BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluorescent lighting
fixtures, and more particularly, to fluorescent lighting fixtures,
which are aligned in series at regular intervals, which are more
easily connected to one another, and which prevent
discontinuation of illumination occurring between fluorescent
lamps.
In addition, the present invention relates to a
fluorescent lamp socket having an improved socket structure,
which allows for an easy mounting of the fluorescent lamp, and
which can restrict rotation of the fluorescent lamp after the
mounting to prevent separation of the fluorescent lamp from the
socket, thereby preventing an unexpected accident and reducing
damage of the fluorescent lamp.
Background of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a fluorescent lamp 20, which has
been used till now, has terminal pins 21 mounted at both ends
thereof, and the fluorescent lamp 20 is mounted to a fluorescent
lighting fixture 1 to provide illumination.
Recently, the fluorescent lamp 20 has an ornamental
effect for providing a visual effect by being mounted in a
display room or a show room of a shop as well as an effect for
simply emitting light. Therefore, compact and slim fluorescent
lamps 20 of the smallest sectional area have been widely used in
order to occupy the smallest area.
Furthermore, the plural slim fluorescent lamps 20 are
connected with one another in series and used.
The structure and the connected form of the slim
fluorescent lamps 20 will not be described in the present
invention because they are described in detail in Korean Patent
No. 221195 (entitled "fluorescent lamp"), which was filed by the
same applicant of the present invention.
Moreover, recently, such fluorescent lamps 20, each of
which has a small diameter, are used for indirect illumination or
ornamental illumination as well as the direct illumination.
Such a fluorescent lamp 20 requires a body 2 of a
fluorescent lighting fixture, which has sockets 10 mounted at
both ends thereof for assembling the fluorescent lamp 20, and the
body 2 includes a circuit board or other necessary parts and a
stabilizer (not shown) for lighting the fluorescent lamp 20.
The fluorescent lamp 20 is assembled to the body 2 in
such a way that the terminal pins 21 of the fluorescent lamp 20
are simply inserted into the sockets 10.
However, in the case where the plurality of the
fluorescent lighting fixtures 1 are used according to the use
purpose, in a process of connecting and mounting the fluorescent
lighting fixtures 1 in series, there are formed regular intervals
between the neighboring fluorescent lamps 20 due to the sockets
10 for fixing the terminal pins 21 of the fluorescent lamps 20.
As described above, when the fluorescent lighting
fixtures 1 are connected with one another in series, there are
formed the regular intervals between the fluorescent lamps 20,
and it causes discontinuation of illumination, and hence, the
conventional fluorescent lighting fixtures cannot provide the
perfect illumination effect.
Meanwhile, to solve the above problem, there has been
used an easy method of aligning the fluorescent lighting fixtures
1 in a little zigzag by overlapping the connected portions. But,
in this case, the conventional method has a problem in that
illumination is distorted since the fluorescent lamps 20 are not
aligned in a line.
Furthermore, the socket 10 includes a socket body 11
fixed to the body 2 of the fluorescent lighting fixture 1, an
insertion hole 12 formed at a side of the socket body 11, and a
receiving slit 13 formed at the lower end of the insertion hole
12 for allowing the terminal pin 21 of the fluorescent lamp 20 to
be inserted into the insertion hole 12.
The socket body 11 includes a pair of contact
terminals 14 mounted therein at a fixed interval for electrically
connecting the socket 10 with the stabilizer (not shown) so as to
supply power source to the fluorescent lamp 20, and the contact
terminals 14 have elasticity.
The contact terminal 14 has a receiving slot 14a for
receiving the terminal pin 21 of the fluorescent lamp 20.
Therefore, the fluorescent lamp 20 is assembled
between the sockets 10 coupled to both ends of the body 2 of the
fluorescent lighting fixture. At this time, after the terminal
pins 21 of the fluorescent lamp 20 are inserted into the
insertion holes 12 through the receiving slits 13 of the socket
bodies 11, the fluorescent lamp 20 is rotated at an angle of
about 90° and fixed to the sockets 10.
That is, when the fluorescent lamp 20 is rotated at
the angle of 90°, the terminal pins 21 spread the contact
terminals 14 to both sides, and at the same time, the terminal
pins 21 are inserted into the receiving slots 14a of the contact
terminals 14, so that the fluorescent lamp 20 is completely
assembled.
However, because the bottom end of the socket body 11
is always opened by the receiving slit 13, if the fluorescent
lamp 20 is assembled errorneously or elasticity of the contact
terminal 14 is deteriorated due to a long-term use, the terminal
pins 21 of the fluorescent lamp 20 may be separated from the
socket 10 through the receiving slit 13.
Moreover, when the fluorescent lamp 20 is separated
from the socket 10, it may cause an unexpected accident as well
as damage of the fluorescent lamp 20.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made to
solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present
invention is to provide fluorescent lighting fixtures, which can
be aligned regularly and in series, and prevent any intervals
from being formed between fluorescent lamps, thereby providing
beautiful outward appearance, increasing the illumination effect,
and improving an connection structure more firmly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
fluorescent lighting fixtures, which can provide easy assembly
and disassembly of the fluorescent lamps and maintain a stably
fixed condition of the fluorescent lamps after the assembly,
thereby preventing an unexpected accident and reducing damage of
the fluorescent lamps by preventing separation of the fluorescent
lamps.
To achieve the above objects, according to the present
invention, there is provided a fluorescent lighting fixture
including: a fluorescent lamp having a tube type lamp body,
auxiliary tubes mounted at the tops of both ends of the lamp body,
and terminal pins formed at an end of each auxiliary tube
inwardly; a body having a stabilizer mounted therein for lighting
the fluorescent lamp, connection terminals located at both ends
thereof at a predetermined interval and electrically connected
with the stabilizer; and sockets mounted at both ends of the body,
each of the sockets having a support slit formed in the outer
surface thereof for fixing and supporting the terminal pins of
the fluorescent lamp, and a receiving slit for allowing the
terminal pins to be inserted into the support slit.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is
also provided a fluorescent lamp socket including: a main body;
first bodies connected with a stabilizer by electric wires;
second bodies fixed to both ends of the main body in a state
where each second body contains each first body therein, the
second body having a support slit formed at a side thereof for
fixing and supporting the terminal pins of a fluorescent lamp,
and a receiving slit inclinedly formed at a side of the support
slit for allowing the terminal pins of the fluorescent lamp to be
inserted into the support slit; and contact means mounted in a
mounting hole formed in the first body in a state where the
contact means is connected with the electric wires, and
elastically connected with the terminal pins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages
of the present invention will be apparent from the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the
invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG.1 is a perspective view of a conventional
fluorescent lighting fixture;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fluorescent lighting
fixture according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the
fluorescent lighting fixture according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of a
connector according to the present invention;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of modifications
of a fluorescent lamp according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of a
socket of the fluorescent lighting fixture according to the
present invention;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an
exploded state of the socket of FIG. 7;
FIGS. 9a to 9c are assembly diagrams showing a state
where the fluorescent lamp is assembled to the socket of FIG. 7;
and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another modification
of the socket, showing a state where the socket is mounted to the
fluorescent lighting fixture in such a way that a support slit
and a receiving slit are directed inwardly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fluorescent lighting
fixture according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the
fluorescent lighting fixture according to the present invention,
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of a connector
according to the present invention, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are
perspective views of modifications of a fluorescent lamp
according to the present invention.
As shown in the drawings, the fluorescent lighting
fixture 100 according to the present invention includes a
fluorescent lamp 110, a body 120 bent in a predetermined shape
and serving as a reflection plate, and sockets 130 connected and
fixed at both ends of the body 120 for supplying power source to
the fluorescent lamp 110.
First, the fluorescent lamp 110 includes a tube type
lamp body 111, auxiliary tubes 112 mounted at the tops of both
ends of the lamp body 111, and terminal pins 113 formed at an end
of each auxiliary tube 112 inwardly.
The detailed description of the fluorescent lamp 110
will be omitted as the fluorescent lamp 110 is disclosed in
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2003-0085196 (filed on November
27, 2003, and entitled "fluorescent lamp"), which was filed by
the same applicant of the present invention.
That is, the plurality of the fluorescent lamps 110
can be closely aligned with no intervals between the fluorescent
lamps 110 even though the fluorescent lighting fixtures 100 are
aligned in series.
Meanwhile, a reinforcing bracket 115 is mounted
between the lamp body 111 and the auxiliary tube 112 in order to
maintain an interval between the lamp body 111 and the auxiliary
tube 112 and to prevent damage of the auxiliary tube 112 by
supporting the auxiliary tube 112.
Next, the body 120 of the fluorescent lighting fixture
includes a reflection plate 121, and a cover 122 for covering the
opened upper end portion of the reflection plate 121. A typical
stabilizer 101 is mounted inside the body 120 for lighting the
fluorescent lamp 110 by receiving the external power source.
In addition, the body 120 further includes connection
terminals 125 mounted at both ends thereof and separated from
each other at a predetermined interval so as to be electrically
connected with the stabilizer 101 by an electric wire 102.
The socket 130 includes a contact terminal (not shown)
mounted therein and connected with the stabilizer 101 by the
electric wire 102, a support slit 131 formed in the outer surface
thereof for fixing and supporting the terminal pins 113 of the
fluorescent lamp 110, and a receiving slit 132 inclinedly formed
at a side of the support slit 131 for allowing the terminal pins
113 to be inserted into the support slit 131.
Here, it is preferable that the support slit 131 is
formed vertically, and the receiving slit 132 communicates with
the support slit 131 and inclined downwardly at a predetermined
angle.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the receiving slit
132 is formed from the bottom of the support slit 131 to a
predetermined height, and has a recess portion 133 formed between
the receiving slit 132 and the lower end of the support slit 131.
That is, after the terminal pins 113 of the
fluorescent lamp 110 are assembled to the support slits 131 of
the sockets 130, rotation of the fluorescent lamp 110 is
prevented by the recess portions 133 of the sockets 130, so that
the fluorescent lamp 110 cannot be easily separated from the
sockets 130 to prevent an unexpected accident and damage of the
fluorescent lamp 110.
The contact terminal is not shown in the drawings, but
includes the upper terminal and the lower terminal. When the
terminal pins 113 of the fluorescent lamp 110 are inserted and
seated into the support slits 131 of the sockets 130, the contact
terminals are resiliently connected with the terminal pins 113
and supply power source from the stabilizer 101 to the
fluorescent lamp 110.
Various connectors 140, 150 and 160 can be coupled
with the connection terminals 125 of the fluorescent lighting
fixture 100 so as to receive the external power source or to
continuously connect the plural fluorescent lighting fixtures 100.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show the connectors 140, 150 and 160,
and they will be described in detail as follows.
First, the connector 140 for supplying the external
power source to the stabilizer 101 of the fluorescent lighting
fixture 100 includes a connector body 141, a coupling terminal
142 protruding downwardly from an end of the body 141 to be
coupled with the connection terminal 125, and a power cord 143 of
a predetermined length mounted at the other end of the body 141.
In the case where the plurality of the fluorescent
lighting fixtures 100 are continuously connected one another, the
connector 150 for supplying power source by connecting
neighboring connection terminals 125 with each other is used.
The connector 150 includes a connector body 151 of a
predetermined length, and coupling terminals 152 protruding
downwardly from both ends of the body 151.
Moreover, FIG. 4 shows the connector 160, which is
used for continuously connecting the fluorescent lighting
fixtures 100 but formed differently from the connector 150. The
connector 160 includes a pair of separate bodies 161 for
connecting the neighboring connection terminals 125 with each
other and supplying power source, coupling terminals 162
respectively protruding from ends of the bodies 161 in the
downward direction, and an electric wire 163 of a predetermined
length for connecting the other ends of the bodies to each other.
Meanwhile, since the connection terminals 125 are
mounted on the inner bottoms of the sockets 130 mounted at both
ends of the body 120 without exposure to the outside and the body
120 can be disassembled vertically from the connector, the body
120 of the fluorescent lighting fixture can be easily assembled
and disassembled.
That is, the body 120 can be easily replaced in such a
way that the connection terminals 125 are simply coupled with the
coupling terminals 142, 152 or 162 of the connectors 140, 150 or
160 in the vertical direction fixed on the ceiling.
In order to combine the connection terminals 125 of
the body 120 with the connector 140, 150 or 160 without
separation, combining means 170 is provided.
The combining means 170 includes support jaws 135
protruding outwardly from a side of the socket 130, and combining
parts 171 slidably coupled with the connector body 141, 151 or
161 of the connector 140, 150 or 160 and respectively having
locking jaws 172. The locking jaw 172 is formed at a side of the
combining part 171 and matched with the support jaw 135.
The connector body 141, 151 or 161 of the connector
140, 150 or 160 further includes a fixing hole 145, 155 or 165
for fixing the fluorescent lighting fixture 100 on the ceiling.
Meanwhile, besides the connector 140, 150 or 160, an
electric wire can be connected between the bodies 120 of the
fluorescent lighting fixtures for supplying power source. At
this time, each of the sockets 130 mounted at both ends of the
body 120 has a path (not shown) for the connection of the
electric wire.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing a
modification of the fluorescent lamp 110 according to the present
invention. As shown in the drawings, the lamp body 111 is bent
at both ends in such a way that the terminal pins 113 are
directed inwardly. At this time, it is preferable that the lamp
body 111 and the auxiliary tube 112 are arranged horizontally.
The fluorescent lamp 110 is shown as an example, and
can be modified in various forms.
Hereinafter, the function of the fluorescent lighting
fixture 110 according to the present invention will be described.
First, the fluorescent lamp 110 is simply assembled
with the sockets 130 by locating the terminal pins 113 inside the
support slits 131 of the sockets 130 after inserting the terminal
pins 113 of the fluorescent lamp 110 along the inclined receiving
slits 132 of the sockets 130.
That is, when the terminal pins 113 of the fluorescent
lamp 110 are inserted into the support slit 131 along the
receiving slit 132, the stabilizer 101 and the fluorescent lamp
110 are electrically connected with each other while the terminal
pins 113 are in elastic contact with the contact terminals of the
sockets 130, so that the fluorescent lamp 110 can receive power
source from the stabilizer 101.
Moreover, the terminal pins 113 of the fluorescent
lamp 110 are stably seated on the bottoms of the support slits
131, and then, rotation of the terminal pins 113 is prevented by
the recess portions 133 of the sockets 130.
In order to disassemble the fluorescent lamp 110 from
the sockets 130, after the fluorescent lamp 110 is lifted
upwardly in such a way that the terminal pins 113 are located on
the upper portion of the inside of the support slits 131, the
fluorescent lamp 110 is rotated at a predetermined angle, and the
terminal pins 113 are drawn out through the receiving slits 132,
so that the fluorescent lamp 110 can be easily disassembled from
the sockets 130.
Furthermore, in order to continuously connect the
fluorescent lighting fixtures 100 in series, the connection
terminals 125 formed at both ends of the body 120 of each
fluorescent lighting fixture 100 are simply connected to the
connector 140, 150 or 160. After the connection, the combining
members 171 are slid toward the sockets 130 so as to match the
locking jaws 172 of the combining members 171 with the support
jaws 135 of the sockets 130. As a result, the body 120 of the
fluorescent lighting fixture is firmly fixed to the connector 140,
150 or 160, and thereby, the fluorescent lighting fixtures 100
connected in series are connected and fixed more firmly.
Referring to the drawings, the socket used in the
fluorescent lighting fixture of the present invention or used in
the conventional fluorescent lighting fixture will be described
in detail.
First, as shown in FIG. 7, a fluorescent lighting
fixture 200, which is a basic form of the present invention,
includes a body 210 bent in a predetermined form and serving as a
reflection plate, sockets 220 fixed to both ends of the body 210
for supplying power source, and a fluorescent lamp 201 having
both ends fixed to the sockets 220 and lighted by receiving power
source from the sockets 220.
Here, the body 210 of the fluorescent lighting fixture
200 includes a reflection plate 211, a cover 212 for covering the
opened top of the reflection plate 211, and a stabilizer 205
mounted therein for receiving the external power source.
Moreover, the fluorescent lamp 201 has a pair of
terminal pins 202 mounted at each side thereof for receiving
power source through the sockets 220.
In the fluorescent lighting fixture 200, the socket
220 includes: a main body 210; first bodies 230 connected with a
stabilizer 205 by electric wires 206; second bodies 250 fixed to
both ends of the main body 210 in a state where each second body
250 contains each first body 230 therein; and contact means 240
mounted in a mounting hole 231 formed in the first body 230 in a
state where the contact means 240 is connected with the electric
wires 206, and elastically connected with the terminal pins 202.
The second body 250 includes a support slit 251 formed
at a side thereof for fixing and supporting the terminal pins 202
of the fluorescent lamp 201, and a receiving slit 252 inclinedly
formed at a side of the support slit 251 for allowing the
terminal pins 202 of the fluorescent lamp 201 to be inserted into
the support slit 251.
Here, it is preferable that the support slit 251 is
formed vertically, and the receiving slit 252 communicates with
the support slit 251 and is inclined downwardly at a
predetermined angle.
Moreover, the receiving slit 252 is formed from the
bottom of the support slit 251 to a predetermined height, and a
recess portion 253 is formed between the receiving slit 252 and
the lower end of the support slit 251.
That is, after the terminal pins 202 of the
fluorescent lamp 201 are inserted and seated into the support
slit 251, rotation of the fluorescent lamp 201 is prevented by
the recess portion 253.
In addition, the second body 250 has a coupling hole
254 formed in the other side thereof for receiving the first body
230.
Meanwhile, it is preferable that the maximum length of
the support slit 251 is larger than a distance between the pairs
of the terminal pins 202.
The contact means 240 includes a lower terminal 245
fixed to the lower end of the mounting hole 231, and an upper
terminal 241 separated from the lower terminal 245 at a
predetermined interval and vertically moving by means of an
elastic member 247 mounted on the upper end of the mounting hole
231.
Here, the lower and upper terminals 245 and 241 are
electrically connected with the electric wires 206 connected with
the stabilizer 205. At this time, the upper terminal 241 is bent
in a predetermined form in such a way to electrically the elastic
member 247 with one of the electric wires 206, and electrically
connected with the stabilizer 205 by means of a connection plate
248 fixed to the first body 230.
Furthermore, the mounting hole 231 has support jaws
233 formed at both sides thereof, and the upper terminal 241 has
locking jaws 243 formed at both ends thereof to be caught by the
support jaws 233 and to maintain the predetermined interval from
the lower terminal 245.
The lower terminal 245 and the upper terminal 241
respectively have receiving recesses 246 and 242 formed on the
corresponding surfaces thereof for receiving the terminal pins
202 of the fluorescent lamp 201.
Furthermore, the first body 230 has a receiving slit
232 formed at the corresponding position of the receiving slit
252 of the second body 250 for receiving the terminal pins 202 of
the fluorescent lamp 201 between the lower terminal 245 and the
upper terminal 241 mounted in the mounting hole 231.
It is preferable that the support slit 251 and the
receiving slit 252 are directed outwardly, when the second bodies
250 containing the first bodies 230 are coupled with the both
ends of the main body 210.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 10, the structure of the
socket 220 can be modified in such a way that the support slit
251 and the receiving slit 252 are directed inwardly, and in this
case, a typical fluorescent lamp 201a can be assembled to the
socket 220.
As described above, because the support slit 251 and
the receiving slit 252 of the second body 250 can be directed
inwardly or outwardly according to the direction of the terminal
pins 202 of the fluorescent lamp 201, fluorescent lamps 201 and
201a of various forms can be assembled.
Meanwhile, it is preferable that the elastic member
247 is a spring.
Hereinafter, the function of the socket according to
the present invention will be described.
First, the contact means 240 is mounted in the
mounting hole 231 of the first body 230, and at this time, the
contact means 240 is electrically connected with the stabilizer
205 by the electric wires 206. The first body 230 in which the
contact means 240 is mounted is inserted and contained in the
coupling hole 254 of the second body 250.
At this time, the receiving slit 232 of the first body
230 and the receiving slit 252 of the second body 250 are in
correspondence with each other, and the terminal pins 202 of the
fluorescent lamp 201 are inserted into the support slit 251.
After the first body 230 is contained in the second
body 250, the socket 220 is completely assembled by coupling the
second bodies 250 to both ends of the main body 210.
After that, the fluorescent lamp 201 is assembled to
the socket 220. The terminal pins 202 of the fluorescent lamp
201 are pushed along the inclined receiving slit 252 of the
second body 250, and the terminal pins 202 are located inside the
support slit 251, so that the fluorescent lamp 201 is completely
assembled.
That is, when the terminal pins 202 of the fluorescent
lamp 201 are inserted into the support slit 251 along the
receiving slit 252, the terminal pins 202 are in contact with the
upper terminal 241, and at the same time, inserted into the
support slit 251 while moving the upper terminal 241 upwardly to
a predetermined distance. As described above, when the terminal
pins 202 are inserted into the support slit 251, the terminal
pins 202 are in close contact with the lower end of the support
slit 251 while the upper terminal 241 is lowered by elastically
restoring force of the elastic member 247. At this time, the
terminal pins 202 are in contact with the upper terminal 241 and
the lower terminal 245.
Moreover, the upper terminal 241 continuously presses
the terminal pins 202 in the downward direction by the elastic
force, and thereby, the terminal pins 202 of the fluorescent lamp
201 can be safely seated on the lower end of the support slit 251.
After that, the rotation of the terminal pins 202 is prevented by
the recess portion 253.
To disassemble the fluorescent lamp 201 from the
socket 220, when the fluorescent lamp 201 is lifted upwardly, the
terminal pins 202 move the upper terminal 241 in the upward
direction to a predetermined distance, and at this time, the
terminal pins 202 are separated from the lower end of the support
slit 251. After the terminal pins 202 are separated from the
lower end of the support slit 251, when a user rotates the
fluorescent lamp 201 at a predetermined angle and draws out the
terminal pins 202 through the receiving slit 252, the fluorescent
lamp 201 can be easily disassembled from the socket 220.
As described above, the socket according to the
present invention can be applied to fluorescent lighting fixtures
of all kinds using fluorescent lamps.
As described above, the present invention can prevent
discontinuation of illumination of connected portions even though
the fluorescent lighting fixtures are aligned in series, thereby
providing beautiful outward appearance and improved illumination
effect.
Furthermore, the present invention provides excellent
durability, because the fluorescent lighting fixtures are simply
connected one another by means of the connector and firmly
connected one another by means of the combining means.
Moreover, according to the improved socket structure,
the fluorescent lamp can be easily assembled and disassembled.
In addition, because the fluorescent lamp is not
rotated and not easily separated from the socket, the present
invention can prevent an unexpected accident and damage of the
fluorescent lamp due to drop of the fluorescent lamp.
While the present invention has been described with
reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not
to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended
claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art
can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the
scope and spirit of the present invention.