AU709702B3 - Improved ribbon decoration lighting structure - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

NAME OF APPLICANT(S): ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: Details of Associated Provisional Pui-Hing TSUI Pui-Hing TSUI DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000 "Improved Ribbon Decoration Lighting Structure" Application(s): No(s): filed The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -1- Q:\OPER\KAT\TSUI.096 6/4/99 Improved Ribbon Decoration Lighting Structure FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to an improved ribbon decoration lighting structure, in particular to a decoration lighting structure that is constructed of plural light bulbs that are electrically connected to each other in parallel, where the decoration lighting structure is usually for, but not limited to, festival decorations; the lighting structure disclosed is easily repaired and eliminates aggravation or inconvenience from inspecting light bulbs one by one so as to spot a defective light bulb.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION One conventional ribbon decoration lighting structure, as that illustrated in Fig. 4, comprises plural lighting cascades 110 that are constructed of plural light bulbs 120 electrically connected in series; the plural lighting cascades 110 are then electrically connected to a main cable 130 in parallel. A further conventional ribbon decoration lighting structure, as that illustrated in Fig. 5, is simply constructed of plural lighting cascades 110 electrically connected to a main cable 130 in series, where plural light bulbs 120 of different numbers are electrically connected to each lighting cascade 110 to render an icicle effect.

Though these conventional ribbon decoration lighting structures have the advantage of being constructed of simple constructions that can be easily engineered, their drawback is difficulty involved in repairing them. Particularly, when one of the light bulbs is broken due to wire fusing, overheating, or other factors, the single defective bulb 112 will cause electrical disconnection of the main cable 130 because the light bulbs 110 are electrically connected to each other in series such that the main cable 130 can no longer function properly.

Furthermore, when one intends to replace the defective light bulb 112, because one cannot visually inspect which one of light bulbs, that may range up u:\pts\ckc\eng\au2154.doc la to hundreds, is the defective light bulb, one would have to inspect light bulbs one by one, which inspection process is obviously impractical and inconvenient.

An improved ribbon decoration lighting structure is thus urgently needed, where the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure involves a structure that no single defective light bulb shall impair proper functions of the ribbon decoration lighting structure and that users can easily spot the defective light bulb for replacement.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION AND RELEVANT PRIOR ART This invention discloses an improved ribbon decoration lighting structure, comprising at least one main cable including plural lighting cascades, each lighting cascade comprising plural light bulbs electrically connected in parallel.

This invention further discloses an improved ribbon decoration lighting structure comprising plural main cables.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved ribbon decoration lighting structure, that no single defective light bulb shall impair proper functions of the ribbon decoration lighting structure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved ribbon decoration lighting structure, that defective light bulbs can be easily spotted so as to eliminate aggravation or inconvenience from inspecting light bulbs one by one when any light bulb is broken down.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved ribbon decoration lighting structure that comprises plural lighting cascades of various length and numbers of light bulbs, where the decoration lighting structure may further includes a controller that controls aglint modes of the lighting structure so as to render a glaring, icicle effect.

The structure and advantages of this invention may be clearly understood by referring to the following illustrations and descriptions of preferred embodiments.

u:\pts\ckc\eng\au2154.doc BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing an alternative embodiment of the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention; Fig. 3a is a perspective, schematic view of the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention; Fig. 3b is a schematic view showing an alternative arrangement of the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention; Fig. 3c is a perspective, schematic view shown Og the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention in a "fire-work" arrangement; Fig. 3d is a schematic view showing the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention in a "net-like" arrangement; Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing a conventional ribbon decoration lighting structure; and Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a further conventional ribbon decoration lighting structure.

DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Fig. 1 that illustrates an improved ribbon decoration lighting structure 6 of this invention, the lighting structure 6 comprises a main cable 30 including plural lighting cascades 20, .each lighting cascade comprising plural light bulbs As shown in Fig. 1, each light bulb 10 of each lighting cascade 20 is electrically connected to each other in parallel, and each lighting cascade 20 of each main cable 30 is electrically connected to each other in series.

u:\pts\ckc\eng\au2154.doc Fig. 3a is a perspective, schematic view of the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention. The lighting cascades 20, as shown in Fig.

3a, may be connected to the main cable 30 by means of a plug 24 and meshing threads 26. Other means, such as plugs, threads, tight fitting, adhesive, Tshaped overmolding, soldering, or direct wire connections, may also be implemented to connect the lighting cascades 20 to the main cable 30 in series.

According to the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure 6 of this invention, the light bulbs 10 of each lighting cascade 20 may be of similar electrical specifications, such as in voltages and currents. Furthermore, to ensure that illumination of the light bulbs 10 of a single lighting cascade 20 does not deviate much from illumination of other light bulbs 10, the lighting cascades are preferably constructed of similar numbers of light bulbs.

For example, if one intends to engineer a decoration lighting structure that is adapted to a 120V power source, eighteen lighting cascades including light bulbs being electrically connected in parallel are electrically connected to a main cable in series, wherein each light bulb is selected to be 6.5 V, whereby the total voltage of the final ribbon decoration lighting structure is 6.5V x 18 117V which may be adapted to a 120V power source.

Since the light bulbs 10 of the ribbon decoration light structure 6 of this invention are electrically connected to each other in parallel, when one of the light bulbs, such as the light bulb designated as 12 in Fig. 1, is broken due to wire fusing, overheating, or other factors, the single defective light bulb 12 will not impair proper functions of a lighting cascade 22 comprising the defective light bulb 12 or of the ribbon decoration lighting structure 6. Furthermore, one may immediately spot and replace the defective light bulb 12. Electrical disconnection of the main cable 30 will only occur when all light bulbs of a single lighting cascade are broken, where such a predicament shall not surface if one immediately replaces defective light bulbs with proper-functioning light bulbs.

As shown in Fig. 1, the ribbon decoration lighting structure 6 may further comprise a power supplying device 40 that is electrically connected to the main u:\pts\ckc\eng\au2154.doc -4cable 30, where the power supplying device 40 is commonly a plug or a battery box. After the power supplying device 40 is connected to a power source (not shown), which is commonly public electricity services or batteries, electrical power is supplied to the light bulbs 10 through the power supplying device As shown in Fig. 1, the ribbon decoration lighting structure 6 may further comprise a switch 50 that is electrically connected to the power supplying device and the main cable 30 to connect or disconnect electrical power being supplied to the main cable With reference to Fig. 2 that illustrates an alternative embodiment of the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure 7 of this invention, wherein reference numerals that are identical to those of Fig. 1 represent similar components.

The ribbon decoration lighting structure 7 as shown in Fig. 2 comprises plural main cables 30. In this embodiment, the ribbon decoration lighting structure 7, includes, but is not limited to, four main cables 30a 30d, wherein the main cable 30a includes plural lighting cascades 20a, the main cable includes plural lighting cascades 20b, and so on. Each lighting cascade 20a further comprises plural light bulbs 10a 1Od.

As shown in Fig. 2, light bulbs 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d respectively included in the lighting cascades 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are electrically connected to their respective light bulbs 10a 10d in parallel; the lighting cascades 20a 20d of respective main cables 30a 30d are electrically connected to their respective lighting cascades 20a 20d in series; the main cables 30a 30d are then electrically connected to each other in parallel.

The lighting cascades 20a 20d, similar to the embodiment of Fig. 3a, may be connected to their respective main cables 30a 30d by means of plugs and meshing threads. Other means, such as plugs, threads, tight fitting, adhesive, T-shaped overmolding, soldering, or direct wire connections, may also be implemented to connect the lighting cascades 20a 20d to their u:\pts\ckc\eng\au21 54.doc respective main cables 30a 30d in series.

According to the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure 7 of this invention, the light bulbs 10a included in the lighting cascade 20a that is electrically connected to the main cable 30a in series may be of similar electrical specifications, the light bulbs O10b included in the lighting cascade 20b that is electrically connected to the main cable 30b in series may be of similar electrical specifications, and so on. The light bulbs 10Oa, 10Ob, 10Oc, 1Od, however, are not necessarily of similar electrical specifications.

To ensure that illumination of the light bulbs, such as 10a, of a single lighting cascade, such as 20a, does not deviate much from illumination of other light bulbs 10a of the remaining lighting cascades 20a, the lighting cascades of the main cable 30a are preferably constructed of similar numbers of light bulbs 10a. An icicle effect may be rendered by allowing each main cable to be constructed of lighting cascades that each includes a substantially consistent number of light bulbs, which number is different from that of the lighting cascades of another main cable.

For example, in the decoration lighting structure 7 illustrated in Fig. 2, each lighting cascade 20a is constructed by electrically connecting two light bulbs O10a in parallel; each lighting cascade 20b is constructed by electrically connecting six light bulbs 10b in parallel; each lighting cascade 20c is constructed by electrically connecting three light bulbs 10a in parallel; and each lighting cascade 20d is constructed by electrically connecting four light bulbs in parallel.

Similar to the ribbon decoration lighting structure 6 illustrated in Fig. 1, since the light bulbs 10a 10d of the ribbon decoration light structure 7 are electrically connected to each other in parallel, when one of the light bulbs, such as the light bulb designated as 12b in Fig. 2, is broken due to wire fusing, overheating, or other factors, the single defective light bulb 12b will not impair proper functions of a lighting cascade 22b comprising the defective light bulb 12b, of main cable 30b comprising the lighting cascade 22b, or of the ribbon u:\pts\ckc\eng\au21 54.doc

I

decoration lighting structure 7. Furthermore, one may immediately spot and replace the defective light bulb 12b. Electrical disconnection of any main cable will only occur when all light bulbs of a single lighting cascade of the main cable 30's are broken, where such a predicament shall not surface if one immediately replaces defective light bulbs, such as 12b, with a properfunctioning light bulbs.

As shown in Fig. 2, the ribbon decoration lighting structure 7 may further comprise a power supplying device 40 that is electrically connected to the main cables 30a 30d, where the power supplying device 40 is commonly a socket, a lighting controller, or a battery box. After the power supplying device 40 is connected to a power source (not shown), which is commonly public electricity services or batteries, electrical power is supplied to the light bulbs 10a through the power supplying device The ribbon decoration lighting structure 7 may further comprise a controller 45 that is electrically connected to the power supplying device 40 and the main cables 30a 30d that are electrically connected in parallel, which controller 45 controls electrical power being supplied to each main cable so as to control aglint modes of the lighting structure.

As shown in Fig. 2, the ribbon decoration lighting structure 7 may further comprise a switch 50 that is electrically connected to the power supplying device and the main cables 30a 30d to connect or disconnect electrical power being supplied to the main cables 30a Fig. 3b is a schematic view showing an alternative arrangement of the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention. In this embodiment, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, light bulbs 210a 210b respectively included in the lighting cascades 220a 220b are also electrically connected to their respective light bulbs 210a -210d in parallel; the lighting cascades 220a -220d respectively included in main cables 230a 230d are electrically connected to their respective lighting cascades 220a 220d in series; the main cables 230a 230d are then electrically connected to each u:\pts\ckc\eng\au21 54.doc -7other in parallel. As shown in Fig. 3b, the length of wires for connecting the light bulbs 210's to the lighting cascades 220's may differ among lighting cascades 220a, 220b, 220c, and 220d, such that by gathering neighboring lighting cascades 220a, 220b, 220c, and 220d of each main cable in sockets 222 obtains a "flame-like" appearance as that shown in Fig. 3c. A controller (not shown) may also be further provided to control aglint modes of the lighting structure to emulate fire works.

Fig. 3d is a schematic view showing the improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention in a "net-like" arrangement. In this embodiment, alternatively neighboring light bulbs 320 of two adjacent lighting cascades 310 may be joined by rubber sleeves 312 or other means, such as adhesive, to form a "net-like" arrangement.

Alternatively, the light bulbs implemented in the lighting structure of this invention may also consist of various configurations or shaping, such as in flame-like shape to enhance decorative appearance of the lighting structure.

The improved ribbon decoration lighting structure of this invention can be used for festival, seasonal, or permanent decorations. The lighting structure disclosed is easily repaired and eliminates aggravation or inconvenience from inspecting light bulbs one by one so as to spot defective light bulbs, where no single defective light bulb impairs proper functions of the ribbon decoration lighting structure, the defective light bulb can also be easily spotted and replaced. The aglint modes of the lighting structure can also be controlled by a controller so as to render a glaring, icicle effect.

Aforementioned explanations are directed to the descriptions of preferred embodiments according to the present invention. Various changes and implementations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical concepts of the present invention. Such changes to certain features of the preferred embodiments without altering the overall basic functions of the invention are contemplated by and included in the scope of the appended claims.

u:\pts\ckc\eng\au21 54.doc -8- P:\OPER\KAT\23644-99.129- 13/7/99 -9- Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps

Claims (3)

1. An improved ribbon decoration lighting structure, comprising at least one main cable including plural lighting cascades, each lighting cascade comprising plural light bulbs, characterized in that: each of the light bulbs of each of the lighting cascades is electrically connected to each other in parallel; and each of the lighting cascades of each main cable is electrically connected to each other in series.

2. The improved ribbon decoration lighting structure according to claim 1, further comprising a power supplying device and a switch arranged so that when the switch is operated electric power from the power supplying device is supplied to the light bulbs.

3. The improved ribbon decoration lighting structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 comprising plural main cables that are electrically connected to each other in series. DATED this 13the day of April, 1999 PUI-HING TSUI By his patent attorneys Davies Collison Cave