Abstract:
According to one illustrative embodiment, there is provided a method of changing an appearance of an illumination apparatus string, the method involving: detachably coupling a cover body to one of a plurality of illumination apparatuses on the illumination apparatus string such that an illuminatable portion of the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses is received in a receptacle defined by the cover body. According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a cover apparatus including: a cover body defining a receptacle and configured to be detachably coupled to one of a plurality of illumination apparatuses on an illumination apparatus string such that an illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle when the cover body is detachably coupled to the one of the illumination apparatuses. Uses of the apparatus, and kits and assemblies including the apparatus, are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, United States provisional patent application No. 61/633,800 filed on Feb. 21, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    This disclosure relates generally to appearances of illumination apparatus strings, and more particularly to methods of changing an appearance of an illumination apparatus string, cover apparatuses, uses of the cover apparatuses, and kits and assemblies comprising the cover apparatuses. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Decorative lighting may be used on many occasions, such as for Christmas but also on numerous other occasions. Often, decorative lighting is commercially available on strings, such as strings of incandescent light bulbs for example. In many commercially available strings of incandescent light bulbs, each incandescent light bulb can be individually connected to and removed from a respective socket of the string, thereby permitting colours and other characteristics of each individual light bulb to be varied. However, incandescent light bulbs have become less popular, for example because of high energy consumption, hazards that can arise because of heat emitted from filaments in incandescent light bulbs, and limited usable life of incandescent light bulbs. 
         [0006]    One alternative to a string of incandescent light bulbs is a string of light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) because LEDs can last longer than incandescent light bulbs and can emit light more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs without generating as much heat as incandescent light bulbs. However, commercially available strings of LEDs are generally less adaptable than strings of incandescent light bulbs because individual LEDs cannot be connected to or removed from respective sockets of the string. Commercially available strings of LEDs generally have fixed colours and appearances, and therefore have a generally uniform and constant appearance. Even LED strings with differently coloured LEDs still have fixed colours, and therefore have a generally constant appearance. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to one illustrative embodiment, there is provided a method of changing an appearance of an illumination apparatus string. The method involves detachably coupling a cover body to one of a plurality of illumination apparatuses on the illumination apparatus string such that an illuminatable portion of the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses is received in a receptacle defined by the cover body. 
         [0008]    The illuminatable portion of the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses may include a light-emitting diode (“LED”). 
         [0009]    Detachably coupling the cover body to the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses may involve detachably coupling the cover body to a refractive cover of the illuminatable portion of the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses. 
         [0010]    The cover body may include an opaque portion positioned to block light emitted from the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses when the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle. 
         [0011]    The cover body may include a translucent portion positioned to transmit at least some light emitted from the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses when the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle. 
         [0012]    The cover body may include: at least one opaque portion positioned to block light emitted from the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses when the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle; and at least one translucent portion positioned to transmit at least some of the light emitted from the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses when the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle. 
         [0013]    Detachably coupling the cover body to the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses may involve resiliently deforming at least a portion of the cover body. 
         [0014]    Resiliently deforming at least a portion of the cover body may involve resiliently deforming an end portion of the cover body adjacent an opening to the receptacle to widen the opening to the receptacle resiliently to a width at least as wide as a maximum width of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. 
         [0015]    Resiliently deforming the end portion of the cover body may involve causing the end portion of the cover body to be retained on a retaining portion of an outer surface of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. The retaining portion may have a width less than the maximum width of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. 
         [0016]    Resiliently deforming the end portion of the cover body may involve stretching the end portion of the cover body to the width at least as wide as the maximum width of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. 
         [0017]    Detachably coupling the cover body to the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses may involve unrolling a rolled portion of the cover body. 
         [0018]    Resiliently deforming the end portion of the cover body may involve widening at least one longitudinal gap between projections on the end portion of the cover body and surrounding the opening to the receptacle. 
         [0019]    The cover body may be unitary. 
         [0020]    Detachably coupling the cover body to the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses may involve detachably coupling a first lateral portion of the cover body to a second lateral portion of the cover body. 
         [0021]    Detachably coupling the first lateral portion of the cover body to the second lateral portion of the cover body may involve resiliently deforming at least a portion of at least one of the first and second lateral portions of the cover body to position a first retaining surface on the first lateral portion of the cover body in contact with a second retaining surface on the second lateral portion of the cover body to couple the first lateral portion of the cover body detachably to the second lateral portion of the cover body. 
         [0022]    According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a cover apparatus. The apparatus includes a cover body defining a receptacle and configured to be detachably coupled to one of a plurality of illumination apparatuses on an illumination apparatus string such that an illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle when the cover body is detachably coupled to the one of the illumination apparatuses. 
         [0023]    The illuminatable portion of the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses may include a light-emitting diode (“LED”). 
         [0024]    The cover body may be configured to be detachably coupled to a refractive cover of the illuminatable portion of the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses. 
         [0025]    The cover body may include an opaque portion positioned to block light emitted from the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses when the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle. 
         [0026]    The cover body may include a translucent portion positioned to transmit at least some light emitted from the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses when the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle. 
         [0027]    The cover body may include: at least one opaque portion positioned to block light emitted from the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses when the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle; and at least one translucent portion positioned to transmit at least some of the light emitted from the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses when the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle. 
         [0028]    At least a portion of the cover body may be resiliently deformable to facilitate detachably coupling the cover body to the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses. 
         [0029]    The cover body may define an opening to the receptacle. The cover body may include an end portion adjacent the opening to the receptacle. The end portion may be resiliently deformable to widen the opening to the receptacle resiliently to a width at least as wide as a maximum width of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. 
         [0030]    The end portion of the cover body may be configured to be retained on a retaining portion of an outer surface of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. The retaining surface may have a width less than the maximum width of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. 
         [0031]    The end portion of the cover body may be stretchable to the width at least as wide as the maximum width of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. 
         [0032]    A portion of the cover body may be configured to be unrolled to facilitate detachably coupling the cover body to the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses. 
         [0033]    The end portion of the cover body may include a plurality of projections surrounding the opening to the receptacle. The plurality of projections may be resiliently deflectable to widen the opening to the receptacle resiliently to the width at least as wide as the maximum width of the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses. 
         [0034]    The cover body may be unitary. 
         [0035]    The cover body may include first and second lateral portions. The first lateral portion of the cover body may be configured to be detachably coupled to the second lateral portion of the cover body to couple the cover body detachably to the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses. 
         [0036]    The first lateral portion of the cover body may define a first retaining surface. The second lateral portion of the cover body may define a second retaining surface. At least a portion of at least one of the first and second lateral portions of the cover body may be configured to be resiliently deformed to position the first retaining surface in contact with the second retaining surface to couple the first lateral portion of the cover body detachably to the second lateral portion of the cover body. 
         [0037]    According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided use of the apparatus to change an appearance of the illumination apparatus string. 
         [0038]    According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a kit including a plurality of the apparatuses. 
         [0039]    According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a kit including: the apparatus; and the illumination apparatus string. 
         [0040]    According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a kit including: a plurality of the apparatuses; and the illumination apparatus string. 
         [0041]    According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided an illumination apparatus string assembly including: the apparatus; and the illumination apparatus string; wherein the cover body is detachably coupled to the one of the plurality of illumination apparatuses such that the illuminatable portion of the one of the illumination apparatuses is received in the receptacle. 
         [0042]    Other aspects and features will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of illustrative embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0043]    In drawings of illustrative embodiments: 
           [0044]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an illumination apparatus string according to an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0045]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a cover apparatus of the illumination apparatus string of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the cover apparatus of  FIG. 2 , taken along the line III-Ill in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 4  is a disassembled elevational view of an illumination apparatus assembly including an illumination apparatus of the illumination apparatus string of  FIG. 1  and the cover apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 5  is a partially assembled elevational view of the illumination apparatus assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of another cover apparatus of the illumination apparatus string of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the cover apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 8  is a disassembled elevational view of another illumination apparatus assembly including another illumination apparatus of the illumination apparatus string of  FIG. 1  and the cover apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 9  is a partially assembled elevational view of the illumination apparatus assembly of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of a lateral portion of another cover apparatus of the illumination apparatus string of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the lateral portion of  FIG. 10 , taken along the line XI-XI in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 12  is a disassembled elevational view of another illumination apparatus assembly including another illumination apparatus of the illumination apparatus string of  FIG. 1 , the lateral portion of  FIG. 10 , and another lateral portion of the cover apparatus; 
           [0056]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the illumination apparatus assembly of  FIG. 12 , taken along the line XIII-XIII in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0057]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the illumination apparatus assembly of  FIG. 12 , taken along the line XIV-XIV in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0058]      FIG. 15  is an elevational view of a cover apparatus according to another illustrative embodiment; 
           [0059]      FIG. 16  is an elevational view of a cover apparatus according to another illustrative embodiment; 
           [0060]      FIG. 17  is an elevational view of a cover apparatus according to another illustrative embodiment; 
           [0061]      FIG. 18  is an elevational view of a cover apparatus according to another illustrative embodiment; and 
           [0062]      FIG. 19  is an elevational view of a cover apparatus according to another illustrative embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an illumination apparatus string according to an illustrative embodiment is shown generally at  100  and includes illumination apparatuses  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108 . The illumination apparatus string  100  also includes an alternating-current (“A/C”) electrical plug  110  and a plurality of electrical conductors in an electrical conductors assembly  112 . In the embodiment shown, the plurality of electrical conductors in the electrical conductors assembly  112  connect the illumination apparatuses  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  in a series electrical circuit to the electrical plug  110  and to a stacking plug  114  that can, for example, receive an electrical plug of another illumination apparatus string (not shown) and conduct electric current to the other illumination apparatus string effectively to create a longer illumination apparatus string. However, in alternative embodiments, the illumination apparatuses may be in a parallel electrical circuit or may be in a plurality of different circuits that may be connected to circuitry that causes the illumination apparatuses of the different circuits to illuminate at different times, for example. Also, alternative embodiments may include other circuits such as direct-current (“D/C”) circuits for example, and although four illumination apparatuses  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  are shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , alternative embodiments may include more or fewer illumination apparatuses. 
         [0064]    Each of the illumination apparatuses  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  in the embodiment shown includes an LED, such as an LED  116  shown in the illumination apparatus  102 . The LEDs in the embodiment shown are white LEDs, namely LEDs that emit white light when conducting electric current. However, the LEDs in alternative embodiments may emit other colours, and alternative embodiments may include more than one LED in each illumination apparatus. Alternative embodiments may also include other types of illumination sources. 
         [0065]    In the embodiment shown, each of the illumination apparatuses  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  includes a refractive cover encapsulating the LED, such as a refractive cover  118  shown in the illumination apparatus  102 . The refractive cover  118  is partially broken away in  FIG. 1  to show the LED  116  encapsulated in the refractive cover  118 . The refractive covers in the embodiment shown are “C6” refractive covers, the “C” denoting a generally candle-like shape and the “6” denoting a maximum diameter or width  120  of about 6/8 inches or about 19 millimeters. However, such refractive covers in alternative embodiments may be one or more of various different sizes and shapes. In general, the refractive cover  118  refracts unidirectional light from the LED  116  to diffuse the light from the LED  116  when electric current passes through the LED  116 . The illumination apparatus  102  therefore includes an illuminatable portion shown generally at  122  and including the LED  116  and the refractive cover  118 , although illuminatable portions of alternative embodiments may not include refractive covers. 
         [0066]    The illumination apparatuses  104 ,  106 , and  108  are substantially the same as the illumination apparatus  102 . However, the illumination apparatus  104  includes an illuminatable portion (shown generally at  124  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and is part of an illumination apparatus assembly (shown generally at  123 ) that includes a cover apparatus  126  on the illuminatable portion  124 . Further, the illumination apparatus  106  includes an illuminatable portion (shown generally at  128  in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) and is part of an illumination apparatus assembly (shown generally at  127 ) that includes a cover apparatus  130  on the illuminatable portion  128 . Still further, the illumination apparatus  108  includes an illuminatable portion (shown generally at  132  in  FIG. 12 ) and is part of an illumination apparatus assembly (shown generally at  131 ) that includes a cover apparatus  134  on the illuminatable portion  132 . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the cover apparatus  126  includes a resiliently deformable cover body  136  shaped to fit tightly over the illuminatable portion  124  of the illumination apparatus  104  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The cover body  136  may be unitarily formed from a stretchable material such as latex or another rubber material, for example, although such bodies in alternative embodiments may not be unitary. The cover body  136  defines a receptacle shown generally at  138  to receive at least some of the illuminatable portion  124  of the illumination apparatus  104 , and the cover body  136  includes an end portion shown generally at  140 . The end portion  140  is adjacent an opening shown generally at  142  to the receptacle  138 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the end portion  140  may be rolled over itself and unrolled like a finger cot. For example, the end portion  140  may be rolled over itself to facilitate storage of the cover body  136 , and the end portion  140  may be unrolled to facilitate detachably coupling the cover body  136  to the illumination apparatus  104  as described below. Accordingly, when the end portion  140  is rolled as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the end portion  140  includes a rolled portion shown generally at  141 . 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the receptacle  138  may receive an apical portion shown generally at  144  of the illuminatable portion  124 , and the end portion  140  may be unrolled to extend the cover body  136  over some or all of an outer surface  146  of the illuminatable portion  124 . As the end portion  140  is unrolled, the end portion  140  stretches (or, more generally, resiliently deforms) to a width at least as wide as a maximum width  148  of the illuminatable portion  124 . In the embodiment shown, when the end portion  140  is unrolled past a circumference  150  of the outer surface  146  having the maximum width  148 , the end portion  140  contracts (or, more generally, resiliently deforms) to a width less than the maximum width  148  of the illuminatable portion  124  and contacts a retaining portion shown generally at  152  of the outer surface  146 . The retaining portion  152  has a width less than the maximum width  148 , and therefore the resilient tendency of the end portion  140  to cause the opening  142  to have a width less than the maximum width  148  facilitates retaining the end portion  140  on the retaining portion  152 , and thus the cover body  136  on the illuminatable portion  124 . Further, because the cover body  136  is shaped to fit tightly over the illuminatable portion  124 , frictional contact between the cover body  136  and the illuminatable portion  124  also facilitates retaining the cover body  136  on the illuminatable portion  124 . In various embodiments, one or both of such frictional contact and contact with a retaining portion as described above may facilitate retaining a cover body to an illumination apparatus. 
         [0069]    The end portion  140  may also be rolled back on itself, or the cover body  136  may otherwise be removed from the illuminatable portion  124 . As such, the cover body  136  may be detachably coupled to the illumination apparatus  102 , and more particularly to the illuminatable portion  124  in the embodiment shown. Further, as can be seen from  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the illuminatable portion  124  is received in the receptacle  138  when the cover body  136  is detachably coupled to the illumination apparatus  102 . 
         [0070]    Although  FIG. 1  illustrates only one cover body  136  for simplicity, other embodiments may include numerous cover bodies similar to the cover body  136  on respective illuminatable portions of a plurality of illumination apparatuses on an illumination apparatus string. In some embodiments, portions of or all of some or all such cover bodies may be transparent, or portions of (or all of) some (or all) such bodies may be coloured with various colours to filter light emitted from an LED (not shown) in the illuminatable portion  124  when electric current passes through the LED and thereby to impart a colour to the light that is transmitted through the cover body  136 . Such transparent or coloured portions may generally be referred to as “translucent” portions that permit at least some light from the LED in the illuminatable portion  124  to be transmitted through the cover body. 
         [0071]    For example, portions of (or all of) some (or all) such bodies may be coloured with red, green, blue, yellow, or other colours to give the illumination apparatus string an appearance of a traditional string of Christmas lights, or with less-traditional colours such as purple or cyan for example. Alternatively, portions of (or all of) some (or all) such bodies may be coloured with orange for a Halloween decoration, with green for a St. Patrick&#39;s Day decoration, with pink for a breast cancer awareness event, or with various other colours or combinations of colours such as one or more colours of a company or brand, for example. Also, some white LEDs may emit a “cool white” (or slightly blue) appearance, and some or all such bodies may be coloured slightly yellow in order to give the LEDs a more “warm white” (or slightly yellow) colour closer to a colour of light from a traditional incandescent bulb. In general, the materials of coloured cover bodies may be selected to allow as much light as possible of desired light wavelengths to pass therethrough while filtering or blocking as much light as possible of undesired wavelengths. In some embodiments in which the bodies are formed of a stretchable material (such as latex or another rubber material for example), such bodies may be coloured by tinting the material from which the bodies are formed. 
         [0072]    Still further, portions of (or all of) some (or all) such bodies may be opaque, for example to block light emitted from LEDs that extend on a portion of the illumination apparatus string from a window frame to a power source for the illumination apparatus string, or for LEDs that extend on a portion of the illumination apparatus string that is longer than necessary in a particular location. Further, particular portions of some or all such bodies may be opaque while other portions may be translucent and shaped to project shapes (such as stars or snowflakes, for example) onto nearby surfaces. 
         [0073]    Therefore, in summary, detachably coupling a cover body such as the cover body  136  to the illumination apparatus  102  on the illumination apparatus string  100  as described above may change an appearance of the illumination apparatus string  100 . 
         [0074]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the cover apparatus  130  (also shown in  FIG. 1 ) includes a cover body  154  shaped to fit over the illuminatable portion  128  (shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) of the illumination apparatus  106  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, the cover body  154  may be unitarily molded from Lexan™ or another plastic such as another polycarbonate resin thermoplastic, for example, although such bodies in alternative embodiments may not be unitary. Alternative embodiments may include other materials, such as a hardy glass for example. The cover body  154  defines a receptacle shown generally at  156 . The receptacle  156  is sized to receive at least some of the illuminatable portion  128  of the illumination apparatus  106 , and the cover body  154  includes an end portion shown generally at  158 . The end portion  158  is adjacent an opening shown generally at  160  to the receptacle  156 . At the end portion  158 , the cover body  154  includes projections  162 ,  164 ,  166 , and  168  surrounding the opening  160  and separated by longitudinal gaps shown generally at  170 ,  172 ,  174 , and  176 . Although the embodiment shown includes four projections  162 ,  164 ,  166 , and  168  and four longitudinal gaps  170 ,  172 ,  174 , and  176 , alternative embodiments may include more or fewer projections and more or fewer longitudinal gaps. 
         [0075]    The end portion  158  of the cover body  154  is resiliently deformable such that the projections  162 ,  164 ,  166 , and  168  can be resiliently deflected in radial directions from undeflected positions to resiliently deflected positions to widen or narrow the opening  160 . For example, referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the receptacle  156  may receive an apical portion shown generally at  178  of the illuminatable portion  128 . The apical portion  178  is tapered and the illuminatable portion  128  widens towards a circumference  180  having a maximum width  182  of an outer surface  184  of the illuminatable portion  128 . The projections  162 ,  164 ,  166 , and  168  may be urged against the apical portion  178  as shown in  FIG. 9 , and when the projections  162 ,  164 ,  166 , and  168  are urged against the apical portion  178 , the taper of the apical portion  178  facilitates resiliently deflecting one or more of the projections  162 ,  164 ,  166 , and  168  radially outward to widen one or more of the longitudinal gaps  170 ,  172 ,  174 , and  176  until the opening  160  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) widens resiliently to a width at least as wide as the maximum width  182 . 
         [0076]    When the opening  160  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) is urged past the circumference  180  having the maximum width  182 , the projections  162 ,  164 ,  166 , and  168  resiliently return to, or closer to, the undeflected positions to narrow the opening  160  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to a width less than the maximum width  182  of the illuminatable portion  128 . As such, the projections  162 ,  164 ,  166 , and  168  are retained on a retaining portion shown generally at  186  of the outer surface  184 . The retaining portion  186  has a width less than the maximum width  182 , and therefore the resilient tendency of the end portion  158  to maintain the opening  160  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to a width less than the maximum width  182  of the illuminatable portion  128  facilitates retaining the cover body  154  on the illuminatable portion  128 . 
         [0077]    The cover body  154  may be removed from the illuminatable portion  128  by urging the end portion  158  back towards the circumference  180  and thereby widening the opening  160  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) again to a width at least as wide as the maximum width  182 . As such, the cover body  154  may be detachably coupled to the illumination apparatus  104 , and more particularly to the illuminatable portion  128  in the embodiment shown. Further, as can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 6  to  9 , the illuminatable portion  128  is received in the receptacle  156  when the cover body  154  is detachably coupled to the illumination apparatus  104 . 
         [0078]    Again, although  FIG. 1  illustrates only one cover body  154  for simplicity, other embodiments may include numerous bodies similar to the cover body  154  on respective illuminatable portions of a plurality of illumination apparatuses on an illumination apparatus string, and in various embodiments, portions of (or all of) some (or all) such bodies may be transparent or coloured with various colours to impart a colour on light emitted from an LED (not shown) in the illuminatable portion  128  when electric current passes through the LED, or portions of (or all of) some (or all) such bodies may be opaque. Therefore, in summary, detachably coupling a cover body such as the cover body  154  to the illumination apparatus  104  on the illumination apparatus string  100  as described above may change an appearance of the illumination apparatus string  100 . 
         [0079]    In general, such bodies may be coloured by tinting the material from which the bodies are formed, for example by tinting a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic before molding the polycarbonate resin thermoplastic. In some embodiments, such bodies may be coloured by painting one or both of inner and outer surfaces of the bodies. In other embodiments, thin metallic plating on one or both of inner and outer surfaces of the bodies may impart a decorative metallic look to the cover apparatuses. 
         [0080]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the cover apparatus  134  includes a cover body having lateral portions  188  and  190 . In the embodiment shown, the lateral portion  188  is identical to the lateral portion  190 , and the lateral portion  188  may be detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190  as described below. In some embodiments, the lateral portions  188  and  190  may be unitarily molded from Lexan™ or another plastic such as another polycarbonate resin thermoplastic, for example, although such lateral portions in alternative embodiments may not be unitary. Alternative embodiments may include other materials, such as a hardy glass for example. 
         [0081]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12 , the lateral portion  188  defines a receptacle shown generally at  192  and shaped to fit over a lateral half or other portion of the illuminatable portion  132  of the illumination apparatus  108  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The lateral portion  188  also defines a generally semi-circular opening shown generally at  194  to the receptacle  192 . The lateral portion  188  also defines an abutment edge  196  that also surrounds an opening to the receptacle  192  and that abuts a corresponding abutment edge  198  of the lateral portion  190  when the lateral portion  188  is detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190  as shown in  FIG. 1 . On a first side shown generally at  200  of the abutment edge  196 , the lateral portion  188  defines a coupling projection  202  projecting away from the abutment edge  196  and having a retaining surface  204  facing towards the abutment edge  196 . Also on the first side  200  of the abutment edge  196 , the lateral portion  188  defines a coupling projection  206  projecting away from the abutment edge  196  and spaced apart from the coupling projection  202 . 
         [0082]    On a second side shown generally at  208  and opposite the first side  200 , the lateral portion  188  defines a coupling receptacle shown generally at  210  that is positioned and sized to receive a coupling projection  212  (corresponding to the coupling projection  202 ) of the lateral portion  190  when the lateral portion  188  is detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 13 . Further, the coupling receptacle  210  is adjacent a retaining surface  214  defined by the lateral portion  188 , and when the lateral portion  188  is detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 13 , the retaining surface  214  contacts a retaining surface  216  (corresponding to the retaining surface  204 ) on the coupling projection  212  to retain the abutment edge  196  against the abutment edge  198  and to retain the lateral portion  188  detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190 . Still further, on the second side  208 , the lateral portion  188  defines a coupling receptacle shown generally at  218  that is positioned and sized to receive a coupling projection  220  (corresponding to the coupling projection  206 ) of the lateral portion  190  when the lateral portion  188  is detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 14 . 
         [0083]    In the embodiment shown, the lateral portions  188  and  190  are resiliently deformable such that one or both of the lateral portions  188  and  190  may be resiliently deformed to allow the coupling projection  212  to be received in the coupling receptacle  210  with the retaining surface  204  and  216  in contact, and to allow the coupling projection  202  to be received in a coupling receptacle (not shown) of the lateral portion  190  corresponding to the coupling receptacle  210 , to retain the lateral portion  188  detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190 . Further, in the embodiment shown, the lateral portions  188  and  190  are resiliently deformable such that one or both of the lateral portions  188  and  190  may be resiliently deformed to remove the coupling projections  202  and  212  from their respective coupling receptacles to detach the lateral portion  188  from the lateral portion  190 . 
         [0084]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , the coupling projections  202  and  212 , on their own, may not prevent separation of the lateral portion  190  from the lateral portion  188  because, for example, movement of the lateral portion  190  relative to the lateral portion  188  in the direction of the arrow  222  could separate the lateral portions  188  and  190 . However, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the coupling projection  206  contacts a surface in a coupling receptacle (not shown) in the lateral portion  190  (corresponding to the coupling receptacle  218 ), and the coupling projection  220  contacts a surface in the coupling receptacle  218  to prevent movement of the lateral portion  190  relative to the lateral portion  188  in the direction of the arrow  222 .  FIGS. 13 and 14  also illustrate a refractive cover  224  encapsulating an LED  226  in the illumination apparatus  108 . 
         [0085]    In summary, the coupling projections  202  and  212  and the coupling projections  206  and  220  cooperate with the various receptacles described above to facilitate detachably coupling the lateral portions  188  and  190 . Further, as can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 10  to  14 , when the lateral portion  188  is detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190 , the receptacle  192  and a corresponding receptacle (not shown) of the lateral portion  190  define a combined receptacle sized to receive the illuminatable portion  132 . Still further, the generally semi-circular opening  194  has a width  195  that is less than a maximum width  133  (shown in  FIG. 12 ) of the illuminatable portion  132 , and therefore when the lateral portion  188  is detachably coupled to the lateral portion  190 , the cover body including the lateral portions  188  and  190  may be detachably coupled to the illumination apparatus  108 , and more particularly to the illuminatable portion  132  in the embodiment shown, with the illuminatable portion  132  received in the combined receptacle when the cover body including the lateral portions  188  and  190  is detachably coupled to the illumination apparatus  108 . 
         [0086]    Again, although  FIG. 1  illustrates only one cover body including the lateral portions  188  and  190  for simplicity, other embodiments may include numerous such bodies on respective illuminatable portions of a plurality of illumination apparatuses on an illumination apparatus string, and in various embodiments, portions of or all of some such lateral portions may be transparent or coloured (for example, by tinting, painting, or metallic plating as described above) with various colours to impart a colour on light emitted from the LED  226  in the illuminatable portion  128  when electric current passes through the LED, or portions of or all of some such lateral portions may be opaque. Also, in some embodiments, the lateral portions of a cover body on an illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus may have different colours to impart a multi-colour appearance to the particular illumination apparatus. However, in alternative embodiments, lateral portions of a cover body of a cover apparatus may not be identical. Also, lateral portions according to alternative embodiments may be detachably coupled to each other using structures or materials that may differ from the coupling projections and coupling receptacles described above. For example, lateral portions according to alternative embodiments may be detachably coupled to each other using pins on one or more of the lateral portions that may be each received in a friction fit on an opposite lateral portion to detachably couple the lateral portions, and in such embodiments, resiliently deforming the lateral portions may be unnecessary. 
         [0087]    In alternative embodiments, cover apparatuses for illuminatable portions of illumination apparatuses may include cover bodies having various shapes, patterns, and other appearances. For example,  FIG. 15  illustrates a cover apparatus shown generally at  228  and including a cover body that may be detachably coupled to an illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus in a similar manner to the cover apparatus  130  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6  to  9 ), but that includes a surface treatment (which may include etching, adhesives, or paint, for example) to cause diamond shapes to appear on the cover apparatus  228 . Also,  FIG. 16  illustrates a cover apparatus shown generally at  230  and including a cover body that may be detachably coupled to an illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus in a similar manner to the cover apparatus  130 , but that includes a surface treatment to cause star shapes to appear on the cover apparatus  230 . Further,  FIG. 17  illustrates a cover apparatus shown generally at  232  and including a cover body that may be detachably coupled to an illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus in a similar manner to the cover apparatus  130 , but that includes a surface treatment to cause zig-zag shapes to appear on the cover apparatus  232 . Cover bodies of still other alternative embodiments may cause still other shapes to appear, such as prisms, spirals, stars, or other shapes that affect refraction of light through the cover bodies such that light refracted through the cover bodies will have different appearances from different positions relative to the cover bodies. 
         [0088]    Also,  FIG. 18  illustrates a cover apparatus shown generally at  234  and including a cover body that may be detachably coupled to an illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus in a similar manner to the cover apparatus  130 , but that includes an outer surface in a star shape, and  FIG. 19  illustrates a cover apparatus shown generally at  236  and including a cover body that may be detachably coupled to an illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus in a similar manner to the cover apparatus  130 , but that includes an outer surface in a snowflake shape. Cover bodies of still other alternative embodiments may include various other shapes and appearances, such as a larger outer surface to make the illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus appear larger, or outer surfaces with appearances of cartoon characters, for example. 
         [0089]    Although the cover apparatuses  228 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234 , and  236  include bodies that may be detachably coupled to an illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus in a similar manner to the cover apparatus  130 , still further alternative embodiments may include cover bodies including surface treatments or outer surface shapes such as those of the cover apparatuses  228 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234 , and  236  but that include lateral portions that may be detachably coupled to an illuminatable portion of an illumination apparatus in a similar manner to the cover apparatus  134 , for example. In such embodiments, the lateral portions of the cover body may not be identical. For example, if the cover body has an outer surface in a star shape, then the lateral portions of the cover body may be identical, but if the cover body has an outer surface in a skull shape, then the lateral portions of the cover body may not be identical. 
         [0090]    Commercial embodiments may include kits including one or more of the cover apparatuses described above and may offered commercially for use in changing an appearance of one or more illumination apparatus strings, such as for occasions including Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick&#39;s Day, breast cancer awareness events, and other occasions to decorate, for example, inside or outside of homes, inside or outside of other residential or commercial buildings, or landscaping such as trees or bushes. Such cover apparatuses may include cover bodies sized and configured to be detachably coupled to various sizes and shapes of illumination apparatuses. For example, although the embodiments described above include “C6” refractive covers having a generally candle-like shape, illumination apparatuses according to other embodiments may have different shapes that may not include wider middle portions such as at the circumferences  150  and  180  in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  8 , and  9 . Cover apparatuses of such alternative embodiments may, for example, include cover bodies configured to be detachably coupled to illumination apparatuses using retaining portions that differ from the  152  and  186  in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  8 , and  9 , or cover bodies configured to be detachably coupled to illumination apparatuses by friction alone. Also, such kits may include one or more illumination apparatus strings, which may include LEDs or other illumination sources. In general, cover apparatuses, assemblies, and kits such as those described above may allow some potential advantages LED strings or strings with other illumination sources (such as lower energy use, lower heat emission, and greater longevity for example) and with greater adaptability than is available from such strings that otherwise have a generally uniform and constant appearance. In other words, cover apparatuses, assemblies, and kits such as those described above may allow flexibility to change appearance of an illumination apparatus string similar to flexibility available with strings of incandescent light bulbs, but with potential advantages of other types of lights. 
         [0091]    Although specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the invention as construed according to the accompanying claims.