Abstract:
A light set including multiple circuits or light strings and utilizing a single set of electrical connectors. The electrical connectors include a male electrical connector for connection to an electrical power source, such as a wall outlet, and a female connector for receiving a male electrical connector of another light set. The multiple light strings allow a unique light size and electrical rating to be coupled to each light string. Moreover, the multiple light strings may be assembled to produce an array of aesthetically pleasing light arrangements utilizing the different sized lights.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/975,868, filed Sep. 28, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to light sets and, more particularly, to light sets having various ratings of lights and multiple circuits or light strings with a common set of electrical connectors for connecting the multiple circuits or light strings to an electrical power source. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many light sets include only a single rating bulb (i.e., same voltage, current, etc.), thereby providing only basic illumination capabilities without any contrast. 
         [0004]    Existing light sets each include a pair of electrical connector plugs, one male and one female, and a single series of lights electrically connected in series between the pair of electrical connector plugs. When users desire numerous types, sizes, colors, etc. of lights, the users are required to utilize numerous light sets, thereby providing numerous sets of electrical connector plugs. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety standards set limits on the number of light sets that can be strung (i.e., male electrical plug of one light set connected to a female electrical plug of another light set) and set limits on the configuration of lights within each light set. Also, having numerous sets of electrical connector plugs is aesthetically unpleasing and users must perform many steps of plugging and unplugging the electrical connector plugs to set up and take down the numerous light sets. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for a light set that satisfies at least these and other deficiencies. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In some aspects, a light set is provided. 
         [0007]    In other aspects, a light set is provided and includes lights having varying ratings. 
         [0008]    In yet other aspects, a light set is provided and includes removable and replaceable lights of varying sizes and varying ratings. 
         [0009]    In still other aspects, a light set is provided and includes multiple circuits or light strings utilizing a single set of electrical connectors. The electrical connectors comprise a male electrical connector for connection to an electrical power source, such as a wall outlet, and a female connector for receiving a male electrical connector of another light set. 
         [0010]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a wiring schematic of a light set. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the light set shown in  FIG. 1 , shown with light bulbs in a connected condition. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portion of the light set shown in  FIG. 2 , shown with the light bulbs in a disconnected condition. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a simplified electrical schematic of the light set shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a wiring schematic of an alternative construction of a light set. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of the light set shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is simplified electrical schematic of the light set shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a wiring schematic of an alternative construction of a light set. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a simplified electrical schematic of the light set shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a light set  20  is illustrated and can be used for decorative and/or illuminative purposes. The light set  20  includes a set of electrical connectors comprising a male electrical connector  24  and a female electrical connector  28 . The light set  20  also includes a pair of fuses  30  and a plurality of series circuits or light strings  32 ,  36 ,  40  electrically connected to, extending between, and sharing the single set of male and female electrical connectors  24 ,  28 . With this configuration, the light strings  32 ,  36 ,  40  are in parallel with each other as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the illustrated construction, the light set  20  includes three separate light strings. In other constructions, the light set  20  can include other numbers of light strings. With the light set  20  including multiple light strings  32 ,  36 ,  40  and only a single set of electrical connectors  24 ,  28 , only a single power source outlet is required to power multiple light strings and a user is only required to plug a single male electrical connector  24  into the power source outlet to illuminate multiple light strings  32 ,  36 ,  40 . 
         [0022]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , the plurality of light strings comprises a first light string  32 , a second light string  36 , and a third light string  40 . The first light string  32  includes a first type of light  44  having a first rating, and the second and third light strings  36 ,  40  include a second type of light  48  having a second rating different from the first rating. In the illustrated embodiment, the first type of light  44  is a larger sized light with a 4.5 volt and 0.4 amp rating, and the second type of light  48  has a smaller size than the first type of light  44  with a 4.5 volt and 0.1 amp rating. Alternatively, the first and second types of lights  44 ,  48  may have other ratings. Also, in the alternative, two of the light strings may include the first type of light  44  and only one light string may include the second type of light  48 , or all three light strings may include the same type of light. 
         [0023]    With particular reference to  FIG. 1 , the wiring of the light set  20  is illustrated and wires  52  are represented by the lines extending between the lights  44 ,  48 , fuses  30 , and electrical connectors  24 ,  28 . 
         [0024]    With reference now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first and second types of lights  44 ,  48  are removable from the light set  20  to enable replacement of the lights  44 ,  48  when they burn-out, otherwise malfunction, or when a user desires a different color of light. The first type of light  44  includes a first bulb  56 , a first bulb holder  60 , and a first socket  64 . The second type of light  48  includes a second bulb  68 , a second bulb holder  72 , and a second socket  76 . The bulbs  56 ,  68  and bulb holders  60 ,  72  are secured together and are removable together from the sockets  64 ,  76  as shown in  FIG. 3 . A similar type of bulb and bulb holder is then placed into the socket to replace the removed bulb and bulb holder. For example, the removed first type bulb  56  and bulb holder  60  are replaced with another first type bulb  56  and bulb holder  60  and the removed second type bulb  68  and bulb holder  72  are replaced with another second type bulb  68  and bulb holder  72 . Due to the significant size difference between the first and second types of lights  44 ,  48 , a user cannot mistakenly place a second type of bulb  68  and bulb holder  72  into a socket  64  of the first type of light  44 , and vice versa, and have the mistakenly placed light function. 
         [0025]    When assembled (see  FIG. 2 ), the light set  20  has the appearance of a single light string due to the wiring  52  and the single set of electrical connectors  24 ,  28 . The light set  20  has the following light sequence: big light  44 , small light  48 , small light  48 . This light sequence continues until termination near the female connector  28 . 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 5-7 , an alternative construction of a light set  20 A is illustrated. Elements of the light set  20 A illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  in common with elements of the light set  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  are identified by the same reference number and an “A”. The light set  20 A includes a plurality of series circuits or light strings  32 A,  36 A,  40 A and the series circuits or light strings  32 A,  36 A,  40 A are in parallel with each other as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the illustrated embodiment, the light set  20 A includes three series circuits or light strings  32 A,  36 A,  40 A. Similarly to the light set  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the light set  20 A illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  includes a single set of electrical connectors  24 A,  28 A accommodating the numerous sets of light strings  32 A,  36 A,  40 A. A first light string  32 A includes a first type of light  44 A, and the second and third light strings  36 A,  40 A include a second type of light  48 A. In the illustrated embodiment, the first type of light  44 A is a larger sized light with a 6.0 volt and 0.4 amp rating and the second type of light  48 A has a smaller size than the first type of light with a 2.5 volt and 0.1 amp rating. 
         [0027]    With particular reference to  FIG. 5 , the wiring of the light set  20 A is illustrated and wires  52 A are represented by the lines extending between the lights  44 A,  48 A, fuses  30 A, and electrical connectors  24 A,  28 A. 
         [0028]    When assembled (see  FIG. 6 ), the light set  20 A has the appearance of a single light string due to the wiring  52 A and the single set of electrical connectors  24 A,  28 A. The light set  20 A also has the appearance of an icicle light appearance, which has the following sequence: a first big light  44 A at the top with four small lights  48 A dangling below the first big light  44 A and a second big light  44 A at the top following the first big light  44 A with six small lights  48 A dangling below the second big light  44 A. This lighting sequence continues until termination near the female electrical connector  28 A. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an alternative construction of a light set  20 B is illustrated. Elements of the light set  20 B illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  in common with elements of the light set  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and the light set  20 A illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  are identified by the same reference number and a “B”. The light set  20 B includes a plurality of series circuits or light strings  32 B,  36 B and the series circuits or light strings  32 B,  36 B are in parallel with each other as shown in  FIG. 9 . In the illustrated embodiment, the light set  20  includes two series circuits or light strings  32 B,  36 B. Similar to the light sets  20 ,  20 A illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , the light set  20 B illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  includes a single set of electrical connectors  24 B,  28 B accommodating the numerous sets of light strings  32 B,  36 B. A first light string  32 B includes a first type of light  44 B and the second light string  36 B includes a second type of light  48 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the first type of light  44 B is a larger sized light with a 4.5 volt and 0.4 amp rating and the second type of light  48 B has a smaller size than the first type of light  44 B with a 2.5 volt and 0.1 amp rating. 
         [0030]    With particular reference to  FIG. 8 , the wiring of the light set  20 B is illustrated and wires  52 B are represented by the lines extending between the lights  44 B,  48 B, fuses  30 B, and electrical connectors  24 B,  28 B. 
         [0031]    When assembled, the light set  20 B has the appearance of a single light string due to the wiring  52 B and a single set of electrical connectors  24 B,  28 B. The light set  20 B has the following light sequence: big light  44 B, small light  48 B, small light  48 B. This light sequence continues until termination near the female electrical connector  28 B. 
         [0032]    It should be understood that a large variety of alternatives and variations exist to the embodiments discussed above and illustrated in the drawings. One of ordinary skill in the art will be able to recognize such alternatives and variations from the disclosure herein and, therefore, such alternatives and variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.