Patent Publication Number: US-2013242577-A1

Title: Fastener of led lighting device

Description:
(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a structure of a fastener of an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lighting device, and more particularly to a fastener of an LED lighting device that allows installation and replacement of the LED lighting device to be done easily. 
     (b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     LED has various advantages, including low power consumption, saving energy, long lifespan, small volume, and fast response, and is gradually replacing the conventional light bulb and widely used in various lighting fixtures. The development of LED lighting devices has been of a significant progress and the conditions for the LED lighting device to be applied various field of illumination are getting mature. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a conventional LED lighting device  1  comprises a plurality of light source modules  11  that is composed of a plurality of light-emitting diodes and a frame  12 . 
     The light source modules  11  are mounted to the frame  12  by threaded fasteners  13  in order to form the LED lighting device  1 . The frame has two opposite sides from each of which a raised rib  121  extends. The LED lighting device  1  is mounted to slide rails (not shown) that are provided for supporting the LED lighting device  1  by means of the ribs  121  of the frame  12 . In this way, the LED lighting device  1  can be embedded in a ceiling or a wall to allow the LED lighting device  1  projects light for illumination. 
     The conventional way of positioning the LED lighting device  1  by means of the ribs  121  of the frame  12  extending from the LED lighting device  1  is effective in securing the LED lighting device  1  in position. However, as discussed above, the light source modules  11  of the LED lighting device  1  are individually fixed to the frame  12  by threaded fasteners. When one of the light source modules  11  gets broken, repairing the LED lighting device  1  must be done by first removing the entire LED lighting device  1  and then the broken light source module  11  can be replaced. Afterwards, the entire LED lighting device  1  must be re-installed again. The conventional structure that achieves positioning of the LED lighting device  1  through the ribs  121  on the opposite sides of the frame  12  definitely makes replacement and maintenance of the LED lighting device  1  very inconvenient and difficult. It is thus a challenge of the LED lighting industry to provide a structure of LED lighting device that greatly simplifies the operation of replacement and maintenance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above discussed problems and shortcoming of the conventional LED lighting device of being difficult to carry out an operation of replacement and maintenance, the present invention aims to overcome such problems and shortcomings by providing a fastener of LED lighting device. 
     Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a fastener of LED lighting device. The LED lighting device comprises a light emission section and a heat dissipation section. The lighting device has opposite ends each provided with the fastener. The fastener comprises a base. The base comprises a retention section and a first support section and a second support section extending upward therefrom. The first support section and the second support section are arranged at opposite sides of the retention section. The first support section and the second support section each have a top end forming a flat top surface. The retention section comprises a pawl. Two fasteners are coupled to the opposite ends of the LED lighting device so that the LED lighting device can be independently mounted to positioning rails. When the LED lighting device gets broken, it only needs to remove the specific one LED lighting device alone from the fasteners for replacement. There is no need to remove the completely set of lighting fixture as is generally done in the prior art. In this way, the operation of replacement and maintenance of the LED lighting device is simplified. 
     The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
     Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing a conventional LED lighting device. 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of a circled portion of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing an LED lighting device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the LED lighting device of the present invention in an assembled form. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an application of the LED lighting device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the present invention provides an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lighting device  2 , which comprises a light emission section  3 , a heat dissipation section  4 , and fasteners  5 . 
     The light emission section  3  comprises a circuit board  31  and a cover  32 . The circuit board  31  comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes  311  mounted thereon. The circuit board  31  functions to apply electrical power to and actuate the light-emitting diodes  311  to give off light. The cover  32  is arranged to cover the circuit board  31  and house the light-emitting diodes  311 . 
     The heat dissipation section  4  comprises a main body  41 . The main body  41  has a bottom that forms a flat surface  411 . The main body  41  has a top from which two ribs  42  extends upward to be substantially parallel to each other. Each of the two ribs  42  has an outer surface from which a plurality of heat dissipation fins  43  extends outward. Each of the two ribs  42  has an inner surface that is provided with a groove  421  that is formed by recessing an upper portion of the inner surface. The recessed grooves  421  of the ribs are arranged to be substantially opposing each other for receiving a fixing element (not shown) therein. 
     The fasteners  5  are respectively arranged at two opposite ends of the heat dissipation section  4 . Each of the fasteners  5  has a flat plate like base  51 . The base  51  comprises a retention section  52  and a first support section  53  and a second support section  54  extend upward therefrom. The first support section  53  and the second support section  54  are arranged at opposite sides of the retention section  52 . The first support section  53  and the second support section  54  each have a top end forming a flat top surface  531 ,  541 . The flat top surfaces  531 ,  541  of the first support section  53  and the second support section  54  each have a side that faces the retention section  52  and is cut off to form a notch  532 ,  542 . The notches  532 ,  542  define therebetween a width that substantially corresponds to width of the light emission section  3 . The retention section  52  comprises a horizontal slot  521  formed in a surface of an upper portion thereof. The horizontal slot  521  helps making the upper portion of the retention section  52  flexible. Further, the upper portion of the retention section  52  has an opposite surface on which a pawl  522  is formed and opposite to the horizontal slot  521 . The pawl  522  of the retention section  52  has a bottom edge  5221 , which shows a difference in altitude with respect to the flat top surfaces  531 ,  541  of the first support section  53  and the second support section  54 . Specifically, a spacing distance is present between the bottom edge  5221  of the pawl  522  of the retention section  52  and the flat top surfaces  531 ,  541  of the first support section  53  and the second support section  54 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 , the LED lighting device  2  according to the present invention is constructed such that the fasteners  5  are respective set in retaining engagement with the opposite ends of LED lighting device  2 . The flat top surfaces  531 ,  541  of the first support sections  53  and the second support sections  54  of the fasteners  5  receive the two bottommost heat dissipation fins  43  of the heat dissipation section  4  to be supported thereon, while the pawls  522  of the retention sections  52  of the fasteners  5  are set to catch the heat dissipation section  43 . With the fasteners  5  engaging the heat dissipation section  4 , the cover  32  of the light emission section  3  is received in and held between the notches  532 ,  542  of the flat top surface  531 ,  541  of the first support section  53  and the second support section  54  so that a secured engagement is established between the fasteners  5  and the heat dissipation section  4  and the light emission section  3 . With the fasteners  5  in coupling engagement with the light emission section  3  and the heat dissipation section  4 , the bases  51  of the fasteners  5  are receivable in positioning rails  6  (see  FIG. 4 ) to thereby effect mounting and positioning of the LED lighting device  2  of the present invention. 
     The efficacy of the present invention is that two fasteners  5  are coupled to opposite ends of the LED lighting device  2  so that the LED lighting device  2  can be independently mounted to the positioning rails  6 . When the LED lighting device  2  gets broken, it only needs to remove the specific one LED lighting device  2  alone from the fasteners  5  for replacement. There is no need to remove the completely set of lighting fixture as is generally done in the prior art. In this way, the operation of replacement and maintenance of the LED lighting device  2  is simplified. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.