Abstract:
The present invention provides a lamp assembly, more particularly, a decorative lamp assembly with a shaped part of filament. The lamp assembly includes a light source and a shaped part of filament with a predetermined shape. The light source is installed on the shaped part of filament. The lamp assembly may further comprise a light reflecting element arranged in the back thereof. Light from the light source to the light reflecting element is reflected back substantially towards the shaped part. The lamp assembly has advantages of simple manufacturing process, lower cost, and convenience for mass production etc.

Description:
STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the priority of the Chinese Patent Application No. 200720139542.2, filed on Feb. 14, 2007, entitled “lamp assembly with shaped part of filament”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a lamp assembly and, more particularly, to a decorative lamp assembly with a shaped part of filament. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0005]    During festivals such as Christmas, a decorative lamp string is often used. Sometimes, in order to build a special atmosphere, the decorative lamp string needs to be hanged on or wrapped around a shaped body or a shaped frame. For example, the decorative lamp string may be hanged on a Christmas tree. Alternatively, a shaped frame may be assembled by wooden poles, plastic poles or ferric poles, and then the decorative lamp string is hanged on the shaped frame. 
         [0006]    At present, the cost of manufacturing a Christmas tree or a shaped frame is relatively high, and its manufacturing process is relatively complex. Therefore, it is generally not suitable for industrialized mass production. Further, because the Christmas trees or the shaped frames generally occupy a larger space, they can cause a higher transportation cost when a long-distance transportation is required. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is necessary to provide a decorative lamp assembly with a shaped part so as to overcome the above disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide a lamp assembly with a shaped part. The shaped part has a simple manufacturing process and a lower cost, and is convenient for mass production. 
         [0009]    The present invention realizes the above object by providing a lamp assembly, which includes a lamp string and a shaped part of filament. The lamp string has a number of point light sources. The shaped part of filament may have a predetermined shape. The lamp string is installed on the shaped part of filament. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the shaped part of filament includes a housing formed of interlaced light refracting filaments. The housing defines a number of openings and an acceptance space therein. The acceptance space communicates with the environment via the openings. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the lamp string is hanged in the acceptance space, and the number of point light sources are distributed in the acceptance space essentially uniformly. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the shape of the shaped part of filament may be selected from the group consisting of: Santa Claus, snowman, globoid, cube, combined cube, cartoon personage, and animal. 
         [0013]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the decorative lamp assembly further includes a light reflecting element arranged in the back thereof. The light reflecting element and the interlaced light refracting filament are combined together to form the acceptance space. 
         [0014]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the light reflecting element may be selected from the group consisting of laser sequin, seven-colored sequin, magic-colored sequin or reflector. 
         [0015]    In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a surface of the light reflecting element facing the acceptance space is coated with blinking gold dust and/or pearl powder. 
         [0016]    In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the point light source of the lamp string is an incandescent lamp. 
         [0017]    In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the point light source of the lamp string is a light emitting diode. 
         [0018]    According to the lamp assembly of the present invention, it is known that the lamp string is enclosed in the acceptance space of the shaped part of filament, and the shaped part of filament is made of at least one filament with light refracting, light scattering, light reflecting and/or light transmitting properties. Consequently, while the lamp string is working, the light emitted therefrom partially travels through the openings of the housing, while the remainder is refracted, reflected and/or transmitted by the filament to form multicolored light to be finally emitted. If the lamp string works flickeringly, a multicolored and dazzling effect can be added. 
         [0019]    When the light reflecting element is arranged at one side of the shaped part of filament, light emitted from the light source of the lamp string and transmitted towards the light reflecting element can be essentially reflected back. Thus, the brightness at that side of the decorative lamp assembly can be enhanced. Further, prismy multicolored light may be formed via a special surface configuration of the light reflecting element. 
         [0020]    In addition, because the shaped part of filament of the present invention may be made of a plastic material and manufactured using a wire drawing machine, the material cost thereof is lower, the manufacturing process thereof is simpler, and thereby it is suitable for industrialized mass production. 
         [0021]    Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings and description of preferred embodiments of the invention in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Many aspects of the present lamp assembly can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present lamp assembly. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, schematic view of a lamp assembly with a shaped part of filament in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional, schematic view of the lamp assembly with a shaped part of filament shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a lamp assembly with a shaped part of filament in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an isometric, schematic view of a lamp assembly with a shaped part of filament in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional, schematic view of the lamp assembly with a shaped part of filament shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a lamp assembly with a shaped part of filament in accordance with the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is an isometric, schematic view of a lamp string used in the present invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is an isometric, schematic view of another lamp string used in the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    Reference will now be made to the figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 , a lamp assembly  10  with a shaped part of filament in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and a lamp string  50  used in the decorative lamp assembly  10  is shown in  FIG. 7 . The decorative lamp assembly  10  includes the lamp string  50  and a spherical shaped part of filament (not labeled). The lamp string  50  is installed within the shaped part of filament. 
         [0033]    Specifically, referring to  FIG. 7 , the lamp string  50  includes an electric wire  52  and a number of point light sources  51  connected (in series or in parallel) by the electric wire  52 . The lamp string  50  also includes a plug  53  set at one end thereof and used for connecting a power source. The lamp string  50  optionally includes a tail plug  54  set at another end thereof. The tail plug  54  functions as a socket so that a plug of the next lamp string can be inserted in the tail plug of the immediately preceding lamp string, if two or more lamp strings need to be connected. Therefore, a lamp string is electrically connected to the lamp string next to it, whereby lamp strings may be lighted simultaneously. In this embodiment, the point light sources  51  of the lamp string  50  are an incandescent lamp. The incandescent lamp has a glower for being heated to incandescence by an electric current. Alternatively, the present invention may adopt a light emitting diode (LED) as its point light source. Referring to  FIG. 8 , a lamp string  60  with a number of point light sources  61  is shown. The lamp string  60  is essentially similar to the lamp string  50  shown in  FIG. 7 . The difference therebetween is that the point light sources  61  are a light emitting diode. As the light emitting diode is a cold-light light source, and has the virtue of long lifespan, low power consumption etc., it is widely used in the field of illumination. Of course, other kinds of light source known in the art may also be used. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the spherical shaped part of filament includes a housing  12  formed of interlaced light refracting filaments  14 . The housing  12  defines a number of openings  16  and an acceptance space  18  therein. The acceptance space  18  communicates with the environment via the openings  16 . 
         [0035]    The spherical shaped part of filament may be produced by the following manufacturing process. Firstly, a hemispherical mold is prepared. Secondly, polypropylene, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used as the raw material, which is heated, extruded and stretched sequentially by a commercially available wire drawing machine so as to form the round or flat filament  14 . Thirdly, the filaments  14  are braided on the hemispherical mold using a commercially available warp knitting machine or circular knitting machine. Fourthly, the mold is removed and a hemispherical shaped part of filament is attained after cooling. Finally, two hemispherical shaped parts of filament are interfaced with their concave surfaces being opposite. That is how the spherical shaped part of filament is formed. It bears mentioning that no particular limitations are imposed on the knitting manner of the filament  14 . In other words, the knitting manner may be random and irregular, or alternatively regular so as to form, for example, a number of lattice squares, cordates, etc. 
         [0036]    Of course, the above-mentioned method is only one of the possible manufacturing methods of the shaped part of filament of the present invention. Other manufacturing methods known in the art may also be used. The shaped part of filament made of the selected material in accordance with the present embodiment has certain light refracting property. Further, other ingredients may be added in the selected material to enhance heat resistance, toughness, ductility, oxidation resistance etc. A light reflecting and light scattering material, such as pearl powder etc., can also be added to enhance the light reflecting and light scattering property of the shaped part of filament. 
         [0037]    An assembling process of the present lamp assembly  10  includes the following steps. Firstly, the lamp string  50  is piecewise bound on or sticks to corresponding segments of the filament  14  using thin lines (not shown) or adhesive tape (not shown). Secondly, two hemispherical shaped parts of filament are interfaced to form the lamp assembly  10 . The interfacing manner may be any connection manners known in the art, such as binding using lines or sticking using adhesive tape. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows a cross sectional, schematic view of the lamp assembly  10  with a shaped part of filament. A number of point light sources  51  are distributed in the acceptance space  18  essentially uniformly, so that uniform and dazzling light is formed in the acceptance space  18 . Of course, the number of point light sources  51  may also be distributed uneven in the acceptance space  18 , if desired. 
         [0039]    According to the decorative lamp assembly  10  of this embodiment, it is known that the lamp string  50  is enclosed in the acceptance space  18  of the shaped part of filament, and the snowball-like shaped part is made of at least one filament with light refracting, light scattering, light reflecting and/or light transmitting properties. While the lamp string  50  is working, the light emitted therefrom travels directly through the openings  16  of the housing  12 , while the remainder is refracted, reflected and/or transmitted by the filament to form multicolored light to be finally emitted. If the lamp string  50  works flickeringly, a multicolored and dazzling effect can be added. In addition, because the shaped part of filament of the present invention may be made of a plastic material and manufactured using a wire drawing machine, it is suitable for industrialized mass production. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a lamp assembly  20  with a shaped part of filament in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The decorative lamp assembly  20  is essentially similar to the decorative lamp assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . The similar portions are not described herein. The difference therebetween is described as follows. The decorative lamp assembly  20  presents a hemispherical shape as a whole. In addition to a hemispherical shaped part of filament, the housing  22  of the assembly further includes a light reflecting element  80  arranged in the back of the shaped part. The term “back” herein means a position close to the concave camber of the hemispherical shaped part. The light reflecting element  80  and the interlaced light refracting filament are combined together to form the acceptance space (not labeled) of the decorative lamp assembly  20 . The combination manner may be any connection manners known in the art, such as binding using lines or sticking using adhesive tape etc. The light reflecting element  80  may adopt a laser sequin, seven-colored sequin, magic-colored sequin or a reflector, or any combination thereof. Further, the surface of the light reflecting element facing the acceptance space may be coated with blinking gold dust and/or pearl powder. In this way, when the lamp string  50  is working in the decorative lamp assembly  20 , the light emitted from the light source of the lamp string  50  and transmitted towards the light reflecting element can be essentially reflected back. Thus, the brightness at the foreside of the decorative lamp assembly can be enhanced. Further, prismy multicolored light may be formed. 
         [0041]    The decorative lamp assembly  20  in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is especially useful in the situation where the decorative lamp assembly  20  always faces towards only one direction. In use, the foreside of the decorative lamp assembly  20  may face towards the direction on which people tend to focus their attentions, while the backside of the decorative lamp assembly  20  may face towards another direction, which is less concentrative. Another virtue of the decorative lamp assembly  20  lies in the convenience in transportation, because its size is essentially reduced to half relative to the decorative lamp assembly  10  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show a lamp assembly  30  with a shaped part of filament in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The decorative lamp assembly  30  is essentially similar to the decorative lamp assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . The similar portions are not described herein. The difference therebetween is described as follows. The decorative lamp assembly  30  in a snowman shape includes an upper body, a lower body, a head, arms, a nose and wears a cap and clothes (not labeled) etc., so as to give a more real image. During manufacturing, the upper body, the lower body, the head, the arms and so on may be formed separately and then assembled together. Of course, the shaped part of filament may be alternatively formed of two parts similarly to the first embodiment. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a lamp assembly  40  with a shaped part of filament in accordance with the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The decorative lamp assembly  40  is essentially similar to the decorative lamp assembly  20  in  FIG. 3 . The similar portions are not described herein. The difference therebetween is described as follows. The decorative lamp assembly  40  presents a half snowman in shape, so its light reflecting element  88  varies accordingly. The light reflecting element  88  not only reflects light, but also scatters light. A support bracket may be additionally arranged at the back of the decorative lamp assembly  40  so as to facilitate the location of the decorative lamp assembly  40 . 
         [0044]    Various preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying figures. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the method and system of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the shaped part of filament may also be selected from following models: Santa Claus, cube, combined cube, cartoon personage, and animal. Furthermore, in stead of the lamp string, independent light bulb may also be used as light source. Thus, it is intended that the present invention includes modifications and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.