LED TUBE LAMP

• US 20160178135A1
• Filed: 03/01/2016
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jiaxing Super Lighting Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Jiaxing Super Lighting Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: XU, HONG, YANG, CHANG, YOA, WENTAO
• Granted Patent: US 9,982,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/275 Details of bases or housings, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the end caps; Arrangement of components within bases or housings F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/04 breaking the electric circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/062 the material being plastics
• 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]

Abstract

An LED tube lamp includes a lamp tube, which includes a light transmissive portion, a reinforcing portion and an end cap, and an LED light assembly, which includes an LED light source and an LED light strip. The light transmissive portion is fixedly connected to the reinforcing portion. The reinforcing portion includes a platform and a bracing structure fixedly connected to the platform and holds the platform in place. The bracing structure is made from a material having a greater stiffness than the material from which the lamp tube is made. The LED light source is thermally and electrically connected to the LED light strip, which is in turn thermally connected to the reinforcing portion. The end cap is attached to an end of the lamp tube. The light transmissive portion and the reinforcing portion define a first line between them on a cross section of the lamp tube.

Claims

1. An LED tube lamp, comprising:

a lamp tube, which includes a light transmissive portion, a reinforcing portion and an end cap; and

an LED light assembly, which includes an LED light source and an LED light strip, wherein;

the light transmissive portion is fixedly connected to the reinforcing portion;

the reinforcing portion includes a platform and a bracing structure;

the bracing structure is fixedly connected to the platform and holds the platform in place;

the bracing structure is made from a material having a greater stiffness than the material from which the lamp tube is made;

the LED light source is thermally and electrically connected to the LED light strip, which is in turn thermally connected to the reinforcing portion;

the end cap is attached to an end of the lamp tube;

the light transmissive portion and the reinforcing portion define a first line between them on a cross section of the lamp tube;

the lamp tube has a shape of a circular cylinder;

a cross section of an inner surface of the lamp tube defines a hypothetical circle;

a second line parallel to the first line on the cross section cuts the circle horizontally into two equal halves along a diameter of the circle;

a cross section of the light transmissive portion defines an upper segment on the circle; and

a cross section of the reinforcing portion defines a lower segment on the circle.

2. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein:

the first line sits below the second line; and

the upper segment, which encompasses the light transmissive portion, has a greater area than the lower segment, which encompasses the reinforcing portion.

3. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein:

the first line rises above the second line; and

the upper segment, which encompasses the light transmissive portion, has a smaller area than the lower segment, which encompasses the reinforcing portion.

4. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein:

the first line sits exactly on the second line; and

the upper segment, which encompasses the light transmissive portion, has a same area than the lower segment, which encompasses the reinforcing portion.

5. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein:

the bracing structure includes a first metallic object and a second metallic object;

the second metallic object is made from a material having a greater stiffness

than the material from which the first metallic object is made; and

a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the second metallic object to a cross-sectional area of the first metallic object is from 0.1;

1 to 10;

1.

6. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein:

the lamp tube further includes a pair of protruding bars;

the protruding bar extends in an axial direction along an inner surface of the lamp tube and is configured to form a guiding channel inside the lamp tube;

the reinforcing portion is connected to the lamp tube by sliding the reinforcing portion into the guiding channel;

the reinforcing portion is disposed entirely inside the lamp tube; and

the reinforcing portion rests on an inner surface of the lamp tube along a substantially uninterrupted interface.

7. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein the bracing structure includes one of a vertical rib, a horizontal rib, a curvilinear rib and a combination of ribs selected from the above.

8. The LED tube lamp in claim 7, wherein:

the lamp tube further includes a ridge; and

the ridge is an elongated structure extending in an axial direction along an inner surface of the lamp tube.

9. The LED tube lamp in claim 8, wherein the ridge is broken at intervals.

10. The LED tube lamp in claim 8, wherein:

the lamp tube further includes a maintaining stick;

the ridge is a hollow structure; and

the maintaining stick fills up the space inside the ridge.

11. The LED tube lamp in claim 8, wherein:

a compartment is defined by the platform and a rib; and

the ridge is disposed inside the compartment.

12. The LED tube lamp in claim 8, wherein:

a compartment is defined by the reinforcing structure and an inner surface of the lamp tube; and

the ridge is disposed inside the compartment.

13. The LED tube lamp in claim 12, wherein the second line passes through the ridge.

14. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein:

the bracing structure includes a curvilinear rib; and

a cross section of the curvilinear rib defines a lower arc on the circle.

15. The LED tube lamp in claim 14, wherein:

the bracing structure further includes a vertical rib;

a cross section of the platform and the vertical rib approximates a cross section of a hypothetical T-beam; and

all three ends of the T-beam sit on the lower arc.

16. The LED tube lamp in claim 15, wherein:

an upper end of the vertical rib is spaced apart from a lower surface of the platform; and

a lower end of the vertical rib is connected to the curvilinear rib.

17. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein:

the bracing structure is made from one of metal, metal alloy and plastic; and

a ratio of a cross-sectional area of the bracing structure to a cross-sectional area of the lamp tube is from 1;

3 to 1;

30.

18. The LED tube lamp in claim 14, wherein an outer surface of the reinforcing portion

forms an outer surface of the lamp tube.

19. The LED tube lamp in claim 1, wherein the LED light strip forms the platform.

20. An LED tube lamp, comprising:

a lamp tube, which includes a light transmissive portion, a reinforcing portion, a ridge and an end cap; and

an LED light assembly, which includes an LED light source and an LED light strip, wherein;

the light transmissive portion is fixedly connected to the reinforcing portion;

the reinforcing portion includes a platform and a bracing structure;

the LED light strip forms the platform;

the bracing structure is fixedly connected to the platform and holds the platform in place;

the bracing structure is made from a material having a greater stiffness than the material from which the lamp tube is made;

the LED light source is thermally and electrically connected to the LED light strip, which is in turn thermally connected to the reinforcing portion;

the end cap is attached to an end of the lamp tube;

the light transmissive portion and the reinforcing portion define a first line between them on a cross section of the lamp tube;

the lamp tube has a shape of a circular cylinder;

a cross section of an inner surface of the lamp tube defines a hypothetical circle;

a second line parallel to the first line on the cross section cuts the circle horizontally into two equal halves along a diameter of the circle;

a cross section of the light transmissive portion defines an upper segment on the circle;

a cross section of the reinforcing portion defines a lower segment on the circle;

the bracing structure includes a curvilinear rib;

a cross section of the curvilinear rib defines a lower arc on the circle;

an outer surface of the reinforcing portion forms an outer surface of the lamp tube; and

the ridge is an elongated structure extending in an axial direction along an inner surface of the lamp tube.