Abstract:
A non-conductive socket device that fits within or over an empty light bulb socket when the socket is being shipped or stored. The socket device may comprise a first portion to provide a grip for handling the device and a second non-conductive portion to fittingly engage the light bulb socket. Indicia may be provided on the first portion for identifying the type of light bulb to be used in a particular socket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/244,342, filed Sep. 16, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,404, which claims the benefit of and priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/322,647, filed Sep. 17, 2001. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a system and product for storing and shipping items that feature one or more light bulb sockets, such as strings of Christmas lights or other decorative lighting. It is particularly well adapted to help eliminate: (1) damage to light bulbs that may be caused during the shipment or storage of such items; and (2) the potential dangers created by stringing or otherwise using items that have empty light sockets. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Countless products feature one or more light sockets and bulbs, particularly for holiday decorations. For example, holiday decorations that are sold with pre-installed light strings, such as those used as Christmas and seasonal decorations, feature numerous light sockets with bulbs arranged throughout the decoration. Such “pre-wired” items can be set up with minimal effort, making them particularly appealing to consumers who may have little time to decorate for holidays. Indeed, it is now very popular for Christmas trees and similar holiday decorative items to be ordered and shipped with strings of lights already installed (see  FIG. 6   a ). 
   One problem encountered with such products is that pre-installed or pre-strung light bulbs often break if the bulbs are shipped or stored within the light sockets on the item. Such breakage wastes bulbs and creates safety hazards from the shards of broken glass. In addition, broken bulbs have to be replaced, a potentially hazardous and time-consuming task. 
   To prevent such breakage, it is often desirable to ship and store light bulbs in a separate protective container. When the product—for example, a pre-strung Christmas tree or other decoration—is subsequently set up for use, the bulbs are removed from their separate protective container and installed in their respective sockets on the pre-wired light string. When the product is to be shipped or stored again, the bulbs are removed from their sockets and once again placed in their protective container. 
   However, this approach has several drawbacks. For example, shipping or storing a light string or other decorative holiday ornament with empty sockets may expose consumers to the risk of accidental electric shock or electrocution. Even if adequately warned, some people will nonetheless still plug in the light string before installing all of the light bulbs, thereby creating the possibility that someone could be electrocuted by coming into contact with an exposed and electrically charged socket. This danger is especially acute in products where the light sockets are wired in parallel rather than in series, so that the full current (120 volts or more) of electricity will flow to each socket regardless of whether one or more bulbs in the string are burned out or missing. 
   Also, certain holiday decorations that include light sockets, such as artificial Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands, are made with metal components (such as wire branches). If these types of decorations are shipped or stored with empty sockets, there is a danger that when the decoration is plugged in, the metal component could come into contact with an exposed and electrically charged socket in the decoration and cause an electrical shock. This is particularly true of artificial trees, garlands or wreaths that are packed tightly in shipping cartons so that their branches or other components may bend or shift during handling or storage, and thereby come into contact with an empty light socket. 
   Another drawback is that bulbs often come in a variety of shapes and colors and are meant to be placed in specific sockets to achieve the best decorative effect. If bulbs are shipped or stored separately and not pre-installed in their correct sockets, it is often time consuming or difficult for consumers to determine which particular bulb should be installed in a particular socket. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a device and system that will reduce the risk of electrocution when lights strings and other products having one or more light sockets are shipped and stored without light bulbs installed in the sockets. There is also a need for a device to guide consumers as to which light bulb should be installed in a particular socket to achieve the best, or desired, ornamental appearance. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets these and other needs by providing an inventive socket device that can fit securely in or over an empty light socket when the socket is being shipped or stored. The inventive socket device is made from a non-conductive material and will therefore eliminate the risk of accidental shock to anyone handling an empty socket in which the inventive device has been installed. Thus, when combined with a protective light bulb container, the inventive socket device provides an improved system for shipping and storing light strings and other products having one or more light sockets. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the inventive socket devices are color coded or otherwise provided with indicia to facilitate installation of the light bulbs in a particular pre-determined design or configuration, matching the colored light bulbs to designated sockets so as to create a desired pattern. For example, a plurality of different-colored socket devices can be preinstalled in a string of lights in a desired configuration so as to let a consumer know which colored bulb should go in which socket: a red socket device would indicate a socket in which a red bulb should be installed, a blue socket device would indicate a socket in which a blue bulb should be installed, etc. In this system, a pre-designed desired decorative or ornamental effect can be achieved by a consumer with relatively minimal time and effort. 
   As an added advantage, the inventive socket device can also be used as a decorating accessory. For example, if, for decorative effect, a consumer does not wish to use a light bulb in every socket in a light string, socket devices can be used to fill the unused sockets so that less than the full amount of light bulbs can be used without creating any risk of electrical shock while maintaining the desired ornamental effect without unsightly empty sockets. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the inventive socket device of  FIG. 1   a  installed in a light socket; 
       FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of the inventive socket device of  FIG. 2   a  installed in a light socket; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view of the inventive socket device of  FIG. 3   a  installed in a light socket; 
       FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a perspective view of the inventive socket device of  FIG. 4   a  installed in a light socket; 
       FIGS. 5   a – 5   h  depict the various light bulbs and light sockets with which the present invention can be used; 
       FIG. 6   a  depicts a pre-assembled, pre-wired Christmas tree with light bulb strings pre-installed thereon; 
       FIG. 6   b  is a detail view of the branches of the pre-assembled, pre-wired Christmas tree of  FIG. 6   a;    
       FIG. 7  depicts a light string with light bulbs installed therein; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a carton for shipping and storing light bulbs for installation on a light string. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In general, the present invention comprises a non-conductive socket device  5 , that is shaped to fit securely in or over an empty light socket. For illustrative purposes, the present invention is described herein in connection with a C9 style socket. However, it should be understood that the present invention can be made for use in connection with all types of light bulb sockets, including, but not limited to, C6, C7, C9, and Edison style sockets. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art how to adapt the examples and teachings herein for use with these and other types of light sockets. 
   The present inventive device can be made from any suitable non-conductive material, including, but not limited to, rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polycarbonate. In the preferred embodiments described and illustrated herein, socket device  5  comprises polypropylene. Suitable molding techniques for manufacturing socket device  5  are well known in the art and need not be set forth herein. 
     FIGS. 1   a,b  illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which socket device  5  is sized and shaped to be screwed into socket  10 . In this embodiment, socket device  5  comprises a base  15  and a handle  20 . Non-conductive handle  20  is shaped so as to provide a user with a means for gripping and handling the socket device  5 . For illustrative purposes, handle  20  in  FIGS. 1   a,b  is bulb-shaped, but any suitable shape can be used. Handle  20  is further provided with a flat surface to allow socket device  5  to rest stably on a table top or similar surface, without rolling around and becoming lost. 
   Base  15  is sized and shaped to fit snugly within socket  10 , similar to the base of any light bulb sized to fit within the base. An outer thread  25  (again, like that which would be found on a suitably-sized light bulb) winds downwardly about the outer surface  30  of base  15  so that base  15  can be screwed into and out of socket  10 . To install this style socket device, the device is screwed into the selected socket as a light bulb would be placed in the socket. To replace the socket device with a light bulb, the socket device is unscrewed and removed from the socket  10 . 
     FIGS. 2   a,b  illustrate another embodiment of the socket device  5 , in which a friction fit, rather than threads, is used to maintain the socket device  5  within socket  10 . Like the threaded embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   a , this style of socket device features a base  15  and a handle  10 . Unlike the base shown in  FIG. 1   a , however, the base  15  of this “friction fit” style socket device is not threaded. Rather, the base  15  shown in  FIG. 2   a  features one or more flexible ridges  35  encircling the outer surface  30  of base  15 . 
   The socket device is installed by pushing base  15  downward into socket  10 . The friction between the ridges  35  and the interior surface of socket  10  will securely hold the socket device  5  within the socket  10 . To replace this style socket device with a light bulb, a consumer grasps handle  20  and pulls the socket device out from the socket  10 , exerting enough force to overcome the friction between ridges  35  and the interior surface of the socket  10 . 
   The present invention can also fit around and over, rather than within, a light bulb socket.  FIGS. 3   a,b  illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention in which socket device  5  comprises a non-conductive cover  40 . In the illustrative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3   a,b , cover  40  comprises a top wall  45  and a side wall  50  that define a cavity  55  shaped and sized to snugly fit over and receive socket  10 . 
   To install this “cover” style socket device, socket  10  is placed within cavity  55 , where the friction fit between the socket  10  and side wall  50  will keep the socket securely in place. To remove the socket  10  from the cavity  55 , sufficient force is exerted on the plug  10  and/or the socket device to overcome the friction fit between the two parts. 
   The inventive socket device  5  can also be designed so as only to cover the opening of socket  10 .  FIGS. 4   a–b  show an example of this embodiment, in which the socket device  5  comprises a non-conductive shield  60 . Shield  60  is sized and shaped to fit snugly against the upper edge  65  of socket  10  and cover the opening  70  defined thereby. A plurality of flexible tabs  75  extend downwardly from the shield  60  and are positioned so as to fit snugly inside edge  65  when shield  60  is placed thereon and hold shield  60  in place by means of a friction fit. 
   Shield  60  can be readily removed from the socket by pulling it away from socket  10 . Preferably, when shield  60  is installed on socket  10 , the outer edges  80  of shield  60  extend beyond the upper edge  65  of socket  10 , thereby providing a means to easily grip and otherwise manipulate the shield  60 . 
   As discussed above, in a preferred embodiment, the inventive socket devices are color coded, labeled or otherwise provided with indicia to facilitate the installation of the light bulbs into pre-determined or selected sockets in order to create a pre-determined ornamental design. However, any type of suitable indicia can be used to indicate the appropriate installation of the light bulbs. For example, a plurality of different-colored socket devices can be preinstalled in a string of lights in a desired configuration or pattern so as to inform a consumer as to which colored bulb should go in which socket: a red socket device would indicate a socket in which a red bulb should be installed, a blue socket device would indicate a socket in which a blue bulb should be installed, etc. In another illustrative embodiment, labels such as “blue”, “red”, “C9” or “C30” can be placed on the socket devices to indicate which color or type of bulb should be used in a particular socket. Of course, the present invention does not require the use of any indicia such as color-coding, and could comprise the use of socket devices that are uniform in appearance and/or color. 
   The inventive socket device described herein can be put to many uses. The socket device can be sized and shaped to fit any type of socket, including, but not limited to, those shown and used in connection with the different bulbs shown in  FIGS. 5   a – 5   h .  FIGS. 5   a – 5   f  illustrate the following type of bulbs and sockets, respectively: mini bulb  85  and socket  90 , C7 bulb  95  and socket  100 , C9 bulb  105  and socket  110 , C30 bulb  115  and socket  120 , C40 bulb  125  and socket  130 , and C50 bulb  135  and socket  140 .  FIGS. 5   g  and  5   h  illustrate a standard Edison style bulb  145  and a 3.125 inch diameter Edison bulb  150 , respectively. 
   Because the inventive socket device can be adapted to fit any type of socket, it can be used in connection with any product that features a light socket, such as a string of lights or other pre-wired lighted products and decorations. Such items typically come packaged with the decorative light bulbs installed so that purchasers can set up such pre-assembled decorations with relative ease in a minimum amount of time. For example,  FIG. 6   a  shows a pre-assembled, pre-wired Christmas tree that is strung with C50 bulbs.  FIG. 6   b  is a close-up of the pre-wired branches of the Christmas tree of  FIG. 6   a , showing the pre-installed C50 bulbs. 
   If a pre-assembled, pre-wired Christmas tree were shipped as shown in  FIG. 6   a , there would be a substantial likelihood that many of the pre-installed light bulbs would break during transit. To prevent breakage during transit or storage of the bulbs when the Christmas tree or other decoration is pre-wired, the bulbs are removed from the sockets and replaced with socket devices  5 , such as, for example, the socket devices  5  shown in  FIGS. 1–4 . The pre-assembled tree can then be safely shipped, such as in a container (not shown), with strings of light bulb sockets pre-installed thereon and the bulbs shipped separately and safely within a protective container  160  ( FIG. 8 ). Use of socket devices  5  in this manner during shipment will also lessen the risk of electrocution during the later handling of light sockets and light bulb strings during installation and use, and will make it easier to determine which bulbs should be placed in which sockets. The present invention thus provides significant advantages over the prior art by preventing bulb breakage and providing an easy-to-follow and quick system for installing lighted decorations and other similar items. 
   There has been described, with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof, a light socket device. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All modifications are considered within the sphere, spirit, and scope of the invention described herein. The specification and drawings, therefore, are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.