Light emitting device, socket device and lighting device

• US 6,325,651 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MORIYAMA SANGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
• Original Assignee: MORIYAMA SANGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
• Inventors: Sato, Katsunori, Murata, Kazuaki, Nishihara, Hiroyoshi, Katougi, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US09/043,902
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 313/318.02, 439/226, 439/230, 439/232, 439/233, 439/236, 439/239-244, 439/356, 439/357, 439/612, 439/619, 362/249
• US Class Current: 439/232
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/50 Means forming part of the tube or lamps for the purpose of providing electrical connection to it
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/34 Double-wall vessels or containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/34 Double wall vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/46 supported by a separate part, e.g. base, cap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/08 for supporting tubular fluorescent lamp
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A light emitting device (1) includes a tubular light emitter (11) and a pair of caps (14) disposed at both ends of the tubular light emitter. Each cap (14) includes a contact (24) and a pair of catching arms (27) both which of which project from the cap body (22) at approximately a right angle to the tube axis of the cap body (22). During assembly, catching arms (27) serve to protect contact (24) from damage and securely attach each cap (14) to the tubular light emitter. Each cap (14) includes a partition wall with a hole (30) connecting a conductive element (21) to contacts (24). The light emitter (11) may include a tube (12) containing one or more light elements (15) joined by wires (16) additionally operating as positioning elements (20). The socket (2) may include one or more groves for gaskets (42) providing a waterproof light emitter (11).

Claims

1. A light emitting device comprising:

light emitter;

a pair of caps, each cap having a cap body to be attached to said light emitter;

a contact to be electrically connected to said light emitter and projecting from said cap body at substantially a right angles to a tube axis;

a pair of catching arms on each said cap;

said pair of catching arms respectively provided at sides of said contact and extending substantially in the same direction as said contact.

2. A light emitting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said light emitter includes a plurality of conductive elements led out of said light emitter;

each cap body includes a barrel portion;

said barrel portion having one end mounted over an end of said light emitter;

a partition is provided at an interior of said barrel portion permitting a corresponding one of said conductive elements to pass therethrough from one side to an other side of said partition;

said one side and said other side of said partition respectively facing said one end and an other end of said barrel portion; and

said contact is connected to said plurality of conductive elements at said one side of said partition and projects from said barrel portion.

3. A light emitting device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

said light emitter including a plurality of conductive elements led out of said light emitter;

each cap body including a barrel portion;

a partition;

a blocking member;

one end of said barrel portion is mounted over an end of said light emitter;

said partition is integrally formed with said barrel portion at an interior of said barrel portion and permitting corresponding conductive elements to pass therethrough from one side to an other side of said partition;

said one side and said other side respectively facing one end and an other end of said barrel portion; and

said blocking member attached to said one end of said barrel portion.

4. A light emitting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said light emitter includes a plurality of conductive elements led out of said light emitter;

each cap body includes a barrel portion;

one end of said barrel portion is mounted over an end of said light emitter;

a partition is provided at an interior of said barrel portion;

said partition includes a positioning portion that positions said conductive element passing from one side to an other side of said partition, and

said one side and other side respectively facing said one end and an other end of said barrel portion.

5. A light emitting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said light emitter includes a plurality of conductive elements led out of said light emitter;

each cap body includes a barrel portion;

one end of said barrel portion is mounted over an end of light emitter;

a partition is provided at an interior of said barrel portion;

said partition having a through hole and a positioning portion;

said positioning portion positions said plurality of conductive elements passing through said through hole from one side to an other side of said partition; and

said one side and said other side of said partition respectively facing said one end and an other end of said barrel portion.

6. A light emitting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each cap body includes a barrel portion having a cap flat portion;

said cap flat portion is formed on a part of a side face of said barrel portion; and

said contact projects from said cap flat portion of said barrel portion.

7. A light emitting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light emitter includes:

a rigid, translucent tube; and

a light emitting element series;

said light emitting element series having a plurality of light emitting elements installed in said tube.

8. A light emitting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a socket body having a hollow portion and an insertion hole;

said insertion hole formed in an end face of said light emitting device;

said insertion hole allowing said contact of said light emitting device to be inserted therethrough;

slanted surfaces are formed on opposite sides of said socket body;

catching indentations are formed to mate with respective slanted surfaces;

a receiving blade is contained in said hollow portion of said socket body permits said contact to be electrically connected thereto; and

a lid blocks said hollow portion of said socket body.

9. A light emitting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said socket body includes a socket flat portion formed around said insertion hole at an end face of said socket body;

an annular circumferential groove is formed in said socket flat portion surrounding said insertion hole; and

a packing is disposed in said circumferential groove.

10. A lighting device comprising:

a base;

a light emitting device including a light emitter and a pair of caps;

said pair of caps each having a insulating cap body to be attached to said light emitter;

a contact effective to be electrically connected to said light emitter;

said contact projecting from said cap body at substantially a right angle to a tube axis;

a pair of catching arms respectively provided at sides of said contact and extending virtually in the same direction as said contact;

a pair of socket devices separately mounted on said base at opposite locations;

each socket device including an insulating socket body, a receiving blade and a lid;

said socket body having an insertion hole formed in an end face of said socket body and allowing said contact of said light emitting device to be inserted therethrough;

said socket body further having a hollow portion;

slanted surfaces are formed on opposite sides of said socket body;

catching indentations are formed to mate with respective slanted surfaces;

said catching indentations being formed to engage said catching arms;

said receiving blade is contained in said hollow portion of said socket body and permits said contact to be electrically connected thereto; and

said lid blocks said hollow portion of said socket body.

11. A light emitting device comprising:

a plurality of light emitting elements electrically coupled to one another and disposed within a housing;

said housing having an inner surface opposite said plurality of light emitting elements;

at least one position restricting element disposed within said housing;

at least one conductive element electrically coupled to said plurality of light emitting elements and said position restricting element;

said position restricting element continuous with said conductive element;

at least one said cap disposed on at least one end of said housing;

and said conductive element extending through said at least one cap;

at least two catching arms extending from said at least one cap parallel to at least a portion of said conductive element

said at least two catching arms substantially perpendicular to said plurality of light emitting elements and effective to engage said housing to an external connective element; and

said position restricting element and said conductive element in combination effective to apply a tension and a position control to said plurality of light emitting elements and prevent said plurality of light emitting elements from contacting said inner surface or said at least one end cap during operation.

12. A light emitting device as in claim 11 further comprising:

a partition with a through hole;

said partition disposed within said cap and communicating with an interior of said housing;

said through hole effective to allow said conductive element to extend through said cap; and

said at least one cap including at least one contact mechanically coupling and electrically connecting to said at least one conductive element.

13. A light emitting device as in claim 12 wherein said light emitting element is integrally formed with said cap.

14. A light emitting device as in claim 12 wherein said through hole is semi-circular in shape.

15. A light emitting device as in claim 12 wherein:

said conductive element has a hook at an end; and

said partition includes an abutting portion for engaging with said hook.

16. A light emitting device as in claim 12, wherein:

said housing is substantially tubular in shape;

said at least one contact is disposed substantially perpendicular to a long axis of said housing; and

said cap has a substantially barrel-shaped interior.

17. A light emitting device as in claim 12, wherein said at least one cap is two caps;

and

said two caps are disposed at opposite ends of said housing.

18. A light emitting device as in claim 12, wherein said light emitting elements are in an electrical configuration that is one of parallel and series.

19. A light emitting device as in claim 12, wherein said at least one position restricting element is an electrical conductor and electrically couples said plurality of light emitting elements.

20. A light emitting device as in claim 12, further comprising:

a base with an L-shaped cross section; and

at least one holder mechanically coupling said base to said housing.

21. A light emitting device as in claim 20, further comprising:

a socket having an elongates insertion hole for receiving said conducting element;

receiving means including at least one terminal portion having a locking portion and a release portion;

said locking portion for mechanically and electrically coupling said conductive element to said socket; and

said release portion for disengaging said locking portion.

22. A light emitting device as in claim 21, further comprising:

said cap having an annular protrusion extending therefrom; and

said socket having a circumferential groove for receiving said annular protrusion.

23. A light emitting device comprising:

illumination means having a conductive element at an end thereof;

said conductive element mechanically coupled and electrically connected to a cap through at least one contact;

said at least one contact protecting at a substantially right angle to said illumination means;

at least one position restricting element electrically joined with said conductive element;

at least two catching arms with a catching protrusion extending from said cap at substantially right angles to said light emitting element; and

a socket having at least one catching indentation on an outside surface for mating with said catching protrusion.

24. A light emitting device comprising:

illumination means having a conductive element at an end thereof;

said conductive element mechanically coupled and electrically connected to a cap through at least one contact;

a socket;

coupling means for mechanically coupling said cap to said socket;

said coupling means projecting from said cap at substantially a right angle;

said coupling means including at least two catching arms; and

a packing disposed upon said socket at a junction between said socket and said cap, substantially perpendicular to said illumination means whereby said packing and said coupling means are effective to make said socket waterproof.

25. A light emitting device as in claim 24 further comprising:

at least one catching arm with a catching protrusion extending therefrom; and

said socket having at least one catching indentation for mating with said catching protrusion.

26. A method for making a lighting device comprising the steps of:

electrically coupling at least one light emitting element to a conductive element;

said light emitting element including at least a first filament;

inserting said at least one light emitting element into a housing having at least an inside surface;

placing said conductive element through a first position restriction element and into a first cap;

said first position restriction element including at least a through hole effective to receive said conductive element and a positioning portion formed for effective engagement with said conductive element;

mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said conductive element to said first cap; and

said step of mechanically coupling and electrically connecting mechanically suspends said light emitting element from said position restricting element inside said housing opposite said inside surface, whereby said lighting device effectively operates.

27. A method for making a lighting device as in claim 26, further comprising the steps of;

pulling said conductive element through said housing and through a second position restriction element into a second cap; and

mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said conductive element to said second cap whereby said light emitting element is suspended inside said housing, between said first cap to said second cap, opposite said inside surface.

28. A light emitting device comprising:

at least one illuminating means coupled to a conductive element;

a housing for holding said at least one illuminating means;

at least one position restriction element disposed within said housing;

at least one cap having a through hole, a contact, a partition, and catching arms;

said partition communicating with an inside of said cap and an inside of said housing;

said contact effective to electrically couple said conductive element to said cap;

said catching arms each having catching protrusions;

a socket having a receiving blade, catching indentations, and a packing;

said receiving blade effective to electrically couple said contact to said socket;

said catching indentations effective to mate with said catching protrusions; and

said packing disposed at a junction between said socket and said cap.

29. A light emitting device as in claim 28 wherein:

said at least one position restriction element is formed by said conductive element;

said conductive element further forms a hook at an end of said conductive element; and

said partition includes a protrusion for mating with said hook.

30. A light emitting device as in claim 29 wherein:

said socket further includes at least one terminal portion having a locking portion and a release portion;

said locking portion for mechanically coupling said conductive element to said socket; and

said release portion for disengaging said locking portion.

31. A light emitting device as in claim 30 wherein:

said cap is barrel-shaped with an annular protrusion on a bottom side thereof;

said socket includes a circumferential groove for receiving said annular protrusion;

said socket further includes an arc shaped fitting surface for joining with an external surface of said cap; and

a base is connected to a bottom surface of said socket.

32. A method for making a lighting device comprising the steps of:

electrically coupling at least one light emitting element to a conductive element;

inserting said at least one light emitting element into a housing;

placing said conductive element through a first position restriction element and into a first cap;

mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said conductive element to said first cap;

wherein said step of mechanically coupling and electrically connecting includes;

providing an abutting portion on said position restriction element;

forming said conductive element into a hook; and

connecting said hook to said abutting portion.

33. A method for making a lighting device comprising the steps of:

electrically coupling at least one light emitting element to a conductive element;

inserting said at least one light emitting element into a housing;

placing said conductive element through a first position restriction element and into a first cap;

mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said conductive element to said first cap;

pulling said conductive element through a second position restriction element into a second cap;

mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said conductive element to said second cap;

wherein said step of mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said conductive element to said first cap includes;

providing an abutting portion on said position restriction element;

forming said conductive element into a hook; and

connecting said hook to said abutting portion.

34. A method for making a lighting device comprising the steps of:

electrically coupling at least one light emitting element to a conductive element;

said light emitting element including at least a first filament;

inserting said at least one light emitting element into a housing having at least an inside surface;

placing said conductive element through a first position restriction element and into a first cap;

said first position restriction element including at least a through hole effective to receive said conductive element and a positioning portion formed for effective engagement with said conductive element;

mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said conductive element to said first cap;

said step of mechanically coupling and electrically connecting mechanically suspends said light emitting element from said position restricting element inside said housing opposite said inside surface, whereby said lighting device effectively operates

pulling said conductive element through said housing and through a second position restriction element into a second cap; and

mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said conductive element to said second cap whereby said light emitting element is suspended inside said housing, between said first cap to said second cap, opposite said inside surface.