Abstract:
A rope light connector releasably connects a first rope light and a second rope light together, each of the rope light having a first wire and a second wire extending therethrough. The rope light connector includes a male member and a female member integrally and respectively mounted to the first and second rope lights. The male member forms a plug having an external threaded section. The female member defines a receptacle to selectively receive the plug. The receptacle has inner threaded section engageable with the external threaded section of the plug to releasably secure the female member to the male member. Conductive members are formed in the plug and the receptacle to form engagement between the wires of the rope lights.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a rope light connector, and in particular to a rope light connector having a simplified structure.  
           [0003]    2. The Related Art  
           [0004]    Rope lights that comprise an elongate, light-transmitting tube inside which a number of bulbs are fixed are known. An example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,190. In most applications, it needs to connect a number of rope lights together. Such a connection is done by means of a rope light connector. The above US patent teaches a rope light connector having a receptacle member formed at an end of a first rope light and a plug formed at a corresponding end of a second rope light. To connect the first and second rope lights, the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The plug forms an external threading. The first rope light comprises a sleeve locker movable along and rotatable about the first rope light. The sleeve locker forms an inner threading engageable with the external threading of the plug thereby securing the second rope light to the first rope light.  
           [0005]    The conventional rope light connector, although effective to connect two rope lights, requires an inner-threaded sleeve locker that is not an integral part of the rope light. When the sleeve locker slides along, it also rubs against the surface of the connector and therefore causes damage to the connector. Moreover, the gap between the sleeve locker and the connector enables water leakage in the connector. Further, such an additional sleeve locker increases the production cost of the rope lights.  
           [0006]    In addition, the rope lights are always used outdoors. The conventional rope light disclosed in the above US patent is not waterproof, and cannot resist water leakage through connector. Subsequently, electric shorting may occur, and users may be damaged or fire may be caused.  
           [0007]    Thus, it is desired to have a rope light connector that can overcomes the problems discussed above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide a rope light connector having a simple structure that can simplify the production process and reduce cost.  
           [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a rope light connector having no free fastening part.  
           [0010]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a rope light connector that provides a waterproof sealing against water leakage.  
           [0011]    To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rope light connector for releasably connecting a first rope light and a second rope light together. The rope lights have a first wire and a second wire extending therethrough. The rope light connector comprises a male member and a female member integrally and respectively mounted to the first and second rope lights. The male member forms a plug having an external threaded section. The female member defines a receptacle to selectively receive the plug. The receptacle has inner threaded section engageable with the external threaded section of the plug to releasably secure the female member to the male member. Both the plug and the receptacle include conductive members to selectively form engagement between the wires of the rope lights. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a rope light connector constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rope light connector of the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an exploded and axial sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective and axial sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a rope light connector constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rope light connector of the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a exploded and axial sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 5; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a perspective and axial sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS.  1  to  2 , a rope light connector constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated with reference numeral  100 , comprises a male member  102  and a female member  104  to which a first rope light  106  and a second rope light  108  are respectively and integrally mounted. A conductive central wire  110  and a side wire  112  extend parallelly through the first rope light  106  and are spaced from each other. Similarly, a central wire  110   a  and a side wire  112   a  extend parallelly through the second rope light  108  and are spaced from each other. Both the central wires  110 ,  110   a  and side wires  112 ,  112   a  function for supplying electric power to the rope lights.  
         [0022]    The male member  102  has an integral plug  114  around which is formed with external threaded section  116 . The female member  104  has a receptacle  118  with an inner threaded section  120 . The receptacle  118  is slightly larger than the plug  114  of the male member  102  so that the plug  114  can be received therein. The inner threaded section  120  of the female member  104  can be screwed and engaged with the external threaded section  116  of male member  102 , thereby securing the male and female members  102 ,  104  together.  
         [0023]    The male member  102  and the female member  104  both form a polygonal ring section  122 ,  124  which in the embodiment illustrated is hexagonal. It is designed for driving engagement with for example a wrench to tighten the male and female members  102 ,  104  together. The polygonal ring sections  122 ,  124  have an inner cross-sectional size greater than that of the plug  114  of the male member  102 . To prevent water leakage, a sealing ring  126  made of plastics is used and sandwiched between the polygonal ring sections  122 ,  124  when the male and female members  102 ,  104  are secured together. The elasticity of the sealing ring  126  enables the two corresponding sides of the sealing ring  126  to respectively tightly contact with the polygonal ring sections  122 ,  124 , and no water can leak into the rope light connector  100  and the rope lights  106 ,  108 . In other words, the sealing ring  126  provides a waterproof sealing between the male and female members  102 ,  104 .  
         [0024]    Please refer to FIG. 3 which is an exploded and axial sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1. An expanded portion  128  with a free end section  130  is extended from the central wire  110  of the first rope light  106  to the male member  102 . The free end section  130  is protruded from an axial end face  132  of the plug  114  of the male member  102 . The side wire  112  of the first rope light  106  is extended to the male member  102 , and is formed with a free end  134  extending beyond the external threaded section  116  of the plug  114 . The free end  134  is physically engaged with a conductive member  136 , which in the embodiment illustrated constitutes partly the plug  114  of the male member  102 . Alternatively, the external threaded section  116  may be made of conductive material, so that the free end  134  of the side wire  112  of the male member  102  is connected with the conductive external threaded section  116 .  
         [0025]    A flat contact portion  138  with a bent expanded end  139  is extended from the central wire  110   a  of the second rope light  108  to the female member  104 . The bent expanded end  139  of the central wire  110   a  is positioned in corresponding to the free end section  130  of the central wire  110 . As shown in FIG. 4 which is a perspective and axial sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2, when the male and female members  102 ,  104  are secured together, the bent expanded end  139  is engaged with the free end section  130 . Moreover, the side wire  112   a  of the female member  104  comprises a free end  140  extending into the receptacle. When the male member  102  is screwed to the female member  104 , the free end  140  is physically engaged with the conductive member  136  of the male member  102 . Thereby, the two rope lights are electrically connected.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 5 and 6 show a rope light connector constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, generally designated with reference numeral  200 . The rope light connector comprises a male member  202  and a female member  204  to which a first rope light and a second rope lights  206 ,  208  are respectively mounted. A conductive central wire  210  and a side wire  212  extend parallelly through the first rope light  206  and are spaced from each other. Similarly, a central wire  210   a  and a side wire  212   a  extend parallelly through the second rope light  208  and are spaced from each other. Both the central wires  210 ,  210   a  and side wires  212 ,  212   a  function for supplying electric power to the rope lights.  
         [0027]    The male member  202  has a plug  214  around which is formed with external threaded section  216 . The female member  204  has a receptacle  118  with an inner threaded section  220 . The receptacle  218  is slightly larger than the plug  214  of the male member  202  so that the plug  214  can be received therein. The inner threaded section  220  of the female member  204  can be screwed and engaged with the external threaded section  216  of male member  202 , thereby securing the male and female members  202 ,  204  together.  
         [0028]    The male member  202  and the female member  204  both form an expanded ring section  222 ,  224 . The expanded ring sections  122 ,  124  have an inner cross-sectional size greater than that of the plug  214  of the male member  202 . To prevent water leakage, a sealing ring  226  made of plastics is used and sandwiched between the expanded ring sections  222 ,  224  when the male and female members  202 ,  204  are secured together. The elasticity of the sealing ring  126  enables the two corresponding sides of the sealing ring  226  to respectively tightly contact with the expanded ring sections  222 ,  224 , and no water can leak into the rope light connector  200  and the rope lights  206 ,  208 . In other words, the sealing ring  226  provides a waterproof sealing between the male and female members  202 ,  204 .  
         [0029]    Please refer to FIG. 7 which is an exploded and axial sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 5. The central wire  210  of the male member  202  has a free end section  230  extending into an axially extending bore  242  defined in the plug  214  of the male member  202 .  
         [0030]    The side wire  212  of the first rope light  206  is extended to the male member  202 , and is formed with a free end  234  extending beyond the external threaded section  216  of the plug  214 . The free end  234  is physically engaged with a conductive member  236 , which in the embodiment illustrated constitutes partly the plug  214  of the male member  202 . Alternatively, the external threaded section  216  may be made of conductive material, so that the free end  234  of the side wire  212  of the male member  202  is connected with the conductive external threaded section  216 .  
         [0031]    As shown in FIG. 8 which is a perspective and axial sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 6, the central wire  210   a  of the female member  204  has a free end forming a plunger  238  extending into the receptacle  218  for insertion into the bore  242  to physically engage the free end section  230  of the central wire  210  of the male member  202 . Moreover, the side wire  212   a  of the female member  204  has a free end  240  extending into the receptacle  218 . When the male member  202  is screwed to the female member  204 , the free end  240  is physically engaged with the conductive member  236  of the male member  202 . Thereby, the two rope lights are electrically connected.  
         [0032]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.