Cascade effect icicle light set

• US 5,975,717 A
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sienna LLC
• Original Assignee: Minami International Corporation
• Inventors: Rahman, Najeh
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONEYMAN, MARSHALL S
• Application Number:
  US08/992,988
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 362/252, 362/122, 362/123, 362/249, 362/806, 362/227, 362/251, 315/185 S, 315/210
• US Class Current: 362/249.13
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/006 for illumination or simulation of snowy or iced items, e.g. icicle
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/23 of two or more light sources connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A chaser icicle light set includes a transversely extending common wire portion, and a plurality of transversely spaced, parallel light strings depending from the common wire portion. Each light string defines a plurality of lamp sockets physically disposed in a series. The lamp sockets of the plurality of light strings are organized into a plurality of series-wired sets corresponding to given points along the lengths of the light strings. All lamp sockets of a given set within a given light string being electrically disposed in series. The number of the lamp sockets in each light string is an exact multiple of the number of sets. Controls for actuating and deactivating the sets successively produce a cascade wherein each set of each light string flashes on and off in substantially horizontal unison as a set to provide a chaser icicle effect.

Claims

1. A cascade-effect icicle light set comprising:

(A) a transversely extending common wire means;

(B) a plurality of transversely spaced parallel light strings depending from said common wire means, each light string being electrically and physically connected to an adjacent light string only by said common wire means at the tops thereof, each light string defining a plurality of lamp sockets physically disposed in a series, said lamp sockets of said plurality of light strings being organized into a plurality of series-wired sets corresponding to given points along the lengths of said light strings; and

(C) means of activating and deactivating said sets successively to produce a cascade wherein successively each said set of each said light string flashes on and off substantially in horizontal unison as a set to provide a cascade-effect icicle light set.

2. The light set of claim 1 wherein all lamp sockets of a given set within a given light string are electrically disposed in series.

3. The light set of claim 1 wherein the number of said lamp sockets in each said light string is an exact whole integer multiple of the number of sets.