Abstract:
A ropelight having an outer jacket; an inner core; and at least two circuits in the inner core, the at least two circuits having a plurality of bulbs electrically coupled thereto; a controller for controlling at least one of the at least two circuits; a power cable; a connector for electrically coupling the controller to the power cable, the connector being coupled to the controller; and a housing protecting the controller and the connector; and wherein the bulbs of at least one circuit are constantly on; and the bulbs of at least one circuit are flashed or dimmed at a predetermined interval.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This application relates to a lamp, and more particularly to a controller and connector for a rope light.  
           [0002]    Rope lights on the market currently have single loop, double loop, triple loop or quadruple loop circuit versions. Regular rope lights are powered up when plugged into a power source, and usually do not flash or dim. Other rope lights are coupled to controllers to generate flashing, chasing, or jumping effects. However, controllers are expensive, and in certain applications not every part of the decorative light needs to flash. For example, the decorative effect could well be sufficient if a part of the light is constantly on, and another part periodically flashes or dims.  
           [0003]    Frequently, controller boxes are bulky, making the controller boxes prone to tangling with surrounding objects such as other wires. Moreover, many controller boxes are heavy, making it difficult to hang a ropelight. Additionally, controller boxes have typically been exposed to air, which may lead to an electrocution hazard for adults and children in particular.  
           [0004]    There is therefore a need for a rope light, having a controller that overcomes these shortcomings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a power cable for a ropelight. The power cable has a controller for controlling at least a portion of the ropelight and a connector for electrically coupling the ropelight to a power source, the connector being coupled to the controller. The power cable also has a housing protecting the controller and the connector.  
           [0006]    The present invention is also directed to a ropelight connectable to a power cable, the ropelight having at least two circuits, a plurality of bulbs electrically coupled to the at least two circuits, a controller for controlling at least one of the at least two circuits, a connector for electrically coupling the ropelight to the power cable, the connector being coupled to the controller, and a housing protecting the controller and the connector.  
           [0007]    The present invention is also directed to a ropelight having an outer jacket; an inner core; at least two circuits in the inner core, the at least two circuits having a plurality of bulbs electrically coupled thereto; a controller for controlling at least one of the at least two circuits; a power cable; a connector for electrically coupling the controller to the power cable, the connector being coupled to the controller; and a housing protecting the controller and the connector. The bulbs of at least one circuit are constantly on; and the bulbs of at least one circuit are flashed or dimmed by the controller at a predetermined interval.  
         DRAWINGS  
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, where:  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a ropelight and a connectable power cable having a controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
           [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a partially cut away view of the power cable of FIG. 1;  
           [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a controller of the current invention;  
           [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a power cable connectable to a ropelight according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
           [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a ropelight having a controller and a connectable power cable according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
           [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a ropelight with an inline controller and power connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
           [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the circuitry of a rope light according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
           [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the circuitry of a rope light according to a first alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
           [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the circuitry of a rope light according to a second alternative embodiment of the present invention; and  
           [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a ropelight of the present invention formed into a decorative configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    A ropelight  10  according to the present invention may either be formed having a two piece power connector, or an in-line power connector that is not separable. An example of a rope light having a two piece power connector is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a rope light connector  12  is located at an end of the rope light  10 . The rope light connector  12  is connectable to a power cable connector  14  at a first end  15  of a power cable  16 . A second end  17  of the power cable  16  is coupled to a plug  18  for placement in an electrical outlet.  
         [0020]    As shown in FIG. 1, the rope light connector  12  and the power cable connector  14  are held together via outer threads  20  on the power cable connector  14  and a rotatable cap  22  mounted on the rope light connector  12 . The rotatable cap  22  has a shoulder (not shown) that is held against a lip  24  on the rope light connector  12 . The rotatable cap has internal threads (not shown) that thread onto the outer threads  20  of the power cable connector  14  to hold the power cable connector  14  to the rope light connector  12 .  
         [0021]    An outer diameter of at least a portion of the rope light connector  12  is smaller than an inner diameter of the power cable connector  14 . The rope light connector  12  may fit inside the power cable connector  14  during coupling of the rope light  10  to the power cable  16 . In a version of the present invention, one or more washers (not shown) may be used to further seal the rope light  10  to the power cable  16 .  
         [0022]    One skilled in the art will recognize that the coupling arrangement may be reversed with the outer threads being on the rope light connector and the rotatable cap being mounted on the power cable connector. Additionally, one skilled in the art will recognize that alternative coupling means may be employed to join the power cable connector to the rope light connector.  
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the rope light  10  includes an outer jacket  26 , an inner core  28 , a first wire  30 , a second wire  32 , and a third wire  34 . The wires  30 ,  32 ,  34  form at least two separate circuits. At least one of the at least two separate circuits is controlled by the controller to flash or dim.  
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a controller  36  is formed together with the power cable connector  14  as a single piece molded in a plastic housing  38  onto the power cable  16 . The power cable connector  14  is connectable to the rope light connector  12 . The power cable of FIG. 1 may be used with existing ropelights having multiple circuits.  
         [0025]    As shown in FIG. 3, the housing  38  may be formed from two half shells  40 ,  42 , with a control circuit  44  inside the half shells  40 ,  42 . The half shells  40  and  42  may contain openings  46 ,  48  for insertion of portions of the power cord  16 . The half shells  40 ,  42  may be fastened to each other with fasteners such as screws. Alternatively, the half shells  40 ,  42  may be snap fitted together to allow for replacement of the control circuit  44 . Additionally, the half shells  40 ,  42  may be glued to each other. In an embodiment, the housing  38  is waterproof.  
         [0026]    Preferably, housing  38  is cylindrical with a diameter of less than 2 inches, and more preferably less than 1 inch. The small size of the housing  38  makes the controller  36  less obtrusive and less attractive to pets and children. The small size of the housing  38  prevents the controller from getting tangled in nearby objects, such as other wires.  
         [0027]    Preferably, the controller  36  requires no adjustment by a user and is therefore very simple to operate. Additionally, the compact combination controller and connector is very efficient to produce and thereby may reduce the cost of production of the rope light.  
         [0028]    In a second embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 4, a power cable connector  14   a  is coupled to the first end  15  of the power cable  16 . A plug  18  for connection to an electrical outlet is coupled to the second end  17  of the power cable  16 . The power cable connector  14   a  may be connected to the ropelight connector  12  on the ropelight  10 . A controller  36   a  in a separate housing  50  is positioned between the first end  15  and the second end  17  of the power cable  16 .  
         [0029]    In a third embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 5, a ropelight  10  has a controller  36   b  formed integrally with the ropelight connector  12  as a single piece molded in a plastic housing  52  onto the ropelight. The ropelight connector  12  may be connected to the power cable coupling connector  14  on the power cable  16 . Additionally, the controller and connector may be housed within the outer jacket  26  of the ropelight  10 .  
         [0030]    In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 6, a ropelight  10  has a controller  36   c  formed integrally with a connector  54  in the rope light as a single piece molded in a plastic housing  56 . In the fourth embodiment, the connector is a single piece rather than two connectable pieces.  
         [0031]    As shown in FIG. 7, each circuit in the rope light has electrically installed thereon one or more bulbs  56 , inside the rope light core  28 . The controller  36  controls the bulbs  56  on at least one circuit. Different types of controllers are known in the art for causing bulbs to flash or for varying the intensity of bulbs coupled to the controller at predetermined intervals.  
         [0032]    In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the first wire  30  and the second wire  32  form a first circuit  58 . The second wire  32  and the third wire  34  form a second circuit  60 . The controller  36  is electrically coupled to both the first circuit  58  and the second circuit  60 . The bulbs on the first circuit  58  and the bulbs on the second circuit  60  may be in alternate positions inside the rope light  10 .  
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the controller may control the second wire  32  to adjust the current in both the first and second circuits  58 ,  60 . By varying the current in both the first and second circuits  58 ,  60 , the controller causes the bulbs attached to both the first and second circuits to blink or dim in unison. Additionally, the controller  36  may adjust the current in the third wire  34  to adjust only the current in the second circuit  60 . By varying the current in the second circuit  60  alone, the controller may flash or dim the bulbs attached to the second circuit  60 , while the bulbs attached to the first circuit  58  remain constantly on.  
         [0034]    In a first alternative embodiment of the circuitry in the ropelight, as shown in FIG. 8, the controller  36  only controls the current in the third wire  34  to adjust the current in the second circuit  60 , thereby flashing or dimming the bulbs attached to the second circuit. The current in the first and second wires  30 ,  32  remains constant, thereby providing constant power to the bulbs coupled to the first circuit  58 .  
         [0035]    The invention can be applied to a rope light  10  having more than 2 circuits. In a second alternative embodiment of the circuitry, as shown in FIG. 9, there are four wires forming three circuits. A first wire  62  and a second wire  64  form a constant circuit  66  having bulbs connected thereto. The second wire  64  and a third wire  68  form a first variable circuit  70  having bulbs connected thereto. The third wire  68  and a fourth wire  72  form a second variable circuit  74  having bulbs connected thereto.  
         [0036]    The controller  36  controls the current in the third wire  68  and the fourth wire  70  to separately flash or dim the bulbs on the first and second variable circuits. The bulbs on the three circuits  66 ,  70 , and  74  can be alternately installed inside the body of the rope light.  
         [0037]    Therefore, the invention can be applied according to the visual effects desired, to provide a combination of portions that are constantly lit and portions that flash or change intensity. FIG. 10 shows a Santa Claus  76  formed of the rope light  10  of the current invention. Portions of the Santa Claus  76 , for example, the trunk portion  78 , are constantly lit. Additionally, other portions of the Santa Claus  76 , such as the hands  80  and feet  82 , are wired on a first variable circuit to flash or dim. Yet other portions of the Santa Claus, such as the beard  82 , are wired on a second variable circuit to flash or dim.  
         [0038]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.  
         [0039]    All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstracts and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination except combination where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.  
         [0040]    Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means” for performing a specified function or “step” for performing a specified function, should not be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112.