U.S. patent number 3,619,598 [Application Number 04/803,011] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-09 for decorative light ornaments.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mr. Christmas, Incorporated. Invention is credited to Merril Hermanson.
United States Patent |
3,619,598 |
Hermanson |
November 9, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
DECORATIVE LIGHT ORNAMENTS
Abstract
A decorative ornament formed with lights mounted on a shaped
plastic holder having tapered holes therein with the socket press
fitted from one side of the holder while the bulb is plugged in
from the opposite side of the holder, in addition with the base
portion of the bulb shaped to retain deflectors and washer as an
aid for retaining socket and bulb in the holder.
Inventors: |
Hermanson; Merril (New York,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Mr. Christmas, Incorporated
(New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25185331 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/803,011 |
Filed: |
February 27, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/122; 428/7;
439/505; 362/256 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
33/0836 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
33/00 (20060101); A47G 33/08 (20060101); A47g
033/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/10,1T,151,153,52,78D ;339/144,145,176L,126R,61L,59L
;161/12,28 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
931,324 |
|
Jul 1963 |
|
GB |
|
1,001,424 |
|
Aug 1965 |
|
GB |
|
1,014,681 |
|
Dec 1965 |
|
GB |
|
1,050,252 |
|
Dec 1966 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Horan; John M.
Assistant Examiner: Mathews; Alan
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A decorative light ornament having a holder with sockets fitted
into one side of the holder and bulbs fitted into the sockets from
the opposite side of the holder comprising
the holder in the form of a decorative shape having a plurality of
spaced holes with walls therein tapered outwardly toward the
sockets,
the sockets each having outer tapered portions located at the top
portion of said socket tapering inwardly toward the edge and
press-fitted into said tapered wall of each of said spaced holes of
said holder,
each said socket having a rectangular hole therein with walls
outwardly tapered toward said top portion,
the bulbs each having a filament enclosed in the upper portion of
said bulb, and a rectangular base tapered inwardly toward its base
end with ends of said filament extending therefrom adapted to fit
the rectangular hole in said sockets,
and electrical connecting means connecting each of said sockets and
including electrical connectors connected thereto.
2. The decorative light ornament of claim 1, further characterized
by
beveled edges on the bottom of said rectangular base of said bulb
with said filament ends extending from said beveled edges.
3. The decorative light ornament of claim 1, further characterized
by
each of said bulbs having decorative leaf formations integral with
said bulb,
decorative means having an opening therethrough fitted around the
base of said decorative leaf formations,
and retaining means fitted to the base of said decorative leaf
formations to hold said decorative means to said bulb.
4. The decorative light ornament of claim 3, further characterized
by
said retaining means being a plastic washer tightly fitted to said
base of said decorative leaf formations.
5. The decorative light ornament of claim 2, further characterized
by
said bulb having a flanged portion extending between the bottom of
its decorative leaf formations and its rectangular base and adapted
for press fit into said socket.
Description
The present invention relates to decorative ornaments having lights
and in particular to a plastic holder in combination with sockets
and light in a group to form various designs for decorative
purposes, particularly for the use on Christmas trees and other
decorations during that season of the year.
Although decorative light groupings are in common usage, the
present ornamental sets are of simple construction and will allow
different decorative designs to be realized whether or not the
lights in the ornamental sets are lit or not, thereby presenting
their decorative effect both at night and during the day when the
lights are out.
Also, the present ornamental sets are of such construction as to be
easily hung in place and removed, especially if repairs to the
lights should be necessary. Just as easily, due to the construction
involved, most any repairs may be quickly done without the usual
difficulties which may be encountered with other forms of
decorative lights.
Also, each of the ornamental sets is so connected electrically that
a common defect, such as a burned out bulb, which may be easily
replaced in these units, does not affect other ornamental sets
connected thereto. And as stated, should such defect occur, the
ornamental design is not destroyed since these sets present a
pleasing appearance whether electrically connected or not.
Furthermore, due to the construction of the holder and the socket
in combination with a bulb, there is a tendency for the lights to
remain in place on the holder in a better manner than many of such
prior art devices .
These, as well as further advantages which are inherent in the
invention, will become apparent from the following description,
reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIGS. 1A through 1B illustrate ornamental sets of decorative lights
having various different designs with lights removed in some
instances to clarify the construction;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially sectioned view of one of the
ornamental lights in its socket mounted in the holder, along line
2--2 of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged section view along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
and
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a section of the holder
and the bulb and socket with accessories fitted thereto with the
relationship of other sockets and end connections shown
therein.
Referring first to FIGS. 1A through 1B, there is shown therein
various designs which may be used such as, for example, with
Christmas decorations, wherein the ornamental light sets
respectively form patterns to depict a snowflake, a star, a bell,
and a candy cane. In each of FIGS. 1A and 1C, two of the lights and
accessories attached thereto have been removed, exposing the
plastic holder 10 to view. To each of the ornamental sets there is
a plug 11 and a socket 12 connected by wires to supply the electric
power for the bulbs mounted in holder 10. An enlarged light
installation is shown in a partially sectioned view in FIG. 2 and
in an exploded view in FIG. 4. In these views the plastic holder
10, at each light installation, has a circular opening with
downward extending flange having upwardly and inwardly tapering
inner walls 16. Constructed so as to fit within these upwardly and
inwardly tapering walls 16 is a socket 20 having inwardly tapering
outer wall 21 designed for a press fit within surrounding wall
16.
As shown in the sectioned view of FIG. 3, socket 20 has a
rectangular opening 22 having contacts 23 forming a pair of
opposite sides of rectangle 22. A wire 24 is connected to one of
contacts 23 and a wire 25 is connected to the other of contacts 23.
Another wire 26 passes parallel with wires 24 and 25 but does not
connect to the socket 20.
A light bulb 30 is formed having a glass bulb portion 31 with
filament 32 therein rising amid a leaf shaped portion 33 formed
integral with the bulb 31. Beneath decorative leaf portion 33 is a
shoulder 34 having a diameter of small enough dimension to just fit
within the inner diameter of the upper portion of socket 20.
Extending below shoulder 34 is a rectangular base 35 with beveled
edges 36, out of which extend the ends of filament 32. This
rectangular base 35 is adapted for fitting in rectangular opening
22 in socket 20. The ends 36 of filament 32, extending outside and
up along base 35, are positioned so as to be pressed against
contacts 23 of socket 20. A pair of silver foil or other shiny foil
material shaped as a garland of leaves 38, with an opening 39
through the center, is mounted so as to fit around the base of
decorative leaf portion 33 and be held thereon by washer 41 which
fits tightly around the base portion of leaves 33.
In the course of the electrical connections of wires 24, 25 and the
nonconnection of wire 26 to socket 20, the bulbs 30 of each group
or ornamental set are connected in a series relationship, thereby
allowing a smaller current to be used, with of course an inherent
disadvantage of series connection whereby one bulb in a set burning
out will cause all bulbs in that set to go out. But, since an
ornamental set may be easily disconnected at 11 and 12, this
disadvantage is easily overcome and replacement of a bulb is easily
accomplished. But, if a bulb in a set is burned out, only the bulbs
in that set will go out since each of the sets is connected in a
parallel relationship to the adjacent set and does not affect the
lighting in that adjacent set.
In an assembly of the present invention, a plastic holder 10 having
a desired decorative shape, has sockets 20 press fitted within the
openings therein with tapered walls 21 fitted within similarly
tapered walls 16. Light bulb 30 with wreaths of leaves 38 fitted
about the base of decorative leaves 33 and held thereon by washer
41, which may be of a stretchable plastic material, has its
rectangular base 35 fitted into opening 22 of socket 20 with
filament ends 36 contacting contacts 23 therein. A replacement of
light bulb 30 may thus easily be made and the decorative effect,
both when light bulb 30 is lit and at times when it is not lit, is
easily apparent.
Besides the use of a combination of numerous different designs for
plastic holder 10 upon which the light bulbs 30 may be mounted, a
great variety of colors of bulbs with integral leaf formations 33
and either matching or contrasting leaf formations 38 may be used.
Leaf formations 38 also may match or have different colors combined
therewith; such combinations are limited only by the imagination of
the designer but will all fall within the spirit of the present
invention.
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