Light string with lighting elements surrounded by decorative shroud and retained by snap-fit enclosure system

Abstract

A light string with a snap-fit enclosure includes a conductor, a light element mounted to the conductor, a shroud having a body having an open interior and a neck, the neck having an opening therein, open to the body interior and a cap configured to fit onto the neck. Cooperating locking elements are positioned in the cap and on the neck to lock the cap to the neck, such that the cap is secured to the neck and the light element secured within the shroud without the need for an external fastener. At least one of the cap and the neck have at least two cut-outs formed therein opposing one another and defining a channel. The channel is configured to receive the conductor with the cap secured to the neck.

Claims

1. A light string with a snap-fit enclosure, comprising: a conductor; a light element mounted to the conductor; a shroud having a body having an open interior and a neck, the neck having an opening therein, open to the body interior; a cap, the configured to fit onto the neck; and cooperating locking elements positioned in the cap and on the neck to lock the cap to the neck, such that the cap is secured to the neck and the light element secured within the shroud without the need for an external fastener, wherein the cap and the neck have at least two cut-outs formed therein, respective ones of the cap cut-outs and the neck cut-outs cooperating and aligning with one another to define a substantially straight-through path, the substantially straight-through path configured to receive the conductor with the cap secured to the neck, wherein the conductor and light element are non-integral with and separate, apart and removable from the shroud and the cap, and wherein the shroud is substantially enclosed.

2. The light string of claim 1 wherein the light element is an LED.

3. The light string of claim 1 wherein the cooperating locking elements include a ramped surface and a lip on one of both of the cap and the neck.

4. The light string of claim 1 wherein the neck includes four cuts-outs to define four sections, and wherein at least two of the sections include a ramped surface and a lip and wherein the cap includes corresponding ramped surfaces and lips to cooperate with and engage the ramped surfaces and lips of the neck.

5. The light string of claim 1 including a controller, the controller including one or more batteries and a switch.

6. The light string of claim 1 including at least three light elements mounted to the conductor spaced from one another, each light element enclosed within a shroud and secured therein by a cap.

7. The light string of claim 6 including a controller, the controller including one or more batteries and a switch, the controller including circuitry to control a lighting scheme of the light elements.

8. A light string with a snap-fit enclosure, comprising: a conductor; a plurality of LED light elements mounted to the conductor; a controller, the controller including one or more batteries and a switch, the controller including circuitry to control a lighting scheme of the LED light elements; a plurality of shrouds, each shroud being substantially enclosed and having a body having an open interior and a neck, the neck having an opening therein, open to the body interior, the neck having four cut-outs formed therein equally circumferentially spaced from one another to define four sections, two opposing cut-outs configured to receive the conductor, such that the conductor is recessed from an end of the neck; a plurality of caps, each cap configured to fit onto the neck of a respective one of the plurality of shrouds, each cap having at least two cut-outs therein cooperating with the cut-outs in the neck such that when the cap is positioned on the neck, the cut-outs in the neck and the cut-outs in the cap define a substantially straight-through path for passage of the conductor; and cooperating locking elements positioned in the cap and on the neck to lock the cap to the neck with the conductor positioned in the straight-through path, such that the cap is secured to the neck and the LED light element secured within the shroud without the need for an external fastener, the cooperating locking elements including a ramped surface and a lip on one or both of the cap and the neck, and wherein the conductor and the plurality of LED light elements are non-integral with and separate, apart and removable from respective ones of their shrouds and caps.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a light string shown in a partially exploded view with the light removed from the shroud and the cap removed for clarity of illustration;

(2) FIG. 2 is an illustration of the embodiment of the light string of FIG. 1 with the light inserted into the shroud and the cap removed, again, for clarity of illustration, and showing the conductors positioned in the shroud recesses;

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates the cap as it is installed on the shroud with the conductors positioned in the cap recesses;

(4) FIG. 4 is partial illustration showing the interior of the cap;

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an electrical circuit for the light string;

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shroud and cap without the light string;

(7) FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the shroud and cap without the light string;

(8) FIG. 8 is a front view of the shroud;

(9) FIG. 9 is a partial top view of the shroud, showing the shroud opening;

(10) FIG. 10 is a front view of the cap; and

(11) FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the cap, showing the interior thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended to limit the disclosure to any specific embodiment described or illustrated.

(13) Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a light string novelty device 10 with a snap-fit enclosure 12. The device 10 includes a shroud 14, one or more light elements 16 positioned on a conductor or conductors 18, a cap 20 and a controller 22 (see, FIG. 6). The shroud 14 can take many forms or shapes, such as the illustrated Halloween pumpkin decoration. In an embodiment the shroud 14 is formed from plastic so that when the light elements 16 are illuminated the light is visible though the shroud 14 and the shroud 14 illuminates to create a pleasing aesthetic effect. The shroud 14 can take many other shapes and configurations which other shapes and configurations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

(14) The light elements 16 on the light string (attached to the conductors 18) are powered by a power source 24, such as one or more batteries that can be positioned within the controller 22. The controller 22 can include a switch 26 and circuitry 28 to provide a variety of illuminating functions, such as on-off, fast and or slow blinking scenarios, and the like. In a present embodiment, the lights 16 are light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other lower heat-generating illuminating elements. In this manner, the light string 10 can be formed as a necklace N or the like to be worn around a user's neck, without concern as to heat that is generated from the light elements 16.

(15) The shroud 14 has an open interior 30 and includes an upstanding neck 32 that is configured to receive the conductor 18 and the cap 20. The neck 32 has an opening 34 that is open to the shroud interior 30, through which the light element 16 is passed for insertion into the shroud interior 30. In an embodiment, the neck 32 has a plurality of recesses or cut-outs 36, two of which 36a, 36c are configured to receive the conductor 18 when the light element 16 is inserted into the shroud 14. In this manner, the conductor 18 is below an uppermost edge 38 of the neck 34, that is, the conductor 18 is recessed from the uppermost edge 38 of the neck 34. The light element 16 can be connected to the conductor 18 by an extension piece 19 so that the light element 16 can be inserted into a desired location within the shroud 14.

(16) The neck uppermost edge 38 includes a hook portion 40 formed along the edge. The hook portion 40 includes a ramped or inclined surface 42 and a lip or ledge 44 at an end of the ramped surface 42. In a present embodiment the neck 32 is quadfurcated (see, FIGS. 2 and 7, 32a-d), that is, divided in to four parts or sections, and each section 32a-32d can have a ramped or inclined surface 42 and a lip or ledge 44 at an end of the ramped surface 42. At least two of the recesses or cut-outs (36a, 36c) are formed opposing each other to receive the conductor 18.

(17) The cap 20 is formed so as to snap on to the neck 32. In a present embodiment, the cap 20 includes a top portion 46 and a depending skirt 48. The skirt 48 includes at least two recesses or cut-outs 50a, 50c that cooperate with the recesses 36a, 36c in the neck 32. In this manner, the cap 20 is snapped onto the neck 32 with the neck recesses or cut-outs 36a, 36c aligned with the cap recesses or cut-outs 50a, 50c to define a closed channel 52. The conductors 18 are captured in the closed channel 52 to secure the conductors 18 in the channel 52 and the lighting element 16 in the shroud 14. The neck recesses or cut-outs 36a, 36c and the cap recesses or cut-outs 50a, 50c (that define the channel 52) are configured so as to capture the conductors 18, but not damage (e.g., by pinching) the conductors 18 when the cap 20 is positioned on the neck 32. It will be appreciated that cut-outs 36, 50 can be formed in one or both of the neck 32 and the cap 20 to define the channel 52.

(18) To secure the cap 20 to the neck 32, the cap 20 includes one or more ramped or inclined surfaces 54 and lips or ledges 56 that cooperate with the ramped or inclined surfaces 42 and lips or ledges 44 on the neck 32. The ramped surfaces 54, 42 and lips or ledges 56, 44 define cooperating locking elements in the cap 20 and neck 32. In this manner, as the cap 20 is urged onto the neck 32 the cap inclined surfaces 54 engage the neck inclined surfaces 42, and further urging the cap 20 onto the neck 32 engages the cap lips or ledges 56 with the neck lips or ledges 44. As the lips or ledges 44, 56 cap pass over one another they secure the cap 20 on the neck 32 with the conductors 18 in the channel 52 formed by the neck recesses 36a,c and the cap recesses 50a,c.

(19) In an embodiment the cap 20 includes openings 58 in the top 46, above the lips or ledges 56. In this manner, the interlocking lips or ledges 44, 56 can be accessed from the top 46 of the cap 20, through the openings 58, so that the cap 20 can be separated from the neck 32 to access the light elements 16 or conductors 18.

(20) Advantageously, the present light string 10 with a snap-fit enclosure 12 permits manufacture of light strings 10 in an efficient and cost effective manner. The components fit and lock into one another quickly without the need for external fasteners, such as screws, rivets or the like.

(21) It should also be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.