Tube light

• US 4,999,755 A
• Filed: 06/07/1990
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tak-Huei Lin
• Original Assignee: Tak-Huei Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Tak-Huei
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/535,397
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 362/250, 362/800, 439/110, 439/115, 439/207, 439/208, 439/211
• US Class Current: 362/217.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/15 the cables forming a grid, net or web structure
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A tube light comprises a tube having a continuous length, and a plurality of light units which conform to the inner configuration of the tube and can suitably be positioned anywhere in the tube. Conductor strips which are adapted to be connected with a power supply are disposed in parallel in the tube whereby the bulbs of the light units are engaged by contacting of the conductor strips with the contacts of the light units. The light tube is simple in structure and can be loaded with a suitable number of the light units in optional locations. In addition, the structure of the tube light is adapted for mass production. Further, the structure of the tube light may have a cover or clips, or be provided with wings on the light units, to facilitate securing the light units in the tube.

Claims

1. A tube light comprising:

a length of translucent insulating tube having an internal cross-section of substantially constant configuration, continuous electrical conductor strips disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship along the length of the tube, the conductor strips being adapted to be connected with an electrical power source, the tube having a continuous opening of the same width along one side of the tube; and

a plurality of light units each having substantially the same size and general structure, and wherein each light unit has an external configuration substantially conforming to the internal cross-section of the tube to enable the light unit to be loaded into the tube, and each light unit being provided with a hole and contacts wherein the contacts have portions extending inside of the hole and outside of the light unit, the spacing of each contact portion extending outside of the light unit conforming to that of the conductor strips provided in the tube, and the spacing of each contact portion extending inside of the hole conforming to that of the bulb inserted into the hole.

2. The tube light according to claim 1, wherein the continuous opening at one side of the tube is defined by edges provided along the upper side of the tube, and opposing the edges are provided with V-shaped edges.

3. The tube light according to claim 1, wherein the tube further comprises a cover, the cover has a length and width conforming to those of the tube, and the bottom of the cover at internal sides is provided with V-shaped grooves which can engage with the V-shaped edges of the tube.

4. The tube light according to claim 1, wherein the light units comprises an insulating translucent socket of rectangular-parallelepiped configuration, a bulb, and a pair of contacts which can be in touch with the conductor strips of the tube.

5. The tube light according to claim 1, wherein the continuous conductor strips are provided at the bottom of the tube.

6. The tube light according to claim 1, wherein the continuous conductor strips are provided on the inside facing side walls of the tube.

7. The tube light according to claim 5, wherein a continuous protrusion is provided along the bottom of the tube and between the conductor strips.

8. The tube light according to claim 4, wherein adjacent sides of the socket are provided with communicating grooves.

9. The tube light according to claim 4, wherein the insulating socket is formed as a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, the upper side of the socket has an opening to accommodate a bulb having contacting ends, the two sides closely adjacent the upper side are provided with openings so as to enhance insertion and removal of the bulb, recesses are provided at the internal ends of the socket for holding the contacting ends of the bulb, and contacts are provided at the ends of the socket and extend inside of the recess and outside of the underneath of the socket.

10. The tube light according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the bulb of the light unit has an L-configuration, of which the illuminating portion is arranged to be disposed upwardly.

11. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the top and its adjacent side are each provided with two parallel grooves, and further comprising a clip, the clip has two symmetrical sides corresponding to the width of the tube, the height of each side corresponds to the length of the side of the socket, the lower ends of the sides of the clip being each inwardly provided with a flange, and at the ends of the flanges being each provided with a fastening edge able to engage with the groove.

12. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising a clip, wherein a hole allowing the bulb to pass through the clip is provided on the center of the top of the clip, the clip also has two symmetrical sides corresponding to the width of the tube, the height of each side corresponds to the length of side of the socket, and the lower ends of the sides of the clip being each inwardly provided with a flange so as to hold on the underneath of the tube.

13. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising a clip, wherein the clip is provided with two symmetrical sides corresponding to the length of the sides of the socket, the length of the sides corresponds to the width of the tube, the ends of the sides each has a protruding fastening edge, and wherein a recess allowing the bulb to pass through is provided in one of the sides.

14. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the light unit is disposed in the tube horizontally, a wing extends upward from each of the symmetrical sides of the tube, the wings extend over the sides of the tube, a wing hook is formed at the top of each wing, and wherein at the top of each of the two sides of the tube extends inwardly a flange, the wing hooks engage with the flanges.

15. The tube light according to claim 14, wherein each of the lower ends of the sides of the tube is provided with a groove, the upper side of the socket being provided with a bias member, and further comprising a cover, a fastening edge being extended from each of the lower ends of the sides of the cover, such that the fastening edges may engage with the grooves, and the cover may press against the bias member when it covers the tube.

16. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the light unit is disposed in the tube horizontally, a groove provided at each of the lower ends of the sides of the tube, the upper side of the socket provided with a bias member, and further comprising a cover, a fastening edge extending from each of the lower ends of the sides of the cover, such that the fastening edges may engage with the grooves, and the cover may press against the bias when it covers the tube.

17. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the light unit is disposed in the tube vertically, a wing extends upward from each of the symmetrical sides of the tube, the wings extend over the sides of the tube, a wing hook is formed at the top of the wing and wherein the top of each of the sides has an extending flange, and the wing hooks engage with the flanges.

18. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, wherein each of the lower ends of the sides of the tube is provided with a groove, and further comprises a cover, the height of the cover corresponding to the height of the socket, and a fastening edge being inwardly extended from the lower ends of the sides of the tube so that when the cover presses against the socket the fastening edges may engage with the grooves.

19. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, wherein each of the lower ends of the sides of the tube is provided with a groove and further comprising a cover, the height of the cover corresponding to the height of the light unit as it is vertically disposed, each of the lower ends of the sides of the cover having an inwardly extended fastening edge, and the inner wall of the sides of the cover at the central portion corresponding to the height of the socket has a flange extending therefrom so that when the cover presses against the grooves the flange may press against the top of the socket.

20. The tube light according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the conductor strips are provided on the top edges of the tube, and the contacts of light units extend outward to form a wing-like configuration, and upward to above the top edges of the tube so as to secure the light units on the tube.

21. A tube light comprising

a tube in the form of a length of translucent material having an internal cross-section of substantially constant shape, and having a continuous opening along one side of the tube, and at least a pair of continuous electrical conductors disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship along the length of the inside of the tube and being adapted to be connected with an electrical power source, and

a plurality of light units each comprising a socket, light source, and electrical contacts interconnecting the light source with the exterior of the socket, each socket having an external configuration substantially conforming to the internal cross-section of the tube to enable the socket to be loaded into the tube, and each socket having a hole for receiving the light source with the electrical contacts electrically communicating between the light source and the exterior of the socket, said electrical contacts at the exterior of the socket being disposed to engage the electrical conductors in the tube.

22. A tube light as in claim 21 wherein each light source comprises a light bulb extending from the hole in the socket and through the opening in the tube.

23. A light unit as in claim 21 wherein each light source comprises a light bulb having an L-shape with one leg in said hole in said socket and a second light emitting leg extending at substantially ninety degrees therefrom and through said opening in said tube.

24. A light unit as in claim 21 wherein each socket has a top, bottom and four sides, the hole in said socket extends into the socket for receiving the light source in the form of a light bulb, and the electrical contacts extend through the bottom of the socket into the hole and extend from the bottom of the socket for engaging said electrical conductors of the tube.

25. A light unit as in claim 21 wherein each socket has a top, bottom and four sides, the hole in said socket extends into the socket for receiving the light source in the form of a light bulb, and the electrical contacts extend through the sides of the socket into the hole and extend from the sides of the socket for engaging said electrical conductors of the tube.

26. A light unit as in claim 21 wherein each socket has an internal cavity having ends provided with the electrical contacts, and said light source comprises a light bulb having conductors on the ends thereof for engaging the said ends of the socket and electrical contacts thereon.

27. A light unit as in claim 21 wherein each socket comprises an upper surface into which said hole extends, said upper surface having grooves at edges thereof for facilitating retention of the socket in the tube.

28. A light unit as in claim 21 wherein wing members engage sides of the socket for facilitating retention of the socket in a tube.