EP0884523B1

EP0884523B1 - Netted lamp device in various matrix arrangements

Info

Publication number: EP0884523B1
Application number: EP97304024A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miin Lin Shwu
Original assignee: Shining Blick Enterprises Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shining Blick Enterprises Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-10
Filing date: 1997-06-10
Publication date: 2005-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-10
Also published as: FR2764967B3; DE29711772U1; EP0884523A1; CA2207635C; FR2764967A3; CA2207635A1

Description

The invention is related to a netted lamp device in a pattern of one of various matrices, and especially to a netted lamp device wherein the miniature lamps are braided intercrossingly so that the miniature lamps are arranged to form a decorative pattern or a letter. The braided pattern can assume an even greater variety of patterns or letters by controlling of individual switches.
A conventional Christmas lamp string is made as a linear lamp string having a specified length. The bulbs of the lamp string are lit to emit light or flash. The variety of arrangements possible with such conventional Christmas lamp strings is limited. For example, it can only be arranged in a V shape to be wrapped around a Christmas tree. In view of this, a plurality of frameworks imitating, e.g. a star or Christmas tree etc. are designed. In these arrangements, the miniature lamps are embedded in the frameworks to function as a shining star or a shining Christmas tree. However, the decorative variety possible with such arrangements is still limited. Furthermore, the accessory framework imitating the star or the Christmas tree etc. occupies a large volume and so is not suitable for packaging and shipping.
In order to overcome the limitation of the lamp strings, products such as net lights or knitting lights are sold in markets. The most outstanding function of such net lights or knitting lights is that, each of them can be individually hung for decoration. Alternatively each light can be adhered to a flexible base to form any desired pattern. When the lamp string is combined with the flexible base the possible patterns of the whole lamp string are more abundant in variation. The lamp string is further rollable with the flexible base so as to reduce the volume that they occupy. Moreover, the net lights or knitting lights can be conveniently wrapped directly on an article to be decorated (such as on a Christmas tree). Regardless of the aforementioned advantages of such net lights or knitting lights, variety in flashing of the lights can only be determined by flashing speed or colour of the miniature lights. The light emitting and flashing functions of such lights are still insufficient.
US 5,632,550 discloses a decorative light array that includes a multiplicity of illuminations. The light array includes a plurality of light strings in which a plurality of illuminators are series-connected by a plurality of conductor segments. In addition, net strands are connected between adjacent light strings in order to hold the light strings in a zig-zag configuration.
According to the invention there is provided a netted lamp device comprising:
a plurality of lamp strings, each lamp string including a plurality of mutually spaced lamps, adjacent lamps being connected one to the other by a flexible conductor; and
a peripheral member defining a regular external periphery,
each lamp string being connectable to and controllable by a control circuit, whereby respective lamp strings illuminate according to at least one predetermined sequence,
the lamp device being characterised in that each lamp string is interwoven with at least one other lamp string, thereby braiding the at least two lamp strings together to define a decorative matrix of lamps arranged within the peripheral member.
Preferably the lamp strings in the decorative matrix define one of a predetermined pattern; a symbol; and a letter.
Conveniently the peripheral member is a rigid frame.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the peripheral member is a flexible frame.
In a further preferred embodiment the flexible frame includes a plurality of loops secured thereto.
Conveniently the lamp device further includes a flexible base for supporting the decorative matrix of lamps.
Preferably the lamp device also includes a control box for containing the control circuit, the control box and control circuit being connectable to an electrical power supply.
The advantage of the invention is to provide a netted lamp device in a pattern of one of various matrices, and especially a netted lamp device wherein a plurality of lamp strings each having an individual loop are optionally braided intercrossingly to form a network of the decorative patterned lamps, such optionally intercrossing arrangement of each lamp string can form various braided patterns and letters by controlling the individual switches of the above mentioned lamps. The switches are controlled by a single chip integrated circuit having therein an internally stored control program. The integrated circuit is driven by the program to form a single output or a series of serial or intermitent outputs, in order that a plurality of lamp strings create more variety of flashing. Consequently the decorative braided lamps can provide much more abundant decorative functions of patterns or letters than conventional decorative lamps of this type.
The invention will be apparent in its novelty and characteristics after reading the detailed, non-limiting, description of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to accompanying drawings, in which;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial enlarged view of a portion "A" of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view of an embodiment of a circuit according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic view showing a first lamp string according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a schematic view showing a second lamp string in combination with the first lamp string shown in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a schematic view showing a third lamp string in combination with the first and the second lamp strings shown in Figures 4 and 5;
Figure 7 is a schematic view showing a fourth lamp string added by braiding according to the way of Figures 4 and 5 along the outer edges of the braided first, second and third lamp strings;
Figures 8 to 10 are the schematic views showing embodiments of wire connection according to the invention;
Figures 11 to 13 are the schematic views showing modes of light flashing according to the invention;
Figures 14 to 17 are schematic views showing available patterns of light flashing according to the invention;
Figure 18 is a schematic view showing the combination of the lamp device and a flexible base; and
Figure 19 is a view of an embodiment of the invention; including a rigid peripheral frame.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the invention is comprised of a plurality of miniature lamps braided into a matrix to form a decorative pattern having a given area. In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the decorative lamps may be used with a peripheral frame 10. The frame 10 is made of flexible material and corresponds in size to the matrix of miniature lamps. Each of the miniature lamps 11 closest to a peripheral edge of the matrix has one of its conductors 12 wrapped over the frame 10. The other conductor 13 is connected to an adjacent miniature lamp 14. The adjacent miniature lamp 14 is further connected to the other adjacent miniature lamps. The other adjacent miniature lamps are braided together in the matrix arrangement.
A control box 20 comprising a control circuit is provided spaced from the decorative lamps. The control box 20 can be connected to a power source through a plug 200. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the whole decorative lamp device includes four individual loops. The control box 20 is connected to the lamps via the conductors 21, 22, 23, 24 and a grounding loop wire 25.
Referring now to Figure 4, the decoration panel 70 to be braided is given a suitable area. The panel 70 can be composed of a plurality of intersection points 71 which form the whole matrix of the decorative lamps. In the preferred embodiment as shown in the drawings, a miniature lamp is provided at each intersection point 71. In the preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 4, a first lamp string 30 is provided with conductors 31 as required by the design. The first lamp string 30 is provided with a plurality of miniature lamps 111 arranged in a desired pattern or letter. Each miniature lamp 111 is located at a respective intersection point 71. As shown in Figure 5, a second lamp string 40 is extended adjacent to the first lamp sting 30. The second lamp string is arranged so that the conductors 41 thereof intersect with the conductors 31 of first lamp string 30. It is therefore possible to braid the conductors 31, 41 together.
The miniature lamps 112 of the second lamp string 40 are positioned to fully fill the empty intersection points 71 around the first lamp string 30.
In the same way, as is shown in Figure 6, a third lamp string 50 is also braided to combine with the second lamp string 40. In the preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 7, the peripheral lamp string 60, i.e., the fourth lamp string 60, forms in a regular way along the frame the peripheral edges of the matrix.
According to the aforementioned arrangement, the first to the fourth lamp string 30, 40, 50, 60, can form desired patterns or letters directly when the electric power is turned on. This is achieved by using different colours on the miniature lamps 111, 112 and 113, 114.
The lamp strings 30, 40, 50, 60 exhibit more variety under the following driving and control mode of the circuit.
In the embodiment of the circuit Figure 3, current from the power supply is firstly rectified by a rectifier D to form a DC voltage which is filtered by R2 and C1. This voltage supplies a single chip integrated circuit U1 with working voltage. The single chip integrated circuit U1 is an output control unit. It can be loaded with a control program to provide required lamp flashing and changing of pattern.
The output terminal is connected to the triggering ends of four switches Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4.
This allows the output terminal of the single chip integrated circuit U1 to control the flashing and changing of pattern.
According to the embodiment shown in the drawing, the switches Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 can be silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCR). The output terminals of the four switches Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 are connected respectively to the lamp bulbs L1, L2, L3 and L4. The activating terminal 14 of the single chip integrated circuit U1 is grounded through a push button switch S. As a result the integrated circuit U1 is driven by the program to give a single output or series of serial or intermittent outputs. This controls changing of the flashing of the lamp bulbs L1, L2, L3 and L4.
Figures 8 to 10 are views showing the basic structures of each individual loop of lamp string. In Figure 8, the first conductor 21 and the grounding loop wire 25 form an inner first loop with the lamp string 30. In Figure 9, the second conductor 22 and the grounding loop wire 25 form an outer second loop with the lamp string 40. Through the addition of further lamp strings a braided lamp decoration including multiple loops can be formed as shown in Figure 10.
As shown in Figure 11, at least one lamp string forming the whole lamp decoration of the invention is controllable to flash by the above mentioned internal control program of the single chip integrated circuit U1, Additionally, as shown in Figure 12, control of the flashing of the inner lamp string and the outer regularly arranged (along the boundary of the frame) lamp string is controllable. Furthermore, all of the lamp strings are also controllable to flash as is shown in Figure 13.
By virtue of the braiding into a matrix and the programming of the related integrated circuit, flashing of a tree shaped lamp decoration can be formed as shown in Figure 14; or flashing of an M shaped decoration can be formed as shown in Figure 15; or flashing of lamp decoration having the shape of multiple triangles can be formed as shown in Figure 16; or flashing of a lamp decoration in the shape as is shown in Figure 17 can be formed.
The whole lamp decoration can have more than 16 kinds of patterns or letters for a user to choose from. The external integrated circuit controls the arranged lamp string using the internal control program.
As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the whole lamp decoration can be put on the surface of a flexible base 80 such as is shown in Figure 18. The lamp decoration can be positioned on a hard frame 90 such as is shown in Figure 19.
By means of braiding into a matrix of the whole lamp decoration, using of the inner optionally arranged lamp strings and the outer regularly arranged lamp strings, a variety of lamp decoration patterns or letters can be formed. Additionally, an external integrated circuit program is used to control the flashing of respective lamp strings in order to provide still further abundant and variety of decorative effect.

Claims

A netted lamp device comprising:

a plurality of lamp strings (30,40,50,60), each lamp string (30,40,50,60) including a plurality of mutually spaced lamps (11), adjacent lamps (11) being connected one to the other by a flexible conductor (31,41); and

a peripheral member (10,90) defining a regular external periphery,

each lamp string (30,40,50,60) being connectable to and controllable by a control circuit, whereby respective lamp strings (30,40,50,60) illuminate according to at least one predetermined sequence,

the lamp device being characterised in that each lamp string (30,40,50,60) is interwoven with at least one other lamp string (30,40,50,60), thereby braiding the at least two lamp strings (30,40,50,60) together to define a decorative matrix (70) of lamps (11) arranged within the peripheral member (10).
A lamp device according to Claim 1 wherein the lamp strings in the decorative matrix define one of a predetermined pattern; a symbol; and a letter.
A lamp device according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein the peripheral member is a rigid frame.
A lamp device according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein the peripheral member is a flexible frame.
A lamp device according to Claim 4 wherein the flexible frame includes a plurality of loops secured thereto.
A lamp device according to Claim 4 further including a flexible base for supporting the decorative matrix of lamps.
A lamp device according to any preceding claim further including a control box for containing the control circuit, the control box and control circuit being connectable to an electrical power supply.