Patent Publication Number: US-8118448-B2

Title: Reflector component for a LED lamp

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 098101793, filed on Jan. 17, 2009. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a reflector component, more particularly to a reflector component for a LED lamp. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional light emitting diode (LED) lamp has a light emitting angle of approximately 120°. If a reflector is not in use, light projected by the LED lamp is scattered. In addition, the LED lamp requires a focusing lens for long distance illumination and localized illumination (spot illumination). However, the LED lamp with the focusing lens is not suited for large region illumination and mid-range (0.5-1 m) illumination. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a reflector component for a light emitting diode (LED) lamp such that the LED lamp is suitable for large region illumination. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a reflector component for a LED lamp, wherein the LED lamp includes a plurality of LED light sources spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction. The reflector component includes a bottom wall having two side edges extending along the longitudinal direction. The bottom wall is formed with a plurality of through holes that are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction. Each of the through holes permits a respective one of the LED light sources to extend therethrough. The reflector component further includes two side walls extending respectively and upwardly from and along the two side edges of the bottom wall. Each of the side walls has a reflecting surface that faces toward the other of the side walls and that extends upwardly and inclinedly relative to the bottom wall such that a distance between the reflecting surfaces increases in a direction away from the bottom wall. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a light emitting diode (LED) lamp that incorporates a first preferred embodiment of a reflector component according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional schematic top view of a waterproof lighting fixture including the LED lamp that incorporates the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of a reflector component for a LED lamp according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of a reflector component for a LED lamp according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional view taken along line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a reflector component for a LED lamp according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic sectional view taken along line IX-IX in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of a reflector component for a LED lamp according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic sectional view of a sixth preferred embodiment of a reflector component for a LED lamp according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic sectional view taken along line XII-XII in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. 
     A first preferred embodiment of a reflector component  100  for a light emitting diode (LED) lamp  60  according to the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . In the first preferred embodiment, the LED lamp  60  forms a part of a waterproof lighting fixture  200 . The waterproof lighting fixture  200  has a transparent enclosure  50 , the LED lamp  60  mounted in the transparent enclosure  50 , a first waterproof device  70  and a second waterproof device  80 . The transparent enclosure  50  has first and second ends opposite to each other along a longitudinal direction (X). The first waterproof device  70  and the second waterproof device  80  are disposed at a respective one of the first and second ends of the transparent enclosure  50 . 
     The LED lamp  60  includes six LED light sources  63  spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction (X). The LED lamp  60  further includes a lamp seat  61 , a circuit board  62  disposed on the lamp seat  61 , a LED driver  64  electrically connected to the circuit board  62  and disposed on the lamp seat  61 , and a power cable  65  electrically connected to the LED driver  64 . The LED light sources  63  are mounted on the circuit board  62 . 
     The first waterproof device  70  includes a positioning sleeve  71  mounted in the enclosure  50 , an abutment member  72 , a first waterproof washer  73  clamped between the positioning sleeve  71  and the abutment member  72 , a plurality of screws  74 , and a waterproof plug  75  disposed in the positioning sleeve  71  and extending through the abutment member  72 . The power cable  65  extends through the abutment member  72 , the first waterproof washer  73 , the waterproof plug  75 , and the positioning sleeve  71 . 
     The second waterproof device  80  includes a positioning sleeve  81  mounted in the enclosure  50 , an abutment member  82 , a second waterproof washer  83  clamped between the positioning sleeve  81  and the abutment member  82 , and a plurality of screws  84 . The screws  74 ,  84  extend through the abutment members  72 ,  82  and engage the positioning sleeves  71 ,  81 , respectively, thereby pressing the first and second waterproof washers  73 ,  83  against the enclosure  50 . Therefore, the lamp seat  61  is fastened between the positioning sleeves  71 ,  81 . 
     The reflector component  100  for the LED lamp  60  includes a bottom wall  10 , two side walls  20 , two end walls  40 , and two extension walls  30 . 
     The bottom wall  10  has two side edges extending along the longitudinal direction (X). The bottom wall  10  is formed with a plurality of through holes  11  that are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction (X). Each of the through holes  11  permits a respective one of the LED light sources  63  to extend therethrough as shown in  FIG. 4 . The bottom wall  10  is further formed with a pair of fastener holes  12  that are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction (X). The through holes  11  are disposed between the fastener holes  12 . 
     The side walls  20  extend respectively and upwardly from and along the two side edges of the bottom wall  10 . Each of the side walls  20  has a reflecting surface  21  that faces toward the other of the side walls  20 . The reflecting surfaces  21  of the side walls  20  define an angle θ therebetween that preferably ranges from 80° to 120°. The reflecting surfaces  21  of the sidewalls  20  extend upwardly and inclinedly relative to the bottom wall  10 , such that a distance between the reflecting surfaces  21  increases in a direction away from the bottom wall  10 . 
     Each of the bottom wall  10  and the side walls  20  has first and second ends opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction (X). Each of the end walls  40  is connected to the side walls  20  and the bottom wall  10  at a respective one of the first and second ends. 
     Each of the side walls  20  further has a distal edge opposite to the bottom wall  10 . Each of the extension walls  30  of the reflector component  100  extends horizontally from the distal edge of a respective one of the side walls  20  along the longitudinal direction (X) and away from the other one of the side walls  20 . 
     In the first preferred embodiment, the bottom wall  10 , the sidewalls  20 , the end walls  40 , and the extension walls  30  are made of stainless steel. 
     It should be noted that the bottom wall  10 , the side walls  20 , the end walls  40 , and the extension walls  30  are connected integrally to each other in this embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 , two screws  90  extend through the fastener holes  12  in the bottom wall  10  to secure the reflector component  100  onto the lamp seat  61  of the LED lamp  60  in a manner that the LED light sources  63  on the circuit board  62  extend through the through holes  11 , respectively. 
     When the LED light sources  63  are turned on, six mirror images  630  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the LED light sources  63  are formed by reflection on each of the reflecting surfaces  21  of the side walls  20 , i.e., six mirror images  630  of the six LED light sources  63  appear on each of the reflecting surfaces  21 . Consequently, a light  631  (see  FIG. 4 ) projected by the LED light sources  63  can provide a projection region  300  (see  FIG. 4 ) that is suitable for large region illumination due to reflection by the reflection surfaces  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a second preferred embodiment of the reflector component  100  of the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment resides in the configuration of the reflecting surfaces  21  of the side walls  20 . In this embodiment, each of the reflecting surfaces  21  of the side walls  20  is formed with a plurality of step portions that extend along the longitudinal direction (X). Each of the step portions includes a vertical face segment  211  and a horizontal face segment  212  transverse to the vertical face segment  211 . The second preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first preferred embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a third preferred embodiment of the reflector component  100  according to the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. The main difference between the third preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment resides in that each of the reflecting surfaces  21  of the sidewalls  20  is formed with a plurality of spaced apart protrusions. The third preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first preferred embodiment, and ensures a softer light output. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a fourth preferred embodiment of the reflector component  100  of the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. The main difference between the fourth preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment resides in that each of the reflecting surfaces  21  of the side walls  20  has a lattice configuration, i.e., each of the reflecting surfaces  21  is formed with an array of rectangular reflecting parts  214 . The fourth preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first preferred embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , a fifth preferred embodiment of the reflector component  100  according to the present invention has a structure similar to that of the fourth preferred embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the fourth preferred embodiment resides in that each of the reflecting surfaces  21  of the side walls  20  has a honeycomb configuration, i.e., each of the reflecting surfaces  21  is formed with a pattern of hexagonal reflecting parts  215 . The fifth preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first preferred embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the sixth preferred embodiment of the reflector component  100  of the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the first preferred embodiment resides in the following. Each of the side walls  20  includes a wall body  22  and an electroplated layer  23  formed on the wall body  22  and having the reflecting surface  21 . The bottom wall  10  includes a wall body  13  and an electroplated layer  14  formed on the wall body  13  of the bottom wall  10 . Each of the end walls  40  includes a wall body  41  and an electroplated layer  42  formed on the wall body  41  of the end wall  40 . 
     The wall bodies  22 ,  13 ,  41  of the side walls  20 , the bottom wall  10 , and the end walls  40 , as well as the extension walls  30 , are integrally formed from plastic. The electroplated layers  23 ,  14 ,  42  of the side walls  20 , the bottom wall  10 , and the end walls  40  are integrally formed by vacuum electroplating on the side walls  20 , the bottom wall  10 , and the end walls  40  with the use of metal material. The sixth preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first preferred embodiment. 
     To sum up, the reflector component  100  of the present invention provides a large projection region and even illumination intensity when used with the LED lamp  60 . 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.