LED lamp with replaceable power supply

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an LED lamp, and in particular, to an LED lamp with replaceable power supply.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0004] Application of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in illumination have become increasingly popular in recent years. As compared to the common fluorescent lamps, for example, LED lamps are more compact in size, consumes less power, have longer lamp life and are more environmentally friendly.

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates an LED lamp with LED light sources, which includes a tubular body 10a, a light module 20a, a power supply 30a, and two power connectors 40a. Light module 20a is deposed within tubular body 10a. Light module 20a includes a circuit board 21a and a plurality of LEDs 22a. LEDs 22s are disposed on the bottom side of circuit board 21a and are electrically coupled thereto. Power supply 30a is disposed within tubular body 10a on the top side of circuit board 21a. Power supply 30a is soldered on circuit board 21a for electrical connection. Two power connectors 40a are also soldered—to power supply 30a—for electrical connection, and are sealed to the two ends of tubular body 10a.

[0006] In one aspect, the invention features an LED lamp with replaceable power supply that includes a tubular body, a light module, a power supply, and two power connectors. The light module is disposed within the tubular body. The light module includes a circuit board and a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs are electrically coupled to the circuit board and are disposed on the bottom side of the circuit board. The power supply is replaceably disposed on the light module and is electrically coupled to the circuit board. The two power connectors are respectively coupled to the two ends of the tubular body and are electrically coupled to the power supply.

[0007] Embodiments may include one or more of the following advantages. The configuration of the LED lamp with replaceable power supply allows easy access to the inside of the tubular body of the LED lamp, whereupon the power supply replaceably coupled to the light module can be easily removed and replaced from the tubular body. Accordingly, when the power supply of the LED lamp dies out after its typical 20,000 hours of use, for example, a user can simply replace the defective component power supply, rather than having to retire the whole LED lamp entirely, thereby maximizing use of all electrical components and reducing operation costs.

[0008] The LED lamp with replaceable power supply further allows the light module replaceably disposed within the tubular body of the LED lamp to be easily replaced. Accordingly, when the light module is defective, for example, a user can simply replace the defective component light module, rather than having to retire the whole LED lamp entirely, thereby maximizing use of all electrical components and reducing operation costs.

[0017] In cooperation with attached drawings, the technical contents and detailed description of the present invention are described thereinafter according to a preferable embodiment, being not used to limit its executing scope. Any equivalent variation and modification made according to appended claims is all covered by the claims claimed by the present invention.

[0018] FIGS. 2-4 show an LED lamp with replaceable power supply that includes a tubular body 10, a light module 20, a power supply 30, and two power connectors 40.

[0019] Tubular body 10 is made of thin, transparent, and light-transmittable PVC or acrylic materials. Tubular body 10 includes a plurality of venting holes. Venting holes 11 are disposed in a spatial arrangement. The two ends of tubular body 10 are each defined a connecting section 12. Connecting sections 12 each includes two open grooves 121 and a lock hook 122 defined between two open grooves 121.

[0020] Light module 20 is replaceably disposed within tubular body 10. Light module 20 includes a circuit board 21, a plurality of LEDs 22, and a first power socket 23. LEDs 22 are electrically coupled to circuit board 21 and are disposed in a spatial arrangement on the bottom side of circuit board 21. First power socket 23 is disposed on circuit board 21 and is electrically coupled to electric circuit 21. Generally, LEDs 22 have a lamp life of about 50,000 hours, and can be yellow LEDs 22, white LEDs 22, blue LEDs or red LEDs, but are not limited thereto. Power supply 30 is replaceably disposed on light module 20 and is disposed on circuit board 21. Power supply 30 has two second power sockets 32 and a power supply plug 31. Power supply plug 31 is adapted to insert in first power socket 23 of light module 20 for electrically coupling to electric circuit 21. Generally, the service life of power supply 30 is about 20,000 hours, shorter than LEDs 22's lamp life of 50,000 hours. Two power connectors 40 are removably coupled to the two ends of tubular body 10 respectively and are electrically coupled to power supply 30. Two power connectors 40 each includes an annular body 44 and lock slots 41. Lock slots 41 are defined on annular body 44 and correspond to lock hook 122 of connecting sections 12. Locks slots 41 adapted to engage with lock hook 122 in a locking configuration. LED lamp with replaceable power supply further includes two power sink plugs 42 that are electrically coupled to two power connectors 40 respectively. Two power sink plugs 42 are adapted to insert in two second power sockets 32 of power supply 30 respectively.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, to assemble an LED lamp with replaceable power supply, power supply 30 is first displaced on circuit board 21 of light module 20. Power supply plug 31 of power supply 30 is then inserted in first power socket 23 located on circuit board 21. Next, light module 20 and power supply 30 are both disposed within tubular body 10. Then, two power sink plugs 42 of two power connectors 40 are respectively inserted in second power sockets 32 of power supply 30. Finally, two power connectors 40 are respectively coupled to the two ends of tubular body 10.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, to disassemble an LED lamp with replaceable power supply, two power connectors 40 are first removed from tubular body 10. Two power sink plugs 42 of two power connectors 40 are next unplugged from two second power sockets 32. Next, light module 20 and power supply 30 are removed from within tubular body 10. Lastly, power supply plug 31 of power supply 30 is unplugged from first power socket 23 located on circuit board 21.

[0023] Accordingly, when inoperable, power supply 30 or LEDs 22 of light module 20 can be removed for repair or replacement and then re-assembled according to the aforementioned methods. Such ability to replace inoperable LED lamp components provides an alternative to conventional approach where the entire LED lamp has to be replaced, thereby greatly reducing operation costs.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 5, to operate an LED lamp with replaceable power supply, an assembled LED lamp with replaceable power supply is installed in lamp fixture 60. Lamp fixture 60 includes a lamp housing 61 and two electrical sockets 62 disposed within lamp housing 61. Next, two power connectors 40 of LED lamp with replaceable power supply is inserted in two electrical sockets 62 of light fixture 60, whereupon LEDs 22 are powered and provide illumination.

[0025] FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively show an exploded diagram and an assembly diagram of an LED lamp with replaceable power supply according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the LED lamp with replaceable power supply further includes a nut 70. Nut 70 has a lock groove 71 and an internal thread abutting 72 the lock groove 71 defined therein. Power connectors 40 each has a lock ring 43 on its outer edge adapted to fit within lock groove 71. The two ends of tubular body 10 each has an external thread 13 adapted to mate with internal thread 72 of nut 70. Through nut 70, power connectors 40 are thereby coupled to tubular body 10.

[0026] Accordingly, when power supply 30 or light module 20 is inoperable, embodiments of the LED lamp with replaceable power supply allow either component to be repaired or replaced, as opposed to having to dispose the whole LED lamp entirely, thereby significantly reducing operation costs and maximizing use of all electrical components.