Holiday lights line switch
OwnerVito A. Ingrassiainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a string of miniature holiday lights in which the string of lights is provided with a miniature light switch. The light string has a plurality of miniature sockets electrically connected in series. The switch is mounted in one of the sockets and can turn on and off the lamps connected in series on that string of lights. The switch and lamps have substantially identical bases that are received in the sockets so that the switch is interchangeable with any of the lamps allowing the switch to be placed anywhere along the light string. This gives the user the ability to control a string of lights without unplugging the string of lights from the power source. It also allows the user to place the switch in a convenient location along the light string.
Claims19
A method for controlling a string of miniature electrical lights comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of miniature sockets, each socket having disposed therein a miniature lamp, the socket and its respective lamp connected in a series circuit;
- (b) removing one of the lamps from its socket;
- (c) inserting an electrical switch into the socket from which the lamp was removed;
- (d) electrically connecting the electrical switch in the series circuit with the plurality of miniature sockets and the lamps disposed therein;
- and
- (e) operating the switch to selectively open or close the series circuit to turn on or off all of the lamps connected in the series circuit in unison.
A method for controlling a string of miniature electrical lights comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of miniature sockets that are electrically connected in a series circuit;
- (b) providing an electrical switch in one socket;
- (c) electrically connecting the electrical switch in the series circuit with the plurality of miniature sockets;
- (d) providing miniature lamps in all of the remaining sockets in the string of miniature electrical lights;
- (e) electrically connecting the miniature lights in the series circuit with the plurality of miniature sockets;
- and
- (f) operating the switch to selectively provide electrical power to the miniature sockets.
A light string having a plurality of lights connected in a series circuit comprising:
- a plurality of lamp sockets, each socket having an interior and a first and second socket electrical wire extending through the socket and into the socket interior,
- first and second socket electrical contacts within the interior or each socket, the first and second socket electrical wires electrically connected to the first and second socket electrical contacts respectively,
- a removable electrical switch mounted in one of the lamp sockets, the removable switch having a first and second switch terminal positioned on the switch, the first and second switch terminals electrically connected to the first and second socket electrical contacts when the switch is mounted in the socket,
- a miniature lamp mounted in each of the remaining lamp sockets not having the electrical switch mounted therein, each lamp having first and second lamp wires positioned on the lamp, the first and second lamp wires electrically connected to the first and second socket electrical contacts when the lamp is mounted in the socket, and
- a power line for electrically connecting the socket electrical wires in a series circuit, and
- a plug electrically connected to the power line for electrically connecting the power line to a power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.