Patent Publication Number: US-8974078-B2

Title: Lamp with enhanced lighting angle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a lighting device and, more particularly, to a lamp for providing illumination. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional lamp “A” in accordance with the prior art shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprises a mounting frame “A 1 ”, a circuit board “A 2 ” mounted on the mounting frame “A 1 ”, and a plurality of light emitting members “A 3 ” mounted on the circuit board “A 2 ”. The mounting frame “A 1 ” has two opposite ends each provided with two pins “A 11 ”. The circuit board “A 2 ” has a planar shape. Each of the light emitting members “A 3 ” is a light emitting diode (LED) with a smaller volume, a rapid reaction speed, a greater strength and a longer lifetime. In assembly, the mounting frame “A 1 ” has the specification of T5 or T8 to satisfy a traditional fluorescent lamp so that the mounting frame “A 1 ” can function as a conventional fluorescent tube and can be combined with the lamp socket of the traditional fluorescent lamp. In such a manner, the pins “A 11 ” of the mounting frame “A 1 ” are inserted into the lamp socket of the traditional fluorescent lamp to connect an external power supply electrically so that the electric power from the external power supply is transmitted through the pins “A 11 ” of the mounting frame “A 1 ” to the light emitting members “A 3 ”. When in use, the light emitting members “A 3 ” emit light beams outward to provide an illuminating effect. Thus, the conventional lamp “A” can replace the traditional fluorescent lamp. In comparison, the traditional fluorescent lamp has a lighting angle of about three hundred and sixty degrees (360°). However, the maximum lighting angle of each of the light emitting members “A 3 ” is about one hundred and twenty degrees (120°) as shown in  FIG. 2 , so that when the light emitting members “A 3 ” emit light beams to provide an illumination, the top of the conventional lamp “A” produces a lighting dead corner and presents a dark shadow, thereby decreasing the lightness of the conventional lamp “A”. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a lamp, comprising a mounting frame, at least one supporting member connected with the mounting frame, and a plurality of light emitting members mounted on the supporting member. The mounting frame has two opposite ends each provided with two pins. The mounting frame is provided with a connecting face. The supporting member is provided with a support portion and a connecting portion. The support portion of the supporting member has a convex arcuate shape. The connecting portion of the supporting member is combined with the connecting face of the mounting frame. Each of the light emitting members is a light emitting diode (LED). Each of the light emitting members is mounted on a surface of the support portion of the supporting member, and is connected electrically with the pins of the mounting frame. 
     Preferably, the support portion of the supporting member has a width greater than that of the mounting frame, so that the support portion of the supporting member has two opposite sides protruding outward from two opposite sides of the mounting frame. 
     Preferably, the support portion of the supporting member has a width smaller than that of the mounting frame. 
     Preferably, the lamp further comprises a spacer mounted between the mounting frame and the supporting member. The spacer has a first surface combined with the connecting face of the mounting frame and a second surface combined with the connecting portion of the supporting member. 
     Preferably, the light emitting members are extended in a longitudinal direction of the supporting member. In addition, the light emitting members are arranged in three arrays along the support portion of the supporting member and are spaced equally from each other. 
     Alternatively, the light emitting members are extended in a longitudinal direction of the supporting member. In addition, the light emitting members are arranged in two arrays along the support portion of the supporting member and are located at the two opposite sides of the support portion of the supporting member. 
     Preferably, the mounting frame is made of a metallic material. 
     Preferably, the supporting member is a circuit board with a convex arcuate surface. 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a lamp with an enhanced lighting angle (or irradiating field). 
     According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the support portion of the supporting member has a convex arcuate shape to provide a wide-angle feature, and the light emitting members are arranged on the support portion of the supporting member in different angles and at different positions, so that the lighting angles of the light emitting members are complementary mutually to increase the whole lighting angle of the lamp so as to enhance the lightness and brightness of the lamp. 
     According to another advantage of the present invention, the lighting angle of the light emitting members is greater than one hundred and eighty degrees (180°) so that the lamp has a better lighting effect. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional lamp in accordance with the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of the conventional lamp as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a lamp in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of the lamp as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of a lamp in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a lamp in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a lamp in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the lamp as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side cross-sectional view of the lamp as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a lamp in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a side cross-sectional view of the lamp as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a lamp  1  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a mounting frame  11 , at least one supporting member  12  connected with the mounting frame  11 , and a plurality of light emitting members  13  mounted on the supporting member  12 . 
     The mounting frame  11  is made of a metallic material, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy and the like. The mounting frame  11  has two opposite ends each provided with two pins  111 . The mounting frame  11  is provided with a connecting face  112 . 
     The supporting member  12  is preferably a circuit board with a convex arcuate surface. The supporting member  12  is provided with a support portion  121  and a connecting portion  122 . The connecting portion  122  of the supporting member  12  extends and protrudes outward a bottom of the support portion  121 . The support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  has a top having a convex arcuate shape so that the surface of the support portion  121  has a convex arcuate shape. The connecting portion  122  of the supporting member  12  is combined with the connecting face  112  of the mounting frame  11 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting portion  122  of the supporting member  12  is bonded onto the connecting face  112  of the mounting frame  11  by an adhesive. Alternatively, the connecting face  112  of the mounting frame  11  is a slot, and the connecting portion  122  of the supporting member  12  is a plug, so that the connecting portion  122  of the supporting member  12  is inserted into the connecting face  112  of the mounting frame  11 . 
     Each of the light emitting members  13  is a light emitting diode (LED). Each of the light emitting members  13  is mounted on a surface of the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12 , and is connected electrically with the pins  111  of the mounting frame  11 . Preferably, each of the light emitting members  13  is combined with the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  by tin soldering. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting members  13  are extended in a longitudinal direction of the supporting member  12 . In addition, the light emitting members  13  are arranged in three arrays along the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  and are spaced equally from each other. 
     In assembly, the mounting frame  11  has the specification of T5 or T8 to satisfy a traditional fluorescent lamp so that the mounting frame  11  can function as a conventional fluorescent tube and can be combined with the lamp socket of the traditional fluorescent lamp. In such a manner, the pins  111  of the mounting frame  11  are inserted into electrically conducting slots of the lamp socket of the traditional fluorescent lamp to connect an external power supply electrically so that an electric power from the external power supply is transmitted through the pins  111  of the mounting frame  11  to the light emitting members  13 . Thus, the light emitting members  13  emit light beams outward to provide an illuminating effect. The maximum lighting angle of each of the light emitting members  13  is about one hundred and twenty degrees (120°). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  has a convex arcuate shape to provide a wide-angle feature so that the light emitting members  13  are arranged on the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  in different angles and at different positions to increase the lighting angle of the light emitting members  13  so as to enhance the lightness and brightness of the lamp  1 . Preferably, the lighting angle of the light emitting members  13  is greater than one hundred and eighty degrees (180°). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  has a width greater than that of the mounting frame  11 , so that the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  has two opposite sides protruding outward from two opposite sides of the mounting frame  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  has a width smaller than that of the mounting frame  11 , so that the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  has a larger radian. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the lamp  1  further comprises a spacer  14  mounted between the mounting frame  11  and the supporting member  12  to increase the height of the supporting member  12 , thereby preventing the light from the light emitting members  13  at the two opposite sides of the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  from being obstructed by the mounting frame  11 , so as to enhance the lighting angle of the lamp  1 . The spacer  14  has a first surface combined with the connecting face  112  of the mounting frame  11  and a second surface combined with the connecting portion  122  of the supporting member  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the light emitting members  13  are extended in a longitudinal direction of the supporting member  12 . In addition, the light emitting members  13  are arranged in two arrays along the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  and are located at the two opposite sides of the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12 . Thus, the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  has a convex arcuate shape to provide a wide-angle feature so that the light emitting members  13  are arranged on the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  in two different angles to increase the lighting angle of the light emitting members  13  so as to enhance the lightness and brightness of the lamp  1 . Preferably, the lighting angle of the light emitting members  13  is greater than one hundred and eighty degrees (180°). 
     Accordingly, the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  has a convex arcuate shape to provide a wide-angle feature, and the light emitting members  13  are arranged on the support portion  121  of the supporting member  12  in different angles and at different positions, so that the lighting angles of the light emitting members  13  are complementary mutually to increase the whole lighting angle of the lamp  1  so as to enhance the lightness and brightness of the lamp  1 . In addition, the lighting angle of the light emitting members  13  is greater than one hundred and eighty degrees (180°) so that the lamp  1  has a better lighting effect. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.