Patent Publication Number: US-6217194-B1

Title: Structure of a fitting light

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to an improved structure of a fitting light, and especially to a connecting structure for multiple internal lamp strings in such a fitting light, the structure meets the specifications for safety. When the fitting light is provided with multiple lamp strings of any of various lengths, the whole external diameter of the fitting light can be effectively reduced. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A fitting light or lighting rope system includes more than one lamp string having light emitting or flashing function in a flexible and transparent pipe when a circuit for the lamp string activates it. Such flexible fitting light can be hung in the shape of a surface to be decorated (such as a wall surface of a building), and can also be manufactured as a roll to be cut to get a desired length. 
     The basic structure of such pipe like fitting light includes a necessary power conductor and a lot of lamp bulbs for forming the lamp strings. In the existing fitting lights, those having a lot of lamp bulbs positioned in a pipe include two kinds, one has a lot of radial holes alternately provided on the pipe, the other has a plurality of axial grooves provided on the pipe. The power conductors for connecting the lamp strings are integrally formed in position with the transparent pipe (generally of PVC material). 
     In the above state structure of fitting light having a lot of radial holes for positioning the lamp bulbs, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of power conductors  11 ,  12 ,  13  can be simultaneously positioned in a transparent pipe  10  when the latter is made of PVC material. Such structure has two lamp strings in the pipe; hence it contains a common power conductor  11  and two connecting conductors  12 ,  13 . The pipe having the power conductors positioned is formed to have a lot of radial holes. This kind of product has in the first place a larger radial hole to allow inserting in of a lamp bulb  14  of each lamp string, then two smaller radial holes are provided next to this hole to allow inserting in of two connecting devices  15 , and again a larger radial hole and then two other smaller radial holes are provided, and so forth. In this way, the lamp strings having a lot of lamp bulbs  14  can be placed into the pipe in sequence. Such conventional structure of fitting light is troublesome to assemble by having one or more than one lamp strings placed in through the radial holes not only this, the power conductors  11 ,  12 ,  13  must evade the radial holes for the latter to extend directly to the center of the pipe. This makes extreme closing of the power conductors  12 ,  13  to the external periphery  16  of the transparent pipe  10 . Even further, when the transparent pipe  10  includes three or more than three lamp strings, most of the power conductors thereof are not convenient for desposition. The power conductors too close to the external periphery  16  of the transparent pipe  10  will be pierced to break and expose at the joints of every two fitting lights which must have special lengths by cutting before connecting. Therefore, the whole lengthy fitting light is inherently dangerous; the optional connecting work with fitting lights of desired lengths cut from the rolls often does not meet the requirement of safety in some countries with strict specifications, some times these countries do not permit using such cut products in the markets. 
     As to the fitting light having a lot of axial grooves to position the lamp string, as shown in FIG. 2, an elongated groove  101  is provided axially on a transparent pipe  100  for placing therein a lamp string with a lot of lamp bulbs  102 . A plurality of power conductors  103 ,  104 ,  105  are all disposed on one side of the elongated groove  101 . Such a conventional fitting light structure similarly is disadvantageous in that it must have a plurality of lamp strings assembled in a single elongated groove  101 , and that the power conductors  104 ,  105  are too close to the external periphery of the transparent pipe  100 , thereby it is inferior in safety. And by virtue that the power conductors are all disposed on one side of the elongated groove  101 , the diameter of the whole fitting light will be increased, thus its function is badly influenced and cost is increased. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure for a fitting light. The transparent pipe thereof is made with a plurality of axial elongated grooves, shaped to receive the given amount of lamp strings, a common power conductor and a plurality of individual power conductors The common power conductor and every one of the individual power conductors are contained in one of the elongated grooves in the transparent pipe in order that every lamp string is disposed in one of the elongated grooves. Such a semi-finished product then is given a safe positioning layer with a minimal diameter, and then is covered with a coat with a minimal thickness. In this way, an improved structure for a fitting light with larger amount of internal lamp strings occupying smaller external diameter is formed which is more convenient for assembling and meets a higher safety specification. 
     The present invention will be apparent in its novelty and features after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional fitting light; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of another conventional fitting light; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention using two lamp strings; 
     FIG. 4 is a structural schematic view for FIG. 3; FIG. 4A is a sectional view thereof; While FIG. 4B is a schematic view showing connection of conductors thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is another structural schematic view showing the present invention with three lamp strings; 
     FIG. 6 is another structural schematic view showing the present invention with four lamp strings; FIG. 6A is a sectional view thereof; While FIG. 6B is a schematic view showing connection of conductors thereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 3,  4 , the present invention also includes a transparent lamp pipe  30  which can be made of PVC material, the transparent lamp pipe  30  can be made to have axial elongated grooves  31 ,  32  in pursuance of the amount of the required lamp strings to be mounted therein. And a plurality of power conductors  20 ,  21  and  22  are synchronically positioned in the transparent lamp pipe  30  when in shaping. 
     The above stated embodiment has two lamp strings  91 ,  92  in the transparent lamp pipe  30 . Therefore, two axial elongated grooves  31 ,  32  are provided separated mutually 180 degrees apart, and the power conductors include a common power conductor  20  and two individual power conductors  21 ,  22 . In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the common power conductor  20  is provided on one side of the two axial elongated grooves  31 ,  32 , while the power conductors  21 ,  22  are on the other side. That is, the power conductors are arranged such that the common power conductor  20  and the power conductor  21  contain therebetween the corresponding axial elongated groove  31 , while the common power conductor  20  and the power conductor  22  contain therebetween the corresponding axial elongated groove  32 . Such arrangement of the power conductors  20 ,  21  and  22  in the transparent lamp pipe  30  renders the power conductors at a safe distance from the external periphery  33  of the transparent lamp pipe  30 . 
     After the transparent lamp pipe  30  has the power conductors  20 ,  21  and  22  synchronically positioned therein in shaping, the two lamp strings  91 ,  92  can be respectively placed in the two axial elongated grooves  31 ,  32 . Then a positioning layer  34  with a minimal diameter is formed on the external periphery of the transparent lamp pipe  30 , and finally a transparent coating  35  of a minimal diameter covers thereon. 
     FIGS. 5,  5 A and  5 B show the fitting light of the present invention with three lamp strings  51 ,  52  and  53  therein. Three axial elongated grooves  301 ,  302  and  303  are disposed on a transparent lamp pipe  300  and are 120 degrees apart from one another. The lamp strings  51 ,  52  and  53  are respectively placed in their corresponding axial elongated grooves  301 ,  302  and  303 . A plurality of power conductors  60 ,  61 ,  62  and  63  are synchronically positioned in the transparent lamp pipe  300  when in shaping as is the case stated before to render the power conductors  61 ,  62  and  63  to be disposed such that the common power conductor  60  and the power conductor  61  contain therebetween the corresponding axial elongated groove  301 , the common power conductor  60  and the power conductor  62  contain therebetween the corresponding axial elongated groove  302 , and the common power conductor  60  and the power conductor  63  contain therebetween the corresponding axial elongated groove  303 . While the common power conductor  60  is located, in this embodiment, at the center of the transparent lamp pipe  300 . The power conductors  61 ,  62 , and  63  are disposed to be located each between two axial elongated grooves. 
     Similarly, FIGS. 6,  6 A and  6 B show the fitting light of the present invention with four lamp strings therein. A plurality of axial elongated grooves in corresponding number are disposed on a transparent lamp pipe and are 90 degrees apart from one another to respectively receive their corresponding lamp strings. A plurality of power conductors  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73  and  74  are synchronically positioned in the transparent lamp pipe when in shaping with the common power conductor  70  disposed at the center of the pipe, the power conductors  71 ,  72 ,  73  and  74  are disposed to be located each between two axial elongated grooves. 
     By virtue that each lamp string is received in a corresponding one of the axial elongated grooves to make manufacturing simple, and the power conductors are controlled to be kept away from the external periphery of the transparent lamp pipe to provide higher safety, and the whole external diameter of the fitting light can be effectively reduced when a plurality of lamp strings is used in the transparent lamp pipe, the present invention positively has its industrial value. 
     The embodiments mentioned above are only for illustrating the present invention, and not for giving any limitation to the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications or changes can be made to the elements of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and fall within the scope of the appended claims and are intended to form part of this invention.