Mechanical bypass light unit

A light unit for use in a light string, comprising:

• a bulb having a light source with a first lead wire and a second lead wire,
• a socket having a recess;
• a separator extending from and integral to said bulb;
• a switch member being unitary and separate from said bulb and said socket, said switch member and sized to be slideably insertable and removable within said recess including a support member body and
• said socket having a first and second spaced apart conductive terminals each having free ends said first and second terminals located to form a gap between said free ends and a third terminal spanning the gap between said first and second terminals, said third terminal including a curved flex element located to engage said separator when said bulb is inserted;
• and
• wherein the switch member is adapted to cause the first free end to contact the third terminal and the second free end to contact the third terminal, thereby forming an electrical short circuit across the first and second conductive terminals and the light source when the bulb is completely or partially removed from the socket,
• wherein when the bulb is seated in the socket.

A light unit for use in a light string, comprising:

• a bulb having a light source and lead wires;
• a rotating switch member including a support member and at least one conductor affixed to the support member;
• and
• a socket having two or more conducting terminals and adapted to receive the bulb and the switch member,
• wherein the rotating switch member is adapted to rotate when the bulb is completely or partially removed from the socket, thereby causing the at least one conductor to form an electrical short circuit across the pair of conductive terminals;
• said rotation switch member further including:
• a core body having a cylindrical portion capable of rotation;
• a U-shaped electrically conductive contract surface at least half way around said cylindrical portion;
• said socket including a pair of opposing terminals on an inside surface of the socket
• so that rotation of the rotating switch member causes said U-shaped surface to connect said terminals thereby bypassing the bulb when rotated.

A method of constructing a bypass switch for a light string having

• a plurality of series-connected light units, wherein each light unit includes a bulb, socket, and rotating switch member;
• comprising the steps of:
• forming a recess having inner wall in the socket;
• forming a cylindrical rotating core element in said socket;
• applying a conductive coating to one half of the circumference of the core with a conductive material;
• locating a pair of opposing terminals on the inner wall socket, said terminals engaging said core element;
• so that when the core element is rotated to a predetermined bypass position, the pair of electrical terminals in the socket are electrically joined through said conductive material.