GB2314917A

GB2314917A - Decorative lighting set

Info

Publication number: GB2314917A
Application number: GB9613880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter K H Huang
Original assignee: Shining Blick Enterprises Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shining Blick Enterprises Co Ltd
Priority date: 1996-07-02
Filing date: 1996-07-02
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Also published as: AU6550396A; NL1004049C2; NL1004049A1; GB9613880D0; FR2751396B1; FR2751396A1

Abstract

A string of lights is attached in a desired decorative pattern to a flexible planar substrate 2 (such as leather or cloth) by way of fasteners 1 which penetrate the substrate. Each fastener has a securing hole 10 for the lamp bulb A1 or lead wire, a projection 11 above the hole which facilitates manual gripping, piercing elements 13 with retaining hooks 14 and support legs 12. The substrate with attached lights may be rolled up when not in use.

Description

TITLE: KNITTING LIGHT STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention: The present invention relates generally to a light assembly, and more particularly to a knitting light structure in which multiple integrally formed securing devices are used to secure the light bulbs or lead wire of the light set onto a flexible, planar body to display flashing patterns, shapes or words.

(b) Description of the Prior Art: Light sets are often used to decorate homes, gardens and buildings. They may also be used for advertising or indication purposes. More commonly, they are used on festive occasions such as Christmas to decorate Christmas trees and the home. Christmas light sets consist of a series of tiny light bulbs which are interconnected by individual lead wires. Usually, light sets of a considerable length are used to wind round buildings or trees or, by making use of the flexibility of the lead wires themselves, to form on a planar surface specific shapes or patterns such as stars, bells, and Christmas trees common in the Christmas season or greeting terms such as MERRY CHRISTMAS, WELCOME, and HAPPY NEW YEAR. They are sometimes used to constitute the words or logos/patterns appearing in sign-posts of shops.

It can therefore be observed that (Christmas) light sets have wide applications, since they may indeed create happy, festive atmosphere at night. However, there are some drawbacks in the forming of words or patterns with the use of light sets. For instance, in order to form a star shape on a wall surface by using a light set A as shown in Fig. 1, the light set A is firstly arranged fixedly on a star-shaped frame B which is secured to the wall surface and is taken down after the Christmas season. Such light sets and frames, with the former more than two meters long, are not easy to store, transport, install or remove, which is not only labor-consumptive but also space-occupying.

With reference to Fig. 2, the light set A is arranged in a star-shaped groove E in a transparent lower plate D, and a transparent upper plate C is used to cover the lower plate D to secure the light set A in position. Although this construction is simpler than that shown in Fig. 1, it is also difficult to store and transport such light sets since the transparent plates are space-occupying and bulky.

Furthermore, these light sets as well as their accompanying frames or plates are not only bulky and space-occupying, they may easily get dirty and it is quite inconvenient to clean them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a knitting light structure with multiple securing devices for securing a light set onto a flexible, planar body or other suitable objects to form specific shapes, patterns or words in a simple and convenient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a knitting light structure with multiple securing devices for use in conjunction with a flexible, planar body which is less bulky and may be easily dismounted and rolled up to facilitate carrying and storage as well as to protect the light set stored therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which, Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a known method of forming a star shape with a light set; Fig. 2 is another schematic view showing another known method of forming the star shape with the light set; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the securing devices according to the present invention used to form a Christmas bell shape with a light set on a flexible plate; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the securing device according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the flexible plate along with the securing devices of the invention and the light set in a rolled-up state; Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the securing devices of the invention used to fasten the light set onto a wooden object; Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing the flexible plate with Christmas light sets hung outside a building, and Fig. 8 is another schematic view showing the flexible plate with A.C.I.E. decoration hung outside a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, which show a preferred embodiment of the securing device according to the present invention for use in conjunction with a Christmas light set and a flexible, planar body, a light set A is fixed onto a flexible plate 2 to form a specific pattern by using a multiplicity of securing devices 1 each of which clamps an individual light bulb A2 pierces into the flexible plate 2 to secure the light set A thereunto. Alternatively, the securing devices 1 may be arranged to clamp a lead wire at suitable space intervals. Since all the light bulbs A2 are individually positioned on the flexible plate 2, the light set A may, after being electrically connected to a power source, generate a beautiful flashing pattern at night. The flexible plate 2 may be hung indoors or outdoors to create a merry, festive atmosphere.

The securing devices 1 are preferably integrally formed from plastics or metal material. Referring to Fig. 4, a preferred embodiment of the securing device 1 is provided with a securing hole 10 in a central portion thereof. A projection 11 is formed above the securing hole 10 to facilitate the user's gripping, while at least one piercing element 13 is provided below the securing hole 10. The piercing element 13 is configured to have a pointed, tapered end with a hook 14. Besides, two slanting, elastic press pieces 12 are respectively disposed on both sides of the securing hole 10 and extend to or slightly below a lower rim of the securing hole 10.

Referring to Fig. 4, the securing devices 1 are configured to secure the light set A onto the flexible plate 2, and the securing hole 10 of the securing device 1 is provided to retain the light bulb A2 or lead wire Al of the light set 1. The projection 11 is arranged to allow the user to hold each securing device 1 along with the light bulb A2 or lead wire Al retained thereby and to pierce the same onto a front side of the flexible plate 2 by means of the piercing element 13. The hook 14 of the piercing element 13 may then hook against a rear side of the flexible plate 2 to ensure that the light bulb A2 and the securing device 1 may not easily fall off the flexible plate 2, while the elastic press pieces 12 and the securing hole 10 may be maintained on the front side of the flexible plate 2. Besides, the elastic press pieces 12 may elastically press against the front side of the flexible plate 2 to prevent the light bulb A2 from getting loosened.

The flexible plate 2 is substantially a foldable or rollable soft plate structure, such as transparent plastic pads, canvas, screens or other woven materials of a relatively large thickness. After the light set A has formed a desired pattern thereon by means of the securing devices 1, the flexible plate 2 may be suspended indoors or outdoors. Once an electric plug 3 is connected to a power source, a flashing pattern may be obtained. When not in use, the flexible plate 2, along with the light set A and the securing devices 1 on the inside, may be neatly rolled up for storage, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the light set A may be protected by the flexible plate 2 and prevented from getting dirty or breaking upon impact.

The above-described flexible plate 2 may also be provided with one or more pattern plannings to allow users to arrange the light set A along the pattern provided on the flexible plate 2 by utilizing the securing devices, which is also a D.I.Y. mode to cater to the consumers' various tastes and needs. Certainly, the user may design his/her own patterns on the flexible plate 2 for decoration or advertising purposes. With reference to Fig. 7, light sets A may be arranged to form words and shapes on the flexible plate 2 for hanging outside a building. Although the size of the flexible plate 2 shown in the figure is large, it may be rolled up to facilitate storage.

The piercing element 13 and the hook 14 of the securing device 1 may be used to penetrate various objects, such as transparent plastic pads, plastic canvas, and woven materials, and be retained thereon.

If a metal screen is used as the flexible plate 2, the piercing element 13 may be passed through the mesh hole with the hook 14 retaining a rear side of the metal screen while the elastic press pieces 12 may press against a front side thereof to secure the light set A thereon.

With reference to Fig. 8, a so-called AC luminescent sheet F may be cut into desired shapes and words for mounting onto the flexible plate 2 to achieve pleasing decorative or advertising effects.

In summary, the securing device for use in conjunction with light sets according to the present invention has the following advantages: 1. The light bulbs A2 or the lead wire Al may be fastened onto the flexible plate 2 by means of the securing devices 1 in an easy and simple manner, without complicated procedures of tying, gluing or welding.

2. As the light set A and the securing devices 1 may be rolled up inside the flexible plate 2 to reduce the overall size, package material may be saved.

3. Transportation is made easy since the flexible plate 2 together with the light set A and securing devices 1 is compact in size.

4. Users may simply unroll or roll up the flexible plate 2 when in use or not in use. Besides, the rolled up flexible plate 2 is easy to carry and the light set A may not easily become dirty or break upon impact.

Furthermore, the securing devices 1 of the present invention may be used to attach the light set A onto trees or wooden structures. As shown in Fig. 6, the piercing elements 13 of the securing devices 1 are used to pierce into the wood to fasten individual light bulbs A2 of the light set A onto thereunto to create the desired lighting effects.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the securing device 1 may be configured to be an integral part of the light bulb A2. In other words, the securing hole 10 of the securing device 1 may be formed to constitute a plastic housing of the light bulb A2.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A knitting light structure for securing a light set on a flexible, planar body to form desired flashing shapes, patterns or words thereon, said knitting light structure comprising multiple securing devices capable of coupling with the light bulbs or lead wire of the light set and securing the light bulbs or lead wire of the light set onto said flexible, planar body which may be in the form of meshed plates, leather, cloth or other soft plastic materials, said securing devices securing the light set at suitable space intervals on the flexible, planar body, the light set being pre-arranged into a desired pattern or word on said flexible, planar body-which may be rolled up for easy storage or hung for display.

2. A knitting light structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said flexible, planar body has its periphery or corners provided with a plurality of holes or hook rings for securing purposes so that said flexible, planar body may be extended and hung, and said flexible, planar body may be provided with sticker means for adhering to a wall surface.

3. A knitting light structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each of said securing devices has a securing hole for clamping a light bulb or a lead wire of the light set onto said flexible, planar body and at least one piercing element disposed below said securing hole, said piercing element having a pointed, tapered end which forms a hook.

4. A knitting light structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a projection is provided above said securing hole to facilitate gripping by a user's fingers.

5. A knitting light structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein two slanting, elastic press pieces are respectively disposed on both sides of said securing hole for pressing against a front side of the planar body while said hook of said piercing means hooks against a rear side of said planar body.

6. A knitting light structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said securing device may be integrally formed with a plastics housing of the light bulb which may be provided with said piercing element.

7. A knitting light structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings of Figures from 1 to

8.