Patent Application
20080002401
With reference to
The lamp base (10) may be a lamp base for a T8 fluorescent tube and has an elongated body (11) and two sockets (12). The elongated body (11) has a top surface and two ends. The sockets (12) are mounted respectively on the top surface of the elongated body (11) near the two ends of the elongated body (11) and each of the sockets (12) has a front surface, a rear surface, a power circuit and two pin holes (121). The power circuit is connected to an external power source. The pin holes (121) are defined in the front surface of the socket (12) at a specific interval.
The adapters (20a, 20b) are mounted on the elongated body (11) of the lamp base (10) and are attached detachably and respectively to the front surfaces of the sockets (12). Each of the adapters (20a, 20b) has a housing, two conversion pins (21), two conducting members (22) and an optional connecting arm (23).
With further reference to
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The major cap (40a, 40b) is mounted on the elongated body (11) of the lamp base (10), is attached detachably to the front surface of the socket (12) and has an open front, a rear, a top, two sides, the two rear pin holes (41), a slot (42), multiple optional detents (43) and two optional guide rails (44). The open front of the major cap (40a, 40b) has a lower section. The rear of the major cap (40a, 40b) is the rear of the housing. The top of the major cap (40a, 40b) is part of the top of the housing. The rear pin holes (41) are defined through the rear of the major cap (40a, 40b). The slot (42) is defined through the top of the major cap (40a, 40b), communicates with the open front of the major cap (40a, 40b) and is part of the gateway (24) of the housing. The detents (43) are defined through the two sides of the major cap (40a, 40b) near the open front of the major cap (40a, 40b). The guild rails (44) are formed respectively and longitudinally on the two sides of the major cap (40a, 40b) inside the major cap (40a, 40b) below the detents (43) of the major cap (40a, 40b).
The minor cap (30) is mounted in the open front of the major cap (40a, 40b) and has an open rear, a front, a top, a bottom, two sides, the two front pin holes (31), a slot (32), multiple optional bosses (33) and an optional T-shape rib (34). The front of the minor cap (30) is the front of the housing. The top of the minor cap (30) is part of the top of the housing. The bottom of the minor cap (30) is mounted on the guide rails (44) of the major cap (40a, 40b). The front pin holes (31) are defined through the front of the minor cap (30). The slot (32) is defined through the top of the minor cap (30), corresponds to the slot (42) of the major cap (40a, 40b), communicates with the front of the minor cap (30) and the front pin holes (31) of the minor cap (30) and is part of the gateway (24) of the housing. The bosses (33) are formed on the two sides of the minor cap (30) and respectively correspond to and engage with the detents (43) of the major cap (40a, 40b). The T-shape rib (34) is formed longitudinally on the front of the minor cap (30) inside the minor cap (30) and has two transverse wings (341) and a partition (342) formed between the transverse wings (341).
The conversion pins (21) are mounted respectively through the rear pin holes (41) of the housing and the pin holes (121) of the socket (12) in turn, are connected electrically to the power circuit of the socket (12) and may be mounted respectively through the rear pin holes (41) of the major cap (40a, 40b).
The conducting members (22) are mounted in the housing, are connected electrically and respectively to the conversion pins (21), are insulated to each other and may be mounted on the T-shape rib (34) of the minor cap (30) and be separated by the partition (342) of the T-shape rib (34) inside the minor cap (30) for connecting electrically between the pins (91) of the T5 fluorescent tube (90) and the conversion pins (21). Each of the conducting members (22) may have an arc portion (221) conformed to one of the front pin holes (31) of the minor cap (30) for holding the pin (91) of the T5 fluorescent tube (90) securely.
The connecting arm (23) is formed on and extends longitudinally from the lower section of the open front of the major cap (40b).
The adapter base (81) is elongated and hollow, is mounted on the elongated body (11) of the lamp base (10) and has two open ends. The open ends of the adapter base (81) respectively receive the connecting arms (23) of the adapters (20b).
With further reference to
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With further reference to
The rear panel (72) is formed on the rear end of the cover body (71a, 71b), abuts against the rear surface of the socket (12) such that the decorative cover (70a, 70b) is capable of holding the socket (12) between the retainer (73) and the rear panel (72).
The adapters (20a, 20b) are respectively attached to the sockets (12) of the lamp base (10) which may be a T8 lamp base to receive the pins (91) of a T5 fluorescent tube (90). Accordingly, the T5 fluorescent tube (90) is capable of fitting with a T8 lamp base and an additional T8 lamp base is unnecessary, and this is conveniently and economical.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
