# US 10,767,816 B1 · Light bulb apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,816 B1 - Document ID: US10767816B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/439,705 - Filed: 2019-06-13 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-24 - Assignees: Xiamen Eco Lighting Co. Ltd. - Applicants: Xiamen Eco Lighting Co. Ltd. - Inventors: Chenjun Wu; Chengzong Wu; Hongkui Jiang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767816B1 ## CPC - F21K 9/232: specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb - F21K 9/278: Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source - F21V 19/003: {Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources} - F21V 23/009: {the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device} - F21V 29/507: of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings - F21V 29/70: characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks - F21V 29/86: {Ceramics or glass} - F21Y 2103/30: curved - F21Y 2107/70: on flexible or deformable supports or substrates, e.g. for changing the light source into a desired form - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A light bulb apparatus includes a light bulb shell, a bulb head, and a heat sink cup. The heat sink cup has a first end connected to the light bulb shell, and a second end connected to the bulb head. The light bulb apparatus includes a flexible filament and a central support. The flexible filament has a first terminal and a second terminal, and the central support provides a first electrode electrically connected to the first terminal, and provides a second electrode for electrically connected to the second terminal. The light bulb apparatus includes an expanding structure and a driver module. The expanding structure is mechanically coupled to the central support, and includes a plurality of holding portions for holding the flexible filament. The driver module is electrically connected to the bulb head and the central support for providing electrical power to the flexible filament. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light bulb apparatus, comprising: a light bulb shell; a bulb head; a heat sink cup having a first end and a second end, the first end of the heat sink cup is connected to the light bulb shell, and the second end of the heat sink cup is connected to the bulb head; a flexible filament for emitting light, the flexible filament has a first terminal and a second terminal; a central support for providing a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode of the central support is electrically connected to the first terminal of the flexible filament, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the second terminal of the flexible filament; an expanding structure mechanically coupled to the central support, the expanding structure includes a plurality of holding portions for holding the flexible filament, and a driver module for electrically connected to the bulb head and the central support for providing electrical power to the first electrode and the second electrode of the central support, wherein the expanding structure comprises a plurality of support boards, each of the support boards has a plurality of concave portions as the holding portions to hold the flexible filament. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expanding structure comprises two bending strips symmetrically arranged with respect to a central axis of the central support, and each of the bending strips has a plurality of concave portions as the holding portions to hold the flexible filament. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The light bulb apparatus of claim 2, wherein the concave portions are substantially U-shaped, C-shaped, or G-shaped. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expanding structure comprises two bending strips asymmetrically arranged with respect to a central axis of the central support, and each of the bending strips has a plurality of concave portions as the holding portions to hold the flexible filament. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The light bulb apparatus of claim 4, wherein the concave portions are substantially U-shaped, C-shaped, or G-shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expanding structure comprises a plurality of support rods arranged along a central axis of the central support, each of the support rods has a first end mechanically coupled to the central support and a second end extending outward from the central support to hold the flexible filament. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The light bulb apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second ends of the support rods are substantially U-shaped, C-shaped, or G-shaped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expanding structure comprises a block-shaped pillar having a concave slot, the concave slot is spiral on a surface of the block-shaped pillar for holding the flexible filament. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The light bulb apparatus of claim 8, wherein the expanding structure is made of metal, ceramic, glass, or plastic material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The light bulb apparatus of claim 8, wherein the block-shaped pillar is hollow inside. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The light bulb apparatus of claim 8, wherein the block-shaped pillar is solid inside. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expanding structure is made of metal, ceramic, glass, or plastic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the concave portions are substantially U-shaped, C-shaped, or G-shaped. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central support and the expanding structure are made of a same material and are integrally formed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light bulb apparatus comprises at least two flexible filaments connected in series or in parallel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The light bulb apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least two flexible filaments are capable of emitting light with different colors or different color temperatures. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding portions includes a blocking structure for preventing the flexible filament from falling out of the holding portions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The light bulb apparatus of claim 17, wherein the holding portions are G-shaped for preventing the flexible filament from falling out of the holding portions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The light bulb apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expanding structure is mechanically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode.