Patent Publication Number: US-2010124066-A1

Title: Cold cathode fluorescent lamp lighting device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cold cathode fluorescent lamp lighting device, and more partially to a cold cathode fluorescent lamp having a cushion and a covering member coated with viscose to provide dual shock absorption, preventing the cold cathode fluorescent lamp from cracking because of collision. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     An existing vehicle light is provided with a light ring structure to enhance its brightness. A conventional light ring structure comprises a number of light emitting diodes to light and a transparent plastic light guiding cover to form a light ring. The convention light ring structure causes a bright area near the light emitting diodes and a dim area far away from the light emitting diodes. The light from the light ring is not even. 
     A cold cathode fluorescent lamp lighting device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,287,876 owned by the applicant of the present invention, comprises an annular lens cover, a substantially circular cold cathode fluorescent lamp disposed in the annular lens cover, and a control box. The control box includes wires to control the cold cathode fluorescent lamp to radiate, and is connected with the cold cathode fluorescent lamp to be secured on a vehicle light. The control box is able to control the luminescence of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp. The luminescence from the cold cathode fluorescent lamp is radiated even through the annular lens cover, providing more brightness, evenness and power-saving effects. However, the cold cathode fluorescent lamp is disposed in the annular lens cover. There is a gap between the cold cathode fluorescent lamp and the annular lens cover. When the vehicle light is collided or shocked, the cold cathode fluorescent lamp may be cracked. This is not ideal in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid shortcomings. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a cold cathode fluorescent lamp lighting device, comprising:
         a light guiding cover, having a semicircularly-shaped recess;   a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, disposed in the recess of the light guiding cover;   a covering member, fitted on the recess of the light guiding cover, and   at least a cushion provided on the cold cathode fluorescent lamp.       

     Preferably, the light guiding cover comprises a post protruding from the recess, the post having a threaded hole for insertion of a bolt. 
     Preferably, the cold cathode fluorescent lamp is provided with electronic wires. 
     Preferably, the covering member has a surface coated with viscose for gluing the covering member to the light guiding member. 
     Preferably, the cushion is in the form of a ring, a circular tube, a C-shaped tube, a pair of semicircular tubes or a semicircular tube with a slab. 
     The present invention has the following advantages: 
     1. The cold cathode fluorescent lamp is provided with a cushion to hold against the recess of the light guiding cover, keeping a proper distance to avoid the cold cathode fluorescent lamp from cracking when the vehicle light is collided or shocked. 
     2. The surface of the covering member is coated with viscose for securing the covering member to the light guiding cover. The viscose has a thickness and elasticity to provide the same cushioning effect. By the dual shock absorption of the cushion and the viscose, the present invention is able to prevent the cold cathode fluorescent lamp from cracking because of collision. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially sectional view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing the present invention coupled to a vehicle light; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing a cushion in the form of a circular tube of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing a cushion in the form of a C-shaped tube of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing a cushion in the form of a pair of semicircular tubes of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing a cushion in the form of a semicircular tube and a slab of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the present invention comprises a light guiding cover  1 , a cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2 , and a covering member  3 . 
     The light guiding cover  1  is an annular shape, and has a semicircularly-shaped recess  11  and a post  12  protruding from the recess  11 . The post  12  has a threaded hole  13  for insertion of a bolt  14  to secure the light guiding cover  1  on a vehicle light, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2  is disposed in the recess  11 , and comprises at least a cushion  21  thereon. The cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2  is provided with electric wires  22  to connect with electric wires from the vehicle light (not shown in the drawings). 
     The covering member  3  is secured onto the recess  11  of the light guiding cover  1 . The surface of the covering member  3  is coated with viscose  31  for securing the covering member  3  to the light guiding cover  1 . The cushion  21  of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2  holds against the recess  11  of the light guiding cover  1  and the inner wall of the covering member  3 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , keeping a proper distance between the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2  and the recess  11  as well as between the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2  and the inner wall of the covering member  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bolt  4  is screwed to the threaded hole  13  of the post  12  of the light guiding cover  1  to secure the present invention on the vehicle light A. This is a conventional technique, not described hereinafter. The covering member  3  with the viscose  31  is attached to the perimeter of the vehicle light A. When the light guiding cover  1  is collided or shocked, the cushion  21  on the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2  provides a cushioning effect. The viscose  31  of the covering member  3  has a thickness and elasticity to provide a cushioning effect. By the dual shock absorption, the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2  will not be cracked because of collision. 
     The cushion  21  in the aforesaid embodiment is a ring. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the cushion  21 A may be in the form of a circular tube to wrap and seal the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cushion  21 B may be in the form of a C-shaped tube to buckle on the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the cushion  21 C may be in the form of a pair of semicircular tubes to wrap the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the cushion  21 D may be in the form of a semicircular tube and a slab to wrap the cold cathode fluorescent lamp  2 . To sum up, the different cushions  21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C and  21 D provide the same cushioning effect.