Patent Publication Number: US-2021172571-A1

Title: Light bulb apparatus

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention is related to a light bulb apparatus, and more particularly related to a light bulb apparatus with a housing with multiple materials. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The time when the darkness is being lighten up by the light, human have noticed the need of lighting up this planet. Light has become one of the necessities we live with through the day and the night. During the darkness after sunset, there is no natural light, and human have been finding ways to light up the darkness with artificial light. From a torch, candles to the light we have nowadays, the use of light have been changed through decades and the development of lighting continues on. 
     Early human found the control of fire which is a turning point of the human history. Fire provides light to bright up the darkness that have allowed human activities to continue into the darker and colder hour of the hour after sunset. Fire gives human beings the first form of light and heat to cook food, make tools, have heat to live through cold winter and lighting to see in the dark. 
     Lighting is now not to be limited just for providing the light we need, but it is also for setting up the mood and atmosphere being created for an area. Proper lighting for an area needs a good combination of daylight conditions and artificial lights. There are many ways to improve lighting in a better cost and energy saving. LED lighting, a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes as the source of light, is a solution when it comes to energy-efficient lighting. LED lighting provides lower cost, energy saving and longer life span. 
     The major use of the light emitting diodes is for illumination. The light emitting diodes is recently used in light bulb, light strip or light tube for a longer lifetime and a lower energy consumption of the light. The light emitting diodes shows a new type of illumination which brings more convenience to our lives. Nowadays, light emitting diode light may be often seen in the market with various forms and affordable prices. 
     After the invention of LEDs, the neon indicator and incandescent lamps are gradually replaced. However, the cost of initial commercial LEDs was extremely high, making them rare to be applied for practical use. Also, LEDs only illuminated red light at early stage. The brightness of the light only could be used as indicator for it was too dark to illuminate an area. Unlike modern LEDs which are bound in transparent plastic cases, LEDs in early stage were packed in metal cases. 
     In 1878, Thomas Edison tried to make a usable light bulb after experimenting different materials. In November 1879, Edison filed a patent for an electric lamp with a carbon filament and keep testing to find the perfect filament for his light bulb. The highest melting point of any chemical element, tungsten, was known by Edison to be an excellent material for light bulb filaments, but the machinery needed to produce super-fine tungsten wire was not available in the late 19th century. Tungsten is still the primary material used in incandescent bulb filaments today. 
     Early candles were made in China in about 200 BC from whale fat and rice paper wick. They were made from other materials through time, like tallow, spermaceti, colza oil and beeswax until the discovery of paraffin wax which made production of candles cheap and affordable to everyone. Wick was also improved over time that made from paper, cotton, hemp and flax with different times and ways of burning. Although not a major light source now, candles are still here as decorative items and a light source in emergency situations. They are used for celebrations such as birthdays, religious rituals, for making atmosphere and as a decor. 
     Illumination has been improved throughout the times. Even now, the lighting device we used today are still being improved. From the illumination of the sun to the time when human can control fire for providing illumination which changed human history, we have been improving the lighting source for a better efficiency and sense. From the invention of candle, gas lamp, electric carbon arc lamp, kerosene lamp, light bulb, fluorescent lamp to LED lamp, the improvement of illumination shows the necessity of light in human lives. 
     There are various types of lighting apparatuses. When cost and light efficiency of LED have shown great effect compared with traditional lighting devices, people look for even better light output. It is important to recognize factors that can bring more satisfaction and light quality and flexibility. 
     A PR light bulb is a type of light bulb frequently used in commercial places. It is difficult in the past to assemble a PR light bulb. 
     Therefore, it is beneficial if a better design is provided for conveniently assembling a PR light bulb or other light bulbs with several different materials. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some embodiments, a light bulb apparatus includes a glass housing, a sleeve housing, a light source plate, a sleeve connector and an Edison cap. 
     The glass housing defines a tubular part and a trumpet part. 
     The sleeve housing includes a neck part and a protruding part. 
     The neck part is enclosed by the tubular part of the glass housing. 
     The protruding part is exposed outside tubular part. 
     The light source plate is fixed to the sleeve housing. 
     The sleeve connector wraps an exterior surface of the protruding part. 
     The Edison cap is attached to the sleeve connector. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve housing has a sleeve trumpet extended from the neck part toward the trumpet part of the glass housing. 
     The sleeve trumpet prevents the sleeve housing moving downwardly when the sleeve trumpet engages the trumpet part of the glass housing. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve trumpet has a reflective layer in an inner surface for reflecting a light of the light source plate. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve connector has a screw groove on an exterior surface of the sleeve connector for fixing the Edison cap by rotation. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve connector is fixed to the Edison cap with a rivet. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve connector has a screw groove on an interior surface of the sleeve connector for fixing the protruding part by rotation. 
     In some embodiments, the glass housing has a concave stop structure for preventing the sleeve housing moving downwardly when the neck part of the sleeve housing engages the concave stop structure. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve housing has a gap opening for adjustment during thermal expansion and contraction. 
     In some embodiments, a driver is disposed inside the sleeve housing. 
     In some embodiments, the driver has a driver plate mounted with driver circuits. 
     The driver plate is inserted to the sleeve housing along a sliding track of the sleeve housing. 
     In some embodiments, a lens is standing upon the light source plate. 
     In some embodiments, there are multiple concentric circles with different height levels disposed on an top surface of the lens. 
     In some embodiments, a light passing cover covers the lens. 
     In some embodiments, a driver component is placed on the light source plate outside covering of the lens. 
     In some embodiments, a glue layer is disposed between the glass housing and the sleeve housing. 
     In some embodiments, the glue layer is heat dissipation glue. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve connector is manually rotatable for changing a setting of LED modules on the light source plate. 
     In some embodiments, there is a manual switch for changing a setting of LED modules on the light source plate. 
     In some embodiments, an ultra-violet light source and a motion sensor is disposed on the light source plate. 
     When the motion sensor indicates no person is nearby, the ultra-violet light source emits ultra-violet light to perform sterilization. 
     In some embodiments, the ultra-violet light is turn off after a predetermined time period. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a light bulb apparatus embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of a light bulb apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a sleeve housing example. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a driver example. 
         FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of a light bulb apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of a light bulb apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  shows an example for assembling multiple components. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6 , a light bulb apparatus includes a glass housing  601 , a sleeve housing  602 , a light source plate  603 , a sleeve connector  604  and an Edison cap  605 . 
     The Edison cap  605  has various standards and is used in daily life to screw a light bulb to an Edison socket to receive power supply. 
     The glass housing  601  defines a tubular part  6012  and a trumpet part  6011 . The trumpet part  6011  has an enlarging profile extended from a top end of the tubular part  6012 . The tubular part  6012  has a tube shape, leaving an inner space empty for inserting a portion of the sleeve housing  602 . 
     The sleeve housing  602  includes a neck part  6021  and a protruding part  6022 . 
     The neck part  6021  is enclosed by the tubular part  6012  of the glass housing  601 . 
     The protruding part  6022  is exposed outside tubular part  6012  of the glass housing  601 . 
     The light source plate  603  is fixed to the sleeve housing  602 , e.g. on top of the sleeve housing  602 . The glass housing  601  is made of glass material. The sleeve housing  602  may be made of plastic, metal material or complex material mixed with multiple materials. 
     The sleeve connector  604  wraps an exterior surface  6023  of the protruding part  6022 . 
     The Edison cap  605  is attached to the sleeve connector  604 . The Edison cap  605  has two electrodes  6051 ,  6052  connecting to two ends of an electrical wire via an Edison socket. The two electrodes  6051 ,  6052  are respectively connected to a driver  606 . The driver  606  includes a driver plate  6061  and a driver circuit  6062 . 
     The light bulb apparatus has a glass appearing while being easy to be assembled. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve housing  602  has a sleeve trumpet  6024  extended from the neck part  6021  toward the trumpet part  6011  of the glass housing  601 . 
     The sleeve trumpet  6024  prevents the sleeve housing  602  moving downwardly when the sleeve trumpet  6024  engages the trumpet part  6011  of the glass housing  601 . 
     Specifically, the sleeve trumpet has a larger diameter than the diameter of the tubular part  6012  of the glass housing  601  and thus stops the sleeve housing  602  to keep moving downwardly when the sleeve trumpet  6024  engages the trumpet part  6011 . 
     On the other end of the sleeve housing  602 , the protruding part  6022  is further fixed with a sleeve connector  604  and thus the sleeve housing  602  is kept at its position relative to the glass housing easily and conveniently. 
     In  FIG. 7 , the sleeve trumpet  611  has a reflective layer  612  in an inner surface  613  for reflecting a light  614  of the light source plate  615 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the sleeve connector  620  has a screw groove  621  on an exterior surface  622  of the sleeve connector  620  for fixing the Edison cap  623  by rotation. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the sleeve connector  604  may be fixed to the Edison cap  605  with a rivet  6057 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the sleeve connector  620  has a screw groove  624  on an interior surface of the sleeve connector  620  for fixing the protruding part  625  by rotation. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the glass housing has a concave stop structure  12  for preventing the sleeve housing  2  moving downwardly when the neck part of the sleeve housing  2  engages the concave stop structure  12 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the sleeve housing has a gap opening  221  for adjustment during thermal expansion and contraction. Specifically, the glass housing and the sleeve housing have different thermal expansion ratios. Thus, the gap opening  221  provides an elastic space preventing damage of the components during thermal expansion and contraction. 
     In  FIG. 6 , a driver  606  is disposed inside the sleeve housing  602 . 
     In some embodiments, the driver  606  has a driver plate  6061  mounted with driver circuits  6062 . 
     The driver plate  6061  is inserted to the sleeve housing  602  along a sliding track  6063  of the sleeve housing  602 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , a lens  607  is standing upon the light source plate  603 . 
     In some embodiments, there are multiple concentric circles  6071 ,  6072  with different height levels disposed on a top surface of the lens  607 . 
     Such lens  607  may be a condensing lens or a diffusion lens depending on design requirement. 
     In some embodiments, a light passing cover  608  covers the lens  607 . 
     In some embodiments, a driver component  6071  is placed on the light source plate  603  outside covering of the lens  607 . Such design prevents the driver component  6071  making shadow or affecting light output of the light source plate  603 , when LED modules  6031  are placed at center area of the light source plate  603  covered by the lens  607 . 
     In  FIG. 7 , a glue layer  617  is disposed between the glass housing  618  and the sleeve housing  611 . 
     In some embodiments, the glue layer is heat dissipation glue for performing heat dissipation. 
     In  FIG. 7 , the sleeve connector  6191  is manually rotatable with respect to the sleeve housing for changing a setting of LED modules on the light source plate  615 . 
     For example, the sleeve connector  6191  is exposed and placed below the glass housing but before the Edison cap. The sleeve connector  6191  is designed to be rotatable with respect to the glass housing and triggers a mechanic switch connected to a driver to change a setting of the LED modules, e.g. to change to different color temperatures. 
     In some embodiments, there is a manual switch  6192  for changing a setting of LED modules on the light source plate  615 . 
     In some embodiments, an ultra-violet light source  616  and a motion sensor  617  is disposed on the light source plate  615 . 
     When the motion sensor indicates no person is nearby, the ultra-violet light source emits ultra-violet light to perform sterilization. 
     In some embodiments, the ultra-violet light is turn off after a predetermined time period, e.g. to turn off sterilization after 30 minutes. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which shows a light bulb apparatus embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the light bulb apparatus has a Edison cap  4  and a glass housing  1 . The Edison cap has an electrode  8  at its bottom. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2 , which shows a cross-sectional view of the example in  FIG. 1 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a light source plate  6  is placed on a sleeve housing  2 . The sleeve housing  2  is enclosed by the glass housing  1  by inserting into a container hole  13 . There is a concave stop structure  12 . There is a driver  7  for rectifying input power and generates a driving current. There is a sleeve connector  21  connected to the protruding part  211  of the sleeve housing  2 . There is an escape hole. The Edison cap  4  has a screw head  6  and a bottom electrode  8 . An exterior surface of the sleeve connector has screw grooves  3 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the example in  FIG. 1 . 
     The glass housing has a container hole  13 , a concave stop structure  12 , and an escape hole  11 . The sleeve housing  2  has a sleeve trumpet  22  and a protruding part  21 . There is a screw groove  211  for installing the sleeve connector  3 . The sleeve connector  3  has a screw groove  31 . There is a connecting hole  32 . Rivets  5  are used for fixing components. 
     The Edison cap  4  has an inner screw groove  41  and a bottom electrode  8 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 , which illustrates an example of the sleeve housing  2 . There are a protruding part  21 , a gap opening  221  for preventing damages during thermal expansion and retraction, a sliding track  23  for inserting a driver plate as mentioned above, and a sleeve trumpet  22 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 5 , a driver  7  is illustrated to have a driver plate  71  to be inserted into the sleeve housing in  FIG. 4 . 
     The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the techniques and their practical applications. Others skilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniques and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     Although the disclosure and examples have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the disclosure and examples as defined by the claims.