WO2012114097A2

WO2012114097A2 - A luminaire comprising an led tube lamp and socket

Info

Publication number: WO2012114097A2
Application number: PCT/GB2012/050388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xiang Fa CAI; Feng Gang GUO; Hai Jian ZHANG
Original assignee: Novar Ed&S Limited
Priority date: 2011-02-24
Filing date: 2012-02-21
Publication date: 2012-08-30
Also published as: GB2502486A; WO2012114097A3; GB201315791D0

Abstract

A luminaire comprises a socket (3) and an LED tube lamp (1) received therein. The LED tube lamp (1) is rotatable in the socket (3) between a first angular position in which the tube lamp illuminates in a first direction, and a second angular position in which the tube lamp illuminates in a second direction. A luminaire may have two LED tube lamps (1) received therein, wherein the two LED tube lamps (1) are located adjacent to one another and on opposing sides of the luminaire, and wherein the tube lamps (1) are rotatable between a first configuration in which the tube lamps illuminate in the same direction, and a rotated configuration in which the LED tube lamps are rotated in opposing directions from the first configuration thereby increasing the area illuminated.

Description

A luminaire comprising an LED tube lamp and socket

Technical Field The present invention relates to lighting, and more particularly to an LED tube lamp, a socket and the combination thereof .

Background of the Invention

It is becoming increasingly popular to use LED tube lamps in applications that would traditionally have used fluorescent tube lamps. Fluorescent tube lamps tend to emit light in all directions, but in contrast, LED tube lamps tend to be

directional and emit light over a limited beam angle.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to provide a luminaire which overcomes, or at least mitigates, the above-mentioned

drawback.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a luminaire comprising a socket having two LED tube lamps received therein, wherein the two LED tube lamps are located adjacent to one another and on opposing sides of the luminaire, and wherein the tube lamps are rotatable between (i) a first configuration in which the tube lamps illuminate in the same direction, and (ii) a rotated configuration in which the LED tube lamps are rotated in opposing directions from the first configuration thereby increasing the area illuminated. Such an arrangement may allow the beam angle of the luminaire to be increased to beyond that of each LED tube lamp alone. The tube lamps in the luminaire are located adjacent to one another and are on opposing sides of the luminalre; it will be appreciated that in such an arrangement there are necessarily only two tube lamps in the luminaire.

In the rotated configuration, the LED tube lamps are preferably rotated by the same magnitude in the opposing directions. Having the tube lamps rotated in this manner, enables the total beam angle of the two tubes to be uniformly increased either side of the luminaire.

In the rotated configuration, the LED tube lamps are preferably rotated such that that total beam angle of the luminaire is at least 180 degrees. Such an arrangement is especially beneficial where the luminaire is for use when recessed in a structure (for example a ceiling of a building structure) , as the useable beam angle is more comparable with a fluorescent tube lamp (for which some of the light would be emitted towards the ceiling, and/or reflected from a reflector and therefore having associated optical losses) . In the rotated configurat on, the LED tube lamps may be rotated such that that total beam angle of the two tube lamps is

substantially 180 degrees. For example, each LED tube lamp may have a beam angle of 120 degrees. In the standard

configuration both tube lamps may face the same direction (e.g. downwards) and the luminaire may therefore have a total beam angle of 120 degrees. In the rotated configuration, the tube lamps may be rotated by +/- 30 degrees thereby increasing the beam angle to 180 degrees.

The luminaire may be installed in a building structure. The luminaire is preferably inside the building structure. The luminaire may be installed in a ceiling in the building structure. The luminaire is preferably not a street lamp.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a luminaire comprising a socket and an LED tube lamp received therein, wherein the tube lamp is rotatable in the socket between (i) a first angular position in which the tube lamp illuminates in a first direction, and (ii) a second angular position in which the tube lamp illuminates in a second direction. Such an arrangement is especially

beneficial for LED tube lamps because they tend to have limited beam angles. By providing an arrangement in which an illuminated LED tube lamp is ro a able in the socket, the direction of illumination may be altered.

The LED tube lamps are preferably rotatable in the socket as a unitary structure. For example, in embodiments of the invention comprising end caps, the end caps are preferably fixed relative to the tube body.

Each end of the LED tube lamp preferably comprises a pair of conductor pins extending in a direction along the

longitudinal axis of the tube lamp. Each pair of conductor pins is preferably received in the socket to form an

electrical connection. The LED tube lamp and socket may be arranged such that the tube lamp, and more preferably the pair of conductor pins, is insertable into the socket to form the electrical connection, by means of a translation and a

rotation. The electrical connection may be formed upon rotation of the tube lamp. Such an arrangement for receiving an LED tube lamp per se is known, and this type of socket may be referred to as a 'twist-and-lock' style socket. The socket in some embodiments of the present invention may be a twis - and-lock style socket.

The socket may comprise a receptacle for receiving one end of the LED tube lamp, and more preferably the conductor pins of one end of the tube lamp. The receptacle may comprise a shutter assembly. The shutter assembly is preferably

rotatable between a shuttered configuration in which an electrical contact is covered by the shutter assembly, and an unshuttered configuration in which the electrical contact is exposed to allow electrical connection with the LED tube lamp received in the socket .

In the first and second angular positions the LED tube lamp is illuminated. Thus, in embodiments in which the socket comprises a shutter assembly, the shutter assembly is

preferably in the unshuttered configuration when the tube lamp is in the first and the second angular positions. The socket may be arranged such that the shutter assembly is rotatable, whilst in the unshuttered configuration, between at least two discrete angular positions.

The shutter assembly may be moveable into the discrete angular positions by way of a snap action. For example, the shutter assembly may rapidly move from an unstable position, to a stable position.

The receptacle may comprise a multiplicity of protrusions arranged to cooperate with complementary detents, cooperation of the protrusions and the detents enabling the shutter assembly to be held in the discrete angular positions. The protrusions may be located on the shutter assembly, and the detents may be located on a shaft member about which the shutter assembly rotates.

In known tube lamp sockets, the electrical contact tends to be is arranged such that it can only contact the conductor pins of the tube lamp when the tube lamp is in one particular orientation. In embodiments of the present invention, at least part of the electrical contact may extend around a portion of the circumference of the receptacle such that the electrical connection between the tube lamp and the socket is maintained in both the first and second positions.

An end of the tube lamp may comprise a male member and the socket may comprise a receiving portion for receiving the male member, the tube lamp and socket preferably being

arranged such that an electrical connection between the socket and the tube lamp (and more preferably the conductor pine of the tube lamp) is unable to be formed unless the male member has been received in the receiving portion. The male member may act as a stop to limit the extent of rotation of the tube lamp in the socket.

The socket is preferably arranged such that the LED tube lamp is rotatable from the first angular position to a

multiplicity of additional angular positions. The tube lamp may thus be able to illuminate in a multiplicity of additional directions.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is also provided a socket for use as the socket in the second aspect of the invention.

It will be appreciated that features described with reference to one aspect of the invention are equally

applicable to another aspect of the invention_/ and vice versa. For example, any features of the LED tube lamp and/or socket in the second aspect of the invention may be equally

applicable to one or both of the LED tube lamps and/or the socket, of the first aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be

described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a luminaire according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an end cap on an LED tube lamp of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3a is a perspective view of part of the socket of Figure 1, Figure 3b is the view in Figure 3a with the shutter assembly removed, and Figure 3c is a plan view of the part of the socket in Figure 3a;

Figure 4a is a close-up view of the receptacle in Figure 3a, and Figure 4b is a close-up view of the receptacle in Figure 3b;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one end of the

luminaire of Figure 1; and

Figure 6a is a perspective view of part of a socket in a second embodiment of the invention, and Figure 6b is a close- up view of the receptacle in said socket.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a luminaire according to a first embodiment of the invention. The luminaire comprises two LED tube lamps 1 and a socket 3. Each LED tube lamp 1 comprises a circular cylindrical glass tube 5 housing an array of LED lights (not visible in Figure 1) and opposing end caps 7 closing the ends of the tube 5.

The socket 3 comprises two protruding arms 15a, 15b detachably connected to opposing ends of an elongate support frame 17. Each arm comprises two adjacent receptacles 19, 21 each receptacle being arranged to receive the pair of

conductor pins on an end of a tube lamp. The socket is arranged to receive two tube lamps adjacent to one another and in opposite polarity. Thus, each arm 15a, 15b in the socket comprises a DC+ receptacle 19, and a DC- receptacle 21.

Reference is made below to one of the tube lamps 1 inserted in the socket 5 and only one end arm 15b of the socket is described in detail, but it will be appreciated that an identical arm 15a is located at the other end of the socket (albeit orientated at 180 degrees to the other arm) . An end cap of the LED tube lamp is shown in close up in Figure 2; a pair of conductor pins 9 extend from the end caps 7 and each end cap also comprise a male member in the form of a protruding finger 13. As most clearly shown in Figure 3, each arm 15a, 15b of the socket 3 comprises a curved

passageway 23 located adjacent to each receptacle 19, 21.

Bach passageway is arranged to receive the finger 13 of an end cap when the tube lamp is inserted in the socket, but the protruding finger 13 prevents the user installing the end of the tube lamp into a socket not having the relevant

passageways (e.g. a socket for a conventional fluorescent tube lamp) .

Reference is now made to the DC+ receptacle 19 in the arm 15b of the socket in Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a and 4b. It will be appreciated that the other receptacles in the socket are substantially identical to this receptacle. The receptacle 19 comprises a shutter assembly 25 formed of two arcuate arms joined at their base (not visible) . The arms are rotatably mounted around a central shaft 27 fixed to the housing 29 of the socket arm 15b. The shutter assembly 25 and shaft 27 both have a slot 31 passing through them such that when the shutter assembly 25 is in the position shown in Figures 3a-4b, the slot 31 is aligned and opens into the passageway 23 in the housing 29 of the socket arm.

To install an LED tube lamp in the socket, the tube lamp

1 is translated into socket such that the conductor pins on either end of the socket are aligned with, and received in, the slot 31. The socket and tube lamp are arranged such that when fully translated into the socket, the pins 9 are located either side of the central shaft 27 and are bounded by the arms 25 of the shutter assembly. The finger 13 on the end cap is received in the passageway 23. To complete insertion of the tube lamp into the socket, and to establish an electrical connection, the tube lamp 1 is rotated. Under rotation, the conductor pins 9 push the arms 25 of the shutter assembly around the central shaft 27 to expose electrical contacts 33 that had been otherwise protected by the shutter assembly. The electrical contacts 33 are not visible in Figures 3a, 3c and 4b but are shown in Figures 3b and 4b as the shutter assembly has been removed in those Figures. The electrical contacts 33 are arcuate sheet metal and extend around the edge of the shaft 27 and beneath the shutter arms 25.

As the tube lamp is rotated, the pins 9 eventually come into contact with the electrical contacts 33 in the socket and the tube lamp is illuminated. In the first embodiment of the invention, and in contrast to known arrangements, the tube lamp can be rotated between a plurality of angular positions (in which there is still an electrical connection) to enable the luminaire to illuminate in different directions. The features of the luminaire that enable this function are described in more detail below.

As most clearly shown in Figures 3a, 3c and 4a, the inner surface of the shutter assembly 25 comprises four triangular teeth 35 (two spaced on either half of the assembly) . The teeth 35 are receivable in complementary detents 37, 37' on the central shaft (most clearly shown in Figures 3b and 4b) . The shape of the detents 37,37' complements the shape of the teeth 35 such that each tooth is received in a detent in a close fit. The detents 37' closest to the slot are shaped to only receive part of the respective teeth.

The central shaft 27 is resiliently deformable such that when the shutter assembly is urged to rotate under the action of a rotational force (for example when the conductor pins are inserted into the slot and then rotated) , the sides of the shaft 27 flex inwardly and the teeth 35 on the shutter

assembly can move out of the detents 37, 37' . As the shutter arms 25 are rotated further, each the tooth 35 travels around the circumference of the central shaft 27 and eventually reaches the next adjacent detent 37,37' on the shaft. The shutter assembly and shaft are arranged such that when the teeth 35 reach the detents 37, 37', they engage the detents by way of a snap-fit (by virtue of the resilience of the shaft and the shape of the teeth/detents) . If a threshold force is again applied, the shutter assembly 25 can be rotated further. The snap-fit of the teeth in the detente ensure that the shutter assembly is stable is each discrete unshuttered position. It will be appreciated that at least one tooth on each shutter arm engages a complementary detent at any one of the discrete unshuttered positions of the shutter asembly. In many positions, both teeth on each arm will engage the

detents .

In the first embodiment of the invention, the detents 37,37' on each side of the shaft are spaced apart by 30 degrees. Thus, the shutter assembly can be discretely rotated to 30, 60 and 90 degree orientations, either side of the vertical ('vertical' being considered parallel with the slot 31 in this case) . In some scenarios, the tube lamp in the first embodiment will be translated into the receptacle and then rotated by 90 degrees such that the tube lamp illuminates in a direction directly away from the socket holder (in this case, only the corner detente 37' on the shaft 27 will be engaged by the teeth 35) . It will be appreciated, however, that the first embodiment of the invention also enables the tube lamp to be rotated to different angular positions to enable the luminaire to illuminate in other directions. The above-mentioned arrangement enables the tube lamp to be rotated to a plurality of discrete, stable, angular positions. This enables the direction of illumination to be changed.

This is especially beneficial for an LED tube lamp, since the beam angle from the tube itself tends to be much smaller than conventional fluorescent tube lamps.

Although reference is made above to one LED tube lamp, the socket in the first embodiment is arranged to receive two tube lamps that are adjacent to each other and on opposing sides of the luminaire. As shown in Figure 5, the adjacent LED tube lamps 1 can be rotated by the same magnitude in opposing directions away from the 90 degree (horizontal) position. This allows the illumination to be evenly increased either side of the tube lamp. Each LED tube lamp in the first embodiment of the invention has a beam angle of 120 degrees. Thus, the fact that each tube lamp can rotate by at least 30 degrees from the horizontal (in opposing directions) enables the total beam angle for the luminaire to be 180 degrees, and therefore similar to fluorescent tube lamp luminaire installed flush with a surrounding surface (such as a ceiling) .

As shown in Figure 5, the finger 13 on each end cap acts as a stop to prevent further rotation of the tube lamps

(beyond 30 degrees from the horizontal in this embodiment) . This arrangement may help ensure the lamp tubes are at equally rotated positions from their standard horizontal position.

Part of a socket in a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 6a and 6b. This embodiment is

substantially as described with reference to the first

embodiment except for the differences described herein. When referring to like features, the same reference numerals are used, but with the prefix *1" or *10" as appropriate. In the second embodiment of the invention, the socket is arranged to receive only one LED tube lamp. The LED tube lamp (which is not shown) is substantially identical to that in the first embodiment, except that it does not include the protruding finger on the end caps. One of the arms 115a of the socket containing the DC- receptacle 121 is shown in Figures 6a and 6b. The receptacle 121 comprises a pair of arcuate arms 125 joined at their base and rotatable about a central shaft 127 fixed to the housing 129 of the socket arm 115a. A slot 131 is located in the top of the housing 129 to allow the conductor pins of the tube lamp to be translated into the receptacle 121. In the views shown in Figures 6a and 6b the shutter assembly has been rotated in an anticlockwise direction, such that the shutter assembly blocks off the slot. This is a position achieved when the pins of the LED tube lamp have been translated into the receptacle and the tube lamp has subsequently been

rotated, but for the sake of clarity, the tube lamp itself is not shown in Figures 6a and 6b.

Figure 6b is a close up view of the receptacle 121. The central shaft 127 has an outer surface comprising a series of directly adjacent detents 137 extending all around the

circumference of the top portion of the shaft 127. The shutter arms 125 each comprise four teeth 135. The teeth 135 are located in pairs and are arranged on the shutter arms such that the arms can be held horizontally (in that configuration the pairs of teeth on each shutter arm engage detents on either side of the shaft) , or at an angle to the horizontal (in which at least one pair of teeth on each shutter arm engages detents on one side of the shaft (as shown in Figures 6a and 6b) . In a similar manner to the first embodiment, the shutter assembly may be rotated by virtue of the central shaft bending inwardly (under a sufficient force being applied to the shutter assembly) thereby releasing the teeth of the shutter assembly from their respective detents.

In the second embodiment, the electrical contacts in the socket (not visible in Figures 6a and 6b) , extend around the edge of the receptacle over a similar length to each shutter arm. Thus, in the position shown in Figures 6a and 6b, and in a series of stable intermediate positions between that and the horizontal, the LED tube lamp may be in electrical contract. The LED tube lamp may therefore illuminate in a variety of directions.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such

equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims.

Claims

1. A luminaire comprising a socket and an LEO tube lamp received therein, wherein the tube lamp is rotatable in the socket between (i) a first angular position in which the tube lamp illuminates in a first direction, and (ii) a second angular position in which the tube lamp illuminates in a second direction.

2. A luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the socket comprises a receptacle for receiving one end of the LED tube lamp.

3. A luminaire according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle comprises a shutter assembly, the shutter assembly being rotatable between a shuttered configuration in which an electrical contact is covered by the shutter assembly, and a unshuttered configuration in which the electrical contact is exposed to allow electrical connection with the LED tube lamp received in the socket.

4. A luminaire according to claim 3 , wherein the socket is arranged such that the shutter assembly is rotatable, whilst in the unshuttered configuration, between at least two discrete angular positions.

5. A luminaire according to claim 4, wherein the shutter assembly is moveable into the discrete angular positions by way of a snap action.

6. A luminaire according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the receptacle comprises a multiplicity of protrusions arranged to cooperate with complementary detents, cooperation of the protrusions and the detents enabling the shutter assembly to be held in the discrete angular positions.

7. A luminaire according to claim 6, wherein the protrusions are located on the shutter assembly, and the detents are located on a shaft member about which the shutter assembly rotates .

8. A luminaire according to any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the electrical contact extends around a portion of the

circumference of the receptacle such that the electrical connection between the tube lamp and the socket is maintained in both the first and second positions of the LED tube lamp.

9. A luminaire according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein an end of the tube lamp comprises a male member and the socket comprises a receiving portion for receiving the male member, the tube lamp and socket being arranged such that an

electrical connection between the socket and the tube lamp is unable to be formed unless the male member has been received in the receiving portion.

10. A luminaire according to claim 9, wherein the male member acts as a stop to limit the extent of rotation of the tube lamp in the socket.

11. A luminaire according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the socket is arranged such that the LED tube lamp is rotatable from the first angular position to a multiplicity of

additional angular positions, such that the tube lamp can illuminate in a multiplicity of additional directions.

12. A luminaire according to any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the socket has two LED tube lamps received therein, the two LED tube lamps being located adjacent to one another and on opposing sides of the luminaire, and wherein the tube lamps are rotatable between (i) a first configuration in which the tube lamps illuminate in the same direction, and (ii) a rotated configuration in which the LED tube lamps are rotated in opposing directions from the first configuration thereby increasing the area illuminated.

13. A socket for use as the socket in the luminaire according to any of claims 1 to 12.

1 . A luminaire comprising a socket having two LED tube lamps received therein, wherein the two LED tube lamps are located adjacent to one another and on opposing sides of the

luminaire, and wherein the tube lamps are rotatable between (i) a first configuration in which the tube lamps illuminate in the same direction, and (ii) a rotated configuration in which the LED tube lamps are rotated in opposing directions from the first configuration thereby increasing the area illuminated.

15. A luminaire according to claim 14, wherein in the rotated configuration, the LED tube lamps are rotated by the same magnitude in the opposing directions.

16. A luminaire according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein in the rotated configuration, the LED tube lamps are rotated such that that total beam angle of the luminaire is at least 180 degrees .

17. Ά luminaire according to any of claims 14 to 16 installed in a building structure.

18. A luminaire according to claim 17 installed in a ceiling in the building structure.

19. A luminaire comprising a socket and LED tube lamp

substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6b.