Light set arrangement
In a first aspect of the invention, a light set arrangement is provided. The A light set arrangement includes a plurality of electrical wire segments feeding and downwardly dangling from a feeder electrical wire to simulate icicles. Each of a plurality of decorative lights and connectors, each decorative light and connector extending connected to the downwardly dangling electrical wire segments has a longitudinal axis and extends along a longitudinal axis formed by at least one electrical wire associated with the plurality of electrical wire segments. At least one electrical wire connects the plurality of decorative lights to each other. The arrangement also includes a Each of a plurality of retaining members wherein each retaining member retains the electrical wire connected to the decorative light and connector so that the longitudinal axis of each decorative light and connector is generally parallel to the electrical wire without being connected to or supported by any additional support structure. In a second aspect, a light connector is provided including a light bulb holder adapted for holding a light bulb, and a socket body. The socket body has a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and an opening to receive the light bulb holder. The socket body has an interior region with opposing electrical contacts adapted to receive electrical wires and make an electrical connection between the electrical wires and a light bulb. At least one projection extends from the outer surface of the socket body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the socket body. The projection has a distal end terminating in at least one clip. The clip has a rounded throat with rounded edges forming a space within which at least one electrical wire is adapted to be disposed and a lip associated with the throat, the lip having rounded edges and extending into the space. The lip is adapted to retain the electrical wire in place and to maintain the longitudinal axis of the socket body in a direction generally parallel to the electrical wire.
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This application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/106,125, filed on Oct. 29, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a light set arrangement simulating lighted icicles. In this invention, the lights are arranged on downwardly dangling wires to simulate icicles where the lights are generally parallel to the wires. One such arrangement employs improved light connectors with retaining clips designed to reduce damage to the insulation surrounding the electrical wires.
Christmas lights, as well as other decorative lights, have gained increasing popularity in recent years. Such lights are used as indoor and outdoor decorations, and are typically provided as assemblies having electrical wires or segments thereof to which light sockets and bulbs are attached. These assemblies are placed on building structures, trees, or other forms to provide lighted shapes particularly in the shape of icicles.
In the past, simulated icicles formed from electrical wires with light bulbs attached failed to fully reflect the linearity of an icicle. This was because the light bulbs and sockets were spaced along the electrical wires at intervals but were haphazardly attached to the wires so that the bulbs were displayed in a random arrangement with respect to the electrical wires and generally not parallel to the wires. Typically, the bulbs were displayed on opposite sides of or extending at angles from the wires. This problem was further exacerbated by the failure of the sockets holding the light bulbs to be attached to the electrical wires so that they remain fixed and generally parallel to the wires. Often the light sockets and attached electrical wires were twisted and bent around straight-edged clips causing abrasion and other damage to the insulation surrounding the electrical wires.
There is a need for a light set arrangement and light set connectors that provide a fixed arrangement of lights to more realistically or linearly simulate icicles. There is also a need for a light socket arrangement that reduces damage to the insulation of the electrical wires. The present invention satisfies these needs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a first aspect of the invention, a light set arrangement is provided. The light set arrangement includes a plurality of decorative lights and connectors, each decorative light and connector extending along a longitudinal axis. At least one electrical wire connects the plurality of decorative lights to each other. The arrangement also includes a plurality of retaining members wherein each retaining member retains the electrical wire connected to the decorative light and connector so that the longitudinal axis of each decorative light and connector is generally parallel to the electrical wire.
In a second aspect, a light connector is provided including a light bulb holder adapted for holding a light bulb, and a socket body. The socket body has a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and an opening to receive the light bulb holder. The socket body has an interior region with opposing electrical contacts adapted to receive electrical wires and make an electrical connection between the electrical wires and a light bulb. At least one projection extends from the outer surface of the socket body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the socket body. The projection has a distal end terminating in at least one clip. The clip has a rounded throat with rounded edges forming a space within which at least one electrical wire is adapted to be disposed and a lip associated with the throat, the lip having rounded edges and extending into the space. The lip is adapted to retain the electrical wire in place and to maintain the longitudinal axis of the socket body in a direction generally parallel to the electrical wire.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower,” “upper,” “left,” and “right” designate directions in the drawing to which reference is made. The terminology includes words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the article “a” means one or at least one of the element(s) to which it refers.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
The decorative lights 12 used in any of the embodiments described herein are generally of the type referred to as minilights of varying construction well known to those skilled in the art. The light bulbs 16 may be of any color and may be the type that illuminate continuously or the type that blink on and off, both of which are commercially available.
The electrical wires 14 of the lighting arrangement are ultimately terminated at a plug connector 13 (see
Referring to
Referring again to
In the embodiment shown in
The socket body 24, projection 32, and retaining clips 36 of connectors 22 preferably, but not necessarily, form a unitary structure made from a polymeric plastic that is molded or cast to create durable and weather resistant connectors. Suitable plastics include but are not limited to polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polycarbonate. The electrical wires 14 are insulated by conventional polymeric insulating materials so that they are suitable for use in all weather conditions, including wet and freezing conditions. In addition, the insulation on the wires 14 is resistant to the heat generated by the light bulb 16 even though the bulb is in close proximity to the wire insulation.
Referring again to
Referring to
With respect to connector 122, and as shown in
Referring to
With respect to connector 222, as shown in
Similar to the previously described embodiments, the throats 238 and lips 240 and edges of the intermediate portion 235 are rounded to prevent or reduce damage to the insulation of the electrical wires 214.
Also similar to the previously described embodiments, the light bulbs 216 held by the connectors 222 are in a generally parallel arrangement with respect to the electrical wires 214.
Alternatively, but not shown, connectors having a single retaining clip including a throat and lip to retain a single electrical wire are also suitable to create the lighting arrangement wherein the light bulbs are held via the retaining clip to be generally parallel with respect to the electrical wire.
Alternatively, and as shown in
It is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to the bulbs being disposed parallel to the wires by any of the specifically identified connecting mechanisms and that other mechanisms to hold the bulbs parallel to the electrical wires could also be used. Bulb holders such as plastic bands, including those of a heat shrinkable material or bands of elastomeric material, could be used to hold the light bulbs parallel to the electrical wires. Similarly, electrical adhesive tape could also be used for the same purposes to maintain the position of decorative lights in a generally parallel arrangement with respect to the electrical wire. These alternative embodiments are illustrated in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A light set arrangement comprising:
- a plurality of electrical wire segments feeding and downwardly dangling freely from a feeder electrical wire to simulate icicles, the feeder electrical wire being electrically connectable to a source of electricity for the light set arrangement;
- a plurality of decorative lights and connectors for the decorative lights connected to the plurality of the downwardly dangling electrical wire segments, each decorative light and connector having a longitudinal axis and extending along a longitudinal axis formed by at least one electrical wire associated with the plurality of electrical wire segments, the at least one electric wire connecting the plurality of decorative lights and connectors to each other; and
- a plurality of retaining members,
- wherein each retaining member is comprises a projection and is connected only to a connector and to the electrical wire without being connected to or supported by any additional support structure in a manner whereby the retaining member retains the electrical wire connected to the connector such that the longitudinal axis of each decorative light and connector is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the electrical wire,
- the connector comprising a socket body with an outer surface and including a light bulb producing the decorative light, the projection extending from the outer surface of the socket body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connector, the outer surface of the socket body including a portion extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector adjacent the projection.
2. A light set arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a clip projecting from the connector, a twist wrap, a cable tie, a plastic band, an elastomeric band and adhesive tape.
3. A light set arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the retaining member extends from the connector.
4. A light set arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the connector includes a socket body, the retaining member is at least one projection extending from the socket body, 1, the projection having a distal end terminating in at least one clip, the clip having a throat forming a space within which at least one electrical wire is disposed and a lip associated with the throat extending into the space to retain the electrical wire within the space.
5. A light set arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the connector includes a socket body, 1, the retaining member is comprising at least one projection extending from the socket body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connector, each projection having a distal end terminating in two clips, each of the clips having a throat and a lip wherein each clip has an opening adjacent the lip for introduction of electrical wires into a space formed by the throat and wherein the openings of each clip are oriented in generally opposed directions.
6. A light set arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the connector includes a socket body, the retaining member is a projection extending from the socket body, 1, the projection terminating in two clips, each of the clips having a throat and a lip wherein each clip has an opening adjacent the lip for introduction of the electrical wires into a space formed by the throat and wherein the openings of each clip are generally oriented in the same direction such that the openings of each clip are generally parallel to each other.
7. A light set arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the connector includes a socket body, 1, the retaining member includes including two projections forming a retaining clip, each projection extending from the outer surface of the socket body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the socket body connector, each projection having a distal end having a throat and a lip associated with the throat to retain the electrical wire, wherein the projections are oriented such that the throat and lip of each projection face one another and form an opening and space between the lips for disposition of the electrical wires.
8. A light connector comprising:
- a light bulb holder adapted for holding a light bulb;
- a socket body having a longitudinal axis, the socket body having an outer surface, an opening to receive the light bulb holder, an interior region with opposing electrical contacts adapted to receive electrical wires and make an electrical connection between the electrical wires and a light bulb; and
- at least one projection extending from the outer surface of the socket body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the socket body, the projection having a distal end terminating in at least one clip, the clip having a throat with rounded edges forming a space within which at least one electrical wire is adapted to be disposed and a lip associated with the throat, the lip having rounded edges and extending into the space and adapted to retain the electrical wire in place and adapted to maintain the longitudinal axis of the socket body in a direction generally parallel to the electrical wire.
9. A light connector according to claim 8 wherein the projection of the socket body has a distal end terminating in two clips, each of the clips having a throat and lip wherein each clip has an opening adjacent the lip adapted for introduction of electrical wires into a space formed by the throat and wherein the openings of each clip are oriented in generally opposed directions.
10. A light connector according to claim 8 wherein the projection of the socket body has a distal end terminating in two clips, each of the clips having a throat and a lip wherein each clip has an opening adjacent the lip adapted for introduction of electrical wires into a space formed by the throat and wherein the openings of each clip are oriented generally in the same direction such that the openings of each clip are generally parallel to each other.
11. A light connector according to claim 8 having two projections forming a retaining clip, each projection extending from the outer surface of the socket body in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the socket body, each projection having a distal end having a throat and a lip associated with the throat, wherein each of the projections is oriented such that the throat and lip of each projection face one another thereby forming an opening and space between the lips adapted for introduction and disposition of electrical wires.
12. A light connector according to claim 8 wherein the projection and socket body are unitary and formed from the same material.
13. The light set arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the light set arrangement simulates at least one lighted icicle.
14. The light set arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the downwardly dangling electrical wire segments extend generally perpendicularly from the feeder electrical wire.
15. The light set arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of the electrical wire segments have varying lengths.
16. The light set arrangement according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of electrical wire segments is associated with at least two of the plurality of decorative lights.
17. The light set arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the connector includes a socket body, the socket body including a flat portion.
18. The light set arrangement according to claim 17 wherein the flat portion extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis adjacent the retaining members.
19. The light set arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the socket body includes a first end and an opposed second end, the light bulb being within the socket body at the first end and electrical wires entering the socket body at the second end.
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Type: Grant
Filed: May 4, 2012
Date of Patent: Apr 15, 2014
Assignee: J. Kinderman & Sons, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA)
Inventor: Judith Kinderman (Gladwyne, PA)
Primary Examiner: Calvin Lee
Application Number: 13/463,896
International Classification: H01R 13/58 (20060101);