Patent Publication Number: US-8979332-B2

Title: Mounting device for LED lamp

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mounting device for an LED lamp, and more particularly to an adjustable mounting device that is applicable to all installation locations. 
     2. Description of the Prior Arts 
     LED lamps use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as sources of light. As diode technology has improved, LEDs with higher lumen output and lower power consumption make replacing incandescent bulbs in lamps possible. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , a conventional mounting device for an LED lamp comprises two stands  60 . The stands  60  are attached to two opposite sides of the LED lamp  70  and each stand  60  has a connecting panel  61  and a positioning panel  62 . The connecting panel  61  is mounted on the side of the LED lamp  70 . The positioning panel  62  protrudes from a bottom edge of the connecting panel  61  and has multiple holes  621 . Fasteners are mounted through the holes  621  of the positioning panels  61  to mount the LED lamp  70  on an installation location securely. 
     However, a distance between the stands  60  that are mounted securely on the LED lamp  70  is unchangeable, so the LED lamp  70  can only be mounted on specific installation locations with the fixed distance. When a user wants to change the installation location, the conventional mounting device may be inapplicable and another mounting device is required. Therefore, changing an LED lamp is inconvenient and costly. 
     To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a mounting device for an LED lamp to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device for an LED lamp that is applicable to all installation locations. 
     A mounting device for an LED lamp in accordance with the present invention comprises a support tube and at least one fixed unit. The support tube has an outer surface and an external engaging surface. The external engaging surface is formed on the outer surface of the support tube. Each one of the at least one fixed unit has a positioning block mounted movably and pivotally around the support tube and has a front surface and an internal engaging surface. The internal engaging surface is formed on the front surface of the positioning block and engages the external engaging surface of the support tube. Therefore, it is convenient to adjust the fixed unit to a suitable position so that the LED lamp can be installed at any location. 
     Other objectives, 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 an LED lamp with a mounting device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the LED lamp with the mounting device in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an operational side view in partial section of the LED lamp with the mounting device in  FIG. 1  showing fixed units being pivoted; 
         FIG. 4  is an operational rear view of the LED lamp with the mounting device in  FIG. 1  showing the fixed units being adjusted in positions; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an LED lamp with a conventional mounting device in accordance with the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a mounting device for an LED lamp in accordance with the present invention comprises a support tube  10  and at least one fixed unit  2 . 
     The support tube  10  is formed on and protrudes from a back of an LED lamp  50  laterally and has a tube wall, a chamber  11 , a gap  12 , an outer surface and an external engaging surface  13 . The chamber  11  is defined inside the tube wall of the support tube  10 . The gap  12  is formed longitudinally through the tube wall of the support tube  10  and communicates with the chamber  11 . The external engaging surface  13  is formed on the outer surface of the support tube  10 . 
     Each one of the at least one fixed unit  2  has a positioning block  20 , a positioning bolt  30  and a nut  40 . The positioning block  20  is mounted movably and pivotally around the support tube  10  and has a front surface  23 , a rear surface, an internal engaging surface  21  and a hole  22 . The internal engaging surface  21  is formed on the front surface  23  of the positioning block  20  and engages the external engaging surface  13  of the support tube  10 . The hole  22  is formed through the front surface  23  and the rear surface of the positioning block  20 . 
     The positioning bolt  30  is mounted through the hole  22  of the positioning block  20  and has a head  31 , a threaded part  32  and a flange  33 . The head  31  is mounted in the chamber  11  of the support tube  10 . The threaded part  32  is mounted through the gap  12  of the support tube  10  and the hole  22  of the positioning block  20  and protrudes out of the rear surface of the positioning block  20  to mount in an installation location. The flange  33  protrudes radially around the threaded part  32 , is adjacent to the head  31  and is mounted in the chamber  11  of the support tube  10 . The flange  33  is wider than the gap  12  of the support tube  10  to prevent the positioning bolt  30  and the positioning block  20  from escaping from the support tube  10 . The nut  40  is screwed onto the threaded part  32  of the positioning bolt  30  and abuts the rear surface of the positioning block  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the mounting device comprises two fixed units  2 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , when the positioning bolt  30  and the nut  40  are released, the positioning blocks  20  can be moved along the support tube  10 , so a distance between the positioning blocks  20  can be adjusted and the LED lamp  50  is applicable to all installation locations. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the positioning blocks  20  can also be pivoted around the support tube  10  to suitable angles to fit with different needs. After the adjustments of the positioning blocks  20  have been done, the nuts  40  are screwed onto the positioning bolts  30  to make the positioning blocks  20  mounted on the support tube  10  securely. Therefore, the mounting device in accordance with the present invention provides a convenient mechanism for users to adjust suitable positions of the fixed units  2  and the LED lamp  50  can be installed at any location conveniently. 
     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.