of the second segment  1284   b , therein the fixing piece  162  of the replaceable shell  16  is fixed between the first segment  1284   a  and the second segment  1284   b . Then, the male thread of the second segment  1284   b  is screwed in the support  2  for fixing the illuminating apparatus  12 . At this case, the fixing piece  162  of the replaceable shell  162  could include a C-shaped hole (that is a non-closed circle, the shape of which is similar to the denotation  164  in  FIG. 3A ), which it is convenient for the power cord to cross when replacing the replaceable shell  16 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 3A  is a side view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  3  according to a second preferred embodiment. Compared with the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  1  of the first preferred embodiment, the difference is that the hollow barrel  128  of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  3  includes a fixing portion  1288  and the replaceable shell  36  of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  3  includes a clipping portion  164 . The clipping portion  164  is detachable to be engaged to the fixing portion  1288 . Thereby, the replaceable shell  36  is engaged to the hollow barrel  128 . Therein, the quantity of the fixing portion  1288  is not limited to be one, and the location thereof is not limited to  FIG. 3A  either. In addition, the fixing portion  1288  could be designed to be integrated with the second fixing column  1286 . For example, a groove is formed on the second fixing column  1286  for the clipping portion  164  to clip. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3B  is a breakdown diagram illustrating a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  3 ′ according to an embodiment. Compared with the second preferred embodiment, the clipping portion  164 ′ of the replaceable shell  36 ′ of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  3 ′ is the portion which the illuminating apparatus  12  contacts with, and the fixing portion  1288 ′ of the hollow barrel  128  of the illuminating apparatus  12  is the portion which the clipping portion  164  contacts with, as shown in  FIG. 3B . Thereby, the replaceable shell  36 ′ could be faster to be assembled with the illuminating apparatus  12 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a side view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  4  according to a third preferred embodiment. Compared with the first preferred embodiment, the hollow barrel  128  of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  4  is made of magnetic material, and the replaceable shell  46  includes several magnets  166 . Thereby, the replaceable shell  46  is magnetized through the magnets  166  on the hollow barrel  128 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In an embodiment, the replaceable shell  46  could also be made of magnetic material, and the hollow barrel  128  includes at least one magnet. Thereby, the replaceable shell  46  could still be magnetized on the hollow barrel  128 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a side view of a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  5  according to a fourth preferred embodiment. Compared with the first preferred embodiment, the replaceable shell  56  of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  5  is detachable to be engaged to the heat-dissipating plate device  122 . The replaceable shell  56  includes a fixing piece  162 ″. The replaceable shell  56  is engaged to the heat-dissipating plate device  122  by screwing a screw  18 ′, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In an embodiment, the replaceable shell  56  is made of heat-conducting material. When the replaceable shell  56  contacts only the heat-dissipating plate device  122 , the replaceable shell  56  made of heat-conducting material could be treated as a heat-dissipating fin for assisting in dissipating heat. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a breakdown diagram illustrating a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  6  according to a fifth preferred embodiment. Compared with the first preferred embodiment, the difference is that the transparent shield  168  of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment  6  is not necessary to be engaged to the hollow barrel  128 , and the transparent shield  168  is part of the replaceable shell  66 . That is, the replaceable shell  66  includes the transparent shield  168  covering the diode light-emitting devices  126 , but they are not limited to be made in one piece. The engagement of the replaceable shell  66  and the illuminating apparatus  12  could be made based on the methods mentioned in the above embodiments. According to the fifth preferred embodiment, the replaceable shell  66  is engaged to the illuminating apparatus  12  by clipping the clipping portion  164  with the fixing portion  1288  of the hollow barrel  128 . 
     Incidentally, the replaceable shells shown in the above embodiments are single side shell for clearly describing the features of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment of the invention. However, the replaceable shell of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment of the invention is not limited to this. For example, the replaceable shell could be a multifaceted style shell covering the most illuminating apparatus to beautify the appearance of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment. 
     As described above, the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment includes a replaceable shell and still retains a good heat-dissipating structure. Furthermore, the replaceable shell could be attached only to the hollow barrel, the heat-dissipating fins, or other place to attach. The replaceable shell could be easily and fast attached and detached without influence on the original heat-dissipating structure. Therefore, the replaceable shell of the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment could be replaced with different shells to beautify the light-emitting diode illuminating equipment, which is both practical and beautiful. 
     With the example and explanations above, the features and spirits of the invention will be hopefully well described. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.