GB2252212A

GB2252212A - Christmas tree light, bulb and method of manufacturing the same

Info

Publication number: GB2252212A
Application number: GB9101794A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yeh-Hsun Hsieh
Original assignee: HSIEH YEH HSUN
Current assignee: HSIEH YEH HSUN
Priority date: 1991-01-28
Filing date: 1991-01-28
Publication date: 1992-07-29
Also published as: GB9101794D0

Abstract

Wires (202) from the flattened base (201) of a christmas tree bulb (20), enter a connector body (21) and mate directly with terminals (213) in the body. The shape of the inside of the body corresponds with that of the bulb. The wires (202) are bent back along the flattened part of the base. <IMAGE>

Description

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT. BULB AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME This invention relates to an improved christmas tree light and method of making the bulb therefor.

In general, christmas tree lights have as main components a bulb, a bulb core and a shell body forming a bulb base. The manufacturing and assembly procedures for such lights are tedious and complicated. Each component needs to be individually manufactured and, when finished, is then formed by manual assembly into the final product.

This method of construction means that the finished goods are obtained through multi-manufacturing procedures which can lead to waste of time and manpower, leading to increased cost of the product.

Furthermore, the traditional christmas tree light sets, being assembled from a number of separate components, are liable to loosen and come apart so that quite small influences will cause the light to cease to function.

An object of the present invention is to provide a more simple means of construction which not only reduces the cost of manufacture but also provides an improved and more reliable product.

According to the present invention, there is provided a christmas tree light comprising a glass bulb having conductive wires projecting from the bottom thereof and a cup-shaped body having power supply wires connected thereto, the bottom of the bulb being installed in said cup-shaped body with an electrical connection being provided between said conductive wires and said power supply wires.

Preferably, the bottom of the bulb is heated and squeezed into a flattened shape which is received within a correspondingly shaped bulb base. This provision of a flattened tongue at the bottom of the bulb facilitates fast processing and manufacturing to improve the commercial efficiency of producing the product and also with the flat interfitting of the bottom tongue of the bulb and the correspondingly shaped cup-shaped body, enables a tight cup-jointed product which will tend to retain its integrity during use.

A further aspect of the invention provides a christmas tree bulb which is cylindrical with a flattened bottom end from which project two conductive wires which are adapted to be bent back beside the flattened bottom portion of the bulb upon insertion of the bulb into a correspondingly shaped power supply receptacle.

The invention also provides a method of making a christmas tree light bulb which comprises manufacturing a substantially cylindrical bulb with a light filament therein and with conductive wires projecting from the bottom of the bulb and then heating and flattening the bottom end of the bulb so that the wires project from spaced about positions at the bottom end of the flattened portion.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is an exploded diagrammatic perspective view of a prior art christmas tree light; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the two-component light of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a sectional view of the assembled light of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, of a known prior art construction, there is shown a christmas tree light including a bulb 10, bulb core 11, shell body or base 12 and power supply wires 121. Each of these components needs to be individually and separately manufactured with the conductive wires 101 projecting from the bottom of the bulb 10, needing to be inserted into the bulb core 11 with symmetrical and careful insertion of the conductive wires 101 so that the assembled bulb and bulb core can then be inserted into the shell body of the base 12 to provide contact between the individual conductive wires 101 and conductive pieces connected with the power supply wires 121. As will be clear, this method of manufacture is defective because of the tedious assembly time, wasteful manpower and the complicated assembly components.With the construction as described, these traditional products comprising the plurality of components are liable to come apart because of the sliding which can occur at each scarfjointed point between the different components. This, in use of the lights arranged as a series of connected bulbs, can lead to bad contacts and present operation of the lights.

An improved construction embodying the present invention is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The main structure of the light as shown in these Figures comprises a bulb 20 which has a sharp conical top with a cylindrical body. The bottom trim from which a conductive wire 202 extends has been heated, fused and squeezed into a flat downwardly projecting tongue 201. The bulb base 21 is generally cupshaped with its upper body substantially cylindrical although slightly frustoconical and tapered as shown in Figure 3, with a flattened bottom portion 211. The power supply wires 212 lead to the bottom of the base portion 211. A pair of symmetrical conductive pieces are installed in the interior of the base portion 211 on opposite sides thereof for engagement with the conductive wires 202 and being connected with the power supply wires 212.With such an arrangement, the bulb 20 can simply be inserted into the cup-shaped base so that respective ones of the conductive wires 202 engage respective connectors 213 for connection to the power supply wires 212. To facilitate such connection, the conductive wires 202 can be bent back one on each side of the flat tongue 201 for engagement by the conductive pieces or connectors 213. The bulb may be a replaceable friction fit in the base member 21 or alternatively may be permanently secured therein. Where there is permanent securement, it may be possible to dispense with the conductive members 213 and provide for direct electrical contact between the ends of the conductive wires 202 and individual power supply wires 212.

In general, the manufacturing procedure, as described above, not only saves assembly time but also provides an improved product with the methods possible for mass production leading to a reduction in unit cost.

Considering the method of construction, the product is made by cup-jointing the bulb 20 with the shell body 21 of the base and by tightly connecting the flat bottom trim or tongue to a bulb with the lower part 211 of the shell body, the assembled product is very stable, providing a trouble-free life.

Claims

1. A christmas tree light comprising a glass bulb having conductive wires projecting from the bottom thereof and a cup-shaped body having power supply wires connected thereto, the bottom of the bulb being installed in said cup-shaped body with an electrical connection being provided between said conductive wires and said power supply wires.

2. A light according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the glass bulb is flattened with the conductive wires being bent back beside said flattened bottom of the bulb upon insertion into the cup-shaped body.

3. A light according to claim 2, wherein the cupshaped body is flattened to accommodate the flattened bottom of the bulb.

4. A light according to any preceding claim, wherein separate conductors are provided on opposite sides of the interior of the cup-shaped body, are connected to respective ones of the power supply wires, and are engaged by respective ones of the conductive wires of the glass bulb.

5. A light according to any preceding claim, wherein the glass bulb is a friction fit into the cupshaped body.

6. A light according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bulb is permanently secured in said cup-shaped body.

7. A christmas tree bulb which is cylindrical with a flattened bottom end from which project two conductive wires which are adapted to be bent back beside the flattened bottom portion of the bulb upon insertion of the bulb into a correspondingly shaped power supply receptacle.

8. A method of making a christmas tree light bulb which comprises manufacturing a substantially cylindrical bulb with a light filament therein and with conductive wires projecting from the bottom of the bulb and then heating and flattening the bottom end of the bulb so that the wires project from spaced about positions at the bottom end of the flattened portion.

9. A christmas tree light constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A christmas tree light bulb constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of making a christmas tree light bulb substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.