Claims
- 1. A string of decorative lights comprising:a plurality of elongated electrical conductors having multiple electrical lamps connected thereto at intervals along the lengths of the conductors, a small storage compartment for storing spare components for use in said string of decorative lights, a movable closure for opening said storage compartment to permit access to the spare components stored therein, and for closing the compartment during storage of the spare components, and means for attaching said storage compartment to said string of decorative lights so that the spare components stored therein are conveniently accessible when needed to replace a component in said light string.
- 2. The decorative light string of claim 1 which includes a plug or receptacle on at least one end of said string, and said storage compartment is attached to said light string by being formed as a part of said plug or receptacle.
- 3. The decorative light string of claim 1 which includes a receptacle on at least one end of said string, and said storage compartment is attached to said light string by prongs projecting from an exterior surface of said storage compartment and positioned and dimensioned to fit into said receptacle.
- 4. The decorative light string of claim 1 wherein said storage compartment is divided into sub-compartments for segregated storage of different components.
- 5. The decorative light string of claim 1 wherein said movable closure includes a cover and a hinge connecting said cover to said storage compartment to allow the cover to pivot about the hinge to selectively open and close the compartment.
- 6. The decorative light string of claim 1 further comprising latching means for selectively maintaining said movable closure in a closed position.
- 7. The decorative light string of claim 1 wherein said storage compartment includes at least two opposite interconnected walls forming channels adapted to slidably receive said movable closure for opening and closing said compartment.
- 8. The decorative light string of claim 1 wherein said storage compartment includes a wall forming a first opening adapted to receive in frictional engagement a base of an electrical lamp, to assist in removing the electrical lamp from a socket.
- 9. The decorative light string of claim 8 wherein said movable closure includes a domed portion defining a second opening aligned with said first opening to receive the base of the electrical lamp in frictional engagement to assist in removing the electrical lamp from a socket.
- 10. The decorative light string of claim 8 further comprising means to cover said openings when no bulb is placed therein for removal.
- 11. The decorative light string of claim 1 wherein said compartment includes means for selectively indicating a technical specification of said spare components.
- 12. A method of storing spare components for use in a string of decorative lights, said method comprising:placing said spare components in a small storage compartment having a movable closure for opening the compartment to permit access to the spare components stored therein, and for closing the compartment during storage of the spare components, and attaching said storage compartment to said string of decorative lights so that the spare components stored therein are conveniently accessible when needed to replace a component in said light string.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said light string includes a plug or receptacle on at least one end of the string, and said storage compartment is attached to said light string by being formed as a part of said plug or receptacle.
- 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said light string includes a receptacle on at least one end of the string, and said storage compartment is attached to said light string by prongs projecting from an exterior surface of said storage compartment and positioned and dimensioned to fit into said receptacle.
- 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said storage compartment is divided into sub-compartments for segregated storage of different components, and said different components are placed in different ones of said sub-compartments.
- 16. The method of claim 12 which includes selectively indicating a technical specification of said spare lamps on a surface of said storage compartment.
- 17. A string of decorative lights comprising:a plurality of elongated electrical conductors having multiple electrical lamps connected thereto at intervals along the lengths of the conductors, a receptacle attached to one end of said conductors, a small storage compartment for storing spare components for use in said string of decorative lights, a plurality of prongs projecting from an exterior surface of said storage compartment and positioned and dimensioned to fit into said receptacle, and a movable closure for opening said storage compartment to permit access to the spare components stored therein, and for closing the compartment during storage of the spare components.
- 18. The decorative light string of claim 17 wherein said storage compartment is a molded plastic part.
- 19. The decorative light string of claim 18 wherein said prongs are formed as an integral portion of said molded plastic part.
- 20. The decorative light string of claim 17 wherein said prongs are notched for fitting over the conductors of said light string, so that said storage compartment can be removably attached to said conductors.
- 21. The decorative light string of claim 17 wherein said storage compartment is divided into sub-compartments for segregated storage of different components.
- 22. The decorative light string of claim 17 wherein said compartment includes means for selectively indicating a technical specification of said spare components.
- 23. A decorative light string comprising:a molded electrical power connector; at least first and second electrical conductors retained in the molded electrical power connector; at least first and second electrical wires, said first wire being connected to said first electrical conductor and said second wire being connected to said second electrical conductor; multiple decorative electrical lamps connected to said electrical wires at spaced intervals along the lengths of said wires; a storage compartment integrally formed with the molded electrical power connector for storing spare lamps and other components of said light string, and a movable closure for opening the compartment to permit access to the spare components stored therein, and for closing the compartment during storage of the spare components.
- 24. The decorative light string of claim 23 and further comprising hinge means for connecting said movable closure to the compartment for allowing the closure to pivot about the hinge means to selectively open and close the compartment.
- 25. The decorative light string of claim 24 and further comprising locking means for selectively maintaining the closure in a closed position until the closure is to be opened.
- 26. The decorative light string of claim 23 and further comprising opposite channels on the compartment, the channels adapted to slidably receive the closure, whereby the closure can be selectively slid in the channels to open and close the compartment.
- 27. The decorative light string of claim 23 and further comprising an opening in the compartment, the opening adapted to receive in frictional engagement a base of an electrical lamp, to assist in removing the electrical lamp from a socket.
- 28. The decorative light string of claim 27 and further comprising a domed portion on the closure, the domed portion defining a second opening, the second opening aligned with the opening to receive the base of the electrical lamp in frictional engagement to assist in removing the electrical lamp from a socket.
- 29. The decorative light string of claim 27 and further comprising means to cover the opening when no lamp is placed therein for removal.
- 30. The decorative light string of claim 23 wherein the compartment is defined by at least four walls, a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, and opposite sidewalls.
- 31. The decorative light string of claim 23 wherein said compartment has means for selectively indicating a technical specification of said spare lamps.
- 32. A decorative light string comprising:an electrical power connector; at least first and second electrical conductors retained in the electrical power connector; at least first and second electrical wires, said first wire being connected to one of the electrical conductors and said second wire being connected to the other electrical conductor; multiple decorative electrical lamps connected to said electrical wires at spaced intervals along the lengths of said wires; a storage compartment integrally formed with the electrical power connector for storing spare lamps and other components of said light string, and a movable closure for opening the compartment to permit access to the spare components stored therein, and for closing the compartment during storage of the spare components.
- 33. The decorative light string of claim 32 and further comprising an opening in said compartment for receiving a base of an electrical lamp for removing the lamp from an electric socket.
- 34. A method of storing spare components for use in a string of decorative lights having an electrical power connector on one end thereof, said method comprising:placing said spare components in a storage compartment integrally formed with said electrical power connector and having a movable closure for opening the compartment to permit access to the spare components stored therein, and for closing the compartment during storage of the spare components, and opening said storage compartment and retrieving one or more selected spare components from said compartment when a component fails in said string of decorative lights, and re-closing said compartment.
- 35. The method of claim 34 which includes selectively indicating a technical specification of said spare lamps on a surface of said storage compartment.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a division and continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 09/854,255 filed May 14, 2001, and entitled “Light Plug With Storage Compartment.”
US Referenced Citations (20)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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