Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an outdoor LED lamp assembly, and more particularly to an outdoor LED lamp assembly having a built-in switch to control power on or off of the outdoor LED lamp. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The technology of light emitting diodes has rapidly developed in recent years from indicators to illumination applications. With the features of long-term reliability, environment friendliness and low power consumption, the LED is viewed as a promising alternative for future lighting products, such as an outdoor LED lamp assembly. 
     Unavoidably, a conventional outdoor LED lamp assembly needs to be repaired or maintained after a period of use. When a serviceman carries out the repair or maintenance, a switch for controlling the outdoor LED lamp assembly, which is usually located a distance away from the outdoor LED lamp assembly, is turned off to protect the serviceman from electric shock. When the repair or maintenance of the outdoor LED lamp assembly is finished, the switch controlling the outdoor LED lamp assembly is turned on to see the effectiveness of the repair or maintenance. If the effectiveness is not satisfactory, the serviceman needs to repeat the above operation, inclusive of the turn on and off of the distant switch again. It is inconvenient for the serviceman to turn on and turn off the distant switch since it may involves an up and a down movement on a ladder. Furthermore, the serviceman may forget to turn off the distant switch before the repair and maintenance; when this happens the serviceman is exposed to a danger of electric shock. 
     What is needed, therefore, is an outdoor LED lamp assembly having a switch located in the outdoor LED lamp self which can control power on or off of the outdoor LED lamp assembly. The switch is automatically turned off when a bottom plate of the LED lamp assembly is removed in order to proceed with the repair or maintenance of the LED lamp assembly, and turned on when the bottom plate is mounted back to the LED lamp assembly. Accordingly, a serviceman can conveniently and securely carry out the repair or maintenance of the outdoor LED lamp assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An outdoor LED lamp assembly includes a receiving member, a driving circuit module received in the receiving member, an LED lamp mounted on the receiving member, and a switch received in the receiving member and electronically connecting with the driving circuit module to control power off and power on of the outdoor LED lamp assembly. The receiving member includes a bottom plate. The LED lamp includes a heat sink and a plurality of LED modules mounted on the heat sink. When the bottom plate is mounted to the receiving member, the switch is depressed by the bottom plate to be at a closed position, whereby current can flow from a power source through the switch to the driving circuit module. Alternatively, when the bottom plate is removed from the receiving member in order to carry out a repair or maintenance of the LED lamp assembly, the switch is no longer depressed by the bottom plate and is at an opened position, whereby the current from the power source is no longer able to flow from the power source to the driving circuit module via the switch. 
     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled view of an outdoor LED lamp assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from a different aspect; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an LED lamp of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an inverted view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a switch of  FIG. 2 , wherein the switch is at an opened position; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a switch of  FIG. 2 , wherein the switch is at a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an outdoor LED lamp assembly (not labeled) comprises a receiving member  10  and a pair of LED lamps  20  assembled on opposite sides of the receiving member  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the receiving member  10  has a triangular configuration and consists of a top plate  14 , a bottom plate  12  opposite to the top plate  14 , a pair of mounting plates  16  connecting right and left edges of the top and bottom plates  14 ,  12 , and a rear plate (not labeled) and a front plate (not labeled) connecting rear and front edges of the top and bottom plates  14 ,  12 , respectively. A lamp holder  11  is secured to the rear plate of the outdoor LED lamp assembly. The lamp holder  11  is provided for securely connecting with a supporting post (not shown) whereby the outdoor LED lamp assembly can be supported by the supporting post. The bottom plate  12  and the top plate  14  are trapeziform and parallel to each other. The bottom plate  12  has a slightly larger area than that of the top plate  14 ; thus, the mounting plates  16  extend outwardly and downwardly from the edges of the top plate  14  to the edges of the bottom plate  12 . In addition, the rear plate is larger than the front plate; thus, the mounting plates  16  extend outwardly and rearwards from the front plate to the rear plate. Three spaced elongated screws  161  extend outwardly from each of the mounting plates  16  to be engaged with the LED lamps  20 . A pair of through holes  163  (only one shown) is defined in the mounting plates  16 . A driving circuit module  30  is received in the receiving member  10  to electronically connect with and supply power to the LED lamps  20 . Electric wires (not shown) extend from the driving circuit board  30  through the through holes  163  to enter the LED lamps  20 . A switch  40  is received in the receiving member  10  and electronically connects with the driving circuit board  30 . 
     Each LED lamp  20  comprises a plurality of LED modules  21 , a heat sink  23  supporting and cooling the LED modules  21 , a plurality of reflectors  25  over the LED modules  21 , and a housing  27  mounted around a periphery of the heat sink  23  to enclose the LED modules  21  and the reflectors  25  therein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the heat sink  23  is made of a metal with a high degree of heat conductivity, such as copper or aluminum. The heat sink  23  comprises a rectangular base  231  and a plurality of fins  233  extending from the base  231 . The base  231  comprises a top plate (not labeled) and a bottom plate (not labeled) opposite to the top plate. The fins  233  extend from the top plate of the base  231 . A centre of the bottom plate of the base  231  protrudes three elongated planar surfaces  235 . The LED modules  21  are attached on the surfaces  235 . The surfaces  235  are angled with each other. 
     Each LED module  21  comprises an elongated printed circuit board  213  and a plurality of spaced LEDs  211  evenly mounted on a side of the printed circuit board  213 . The LEDs  211  of each LED module  21  are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the printed circuit board  213 . Each LED module  21  is mounted in a thermally conductive relationship with the bottom plate of the heat sink  23  and electronically connects with the driving circuit module  30 . 
     Each reflector  25  is located over the printed circuit board  213  of a corresponding LED module  21 . The reflector  25  comprises a rim  251  and a plurality of ribs (not labeled) within the rim  251 . The rim  251  and the ribs connect with each other to define a plurality of through holes  253 . The LEDs  211  are received in the through holes  253 , respectively. Light generated by the LEDs  211  is reflected by the reflectors  25  to increase the intensity of the light emitted from the LED lamps  20 . A plurality of sleeves  255  is formed in the reflector  25  along a thickness direction thereof. A plurality of screws (not shown) are used to extend through the sleeves  255  and the printed circuit boards  213  to threadedly engage with the heat sink  23  thereby to mount the reflectors  25  and the LED modules  21  on the heat sinks  23 . 
     The housing  27  comprises a rectangular frame  271  engaging with the heat sink  23 , a transparent cover  272  enclosed in the frame  271  and covering a bottom opening (not labeled) of the frame  271 , and a rectangular fixture  273  located at a bottom of the frame  271  and mounting the cover  272  on the frame  271 . 
     The frame  271  forms a plurality of protruding portions  2713  on inner surfaces thereof. Each protruding portion  2713  and each corner of the frame  271  define a screw hole  2715  therein. Screws (not shown) extend through the heat sink  23  and engage into a top portion of the screw holes  2715  to mount the frame  271  on the heat sink  23 . The LED modules  21  are enclosed in the frame  271 . A rectangular ring-shaped gasket  60  is sandwiched between the frame  271  and the heat sink  23  to enhance hermeticity of the connection between the frame  271  and the heat sink  23 . A plurality of connecting plates (not labeled) extends inwardly from bottom of the inner surfaces of the frame  271 . A plurality of supporting plates  2717  extends inwardly and downwardly from edges of the connecting plates to support the cover  272 . The fixture  273  presses the cover  272  against the supporting plates  2717 . Screws (not shown) extend through the fixture  273  and engage into a bottom portion of the screw holes  2715  to mount the fixture  273  on the frame  271 . A rectangular ring-shaped gasket  70  is sandwiched between the cover  273  and the supporting plates  2717  to enhance hermeticity of the connection between the cover  273  and the supporting plates  2717 . A centre of an elongated sidewall (not labeled) of the frame  271  defines three holes  2718  corresponding to the elongated screws  161  of the receiving member  10 . A nut  2716  is received in each of the holes  2718  to engage with a corresponding one of the elongated screws  161 . Two through holes  2719  are defined between the holes  2718  for extension of the electric wires from the driving circuit module  30  into the LED lamp  20 . 
     A rectangular linking plate  50  is sandwiched between the elongated sidewall of the LED lamp  20  and the mounting plate  16  of the receiving member  10 . The linking plate  50  defines three mounting holes  51  corresponding to the holes  2718  of the frame  271  of the LED lamp  20 , and two holes  53  corresponding to the through holes  2719  of the frame  271  of the LED lamp  20 . The elongated screws  161  extend through the mounting holes  51  of the linking plates  50 , O-rings  55 ,  57  to threadedly engage with the nuts  2716  in the holes  2718  of the frame  271 , thereby to mount the LED lamps  20  on the opposite sides of the receiving member  10 . In this state, the heat sinks  23  extend outwardly and upwardly from the mounting plates  16  of the receiving member  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . By the provision of the mounting plates  16  which are titled outwardly along top-to-bottom direction and tilted outwardly along front-to-rear direction, and the provision of the differently-angled planar surfaces  235  at the bottom the of the heat sinks  23 , the LED modules  21  are oriented toward a plurality of different directions, whereby the LED lamp assembly in accordance with the present invention can have a large illumination angle. In addition, since the LED modules  21  have an intimate contact with the heat sinks  23 , the heat generated by the LEDs  211  can be timely dissipated to surrounding air by the fins  233  of the heat sinks  23 . Thus, the LED lamp assembly can work normally when the LEDs  211  are activated. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , the switch  40  is received in the receiving member  10  and mounted on the top plate  14 . The switch  40  has a rectangular configuration. The switch  40  comprises two groups of parallel control members (not labeled). Each group of control member comprises an operating member  41  extending downwardly from a bottom portion of the switch  40 , a first spring sheet  45  located at a top of the operating portion  41 , a second spring sheet  47  located at a top of the first spring sheet  45 , and a connecting member  43  secured to the first spring sheet  45  and sandwiched between the operating member  41  and the first spring sheet  45 . The first spring sheet  45  of one group of control member electronically connects with the driving circuit module  30 , and the corresponding second spring sheet  47  connects with one of positive and negative poles (not shown) of a power source (not shown). The first spring sheet  45  of another group of control member electronically connects with the driving circuit module  30 , and the corresponding second spring sheet  47  thereof connects with another one of the positive and negative poles (not shown) of the power source. When the operating member  41  is pressed upwardly, the first spring sheet  45  is moved upwardly through an action of the connecting member  43  to make the first spring sheet  45  contact with the second spring sheet  47 . 
     Each operating member  41  comprises an elongated pressing plate  411  extending slantwise, outwardly and downwardly from the bottom of the switch  40  and a pellet  413  located at an outmost end of the pressing plate  411 . The connecting member  43  comprises a connecting pole  431  and a pressing block  433  perpendicular to the connecting pole  431 . A spring  42  surrounds the connecting pole  431  and is compressed between the pressing block  433  and a washer (not labeled) fixed to the connecting pole  431  at a position near the bottom of the switch  40 . The first spring sheet  45  comprises a supporting portion  451  to which the pressing block  433  of the connecting member  43  is securely attached and a connecting portion  453  electronically connecting with the driving circuit module  30 . A protruding point  4511  extends upwardly from a top surface of the supporting portion  451  of the first spring sheet  45 . A supporting point  471  extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the second spring sheet  47  to connect with the protruding point  4511  of the first spring sheet  45  when the operating member  41  is depressed by the bottom plate  12  of the receiving member  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  again, when the LED lamp works normally, the pressing plates  411  of the operating members  41  press the connecting poles  431  due to the bottom plate  12  of the receiving member  10  depressing the pellets  413  of the operating members  41 . The pressing blocks  433  of the connecting members  43  press the supporting portions  451  of the first spring sheets  45 . The protruding points  4511  of the supporting portions  451  connect with the supporting points  471  of the second spring sheets  47 . The switch  40  is closed (“ON”) so that current can flow from the power source through the switch  40 , the driving circuit module  30  to the LEDs  211  of the LED modules  21 . Accordingly, the LEDs  211  are driven to lighten 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  again, when the LED lamp needs to be repaired or maintained, the bottom plate  12  of the receiving member  10  is taken away and the operating members  41  are moved from the depressed position of  FIG. 6  to the undepressed position of  FIG. 5 . In this undepressed position, the first spring sheets  45  are spaced from and no longer electrical connected with the second spring sheets  47 . In this state, the switch  40  is opened (“OFF”). The current from the power source can no longer flow to the driving circuit module  30  and the LEDs  211  of the LED modules  21 , whereby the serviceman can securely proceed with the repair and maintenance of the outdoor LED lamp assembly in accordance with the present invention. When the repair or maintenance of the outdoor LED lamp assembly is completed, the bottom plate  12  is mounted back on the receiving member  10 , whereby the operating members  41  are depressed and the switch  40  is closed (“ON”) again; thus, the current from the power source can flow to the LEDs  211  of the LED modules  21  to enable the LEDs  211  to lighten, and the serviceman can readily check the effectiveness of the repair or maintenance. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Technology Category: f