Light string with improved shunt system
OwnerGeoffrey H. Harrisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A decorative light string having a bulb shunt system is described. The light string includes a plurality of light bulbs positioned within their respective sockets along a power line and in a series circuit. The shunt system includes at least two shunt members associated with each bulb/socket combination wherein a first shunt is positioned within the bulb envelope while a second shunt is positioned outside of the envelope, either in association with the lamp holder or within the socket. The combined initial resistance of the two shunts is preferably greater than the resistance of the bulb filament and the system is configured to shunt the electric current passing through the bulbs in the event of filament breakage and, in one embodiment, in the event the bulb member is removed from its associated socket.
Claims20
A light string having a plurality of lights connected in a circuit and including a shunt system to prevent the failure of the entire light string when a single light fails, the light string comprising:
- a plurality of bulbs, each bulb having an envelope associated with a lampholder and including a pair of bulb wires extending through said lampholder and into said envelope, said bulb wires connected within said envelope by a filament and said wires and said filament being made of electrically conductive materials to produce light when electrical current passes therethrough;
- a socket configured to retain said lampholder therein, said socket including a pair of terminal wires positioned for electrical contact with said bulb wires when said lampholder is positioned within said socket;
- a power line electrically connecting said terminal wires in said bulbs in a series circuit, said power line including a plug for electrically connecting said power line to a power source;
- a first shunt within said bulb electrically connecting said bulb wires;
- and
- a second shunt positioned outside of said bulb envelope and electrically connected to said bulb wires and said terminal wires and positioned to operate in tandem with said first shunt to maintain current flow through the light string in the event said filament breaks,
- said first shunt and said second shunt operating in tandem so as to prevent heat build-up at either of said shunts,
- said first shunt and said second shunt having a combined resistance so as to regulate current flow through the remaining bulbs in the event of filament rupture.
A light string having a plurality of lights connected in a circuit and including a shunt system to prevent the failure of the entire light string when a single light fails, the light string comprising:
- a plurality of bulbs, each bulb having an envelope associated with a lampholder and including a pair of bulb wires extending through said lampholder and into said envelope, said bulb wires connected within said envelope by a filament and said wires and said filament being made of electrically conductive materials to produce light when electrical current passes therethrough;
- a socket configured to retain said lampholder therein, said socket including a pair of terminal wires positioned for electrical contact with said bulb wires when said lampholder is positioned within said socket;
- a power line electrically connecting said terminal wires in said bulbs in a series circuit, said power line including a plug for electrically connecting said power line to a power source;
- a first shunt within said bulb electrically connecting said bulb wires;
- and
- a second shunt positioned within said socket and electrically connected to said terminal wires, said second shunt constructed to operate in tandem with said first shunt to maintain current flow through the light string in the event said filament breaks or in the absence of a bulb retained within said socket,
- said first shunt and second shunt operating in tandem so as to prevent heat build-up at either of said shunts,
- said first shunt and said second shunt having a combined resistance so as to regulate current flow through the remaining bulbs in the event of filament rupture.
A light string having a plurality of lights connected in a circuit and including a shunt system to prevent the failure of the entire light string when a single light fails, the light string comprising:
- a plurality of bulbs, each bulb having an envelope associated with a lampholder and including a pair of bulb wires extending through said lampholder and into said envelope, said bulb wires connected within said envelope by a filament and said wires and said filament being made of electrically conductive materials to produce light when electrical current passes therethrough;
- a socket configured to retain said lampholder therein, said socket including a pair of terminal wires positioned for electrical contact with said bulb wires when said lampholder is positioned within said socket;
- a power line electrically connecting said terminal wires in said bulbs in a series circuit, said power line including a plug for electrically connecting said power line to a power source;
- a first shunt within said bulb electrically connecting said bulb wires;
- and
- a second shunt positioned outside of said bulb envelope around said lampholder and electrically connected to said bulb wires to maintain electrical contact with said terminal wires within said socket, said second shunt positioned to operate in tandem with said first shunt to maintain current flow through the light string in the event said filament breaks,
- said first shunt and second shunt operating in tandem so as to prevent heat build-up at either of said shunts,
- said first shunt and said second shunt having a combined resistance so as to regulate current flow through the remaining bulbs in the event of filament rupture.
A light string having a plurality of lights connected in a circuit and including a shunt system to prevent the failure of the entire light string when a single light fails, the light string comprising:
- a plurality of bulbs, each bulb having an envelope associated with a lampholder and including a pair of bulb wires extending through said lampholder and into said envelope, said bulb wires connected within said envelope by a filament and said wires and said filament being made of electrically conductive materials to produce light when electrical current passes therethrough;
- a socket configured to retain said lampholder therein, said socket including a pair of terminal wires positioned for electrical contact with said bulb wires when said lampholder is positioned within said socket;
- a power line electrically connecting said terminal wires in said bulbs in a series circuit, said power line including a plug for electrically connecting said power line to a power source;
- a first shunt within said bulb electrically connecting said bulb wires;
- and
- a second shunt positioned outside of said bulb envelope and connecting said bulb wires, said second shunt positioned to operate in tandem with said first shunt to maintain current flow through the light string in the event said filament breaks,
- said first shunt and said second shunt operating in tandem so as to prevent heat build-up at either of said shunts,
- said first shunt and said second shunt having a combined resistance so as to regulate current flow through the remaining bulbs in the event of filament rupture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.