Abstract:
A waterproof light string assembly that comprises two ends that join to complete a circuit. The first end comprises an electrical male conducting element encased within a protective nodule. A second end comprises a protruding sheath having a female conducting element disposed therein and a configuration that accepts a portion of the nodule when said male element enters the sheath. The assembly is designed such that electrical elements are protected from ambient matters such as water and provide improved connectivity.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    A. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to lighting and connections, in particular, the present invention relates to an assembly for a light string that has waterproof characteristics and improved connectivity. 
         [0003]    B. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Waterproof and or water resistant assemblies for light strings are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,144 (Fan) discloses an assembly, of which reference is incorporated herein. Fan discloses a female connector having two holes ( 23 ) that correspond to a male connector having two pins ( 13 ) as shown in Fan  FIG. 1 . Fan identifies Fan  FIG. 5  as prior art, which too provides a female connector having two holes ( 611 ) that correspond to a male connector having two pins ( 55 ). Upon comparison of Fan  FIG. 1  with Fan  FIG. 5  prior art, it is obvious that Fan merely fuses cited prior art cover ( 67 ) to cited prior art shoulder ( 63 ) and removes cited prior art threading ( 671 ) and ( 531 ). Next, to accomplish the goal of Fan  FIG. 1 , Fan simply adds a cap to the cited prior art first body ( 51 ) shown in Fan  FIG. 5  and disposes new threading. 
         [0005]    Fan (U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,144) and the prior art cited therein, provide same configurations. As a result, the configuration of Fan and the Fan cited prior art are not enough to protect the electrical connection for similar reasons Fan asserts as failure of prior art. Additionally, the pins provided in both Fan and the Fan cited prior art are exposed and capable of being compromised, affecting integrity of electrical connections. The instant invention overcomes deficiencies of prior art and provides an improved waterproof assembly with improved connectivity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The current invention provides an assembly that comprises a first portion having at least one female electrical connection housed within a protective sheath that extends out from an internal base enclosed by an outer casing. A second portion consists of a plug having at least one male electrical connection recessed in a chamber formed therein, that when the male and female portions are combined, the protective sheath surrounds both male and female connections at the same time and encased forming an airtight and waterproof barrier. The resulting connections provide better connectivity and protect the male electrical connections from being damaged. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, some embodiments of which will be described in the specification and illustrated in accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the assembly; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the assembly when disconnected ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the assembly when connected and showing engagement between male and female components. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    According to an embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , a male component  120  is provided and being referenced to that of a plug. Said component  120  has a first end that comprises housing  50  and a second end engaged to a portion of a first light string  150 . Housing  50  is shown as cylindrical but is not limited to a particular geometry, so long as a portion thereof is capable of entering an internal area or opening  85  formed within the female component  110 . The male component  120  further comprises neck  45  that is the intermediary between electrical wires (not shown) and pin  70  and which may provide as guide for cap  40 , which may be slidingly engaged thereto. Male component  120  and female component  110  may be comprised substantially of a non-electrical conductive material such as plastic, or an insulated material otherwise, and may be formed by processes not limited to molding, 3-D printing, boring, and or other known means. 
         [0012]    Collar  10  is disposed around a periphery of the male component  120 . As show in  FIG. 1 , collar  10  is located distal to housing  50 , distal to the first end of the male component  120 , and proximal to said neck  45 . The location of collar  10  may however be located in other areas about the male component  120 , so long as it serves as a stop for cap  40  and or provides housing for o-ring  80 , which may include any deformable material capable of preventing passage of unwanted material. While only a single collar  10  is provided, it is within the scope of the invention that there be multiple collars, for example, a collar may be disposed about the second end of said male component  120  (i.e., distal to neck  45 ) and used to act as a stop for cap  40  and a second collar may be disposed proximal thereto (i.e. closer to the first end of said male component  120 ) and house o-ring  80 . 
         [0013]    Extending in a proximal direction from collar  10  is housing  50  located at about the first end of male component  120 . As shown, housing  50  comprises two holes  30  extending distal from its opening and having a depth, l I . As provided in  FIG. 2 , holes  30  encase male electrical connections  70  recessed therein and referred to as pin, which may originate and or extend from base  130  of hole  30  and have a length equal to about l 1 . The length of pins  30  may be equal or askew to each depending on configuration of a corresponding receptor  90  to be explained further. The length of pin  30  may be in the range of greater than 0.01l 1  to about l 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , length of pins  30  is about equal to each and about 0.90l 1 . Said pin  70  is designed to communicate an electrical charge between said male component  120  and female component  110  when in contact with (or sufficient proximity to) female contact  75 . 
         [0014]    Female component  110  has an opening  85  defined by rim  20  located at a first, proximal end of the female component  110 , and is connected to a second light rope  160  at its second end. Said opening  85  leads to an internal area formed within the female component  110  that extends therein (i.e., distal) and is further defined by base  150  and at least one wall that has a length, l 2 , as measured from proximal end of rim  20  to base  150 . The female component  110 , which could be referred to as a socket, further comprises an outer shell consisting of threading  60  disposed on a portion of an exterior surface. As shown, threading  60  is in a location proximal to a smooth region  100  and distal to said rim  20 . 
         [0015]    As shown, rim  20  forms a perimeter about opening  85 . Said opening  85  is shaped and sized to accept housing  50 . Extending out and or in a proximal direction from base  150  is a conduit and or sheath  90 . The length of the conduit  90  may be about less than or equal to l 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , length of sheath  90  is about 0.85l 2 . Sheath  90  houses and or is formed around female electrical connection  75  and provides protection to said connection as well as a guide for pin  70 . Sheath  90  has a diameter d 3  proximal to diameter d 4 . And, hole  30  has a diameter d 1  proximal to diameter d 2 . In an embodiment, d 3  is greater than d 1  but less than d 2  such that when sheath  90  enters hole  30  the proximal end  95  of sheath  90  can frictionally engage with an interior wall of hole  30  and act as a barrier to passage of unwanted material, for example water. In this embodiment, sheath  90  may comprise a deformable material, at least at its proximal end  95 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the assembly showing the engagement between the male  120  and female  110  connectors. As shown, sheath  90  surrounds pin  70  which is in electrical communication with female contact  75 . Cap  40  internal threading is combined with threads  60 . In practice, when cap  40  is tightened thereto extension  20  compresses o-ring  80  preventing passage of unwanted materials such as liquid and or gas. As shown, when the male component  120  and female component  110  are engaged and or connected, and cap  40  threads to  60 , rim  20  is drawn to o-ring  80 . When cap  40  is tightened and or secured thereto, rim  20  causes o-ring  80  it to deform and fill void therein to prevent passage of unwanted materials such as liquid and or gas. The interaction further acts as an airtight and or waterproof barrier therein.