Patent Publication Number: US-9841149-B2

Title: LED lamp

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 104216193 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Oct. 8, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technical field relates to LED lamps, and more particularly to the LED lamp that protects an LED tube by a back plate and provides excellent connection between the back plate and the lamp, while maximizing the utility of space. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the advantages of high color rending and light emitting efficiency, most fixed or portable lamps available in the market adopt light emitting diode LED as light source. In general, the lamps installed to indoor ceiling are mainly divided into tube lamps, embedded lamps, ceiling lamps, etc and provided for the illumination purpose. 
     For example, a conventional LED tube lamp requires a fixed support frame installed to the ceiling and having a plurality of electric connecting holes, and the LED tube has an end covers installed on both sides of the Led tube separately and a plurality of pins disposed at each end cover and configured to be corresponsive to the electric connecting holes respectively. In the installation procedure of the LED tube, the LED tube is screwed and connected to the fixed support frame, and the pins are respectively and electrically connected to the electric connecting holes for driving the LED tube. However, such installation procedure is complicated and time-consuming and limited to the specification of the LED tube, since the specifications of the fixed support frame and the LED tube must be matched, and the compatibility issue causes tremendous inconvenience to users. 
     To overcome the inconvenience of the aforementioned detachably installed lamp, electronic components are installed in the end covers and electrically connected to the LED tube, so as to form a one-piece lamp capable of supplying electric power to the LED tube from an external power supply. As a result, the installation of the fixed support frame is no longer needed, and the efficiency of installation and the convenience of use are improved, and the LED lamp may be hanged or fixed to the ceiling without requiring the fixed support frame or the matched model. However, this method requires the electronic components for driving the lamp to be installed in the end covers, and most end covers of the conventional LED tube come with a circular cylindrical shape to facilitate their connection. Therefore, the space of the end cover available for installing the components is reduced significantly, and thus making the configuration of the components difficult. In addition, the lamps of this sort no longer require the installation of a fixed support frame to the ceiling, so that the LED lamp can be hanged or fixed to the ceiling by a connecting element for the use of the LED lamp. In general, the connecting element has an end connected to the LED lamp through a through hole of the end cover and the other end used for fixing or hanging the LED lamp to the ceiling. As described above, electronic components such as a power supply element are installed in the end covers, so that after the connecting element and the end covers are installed, the electronic components in the end covers may be in contact with the connecting element, and such contact may cause fire accidents and concerns on the stability and safety of the lamp. Alternatively, a connecting portion is formed and extended outwardly from the end cover and provided for forming a through hole, so that the end cover is in a closed device that prevents the connecting element from contacting with the electronic components. However, this method requires the design of an additional connecting portion, and thus not just increasing the manufacturing cost only, but also affecting the overall vertical height and the aesthetic appearance of the hanged LED lamp. In addition, the one-piece lamp hanged or fixed to the ceiling usually does not come with a design for protecting the surfaces of the LED tube, and the LED tube is often exposed to the outside and may be damaged easily after a long time of use. 
     In view of the aforementioned problems of the conventional lamps, the discloser of this disclosure developed an LED lamp with high safety and efficiency to overcome the problems of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is a primary objective of this disclosure to provide an LED lamp that includes a back plate structure to protect the tube, and provides a good connection between the back plate and the end cover of the lamp to prevent the back plate and the end cover from being separated from each other by external force or collision during the transportation or use of the LED lamp. 
     Another objective of this disclosure is to provide an LED lamp capable of maximizing the utility of space and preventing the electronic components of the lamp from being in contact with other components that may cause a short circuit, so as to improve the safety of use of the lamp. 
     To achieve the aforementioned and other objectives, this disclosure provides an LED lamp comprising a tube and two end covers, and the tube including an LED module installed therein, and the end covers being coupled to both ends of the tube respectively and provided for accommodating a power supply member or a power conversion member, and the power supply member and the power conversion member being electrically connected to the LED module, and the end covers having a first penetrating hole for installing a connecting member to hang or install the LED lamp, and the LED lamp being characterized in that the LED lamp further comprises a back plate, having at least two first locking holes, and each end cover has at least one second locking hole corresponsive to the first locking holes, and at least two latching members pass through the first locking hole and the second locking hole, so that the back plate and the two end covers are coupled to one another and engaged to a side of the tube; each end cover is a rectangular structure having an accommodating space, and the accommodating space has an isolating plate, for isolating the power supply member or the power conversion member, and contacting the connecting member through the first penetrating hole. 
     With the structural design of the first locking hole and the second locking hole together with the latching member, the connection strength and rigidity between the back plate and the end covers are enhanced to prevent the assembled components from being loosened or separated by external forces during a transportation process and improve the safety of use when the lamp is hanged or installed. In the meantime, the rectangular end cover further increases the volumetric efficiency and the isolating plate further prevents short circuits or fire accidents. 
     Wherein, the back plate has at least two engaging portions, and each engaging portion is formed by extending outwardly from a side of the back plate and has a first recess, and each first locking hole is disposed in the first recess, and each end cover has a second recess corresponsive to the first recess, and the second locking hole is disposed in the second recess. With the first recess and the second recess, the latching member may be locked to the back plate and the end cover without protruding out from the back plate, so as to achieve the effect of protecting the latching member. In the meantime, after the first recess and the second recess are superimposed, the first locking hole and the second locking hole are aligned precisely with each other to achieve the aligning effect and simplify the process of connecting the back plate and the end cover. 
     To protect the latching member and prevent it from displacing after it is locked to the back plate and the end cover, each end cover has an accommodating slot formed on an inner side of the end cover and configured to be corresponsive to the second recess and the second locking hole, so that after the latching member is locked to the back plate and the end cover, the latching member is situated in the accommodating slot. 
     In addition, each end cover has an upper casing and a lower casing disposed opposite to each other and assembled to form the end cover, and the second recess and the second locking hole are disposed on the upper casing, so that the back plate is disposed on a backlit side of the tube. 
     To fix the isolating plate in position, each end cover has a plurality of first fixing portions disposed on an inner side of the end cover, and the isolating plate has a plurality of second fixing portions configured to be corresponsive to the first fixing portions and fixed to the first fixing portions respectively. Preferably, each of the first fixing portions is a recess or a bump, and each of the second fixing portions is a bump or a recess corresponsive to the respective first fixing portion. The isolating plate is fixed into the accommodating space by a latching method. 
     In addition, any one of the end covers of the LED lamp has an electric wire and a plug, and the plug is electrically coupled to the power supply member through the electric wire, and any one of the end covers has a socket electrically coupled to the power conversion member. With the installation of the plug and the socket, the LED lamp may be normally and electrically connected to an external power supply, and the socket may be connected to other electronic devices, such that the LED lamp can be used as a power supply, or the socket may be serially connected with the plugs of several LED lamps. 
     The LED lamp further comprises a switch installed at one of the end covers and electrically coupled to the power supply member, so that a user may control the using status of the LED lamp easily when the LED lamp is normally and electrically connected to the external power supply. 
     In addition, the first penetrating holes are formed on the upper casing, and one of the first penetrating holes is tapered towards a side, and another first penetrating hole is tapered towards a side or both sides to engage the connecting member, so that the connecting member is latched to the tapered side of the first penetrating hole to provide a diversified installation method. 
     To engage the tube with the end covers, each end cover has a connecting portion formed thereon, and each connecting portion being in a circular shape and having a plurality of ribs disposed on an inner side of the connecting portion, and the tube has a plurality of second through holes formed at both ends of the tube and corresponsive to the ribs and latched with the ribs respectively. 
     In summation of the description above, the LED lamp of this disclosure comes with the structural design of the first locking holes and the second locking holes together with the locking members to enhance the connection of the back plate and the end covers and prevent the back plate and the end covers from being separated during the transportation or use of the lamp. In the meantime, the rectangular end covers improves the utility of the accommodating space and the isolating plate prevents short circuits or fire accidents caused by the contact of electronic components with the connecting member, so as to improve the safety of use of the lamp. In addition, the structure with the first recesses, the second recesses and the accommodating slots provides a good protection to the latching member and simplifies the process of connecting the back plate and the end covers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an experimental embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an assembly of an experimental embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a partial assembly including a back plate and an end cover in accordance with an experimental embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 4A  is a first exploded view of a preferred embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 4B  is a second exploded view of a preferred embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an assembly of a preferred embodiment of this disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     To overcome the problems of the conventional LED lamps, the discloser of this disclosure conducted extensive researches and experiments to improve the protection of the tube of an LED lamp hanged or installed to a ceiling and also maximize the utility of space for installing electronic components, and provided an LED lamp in accordance with an experimental embodiment. With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3  for an exploded view and a schematic view of an experimental embodiment of an LED lamp, and a schematic view of a back plate and an end cover in accordance with the experimental embodiment of this disclosure respectively, the LED lamp  1  comprises a tube  10  and two end covers  11 , and the tube  10  includes an LED module  101  installed therein, and the end covers  11  are coupled to both ends of the tube  10  respectively and provided for accommodating a power supply member  12  or a power conversion member  13 , and the power supply member  12  and the power conversion member  13  are electrically coupled to the LED module  101  and each of the end covers  11  has a first penetrating hole  111  for engaging a connecting member  2  to hang or install the LED lamp  1 . 
     The LED lamp  1  further comprises a back plate  14 , and a plurality of snap holes  141  formed on the back plate  14  and coupled to the end covers  11 . Preferably, the back plate  14  is made of metal. Each end cover  11  has a plurality of snap members  112  corresponsive to the snap holes  141  respectively, so that the snap members  112  may be in formed of inverted hooks formed inside the snap holes  141  for connecting the back plate  14  and the end covers  11  as a whole. The end covers  11  are rectangular structures, each having an accommodating space  113 , and an isolating plate  15  installed in the accommodating space  113  for preventing the power supply member  12  or the power conversion member  13  from being in contact with the first penetrating holes  111  and the connecting members  2 . Preferably, each end cover  11  has an upper casing  114  and a lower casing  115 , and the upper casing  114  and the lower casing  115  are engaged with each other to form the end cover  11 , so as to facilitate the installation or replacement of the power supply member  12  or the power conversion member  13 , and the first penetrating hole  111  is disposed at the upper casing  114  to facilitate the installation or hanging of the LED lamp  1  by using the connecting members  2 . Wherein, the first penetrating holes  111  are formed on the upper casing  225 , and one of the first penetrating holes  111  is tapered towards a side, and the other first penetrating hole  111  is tapered towards both sides for engaging the connecting member  2 , so as to facilitate the installation of the LED lamp by various types of connecting members  2 . In addition, each end cover  11  is extended to form a connecting portion  116 , and each connecting portion  116  is substantially in a circular shape and has a plurality of ribs  1161  formed on an inner side of the connecting portion  116  and a plurality of second through holes  102  formed on both sides of the connecting portion  116  and corresponsive to the ribs  1161  for latching the ribs  1161  respectively, so as to connect and fix the tube  10  with the end covers  11 . 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the snap members  112  may be snapped into the snap holes  141  to form inverted hooks respectively, so that each of the snap members  112  has an L-shaped or J-shaped abutting portion, and after the snap member  112  is passed into the snap hole  141 , the snap member  112  is latched for engaging the end covers  11  with the back plate  14 . The back plate  14  has the effects of protecting the tube  10 , and preventing dust or external force from affecting the use of the LED lamp  1 . In the meantime, the LED lamp  1  may come with a one-piece design. In the one-piece lamp, electronic components such as the power supply member  12  and the power conversion member  13  are installed to the LED lamp  1 , so that sufficient accommodating space must be reserved, and the rectangular end covers  11  can improve the utility of space for installing the electronic components such as the power supply member  12  and the power conversion member  13 , so that different ways of installing the components may be adopted to maximize the utility of space. In addition, most of the connecting members  2  are made of metal to provide better rigidity and load bearing capability for the installed or hanged LED lamp  1 . Since the first penetrating holes  111  are formed on the end covers  11  directly, therefore the power supply member  12  or the power conversion member  13  may be in contact with the first penetrating holes  111  and the connecting members  2  easily during the use of the LED lamp  1 , and short circuits or fire accidents may occur easily. Therefore, the isolating plates  15  are provided for preventing short circuits or fire accidents. 
     To fix the isolating plates  15 , each end cover  11  has a plurality of first fixing portions  117  on an inner side of the end cover  11 , and the isolating plate  15  has a plurality of second fixing portions  151  corresponsive to the first fixing portions  117  respectively for fixing the first fixing portions  117  respectively. Preferably, each of the first fixing portions  117  is a bump or a recess, and each of the second fixing portions  151  is recess or a bump corresponsive to the respective first fixing portion. Preferably, the first fixing portions  117  are disposed on an inner side of the upper casing  114 , so that the isolating plate  15  is closer to the upper casing  114  to increase the space for installing components into each end cover  11 . 
     In addition, any one of the end covers  11  has an electric wire  161  and a plug  16 , and the plug  16  is electrically coupled to the power supply member  12  through the electric wire  161 , and any one of the end covers  11  has a socket  17  electrically coupled to the power conversion member  13 . With the plug  16  and the socket  17 , the LED lamp  1  may be driven by connecting to an external power supply through the plug  16 , or other electronic devices may be connected to the socket  17  for supplying electric power to the other electronic device. Wherein, the LED lamp  1  further comprises a switch  18  installed at one of the end covers  11  and electrically coupled to the power supply member  12 . Since the LED lamp  1  has the plug  16 , therefore the LED lamp  1  is normally and electrically coupled to the external power supply, and a user may control or turn on/off the LED lamp  1  by the switch  18 . Preferably, the switch  18  is a chain switch, so that the user may use the switch  18  to easily control the LED lamp that is hanged or installed to a ceiling. 
     In  FIG. 3 , after the snap members  112  are connected to the snap holes  141  of the back plate  14  respectively, the snap members  112  are protruded out from the back plate  141 . To take the manufacturing cost, complexity, and safety and smoothness of the operation into consideration, the snap members  112  are integrally formed with the end cover  11  and made of plastic. To consider the overall appearance of the LED lamp  1 , the snap members  112  are designed with smaller size and thickness, so that after the back plate  14  and the end covers  11  are assembled, the snap members  112  may be cracked or broken by external force very easily. For example, an inverted hook formed by a portion of the snap member  112  and the snap hole  141  may be broken by external forces easily during transportation, and the back plate  14  and the end covers  11  will be separated. Once the snap member  112  is damaged, the back plate  14  and the end covers  11  cannot be reinstalled. As a result, the yield rate of the LED lamp  1  drops significantly and there is a risk of having an unsecured connection. In addition, it is necessary to apply a force to the snap members  112  to remove the back plate  14  first and then apply a force to the snap members  112  to install another new back plate  14  during the process of replacing the back plate  14 , and the snap members  112  may be cracked or broken easily in these cases. 
     To overcome the aforementioned problem and improve the connection of the back plate  14  and the end covers  11  by inverted hooks, the discloser of this disclosure further provides an LED lamp  1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this disclosure. With reference to  FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5 and 6  for exploded views, a schematic view and a cross-sectional view of an LED lamp  3  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this disclosure respectively, the LED lamp  3  comprises a tube  30  and two end covers  31 , and the tube  30  includes an LED module  301  installed therein, and the end covers  31  are coupled to both ends of the tube  30  respectively and provided for accommodating a power supply member  32  or a power conversion member  33 , and the power supply member  32  and the power conversion member  33  are electrically coupled to the LED module  301 . In this preferred embodiment, one of the end covers  31  is provided for accommodating the power supply member  32 , and the other end cover  31  is provided for accommodating the power conversion member  33 , and electronic components with other functions may be installed in the end cover for controlling the light emission of the LED lamp  3  as needed. Each of the end covers  31  has a first penetrating hole  311  provided for connecting a connecting member  4  to hang or install the LED lamp  3 . 
     The LED lamp  3  is characterized in that it further comprises a back plate  34  having at least two first locking holes  341 , and each end cover  31  has at least one second locking hole  312  corresponsive to the respective first locking hole  341 . Preferably, the first locking holes  341  are disposed on the opposite sides of the back plate  34 , and the back plate  14  is made of metal. By passing at least two latching members  35  through the first locking hole  341  and the second locking hole  312 , the back plate  34  and the two end covers  31  are connected to one another, and fixed to a side of the tube  30  by a locking method. Preferably, the latching member  35  is a screw, but this disclosure is not limited to the screw only. The back plate  34  provides the dustproof and shock-resisting effects to the tube  30  and enhances the connection by the locking method, so as to prevent the assembled back plate  34  and end covers  31  from being loosened or separated by the collision with the latching member  35  during the transportation and installation processes. 
     Wherein, the back plate  34  has at least two engaging portions  342 , and each engaging portion  342  is formed by extending from a side of the back plate  34 , and the engaging portions  342  are disposed on opposite sides of the back plate  34  respectively, and each engaging portion  342  has a first recess  3421 , and the first locking hole  341  is formed in the first recess  3421 . Each end cover  31  has a second recess  313  corresponsive to the first recess  3421 , and the second locking hole  312  is formed in the second recess  313 . When the back plate  34  and the two end covers  31  are assembled, each first recess  3421  and each second recess  313  are superimposed and slightly latched with each other, and the first locking hole  341  and the second locking hole  312  are aligned and communicated with each other, and then the locking members  35  are locked. With the structure of the first recesses  3421  and the second recesses  313 , the alignment effect is achieved, and the connection of the back plate  34  and the two end covers  31  is enhanced. When the back plate  34  and the end cover  31  are assembled, it just requires the simple processes of aligning the first recess  3421  with the second recess  313  and locking the back plate  34  and the end cover  31  by the latching member  35 . Obviously, this disclosure simplifies the assembling process and provides a convenient way for replacing the components. With the structure of the first recesses  3421  and the second recesses  313 , after each latching member  35  is passed through the first locking hole  341  and the second locking hole  312 , the latching member  35  is accommodated in the first recess  3421  and disposed at a position lower than the back plate  34  without protruding out from the back plate  34 , so as to prevent the back plate  34  and the end covers  31  from being loosened or separated by external forces during transportation. 
     To fix and protect the latching members  35 , an accommodating slot  314  is formed on an inner side of each end cover  31  and configured to be corresponsive to the second recess  313  and the second locking hole  312 , so that after the latching member  35  locks the back plate  34  and the end cover  31 , the latching member  35  is situated in the accommodating slot  314 . After each latching member  35  is passed through each first locking hole  341  and each second locking hole  312  sequentially, the latching member  35  is situated in the corresponding accommodating slot  314 , so as to enhance the effect of fixing the locking member  35  into position. During transportation, such arrangement can prevent the latching member  35  from being collided or displaced by external forces and further and avoid the locking member  35  from touching the power supply member  32  or the power conversion member  33  to produce a short circuit. 
     Each end cover  31  is a rectangular structure and has an accommodating space  315 , and an isolating plate  36  installed in the accommodating space  315  and provided for isolating the power supply member  32  or the power conversion member  33 , since the first penetrating holes  311  are in contact with the connecting member  4 . Since most connecting members  4  are made of metal, and the power supply member  32  and the power conversion member  33  for driving the LED lamp  3  may be in contact with the connecting member  4  through the first penetrating holes  311  easily, therefore there is a risk of having short circuits and/or fire accidents. For the above reason, the isolating plate  36  is installed in each end cover  31  of this preferred embodiment and provided for the isolation effect and prevent the aforementioned risk. In addition, each end cover  31  has an upper casing  316  and a lower casing  317  engaged with each other to form the end cover  31 , and such arrangement facilitates the adjustment and installation of the power supply member  32  and the power conversion member  33 , and the first penetrating hole  311  is formed at the upper casing  316  to facilitate the installation of the connecting member  4 . Wherein, each second recess  313  is formed at each upper casing  316 , so that the back plate  34  may be installed at the top side of the LED lamp  3  (in other words, the back plate  34  is installed on a backlit side of the tube  30  proximate to the ceiling). In addition, the first penetrating holes  311  is formed at the upper casing  316 , and one of the first penetrating holes  311  is tapered towards a side, and the other first penetrating hole  311  is tapered towards a side or both sides for engaging the connecting member  4 , on that the LED lamp  3  may be installed by different methods. In this preferred embodiment, each first penetrating hole  311  is tapered towards the same side and has a circular through penetrating hole area and a slightly elliptical tapered area, so that after the connecting members  4  are installed into the first penetrating holes  311  respectively, the connecting members  4  are moved from the circular area towards the tapered area and snapped into the first penetrating holes  311  respectively. In addition, the way of fixing the tube  30  and the end covers  31  may be the same as that of the experimental embodiment. A connecting portion  318  is formed and extended from each end cover  31 , and each connecting portion  318  is substantially in a circular shape and has a plurality of ribs  3181  disposed on an inner side of the connecting portion  318 , and the tube  30  has a plurality of second through holes  302  formed on both ends of the tube  30  and corresponsive to the ribs  3181  and latched to the ribs  3181  respectively, so that each end cover  31  may be installed to both sides of the tube  30 . 
     Same as the experimental embodiment, each end cover  31  has a plurality of first fixing portions  319  disposed on an inner side of the end cover  31  for fixing the isolating plates  36 , and the isolating plate  36  has a plurality of second fixing portions  361  corresponsive to the first fixing portions  319  and fixed to the first fixing portions  319  respectively. Each of the first fixing portions  319  is a recess or a bump, and each of the second fixing portions  361  is a bump or a recess corresponsive to the respective first fixing portion, so that the isolating plate  36  and the end cover  31  are latched and fixed to each other. To improve the utility of the accommodating space  315 , the first fixing portions  319  of this preferred embodiment are disposed on the inner side of the upper casing  316 , so that the isolating plate  36  is installed at a position closer to the upper casing  316 , but this disclosure is not limited to this embodiment only. 
     In this preferred embodiment, any one of the end covers  31  has an electric wire  371  and a plug  37 , and the plug  37  is electrically coupled to the power supply member  32  through the electric wire  371 , and any one of the end covers  31  has a socket  38  electrically coupled to the power conversion member  33 . With the same design of the plug  37  and the socket  38  as the experimental embodiment, the LED lamp  3  is normally and electrically coupled to an external power supply through the plug  37 , and the socket  38  is provided for connecting several LED lamps  3  in series, and electrically connecting other electronic devices as well, so that the LED lamp  3  may be used for supplying power to other electronic devices. To allow users to control the LED lamp  3  more conveniently, the LED lamp  3  further comprises a switch  39  installed at any one of the end covers  31  and electrically coupled to the power supply member  32 . Preferably, the switch  39  is a chain switch provided for users to control and adjust the LED lamp  3 . 
     In summation of the description above, the discloser of this disclosure improves the inconvenience of the conventional one-piece LED lamp by adding the back plate to the LED lamp and adopting the design of the rectangular end cover as illustrated in the experimental embodiment. However, the LED lamp of the experimental embodiment still has the issues of loosening or separating the back plate and breaking the snap member easily by collision in a transportation process after the back plate and the end covers are assembled to the LED lamp. Since the snap member is integrally formed with the end cover, so that the broken snap member cannot be repaired effectively and the yield rate of the product will become very low. To overcome these problems, the discloser of this disclosure based on the idea of the experimental embodiment to develop the LED lamp in accordance with this disclosure while maintaining the advantages of the LED lamp of the experimental embodiment and improve the improper structure with the snap member and the snap hole by using the structure of the first locking holes and the second locking holes together with the locking members instead, so as to overcome the insufficient rigidity and strength of the connected back plate and end covers. The preferred embodiment further adopts the structure with the first recesses, the second recesses and the accommodating slots for locking, so as to further enhance the connection of the back plate and the end covers.