Electrical Connection Means and Illumination Device

Comprising the Electrical Connection Means

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical connection means for an illumination device and an illumination device comprising the electrical connection means. Background Art

In the current illumination devices, especially LED lamps, conventional flexible wires are usually used for connecting a driver and a light engine of an illumination device, however, the wires should be manually soldered by manufacturers in production line, and in most of the illumination devices currently available in the market, the above-mentioned soldering process is used so as to make a driver of an illumination de ^¬ vice in electrical connection with a light engine.

Besides, in some other products of illumination device, the driver and the light engine are electrically connected in electrical connection manners other than wires, for instance, wires having an electrical terminal is used, in which elec ^¬ trical connection manner, a wire having an electrical terminal is inserted into a housing of an illumination device with an electrical socket port, such that electrical connection is formed between the driver and the light engine. For another example, the electrical connection between the driver and the light engine is formed in a form of pin in the illumination device; in particular, the driver and the light engine are electrically connected by means of heads of the pin so as to form the electrical connection. Since additional manual operations are needed for manually soldering the wires electrically connected to the driver and the light engine, a relatively complex operation process is needed, thus, during the process of manufacturing the illumi- nation device, extra costs are resulted, the production effi ^¬ ciency is reduced, moreover, soldering spots which have been soldered will be affected by the environment and gradually lose stability of electrical connection. Moreover, for the illumination device with the electrical connection in the form of pin, the pin should be manually installed, such that the pin can successfully form electrical connection with the driver and the light engine, which results in extra manufac ^¬ ture costs, and reduces the production efficiency, further ^¬ more, the electrical connection of the electrical connection means in the form of pin with the driver and the light engine is not so firm, which causes unstable inner electrical con ^¬ nection of the illumination device.

Summary of the Invention

In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention proposes a novel electrical connection means for an illumination device and an illumination device comprising this electrical connection means. This electrical connection means has a simple and firm mechanical structure, can be connected and secured in the illumination device in a quite simple manner using its own capacity of elastic defor ^¬ mation, moreover, both mechanical connection and electrical connection of the electrical connection means with a light engine unit and a drive unit of the illumination device can be formed respectively during installation, in this way, no other complex manual process of secondary operation is needed to form electrical connection between the light engine unit and the drive unit. The first objective of the present invention is realized via such an electrical connection means for illumination device that is made of an electrically conductive elastic material, and the electrical connection means comprises a first elec- trical connection structure and a second electrical connec ^¬ tion structure integrally formed, wherein the first electri ^¬ cal connection structure is in electrical contact, in a man ^¬ ner of elastic deformation, with an electrical connection part of a light engine unit of the illumination device, and the second electrical connection structure is in electrical contact, in a clamping manner, with an electrical connection part of a drive unit of the illumination device. According to such configuration, this electrical connection means has the possibility of forming electrical connection respectively with the drive unit and the light engine unit, and this elec ^¬ trical connection means also may form mechanical connection in different forms with different parts of the illumination device using different electrical connection structures so as to possess the possibility of simultaneously forming electri- cal connection and mechanical connection respectively with the drive unit and the light engine unit, which realizes con ^¬ venient installation of the electrical connection means.

In a preferred example, the first electrical connection structure is pressing against the electrical connection part of the light engine unit with a preset pressing force, and the second electrical connection structure clamps the drive unit at the electrical connection part of the drive unit with a preset clamping force. The electrical connection means made of the elastic material can enable the first electrical connection structure press against the electrical connection part of the light engine unit in a situation of elastic de ^¬ formation, which not only can form simple and firm electrical connection but also has the possibility of disassemble at any time. Besides, the second electrical connection structure clamps the drive unit in a clamping manner, in this way, the electrical connection means can effectively use a space in ^¬ side the illumination device in cooperation with an inner space of the illumination device and a structure of the drive unit, and form firm electrical connection and mechanical con ^¬ nection of the electrical connection means with the drive unit .

Preferably, the electrical connection means comprises a body and at least one first contact piece and at least one second contact piece which are formed on the body, wherein the first contact piece extends in a first direction starting from the body so as to form the first electrical connection structure, and the second contact piece extends, starting from the body, in a second direction in a plane forming a preset angle with a plane where the body is in, so as to form the second elec ^¬ trical connection structure. The first contact piece and the second contact piece that extend respectively from the body have a stable and simple mechanical structure, and the elec- trical connection means can fit in the relative spatial posi ^¬ tion of the drive unit in the illumination means with respect to the light engine, and form mechanical connection and elec ^¬ trical connection with the light engine unit using the first contact piece, and meanwhile forms mechanical connection and electrical connection with the drive unit using the second contact piece in a spatial position different from that of the first contact piece.

Advantageously, the angle mentioned above is set to be 90°. In one simplest example, the drive unit is arranged right be- low the light engine unit, and the configuration of the angle of 90° is beneficial for sufficient utilization of the inner space of the illumination device, such that the electrical connection means can form mechanical connection and electrical connection respectively with the light engine unit and the drive unit while having a simple structure.

Further advantageously, a bent portion is formed at a free end of the first contact piece, and the bottom of the bent portion is in electrical contact with the electrical connec ^¬ tion part of the light engine unit. Electrical connection between the first contact piece and the light engine unit is formed in a form of point contact or surface contact using the bent portion, and the first contact piece can firmly press against the surface of the light engine unit using the elastic deformation of the electrical connection means.

Preferably, the electrical connection means comprises two se ^¬ cond contact pieces, and the second contact pieces respec- tively extend away from the body at opposite sides of the body. The two second contact pieces are able to hold in two directions the body of the drive unit in connection with the second contact pieces, realize stable mechanical connection between the electrical connection means and the drive unit, and meanwhile also can form effective electrical connection on at least one surface of the drive unit.

Preferably, the second contact piece has a stop sheet formed on the second electrical contact piece, and the electrical connection means is held in the illumination device, by means of the stop sheet, in a manner of being prevented from escap ^¬ ing from the illumination device. The electrical connection means configured with the stop sheets is inserted into the illumination device using the elastic deformation of the stop sheets, and after the insertion, it can again use the elastic deformation to enable the electrical connection means to en ^¬ gage or be fixed in the illumination device by means of the stop sheets.

Preferably, the stop sheet is configured to form an angle with a plane of the second contact piece, and an opening of the angle is oriented in the direction of the body. Accord- ing to such configuration, when the electrical connection means is inserted into the illumination device from outside for installation, the stop sheets can be deformed inwardly with elasticity, that is, the opening of the angle gets smaller such that the electrical connection means can be suc- cessfully inserted into the illumination device, and when the electrical connection means has been inserted, the stop sheets can again use the elastic deformation to make the opening of the angle get bigger, thus, the stop sheets can press against and be secured in the illumination device. Preferably, the second contact pieces respectively further comprise a clamp portion, the clamp portions extending towards each other and clamping the drive unit together and electrically contacting the electrical connection part of the drive unit. The clamp portions can form mechanical connec- tion of the electrical connection means and the drive unit while forming electrical connection with the electrical con ^¬ nection part of the drive unit.

In a preferred example, two second contact pieces are config ^¬ ured mirror-symmetrical with respect to the body. In this way, the symmetrical clamp portions of the second contact pieces can clamp and hold the drive unit in the same plane, and meanwhile also forms electrical connection of the elec ^¬ trical connection means and the drive unit at least on one surface of the drive unit. The other objective of the present invention is realized via such an illumination device that comprises the electrical connection means as described above, wherein the electrical connection means electrically connects a light engine unit and a drive unit of the illumination device with each other. The illumination device having this electrical connection means has a simple structure, is convenient for bulk automat ^¬ ic production and requires simple and effective assembling, and enables formation of electrical connection between the drive unit and the light engine unit and respective mechani- cal connection of the electrical connection means with the drive unit and the light engine unit while the electrical connection means is inserted.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the present description and are used to provide further understanding of the present invention. Such accompanying drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and are used to de ^¬ scribe the principles of the present invention together with the description. In the accompanying drawings the same com- ponents are represented by the same reference numbers. As shown in the drawings :

Fig. 1 shows a structural schematic diagram of an electrical connection means according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the electrical connection means according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a first electrical con ^¬ nection structure when the electrical connection means ac ^¬ cording to the present invention is installed in an illumina ^¬ tion device; Fig. 4 shows a front local sectional view of an illumination device installed with the electrical connection means accord ^¬ ing to the present invention; and

Fig. 5 shows a rear local sectional view of the illumination device installed with the electrical connection means accord ^¬ ing to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, direc ^¬ tional terminology, such as "inner", "outer", "left",

"right", is used in reference to the orientation of the fig ^¬ ures being described. Because components of embodiments of the present invention can be positioned in a number of dif ^¬ ferent orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Fig. 1 shows a structural schematic diagram of an electrical connection means 100 according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the electrical connection means 100 accord ^¬ ing to the present invention comprises a first electrical connection structure 1, a second electrical connection struc ^¬ ture 2 and a body 3, wherein the first and second electrical connection structures 1, 2 and the body 3 are formed in one piece and made of an elastic and electrically conductive ma- terial, such as copper strip or the like. The body 3 is con ^¬ figured in a substantially strip shape or plate shape, the first electrical connection structure 1 and the second elec ^¬ trical connection structure 2 both extend outwardly from the body 3; moreover, since the electrical connection structure 1 is configured mirror-symmetrical relative to the body 3, the second electrical connection structure 2 is configured as se ^¬ cond contact pieces 2 extending at two opposite sides of the body 3; furthermore, the first electrical connection struc- ture 1 is configured as a first contact piece 1 extending starting from a side other than the above-mentioned sides, preferably, the first and second contact pieces 1, 2 are con ^¬ figured with a substantially strip-shape structure, in this way, materials and manufacture costs needed for manufacturing this electrical connection means 100 can be effectively saved. Besides, a bent portion 11 is provided on the first contact piece 1, and this bent portion is specifically pro ^¬ vided at an end of the first contact piece 1 for direct con ^¬ tact with a light engine unit 201 of an illumination device 200 to form mechanical connection and electrical connection. It also should be explained that it can be seen from Fig. 1 that a stop sheet 21 and a clamp portion 22 are further pro ^¬ vided on respective second contact piece 2, wherein the stop sheet 21 is offset from an extending direction of the body of the second contact piece 2 and extends outwardly, that is, the stop sheet 21 and a plane of the second contact piece 2 form an angle which has an upward opening as seen from Fig. 1. Moreover, the clamp portions 22 extend towards each other and can be in an opposite direction in contact with, e.g. a drive unit 202 of the illumination device 200, and clamp this drive unit 202.

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the electrical connection means 100 according to the present invention. Viewed from a direc- tion of an extending direction of the first contact piece 1, i.e. viewed from a rear direction of this electrical connec ^¬ tion means 100, it can be seen that the electrical connection means 100 is configured mirror-symmetrical relative to the body 3, that is, the stop sheets 21 and the clamp portions 22 as shown in Fig. 2 are configured bilaterally symmetrical, respectively, wherein the bent portion 11 of the first con ^¬ tact piece 1 is configured, e.g. in a wave shape, bent down ^¬ wardly, and a bottom of the wave-shape bent portion 11 can directly form electrical connection and mechanical connection with an electrical connection part of the light engine unit 201, and press against a surface of the light engine unit 201 in an elastic form by means of elastic deformation of the electrical connection means 100. It should be indicated that the bent portion 11 also may be configured in other bent shapes, such as spoon shape, so as to be in direct connection with the light engine unit 201.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the first electrical con ^¬ nection structure 1 when the electrical connection means 100 according to the present invention is installed in the illu ^¬ mination device 200. As shown in Fig. 3, the bent portion 11 of the first contact piece 1 of the electrical connection means 100 is against an upper surface, e.g. a surface facing away from the drive unit 202, of the light engine unit 201 with a preset pressing force, such that mechanical connection and electrical connection between the electrical connection means 100 and the light engine unit 201 are formed on this surface .

Fig. 4 shows a front local sectional view of the illumination device 200 installed with the electrical connection means 100 according to the present invention. When the electrical connection means 100 is inserted into the illumination device 200 and thus installed in the illumination device 200, the stop sheets 21 will be elastically deformed, and with the help of this elastic deformation, an angle of an opening formed between the stop sheet 21 and the second contact piece 2 will get smaller such that the electrical connection means 100 can successfully enter into a housing 203 of the illumi ^¬ nation device 200 in the insertion direction, and after the electrical connection means 100 enters into the housing 203, the angle of the opening will get bigger or restore due to further elastic deformation of the stop sheets 21, such that the stop sheets 21 are embedded into a recess 204 provided in the housing 203, in this way ends of the stop sheets 21 are against the recess 204 and secured in the recess 204 so that the electrical connection means 100 is fixed in the housing 203 of the illumination device 200. According to such configuration, the electrical connection means 100 can be fixed in the housing 203 just by inserting the electrical connec ^¬ tion means 100 into the housing 203 from outside of the illu ^¬ mination device 200 and through simple pressing in the inser- tion direction.

Fig. 5 shows a rear local sectional view of the illumination device 200 installed with the electrical connection means 100 according to the present invention. The clamp portions 22 of the second contact pieces 2 of the electrical connection means 100 can form mechanical connection and electrical con ^¬ nection with the drive unit 202 of the illumination device 200 while the electrical connection means 100 is installed and fixed in the housing 203 of the illumination device 200. Specifically, the clamp portions 22 are in direct contact with the drive unit 202 from two different directions and hold the drive unit 202, consequently, the electrical connec ^¬ tion means 100 can form electrical connection between the electrical connection means 100 and the drive unit 202 through the clamp portions 22, and the electrical connection means 100 per se forms electrical connection between the light engine unit 201 and the drive unit 202 in cases where electrical connection is present between the first contact piece 1 of the electrical connection means 100 and the light engine unit 201, in other words, after the electrical connec ^¬ tion means 100 is inserted, the electrical connection means 100 forms electrical connection between the light engine unit

201 and the drive unit 202 while forming its mechanical con ^¬ nection with the light engine unit 201 and the drive unit

202.

The above is merely preferred embodiments of the present in ^¬ vention but not to limit the present invention. For the per ^¬ son skilled in the art, the present invention may have vari ^¬ ous alterations and changes. Any alterations, equivalent substitutions, improvements, within the spirit and principle of the present invention, should be covered in the protection scope of the present invention.

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List of reference signs

1 first electrical connection structure, first con ^¬ tact piece 2 second electrical connection structure, second con ^¬ tact piece

3 body 11 bent portion

21 stop sheet

22 clamp portion

100 electrical connection means

200 illumination device 201 light engine unit

202 drive unit

203 housing

204 recess