LED tube mounting kit

Abstract

This prevents accidents caused by damage to the resin holder that holds the LED tube due to aging and deterioration. [Solution] An LED tube mounting device 1, which is fixed to the mounting surface by a fixing device 2 for attaching the LED tube 50 to the mounting surface and has a transparent resin holder 5 for holding the LED tube 50, is further equipped with a fall prevention device 6 which is fixed to the mounting surface together with the resin holder 5 by the fixing device 2. The fall prevention device 6 has a base portion 7 which is fixed to the mounting surface by the fixing device 2, and a wire 8 which at least one end is detachable from the base portion and suspends and holds the LED tube 50 by wrapping around the outer circumference of the LED tube 50 and engaging with the base portion 7.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible LED tube, specifically, a flexible tube light-emitting body (hereinafter referred to as an LED tube) incorporating an LED substrate in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged at predetermined intervals on a long substrate in a tube made of a flexible light-diffusing material, and an attachment tool for attaching the LED tube to an installation surface such as a ceiling or a wall surface.

Background Art

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, such an LED tube is excellent in safety, durability, and waterproofness so as not to break and scatter, and can be freely bent, and thus can be widely used as lighting or decoration both indoors and outdoors. The LED tube may be attached to a ceiling, a wall surface, a pillar, or a tree. However, particularly long tubes are used outdoors, and some long tubes are about 5 meters long. An attachment tool is required for these attachments. In any case, since the entire LED tube emits light in a 360-degree direction, it is necessary to have a structure that does not block the light. Therefore, a structure in which the LED tube is pressed against the installation surface with a transparent plastic holder so as not to block the light is required. In addition, a structure that can easily operate the attachment tool with the other hand while holding the LED tube at the installation position with one hand, specifically, for example, when attaching the LED tube to a ceiling, a wall surface, a pillar, or a tree, is desired.

[0003] Under such a background, a conventional attachment tool uses a transparent resin holder. It uses a pedestal (14) and a holding member (12) having a structure well-known as a pipe fixture (Patent Document 2), and the holding member (12) is made of a transparent resin. The reason why the holding member is transparent is to prevent the illumination light from the LED tube from being blocked, and thus resin has been selected as the material.

[0004] However, with such mounting fixtures, because LED tubes are relatively heavy as lighting fixtures, there is a problem that the resin base and holding materials can become brittle and crack or break due to aging over time, creating a constant risk of the heavy LED tube falling. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-140948 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-67871 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-3607 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a mounting device that can prevent the LED tube from falling even if the resin holder used for reinforcement deteriorates over time and breaks, by continuing to hold the LED tube without undergoing any deterioration itself over time. The mounting device can be installed at both ends of the LED tube, as well as at multiple intervals if the LED tube is long or has many bends, but it is desirable to reinforce at least both ends of the LED tube and at appropriate intervals as needed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The LED tube mounting device according to the present invention is An LED tube mounting device for attaching an LED tube to a mounting surface, comprising a transparent resin holder that is fixed to the mounting surface by a fastener and holds the LED tube, The LED tube mounting device includes a fall prevention device that is fixed to the installation surface together with the resin holder by the fixing device, and the fall prevention device is characterized by comprising a base that is fixed to the installation surface by the fixing device, and a wire that at least one end is detachable from the base and suspends and holds the LED tube by wrapping around the outer circumference of the LED tube and engaging with the base.

[0008] The wire may be configured such that both ends can be detachably attached to the base.

[0009] Furthermore, since the wire and the base need to be strong, it is desirable that the fall prevention device be made of metal.

[0010] Furthermore, it is desirable that the base portion has a through hole of a predetermined shape, such that the bent ends of the wire are locked into a part of the base portion that constitutes the periphery of the through hole.

[0011] Furthermore, the fastener is preferably a screw or bolt. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The LED tube mounting device of the present invention includes a fall prevention device that is secured to a base which is fixed to the mounting surface via a fixing device together with a resin holder. This fall prevention device is formed from a base and a strong wire that wraps around the outer circumference of the LED tube and secures and holds both ends to the base. Therefore, even if the resin holder is damaged, the LED tube is suspended by this wire, thus reliably preventing the LED tube from falling. Furthermore, because it is a wire, the illumination light from the LED tube is not obstructed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Perspective view showing an LED tube mounting device, which is one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Plan view showing the main parts of the mounting fixture in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Perspective view showing the wire forming the fixture of FIG. 1 [Figure 4] Plan view showing the wire forming the fixture of FIG. 1 [Figure 5] Front view showing the wire forming the fixture of FIG. 1 [Figure 6] Side view showing the wire forming the fixture of FIG. 1 [Figure 7] Enlarged perspective view showing the back side of the base forming the fixture of FIG. 1 [Figure 8] Explanatory drawing of another embodiment of the present invention

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows the perspective shape of a flexible LED tube fixture 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "fixture 1") according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the figure shows the state in which the fixture 1 is attached to a flexible LED tube 50. FIG. 2 shows the planar shape of the main part of the fixture 1 in the same state.

[0016] The flexible LED tube 50 is formed by arranging LEDs 52 inside a flexible, i.e., flexible tube 51 (hereinafter, the flexible LED tube 50 is simply referred to as "LED tube 50"). The tube 51 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape using a translucent synthetic resin or the like containing a light diffusing material. As an example, the outer diameter is 25 mm and the length is about 5 m at most (it can be cut to any length). A plurality of LEDs 52 are arranged at predetermined intervals on a long substrate built into the tube. Since this configuration is not an essential part of the present invention but is well-known technology, it is shown only schematically in FIG. 1. In this specification, the combination of the tube 51 and the LEDs 52 is referred to as the LED tube 50.

[0017] The attachment tool 1 includes a pedestal 3 having a circular hole through which a fixture 2 (for example, a screw or a nail) passes and being fixed to an installation surface P (for example, a ceiling) by the fixture 2, and a resin holding member 4 detachably attached to the pedestal 3. The pedestal 3 and the resin holding member 4 constitute a resin holder 5. In FIG. 1, the pedestal 3 and the resin holding member 4 constitute the resin holder 5 by fitting together due to the elasticity of the resin holding member, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the pedestal 3 and the resin holding member 4 may be coupled by a hinge.

[0018] The attachment tool 1 includes an anti-drop tool 6 fixed to the installation surface P by the fixture 2 together with the resin holder 5, that is, together with the pedestal 3 and the resin holding member 4. The anti-drop tool 6 includes a base 7 and a wire 8. Specifically, the base 7 is fixed to the installation surface P by the fixture 2, and the details will be described below.

[0019] The anti-drop tool 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the wire 8 constituting the anti-drop tool 6 is erected (a state opposite to the attachment state shown in FIG. 1 in terms of up and down). FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are a plan view, a front view, and a side view of the wire 8 in FIG. 3, respectively. The wire 8 is, for example, a steel wire (stainless steel wire) made of a metal having elasticity and toughness, and has an annular portion 8a surrounding the outer periphery of the tube 51 and both end portions 8b bent from the annular portion 8a and capable of being locked to the base 7.

[0020] Also, in this specification, the "wire" refers to one having a thickness such that when the wire 8 surrounds the outer periphery of the LED tube, the annular portion 8a or the like does not block the illumination light from the LED tube 50 and does not generate a shadow.

[0021] The base 7 constituting the fall prevention device 6 is formed, for example, from a flat metal plate having high rigidity and toughness. As shown in the detailed perspective view in Figure 7, the base 7 has a flat mounting portion 7b with a circular hole 7a, and two tube holding portions 7c extending from the mounting portion 7b in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 7 opposite to the direction in which the circular hole 7a is located. The two tube holding portions 7c are formed by bending from the mounting portion 7b at the ends in the short direction (width direction) of the base 7. The bent portions of the tube holding portions 7c are inclined so that they move further away from the mounting portion 7b as they move outward in the width direction. This allows the inclined portions to hold the cylindrical tube 51 by enclosing it. The mounting portion 7b has two roughly quadrilateral elongated holes 7d, each with a shape that includes a part of the tube holding portions 7c.

[0022] The procedure for securing the LED tube 50 to the mounting surface P is explained below. The mounting surface P is assumed to be the ceiling, and understanding will be easier by referring to Figure 1. First, the hole in the base 3 and the circular hole 7a in the base 7 of the fall prevention device 6 are aligned and placed on top of each other. Then, the fixing device 2, which passes through the circular hole 7a, is screwed into the mounting surface P from below and tightened to secure the base 3 and base 7 (so-called "joint fastening"). The order in which the base 3 and base 7 are stacked does not have to be the reverse of Figure 1.

[0023] Next, the LED tube 50 is placed against the mounting portion 7b of the base 7 and the pedestal 3 which are fixed to the mounting surface P as described above. In this state, the resin holding member 4 and the wire 8 are fitted into the pedestal 3 and the tube holding portion 7c, respectively. In this way, the LED tube 50 is held in place on the mounting surface P.

[0024] Due to the length and weight of the LED tube 50, there are usually multiple points where a single LED tube 50 is fixed to the base 3, etc., as described above. In this case, it will be necessary to hold at least both ends of the tube 51 to the mounting surface P using the base 3, etc.

[0025] Here, the distinguishing feature of the present invention lies in the fact that, in addition to simply using a resin holder 5 formed by joining a base 3 and a resin holding member 4 as the fixing means, a more robust fall prevention device 6 is also used in combination by fastening it together. In other words, with only the resin holder 5, due to the deterioration of the resin over time, the resin holder 5 may break, causing the heavy, long LED tube 50 to fall from the ceiling or elsewhere, resulting in personal injury or property damage. To eliminate this problem (danger), a fall prevention measure using a fall prevention device 6 is adopted. Specifically, the base 7 of the fall prevention device 6, which is made of a strong material such as metal, is fastened together with the base 3 by a fixing device 2 and fixed to the installation surface P, and the wire 8 of the fall prevention device 6 wraps around the outer circumference of the tube 51 and engages with the tube holding part 7c of the fall prevention device 6, thereby sufficiently firmly fixing the LED tube 50 to the installation surface P. It should be noted that it is not always necessary to fasten the base 7 to all of the bases 3 together; it is sufficient to fasten it to the bases 3 at key points (preferably the bases 3 at both ends of the tube 51 as described above).

[0026] Next, a preferred embodiment for engaging the wire 8 with the tube holding portion 7c will be described. When engaging the wire 8 with the tube holding portion 7c in order to hold the LED tube 50 on the installation surface P, the annular portion 8a of the wire 8, which has gone around the outer circumference of the tube 51, and the two ends 8b (see Figure 3 together with the annular portion 8a) that have become the upper ends in this state, are passed through the elongated hole 7d of the base portion 7 from below (see Figure 1). As mentioned above, the wire 8 is elastic, so when passing it through the elongated hole 7d from below, and when arranging the annular portion 8a around the outer circumference of the tube 51 beforehand, it deforms elastically, making these operations simple and easy. In particular, the installation of the long LED tube 50, which is a heavy object, on the ceiling installation surface P is dangerous, and a simpler and easier procedure is necessary.

[0027] Furthermore, after the ends 8b of the wire 8 pass through the elongated hole 7d, the ends 8b similarly come into contact with the edges of the elongated hole 7d from above (from the front side in Figure 2 / from the top side in Figure 1) due to the restoring force generated by elasticity and gravity moving outwards (to the right and left outer sides in Figure 2). Therefore, even if a force is applied to the wire 8 pulling it toward the far side in Figure 2 (to the bottom side in Figure 1), the ends 8b will not easily slip out of the elongated hole 7d.

[0028] In the wire 8 shown in Figure 3, the annular portion 8a is partially formed in a substantially circular shape, and continuous portions 8c are provided from both ends of the annular portion 8a, continuing from the end portions 8b. In a single wire 8, the two continuous portions 8c each contact the edges of the elongated holes 7d of the base portion 7 due to the elastic restoring force of the wire 8, while the LED tube 50 shown in Figure 1 is fixed to the installation surface P. Therefore, as described above, in addition to preventing the end portions 8b from coming out of the elongated holes 7d, the effect of preventing the wire 8 from rattling in the left-right direction (direction of arrow W in Figure 1) is also obtained.

[0029] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the resin holder 5 was explained as consisting of a base 3 and a transparent resin holding member 4 that can be attached to the base. However, the resin holder may be a single piece consisting of a transparent resin holding member including the base portion. For example, the resin holder may have a cross-section shaped like the letter "C" or "U," with the bottom of the C or U forming the base portion, and the LED tube being fitted and held in place by the elastic force of the resin through the approximately arc-shaped notch of the C or U (corresponding to the resin holding member).

[0030] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was explained in which both ends 8b bent from the annular portion 8a of the wire 8 are locked to the base 7, one of the ends may be fixed to the base 7 with a hinge or the like.

[0031] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was explained assuming that the resin holder 5 and the wire 8 are in a positional relationship where they do not overlap in the longitudinal direction of the tube 51, the wire 8 may also be positioned inside (overlapping with) the resin holder 5 (not shown).

[0032] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was based on a cylindrical LED tube 50, the LED tube is not limited to being cylindrical (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-125710 for reference).

[0033] Furthermore, a support 32, shown in Patent Document 3, is known as a similar component to the wire 8 of the fall prevention device 6. However, this wire itself is not the essence of the present invention, and the said document does not suggest in any way the problem to be solved or the technical concept for doing so, such as preventing adverse effects due to deterioration of the resin member by using the fall prevention device 6, including the wire 8, together with the resin holder 5 as in the present invention.

[0034] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the LED tube mounting device of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and can be modified in any way within the scope of the idea of ​​the invention defined in claim 1, as long as it is understandable to those skilled in the art. For example, when mounting the LED tube 50 to a wall or the like, instead of screws or bolts, high-strength nails of sufficient length may be used as the fixing device 2 and driven in with an electric nail gun. Furthermore, high-strength U-shaped nails may also be used. The main points of this embodiment will be briefly explained with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8(1) shows the U-shaped nail (fixing device 2″) corresponding to the fixing device 2 in the above-described embodiment, the member corresponding to the base 7 of the fall prevention device (base 7″), and the member corresponding to the base 3 (base 3″). The base 7″ has a different position for the circular hole corresponding to the circular hole 7a of the base 7, and the base 3″ has a groove instead of a hole like the base 3. The base 7″ and base 3″ are stacked in the same way as the base 7 and base 3 in the above-described embodiment (Figure 8(2)), and the fixing device 2″ is then fitted onto the circular hole of the base 7″ and the groove of the base 3″ to secure them (Figure 8(3)), thereby achieving joint fastening. [Industrial applicability]

[0035] This invention is useful in the field of lighting applications. In particular, it is suitable for use in the installation of long, flexible LED tubes, which are mainly used in buildings, interiors, and fixtures that create aesthetically sophisticated spaces, from the standpoint of ensuring safety. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1 LED tube mounting bracket 2, 2″ fixings 3, 3″ base 4. Resin retaining member 5. Resin holder 6. Fall prevention device 7, 7″ Base of fall prevention device 7a Circular hole at the base 7b Mounting part of the base 7c Tube holding part at the base 7d Slot at the base 8 wires 8a Annular portion of the wire 8b Both ends of the wire 8c Wire continuity 50 LED Tubes 51 Tubes 52 LED

Claims

1. An LED tube mounting device for attaching an LED tube to a mounting surface, comprising a transparent resin holder that is fixed to the mounting surface by a fastener and holds the LED tube, The LED tube mounting device comprises a fall prevention device which is fixed to the mounting surface together with the resin holder by the fixing device, the fall prevention device comprising a base which is fixed to the mounting surface by the fixing device, and a wire which at least one end is detachable from the base and suspends and holds the LED tube by wrapping around the outer circumference of the LED tube and engaging with the base.

2. The LED tube mounting device according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the wire are detachably attached to the base.

3. The LED tube mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the fall prevention device is made of metal.

4. The base portion has a through hole of a predetermined shape, The LED tube mounting device according to claim 2, wherein the wire has both ends of the portion that goes around the outer circumference of the LED tube bent, and the bent portion is shaped to engage with a part of the base that constitutes the peripheral edge of the through hole.

5. The LED tube mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is a screw or bolt.

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