Patent Abstract:
An illumination device includes an elongate rod-shaped lamp having at least one light emitting diode, an electronic module coupled to a power supply device, a magnetic reed switch coupled with the power supply and a magnetic member, the illumination device being configured such that the lamp is turned ON or OFF in response to the magnetic reed switch and the magnetic member approaching or moving away from one another. The illumination device is installed in a drawer of a cabinet to automatically emit light whenever the drawer is opened.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an illumination device, and more particularly to the illumination device applied in a pull-out cabinet (or a drawer) to provide illuminations to the pull-out cabinet. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As pull-out or slide drawers (or cabinets) are used extensively in various types of containers or storage apparatuses, such drawers or cabinets have become one of the main storage furniture used at home or in office. In general, the pull-out cabinet comes with drawers of different depths including a smaller depth for desks and a larger depth for cabinets, and the drawers of different depths usually do not come with any illumination function and always rely on ambient light as a light source, so that when the ambient light is weak (or dark), it is relatively difficult to find a desired item in the cabinet. If the environment is very dark or there is no ambient light at all (during in a power failure), users have to find the desired item based on their memory with regard to the position of the object or search the desired item randomly. Obviously, such operation is very inconvenient and time-consuming and even incurs potential risks, such as toppling over a bottle or a can, or getting injured when touching a sharp object. Of course, the larger the cabinet, the more difficult is the search in a poor lighting or unprepared condition. If the ambient light is low or there is no ambient light at all, and objects of the same nature (made of the same material) are stored in the drawer such as a closet or a document cabinet, it is difficult for users to determine the exact position to access the desired item. Obviously, the conventional drawer or cabinet requires improvements. 
     On the other hand, the drawer of a storage cabinet is mainly used for storing objects, but it also requires illumination or visual effect. In general, a light bulb can be installed easily in the drawer to provide illuminations, but such arrangement causes an inharmonic visual effect, and the application, integrity and safety of storing objects in the drawer of the storage cabinet must be taken into consideration to meet the user requirements. Therefore, it is a main subject for designers and manufacturers of the related industry to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional pull-out cabinet. 
     In view of the structural design and drawbacks of the conventional pull-out cabinet, the inventor of the present invention conducted extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a convenient, safe, and visual illumination device of a pull-out cabinet in accordance with the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an illumination device controlled by a magnetic reed module in a cabinet that can provide an illumination effect automatically when a drawer in the cabinet is pulled out, and a synergic effect of vision and quality of the product can enhance the product competitiveness. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to maintain the integrity of the using space of the cabinet while providing the illumination function and a convenient and safe way of storing objects in the cabinet or opening/closing the cabinet. 
     To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the present invention provides an illumination device installed in a cabinet, and the illumination device comprises: a magnetic reed module, further comprising: a magnetic reed switch, installed on the drawer; and a magnetic member, installed in the cabinet and at a corresponding position of the magnetic reed switch; and a lamp, comprising at least one light emitting diode and an electronic module coupled to a power supply device to supply electric power to the light emitting diode, and the power supply device is coupled to the magnetic reed switch, so that the magnetic reed switch and the magnetic member can be contacted with or separated from each other control the ON/OFF of the power supply device, so as to control the light emitting diode to emit light. Therefore, the illumination effect is provided automatically when the drawer is pulled out, and the illumination device of the invention has the synergic effect of vision and quality and provides a safe way of storing objects in the cabinet. 
     The technical characteristics and effects of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of preferred embodiments accompanied with related drawings as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of assembling the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic view of touching and pressing a magnetic reed switch of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of Section B-B of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view of Section C-C of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of operating the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a partial schematic view of operating the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3  for an illumination device  10  presented in an elongated rod shape is installed to a drawer  20 , and the drawer  20  is installed in a cabinet  30 . In this preferred embodiment, the illumination device  10  with a magnetic reed module  12  is installed at a lateral edge of the drawer  20  and used as a side rod. The illumination device  10  with a magnetic reed module comprises a magnetic reed module  12 , a connecting device  14  and a lamp  16 . In this preferred embodiment, the magnetic reed module  12  is substantially a tube comprising a connecting portion  121  at the front, a containing space  122  in the middle, and a control unit  123  and a magnetic member  126  at the rear; wherein the connecting portion  121  is provided for connecting the lamp  16 , and the containing space  122  is provided for installing a battery  124  (or a power supply device), or a related component module (such as a voltage regulator). However, persons skilled in the art can also install the power supply device outside the illumination device or any other appropriate position), and the control unit  123  comprises a magnetic reed switch  125  coupled to the battery  124  (or the power supply device or voltage regulator) through a power circuit  128 . In addition, a connecting notch  130  is formed between the containing space  122  and the control unit  123  and provided for connecting the drawer  20 . In other words, the connecting notch  130  is connected to a side pillar  221  of the rear panel  22  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3C ) wherein the magnetic member  126  is installed on a rear wall  32  of the cabinet  30  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) and corresponding to the magnetic reed switch  125  (as shown in  FIG. 3A ). Of course, the foregoing corresponsive relation of the magnetic member and the magnetic reed switch adopted in this preferred embodiment is provided for the purpose of illustrating the present invention only, but not intended for limiting the scope of the invention. Further, the magnetic reed switch  125  and the magnetic member  126  can be contacted with each other or separated from each other to turn on or off the battery  124  respectively, so as to control the lamp  16  to emit light. 
     The connecting device  14  is coupled to the lamp  16 , and a connecting portion  141  reciprocally movable and sheathed on the external periphery of the connecting device  14 , and a split rod portion  142  is disposed at a front end of the connecting device  14  and coupled with the front panel  21  of drawer  20  by clamping. In other words, the split rod portion  142  can be engaged and clamped onto a connecting element  211  of the front panel  21  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), and then the connecting portion  141  is pushed forward and covered onto the split rod portion  142 . 
     In this preferred embodiment, the lamp  16  comprises a tube  160  (such as an illumination tube) coupled between the magnetic reed module  12  and the connecting device  14 , which is coupled to the connecting portions  121 ,  141 , and the tube  160  can be wholly or partially designed with a transparent or semi-transparent effect, so that the tube is transparent. In a preferred embodiment, the tube  160  is comprised of an illumination tube  16 A and a back tube  16 B (as shown in  FIG. 3B ), and the illumination tube  16 A is transparent, and the illumination device  10  with the magnetic reed module further comprises an electronic module  161  installed in the tube  160 , and the electronic module  161  comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes  162  (LED lamps) installed thereon, and the light emitting diodes  162  (LED lamps) correspond to the illumination tube  16 A, and the electronic module  161  includes a plurality of press pillars  163  disposed at the back of the electronic module  161  for abutting and securing the tube  160  (or the back tube  16 B). In addition, the electronic module  161  is coupled to the battery  124  (or a power supply device or a voltage regulator) through a power circuit  129 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 4A  for the operation of the present invention, when the drawer  20  is pulled to the front and opened, the magnetic reed switch  125  of the control unit  123  is moved forwardly together with the rear panel  22 . Now, the magnetic reed switch  125  is situated at a position away from the magnetic member  126  on the rear wall  32  of the cabinet  30 , and the magnetic reed switch  125  produces an electric conduction to drive the light emitting diode  162  (or LED lamp) to emit light, and the light emitted from the light emitting diode  162  (or LED lamp) passes through the tube  160  (or the illumination tube  16 A) to illuminate the interior of the drawer  20 , so as to provide an illumination function. When the drawer  20  is pushed backward and closed, the magnetic reed switch  125  of the control unit  123  is moved backward with the rear panel  22 . Now, the magnetic reed switch  125  approaches the magnetic member  126  on the rear wall  32  of the cabinet  30 , such that the magnetic reed switch  125  disconnects the power (or turns off the power supply), and the light emitting diode  162  (or LED lamp) no longer emits light. Since the drawer  20  is closed at the time, therefore there is no need for the light emitting diode  162  (or LED lamp) to emit light, and such arrangement can avoid wasting unnecessary electric energy. With the present invention, the illumination function is provided whenever the drawer  20  is opened. Obviously, the invention is practical and convenient. In addition, the present invention adopts the light emitting diode  162  (or LED lamp) as a light source, and the illumination device of this preferred embodiment is installed at a lateral edge of the drawer  20  and used as a side rod, without affecting the usable space inside the drawer  20  or affecting the aesthetic look. The invention even improves the overall visual effect, without affecting the movement or operation of the drawer  20  or causing any risk or danger of the use. 
     With the aforementioned components and structure, the present invention can overcome the drawbacks of the illumination of the conventional drawers and improve the quality of the illumination device with a synergic visual effect, so that the cabinet and drawer maintains the using space while providing the illumination function and a safe way of storing objects in the cabinet and opening/closing the cabinet.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5