Electrical ornamentation system
AssigneeHallmark Cards, Incorporated
InventorsRobert E. Sanders, Jerry L. Knipp, Charles J. Flynn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector is disclosed which permits an electrically illuminated ornament or the like to be readily connected to a string of conventional light sockets. A first connection is provided which preferably is in the form of a conventional socket for receiving a lamp which is inserted in a grommet carried by an ornament. At the opposite end, contacts are mounted in a support member of insulating material to form a plug assembly arranged to fit within a conventional socket. The construction is such as to accommodate various types and dimensions of sockets.
Claims10
A connector for electrical connection of a lighted decorative ornament in a string of conventional sockets for miniature Christmas lights or the like, the lighted decorative element having electrical characteristics like those of a single miniature Christmas light, 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 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 a lighted decorative element on the tree with respect to said string of stationary conventional sockets, said connector comprising:
- 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 lighted decorative ornament, 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 lighted decorative element 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 lighted decorative ornament 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.