Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02592671 2007-06-29
LIGHT-BULB CONDUCTIVE DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a conductive device for an
illumination device, and more specifically to a conductive device applicable
to a variety
of illumination devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The light bulbs used in the light string to decorate holiday festivals
are usually
the conventional white light bulbs. This type of light bulbs usually includes
a glass bulb,
a bulb head, a tungsten core, and so on. In the manufacturing of the light
bulbs, the glass
must be heated, shaped, sealed, and followed by air expelling. The conductive
wires
must be peeled, soldered to the copper ends and fixed to the bulb head or
other base.
Finally, the aforementioned elements must be assembled. The manufacturing
process is
not only expensive, but prone to manufacturing errors and wastes. Furthermore,
this type
of light bulbs consumes a large amount of power, generates more heat, and is
more
dangerous, which is not suitable for prolonged use. Additional disadvantages
include the
lack of color variation, and short life span.
100031 The recent adoption of LED in the light strings solves some of the
above
problems. The LED provides more color variation, consumes less power, and has
a
longer life span, which are all great improvements over the conventional
products.
However, in spite of the above improvements, the manufacturing process of LED
light
strings still includes the assembly of a large number of elements.
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[0004] For the light strings with conventional light bulbs or LEDs, the
electrical
connection between the light sources and the wires must be accomplished by a
large
number of connection elements. For example, the white light bulb must be fixed
to a
bulb head. The wire must be cut and soldered to conductive plates. The plates
are
installed and fixed inside a bulb base. The bulb head is then installed into
the bulb base
so that the conductive wires of the light bulb in the bulb head contacts and
form electrical
connection with the conductive plates inside the bulb base. The LED light
string uses a
similar assembly structure. As each light string usually includes at least 10
light bulbs,
the assembly process is labor-intensive and also expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a light bulb
conductive device that is easy to manufacture and assemble. The light bulb
uses two
exposed conductive needles. The conductive needles directly penetrate the
plastic shell of
the conductive wires and contact with the metal wires to form electrical
connection to
accomplish the ease of the attachment. This also reduces the number of the
connection
elements that is required in the conventional light strings so as to reduce
the
manufacturing cost and provide easy assembly.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a light bulb
conductive
device that is easy to manufacture and has various shapes. The light bulb is
fixed to a
bulb holder. The bulb holder is formed by injection molding directly on the
outside of
the light bulb. Therefore, the manufacture cost is low. In addition, the shape
of the light
holder can be easily changed by using a different molding device. Therefore,
different
shapes of light bulbs can be manufactured on the same light string, unlike the
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conventional light strings. If LEDs are used, the present invention can
further provide
more selections in both colors and shapes.
[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a light bulb
conductive device that can be easily customized. The designer of the light
string can
determines the number, the location, the color and the shape of the light
bulbs on a light
string, and assembles the light string easily.
[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a light bulb
conductive device that is easy to attach. An additional base can be added to
the bottom of
the bulb holder so that when the light bulb is installed on the wires, the
base will
strengthen the attachment to prevent the light bulbs from loosened off the
wires.
100091 To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides alight
bulb
conductive device, including a light bulb and a bulb holder. The bulb holder
further
includes a pair of conductive needles. The conductive needles are made of hard
material.
The tips of conductive needles are sharp so that when assembled the sharp tips
of the
conductive needles can penetrate the plastic shell of the conductive wires and
contact
with the metal conductive wires to form electrical connection. The light bulb
is attached
and fixed to the bulb holder.
[0010] The bottom of the bulb holder can further include a base. The base is
engaged
to the bottom of the bulb holder after the light bulb and conductive wires
form the
electrical connection so that the wires are fixed between the base and the
bulb holder to
prevent the light bulbs from loosened off the wires and ensures that the
conductive
needles and the conductive wires are in good contact.
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100111 The advantages of the present invention include that the light bulb is
embedded in and tightly engaged to an injection molded bulb holder to ensure
safety in
plugging and unplugging. In the mean time, an additional base can be added to
the bulb
holder so that the present invention is applicable to different installation
conditions. Also,
using the sharp tips of the conductive needles to penetrate the plastic shell
of the wires
provides easy assembly, eliminate the use of conductive plates and reduces the
manufacturing cost.
[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of
the
present invention will become better understood from a careful reading of a
detailed
description provided herein below with appropriate reference to the
accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention can be understood in more detail by reading the
subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the examples and
references made to
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a light bulb and a bulb holder of a light bulb
conductive
device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the bulb holder and base of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the bulb holder of the second embodiment of
the
present invention;
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FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the base of the second embodiment of the
present
invention; and
FIG. 6 shows a side view of the bulb holder and the base of the third
embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a light bulb conductive device of the
present
invention, including a light bulb 1, and a bulb holder 2. Light bulb 1 of the
present
embodiment is an LED. Bulb holder 2 is formed by injection molding of suitable
hard
material, such as plastic. Light bulb 1 is embedded in the top of bulb holder
2. Light bulb
1 further includes a pair of conductive needles 11. One end of conductive
needles 11 is
connected to light bulb 1. The conductive needles penetrates bulb holder 2,
and lower
segment is exposed beyond bulb holder 2. Conductive needles 11 are made of
hard
conductive material. The tips of conductive needles 11 are sharp so that when
assembled,
the tips of conductive needles 11 can penetrate the plastic shell of
conductive wires to
contact the metal wires to form electrical connection. Although the present
embodiment
uses LED, light bulb 1 can also be a tungsten light bulb or other equivalent
types of light
bulbs.
[0015] To further enhance the structure of the present invention, the present
invention
can further include a base 3. Base 3 can be engaged to bulb holder 2 when
assembled.
The shapes of base 3 are not limited to the embodiments shown in the present
invention.
As shown FIGs. 2 & 3, base 3 is formed by injection molding and made of a
material
with a suitable hardness, such as plastic. Base 3 includes a left latch socket
31, a right
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latch socket 32, and a base trench 33. Left latch socket 31 and right latch
socket 32 are
on the left side and right side of base 3, and the socket holes penetrate the
entire base.
Base trench 33 is a dual-hemispheric shape, located on top surface of base 3.
The bottom
of bulb holder 2 also has a corresponding structure. Bottom surface 21 of bulb
holder 2
includes a left hook 22 and a right hook 23. The center of bottom surface 21
includes a
holder trench 24, which matches base trench 33 in both shape and location.
Conductive
needles I l of light bulb 11 penetrates bulb holder 2 with a small portion
extending
beyond and exposed in holder trench 24. The locations of left hook 22 and
right hook 23
match the locations of left latch socket 31 and right latch socket 32.
[0016] When assembled, left hook 22 and right hook 23 of bulb holder 2 are
inserted
into and latched by left latch socket 31 and right latch socket 32,
respectively.
Conductive wire 4, including plastic shell 41 and metal conductive wire 42, is
placed in
the passage formed by base trench 33 and holder trench 24. Conductive needles
11 of
light bulb 1 penetrates plastic shell 41 of conductive wire 4, and contacts
with metal
conductive wire 42 to form electrical connection. Thus, the good engagement
and
electrical connection after the assembly are achieved.
[0017] It is worth noting that the passage formed by base trench 33 and holder
trench
24 is for the conductive wire to pass through. In the above embodiment, the
shape of the
passage is two adjacent spheres, which is to match the shape of conductive
wires.
However, the shape of the base trench and holder trench is not limited to the
above
embodiment, as long as the shape matches the shape of the conductive wire.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, left hook 22 and right hook 23 on bottom surface 21
of
bulb holder 2 includes a sharp hook element 221, 231 facing inwards,
respective.
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Therefore, corresponding guiding surface 311, 321 of left latch socket 31 and
right latch
socket 32 must be formed to match sharp hook elements 311, 321 to facilitate
the latch.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the bulb holder
of
the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of second embodiment
of the
base of the present invention. In the second embodiment, sharp hook element
221, 231 of
left hook 22 and right hook 23 on bottom surface 21 of bulb holder 2 both face
outwards;
therefore, corresponding guiding surface 311, 321 of left latch socket 31 and
right latch
socket 32 must be formed accordingly to match sharp hook elements 311, 321 to
facilitate the latch.
[0020] Finally, ensure the strong engagement of bulb holder 2 and base 3, at
least two
hooks 22, 23, and two corresponding latch sockets 31, 32 are used.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of the present
invention.
In this embodiment, the shape of base 3a is different. The left side and right
side of the
top surface of base 3a include a left hook 35 and a right hook 36,
respectively.
Correspondingly, a left engaging socket 25 and a right engaging socket 26 are
formed in
the lower part of bulb holder 2a. The shape and the location of left engaging
socket 25
and right engaging socket 26 must match those of left hook 35 and right hook
36,
accordingly. When assembled, bulb holder 2a and base 3a are engaged together
by
engaging sockets 25, 26 and hooks 35, 36. Therefore, it is worth noting that
the base is
not limited to any specific shape, as long as the shape of the base matches
the shape of
the bulb holder, and includes an engaging structure to engage the bulb holder
and the
base when assembled to hold the conductive wire in place.
[0022] In summary, the light bulb conductive device of the present invention
is to
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form a bulb holder by injection molding on the light bulb so that the light
bulb is
embedded in and held by the bulb holder. Also, with an additional base to
match the bulb
holder, the conductive wires can be held in a passage formed between the bulb
holder and
the base. With the design of conductive needles in the light bulb, the
conductive needles
can penetrate the plastic shell of the conductive wire and contact the metal
conductive
wire to form electrical connection. Therefore, the present invention provides
more
convenience, and is water-proof and less expensive to manaufacture.
[0023] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the
preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited
to the
details described thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been
suggested in
the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in
the art.
Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be
embraced within
the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
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