Decorative light assembly

• US 5,700,081 A
• Filed: 04/26/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baker A. Mitchell Jr, Jay S. Mengle, Marsha A. Mengle
• Original Assignee: Holiday Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Mengle, Marsha A., Mitchell, Baker A. Jr., Mengle, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spark, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/638,356
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 362/123, 362/226, 362/227, 362/806
• US Class Current: 362/123
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A decorative light assembly for illuminating a tree includes an electrical cable having primary input and output conductors, a plug at one end thereof, and being adapted for placement within the tree about the trunk thereof. At least one light string cluster stems from the electrical cable and includes a plurality of looped components adapted for extending along the branches or subbranches of the tree and electrically connected to one another, and a plurality of bulb sockets electrically connected at spaced intervals in series along the respective looped components. The looped components and bulb sockets together create a dense distribution of lights in the tree when the looped conductors are extended along the branches or subbranches of the tree.

Claims

1. A decorative light assembly for illuminating a tree having a trunk, branches stemming from the trunk, and subbranches stemming from the branches, comprising:

an electrical cable having primary input and output conductors with a plug at one end thereof and adapted for placement within the tree about the trunk thereof; and

a plurality of light string clusters spaced along said cable, each of said clusters including

central portion extending from said cable for placement generally along the longitudinal length of a branch of the tree,

a plurality of looped components that extend generally laterally from and return to locations spaced along the central portion for placement generally along the subbranches of the branch, the looped components being electrically connected to the central portion, whereby the central portion and looped components are prearranged generally to mimic the shape of the branch and subbranches, and

a plurality of bulb sockets electrically connected at spaced intervals in series along the respective looped components,

the looped components and bulb sockets together creating a distribution of lights in the tree when the central portion and the looped components are extended along the branches and subbranches of the tree.

2. The decorative light assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of light string clusters are electrically connected in series to form one electrical pathway between the primary input and output conductors.

3. The decorative light assembly of claim 2 further comprising a second plurality of light string clusters electrically connected in series with one another and together forming a second electrical pathway between the primary input and output conductors of said cable in parallel with the one electrical pathway.

4. The decorative light assembly of claim 1 wherein the looped components and bulb sockets of each light string cluster together form at least two electrical pathways in parallel with one another between the primary input and output conductors of said cable.

5. The decorative light assembly of claim 4 wherein the plurality of light string clusters are electrically connected in parallel to said cable.

6. The decorative light assembly of claim 1 wherein said cable further comprises a receptacle at the other end thereof.

7. The decorative light assembly of claim 1 wherein said cable does not substantially exceed six feet in length.

8. The decorative light assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said clusters is electrically connected across the primary input and output conductors of said cable.

9. The decorative light assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one bulb socket electrically connected along the central portion of said cluster.