Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7137824?dq=6,073,142
Timestamp: 2017-12-16 09:26:05
Document Index: 626777045

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n5', 'arts 31', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'arts 31', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 33', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 33']

Patent US7137824 - Connecting unit for a backlight module - Google Patents
A connecting unit includes a support seat that has inner and outer surfaces, that is formed with an L-shaped channel, and that is provided with a slit. The L-shaped channel is defined by the inner surface, has first and second open ends, receives an end portion of an electrical wire therein through the...http://www.google.com/patents/US7137824?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7137824 - Connecting unit for a backlight module
Publication number US7137824 B2
Application number US 11/412,930
Also published as US20060194463
Publication number 11412930, 412930, US 7137824 B2, US 7137824B2, US-B2-7137824, US7137824 B2, US7137824B2
Inventors Tang-Pung Lin
Original Assignee Chi Lin Technology Co., Ltd.
Patent Citations (10), Referenced by (5), Classifications (9), Legal Events (7)
Connecting unit for a backlight module
US 7137824 B2
A connecting unit includes a support seat that has inner and outer surfaces, that is formed with an L-shaped channel, and that is provided with a slit. The L-shaped channel is defined by the inner surface, has first and second open ends, receives an end portion of an electrical wire therein through the first open end, and receives an end portion of a fluorescent tube therein through the second open end. The slit extends from the outer surface to the inner surface and from the first open end to the second open end to thereby permit access into the L-shaped channel.
1. A connecting unit for a backlight module, the backlight module including an electrical wire having an end portion, and a fluorescent tube having an end portion, said connecting unit comprising:
a non-conductive elastic support seat having inner and outer surfaces,
formed with an L-shaped channel that is defined by said inner surface, that has first and second open ends, that is adapted to receive the end portion of the electrical wire therein through said first open end, and that is adapted to receive the end portion of the fluorescent tube therein through said second open end, and
provided with a slit that extends from said outer surface to said inner surface and from said first open end to said second open end to thereby permit access into said L-shaped channel.
2. The connecting unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a conductive connector disposed in said L-shaped channel in said non-conductive elastic support seat, said conductive connector including
a first clamping part that is adapted to clamp an exposed conductor of the electrical wire, and
a second clamping part that extends from said first clamping part, and that is adapted to clamp a pin of the fluorescent tube.
3. The connecting unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second clamping part includes a pair of clamping arms that are adapted to clamp the pin of the fluorescent tube therebetween.
4. The connecting unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second clamping part further includes a pair of guide flanges formed respectively on said clamping arms of said second clamping part, said guide flanges confining a converging entrance for guiding insertion of the pin of the fluorescent tube between said clamping arms of said second clamping part.
5. The connecting unit as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a third clamping part adapted to clamp the end portion of the fluorescent tube, said second clamping part extending between said first and third clamping parts.
6. The connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third clamping part is C-shaped.
This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/943,883 filed Sep. 20, 2004, and abandoned as of the filing date of this application.
The invention relates to a connecting unit, more particularly to a connecting unit for a backlight module.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional non-conductive support seat 12 of a backlight module (not shown) that includes an electrical wire 11 and a fluorescent tube 13. The support seat 12 defines a channel 120. The electrical wire 11 has an end portion that is stripped to expose conductors ill thereof and that is extended into the channel 120. The fluorescent tube 13 has an end portion that is extended into the channel 120, and a pin 131 that extends from the end portion thereof and that is soldered to the exposed conductors 111 of the electrical wire 11. During assembly, the electrical wire 11 has to be bent by ninety degrees. As a consequence, the bent portion of the electrical wire 11 occupies a relatively large space in the backlight module.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a support seat that eliminates the need for bending of an electrical wire when assembling a backlight module.
According to the present invention, a connecting unit comprises a non-conductive elastic support seat The connecting unit is applicable to a backlight module that includes an electrical wire and a fluorescent tube The non-conductive elastic support seat has inner and outer surfaces, is formed with an L-shaped channel, and is provided with a slit. The L-shaped channel is defined by the inner surface, has first and second open ends, is adapted to receive an end portion of the electrical wire therein through the first open end, and is adapted to receive an end portion of the fluorescent tube therein through the second open end. The slit extends from the outer surface to the inner surface and from the first open end to the second open end to thereby permit access into the L-shaped channel.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which;
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional non-conductive support seat of a backlight module;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a connecting unit of a backlight module according to the present invention; and
FIG. 3 illustrates a method of assembling the preferred embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of a connecting unit according to this invention is shown to include a non-conductive elastic support seat 2 and a conductive connector 3.
The connecting unit is applicable to a backlight module (not shown) that includes an electrical wire 4 and a fluorescent tube 5. The electrical wire 4 of the backlight module has an end portion 41 that is stripped to expose a conductor 42 thereof The fluorescent tube has an end portion 51, and a pin 52 that extends from the end portion 51 thereof.
The non-conductive elastic support seat 2 has inner and outer surfaces 21, 22, is formed with an L-shaped channel 20, and is provided with a slit 23. In this embodiment, the non-conductive elastic support seat 2 is made from a rubber or a plastic.
The L-shaped channel 20 is defined by the inner surface 22, has first and second open ends 201, 202, receives the end portion 41 of the electrical wire 4 therein through the first open end 201, and receives the end portion 51 of the fluorescent tube 5 therein through the second open end 202.
The slit 23 extends from the outer surface 21 to the inner surface 22 and from the first open end 201 to the second open end 202 for permitting access into the L-shaped channel 20.
The conductive connector 3, which is preferably made from gold, is disposed in the L-shaped channel 20 in the non-conductive elastic support seat 3, and connects electrically the exposed conductor 42 of the electrical wire 4 and the pin 52 of the fluorescent tube 5. In particular, the conductive connector 3 includes first, second, and third clamping parts 31, 32, 33
The first clamping part 31 of the conductive connector 3 is inverted U-shaped, and includes a pair of crimping arms that clamp securely the exposed conductor 42 of the electrical wire 4.
The second clamping part 32 of the conductive connector 3 extends between the first and third clamping parts 31, 33, and includes a pair of clamping arms that converge toward each other and that clamp releasably the pin 52 of the fluorescent tube 5 therebetween. The second clamping part 32 of the conductive connector 3 further includes a pair of guide flanges 34 that are formed respectively on the clamping arms of the second clamping part 32. The guide flanges 34 confine a converging entrance that serves to guide insertion of the pin 52 of the fluorescent tube 5 between the clamping arms of the second clamping part 32.
The third clamping part 33 of the conductive connector 3 is C-shaped, and clamps the end portion 51 of the fluorescent tube 5.
Referring to FIG. 3, a method for assembling the connecting unit includes the steps of:
(a) stripping the end portion 41 of the electrical wire 4 to expose the conductor 42;
(b) crimping the exposed conductor 42 of the electrical wire 4 between the crimping arms of the first clamping part 31 of the conductive connector 3 with the use of a crimping tool (not shown);
(c) bringing the fluorescent tube 5 toward the conductive connector 3 and manipulating the fluorescent tube 5 such that the pin 52 (see FIG. 2) of the fluorescent tube 5 is inserted between the clamping arms of the second clamping part 32 through the guide flanges 34 and such that the end portion 51 (see FIG. 2) of the fluorescent tube 5 is press-fitted into the third clamping part 33;
(d) stretching the slit 23 to open the same; and
(e) disposing the conductive connector 3 in the L-shaped channel 20 through the opened slit 23.
In an alternative embodiment, the connecting unit is dispensed with the conductive connector 3. The exposed conductor 42 of the electrical wire 4 and the pin 52 of the fluorescent tube 5 are connected electrically by soldering.
It has thus been shown that the connecting unit of this invention includes a non-conductive elastic support seat 2 that is formed with an L-shaped channel 20, and that is provided with a slit 23 to permit access into the L-shaped channel 20. As such, the electrical wire 4 is not required to be bent when assembling the backlight module. Hence, the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art can be eliminated.
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U.S. Classification 439/58, 439/881
Cooperative Classification H01R9/223, H01R11/07, H01R33/0845, H01R4/4818
European Classification H01R4/48B2, H01R33/08H2
Owner name: CHI LIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., TAIWAN
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LIN, TANG-PUNG;REEL/FRAME:017695/0539
Owner name: CHI LIN OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD., TAIWAN
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:CHI LIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:030425/0223
Nov 6, 2014 SULP Surcharge for late payment
Dec 23, 2015 AS Assignment
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHI LIN OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:037445/0083