JP2007103235A - Led light - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small LED light with low cost and high productivity, having contrivance and playful mood, capable of changing appearance without changing internal structure. <P>SOLUTION: The small light using an LED is composed of a hollow cylinder-shaped main body case having an opening at one end part, made of synthetic resin; a cap made of synthetic resin fitted into the opening, having a lens opening through which a lens part of the LED can protrude out; a battery box made of synthetic resin housing a battery in a state that a lead wire of the LED at one side contacts an electrode of the battery at one side at all time, which can be housed in a main body case; and a current conduction switch formed by bending a conductive metal piece in L-shape, of which one side is formed into a power source side current conducting part fixed to and held by the battery box in a state of contacting an electrode at one side of the battery at all time as a fixed end part, and the other side is formed into an LED side current conduction part turned into non-contact state by being separated from the lead wire at the other side of the LED in normal state as a free end part, having an operation part formed on one side elastically protruding from the switch opening of the main body, enabling the LED side current conduction part to contact the lead wire at the other side when the operation part is pressed against its elasticity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a small LED light suitable for a key holder or a mobile strap.

  Since an effective patent document could not be found for an LED light having both functionality and playfulness and suitable for a key holder or a mobile strap, a promotion product will be described as an example here as a background art. In the past, promotional goods (novelty goods) were distributed free of charge or attached to products free of charge, thereby assisting product power and advertising power and stimulating consumers' desire to purchase. There are a wide variety of such promotional products depending on the nature of the product, the purchase class, the fashion of the era, etc., but it can be roughly divided into those with strong practical elements and those with strong toy elements. it can.

  Small lights using LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are known as practical promotional items. Since this promotional light has a small number of LEDs, it cannot illuminate a wide area, but it is useful when searching for a keyhole in a car or a house in the dark.

  On the other hand, sales promotion products with strong toy elements include figures (dolls) and stuffed animals. In particular, the figure has both elaborateness and loveliness due to the development of resin molding technology, and has the property that it is easy to get familiar with regardless of age or sex. Therefore, although it is used in a wide range of products, a miniature figure that imitates a well-known character such as an animation or SF movie is attached as a promotional item to a plastic bottle beverage, which is one of the most competitive products at present. There are many. In this case, it is possible to achieve a stronger differentiation from the products of other companies by its character power, and to continuously strengthen sales by creating a series. Against this background, it is a fact that more consumers now wait for promotional items when purchasing products.

  Note that the above-mentioned sales promotion product is a small one that can be attached to a product, whether it is practical or toy-like. Since it is customary to attach small straps to fashionable mobile phones, most of the promotional items have a key holder function and a strap function.

  As described above, a promotional figure that imitates a famous character or the like is elaborately finished, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is formed as a single product, so it has a strong impact on consumers. However, to achieve realism and sophistication, high-precision technology is required in each process of mold production, resin molding, and coloring. In general, character products are too trendy, and the level of consumer interest is high and low, and the cycle is short. Therefore, when adopting a figure as a promotional item, it is most effective to adopt several popular and topical characters in a short period of time. There is a problem that the mold and the like must be changed, and the character usage fee is very expensive.

  On the other hand, the LED light for sales promotion is less influenced by the fashion and has a sense of stability than the above figures, but has a very low impact on consumers and lacks interest. Moreover, it cannot be said that practical use is sufficient. In this respect, although the promotional product is directly related to the product image, the conventional LED light for sales promotion is conspicuous only in cheapness and inferiority. Certainly, there were prominent LED lights for promotion by using metal casings or rubber grips, but these are expensive compared to resin casing lights. The significance as a promotional product was weakened.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized LED light that is low in cost, high in productivity, has a taste and playfulness, and can be easily changed in appearance without changing its internal structure. Note that the present invention is not limited to application to sales promotion products because there is no technical meaning to use for sales promotion as the essence of the invention.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a small light using an LED as a light source, and the LED is axially arranged so that one end of a hollow cylindrical body is opened and the lens portion is located on the opening side. A synthetic resin main body case that is housed and has a switch port formed in a part of the outer periphery of the hollow cylindrical body, and a lens port that can be fitted into the opening of the main body case and from which the lens portion of the LED can protrude. A synthetic resin cap provided, a battery as a power source, and a synthetic resin that can be housed in the main body case while accommodating the battery with one lead of the LED always in contact with one electrode of the battery A battery box and a conductive metal piece bent into an L-shape, with one piece serving as a fixed end, and a power supply side energization part fixed and held in the battery box in a state of constant contact with the other electrode of the battery, and the other Normal with one piece as free end The LED side current-carrying part is separated from the other lead wire of the LED in a non-contact state, and the other piece is formed with an operation part that elastically protrudes from the switch port of the main body and is operated against the elastic force. The LED light is composed of an energizing switch that enables the LED-side energizing portion to come into contact with the other lead wire of the LED when the portion is pressed.

  The LED light of the present invention has an overall shape commensurate with the main body case after assembling the components, and the LED protruding from the cap emits light by operating the energizing switch. Each part except the LED and the energizing switch is resin-molded, but the main body case has a hollow cylindrical shape, the cap has the same cross section as the main body case, and the battery box has a half box shape. Therefore, the molding die can also be configured simply. In addition, only one LED and one energizing switch are required for each light. These electronic components are extremely inexpensive, and the electronic components such as LEDs, batteries, and energizing switches are directly connected. It is not necessary to equip at all. As described above, the LED light of the present invention having a simple configuration and a small number of parts is very easy to assemble, and can be mass-produced at low cost.

  Further, the LED light of the present invention is a cantilever structure in which a conductive metal piece is bent in an L shape, one piece is a fixed end, the other piece is a free end, and the other piece is elastic. In the normal state, the other piece, which is a free end, is elastically separated from the LED lead wire as the LED-side energizing portion, while the operation portion provided on the other piece is also resisted against the elastic force with fingers. Only when pressed, it is brought into contact with the other lead wire of the LED which is normally free. At this time, a forward voltage is applied to the LED to emit light.

  In such a light of the present invention, in order to prevent unnecessary battery consumption due to light emission caused by inadvertent operation of the energizing switch, a separate insulating pin is provided, and the cap has an LED-side energizing portion of the energizing switch and the other lead of the LED. It is preferable to provide an insertion hole for the insulating pin that is interposed between the wires and prevents energization of the two.

  In addition, the switch opening of the main body case is notched in a slit shape from the opening in the axial direction, and the cap has an engagement protrusion that can be engaged with the switch opening so as to close a part of the opening of the switch opening. When the cap is fitted into the main body case, the cap's engaging protrusion fits into the slit-like switch port of the main body case, and positioning is facilitated. The end of the other piece (LED side energization part) of the energizing switch is elastically hooked to the mating piece, and the end of the other piece is prevented from protruding from the switch port.

  Further, as a specific configuration of the battery box, a battery holding portion for tightly accommodating the anode wire tip and the battery in a state where the tip of the anode wire of the LED and the positive electrode of the battery are always in contact, and the power supply side of the energizing switch A switch holding part that fixes and holds the power supply side energizing part in a state where the energizing part is always in contact with the negative electrode of the battery does not require soldering etc. It becomes easy. In this configuration, the cathode line of the LED is normally free, and when the LED side energization part of the energization switch is appropriately brought into contact with the cathode line, a forward current flows through the LED to emit light. Of course.

  Furthermore, when the battery box is provided with a contact receiving portion capable of supporting the LED lead wire at the contact portion with the LED-side energization portion of the energization switch, the LED lead at the contact portion when the operation portion is pressed. It is possible to prevent the line from being deformed.

  By the way, the overall shape of the light of the present invention is almost determined by the largest body case among the parts. Therefore, the main body case is provided with a cone portion that is reduced in diameter in the axial direction at the end opposite to the opening, and in the configuration in which the same diameter cylindrical portion is provided at the tip of the cone portion, The light can have a container-like appearance. That is, the same cylindrical portion at the tip looks like the drinking mouth of the PET bottle beverage container, and the cone portion looks like the neck of the PET bottle, and as a whole, it can have an appearance like a miniature PET bottle beverage container. The light of the present invention having such a shape has unexpectedness and interest and can give a certain impact to consumers.

  With regard to the appearance of such a plastic bottle beverage container, when the main body case and cap are molded from a synthetic resin to which a coloring agent is added, the light of the present invention is further made into a plastic bottle beverage container state in which a beverage is contained. Can do. That is, by adding a colorant corresponding to the color of the beverage to the synthetic resin for molding, it is possible to configure the present light in which the beverage of that color is contained. In this case, the main body case and the cap are preferably configured to be transparent or translucent, and the appearance can be more similar to that of a plastic bottle beverage container by coloring the tip same-shaped cylindrical portion to white.

  Furthermore, in the case of an appearance resembling a plastic bottle beverage container (a plastic bottle filled with a beverage) or a light having advertising / promotion information, decorations such as letters and figures other than coloring the main body case and cap Or information may be printed directly. However, in this case, if you prepare a thin plastic film that has already been printed with the desired decoration and information and attach it to the outer surface of the assembled light, you can modify or modify the light. It becomes easy. Furthermore, since the printing film covers the operation part, no electronic parts can be seen in appearance. Therefore, the present light exhibits the unexpectedness that it can function as a light that can only be recognized by other people as a miniature of a plastic bottle.

  Further, in the case where the main body case is provided with a key holder portion or a strap portion, the light of the present invention can be attached to a portable item such as a key or a mobile phone as a key holder and as a strap.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the number of components is small, each component can be easily and inexpensively molded, and the assembly is extremely easy, so that a very inexpensive LED light can be provided. As described above, the light of the present invention is low in cost and excellent in productivity. However, by providing an insulating pin separately, battery consumption due to inadvertent light emission can be prevented, and by providing an engagement protrusion on the cap, it can be easily applied to the main body case. Can be fitted into the battery box, or by connecting the battery holding part and switch holding part as a battery box, soldering is not required at all, or the battery box is provided with a contact receiving part that supports the LED lead wire. As the durability of the light increases, it is possible to obtain a light that is multi-functionally superior. Moreover, since the main body case which determines the whole shape was made into the PET bottle drink container-like, the LED light which had the surprise and the interest can be provided. In addition, since the main body case and the cap are appropriately molded with a synthetic resin of a color or decorated with a printing film, the LED light can more closely resemble a commercially available PET bottle beverage container. In this case, so that all of the commercially available PET bottle beverage containers have almost the same shape, even in the present invention, only by changing the coloring or printing film without changing the molding die such as the main body case. A response that resembles a plastic bottle drink is possible. Furthermore, since it also has a key holder function and a strap function, it can be a light that is highly practical and interesting.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an LED light according to an embodiment of the present invention. At first glance, the LED light has an overall shape similar to that of a plastic bottle beverage container, and is appropriately printed (in this embodiment, “green tea” is the trade name “Oishii-Icha”). The outer peripheral surface is covered with the thin plastic film F. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the periphery of the switch operation unit S that is originally covered with the plastic film F is shown in a state in which the plastic film F is cut out, and the switch operation unit S is pressed with a finger (originally the plastic film F LED from which the lens portion L is exposed from the rear end of the light is emitted. Further, a key holder portion K made of a ring-shaped string or chain is provided at the tip of the light so that the light can be attached to a portable item such as a key or a mobile phone. The key holder part K can be changed to a strap part by making it longer.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the LED light. In the figure, 1 is a main body case and 2 is a cap. The main body case 1 has a hollow hexagonal columnar body 1a with an opening 1b having an enlarged stepped portion at the rear end, and a cylindrical portion 1d with the same diameter connected to the front end of the body 1a via a cone portion 1c. As described above, it has an external shape resembling a plastic bottle beverage container. The above-mentioned key holder part K is provided in the same diameter cylindrical part 1d. In addition, 1e is a slit-like switch port formed in the axial direction from the opening 1b on the outer surface of the body portion 1a, and 1f is a guide rib provided in the axial direction inside the body portion 1a.

  On the other hand, the cap 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape having the same diameter and a low floor as the body portion 1a of the main body case 1, and has an opening 2a with a reduced diameter step portion that can be fitted to the opening 1b of the main body case 1 at one end. At the same time, an engaging protrusion 2b that engages the switch port 1e of the main body case 1 so as to be partially occluded is provided at a partial edge of the opening 2a. Further, the rear end surface of the cap 2 is provided with an LED lens opening 2c in the center, and an insulating pin insertion hole 2d described later above the lens opening 2c.

  In addition, by giving appropriate coloring to the main body case 1 and the cap 2, this light can be made to resemble a plastic bottle beverage container. Specifically, the main body case 1 and the cap 2 are molded from a transparent or translucent synthetic resin to which a colorant of appropriate color (for example, green or brown for tea) is added, and the same-diameter cylindrical portion 1d is made white. By coloring, it is possible to faithfully reproduce a plastic bottle beverage container in which a beverage is contained. In addition to this, as described above, the outer surface of the fitted main body case 1 and cap 2 is coated with a suitably printed plastic film F, so that the appearance of the plastic bottle beverage container as a product is further increased. Can approach as much as possible.

  Subsequently, 3 is a battery box, 4 and 4 are button type batteries, 5 is an energizing switch, 6 is an LED (light emitting diode), and these are electronic components built into the main body case 1 after being assembled.

  The battery box 3 divides the inside of the substantially halved box main body 3a with the upper surface open by a partition guide 3b in a state in which the battery housing 3c and the narrow switch holder 3d are connected. The wall on the cap side of the box main body 3a has an extending portion 3e raised upward, and a slit port 3f through which the anode wire 6a of the LED 6 is inserted is provided at the center of the extending portion 3e. Further, a connecting plate portion 3g extends horizontally on the wall of the box main body portion 3a, and a rod-shaped contact receiving portion 3h is raised upward on the connecting plate portion 3g. In the battery box 3 having the above configuration, the two battery cells 4 and 4 and the bent ends of the anode wires 6a of the LEDs 6 are simultaneously and densely accommodated in the battery accommodating portion 3c. At this time, the cathode wire 6b of the LED 6 is placed on the contact receiving portion 3h.

  On the other hand, the energizing switch 5 is formed by bending a conductive metal piece into an L-shape, and the one piece shown downward in the figure is always in contact with the negative electrode of the battery 4 to the switch holding portion 3d of the battery box 3. The power supply side energization part 5a fixed and held, and the other side piece shown in the axial direction is used as the LED side energization part 5b. Further, a part of the other piece of the LED-side energizing portion 5b is bent in a mountain shape to form an operation portion 5c that can protrude from the switch port 1e of the main body case 1. Since the power supply side energization part 6a is fixed to the battery box 3 in this way, the energization switch 5 can be assembled to the battery box 3 in a cantilever manner by setting the LED side energization part 5b to a free end. The LED side energization part 5b can be elastically operated up and down by pressing with a finger. Note that a double-sided contact portion 5d is formed to project from the power supply side energization portion 5a, and the power supply side energization portion 5a and the battery 4 can always contact each other depending on the degree of protrusion.

  Furthermore, 7 is a separately prepared insulating pin, which is made of, for example, a small plastic piece molded into an L shape. By inserting the insulating pin 7 into the insertion hole 2d of the cap 2, the insulating pin 7 is interposed between the cathode wire 6b of the LED 6 and the LED side energization portion 5b of the energization switch 5 so that both 6b and 5b come into contact with each other. This is to prevent the batteries 4 and 4 from being consumed by inadvertent light emission of the LED 6.

  Next, the internal structure and operation of the LED light will be described with reference to FIGS. To assemble each of the above-described components, first, the tip of the anode wire 6a of the LED 6 is bent, and the bent tip is inserted into the slit port 3f while avoiding the contact receiving portion 3h or being melt-embedded in the contact receiving portion 3h. The battery 4 and 4 are housed densely in the battery housing portion 3c of the battery box 3 so as to be always in contact with the plus electrode of the battery 4. Further, the power supply side energization part 5 a of the energization switch 5 is fitted into the switch holding part 3 d of the battery box 3 so that the contact part 5 d is always in contact with the negative electrode of the battery 4.

  When the assembly of the electronic components 3 to 6 is completed as described above, the battery box 3 is inserted and built in the main body case 1 along the guide rib 1f, and the cap is so that the lens portion 6c of the LED 6 protrudes from the lens opening 2c. 2 is fitted, and a printed plastic film F is adhered to the outer surface. Further, in order to disable inadvertent switch operation at the time of shipment or the like, the insulating pin 7 is inserted from the insertion hole 2d of the cap 2 as shown in FIG.

  In the LED light assembled in this way, the operation portion 5c of the energization switch 5 protrudes elastically from the switch port 1e of the main body case 1, while the tip of the LED-side energization portion 5b is the engagement protrusion 2b of the cap 2. Therefore, the tip is held so as not to protrude from the switch port 1e carelessly. The cathode wire 6 b of the LED 6 is placed on the contact receiving portion 3 h of the battery box 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the insulation pin 7 is removed from the insertion hole 2 d of the cap 2, and the operation portion 5 c of the energization switch 5 is pressed with a finger against the elastic force, whereby the LED of the energization switch 5 The side energization part 5b comes into contact with the cathode line 6b of the LED 6, a voltage is applied so that a forward current flows through the LED 6, and the LED 6 emits light from the rear end of the cap 2. During this light emission operation, the LED-side energization part 5b and the cathode line 6b of the LED 6 are in contact with each other on the contact receiving part 3h, so that the cathode line 6b is prevented from being deformed by the pressing force. In addition, by releasing the pressing to the operation unit 5c, the LED side energization unit 5b of the energization switch 5 is separated from the cathode wire 6b of the LED 6 by the elastic restoring force, and both 5b and 6b are not in contact with each other. Of course.

The perspective view of the LED light which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention Same exploded perspective view Cross section of the main part in the insulated state Same as above, sectional view of the main part in the energized state

Explanation of symbols

1 Body Case 2 Cap 3 Battery Box 4 Battery 5 Power Switch 6 LED (Light Emitting Diode)
7 Insulation pin F Plastic film K Key holder

Claims (9)

An LED is used as the light source, and one end of the hollow cylindrical body is opened and the LED is accommodated so that the lens portion is located on the opening side, and a switch port is formed on a part of the outer periphery of the hollow cylindrical body. A resin-made main body case, a synthetic-resin cap provided with a lens opening that can be fitted into the opening of the main body case and projecting a lens portion; a battery; and one electrode of the LED on one electrode of the battery A battery box made of a synthetic resin that can be housed in the main body case while accommodating the battery in a state in which the lead wire is always in contact, and a conductive metal piece is bent in an L shape, with one piece as a fixed end. A power supply side energization part that is fixed and held in the battery box in a constantly contacted state with the other electrode of the battery, and an LED side energization part that is separated from the other lead wire of the LED in a normal state with the other piece as a free end, Furthermore, the other piece is And an energizing switch that allows the LED side energizing portion to come into contact with the other lead wire of the LED when an operating portion that elastically protrudes from the opening is pressed against the elastic force. LED light characterized by that. 2. An insulating pin is provided separately, and the cap is provided with an insertion hole for the insulating pin interposed between the LED-side energization part of the energization switch and the other lead wire of the LED to prevent the energization of both. LED light. 3. The LED light according to claim 1, wherein the switch port of the main body case is notched in a slit shape in the axial direction from the opening, and the cap is provided with an engaging protrusion for engaging with the switch port. The battery box has a battery holding portion capable of accommodating the anode wire tip and the battery in a state where the tip of the anode wire of the LED and the positive electrode of the battery are always in contact with each other, and a power supply side energization portion of the energization switch as the negative electrode of the battery. The LED light according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a switch holding part capable of fixing and holding the power supply side energization part in a constantly contacted state. 5. The LED light according to claim 1, wherein the battery box is provided with a contact receiving portion capable of supporting an LED lead wire in a contact portion with the LED side energization portion of the switch. The LED light according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an outer surface is separately coated with a printing film. The main body case is provided with a cone portion having a diameter reduced in the axial direction at an end opposite to the opening, and further provided with a cylindrical portion at the tip of the cone portion. The LED light as described in any one. The LED light according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the main body case and the cap are molded from a synthetic resin to which a coloring agent is added. The LED light according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the main body case further includes a key holder part or a strap part.

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