Water Resistant and Replaceable LED Lamps for Light Strings

• US 20100073963A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Santa's Best
• Original Assignee: 1 Energy Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Yu, Jing Jing
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/653
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/06 the fastening being onto or by the lampholder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0005 of sources having contact pins, wires or blades, e.g. pinch sealed lamp F21V19/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/06 with two current-carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts, having their axes parallel to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/965 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof holders

Abstract

Disclosed is a waterproof lamp assembly that allows easy replacement of LED elements to be replaced. The electrical wires providing power to the light string are molded together with a lamp holder and covered with a lamp cover to create a watertight seal. The entire lamp assembly is waterproof and the LED elements are replaceable. No soldering is required in the assembly process.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly for a watertight LED light string that allows replacement of an LED element comprising:

an LED bulb having two connector pins;

a lamp holder having a central opening, two socket holes and a positioning hole formed in a lower portion of said lamp holder adjacent to said central opening;

two electrical wires;

two LED connectors that are connected to said two electrical wires and covered by plastic to form said two socket holes in said lamp holder;

an LED adaptor having two holes that releasably accept said two connector pins so that said LED bulb can be replaced in said LED adaptor;

two terminals disposed on a bottom portion of said LED adaptor that tightly engage said two LED connectors through said two socket holes;

a positional pin disposed on said bottom portion of said LED adaptor that engages said positional hole so that said LED adaptor is disposed in said lamp holder in a predetermined direction;

a lamp cover having a base that is secured to said lamp holder that forms a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said two LED connectors are recessed in said socket holes by an amount sufficient to meet safety regulations.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

external screw threads disposed on said base of said lamp holder;

internal screw threads disposed on an interior portion of said base of said lamp cover tightly coupled with said external screw threads to form a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder, such that said internal screw threads and said external screw threads can be disconnected to replace said LED bulb.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a snap ring disposed around a peripheral portion of said lamp holder;

a snap recess disposed on an interior portion of said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder so that said snap ring and said snap recess are engaged to form a watertight seal, and said snap ring and said snap recess can be disengaged to replace said LED bulb.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a clasp disposed on said base of said lamp cover;

a projection disposed on said lamp holder that releasably and securely engages said claps to form a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder, whenever said projection and clasp are engaged.

6. The lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

an extended portion of said lamp holder that forms a tight seal between said lamp holder and said LED adaptor.

7. A lamp assembly for a watertight LED string that allows replacement of an LED element comprising:

an LED bulb having two connector pins;

a lamp holder having a central opening and two socket holes formed in a lower portion of said lamp holder adjacent to said central opening;

two electrical wires;

two LED connectors that are connected to said two electrical wires and covered by plastic to form said two socket holes in said lamp holder;

an LED adaptor having two holes that releasably accept said two connector pins so that said LED bulb can be replaced in said LED adaptor;

two terminals disposed on a bottom portion of said LED adaptor that tightly engage said two LED connectors through said socket holes, said two terminals having different sizes so that said LED adaptor is disposed in said lamp holder in a predetermined direction;

a lamp cover having a base that is secured to said lamp holder that forms a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder.

8. The lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein said two LED connectors are recessed in said socket holes by an amount sufficient to meet safety regulations.

9. The lamp assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

external screw threads disposed on said base of said lamp holder;

internal screw threads disposed on an interior portion of said base of said lamp cover tightly coupled with said external screw threads to form a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder, such that said internal screw threads and said external screw threads can be disconnected to replace said LED bulb.

10. The lamp assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

a snap ring disposed around a peripheral portion of said lamp holder;

a snap recess disposed on an interior portion of said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder so that said snap ring and said snap recess are engaged to form a watertight seal, and said snap ring and said snap recess can be disengaged to replace said LED bulb.

11. The lamp assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

a clasp disposed on said base of said lamp cover;

a projection disposed on said lamp holder that releasably and securely engages said clasp to form a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder, whenever said projection and clasp are engaged.

12. The lamp assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

an extended portion of said lamp holder that forms a tight seal between said lamp holder and said LED adaptor.

13. A lamp assembly for a watertight LED string that allows replacement of an LED element comprising:

an LED bulb having two connector pins;

a lamp holder having a central opening and a directionally shaped socket hole formed in a lower portion of said lamp holder adjacent to said central opening;

two electrical wires;

two LED connectors that are connected to said two electrical wires and covered by plastic to form said directionally shaped socket hole in said lamp holder;

an LED adaptor having two holes that releasably accept said two connector pins so that said LED bulb can be replaced in said LED adaptor;

two terminals housed in a directionally shaped housing disposed on a bottom portion of said LED adaptor that tightly engage said two LED connectors through said socket hole so that said LED adaptor is disposed in said lamp holder in a predetermined direction;

a lamp cover having a base that is secured to said lamp holder to form a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder.

14. The lamp assembly of claim 13 wherein said two LED connectors are recessed in said socket holes by an amount sufficient to meet safety regulations.

15. The lamp assembly of claim 13 further comprising:

external screw threads disposed on an interior portion of said base of said lamp cover tightly coupled with said external screw threads to form a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder, such that said internal screw threads and said external screw threads can be disconnected to replace said LED bulb.

16. The lamp assembly of claim 13 further comprising:

a snap ring disposed around a peripheral portion of said lamp holder;

a snap recess disposed on an interior portion of said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder so that said snap ring and said snap recess are engaged to form a watertight seal, and said snap ring and said snap recess can be disengaged to replace said LED bulb.

17. The lamp assembly of claim 13 further comprising:

a clasp disposed on said base of said lamp cover;

a projection disposed on said lamp holder that releasably and securely engages said clasp to form a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder, whenever said projection and clasp are engaged.

18. The lamp assembly of claim 13 further comprising:

an extended portion of said lamp holder that forms a tight seal between said lamp holder and said LED adaptor.

19. A method of providing a lamp assembly for a watertight LED light string that allows replacement of an LED element comprising:

providing an LED bulb having two connector pins;

providing two electrical wires;

connecting two LED connectors to said two electrical wires;

forming a lamp holder by covering said two electrical wires and said two LED connectors with plastic to form two socket holes in said lamp holder, said two socket holes disposed adjacent to a central opening formed in said lamp holder;

forming a positioning hole in said lamp holder adjacent to said central opening during formation of said lamp holder;

providing an LED adaptor having two holes that releasably accept said two connector pins so that said LED bulb can be replaced in said LED adaptor;

forming two terminals in a bottom portion of said LED adaptor that tightly engage said two LED connectors through said two socket holes;

forming a positional pin on said bottom portion of said LED adaptor that engages said positional hole so that said LED adaptor is disposed in said lamp holder in a predetermined direction;

providing a lamp cover having a base that is secured to said lamp holder that forms a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said process of forming two LED connectors with plastic to form two socket holes in said lamp holder comprises:

disposing said two LED connectors in said socket holes so that said LED connectors are recessed in said socket holes by an amount sufficient to meet safety requirements.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

providing an extended portion of said lamp holder that forms a tight seal between said lamp holder and said LED adaptor.

22. A method of providing a lamp assembly for a watertight LED string that allows replacement of an LED element comprising:

providing an LED bulb having two connector pins;

providing two electrical wires;

providing two LED connectors that have different sizes;

connecting said two LED connectors to said two electrical wires;

forming a lamp holder by covering said two electrical wires and said two LED connectors with plastic to form two socket holes in said lamp holder that have different sizes, said two socket holes disposed adjacent to a central opening formed in said lamp holder;

providing an LED adaptor having two holes that releasably accept said two connector pins so that said LED bulb can be replaced in said LED adaptor;

providing two terminals disposed on a bottom portion of said LED adaptor that tightly engage said two LED connectors through said socket holes, said two terminals having different sizes that match said different sizes of said socket holes such that said LED adaptor is disposed in said lamp holder in a predetermined direction;

providing a lamp cover having a base that is secured to said lamp holder that forms a water tight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said process of forming two LED connectors with plastic to form two socket holes in said lamp holder, said two socket holes disposed adjacent to a central opening formed in said lamp holder comprises:

disposing said two LED connectors in said socket holes so that said LED connectors are recessed in said socket holes by an amount sufficient to meet safety regulations.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

providing an extended portion of said lamp holder to form a tight seal between said lamp holder and said LED adaptor.

25. A method of providing a lamp assembly for a watertight LED string that allows replacement of an LED element comprising:

providing an LED bulb having two connector pins;

providing two electrical wires;

connecting two LED connectors to said two electrical wires;

forming a lamp holder by covering said two electrical wires and said two LED connectors with plastic to form a directionally shaped socket hole in said lamp holder, said socket hole disposed adjacent to a central opening formed in said lamp holder;

providing an LED adaptor having two holes that releasably accept said two connector pins so that said LED bulb can be replaced in said LED adaptor;

forming two terminals housed in a directionally shaped housing disposed on a bottom portion of said LED adaptor that tightly engage said two LED connectors through said socket hole so that said LED adaptor is disposed in said lamp holder in a predetermined direction;

providing a lamp cover having a base that is secured to said lamp holder that forms a watertight seal between said base of said lamp cover and said lamp holder.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said process of forming a lamp holder by covering said two electrical wires and said two LED connectors with plastic comprises:

disposing said two LED connectors in said socket hole so that said LED connectors are recessed in said socket hole by an amount sufficient to meet safety regulations.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

providing an extended portion of said lamp holder that forms a tight seal between said lamp holder and said LED adaptor.