AU2010100620A4 - Lamp with a high-performance reflector - Google Patents

Description

1 LAMP WITH A HIGH-PERFORMANCE REFLECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to lighting technology and more particularly, to a lamp that is equipped with a high-performance reflector that enhances luminous brightness and uniformity and facilitates lamp bulb mounting and dismounting. 2. Description of the Related Art: A lamp may be equipped with a reflector at the back side of the lamp bulb to reflect emitted light rays from the lamp bulb toward the expected illumination area. A known reflector comprises a transmissive type reflector body shell and a reflective coating coated on the inner surface of the transmissive type reflector body shell by vacuum metalizing or mirror treatment. However, because the inner surface of the transmissive type reflector body shell is a smooth surface, the area of the inner (reflecting) surface of the transmissive type reflector body shell is limited to its size. Therefore, the area of the reflecting surface of the reflector is limited. In consequence, the reflection efficiency of the reflector is limited. There is known another type of reflector that has a wave-like reflecting surface having curved folds and grooves. According to this design, the curved folds tend to block the grooves 2 from reflecting light rays and are unable to reflect horizontal light rays toward the expected illumination area. Further, when light rays are refracted by the curved folds repeatedly, the problem of luminance attenuation will occur, lowering the reflection efficiency. Further, when a user suddenly lifts the head, the user's eyes may be dazzled. Further, some lamp bulbs (ceiling lamp tubes) have electrodes at the ends for connection to a lamp holder while some other lamp bulbs use a screw joint for installation. These conventional designs do not facilitate replacement and repair. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a lamp, which is equipped with a high-performance reflector that achieves a high reflection efficiency to enhance luminous brightness and uniformity. It is another object of the present invention to provide a lamp equipped with a high-performance reflector, which facilitates installation, replacement and repair of the light source (lamp bulb). It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lamp equipped with a high-performance reflector, which avoids dazzling. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, 3 a lamp comprises a reflector and a light source. The reflector comprises a reflector body and a socket. The reflector body has opposing big front opening and small rear opening and a plurality of convex reflecting surfaces formed on the inner wall thereof. Each convex reflecting surface is smoothly arched. The socket is mounted in the small rear opening of the reflector body, having a recessed mounting portion, a plurality of electrode plugholes and at least one elastic retaining member. The light source comprises a light-emitting device and a holder holding the light-emitting device and fitted into the recessed mounting portion of the socket. The holder comprises a set of terminal pins electrically connected with the light-emitting device and inserted into the electrode plugholes, and at least one locating groove forced into engagement with the at least one elastic retaining member of the socket. Further, the reflector body can be made in a circular horn-like shape, a rectangular shape, or an oval shape. Further, the convex reflecting surfaces can be made in a rectangular convex shape, a trapezoidal convex shape, or a circular convex shape. Further, a voltage and current control device (electronic ballast) is installed for controlling the operation of the light-emitting device. Further, the light-emitting device can be a HID 4 (high-intensity discharge) bulb selected from a group consisting of CDM-T (chlorinated dimethoxy triazine) bulb, ceramic metal halide bulb, H4 Flex bulb and halogen bulb. Further, LED may be used for the light-emitting device. Further, the reflector body has an outer wall carrying a faceted structure that reinforces the structural strength of the reflector. Further, an anti-glare cap is fastened to the distal end of the light-emitting device remote from the holder to avoid eye glazing. Further, a mounting plate is provided around the reflector body of the reflector for direct mounting in the ceiling. Further, a lampshade may be used to surround the reflector. Further, the convex reflecting surfaces of the reflector body can be made by means of vacuum metalizing the inner wall of the reflector body, processing the inner wall of the reflector body with mirror treatment, coating the inner wall of the reflector body with a layer of reflective material, or bonding optical lenses to the inner wall of the reflector body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a lamp in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an oblique bottom elevation of the lamp in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 when viewed from another 5 angle. FIG. 4 is an oblique bottom elevation of a lamp in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a lamp in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an oblique bottom elevation of a lamp in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an oblique bottom elevation of a lamp in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the lamp in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG, 9 is an oblique bottom elevation of a lamp in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lamp in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a lamp 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a light source 10 and a reflector 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the light source 10 comprises a light-emitting device 11 and a holder 12 holding the light-emitting device 11. The light-emitting device 11 according to this embodiment is a lamp bulb. The holder 12 has a set of terminal pins 6 121 electrically connected with the light-emitting device 11, and two locating grooves 122 respectively located on two opposite sidewalls thereof. Referring to FIGS. 1-3 again, the reflector 20 comprises a reflector body 21 and a socket 22. The reflector body 21 is shaped like a horn, having opposing big front opening 211 and small rear opening 212 and a plurality of convex reflecting surfaces 213 formed on the inner wall thereof between the big front opening 211 and the small rear opening 212. The socket 22 is mounted in the small rear opening 212 of the reflector body 21 to block the small rear opening 212, having a recessed mounting portion 221 fitting the contour of the holder 12 of the light source 10, two electrode plugholes 222 located on the recessed mounting portion 221 for receiving the terminal pins 121 of the holder 12 of the light source 10 and two elastic retaining members 223 disposed at two opposite lateral sides in the recessed mounting portion 221 and adapted for engaging the locating grooves 122 of the holder 12 of the light source 10. Further, the electrode plugholes 222 of the holder 12 of the light source 10 are electrically connected to an external power source (not shown). The installation and characteristics of the lamp 100 are described hereinafter. At first, the holder 12 of the light source 10 is inserted into 7 the recessed mounting portion 221 of the socket 22 to press-fit the terminal pins 121 into the electrode plugholes 222 of the socket 22 for enabling electricity to be transmitted from the external power source to the light-emitting device (lamp bulb) 11 of the light source 10. At this time, the two elastic retaining members 223 of the socket 22 are respectively engaged into the locating grooves 122 of the holder 12 of the light source 10 to secure the holder 12 of the light source 10 to the socket 22. Subject to the matching design between the elastic retaining members 223 of the socket 22 and the locating grooves 122 of the holder 12 of the light source 10, mounting and dismounting of the light source 10 are simple. Further, because the inner surface of the reflector body 21 of the reflector 20 is formed of a plurality of convex reflecting surfaces 213, the invention increases the total reflecting surface area of the reflector 20, enhancing luminous brightness. During operation of the lamp 100, the convex reflecting surfaces 213 reflect light rays emitted by the light-emitting device (lamp bulb) 11 of the light source 10 toward the outside through the big front opening 211. Because each convex reflecting surface 213 is curved smoothly outwards, the convex reflecting surfaces 213 effectively reflect light rays toward the expected illumination area without blocking any light rays, avoiding luminance attenuation due to repeated refraction. Thus, the invention enhances luminous 8 brightness and uniformity and facilitates mounting and dismounting of the lamp bulb. Further, the convex reflecting surfaces 213 can be made having a rectangular convex shape, trapezoidal convex shape or circular convex shape, achieving the same reflecting effect. Further, the lamp 100 is equipped with a voltage and current control device (for example, electronic ballast; not shown) for starting up the light-emitting device (lamp bulb) 11 of the light source 10. The voltage and current control device can be installed in the socket 22 of the reflector 20 or an external place. Further, the convex reflecting surfaces 213 can be formed on the inner wall of the reflector body 21 between the big front opening 211 and the small rear opening 212 by means of vacuum metalizing the inner wall of the reflector body 21, processing the inner wall of the reflector body 21 with mirror treatment, coating the inner wall of the reflector body 21 with a layer of reflective material or bonding optical lenses to the inner wall of the reflector body 21. Further, the light-emitting device 11 of the light source 10 can be a HID (high-intensity discharge) bulb, such as CDM-T (chlorinated dimethoxy triazine) bulb, ceramic metal halide bulb, H4 Flex bulb or halogen bulb, or a LED module. Further, the outer wall of the reflector body 21 of the reflector 20 has a 9 faceted structure (not a single plane) that enhances the structural strength of the reflector 20, avoiding thermal deformation and enabling the thickness of the reflector body 21 to be minimized to save the material cost. FIG. 4 illustrates a lamp 200 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the aforesaid first embodiment, the lamp 200 comprises a light source 10 and a reflector 20. This second embodiment further comprises an anti-glare cap A fastened to the distal end of the light-emitting device 11 of the light source 10 to avoid direct projection of the emitted light rays toward the big front opening 211 of the reflector body 21 without reflection by the convex reflecting surfaces 213, preventing eye dazzling. FIG. 5 illustrates a lamp 300 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the aforesaid first embodiment, the lamp 300 comprises a light source 10 and a reflector 30. According to this third embodiment, the reflector body 31 of the reflector 30 has an oval shape practical for street light, wall light or car light application. FIG. 6 illustrates a lamp 400 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the aforesaid first embodiment, the lamp 400 comprises a light source 10 and a reflector 40. According to this fourth embodiment, the reflector body 41 of the reflector 40 has a rectangular shape. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a lamp 300 in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. This fifth embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid third embodiment with the 10 exception that this fifth embodiment further comprises a flat mounting plate 99 affixed to the periphery of the reflector body 31 of the reflector 30 for mounting. FIG, 9 illustrate a lamp 300 in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. This sixth embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that this sixth embodiment further comprises a flat mounting plate 99 affixed to the periphery of the reflector 20 for mounting. FIG. 10 illustrates a lamp 600 in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention. This seventh embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that this seventh embodiment further comprises a lampshade 98 surrounding the reflector 20. This seventh embodiment is practical for outdoor illumination, for example, for use as a street light or throw light to focus the emitted light on a predetermined angle. Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A lamp, comprising: a reflector, said reflector comprising a reflector body and a socket, said reflector body having opposing big front opening and small rear opening and a plurality of convex reflecting surfaces formed on an inner wall thereof between said big front opening and said small rear opening, each said convex reflecting surface being smoothly arched, said socket being mounted in the small rear opening of said reflector body, said socket having a recessed mounting portion, a plurality of electrode plugholes and at least one elastic retaining member; and a light source, said light source comprising a light-emitting device and a holder holding said light-emitting device and fitted into said recessed mounting portion of said socket, said holder comprising a set of terminal pins electrically connected with said light-emitting device and inserted into said electrode plugholes and at least one locating groove forced into engagement with said at least one elastic retaining member of said socket.

2. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflector body is made in one of circular horn-like shape, rectangular shape and oval shape.

3. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said convex reflecting surfaces are made in one of rectangular convex shape, 12 trapezoidal convex shape and circular convex shape.

4. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said convex reflecting surfaces are made by means of vacuum metalizing the inner wall of said reflector body, processing the inner wall of said reflector body with mirror treatment, coating the inner wall of said reflector body with a layer of reflective material, or bonding optical lenses to the inner wall of said reflector body.

5. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a voltage and current control device (electronic ballast) for controlling the operation of said light-emitting device.

6. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-emitting device is a HID (high-intensity discharge) bulb selected from a group consisting of CDM-T (chlorinated dimethoxy triazine) bulb, ceramic metal halide bulb, H4 Flex bulb and halogen bulb.

7. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflector body has an outer wall carrying a faceted structure.

8. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an anti-glare cap fastened to the distal end of said light-emitting device remote from said holder.

9. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mounting plate surrounding said reflector body of said reflector for mounting.

10. The lamp as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a 13 lampshade surrounding said reflector body. Applicant: Ho Chen LIN Inventor: Ho Chen LIN Dated: 17 June 2010