1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a light string in the illumination field, and more particularly to a string light connector and the applications thereof.
2. The Related Art
Generally, people use ornaments, such as Christmas trees, to improve the ambiance of festivals and holidays, but conventional ornaments are not conspicuous enough to attract people. Consequently, a light string is used to be mounted inside or outside the ornament to make the ornament shine. Generally, the light string is formed by series-connecting a plurality of light bulbs with a single conducting cable. As a result, the length of the light string is fixed so that limits the applications of the light string.
An object of the present invention is to provide a string light assembly and a string light connector. The string light assembly includes the string light connector and a lighting module electrically connected with the string light connector. The string light connector includes a cable, a plug connected with one end of the cable, and a socket module connected with the other end of the cable. The socket module has a plurality of interface modules of which at least one is used for electrically connecting the lighting module, and at least one is used for electrically connecting a plug of another string light connector, wherein both the lighting module and the corresponding interface module are further worn by a locking ring therearound to be locked together, and both the plug of the another string light connector and the corresponding interface module are further worn by another locking ring therearound to be locked together. A plurality of the string light assemblies are connected to form a light string by engaging the plugs and the corresponding interface modules of the socket modules thereof with one of the plugs used for connecting power source.
As described above, the string light assembly of the present invention is designed to facilitate the connection and disconnection between two string light assemblies so as to conveniently adjust the length of the light string under various situations.
The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
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In order to enhance an engagement between two string light connectors 1 and between the string light connector 1 and the lighting module 3, a middle of each of the pedestals 133 protrudes outward to form a connecting pillar 135. Each of the inserting holes 1331 further penetrates through the corresponding connecting pillar 135. The outer diameter of the connecting pillar 135 is equal to the inner diameter of the first locking ring 127. An outside rim 1353 of the connecting pillar 135 oppositely protrudes outward to form a pair of locking eaves 1351 gradually thickening from one end to the other end along the rim, and accordingly, a pair of locking grooves 1352 is formed between the pedestal 133 and the locking eaves 1351. The locking eaves 1351 and the locking grooves 1352 together define a matching structure 1350 for being buckled with the first locking portions 1271 of the first locking ring 127. When the plug 12 of one string light connector 1 is engaged with the first interface module 1301 of the socket module 13 of another string light connector 1, the first locking ring 127 of the plug 12 is further worn around the corresponding connecting pillar 135, and then is turned to make the first locking portions 1271 restrained by the corresponding locking eaves 1351 and further locked in the respective locking grooves 1352 so that ensures a firm engagement between the two string light connectors 1 and prevents the two connected string light connectors 1 from disconnecting under external pulling force.
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One end of the connecting member 31 is acted as a light holder 311 having a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown) therein, and the other end thereof is acted as a connecting plug 312. The light bulb 36 is held to the light holder 311 and electrically connects the electrical contacts, and the electrical contacts are further electrically connected with a plurality of connecting terminals 313 of the connecting plug 312. So when the connecting plug 312 of the connecting member 31 is engaged with the second interface module 1302 of the socket module 13 to make the connecting terminals 313 inserted in the corresponding inserting holes 1331 and electrically connected with the contact tails 1342, 1372 of the socket terminals 134, 137, a work power can be provided for the light bulb 36 held to the light holder 311. Furthermore, a second locking ring 315 is provided to be worn around the connecting plug 312 and the corresponding connecting pillar 135 of the socket module 13 so as to ensure a firm engagement between the lighting module 3 and the socket module 13, wherein the second locking ring 315 has the same structure as the first locking ring 127 and defines a second locking structure 3150 including a pair of third locking portions 3151 and a pair of fourth locking portions 3152, and accordingly, an end edge of the connecting plug 312 defines a pair of second resisting eaves 314 spaced from each other and a pair of second guiding openings 3141 between the second resisting eaves 314. The manner of the second locking ring 315 securing the lighting module 3 and the string light connector 1 is the same as the manner of the first locking ring 127 securing two string light connectors 1, so it will not be described any more. A peripheral outside of the light holder 311 defines a ring-shaped receiving fillister 316. The connecting member 31 further includes a switch 317 for controlling a switch state of the light bulb 36.
The lampshade 37 includes a semi-ellipsoid first hooding body 371 and a semi-ellipsoid second hooding body 375 mated with each other. One side rim of the first hooding body 371 protrudes outward to form a pivot axle 372 parallel to the rim, and the other side rim thereof is provided with a locking frame 373 opposite to the pivot axle 372. One side rim of the second hooding body 375 protrudes outward to form a pivot eave 376 extending along the rim, and the other side rim thereof opposite to the pivot eave 376 is provided with two locking barbs 377. When the lampshade 37 is assembled, the pivot axle 372 is pivoted in the pivot eave 376 according to a hinge manner to make the first and second hooding bodies 371, 375 pivotly mated with each other so as to envelop the light bulb 36 therebetween for further protecting the light bulb 36. The locking barbs 377 are snapped with the locking frame 373 to secure the first and second hooding bodies 371, 375 together. A top end of the first hooding body 371 is narrowed toward an axis thereof to form a first locking semi-ring 374 mounted in the receiving fillister 316 of the connecting member 31, and a second locking semi-ring 378 is further provided to be screwed with the first locking semi-ring 374 in the receiving fillister 316 for firmly mounting the lampshade 37 to the connecting member 31. The lampshade 37 is further provided with a hanger 379 suspended under the first hooding body 371 or the second hooding body 375 so as to hitch onto an external fixing object (not shown), such as Christmas tree and building etc, to secure the string light assembly 2 on the fixing object.
Referring to
As described above, the string light assembly 2 of the present invention is designed to facilitate the connection and disconnection between two string light assemblies 2 so that can conveniently adjust the length of the light string 5 to different circumstances.
The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, both the first locking ring 127 securing the plug 12 to the corresponding connecting pillar 135 and the second locking ring 315 securing the connecting member 31 to the connecting pillar 135 can be also achieved by a screw manner, namely both the first and third locking portions 1271, 3151 of the first and second locking rings 127, 315 and the locking eaves 1351 of the connecting pillar 135 are replaced with screw threads respectively on inner surfaces 1275, 3155 of the first and second locking rings 127, 315 and an outer surface 1355 of the connecting pillar 135 to tooth one another. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.