Connecting Structure of a Series-Parallel Lighting String

To facilitate the connection of a conducting copper strip with wires of a series-parallel lighting string, a conventional connecting structure makes use of sharpened tips of a copper strip piercing the outer insulation of lead wires to reach internal metal conductors. For example, the structures disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,051,877 and 4,777,573 have a construction in which semicircular grooves are provided on the connecting end of a husk of the lampholder and the corresponding cap to form wireways to secure the cord. However, to increase the variations in the twinkles of a lighting string, sometimes, it has to use two, three, or even four sets of lead wires; then, such a prior art structure must have a larger connecting end as well as a proportionally enlarged cap with three, four, or more semicircular grooves provided thereon. Consequently, a prior art connecting structure will lead to an oversize and overweight lighting string due to increasing functions of a lighting string and is not cost-effective.

Therefore, it is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved connecting structure for a series-parallel lighting string, which is equipped with semicircular grooves of varied depths capable of receiving a cord composed of three lead wires arranged in a triangular array to broaden the applications of the connecting structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved connecting structure in which a positioning flange situated on the inner wall of the base of a lampholder can secure a safety contact cap inside the base, enhancing safety effects, and one of the conducting strips can be fabricated integrally with the safety contact cap.

The features and advantages of the invention will best be understood from the following detailed description of the varied preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a connecting structure of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention, in a partially assembled state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, illustrating a modification made on the conducting copper strips.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the construction of the contact cap of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing an assembly of a connecting structure of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an external view of the embodied assembly of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a connecting structure having another type of conducting strips.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the embodied assembly of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 shows still another embodiment of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the improved connecting structure of the invention comprises a base (1), and a contact cap (2) installed inside the base (1). Further, a bulb (3) is mounted on the contact cap (2) and the base (1) has a top cap (4) engaged with the end thereof. The main features of the invention consist in the base (1) equipped with three semicircular grooves of which the in-between one has a depth larger than the others, and two conducting strips (5), (6) respectively piercing engaging holes (15), (16) individually arranged on the two ends of grooves. A power cord (7) composed of three conducting wires (71), (72), (73) routes through the top end of the base (1) and is firmly secured in the semicircular grooves by the top cap (4). The top cap (4) has tangs (41) and two semicircular recessed portions situated on the underside. By the tangs (41) being inserted into the locating holes (14) on the base (1), the top cap (4) can be mounted on the base (1) with the recessed portions (42), (43) lying on conducting wires (72), (73) and the wire (71) being squeezed into the in-between groove (11) as shown in FIG. 2. To accomplish an electrical connecting effect, change the relative positions of the sharpened tips (51), (52), (61) of two conducting strips (5), (6) to make these tips pierce through the insulation of wires. As a result, no other modification is needed as a two-wire connecting structure of the invention is adapted for three wires and the size can be minimized.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, to provide more protection for users, the invention adopts a safety contact cap (2) installed inside the base (1). The contact cap (2) is configured to have an obliquely outward bent portion (21) on the lower rim, and two flat portions (22) respectively disposed on opposing sides of the lower end. The contact cap (2) further has a square or round flange (23) on the top; however, the base (1) has a circular flange (17), a flat raised block (18), and a depression (19) formed thereon. When the contact cap (2) is inserted into the base (1), the flat portions (22) and the flange (23) of the contact cap respectively reach to the raised block (18) and the depression (19). Consequently, the contact cap (2) is restrained from rotating. After the contact cap (2) entirely enters the inside of the base (1), due to a little resilience existing in the bent portion (21) and the circular flange (17), the base will grip the contact cap to keep the latter from dropping.

Another preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, of which the conducting strip (5) is made integrally with the contact cap (2) to facilitate assembling. Besides, owing to the space-saving nature of the improved structure, the invention is applicable for miniature type lighting strings (8) as indicated in FIGS. 9 to 11, where the positions of sharpened tips (51), (61), (62) of the conducting strips (5), (6) have been changed to obtain an electrical connecting effect as illustrated in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 shows an application of a two-wire conducting structure of the invention, in which the components such as the base, the top cap, and so on are the same in size as those in FIG. 1.

In summary, the main object of the invention is to provide a connecting structure that can accommodate more wires in smaller space. Thus apparently other changes and modifications, such as a base capable of receiving four or five conducting wires, can be made in the structure of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention and such variations are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.