Light string ornament circuitry
First Claim
1. An ornament for installation in a string of lights connected to an AC line voltage source to be in series with the lights of the string, said ornament comprising:
- ornamental means for producing attractive visual effects, an electrically operated load device arranged when energized to produce sensory effects augmenting the attractive visual effects produced by said ornamental means, a coupling circuit having a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals and arranged to provide a path for current flow from one input terminal and thence in one direction from one output terminal to the other through a load coupled thereto and then to the other input terminal and to also provide a path for current flow from said other input terminal and thence in said one direction from said one output terminal to the other through load coupled thereto and thence to said one input terminal to thereby provide for AC current flow between said input terminals of said coupling circuit while providing for DC current flow through said load, means arranged for connecting said input terminals of said coupling circuit in said string of lamps in series relation to all other lamps of said string, connection means defining a load which includes said load device and which is connected to said output terminals of said coupling circuit, and protection means operative in the absence of current through said load for insuring a path for current flow of at least a certain magnitude in said one direction from said one output terminal to said other output terminal and insuring AC current flow through all lights of said string, said certain magnitude of current flow being sufficient for energization of all lights of said string at substantially full intensity, and said protection means being effective for limiting the voltage between said output terminals of said coupling circuit, to thereby insure AC current flow through lights of said string irrespective of DC current drawn by said connection means and to protect against excessive voltages between said input terminals of said coupling circuit and across said connection means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A decorative device is disclosed which includes a motor, music module or other electrical loads and electrical circuitry and a connector for connection to a selected socket of a string of conventional sockets for connection to an A.C. line. The connector includes an elongated flexible cable and is constructed to permit ready installation and positioning. Lamps may be provided in the device. The electrical circuit includes a bridge rectifier and Zener diodes connected to insure continuous energization of lamps of the string while protecting against excessive voltages and minimizing safety hazards.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An ornament for installation in a string of lights connected to an AC line voltage source to be in series with the lights of the string, said ornament comprising:
- ornamental means for producing attractive visual effects, an electrically operated load device arranged when energized to produce sensory effects augmenting the attractive visual effects produced by said ornamental means, a coupling circuit having a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals and arranged to provide a path for current flow from one input terminal and thence in one direction from one output terminal to the other through a load coupled thereto and then to the other input terminal and to also provide a path for current flow from said other input terminal and thence in said one direction from said one output terminal to the other through load coupled thereto and thence to said one input terminal to thereby provide for AC current flow between said input terminals of said coupling circuit while providing for DC current flow through said load, means arranged for connecting said input terminals of said coupling circuit in said string of lamps in series relation to all other lamps of said string, connection means defining a load which includes said load device and which is connected to said output terminals of said coupling circuit, and protection means operative in the absence of current through said load for insuring a path for current flow of at least a certain magnitude in said one direction from said one output terminal to said other output terminal and insuring AC current flow through all lights of said string, said certain magnitude of current flow being sufficient for energization of all lights of said string at substantially full intensity, and said protection means being effective for limiting the voltage between said output terminals of said coupling circuit, to thereby insure AC current flow through lights of said string irrespective of DC current drawn by said connection means and to protect against excessive voltages between said input terminals of said coupling circuit and across said connection means.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
30. A decorative device for electrical connection in a string of conventional sockets for miniature Christmas lights or the like, each of said conventional sockets including a hollow housing of insulating material having an open end with a pair of contacts within said housing arranged for engagement with contacts of a conventional miniature Christmas light and interconnected through flexible conductors with contacts of other conventional sockets of said string, said device comprising electrical circuit means which includes electrically energizeable load means producing enhanced sensory effects and a connector for connecting said device to said string, said connector being arranged for connection to a selected socket of a string of conventional sockets mounted in a stationary position on a tree and said connector being arranged to provide an extension cord to obtain flexibility and mobility in the placement of said electrically operated load means on the tree with respect to said string of stationary conventional sockets, said connector including an elongated flexible cable having at least two conductors, first connection means at one end of said cable for connection of said conductors thereof to said load means, and second connection means at the opposite end of said elongated flexible cable for connection of said conductors thereof to contacts of a selected one of said conventional sockets, said second connection means including a member of insulating material and contact means carried by said member to form a plug assembly arranged to fit within the hollow housing of said one of said conventional sockets and to electrically connect said conductors of said cable with the contacts of said selected one of said conventional sockets, said load means being thereby connected electrically in said string in place of a light which might otherwise be inserted in said selected one of said conventional sockets and said load means being thereby movable to any desired position on said tree within the length of said flexible cable from said selected one of said stationary conventional sockets.
Specification