Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A FLEXIBLE TUBULAR LIGHT
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tubular light, and more particularly to a
flexible tubular light with a cladding outside the light emitting diodes to
scatter the light from
the light emitting diodes so as to present a neon light effect.
2. Description of Related Art
The available tubular light used as an illumination element has already been
used in gardening art, commercial ads and decorations for backyards. The
advantages of the
tubular light is its automatic production, low cost, easily bendable when
applied, durable for
impact, safe and adaptability for meeting client's requirements. With all
these advantages, the
disadvantages of such tubular light seem unavoidable, which involves
discontinuous
illumination and uneven light rays to reach the effect as a neon light. The
reason causing the
discontinuous illumination and uneven light rays is because the illuminating
elements inside
the tubular light are intermittently arranged inside the tubular light so that
the light rays are
unevenly distributed.
The reason why a neon light is used as an illuminating element in commercial
bulletin board or a part of a decorations is because of its vivid color,
diversity in colors,
evenly distributed and soft light beams. Therefore, the neon light can be seen
in doors, signs,
bulletin board, dancing clubs, bars, pubs and outer walls of a building.
However, the primary
reason for the failure of the neon light is that the electricity consumption
rate is high and the
outer glass tube is easily broken, which causes the neon light difficult to
repair and
transportation. Above all, there is no adaptability to different shape
requirements.
In order to obviate the conventional drawbacks, a different kind of tubular
light is introduced to the market and uses light emitting diodes (LED) as the
illuminating
elements to avoid large electricity consumption rate, difficulty in
maintenance, fragility and
large voltage requirement. Because of the improvements, the improved tubular
light is
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bendable, extendable and has adaptability to adapt to different shape
requirements. However,
because each illuminating element, LED, is distant from an adjacent one, the
light emitted
from each of the LED illuminating elements is not continuous, which makes the
improved
tubular light impossible to reach the neon light effect. To solve the problem,
a translucent
cover is attached to the outer periphery of the tubular light to nebulize the
light from the
LEDs to as to create a foggy effect the same as that of a neon light. However,
adding in the
translucent cover to the outer periphery of the tubular light increases the
manufacture cost.
Further, after the addition of the translucent cover, the tubular light is not
bendable and loses
its adaptability to shape change.
A different tubular light made of acrylic resin is introduced to the market,
which is able to be bent after being heated and the light bean is soft and
continuous, a perfect
replacement for the neon light. But still, this kind of tubular light is
fragile in room
temperature. More over, this kind of tubular light adopts soft circuit board
as the electric
connection media among elements and employs a process to fill in the enclosing
material to
position the elements onboard the circuit board, which increases the
manufacture step and
cost dramatically.
With reference to Fig. 12, a conventional light string has an elongated
plastic
core (110), two wires (120,130), multiple axial holes (140) or multiple radial
holes
(150a,150b,150c,150d,150e) to receive therein multiple light emitting diodes
(1410a,1410b,1410c) and connection wires (170a,170b) for interlinking each of
the LEDs
(1410a,1410b,1410c). The LEDs (1410a,1410b,1410c) are alternately received in
the radial
holes (150a,150b,150c,150d,150e) such that the connection wires (170a,170b)
are
sandwiched between two adjacent LEDs (1410a,1410b,1410c) after the connection
wires
(170a,I70b) are alternately received in the radial holes
(150a,150b,150c,150d,150e). A
transparent cladding (180) is then formed outside the core (110).
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If the light string with the core (110) has only axial holes (140) for
receiving
therein LEDs (1410a,1410b,1410c), the light string is called the Horizontal-
Type and if the
light string with the core (110) has only radial holes
(150a,150b,150c,150d,150e), the light
string is called the Vertical-Type.
US Pat. No. 4,607,317 issued on August 19, 1986 discloses a light string with
better safety, packaging, installation, use and maintenance features than any
other existing
light string. However, the light string can not solve the shortcoming that the
light from the
LEDs is not continuous. That is, this light string still uses the LEDs as the
light source
without any modification to soften the dotted-effect of the LEDs.
US Pat. No. 6,186,645B1 issued on February 13, 2001 discloses a Horizontal-
Type light string having the capability to scatter the light from the LEDs.
However, the light
from the LEDs is not sufficiently softened and thus still does not emit a soft
and continuous
light when compared with a neon light in the market.
US Pat. No. 6,565,251B2 issued on May 20, 2003 discloses a light string having
a core and a
cladding outside the core. The core and the cladding may have different shapes
such as
circular, square, oval or even wave-like. At least one axial space may be
defined between the
core and the cladding so that the at least one axial space may be tilled with
insulation fluid to
improve the light scattering and reflection. Although this light string claims
to have the
capability to emit a soft and continuous light effect as that of a neon light,
there is no definite
structure to show how the light is reflected and/or refracted.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an
improved tubular light to mitigate the aforementioned problems.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved
tubular light using a cladding to scatter the light from the light emitting
diodes to present a
soft and continuous light.
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In order to accomplish the aforementioned objective, the tubular light of the
present invention includes:
a core made of a soft material and having multiple axial holes defined in one
side of the core, two connection wires received in the other side of the core
to be opposite to
the axial holes;
multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) respectively received in the axial holes
and connected to the two connection wires for electrical connection;
a scattering body formed on top of the core and on top of the LEDs for
scattering light beams from the LEDs; and
a cladding enclosing the scattering body and the core and having an arcuate
top face for emission of light beams of the LEDs.
In illustrated embodiments of the present invention, the tubular light further
has an electrical plug connected to a same end of the two connection wires for
providing
electricity to the LEDs; and a stopper connected to the cladding and further
connected to the
connection wires at an end distal to the end of the electrical plug.
An opaque layer may be formed on the cladding to stop penetration of light
beams of the LEDs so as to enhance the emission of light beams out of the
arcuate top face of
the cladding. The opaque layer is preferably a layer of black paint. A
converter is provided in
illustrated embodiments to change alternate current to direct current for the
LEDs.
In one embodiment, the scattering body is integrally formed with the cladding.
In another embodiment, the scattering body is a passage.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become
more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the tubular light of the present
invention;
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Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken from line A-A of Fig. 1 showing the
internal structure of the tubular light of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the formation of a cladding
outside the core and the scattering body on top of the core;
Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the light effect from the tubular light of
the
present invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment of the tubular
light of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the tubular light taken from line B-B of
Fig.
5;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the tubular light of
the present invention extruded from a extruding machine;
Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing the light effect from the tubular light of
the
second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the tubular light
of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken from line C-C of the tubular light in
Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 shows three different structures inside the core of the present
invention;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional tubular light; and
Fig. 13 is a schematic view showing the application of the tubular light of
the
present invention.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the tubular light constructed in accordance
with the present invention includes a core (02), a scattering body (08) and a
cladding (09)
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enclosing the core (02) and the scattering body (08). Figure 3 is the first
preferred
embodiment of the tubular light of the present invention.
The core (02) has multiple radial holes (03a,03b,03c,03d) defined in a side of
the core (02) to alternately receive therein light emitting diodes (LEDs)
(04a,04b) and two
connection wires (01 a,01b) are received in the other side of the core (02)
relative to the radial
holes (03a,03b,03c,03d). Because the two connection wires (Ola,Olb) are on one
side in the
core (02) and the LEDs (04a,04b) received in the radial holes
(03a,03b,03c,03d) are on the
other side of the core (02), when the tubular light is bent, the stretching
force to either one of
the two connection wires (Ola,Olb) is the same so that difficulty in bending
the tubular light
and breakage of the connection wires (01a,01b) are avoided.
As can be seen from Fig. 12 that the lateral holes (150a,150b,150c,150d,150e)
and the light bulbs (1410a,1410b,1410c) as well as the legs (170a,170b) of the
light bulbs are
arranged between the connection wires (120,130) to be vertical to the
connection wires
(120,130). However, from the depiction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is to be
noted that the
LEDs (04a,04b) are alternately received in the radial holes (03a,03c) and thus
the radial holes
(03b,03d) are left to receive therein a joint (05) between two LEDs (04a,04b)
and a resistor
(06). Due to the low energy consumption rate, low temperature, high
illuminosity, and
compact of the LED, it can be used as a crucial factor to reduce the
intermittent distance
between two adjacent light emitting diodes so that the total number within a
fixed distance in
the tubular light of the present invention increases and there is no danger of
causing a fire. As
a result the illuniinosity of the tubular light to exceed the neon light is
doable. In the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the LED is
within 3-5mm and
the illurninosity of the LED is around 200mcd. The distance between two radial
holes is
about 1/2 inch.
After the LEDs (04a,04b) are received in the radial holes (03a,03c) in the
core
(02) and a connecting wire (07) is used to interconnect two adjacent LEDs, the
core (02)
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passes through a through hole (21) in an extruding machine (20) with a
scattering body (08)
which is made of a lacteous material, as shown in Fig. 3. A soft translucent
material, e.g.
PVC, (22) enters the extruding machine (20) and encloses the core (02) and the
scattering
body (08) to form a cladding (09) outside the scattering body (08) and the
core (02). The
cladding (09) has an arcuate top face (10) on top of the scattering body (08)
and the LEDs
(04a,04b). Furthermore, the LEDs (04a,04b) are located below the scattering
body (OS) and
preferably below the center line B-B of the scattering body (08).
It is noted from the teaching that the width and height of the scattering body
(08) are proportional to the brightness and the angle of the LEDs. In this
embodiment of the
present invention, the LEDs (04a,04b) each have a diameter of 3-5mm, a
brightness of 200
Mcd and an angle of emission of 45 degrees. The radial holes (03a,03c) are
equally spaced
apart (1/2 inch) from each other. The scattering body (08) has a height (H) of
14mm and a
width (L) of 8mm. A mediate portion (14) sandwiched between the scattering
body (08) and
the LEDs (04a,04b) is a portion of the cladding (09) and has a thickness of
2mm. The arcuate
top face (10) of the cladding (09) has a thickness of 2mm.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 and with reference to Fig. 4, it is noted that the
light
beam from the LEDs (04a,04b) passes through the mediate portion (14), the
scattering body
(08) and the arcuate top face (10) such that edges of the light beams from
adjacent LEDs
(04a,04b) are overlapped. After the light beams from the LEDs (04a,04b) are
refracted by the
mediate portion (14) and the arcuate top face (10) and scattered by the
scattering body (08),
the overlapped effect to the edges of adjacent LEDs (04a,04b) light beams
causes central
regions between two adjacent LEDs (04a,04b) to have a brightness substantially
the same as
the brightness from the center of the LEDs (04a,04b). Therefore, it is
expected that the
lighting effect of the tubular light of the present invention is able to
present a soft and
continuous light beam. An electrical plug is integrally formed with the
connection wires
(Ola,Olb) by a cable (11) for providing electricity to the LEDs (04a,04b) and
a stopper (13) is
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integrally formed opposite to the electrical plug. However, as the plug and
stopper are
conventional in the art detailed descriptions thereof are thus omitted.
In order to enhance the lighting effect of the present invention, two opposite
sides and a bottom of the cladding (09) may be coated with an opaque layer
(141), as shown
in Figs. 1 and 2, preferably a black paint (18), as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
A converter (15), as shown in Fig. 1 is added to the tubular light of the
present
invention to change alternate current to direct current such that flashing of
the LEDs is
avoided and thus the LEDs are able to emit a steady and continuous light beam.
A different embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6,
wherein the scattering body (08) in the first embodiment and the cladding (09)
are integrally
formed into one piece. Therefore, the height (H) of the cladding (09) on top
of the core (02)
is slightly smaller than a sum of the scattering body, thickness of the
arcuate top face (10)
and the thickness of the mediate portion (11) in the embodiment in Figs. 1 and
2 and is
14mm. The width L of the arcuate top face (10) is 8mm.
Still another embodiment is seen in Figs. 7 and 8, wherein a passage(091) is
defined in the cladding (090) on top of the core (02). Due to the scattering
effect of air inside
the passage (091) being inferior to the scattering body (08) in the frst
embodiment, the height
(H) of the cladding (090) on top of the core (02) should be larger than the
height (H) in the
embodiment disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6.
With reference to Figs. 9 and 10, another embodiment shows that the core (02)
and the cladding (09), as shown in the previous embodiments, are integrally
formed into one
piece. Thereafter, axial holes (03) are spatially defined in the tubular light
to receive therein
LEDs.
With reference to Fig. 11, after the tubular light of the present invention is
formed, a clamp (30) may be applied to fasten the tubular light on a board
(31). Because the
opposite sides of the cladding (09) are coated with the opaque layer (141),
light beams from
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the LEDs can only be emitted from the arcuate top face (10) of the cladding
(09), which is
able to emit a continuous and soft light beam the same as a neon light. On top
of the core
(02), there may have an inverted trapezoidal space such that the two mutually
inclined side
walls of the inverted trapezoid converge the light from the LEDs.
Consequently, the top face
(10) of the cladding (09) is much brighter when compared with the conventional
tubular light
as shown in Fig. 12. The three cross sectional views, A1-A1, B1-B1, C1-C1
respectively
represent the first, the second and the third preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
With reference to Fig. 13, the tubular light of the present invention is
employed to simulate a neon light with the form of the word "OPEN". When in
application,
the tubular light is suitably cut to have appropriate length respectively.
Then the clamp (30)
is used to firmly secure the sections of the tubular light onto the board
(31). From the top face
(10) of the tubular light, it is noted that the light is continuous so as to
emit a soft and
continuous lighting effect which is the same as that emitted from a neon
light. Furthermore,
due to the simple production process, the manufacture cost is low and there is
no problem to
mass production.
It is to be understood, however, that 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 function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only,
and changes may be made in detail, 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.
