LAMP TUBE STRUCTURE AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF

• US 20120212951A1
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lextar Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lextar Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Lai, Chun-Ming, Lin, Chih-Yen
• Granted Patent: US 8,827,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/218
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/002 Arrangements of cables or conductors inside a lighting device, e.g. means for guiding along parts of the housing or in a pivoting arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection

Abstract

A lamp tube structure includes a first end cap, a second end cap, a heat sink holder, a light emitting element array and a lamp cover. The first end cap includes a pair of electrical terminals and a first insulating portion. The electrical terminals are integrated into the first insulating portion by insert molding, and one end of each electrical terminal is protruded from an outside of the first insulating portion. The second end cap includes a grounding terminal and a second insulating portion. The grounding terminal is integrated into the second insulating portion by insert molding, and one end of the grounding terminal is protruded from an outside of the second insulating portion. The light emitting element array is disposed on top surface of the heat sink holder. A bottom surface of the lamp cover is fixed on the heat sink holder for receiving the light emitting element array.

Claims

1. A lamp tube assembly, comprising:

a first end cap comprising a pair of electrical terminals and a first insulating portion, the electrical terminals being integrated into the first insulating portion by insert molding, one end of each electrical terminal being protruded from an outside of the first insulating portion; and

a second end cap comprising a grounding terminal and a second insulating portion, the grounding terminal being integrated into the second insulating portion by insert molding, one end of the grounding terminal being protruded from an outside of the second insulating portion.

2. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 1, wherein each electrical terminal has an indentation portion, the first insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the indentation portion, the indentation portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form an embedded indentation structure.

3. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 1, wherein the grounding terminal has a gearwheel portion, the second insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the gearwheel portion, the gearwheel portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form an embedded gearwheel structure.

4. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a board connector disposed within the first insulating portion, the board connector comprises a pair of sockets and a pair of metal springs, each metal spring is disposed within a corresponding socket, another end of each electrical terminal is clipped by the corresponding metal spring.

5. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a surge varistor disposed on the board connector, the surge varistor is electrically connected between the pair of sockets.

6. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of terminal connectors and a wire, the wire is electrically connected between the terminal connectors, the terminal connectors comprises a first terminal connector, wherein the first terminal connector is coupled to another end of the grounding terminal, and the assembly further comprises a screw passing through the first terminal connector, the grounding terminal further has a cylinder hole, and the screw is screwed in the cylinder hole of the grounding terminal.

7. A lamp tube assembly, comprising:

a first end cap comprising a pair of electrical terminals and a first insulating portion, the electrical terminals being integrated into the first insulating portion by insert molding, one end of each of the electrical terminals being protruded from an outside of the first insulating portion; and

a second end cap comprising a grounding terminal and a second insulating portion, the grounding terminal being integrated into the second insulating portion by insert molding, one end of the grounding terminal being protruded from an outside of the second insulating portion, and another end of the grounding terminal has a cylinder hole structure.

8. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 7, wherein each electrical terminal has a non-linear portion, the first insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the non-linear portion, the indentation portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form a non-linear embedded structure.

9. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 8, wherein the non-linear portion is an indentation portion, and the non-linear embedded structure is shaped as an embedded indentation structure.

10. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 7, wherein the grounding terminal has a non-cylinder portion, the second insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the non-cylinder portion, the non-cylinder portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form a non-cylinder embedded structure.

11. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 10, wherein the non-cylinder portion is a gearwheel portion, and the non-cylinder embedded structure is shaped as an embedded gearwheel structure.

12. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a board connector disposed within the first insulating portion, the board connector comprises a pair of sockets and a pair of metal springs, each metal spring is disposed within a corresponding socket, another ends of the electrical terminals are individually clipped by a corresponding metal spring.

13. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a surge varistor disposed on the board connector, the surge varistor is electrically connected between the sockets.

14. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of terminal connectors and a wire, the wire is electrically connected between the terminal connectors, the terminal connectors comprises a first terminal connector, wherein the first terminal connector is coupled to another end of the grounding terminal, and the assembly further comprises a screw passing through the first terminal connector and the screw is screwed in the cylinder hole of the grounding terminal.

15. A lamp tube structure, comprising:

a first end cap comprising a pair of electrical terminals and a first insulating portion, the electrical terminals being integrated into the first insulating portion by insert molding, one end of each of the electrical terminals being protruded from an outside of the first insulating portion;

a second end cap comprising a grounding terminal and a second insulating portion, the grounding terminal being integrated into the second insulating portion by insert molding, one end of the grounding terminal being protruded from an outside of the second insulating portion;

a heat sink holder;

a light emitting element array disposed on top surface of the heat sink holder; and

a lamp cover whose bottom portion being fixed on the heat sink holder.

16. The lamp tube structure according to claim 15, wherein each electrical terminal has an indentation portion, the first insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the indentation portion, the indentation portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form an embedded indentation structure.

17. The lamp tube structure according to claim 15, wherein the grounding terminal has a gearwheel portion, the second insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the gearwheel portion, the gearwheel portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form an embedded gearwheel structure.

18. The lamp tube structure according to claim 15, further comprising a board connector disposed within the first insulating portion, the board connector comprises a pair of sockets and a pair of metal springs, each metal spring is disposed within a corresponding socket, another end of each electrical terminal is clipped by the corresponding metal spring.

19. The lamp tube structure according to claim 18, further comprising a surge varistor disposed on the board connector, the surge varistor is electrically connected between the pair of the sockets.

20. The lamp tube structure according to claim 18, further comprising a surge varistor disposed on the heat sink holder, the surge varistor is electrically connected between the heat sink holder and the pair of the sockets.

21. The lamp tube structure according to claim 15, further comprising a pair of terminal connectors and a wire, the wire is electrically connected between the terminal connectors, the terminal connectors comprises a first terminal connector, wherein the first terminal connector is coupled to another end of the grounding terminal, and the lamp tube structure further comprises a screw passing through the first terminal connector, the grounding terminal further has a cylinder hole, and the screw is screwed in the cylinder hole of the grounding terminal.

22. A lamp tube structure, comprising:

a first end cap comprising a pair of electrical terminals and a first insulating portion, the electrical terminals are integrated into the first insulating portion by insert molding, one end of each of the electrical terminals is protruded from an outside of the first insulating portion;

a second end cap comprising a grounding terminal and a second insulating portion, the grounding terminal is integrated into the second insulating portion by insert molding, one end of the grounding terminal is protruded from an outside of the second insulating portion, and another end of the grounding terminal has a cylinder hole structure;

a heat sink holder;

a light emitting element array disposed on top surface of the heat sink holder; and

a lamp cover whose bottom portion being fixed on the heat sink holder.

23. The lamp tube structure according to claim 22, wherein each electrical terminal has a non-linear portion, the first insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the non-linear portion, the indentation portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form a non-linear embedded structure.

24. The lamp tube structure according to claim 23, wherein the non-linear portion is an indentation portion, and the non-linear embedded structure is shaped as an embedded indentation structure.

25. The lamp tube structure according to claim 22, wherein the grounding terminal has a non-cylinder portion, the second insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the non-cylinder portion, the non-cylinder portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form a non-cylinder embedded structure.

26. The lamp tube structure according to claim 25, wherein the non-cylinder portion is a gearwheel portion, and the non-cylinder embedded structure is shaped as an embedded gearwheel structure.

27. The lamp tube structure according to claim 22, further comprising a board connector disposed within the first insulating portion, the board connector comprises a pair of sockets and a pair of metal springs, each metal spring is disposed within a corresponding socket, another end of each electrical terminal is clipped by the corresponding metal spring.

28. The lamp tube structure according to claim 27, further comprising a surge varistor disposed on the board connector, the surge varistor is electrically connected between the pair of the sockets.

29. The lamp tube structure according to claim 27, further comprising a surge varistor disposed on the heat sink holder, the surge varistor is electrically connected between the lamp holder and the pair of the sockets.

30. The lamp tube structure according to claim 22, further comprising a pair of terminal connectors and a wire, the wire is electrically connected between the terminal connectors, the terminal connectors comprises a first terminal connector, wherein the first terminal connector is coupled to another end of the grounding terminal, and the assembly further comprises a screw passing through the first terminal connector, and the screw is screwed in the cylinder hole of the grounding terminal.

31. A lamp tube assembly for protecting from a surge, comprising:

a first end cap comprising a pair of electrical terminals and a first insulating portion, the electrical terminals being integrated into the first insulating portion by insert molding, one end of each of the electrical terminals being protruded from an outside of the first insulating portion; and

a surge varistor disposed within the first end cap, the surge varistor being electrically connected between the pair of electrical terminals.

32. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 31, wherein each electrical terminal has a non-linear portion, the first insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the non-linear portion, the indentation portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form a non-linear embedded structure.

33. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 32, wherein the non-linear portion is an indentation portion, and the non-linear embedded structure is shaped as an embedded indentation structure.

34. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 31, further comprising a second end cap, the second end cap comprises a grounding terminal and a second insulating portion, the grounding terminal is integrated into the second insulating portion by insert molding, one end of the grounding terminal is protruded from an outside of the second insulating portion.

35. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 34, wherein the grounding terminal has a non-cylinder portion, the second insulating portion has a molding portion corresponding to the non-cylinder portion, the non-cylinder portion and the molding portion are coupled to each other to form a non-cylinder embedded structure.

36. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 35, wherein the non-cylinder portion is a gearwheel portion, and the non-cylinder embedded structure is shaped as an embedded gearwheel structure.

37. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 34, further comprising a pair of terminal connectors and a wire, the wire is electrically connected between the terminal connectors, the terminal connectors comprises a first terminal connector, wherein the first terminal connector is coupled to another end of the grounding terminal, and the assembly further comprises a screw passing through the first terminal connector, the grounding terminal further has a cylinder hole, and the screw is screwed in the cylinder hole of the grounding terminal.

38. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 31, further comprising a board connector disposed within the first insulating portion, the board connector comprises a pair of sockets and a pair of metal springs, each metal spring is disposed within a corresponding socket, another end of each electrical terminal is clipped by the corresponding metal spring.

39. The lamp tube assembly according to claim 38, wherein the surge varistor is disposed on the board connector, the surge varistor is electrically connected between the pair of the sockets.