Water-resistant illumination apparatus

• US 20070165405A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chuen-Shing Chen
• Original Assignee: Chuen-Shing Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Chuen-Shing
• Application Number:
  US11/334,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165405A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/253
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/24 using optics or electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/06 using crossed laminae or strips , e.g. grid-shaped louvers; using lattices or honeycombs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0055 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/02 Cable inlets
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/403 for machines
• 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

A water-resistant illumination apparatus includes a lighting device disposed in a transparent barrel and between a positioning seat and a positioning sleeve that are mounted in the barrel and that are disposed respectively adjacent to opposite first and second open ends of the barrel. The lighting device includes a circuit board mounted on a mounting seat that abuts against the positioning seat and the positioning sleeve, condensing members that are disposed respectively around LEDs, and a driving unit disposed in the barrel for activating the LEDs. A first seal washer is disposed among and abuts against the barrel, the positioning seat, and a first cap pressed-fitted within the first open end of the barrel. A second seal washer is disposed among and abuts against the barrel, the positioning sleeve, and a second cap pressed-fitted with in the second open end of the barrel.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a transparent barrel having opposite first and second open ends;

a tubular positioning seat mounted in said barrel and disposed adjacent to said first open end of said barrel, said positioning seat having an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of said barrel;

a positioning sleeve mounted in said barrel and disposed adjacent to said second open end of said barrel, said positioning sleeve having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said barrel;

a lighting device disposed in said barrel and between said positioning seat and said positioning sleeve, said lighting device including

a mounting seat positioned between and abutting against said positioning seat and said positioning sleeve,

a circuit board mounted on said mounting seat,

a plurality of lighting units, each of which has a light emitting diode mounted on and above said circuit board, and a condensing member mounted on said circuit board and disposed around said light emitting diode, and

a driving unit disposed in said barrel, connected electrically to said circuit board, and adapted to be coupled electrically to an external power source for activating said light emitting diodes of said lighting units;

a first cap press-fitted within said first open end of said barrel and abutting against said positioning seat;

a second cap press-fitted within said second open end of said barrel and abutting against said positioning sleeve, said second cap being formed with a central opening;

a first seal washer disposed among and abutting against said barrel, said positioning seat and said first cap so as to establish a liquid-tight seal thereamong;

a second seal washer disposed among and abutting against said barrel, said positioning sleeve and said second cap so as to establish a liquid-tight seal thereamong; and

a water-resistant plug extending through said opening in said second cap and plugged sealingly into said positioning sleeve.

2. The illumination apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further includes a heat dissipating plate mounted on said mounting seat and positioned between said positioning seat and said positioning sleeve, said circuit board and said driving unit being mounted on and being in thermal contact with said heat dissipating plate.

3. The illumination apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said mounting seat is in the form of a curved elongate plate extending along an axial direction of said barrel, said mounting seat having an inner surface, and a pair of engaging flanges extending from said inner surface toward each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, said heat dissipating plate being disposed movably below said engaging flanges.

4. The illumination apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further includes first and second heat dissipating plates mounted on said mounting seat and positioned between said positioning seat and said positioning sleeve, said first heat dissipating plate being disposed above said second heat dissipating plate and being in thermal contact with said circuit board, said second heat dissipating plate being in thermal contact with said driving unit.

5. The illumination apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mounting seat is in the form of a curved elongate plate extending along an axial direction of said barrel, said mounting seat having an inner surface, and a pair of positioning blocks extending from said inner surface of said mounting seat toward each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, each of said positioning blocks being formed with an upper positioning groove extending along the axial direction, and a lower positioning groove disposed below and parallel to said upper positioning groove, said first heat dissipating plate being received movably within said upper positioning grooves in said positioning blocks of said mounting seat, said second heat dissipating plate being received movably within said lower positioning grooves in said positioning blocks of said mounting seat.

6. The illumination apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said condensing member of each of said lighting units of said lighting device has a hollow lens-mounting seat disposed fixedly around said light emitting diode of a corresponding one of said lighting units of said lighting device, and a condensing lens mounted on said lens-mounting seat and cooperating with said lens-mounting seat so as to cover said light emitting diode of the corresponding one of said lighting units of said lighting device for condensing light generated thereby.