Patent Publication Number: US-2023144589-A1

Title: Led bulb

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an illumination component, and more particularly to a bulb with a filament having light-emitting diodes (LED). 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Referring to  FIG.  25   , a conventional LED lighting device has a translucent envelope  91  and an LED filament  92 . The translucent envelope  91  has an insertion opening  911 . The LED filament  92  is inserted in the translucent envelope  91  via the insertion opening  911  and is fixed inside the translucent envelope  91 . 
     Though the insertion opening  911  is helpful to install the LED filament  92 , the user can insert a finger into the translucent envelope  91  through the insertion opening  911  and contact the LED filament  92  or bare electric wires  93 . The user is prone to electric shock accordingly. In order to avoid risk of electric shock, the translucent envelope  91  of the conventional LED lighting device has to form a specific groove for receiving electric wires  93 . Or the LED filament  92  and the electric wires  93  need to be covered by a transparent insulation layer for product safety. Therefore, the conventional LED light device has the following drawbacks: 
     First, the groove for receiving the LED filament  92  is disposed at the translucent envelope  91 , the formation of the groove makes the shape of the translucent envelope  91  complicated, and the options of the shape of the translucent envelope  91  are restricted. Therefore, the translucent envelope  91  of the conventional LED lighting device is difficult to be produced and has high manufacturing cost. 
     Secondly, the transparent insulation layer for covering the LED filament  92  interferes with heat dissipation of the LED filament  92 . The power of the LED filament  92  has to be limited for sustaining service life of the LED filament  92 . 
     Thirdly, the transparent insulation layer still absorbs some light, so the luminous efficiency of the LED filament  92  is reduced. 
     Fourthly, the LED filament  92  covered by the transparent insulation layer is hard and is difficult to be bent. That is, the LED filament  92  tends to be straight. The LED filament  92  is difficult to be fixed to the translucent envelope  91  with curvatures or corners. And the LED filament  92  is easily detached from the translucent envelope  91  after a period of use. 
     Therefore, the conventional LED lighting device has to be improved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the present invention is to provide an LED bulb that avoids risk of electric shock and prolongs the service life of the LED bulb. 
     An LED bulb has an envelope, an electrical connector, a filament, and at least one electric wire. The envelope is hollow, sealed, and translucent and has a containing portion being enclosed, a neck portion disposed at the containing portion, and an envelope axis passing through the containing portion and the neck portion. The electrical connector is connected to the neck portion. The filament is inside the containing portion, is partially attached to an inner surface of the envelope, and has a light-emitting strip having multiple LEDs and an adhering layer disposed at the light-emitting strip and partially attached to the inner surface of the envelope. The at least one electric wire is electrically connected to the filament and the electrical connector. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a partial cross-sectional side view of the LED bulb in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the LED bulb in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is an operational side view of the LED bulb in  FIG.  1    showing a diminished and inverted real image, inside the envelope, formed by the light emitted by a filament; and 
         FIG.  5    is an operational side view of a second embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention and shows a diminished and inverted real image, inside the envelope, formed by the light emitted by a filament; 
         FIG.  6    is an operational side view of a third embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention and shows a diminished and inverted real image, inside the envelope, formed by the light emitted by a filament; 
         FIG.  7    is an operational side view of a fourth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention and shows a diminished and inverted real image, inside the envelope, formed by the light emitted by a filament; 
         FIG.  8    is a side view of a fifth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  9    is another side view of the fifth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  10 A  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  10 B  is a side view of the sixth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  11    is a top view of the sixth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  12    is a top view of a seventh embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  13    is a side view of the seventh embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  14    is a side view of an eighth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  15    is a top view of the eighth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  16 A  is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  16 B  is a side view of the ninth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  17    is a top view of the ninth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  18    is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the filament of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention, showing detailed structures of the filament; 
         FIG.  19    is a partial side view of an eleventh embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  20    is a partial cross-sectional side view of the eleventh embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS.  21  and  22    are operational cross-sectional side views of the eleventh embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention along line A-A in  FIG.  20   ; 
         FIG.  23    is a side view of a tenth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  24    is a top view of the tenth embodiment of the LED bulb in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG.  25    is a perspective view of a conventional LED lighting device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , a first embodiment of an LED bulb in accordance with the present invention has an envelope  10 , an electrical connector  12 , a filament  20 , and two electric wires  30 . 
     The envelope  10  is a hollow, sealed, and translucent shell. That is, gas cannot enter or exit the envelope  10 . The envelope  10  has a containing portion  11  and a neck portion  13 . The containing portion  11  is enclosed to form a filament space  101 . In the first embodiment, the containing portion  11  is an outward protruding shell being translucent and curved. Specifically, the containing portion  11  is shaped as a ball. As long as the containing portion  11  encloses the filament space  101 , the shape of the containing portion  11  is not restricted. 
     The neck portion  13  is disposed at a side of the containing portion  13 . A width of the neck portion  13  is smaller than a width of the containing portion  11 . A linking line connects the containing portion  11  and the neck portion  13  is defined as an envelope axis  103 . That is, the envelope axis  103  is a line substantially passing through a center of the containing portion  11  and a center of the neck portion  13 . Besides being shaped as a ball, the containing portion  11  may be shaped as a regular solid geometry being symmetric along the envelope axis  103  such as a regular polygon, a cylinder, a cone, a dish, or an oval. 
     The electrical connector  12  is connected to the neck portion  13  of the envelope  10 . The electrical connector  12  is configured to connect to an external power source to conduct power for the filament  20 . Ideally, the electrical connector  12  may be screwed with or engage with a power supply socket which does not belong to the present invention. Preferably, the electrical connector  12  is adapted to lamp holders according to regular specifications such as E14, E27, B22, or GU10 lamp holders. In the first embodiment, the electrical connector  12  is directly fixed to the neck portion  13 , but it is not limited thereto. The electrical connector  12  can be just wires. Alternatively, in a tenth embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connector  12  is able to rotate relative to the neck portion  13 . 
     The filament  20  is disposed within the filament space  101  of the envelope  10  and is partially attached to an inner surface of the envelope  10 . The filament  20  is electrically connected to the electrical connector  12  via the two electric wires  30 . With reference to  FIG.  18   , the filament  20  is flexible and has a light-emitting strip  41  and an adhering layer  42 . The light-emitting strip  41  has multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs)  411  disposed inside the light-emitting strip  41 . The adhering layer  42  is disposed at a side of the light-emitting strip  41  and is partially attached to the inner surface of the envelope  10 . That is, the filament  20  is attached to the inner surface of the envelope  10  via the adhering layer  42 . Practically, each electric wire  30  may have multiple cores. 
     Specifically, with reference to  FIG.  18   , the light-emitting strip  41  further has a conductive framework  412 , a top encapsulating layer  413 , and a bottom encapsulating layer  414 . The conductive framework  412  is an elongated metal sheet. The conductive framework  412  has a front side and a back side facing to opposite directions. The multiple LEDs  411  are disposed at the front side of the conductive framework  412 . A thickness of the filament  20  can be further reduced via deploying the multiple LEDs  411  at a same side of the conductive framework  412 . Accordingly, the flexibility of the filament  20  is further enhanced and the filament  20  can be fixed to the envelope  10  easier. Preferably, the conductive framework  412  has multiple openings  4121 . 
     With reference to  FIG.  18   , the top encapsulating layer  413  and the bottom encapsulating layer  414  respectively cover the front side and the back side of the conductive framework  412 . The top encapsulating layer  413  and the bottom encapsulating layer  414  are both translucent and both have special chemical materials therewithin for turning light emitted from the multiple LEDs  411  into light in various colors. For example, a blue light can be transferred into a white light or a yellow light. The adhering layer  42  is disposed at a side, opposite to the conductive framework  412 , of the bottom encapsulating layer  414 . Preferably, the adhering layer  42  may be translucent. A thickness L 2  of the bottom encapsulating layer  414  is smaller than a thickness L 1  of the top encapsulating layer  413 , and thereby the light-emitting strip  41  can be easily bended toward a direction to which the top encapsulating layer  413  faces. That is, the top encapsulating layer  413  is disposed at a side facing to a curvature center of the light-emitting strip  41 . A thickness D of the adhering layer  42  is smaller than a quarter of a sum of the thickness L 1  of the top encapsulating layer  413  and the thickness L 2  of the bottom encapsulating layer  414 . The thickness D of the adhering layer  42  is smaller than 2 millimeters. The light-emitting strip  41  can be easily bended toward the direction to which the top encapsulating layer  413  faces and can be easily attached to the envelope  10 . The heat generated by the multiple LEDs  411  can be rapidly dissipated from the envelope  10  via the adhering layer  42 . 
     In the first embodiment, the filament  20  emits light via both the front and the back sides of the filament  20 . That is, each LED  411  has two diode emitting faces  4111 . The two diode emitting faces  4111  of each LED  411  are respectively disposed at two opposite sides thereof. One of the diode emitting faces  4111  faces to the conductive framework  412 . Each LED  411  emits light from the two diode emitting faces  4111 . The multiple LEDs  411  respectively correspond to the multiple openings  4121  of the conductive framework  412  in position. Said one diode emitting face  411 , of each LED  411 , facing to the conductive framework  412 , emits light through a respective one of the openings  4121  and makes the filament  20  emit light via both sides of the filament  20 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , the filament  20  has an elongation direction and a curved attaching section  21  along the elongated direction of the filament  20 . The curved attaching section  21  is attached to the inner surface of the envelope  10  and is shaped as an arc. The curved attaching section  21  circles around an imaginary filament circling line  102 . The filament circling line  102  is an imaginary line passing through the filament space  101 . By attaching the curved attaching section  21  to an inner surface of the containing portion  11  of the envelope  10 , heat generated by the curved attaching section  21  can be conducted to and dissipated from the envelope  10 . The temperature of the filament  20  is decreased, and the service life of the present invention is prolonged accordingly. Further, inside of the filament space  101  is filled with helium gas preferably. The heat dissipation of the filament  20  is further promoted by the helium gas with high thermal conductivity to prolong the service life of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG.  4   , the curved attaching section  21  circles the filament circling line  102 . By which, when the user is adjacent to an extension line of the filament circling line  102 , the light emitted from the curved attaching section  21  is reflected by the inner surface, being curved, of the containing portion  11 . A diminished inverted real image IM is formed at a position further adjacent to the filament circling line  102  by the light emitted from the curved attaching section  21 . The diminished inverted real image IM, of the curved attaching section  21 , seems to float in the envelope  10 , displaying a unique sense of beauty. Therefore, the present invention can present the floating real image IM without other special structures such as an additional filament. The manufacturing cost of the present invention is reduced accordingly. 
     In the first embodiment, the curved attaching section  21  further has two emitting faces  211  respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the curved attaching section  21 . Each emitting face  211  extends to two opposite ends  212  of the curved attaching section  21 . One of the two emitting faces  211  is attached to the inner surface of the containing portion  11 . The light, emitted from the other one of the two emitting faces  211  facing opposite to the inner surface of the containing portion  11 , is more easily reflected by other regions of the inner surface of the containing portion  11  to form the abovementioned diminished inverted real image IM floating inside the envelope  10 . The illumination of the real image IM is increased to further enhance the beauty of the present invention. 
     In addition, the curved attaching section  21  has only one curvature R 1 . That is, the curved attaching section  21  is a part of a circle and has only one center of curvature rather than a curve in an arbitrary shape. In the first embodiment, the center of curvature of the curved attaching section  21  is disposed at a center of the containing portion  11  of the envelope  10 . 
     In the first embodiment, the filament circling line  102  passes through the center of the containing portion  11 . An included angle α defined between the filament circling line  102  and the envelope axis  103  is greater than or equal to 85 degrees and is smaller than or equal to 95 degrees. That is, the filament circling line  102  is substantially perpendicular to the envelope axis  103 . The curved attaching section  21  extends along the inner surface of the containing portion  11  over 180 degrees. One of the two ends of the curved attaching section  21  is more adjacent to the electrical connector  12  connected to the envelope  10  than the other one of the two ends of the curved attaching section  21 . A ratio of the curvature R 1  of the filament  20  and an inside diameter R 2  of the containing portion  11  is larger than or equal to 0.98 and is smaller than or equal to 1. That is, the curved attaching section  21  substantially circles the center of the containing portion  11  shaped as a ball. By which, when the present invention is hung below a power supply socket  81 , the curved attaching section  21  is substantially an oblique curve at a vertical plane. The real image IM observed by the user along the filament circling line  102  is similar to a crescent moon in the night sky and further enhances the beauty of the present invention. 
     The two electric wires  30  are elongated metal bare wires. The electric wires  30  are electrically connected to the filament  20  and the electrical connector  12 . Preferably, the electric wires  30  and the inner surface of the envelope  10  are spaced apart. That is, the electric wires  30  and the envelope  10  are free from contacting each other. Whereby, when the filament  20  emits light, the electric wires  30  are hardly visible to the user. The electric wires  30  can be hidden and the present invention is more aesthetic in visual appeal. 
     With reference to  FIG.  5   , a second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment. Difference between the first and the second embodiments is that both the two ends  212 A of the curved attaching section  21 A are spaced from the electrical connector  12 A connected to the envelope  10 A by a same distance. That is, the electrical connector  12 A connected to the envelope  10 A is disposed at a center between the two ends  212 A of the curved attaching section  21 . The real image IM presented by the second embodiment shows beauty in symmetry. 
     With reference to  FIG.  6   , a third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment. Difference between the third and the first embodiments is that the filament  20 B circles the filament circling line  102  about degrees. In the third embodiment, the filament  20 B generates a real image IM substantially shaped as a circle. 
     With reference to  FIG.  7   , a fourth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the third embodiment. Difference between the third and the fourth embodiments is that two ends of the filament  20 C further approach the center of the containing portion  11 C. Therefore, an outline of the filament  20 C overlaps the real image IM generated by the fourth embodiment. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  8  and  9   , a fifth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the third embodiment. Difference between the third and the fifth embodiments is that the included angle α defined between the filament circling line  102 D and the envelope axis  103 D is greater than or equal to 40 degrees and is smaller than or equal to 50 degrees. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  10 A,  10 B, and  11   , the sixth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the fourth embodiment. Difference between the fourth and the sixth embodiments is that the included angle α defined between the filament circling line  102 E and the envelope axis  103 E is smaller than 5 degrees. That is, the filament circling line  102 E and the envelope axis  103 E are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially collinear. When the sixth embodiment is hung below the power supply socket  81 , the curved attaching section  21 E is substantially a circle at a horizontal plane. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  12  and  13   , a seventh embodiment of the present invention is similar to the sixth embodiment. Difference between the sixth and the seventh embodiments is that the ratio of the curvature R 1  of the curved attaching section  21 F and the inner diameter R 2  of the containing portion  11 F is larger than or equal to 0.84 and is smaller than or equal to 0.88. That is, the curved attaching section  21 F deviates from the center of the containing portion  11 F shaped as a ball. The real image IM generated by the seventh embodiment is oval accordingly. A linking line connecting one of the two ends of the curved attaching section  21 F and the center of the containing portion  11 F define an included angle about 60 degrees, but it is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the ratio of the curvature R 1  of the curved attaching section  21 F and the inner diameter R 2  of the containing portion  11 F is larger than or equal to 0.68 and is smaller than or equal to 0.72, or the ratio is larger than or equal to 0.48 and is smaller than or equal to 0.52. By which, an included angle between the linking line connecting one of the two ends of the curved attaching section  21 F and the center of the containing portion  11 F and the filament circling line  102 F is about 45 degrees or 30 degrees. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  14  and  15   , an eighth embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment. Difference between the first and the eighth embodiments is that the containing portion  11 G of the envelope  10 G is conical, the filament  20 G attached to the inner surface of the envelope  10 G forms a closed loop. Specifically, the filament  20 G is looped as a complete circle. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  16 A,  16 B, and  17   , a ninth embodiment of the present invention and the first embodiment are similar. Difference between the first and the ninth embodiments is that the containing portion  11 H of the envelope  10 H is polygonal. Specifically, a cross-section of the containing portion  11 H of the envelope  10 H is octagonal. The filament  20 H forms a closed loop being a complete octagon. The filament  20 H is completely attached to the inner surface of the containing portion  11 H of the containing portion  10 H. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  23  and  24   , the tenth embodiment and the ninth embodiment are similar. Difference between the ninth and the tenth embodiments is that the containing portion  11 K of the envelope  10 K is a semiregular polyhedron composed by multiple regular pentagonal faces and multiple regular hexagonal faces. In other words, shape inside the containing portion  11 K is similar to a soccer ball. The filament  20 K is looped into a closed loop, and the filament  20 K is completely attached to the inner surface of the containing portion  11 K. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  19  and  20   , an eleventh embodiment of the present invention and the first embodiment are similar. Difference between the tenth and the first embodiments is that the LED bulb of the present invention further has a rotation mechanism  50 J. The rotation mechanism  50 J is disposed between the electrical connector  12 J and the envelope  10 J to make the electrical connector  12 J rotatable relative to the envelope  10 J. 
     The rotation mechanism  50 J connected between the envelope  10 J and the electrical connector  12 J has an envelope connecting portion  51 J and a base connecting portion  52 J. The envelope connecting portion  51 J is disposed at the neck portion  13 J of the envelope  10 J. Specifically, the envelope connecting portion  51 J is directly connected to the neck portion  13 J. The base connecting portion  52 J is rotatably connected to the envelope connecting portion  51 J. The electrical connector  12 J is disposed at the base connecting portion  52 J. Specifically, the electrical connector  12 J is directly fixed to the base connecting portion  52 J. By which, when the electrical connector  12 J is fixed to the power supply socket that does not belong to the present invention and is free from rotating relative to the power supply socket, the envelope  10 J still can be angularly adjusted. The filament  20 J can face to the user at an ideal observation angle accordingly. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  20  to  22   , in the eleventh embodiment, the envelope connecting portion  51 J has a limiting protrusion  511 J and a limiting circular groove  521 J. The limiting protrusion  511 J protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the envelope connecting portion  51 J. The limiting annular groove  521 J is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the envelope connecting portion  51 J. When the base connecting portion  52 J is rotated relative to the envelope connecting portion  51 J to a particular angle, the limiting protrusion  511 J is able to abut against one of two ends of the base connecting portion  52 J. By which, an angular range of the rotation of the base connecting portion  52 J relative to the envelope connecting portion  51 J is limited. In the eleventh embodiment, the base connecting portion  52 J can be rotated relative to the envelope connecting portion  51 J under 180 degrees, but it is not limited thereto. As long as the base connecting portion  52 J is rotated relative to the envelope connecting portion  51 J under 360 degrees, the protection of the electric wires can be effectively achieved. 
     In summary, in the present invention, the filament  20  is sealed in the filament space  101  of the envelope  10  to completely prevent the user from risk of electric shock due to contacting the filament  20  or the electric wires  30 . Therefore, the groove for receiving the filament  20  is unnecessary, the options of the shape of the envelope  10  is increased and the manufacturing cost of the present invention is reduced. Further, the filament  20  is directly attached to the inner surface of the envelope  10  to enhance the heat dissipation of the present invention to allow adaption of the filaments with high power to increase the illumination of the present invention. In addition, the filament  20  is easily to be bended to be fixed to the envelope  10  during manufacturing, the service life of the filament  20  is prolonged, and the filament  20  will not easily detach from the envelope  10 . 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.