BLUETOOTH POWERPACK FOR WIRELESS LED STRING LIGHTS

A bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights including a light assembly, an LED light strand, and a power pack including a battery, and a housing. The LED light strand and power pack are in wireless communication with a mobile application hosted on a mobile device. The power pack is connected to and configured to provide power to lights configured on the LED light strand. The LED light strand is controlled via the mobile application. The power pack provides a portable power source for the LED light strand. The housing houses the battery. The device may be integrating in a garment to provide illuminate garments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of lighting and more specifically relates to string lights, their powering means and method of controlling.

2. Description of Related Art

LED string lights are used for a variety of applications, however there are restrictions due to method of power and control. An application such as incorporating LED string lights into clothing is possible, but currently has restrictions related to the method of power and control of the lighting incorporated into the clothing remotely. In order to utilize a light strand in clothing or another application a traditional power plug or battery pack is required. These options are limited in their abilities and do not enable users to control the lights remotely. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,190 to Robert MacKenzie relates to a portable safety device. The described portable safety device includes a means for attracting visual attention, which comprises an array of flashing light sources, comprising high intensity light-emitting diodes having a light output of at least 500 mcandela. The light sources are connected in series with a solid state flashing circuit and a power supply. The power supply comprises a high energy battery and current limiting means in series therewith. The current limiting means prevents the current supplied by the battery externally of the power supply from exceeding a predetermined safe value. The solid state flashing circuit is periodically switchable between a low resistance state characterized in that the voltage across the series arrangement of high intensity light-emitting diodes exceeds a threshold voltage thereof, and a high resistance state characterized in that the voltage across the series arrangement of high intensity light-emitting diodes falls below the threshold voltage. The high intensity light-emitting diodes flash brightly to provide a low current attention-attracting device visible at lone range.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known lighting art, the present disclosure provides a novel bluetooth enabled powerpack for wireless LED string light system for on the go rechargeable power and remote connectivity/control. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide power to a wireless LED light string and functional control through a smart device utilizing integrated Bluetooth® technology. This invention can be incorporated into the many applications in which standard LED string lights are used.

The bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights (“Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) enabled power pack for wireless LED string lights”) is fully disclosed herein. The power pack is the power and control device of the entire system. The power pack incorporates a designed PCB with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module, transistors, inductor connector, microcontroller, micro USB connector and a battery management control with a connected rechargeable lithium battery. This designed functionality in the power pack 1) allows for the wireless LED string lights to connect to the power pack via a magnetic transistor connector, 2) power the LED string lights 3) connect to a smart device wirelessly via Bluetooth connectivity 4) communicate controls of the LED string lights for functionality such as on/off, LED brightness, LED twinkling effect, twinkling speed, and LED color coordination and 5) Recharge the Lithium Battery by a connecting mini USB port to USB plug.

The LED string lights incorporate individual LED lights on a string with a magnetic connector with incorporated conductors on one end of the light string. The magnetic connector ensures a secure connection between the conductors integrated into the magnetic connector on the light strand and the integrated conductors on the magnetic connector on the power pack to provide power and connectivity to the LED string lights wirelessly. The LED string light when connected to the power pack is then controlled through a mobile application that connects and communicates directly to the bluetooth enabled power pack. The LED string light through the magnetic conducting connector pulls its power from the rechargeable lithium battery incorporated into the physically connected power pack. The LED string lights can be arranged in varies configurations from length, number of LED's and string configuration based on application. As an example, the LED string light is configured to be integrated into a garment to provide illumination. The garment may include children's' costume garments, such as skirts, dresses, crowns, and bed canopies. The physically connected power pack to the LED string light incorporated into the garment can be easily removed from the string lights and garment for a battery recharge or swop out with another power pack. This allows the lighting integrated into the garment to stay in place and flexibility of use and function anywhere with no restrictions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a lighting means and more particularly to a Bluetooth enabled powerpack for wireless LED string light system as used to improve the use of string lights and powering means for providing illumination integrated clothing and other items.

Generally, the present invention provides a method to create a wireless LED light strand with remote control via Bluetooth® technology. The designed powerpack within the system connects to any mobile device wirelessly and is controlled via a mobile application. Those skilled in the art will readily understand Bluetooth technology as used herein. This enables users to control the on/off status and light sequence using the app. It offers a mini LED light strand that can be sewn into custom children's costumes. The present invention encourages a child's imagination and experience by providing illuminated garments. The bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights provides a mini LED light strand that communicates wirelessly via Bluetooth technology with a synced mobile device and application. The wireless LED light strand and power pack may be used as a wireless light source in a plurality of circumstances for illumination and decorative use.

The invention is comprised of a power pack made from a hard, plastic housing which ties each of the LED lights within the light strand together through the integrated connectivity prongs and is utilized as the connection point between the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights. The connector is a smaller hard plastic housing which ties each of the LED lights within the light strand together through the integrated connectivity prongs and is utilized as the connection point between the LED light strand and the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights can be recharged via a mini USB connector and USB connector cable that plugs into a USB outlet or outlet plug. The light strand and integrated connecter and latched power pack are integrated and sewn into children's costume garments, such as skirts, dresses, crowns, and bed canopies. The exact specifications may vary.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown inFIGS. 1-5, various views of a bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100.FIG. 1shows a bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100during an ‘in-use’ condition150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100may include a light assembly110, an LED light strand120, and a power pack130including a battery140, and a housing144. The power pack system100is in wireless communication with a mobile application hosted on a mobile device10. The power pack130is connected to and configured to provide power to lights configured on the LED light strand120. The LED light strand120is controlled via the mobile application. The power pack130provides a portable power source for the LED light strand120. The housing houses144the battery140. The present invention may be integrated in a children's costume to enhance a child's imagination and experience by providing illuminated garments15.

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100may include the light assembly110, the LED light strand120, and the power pack130including the battery140, and the housing144in functional combination to provide portable lighting. The light assembly110further comprises a connector. The connector connects the LED light strand120and the power pack130to provide power to the LED light strand120. In a preferred embodiment, the connector may include a magnetic connector20.

The LED light strand120is configured to be integrated into a garment15to provide illumination. The garment15may include children's costume garments, such as skirts, dresses, crowns, and bed canopies. The LED light strand120is configured to be integrated into any fabric. The LED light strand120further includes a braided cloth LED wire covering. The braided cloth LED wire covering is an extension160for stitching the LED light strand to the garment15. Wires of the LED light strand120are bundled and glued together.

Referring now toFIG. 3showing a perspective view of the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100may include the light assembly110, the LED light strand120, and the power pack130for illuminating garments15. The LED light strand120includes a horizontal section and a plurality of vertical light-strands170extending therefrom. The plurality of vertical light-strands170are equidistantly spaced from one another. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of vertical light-strands170are spaced approximately 100 mm from one another. A length of each of the plurality of vertical light-strands170is approximately 300 mm. Six of the lights are configured on the LED light strand120.

FIG. 4shows a perspective view of the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100ofFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100may include the light assembly110, the LED light strand120, and the power pack130including the battery140, and the housing144. In certain embodiments, the battery140is rechargeable. The power pack130further comprises a USB outlet configured to receive a USB connector cable20for charging the battery140. The light assembly110is controlled by a user on the mobile application hosted on the mobile device10such as a phone, tablet or other electronic device capable of supporting the mobile application.

As shown inFIG. 5, the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100may be arranged as a kit105. In particular, the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100may further include a set of instructions, at least one LED light strand120, and a power pack130. The instructions may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100such that the bluetooth powerpack for wireless LED string lights100can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.