Decorative tube light with multiple branches

• US 6,340,233 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atico International USA (Atico International)
• Original Assignee: Atico International USA (Atico International)
• Inventors: Shieh, Whiter
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/553,760
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 362/102, 362/219, 362/249, 362/252, 362/250, 362/225, 439/641, 439/650-654, 135/16, 135/910
• US Class Current: 362/102
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/92 Holders formed as intermediate parts for distributing energy in parallel through two or more counterparts at least one of which is attached to apparatus to be held
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/91 Illuminated cane or umbrella

Abstract

A decorative tube light string including a power line section, at least one branch member, and a number of extending tube light branches is disclosed. The branch member has an input end removeably connected to one end of the power line section and a plurality of output ends. The branch member is provided with a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and extending from the input end to each output end. Each of the tube light branches has a first end removeably connected to one of the output ends of the branch member and a second end mounted with an end cap. Each of the tube light branches includes a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and parallelly extending from the first end to the second end thereof and a plurality of light emitting elements electrically connected between the conductive wires, thereby forming a tube light string with multiple tube light branches. The branch member is further provided with a central through hole adapted to be hanged on a supporting article.

Claims

1. A decorative tube light assembly with multiple branches, comprising:

a power line section having a first end connected with an electrical plug and a second end, and a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and extending in parallel to each other in the power line section from the first end to the second end thereof, the second end of the power line section having two sockets formed thereon, each of the sockets retaining a conductive sleeve therein, each conductive sleeve being electrically connected to one of the conductive wires extending in the power line section;

at least one branch member having an input end removably connected to the second end of the power line section and a plurality of output ends, a pair of conductive wires being spaced from each other and extending from the input end to each output end; and

a plurality of tube light branches, each of the tube light branches having a first end removably connected to one of the output ends of the branch member and a second end mounted with an end cap, each of the tube light branches comprising a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and extending in parallel to each other from the first end of the second end thereof and a plurality of light emitting elements electrically connected between the conductive wires, thereby forming a tube light string with multiple tube light branches.

2. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fuse section having a first end removably connected to the second end of the power line section and a second end removably connected to the input end of the branch member, the fuse section having a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and extending in parallel to each other in the fuse section from the first end to the second end thereof, at least one of the conductive wires being further electrically connected with a fuse in series.

3. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube light branches are made of transparent material.

4. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input end of the branch member is formed with an outer thread, a coupling ring formed with an inner thread being used to couple the input end of the branch member onto the second end of the power line section by screwing the coupling ring onto the first end of the fuse section.

5. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coupling ring is further formed with an inward ring at one end thereof and the second end of the power line section is formed with a stop rib, thus the coupling ring is limited by the stop rib when the coupling ring is screwed onto the first end of the fuse section.

6. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input end of each tube light branch is formed with an outer thread, a coupling ring formed with an inner thread being used to couple the first end of the tube light branch onto the output end of the branch member by screwing the coupling ring onto the first end of the tube light branch.

7. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coupling ring is further formed with an inward ring at one end thereof and each of the output ends of the branch member is formed with a stop rib, thus the coupling ring is limited by the stop rib when the coupling ring is screwed onto the first end of the tube light branch.

8. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, each of the tube light branches further comprising a plurality of tube light strings connected in series.

9. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branch member is provided with one input end connected onto the second end of the power line section and two output ends each of which is connected to a tube light branch.

10. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 9, wherein the branch member is in a form of Y-shaped structure.

11. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 9, wherein the branch member is in a form of T-shaped structure.

12. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branch member is provided with one input end connected onto the second end of the power line section and three output ends each of which is connected to a tube light branch.

13. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branch member is provided with one input end connected onto the second end of the power line section and five output ends each of which is connected to a tube light branch.

14. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branch member is provided with a central through hole.

15. A decorative tube light assembly with multiple branches, comprising:

a power line section having a first end connected with an electrical plug and a second end, provided with a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and extending parallel to each other in the power line section from the first end to the second end thereof;

a supporting article having a central post, a top surface supported on the central post, and a central tip extended from the central post;

a branch member having an input end removably connected to the second end of the power line section and a plurality of output ends, a pair of conductive wires being spaced from each other and extending from the input end to each output end, the branch member being further provided with a central through hole; and

a plurality of tube light branches, each of the tube light branches having a first end removably connected to one of the output ends of the branch member and a second end mounted with an end cap, each the tube light branches comprising a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and extending in parallel to each other from the first end to the second end thereof and a plurality of light emitting elements electrically connected between the conductive wires, thereby forming a tube light string with multiple tube light branches;

wherein the central through hole of the branch member is hanged on the central tip of the central post and the light branches connected to the output ends of the branch member are supported on the top surface of the supporting article and angularly spaced from each other about the central post.

16. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tube light branches are made of transparent material.

17. The decorative tube light string with multiple branches as claimed in claim 15, wherein the supporting article is an umbrella.

18. A decorative tube light assembly, comprising:

a power line section having a first end connected with an electrical plug and a second end, and a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and extending in parallel to each other in the power line section from the first end to the second end thereof;

at least one branch member having an input end removably connected to the second end of the power line section and at least one output end, a pair of conductive wires being spaced from each other and extending from the input end to each output end, wherein the branch member is a U-shaped structure having an input end connected onto the second end of the power line section and an output end; and

at least one tube light branch, the tube light branch having a first end removably connected to one of the output end of the branch member and a second end mounted with an end cap, the tube light branch comprising a pair of conductive wires spaced from each other and extending in parallel to each other from the first end of the second end thereof and a plurality of light emitting elements electrically connected between the conductive wires, thereby forming a decorative tube light string.