Flexible light strip joint device

Abstract

The application provides a flexible lamp strip joint device, which comprises at least two connecting pieces, the connecting piece comprises a base and a connecting sheet embedded in the base, the inner side of the base is configured with a positioning groove for limiting installation of the flexible lamp strip along the length direction, the connecting sheet is used for piercing the flexible lamp strip to realize fixation and electrical conduction, a plurality of joints are vertically connected on the connecting sheet, the joint comprises a connecting joint and a conductive joint, the top end of the connecting joint is provided with a piercing structure and an anti-falling hook; the connecting piece comprises an inflection point connecting piece for direction adjustment, a horizontal connecting piece for extension connection of a straight line segment of the lamp strip and an electricity connection connecting piece for butt joint of the lamp strip and an external power supply. The device does not need welding tools and professional operation experience, and only needs to align the lamp strip with the positioning structure of the base, so that the connecting sheet joint pierces the packaging layer of the lamp strip to complete the connection, and mechanical fixation and electrical conduction are simultaneously completed in one operation, thereby greatly reducing the installation threshold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of LED light strip technology, and in particular to a flexible light strip connector device. Background Technology

[0002] Flexible LED strips, with their bendability and adaptability, are widely used in decorative lighting, architectural lighting, and other applications. However, the segmented connection and reversible adjustment of these strips are core requirements for actual installation. Currently, the main connection methods for flexible LED strips are soldering and spring-loaded connections. Soldering requires using a soldering iron to weld the copper foil pads of the LED strip to the wires or connectors. While this achieves relatively stable electrical conduction, it is technically demanding, requiring specialized tools and skills, making it difficult for ordinary users to perform independently. Furthermore, the soldering process can easily damage the flexible printed circuit board (FPC), LED chips, or solder joints due to excessive heat, leading to short circuits and the strip not lighting up. Once connected, the strip cannot be disassembled or adjusted; if the layout needs to be changed, it must be re-soldered, resulting in extremely poor flexibility. Spring-loaded connections expose the metal parts, making them prone to leakage and obstructing the light source, causing inconvenience to users. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address or partially address the problems existing in related technologies, this application provides a flexible LED strip connector device that allows the connector to pierce the LED strip encapsulation layer and directly contact the flexible circuit board, achieving both mechanical fixation and electrical conduction. This significantly improves the installation efficiency and stability of the flexible LED strip, adapting to the application needs of various decorative lighting and illumination scenarios.

[0004] This application provides a flexible light strip connector device, including: at least two connectors, each connector including a base and a connecting piece embedded in the base, the inner side of the base having a positioning groove for limiting the installation of the flexible light strip along the length direction, the connecting piece being used to pierce the flexible light strip to achieve fixation and electrical conduction, and a plurality of connectors being vertically connected on the connecting piece, the connectors including connecting connectors and conductive connectors, the top end of the connecting connectors being provided with a piercing structure and an anti-detachment hook; The connectors include inflection point connectors for direction adjustment, horizontal connectors for extending the straight sections of the light strip, and electrical connectors for connecting the light strip to an external power source.

[0005] In one alternative, the first base of the inflection point connector is a corner structure that matches the corner angle of the installation scene, the connecting piece of the inflection point connector is set to correspond to the corner structure, and an arc transition section is set at the corner.

[0006] In one alternative embodiment, the third base of the electrical connector includes a connecting end and a conductive end. A connecting connector is provided on one side of the connecting end, and a conductive connector is provided on one side of the conductive end. The conductive end is provided with a wiring boss, and a wiring hole for inserting a connecting wire is opened at the end of the wiring boss. The wire is electrically connected to the conductive connector in the wiring boss.

[0007] In one alternative, the width of the positioning groove is matched with the width of the flexible light strip, and the positioning groove is an inwardly tapering arc-shaped groove with a depth not exceeding the encapsulation thickness of the flexible light strip.

[0008] In one alternative, the base is made of an insulating material and is non-conductive, while the connecting pieces and connectors are made of a conductive material and are conductive.

[0009] The technical solution provided in this application may include the following beneficial effects: This application provides a flexible LED strip connector device. The connector and base are fixed together, precisely limiting the LED strip during piercing to avoid poor contact caused by misalignment of the insertion teeth. The connector directly contacts the flexible circuit board, resulting in a larger contact area and lower conduction resistance, effectively reducing the risk of overheating under high current loads and significantly improving long-term stability. The device requires no welding tools or professional operating experience; simply align the LED strip with the base positioning structure and allow the connector to pierce the LED strip's encapsulation layer to complete the connection. Mechanical fixing and electrical connection are completed simultaneously in one operation, significantly lowering the installation threshold.

[0010] The connector can be optimized for flexible LED strips with different encapsulation thicknesses and copper foil layouts, adapting to the connection and reversing requirements of various flexible LED strip models. Furthermore, the connection is detachable, allowing users to easily adjust the LED strip layout and replace faulty sections, significantly improving operational flexibility and avoiding the limitations of existing non-detachable welded connections. The device has no complex assembly parts, reducing potential failure points due to structural complexity and significantly lowering subsequent maintenance costs.

[0011] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the more detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals generally represent the same components in the exemplary embodiments thereof.

[0013] Figure 1 This is an assembly schematic diagram of the flexible LED strip connector device in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the inflection point connector of the flexible LED strip connector device in one embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the horizontal connector of the flexible LED strip connector device in one embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the electrical connection component of the flexible LED strip connector device in one embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection joint of the flexible LED strip connector device in one embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible LED strip structure; Figure label: In the diagram, 1—inflection point connector, 11—first base, 12—connecting piece, 131—connecting connector, 132—conductive connector, 1311—piercing structure, 1312—anti-detachment hook, 2—horizontal connector, 21—second base, 210—positioning groove, 3—electrical connector, 31—third base, 311—wiring boss, 3111—wiring hole, 4—flexible light strip, 41—encapsulation layer, 42—flexible circuit board, 5—wire. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The specific embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this application, but are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Similarly, the following examples are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0015] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0016] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0017] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between components; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0018] In this application, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0019] Existing flexible light strip 4 connection technologies have drawbacks such as high operating threshold, poor connection reliability, narrow adaptability, and separation of mechanical fixing and electrical conduction, which cannot meet the usage requirements of convenient and fast connection of two flexible light strips 4.

[0020] To address the aforementioned problems, this application proposes improvements and innovations, including the following embodiments.

[0021] like Figure 6 The flexible light strip 4 shown includes a flexible circuit board 42 (FPC), LED light-emitting modules, and a PU (polyurethane) encapsulation layer 41. Multiple LED light-emitting modules (including LED chips, current-limiting resistors, etc.) are integrated on the flexible circuit board 42. The flexible circuit board 42 has positive and negative electrodes. After being connected to an external low-voltage DC power supply, electrical energy is precisely distributed to each LED module through the copper foil traces on the circuit board. After the current is regulated by the current-limiting resistors to ensure safety, the energy flows into the LED chip. Electrons and holes recombine in the PN junction of the chip, releasing energy and converting it into visible light. Multiple modules emit light synchronously, achieving continuous and uniform luminous efficiency in conjunction with the PU encapsulation structure. Utilizing the characteristics of the flexible circuit board 42, the light strip can be freely bent and folded, adapting to various curved and irregularly shaped installation scenarios to meet diverse decorative and lighting needs. The PU encapsulation layer 41 completely encapsulates the FPC and LED modules, firmly fixing the internal circuit structure, preventing traces from falling off and modules from shifting, while also ensuring the flexible bending performance of the light strip.

[0022] In one implementation, please refer to Figure 1 This application provides a flexible LED strip 4 connector device, comprising: at least two connectors, each connector including a base and a connecting piece 12 embedded in the base; the inner side of the base has a positioning groove 210 along its length for limiting the installation of the flexible LED strip 4; the connecting piece 12 is used to pierce the flexible LED strip 4 to achieve fixation and electrical conduction; a plurality of connectors are vertically connected to the connecting piece 12, each connector including a connecting connector 131 and a conductive connector 132; the top end of the connecting connector 131 is provided with a piercing structure 1311 and an anti-detachment barb 1312, such as... Figure 5 As shown. The width of the positioning groove 210 is matched with the width of the flexible light strip 4 with a clearance, and the positioning groove 210 is an inwardly tapering arc groove with a groove depth not greater than the encapsulation thickness of the flexible light strip 4.

[0023] The connectors include a corner connector 1 for direction adjustment, a horizontal connector 2 for extending the straight section of the flexible light strip 4, and a power connector 3 for connecting the flexible light strip 4 to an external power source.

[0024] The first base 11 of the corner connector 1 is a corner structure that matches the corner angle of the installation scene. The connecting piece 12 of the corner connector 1 is set corresponding to the corner structure, and an arc-shaped transition section is provided at the corner. Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown... Figure 2 As shown, the base of the bend connector is an L-shaped structure, and the interface of the flexible light strip 4 is cut into a triangular structure to limit and fix it inside the base. The two flexible light strips 4 form a complementary structure. The connecting piece 12 is provided with a vertical section and a horizontal section corresponding to the first base 11. The bend point is set as an arc transition section without a plug. The vertical section and the horizontal section are provided with a connecting connector 131 for piercing the encapsulation layer 41 of the flexible light strip 4 to achieve conductivity.

[0025] The arc-shaped transition section is used to avoid stress concentration at right-angle bends and protect the flexible LED strip 4 and the base structure. If the bend is set as an L-shaped right angle, the triangular cut of the flexible LED strip 4 will form multiple hard contacts with the right-angle bend and the connecting joint 131. The tension of the flexible LED strip 4 when bending will be concentrated at the right angle. After long-term use or repeated bending, it will not only easily lead to cracking of the encapsulation layer 41 of the flexible LED strip 4 and breakage of the internal FPC copper foil, but also cause deformation and breakage of the plug-in piece at the right angle due to stress accumulation. The smooth transition structure of the arc-shaped transition section can evenly distribute the tension of the flexible LED strip 4 when bending, avoid stress concentration, protect the cut edge of the flexible LED strip 4 from squeezing damage, and improve the structural strength of the L-shaped base bend, thus extending the service life of the overall device.

[0026] In some implementations, the structure of the inflection point connector 1 is designed based on the corner angle of the installation scenario. The shape of the base precisely matches the corner angle of the actual installation position, ensuring that the flexible light strip 4 can be stably fixed to the installation surface. When the installation scenario is a standard right angle, such as a right angle of a wall or cabinet, an L-shaped base can achieve a tight fit between the flexible light strip 4 and the installation surface. At the same time, the triangular limiting structure can precisely fix the flexible light strip 4 and prevent displacement. When the installation scenario is an acute corner (such as an acute angle of a decorative shape or an acute angle of an equipment edge), the base needs to be designed as a V-shape to adapt to the installation requirements of the acute corner scenario. This avoids the flexible light strip 4 failing to fit the installation surface due to angle mismatch caused by the L-shaped base, or stress damage caused by forced bending.

[0027] like Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the horizontal connector 2 includes a second base 21 and two sets of connecting joints 131 symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the second base 21. When the length of one flexible light strip 4 cannot meet the usage requirements, the two flexible light strips 4 are combined and connected together based on the horizontal connector 2 to extend the length of the flexible light strip 4.

[0028] like Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the third base 31 of the electrical connector 3 includes a connecting end and a conductive end. The connecting piece 12 is provided with a connecting connector 131 on one side of the connecting end and a conductive connector 132 on one side of the conductive end. The conductive end is provided with a wiring boss 311. The end of the wiring boss 311 is provided with a wiring hole 3111 for inserting the connecting wire 5. The wire 5 is electrically connected to the conductive connector 132 in the wiring boss 311.

[0029] The electrical connector 3 features an L-shaped boss structure at its contact end, with the lowest point of the boss higher than the lowest point of the connecting base. This L-shaped boss isolates the contact hole from the mounting surface of the base, forming a physical protective barrier to prevent dust and water stains from contacting the contact point, effectively preventing safety hazards such as leakage and short circuits. It is suitable for use in humid environments (such as bathrooms and outdoors). Simultaneously, the boss structure limits and secures the inserted wire 5, preventing it from falling off due to external pulling and ensuring continuous power supply. The lower point of the boss being higher than the lowest point of the connecting base creates a gap between the contact end and the mounting surface, preventing deformation of the contact end due to uneven mounting surfaces and protecting the internal conductive structure.

[0030] During installation, based on the installation layout requirements, the horizontal connector 2 is used to connect to the straight section of the flexible light strip 4. The inflection point connector 1 is used to adjust the direction of the flexible light strip 4 so that the connector 131 inside the connector pierces the outer encapsulation layer 41 of the flexible light strip 4 and contacts the copper foil of the internal flexible circuit board 42. The anti-detachment hook 1312 further achieves a stable connection and prevents the connector 131 from coming out of the flexible light strip 4. The arc-shaped positioning groove 210 of the connector is fitted with the flexible light strip 4 with a clearance to achieve mechanical limiting and fixing. After each connector forms a continuous conductive path through the connecting piece 12, the power-connecting connector 3 is connected to the end of the flexible light strip 4. The connector of the connecting piece 12 at the connection end of the power-connecting connector 3 pierces the encapsulation layer 41 of the flexible light strip 4 and contacts the copper foil. The power-connecting hole at the power-connecting end is connected to an external low-voltage DC power supply. The current is conducted through the connecting piece 12 of the power-connecting connector 3 to the connecting pieces 12 of each horizontal connector 2 and the inflection point connector 1. Then, through the contact between the connecting piece 12 and the copper foil of the flexible light strip 4, the current is evenly conducted to all the segmented flexible light strips 4, so that the LED chips can emit light normally, and finally the stable connection and power supply of the multi-segment flexible light strip 4 can be achieved.

[0031] The bases of all three types of connectors are integrally molded from insulating materials (such as insulating plastic), and the entire base is non-conductive. The base completely covers the connecting piece 12, with only the connector 131 exposed for piercing the encapsulation layer 41 of the flexible light strip 4. When the connector 12 pierces the encapsulation layer 41 of the flexible light strip 4, the connector 131 only contacts and conducts electricity with the copper foil of the flexible circuit board 42 inside the flexible light strip 4. Electrical energy is only transmitted within the conductive structure inside the flexible light strip 4 and the connector, and no current flows through the external base and exposed parts, effectively avoiding the risk of electric shock when the user touches it.

[0032] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relationships such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "include," "contain," or any other variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0033] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0034] The various embodiments of this application have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or improvement of the technology in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A flexible LED strip connector device, characterized in that, include: At least two connectors are provided, each connector including a base and a connecting piece (12) embedded in the base. The inner side of the base is provided with a positioning groove (210) for limiting the installation of the flexible light strip (4) along the length direction. The connecting piece (12) is used to pierce the flexible light strip (4) to achieve fixation and electrical conduction. Several connectors are vertically connected on the connecting piece (12). The connectors include a connecting connector (131) and a conductive connector (132). The top end of the connecting connector (131) is provided with a piercing structure (1311) and an anti-detachment barb (1312). The connectors include a corner connector (1) for direction adjustment, a horizontal connector (2) for extending the straight section of the light strip, and a power connector (3) for connecting the light strip to an external power source.

2. The flexible LED strip connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first base (11) of the corner connector (1) is a corner structure that matches the corner angle of the installation scene. The connecting piece (12) of the corner connector (1) is set in accordance with the corner structure, and an arc transition section is set at the corner.

3. The flexible LED strip connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The third base (31) of the electrical connector (3) includes a connecting end and a conductive end. The connecting piece (12) is provided with the connecting connector on one side of the connecting end and the conductive connector on one side of the conductive end. The conductive end is provided with a wiring boss (311). The end of the wiring boss (311) is provided with a wiring hole (3111) for inserting the connecting wire (5). The wire (5) is electrically connected to the conductive connector in the wiring boss (311).

4. The flexible LED strip connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the positioning groove (210) is matched with the width of the flexible light strip (4) with a gap, and the positioning groove (210) is an inwardly contracting arc groove with a groove depth not greater than the encapsulation thickness of the flexible light strip (4).

5. The flexible LED strip connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base is made of insulating material and has no conductive properties, while the connecting piece (12) and the connector (13) are made of conductive material and have conductive properties.

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