Patent Application
20100061092
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LED lamp, and particularly to an LED lamp having an LED module preassembled with a mounting device for readily securing the LED module to a heat sink of the LED lamp.
2. Description of Related Art
An LED lamp is a type of solid-state lighting device that utilizes light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a source of illumination. The LED has an advantage that it is resistant to shock, and has an almost eternal lifetime under a specific condition; thus, the LED lamp is intended to be a cost-effective yet high quality replacement for incandescent and fluorescent lamps. Conventionally, the LED lamp has a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by the LED module. The LED module is secured on the heat sink directly by a mounting device such as a plurality of screws. The assembly of the plurality of the screws are of some difficulties since the screws may drop from the LED module during the assembly. The problem is more serious when the assembly and disassembly of the LED lamp is operated outdoors and at a high level, which is occurred when the LED lamp is, for example, a highway lamp.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved LED lamp which can overcome the described disadvantages.
An LED lamp includes an LED module, a heat sink having a base to which the LED module is mounted, a plurality of screws extending through the LED module into the base of the heat sink to secure the LED module on the base of the heat sink, and a plurality of elastic members mounted on the screws and positioned between the base and the LED module. The elastic members are elastically expanded to generate a force to combine the screws and the LED module together. The LED module, the screws and the elastic members are pre-assembled together before the LED module is secured to the base of the heat sink.
Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
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The LED module 20 comprises a substantially square circuit board 21 and a plurality of LEDs 22 arranged on an upside (not labeled) of the circuit board 21 in matrix. Corresponding to the four screw holes 14 in the base 11, four through holes 23 are defined in the circuit board 21.
The screws 30 each comprise a cap 31 and a bolt 32 extending downwardly from the cap 31. Threads (not labeled) are formed on an outer surface of the bolt 32. A diameter of each of the bolts 32 is the same as (or slightly smaller than) that of each of the through holes 23 so that the bolts 32 of the screws 30 can extend through the through holes 23 of the LED module 20. The cap 31 has a diameter larger than that of the through hole 23; thus, the cap 31 can abut against the upside of circuit board 21 of the LED module 20.
The elastic member 40 is of an elastic material such as rubber. In this embodiment, each elastic member 40 is a rubber ring with a central hole 41 defined therein. A thickness of each elastic member 40 is similar to the depth of the recess 13 of the base 11 of the heat sink 10. An outer diameter of the elastic member 40 is smaller than that of the recess 13. In an originally natural shape, an inner diameter of each elastic member 40 (i.e., a diameter of the central hole 41) is smaller than that of the bolt 32 of the screw 30. The elastic member 40 can be elastically expanded in a radial direction when an expanding force in the radial direction is applied thereto, so that the bolts 32 of the screws 30 are able to engage in and extend through the central holes 41 of the elastic members 40, respectively.
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The elastic members 40 can combine the screws 30 and the LED module 20 to prevent the screws 30 from dropping therefrom; thus, the assembly of the LED lamp is more convenient and simplified. In addition, if the LED module 20 is required to be replaced for maintenance or repair, another LED module with the screws 30 and the elastic members 40 pre-assembled thereon can be readily used to be screwed to the heat sink 10, without the necessity for finding suitable screws for the securing.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
