Patent Publication Number: US-2011069493-A1

Title: LED Assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention generally relates to an LED assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to an LED assembly that allows swift assembly and partial disassembly. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Lights have been widely used in our life. They allow us to read in nights and provide indoor lighting. 
     As of now, LEDs have been used for lighting and LED lights may be quite bright. However, because LEDs are usually disposed on the same circuit board, the whole set of LEDs has to be replaced when a single LED of them malfunctions. Therefore, this is not economical for consumer public. 
     From the above, we can see that the LED lights of the prior art have disadvantages and need to be improved. 
     To eliminate the disadvantages of the LED lights of the prior art, the inventor has put a lot of effort into the subject and has successfully come up with the LED assembly of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an LED assembly that allows swift assembly and partial disassembly. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an LED assembly that is structurally simple and easy to use and allows swift disassembly. 
     To reach these objects, the LED assembly of the present invention comprises a circuit board, one or more LED modules, one or more positioning plates and a heat dissipating plate. One or more openings are disposed in the circuit board. An electric terminal is provided on either side of each hole. A circuit pattern is provided on the circuit board to allow the positive lead of each electric terminal may be connected in parallel and the negative lead of each electric terminal may also be connected in parallel. The heat dissipating plate is installed under the circuit board. Several connective holes are provided in the heat dissipating plate. Also, a male electric terminal extends outwards from either side of each LED module. The two male electric terminals assist each LED module to be seated in the opening (so that each male electric terminal may engage with the corresponding electric terminal). Several holes are provided in each LED module. In assembly, each hole is aligned with the corresponding LED module and the positioning plate is installed on top of the corresponding LED module. Several fasteners are used (by passing through the holes of the positioning plates, LED module and the circuit board) to fixedly connect the positioning plates, LED modules, circuit board and heat dissipating plate together. Therefore, the LED modules may be securely fixed. 
     These features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the accompanying Drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, exploded view illustrating the LED assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the LED assembly of the present invention in an assembled condition. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the LED assembly of the present invention in actual use. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective, exploded view illustrating the LED assembly of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the LED assembly of the present invention in an assembled condition. The LED assembly of the present invention comprises a circuit board  1 , one or more LED modules  2 , one or more positioning plates  3  and a heat dissipating plate  4 . One or more openings  11  are disposed in the circuit board  1 . An electric terminal  12  is provided on either side of each opening  11 . A connective hole  13  is provided by each electric terminal  12 . A circuit pattern  14  is provided on the circuit board  1  to allow the positive lead of each electric terminal  12  may be connected in parallel and the negative lead of each electric terminal  12  may also be connected in parallel. A reflective layer  15  is provided on the outer surface of the circuit board  1 . One or more holes  21  are disposed on each LED module  2 . Also, a male electric terminal  22  extends outwards from either side of each LED module  2 . Each male electric terminal  22  corresponds to an electric terminal  12 . The two male electric terminals  22  assist each LED module  2  to be seated in the opening  11  (so that each male electric terminal  22  may engage with the corresponding electric terminal  12 ). A through opening  31  is disposed in each positioning plate  3 . A hole  32  is provided on either side of each opening  31 . Each hole  32  corresponds to or is aligned with a connective hole  13 . A reflective layer  33  is provided on the outer surface of each positioning plate  3 . In assembly, each opening  31  is aligned with the corresponding LED module  2  and the positioning plate  3  is installed on top of the corresponding LED module  2 . Several connective holes  41  that correspond to the holes of the circuit board  1  and LED modules  2  are provided in the heat dissipating plate  4 . The heat dissipating plate  4  is installed under the circuit board  1 . Several fasteners  5  are used (by passing through the holes  21 ,  32  and  41 ) to fixedly connect the positioning plates  3 , LED modules  2 , circuit board  1  and heat dissipating plate  4  together. Therefore, the LED modules  2  may be securely fixed. 
     The openings  11  and positioning plates  3  can substantially reduce the time for assembly and disassembly. In addition, because each LED module  2  is fitted in the corresponding opening  11 , only the malfunctioned LED module(s)  2  needs to be taken off and replaced; in contrast, in the prior art, the whole LED set needs to be replaced. This makes the LED assembly of the present invention more economical in use. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 , which is a perspective view illustrating the LED assembly of the present invention in actual use. In  FIG. 3 , several LED assemblies  2  of the present invention are fitted onto an office light fixture  6 . When the LEDs are lit, the two reflective layers  15  and  33  can effectively disperse the light so that the light would be spread out evenly. 
     Now, please see  FIG. 4 , which is another embodiment of the present invention. Two openings  31  or three openings  31  or four openings  31  may be disposed in the positioning plate  3  (without affecting the swift assembly and disassembly of the LED assembly of the present invention). 
     Also, the heat dissipating plate  4  may have a fin type design or other type of heat dissipating design. 
     In comparison to the prior art, the LED assembly of the present invention has the following advantages: 
     1. In the LED assembly of the present invention, swift assembly and partial disassembly may be achieved. 
     2. The openings of the circuit board and the positioning plates can substantially reduce the time for assembly and disassembly. 
     3. Because each LED module is fitted in the corresponding opening, only the malfunctioned LED module(s) needs to be taken off and replaced; in contrast, in the prior art, the whole LED set needs to be replaced. This makes the LED assembly of the present invention more economical in use. 
     4. The LED assembly of the present invention is structurally simple and easy to use and allows swift disassembly. 
     Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.