Retractable end-cap for LED tube
View Patent ↗Embodiments of an end-cap for an LED tube are described. In one aspect, an end-cap for an LED tube may include an end-cap housing, an elastic component, a power connector, and a movable assembly. The movable assembly may include a power pin thereon and configured to connect to an external power source. The elastic component may reside inside the end-cap housing. A first end of the movable assembly may connect to the end-cap housing. A second end of the connecting assembly opposite to the first end thereof may connect to a body of the LED tube through the power connector. The power connector may be electrically disconnected from the power pin when the end-cap housing is pressed. The power connector may be electrically connected to the power pin when the end-cap housing is not pressed.
1. An end-cap of a light-emitting diode (LED) tube, comprising:
an end-cap housing;
a first elastic component;
a power connector; and
a movable assembly, wherein:
the movable assembly comprises a power pin thereon and configured to connect to an external power source,
the first elastic component resides inside the end-cap housing,
a first end of the movable assembly connects to the end-cap housing, and
a second end of the movable assembly opposite to the first end thereof connects to a body of the LED tube through the power connector,
the power connector is electrically disconnected from the power pin when the end-cap housing is pressed, and
the power connector is electrically connected to the power pin when the end-cap housing is not pressed.
2. The end-cap of claim 1 , wherein the power connector is retractable in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the LED tube, and wherein a retracting range of the power connector is between 1 mm and 10 mm approximately.
3. The end-cap of claim 1 , wherein when the end-cap housing is pressed, a distance of separation between the power connector and the at least one power pin is between 2 mm and 10 mm approximately.
4. The end-cap of claim 1 , wherein the first elastic component comprises a spring.
5. The end-cap of claim 1 , further comprising:
a base; and
a second elastic component, wherein:
the first elastic component is disposed on a first side of the base and the second elastic component is disposed on a second side of the base opposite the first side of the base such that, when the first elastic component is compressed the second elastic component is not compressed and when the second elastic component is compressed the first elastic component is not compressed.
6. The end-cap of claim 5 , wherein the power connector is disposed on the second side of the base and at least partially exposed.
7. The end-cap of claim 6 , wherein the movable assembly further comprises an electrically-conductive member that is electrically connected to the power pin and traverses through the base from the first side to the second side of the base, wherein the electrically-conductive member is electrically disconnected from the power connector when the first elastic component is compressed, and wherein the electrically-conductive member is electrically connected from the power connector when the first elastic component is not compressed.
8. The end-cap of claim 7 , wherein the movable assembly further comprises a support member, and wherein the electrically-conductive member protrudes from support member in a direction opposite to a direction in which the power pin protrudes from the support member.
9. The end-cap of claim 1 , wherein the power connector is generally ring shaped.
10. The end-cap of claim 9 , wherein the movable assembly further comprises an electrically-conductive member that is electrically connected to the power pin and generally cup shaped, wherein the electrically-conductive member is electrically disconnected from the power connector when the first elastic component is compressed, and wherein the electrically-conductive member is electrically connected from the power connector when the first elastic component is not compressed.