LED lamp with light-diffusing end cap
An LED lamp includes a plurality of LED modules arranged in direction x, a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules that is open at ends spaced from each other in direction x, and end caps respectively closing the ends of the tubular enclosure in direction x. Each of the end caps is configured to diffuse light from the LED modules while transmitting the light, and includes an emission surface for emitting light in a direction z perpendicular to direction x. This arrangement ensures that the LED lamp has a good appearance even when it is made long.
1. An LED lamp comprising:
a plurality of LED modules arranged in a first direction;
a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules, the tubular enclosure being open at ends spaced from each other in the first direction; and
end caps respectively closing the ends of the tubular enclosure;
wherein each of the end caps is configured to diffuse light from the LED modules while transmitting the light, the end cap including an emission surface for emitting light in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.
2. The LED lamp according to claim 1 , wherein: the tubular enclosure includes a support member including a mount surface on which the LED modules are mounted, the mount surface being positioned on one side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the tubular enclosure further including a diffusion cover for diffusing the light from the LED modules while transmitting the light, the diffusion cover covering the one side of the support member in the second direction; and
the emission surface is provided on the one side in the second direction.
3. The LED lamp according to claim 1 , wherein each of the end caps is made of a transparent resin added with a light-diffusing material for diffusing light from the LED modules.
4. The LED lamp according to claim 2 , wherein the emission surface is continuous with an outer surface of the diffusion cover.
5. The LED lamp according to claim 1 , wherein: the LED modules are arranged at regular intervals; and
distance between each of the end caps and one of the LED modules that is closest in the first direction to the end cap is smaller than the interval.
6. The LED lamp according to claim 5 , wherein a distance between an outer one of end surfaces of the end cap that are spaced in the first direction and the LED module that is closest in the first direction to the end cap is one half the interval.
7. The LED lamp according to claim 1 , wherein: the end cap is provided with a connection plate projecting in the first direction into the tubular enclosure;
the connection plate is formed with a screw insertion hole elongated in the first direction; and
the end cap is attached to the tubular enclosure with a screw inserted into the screw insertion hole such that the emission surface can be accommodated in the tubular enclosure.
8. The LED lamp according to claim 1 , wherein the end caps include a first end cap having an inclined surface inclined to be away from the emission surface as proceeding outward in the first direction and a second end cap having an inclined surface inclined to come close to the emission surface as proceeding outward in the first direction.
9. The LED lamp according to claim 1 , wherein each of the end caps includes a male portion having an inclined surface inclined to come close to the emission surface as proceeding outward in the first direction and a female portion having an inclined surface inclined to be away from the emission surface as proceeding outward in the first direction.
10. An LED lighting apparatus comprising at least two LED lamps as set forth in claim 1 aligned in the first direction,
wherein an end, in the first direction, of one of the end caps of one of two adjacent LED lamps and an end, in the first direction, of one of the end caps of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps face each other.
11. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the end of the end cap of one of two adjacent LED lamps and the end of the end cap of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps are in contact with each other.
12. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the emission surfaces of the two adjacent LED lamps are continuous with each other.
13. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein: a plate member is disposed between and in contact with the end caps of the two adjacent LED lamps; and
the plate member is configured to diffuse light from the LED modules while transmitting the light.
14. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the plate member includes a surface continuous with the emission surface of each of the end caps.
15. An LED lighting apparatus comprising at least two LED lamps as set forth in claim 7 aligned in the first direction,
wherein an end, in the first direction, of one of the end caps of one of two adjacent LED lamps and an end, in the first direction, of one of the end caps of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps are in contact with each other.
16. An LED lighting apparatus comprising at least two LED lamps as set forth in claim 8 aligned in the first direction, wherein:
each of two adjacent LED lamps includes the first end cap and the second end cap at ends spaced from each other in the first direction; and
the inclined surface of the first end cap of one of the two adjacent LED lamps and the inclined surface of the second end cap of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps face each other.
17. An LED lighting apparatus comprising at least two LED lamps as set forth in claim 9 aligned in the first direction,
wherein the female portion of one of the end caps of one of two adjacent LED lamps is in engagement with the male portion of one of the end caps of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps.
18. An LED lighting apparatus comprising:
at least two LED lamps as set forth in claim 1 aligned in the first direction;
at least two lamp cases comprising a plurality of LED modules arranged in a first direction and a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules, the lamp case comprising:
a main body including a pair of connecting portions at ends spaced from each other in the first direction; and
an end member to be attached to either one of the paired connecting portions;
wherein the end member is removably attachable to the connecting portions and includes a wall surface perpendicular to the first direction for housing the LED lamps; and
an intermediate member to be connected to both of two of the lamp cases that are adjacent to each other in the first direction;
wherein an end, in the first direction, of one of the end caps of one of two adjacent LED lamps and an end, in the first direction, of one of the end caps of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps face each other.
19. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the end of the end cap of one of two adjacent LED lamps and the end of the end cap of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps are in contact with each other.
20. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the emission surfaces of the two adjacent LED lamps are continuous with each other.
21. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein: a plate member is disposed between and in contact with the end caps of the two adjacent LED lamps; and
the plate member is configured to diffuse light from the LED modules while transmitting the light.
22. The LED lighting apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the plate member includes a surface continuous with the emission surface of each of the end caps.
23. An LED lighting apparatus comprising:
at least two LED lamps as set forth in claim 7 aligned in the first direction;
at least two lamp cases comprising a plurality of LED modules arranged in a first direction and a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules, the lamp case comprising:
a main body including a pair of connecting portions at ends spaced from each other in the first direction; and
an end member to be attached to either one of the paired connecting portions;
wherein the end member is removably attachable to the connecting portions and includes a wall surface perpendicular to the first direction for housing the LED lamps; and
an intermediate member to be connected to both of two of the lamp cases that are adjacent to each other in the first direction;
wherein an end, in the first direction, of one of the end caps of one of two adjacent LED lamps and an end, in the first direction, of one of the end caps of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps are in contact with each other.
24. An LED lighting apparatus comprising:
at least two LED lamps as set forth in claim 8 aligned in the first direction;
at least two lamp cases comprising a plurality of LED modules arranged in a first direction and a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules, the lamp case comprising:
a main body including a pair of connecting portions at ends spaced from each other in the first direction; and
an end member to be attached to either one of the paired connecting portions;
wherein the end member is removably attachable to the connecting portions and includes a wall surface perpendicular to the first direction for housing the LED lamps; and
an intermediate member to be connected to both of two of the lamp cases that are adjacent to each other in the first direction, wherein:
each of two adjacent LED lamps includes the first end cap and the second end cap at ends spaced from each other in the first direction; and
the inclined surface of the first end cap of one of the two adjacent LED lamps and the inclined surface of the second end cap of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps face each other.
25. An LED lighting apparatus comprising:
at least two LED lamps as set forth in claim 9 aligned in the first direction;
at least two lamp cases comprising a plurality of LED modules arranged in a first direction and a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules, the lamp case comprising:
a main body including a pair of connecting portions at ends spaced from each other in the first direction; and
an end member to be attached to either one of the paired connecting portions;
wherein the end member is removably attachable to the connecting portions and includes a wall surface perpendicular to the first direction for housing the LED lamps; and
an intermediate member to be connected to both of two of the lamp cases that are adjacent to each other in the first direction,
wherein the female portion of one of the end caps of one of two adjacent LED lamps is in engagement with the male portion of one of the end caps of the other one of the two adjacent LED lamps.