Patent Publication Number: US-2007103916-A1

Title: Lamp holder device with function element

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an improvement in the construction of a lamp holder, particular to an improved lamp holder, in which different lighting can be displayed no matter a lamp base is fastened or apart from the lamp holder by providing extension arms that can carry the function element with contact points in different heights in the bottom of said lamp base.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      As generally known, series lamp strings are frequently used in festivities or decorations; particularly the Christmas lamps are widely used in Christmas seasons. However, light bulbs of conventional series lamp strings may come off due to shock or collision. In addition, the light bulbs will not work when the tungsten filaments of the bulbs are burned-out after a period of usage. It is troublesome to merely replace the bulb or lamp holder, while it costs much to replace the whole lamp string.  
      In order to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings, U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,797 has proposed to provide a resistor in the lamp holder, in which when one bulb in series lamp strings are burned out, the resistor can act as a route so that other bulbs of series lamp strings can still work.  
      Accordingly, the present invention has been invented to solve the above-mentioned problems occurred in the prior art.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An objective of the present invention is to provide a lamp holder device having a function element, in which a downward extending extension arm having the clip-on capability is provided in the bottom of said lamp base, and a function element having different function properties in accordance with displacement of the function element is provided in said extension arm, which enables different lighting display when the lamp base and lamp holder are fastened or apart from each other.  
      The lamp holder device having a function element in the present invention comprises: a lamp base, a light emitting element, a set of conducting slices, a function element, a lamp holder, and a set of electrical wire. Said light emitting element is provided in the lamp base, where extension arms in the bottom of said lamp base have side holes for the side of the function element held within can be outwardly protruded. When the entire components are assembled, an electric circuit is formed, while the light emitting element and function element can function as default. When said lamp base including light emitting element is connected to the lamp holder and displaced or apart from each other, said function element is also displaced. The conducting contact point of said function element and the conducting slices in the lamp holder are contacted in different places or different ways, which enables said function element to function as default after its displacement.  
      In the lamp holder device having a function element in the present invention, the function element being used may be single or multiple sets of resistors, PPTC (Polymeric Positive Temperature Coefficient Resistor), or fuses. The fuses being used may be resettable fuse, alarm fuse or temperature transmitting fuse.  
      In the lamp holder device having a function element in the present invention, at least a flange is provided on the conducting slices in the lamp holder, providing the function element with the conductivity. By allowing the side of said function element to have contact points in different heights, the light emitting element in the lamp base will not be turned off because the lamp base and lamp holder are loosen and apart from each other. On the contrary, said function element has different contact point with the conducting slices because the position of said lamp base relative to the lamp holder is changed, which changes the lighting display of said light emitting element, and serves as another purpose of the present invention.  
      In the lamp holder device having a function element according to the present invention, the function element can be contacted with the conducting slices in different places because said function element has several contact points in different heights, which allows the light emitting element to maintain bright state. When this is used in the series lamp string, the whole lamp string will not be off due to the loose of lamp base and being apart from the lamp string (this may impact the festivals or decoration atmosphere), which serves as another purpose of the present invention.  
      The detailed structure, application principle, purposes and functions of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a combination sectional view of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional exploded view of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3   a  is a view showing the assembling of the lamp base and light emitting element according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 3   b  is an exploded sectional view of the lamp base and light emitting element according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing the disassembling of the lamp base and lamp holder according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a combination sectional view of the second embodiment according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5   a  is an exploded sectional view of the lamp base and lamp holder according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5   b  is a sectional view showing the lamp holder being disassembled according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6   a  is a three-dimensional view of the function element according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6   b  is another three-dimensional view of the function element according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a view showing the application of the present invention in the lamp strings;  
       FIG. 8  is a view showing the application of the present invention in the modeling lamp string;  
       FIG. 9  is a view showing the internal circuit of the function element according to the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The lamp holder device having a function element in the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprises: a lamp base  1 , a light emitting element  2 , a function element  3 , a set of conducting slices  4  and  5 , a lamp holder  6 , and a set of electrical wires  7  and  8 . Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3   b , said lamp base  1  has an accommodation space  11  that allows the light emitting element  2  to be inserted, in which a crotched part  10  formed with said lamp base  1  is provided. The upper end of said crotched part is diamond shaped, while the upper end of lamp base  11  is provided with an outward protruding neck flange  
      A neck flange  12 , which allows to properly cover the fringe of lamp holder  6  when it is assembled with the lamp holder  6 ; two downward extending extension arms  13  and  14  are provided in the bottom of said lamp base  1 , and an accommodation space is provided properly between the two extension arms  13  and  14 , in which the interior wall is provided with inward protruding flat-top  131  and  141 . The two sides of said extension arms  13  and  14  are not completely contacted with each other, and thus a proper interval is formed having a rectangular hole or a downward penetrating channel  132  and  142 . The present embodiment uses the downward penetrating channel as an example.  
      Said light emitting element  2  may be a LED lamp or a tungsten lamp. The present embodiment uses a lamp bulb as an example. The center of light emitting element  2  is provided with downward extending filaments  21  and  22 . When light emitting element  2  is inserted into the lamp base  1 , said filaments  21  and  22  are diverged outward due to the contact with the crotched part  10  in the lamp base, and passed out of the channels  132  and  142  between two extension arms  13  and  14 . When the lamp base  1  is being inserted into the lamp holder  6 , the filaments  21  and  22  are formed and extended downward to flip to outside the lamp base. Then, the filaments are contacted and conducted with conducting slices  4  and  5  in the lamp holder  6 .  
      Said function element  3 , provided between two extension arms  13  and  14  in the bottom of the lamp base, can be clipped and held stably on the flat-top  131  and  141  of said extension arms  13  and  14 . A plurality of electrical devices with control functions in the interior of said function element  3  provide conductivity by using the outward extending contact points on its side in the same height. In the present embodiment, the sides of said function element  3  have two sets of first contact point  31  and second contact point  32  in different heights. The preset function of first contact point  31  and second contact point  32  may be different or the same. When said function element  3  is provided between the extension arms  13  and  14  in the bottom of the lamp base, the first contact point  31  and second contact point  32  on the two sides are located on the channel  131  and  141  of extension arms  13  and  14 , so that the contact points can be contacted externally. Moreover, a protruding insert pointer  33  is provided in one direction of said function element  3 , by which the function element can be inserted correctly, and thus the damage of lamp strings caused by improper installation can be avoided.  
      Said conducting slices  4  and  5  provided in the lamp holder  6  mainly provide with contact and conductivity for the light emitting element  2  and function element  3 . The upper parts  41  and  51  of said conducting slices  4  and  5  are formed as slice-shaped and attached to the interior wall of said lamp holder  6 . Two inward protruding flanges  42  and  52  are formed on the surface of said lamp holder  6 . The electrical wires  7  and  8  are connected to the lower ends of said lamp holder  6 , and said electrical wires  7  and  8  are connected to power or lamp holder of other series lamp strings.  
      Said function element  3  may be single or multiple sets of resistance, or single or multiple sets of PPTC (Polymeric Positive Temperature Coefficient Resistor). Said function element  3  may be signal or multiple sets of fuses. The fuses may be resettable fuse, alarm fuse or temperature transmitting fuse.  
      When the whole components have been assembled, as shown in the figure, besides filaments  21  and  22  of said light emitting element  2  and slice-shaped upper part  41  and  51  of conducting slices  4  and  5  are contacted and conducted, the first contact point  31  and second contact point  32  of said function element  3 , which is clipped and held by the extension arms  13  and  14  of said lamp base  1 , are contacted with the flanges  42  and  52  of conducting slices  4  and  5  respectively. As such, through the preset function of said function element  3 , the light emitting element  2  generates lighting changes before the lamp base  1  is not apart from the lamp holder  6 .  
      When the lamp base  1  is apart from lamp holder  6  due to external force (i.e. man-made or natural factor, such as wind power), as shown in  FIG. 4 , the function-element  3  that have originally been held by the extension arms  13  and  14  move upward due to the upward movement of said extension arms  13  and  14 . Accordingly, the second contact point  32  in the lower position contacts with the flanges  42  and  52  of conducting slices  4  and  5 . Therefore, if lamp base  1  only moves upward in a few distance, filament  21  and  22  of light emitting element and slice-shaped upper parts  41  and  51  of conducting slices  4  and  5  are still contacted, light emitting element  2  still can present lighting changes in accordance with the preset function by second contact point  32  of said function element  3 . Or, if lamp base  1  is completely apart from said lamp holder  6 , that is, the filaments  21  and  22  of light emitting element  2  and the slice-shaped upper parts  41  and  51  of conducting slices  4  and  5  are apart from each other without contact, the interior of said lamp holder still maintains the conducting state due to the contact between the second contact point  32  of said function element  3  and the flanges  42  and  52  of conducting slices  4  and  5 , so that the power of lamp string connected in series may not cut off.  
       FIGS. 5, 5A , and  5 B represent another embodiment of the lamp holder device having a function element in the present invention. A function element  9  with the contact point is set outside is provided; the upper end of said function element  9  is cap shaped; its upper surface is provided with the conducting materials  91  that can be applied to said conducting circuit. Said conducting materials may be metal materials or conducting plastics with the conducting capability; the larger upper surface can be provided in the bottom of extension arms  13  and  14  of said lamp base, and is suppressed by the extension arms  13  and  14  of said lamp base. The lower surface of said function element  9  is composed of insulating materials to connect the elasticity element  92  provided in its bottom. Said elasticity element  92  may be crotched elastic slice or spiral spring  92 A (as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ). Also, a chunk  61  is provided in the bottom of said lamp holder  6 , so that the function element  9  can be provided on the chunk  61  by means of said elasticity element  92 , and be suppressed by the extension arms  13  and  14  of said lamp base.  
      Accordingly, during implementation, besides the filaments  21  and  22  of light emitting element  2  have been contacted and conducted with the slice-shaped upper part  41  and  51  of said conducting slices  4  and  5 , said function element  9  being suppressed by the extension arms  13  and  14  of said lamp base  1  are not contacted with the flanges  42  and  52  of said conducting slices  4  and  5 .  
      When lamp base  1  is apart from the lamp holder  6  due to external force (i.e. man-made or natural factor, such as wind power), the function element  9  that has originally suppressed by the extension arms  13  and  14 , due to lose of suppressing force, restores the elasticity by means of the elasticity element  92 , and moves said function element  9  upward, so that the conducting materials  91  provided in the exterior of said function element  9  contact with the flanges  42  and  52  of conducting slices  4  and  5  due to the upward movement. Accordingly, the interior of said lamp holder remains as the route, so that the power of series lamp strings will not be cut off.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the lamp holder device having a function element in the present invention is used in the lamp string  100 , several light emitting elements  101  and  102  that may be bulbs or LED are provided, and another end of electrical wires of each light emitting element  101  and  102  is connected in series, parallel, or in both series and parallel as lamp strings. Said light emitting elements  101  and  102  are connected in series, due to the installation of said function element in the lamp holder, the power of the whole lamp string  100  will not be cut off because the lamp base is apart and comes off. Particularly, when the present is applied to a specific modeling lamp string  200  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ), the predicament in which the power of lamp strings that are frequently used in special festivals or occasions are cut off because a bulb comes off and thus loses the lighting effects can be avoided.  
      The light emitting element used in the present invention may be a light emitting element made of a plurality of parallel tungsten bulbs or LED bulbs packed as a unity with multiple colors LED cells (i.e. red LED, green LED, blue LED).  
      The function elements  3  and  9  used in the present invention (its interior can be shown as  FIG. 9 ) comprise:  
      An IC chip  81 , in which the oscillation circuit is composed of the oscillator  811 , capacitance  812 , resistance  813  and IC  814 , generates fundamental reference frequency needed for the internal operation of IC  814 . Each action in said IC  814  can use such frequency as a standard to achieve the synchronization function, and has the capability of receiving power source or signals, operating default functions, and sending control signals.  
      An IC chip assisted parts assembly  82 , includes a rectifier  821 , capacitance  822 , constant voltage diode  823 , SCR  824 , and a switch  825  to have the function of regulating, varying, and controlling the intensity and quality of the capability to vary, regulate, stabilize, drive, and activate said string lamp set;  
      A power connector  83 , which is connected to multiple sets of IC chips  81  and assisted parts assembly  82 ; and  
      A signal receiving and delivering mechanism  84 , which is used for connecting power and the IC chip  81  and its assisted parts assembly  82  and uses the wireless signal of infrared rays (IR) or microwave radio frequencies (RF); the signal receiver mechanism  841  and receiver  72  are integrated as a unity. In consideration of practical utility, the IC chip  81  is provided with the preset On/Of or reset function to switch to On/Off automatically or reset. The entire components are then connected with electrical wires  85  to form an integral whole.  
      Multiple sets of lamps can be connected in series during usage by using the power connector to connect to power. IC chip and its assisted parts assembly can be used to drive multiple sets of lamps, so that the light emitting device can generate light or shade. Then, any of the IC chips can be used to generate signals that are transmitted to each set of IC chip, while activating (START) or resetting (RESET) each string of lamp sets, controlling to have the same preset electrical functions, and generating the effect of synchronously operating multiple strings of lamp sets.  
      As understood from the above descriptions, the lamp holder device having a function element according to the present invention allows bulbs in the series lamp string to be bright even when one or more bulbs or lamp holder are apart, which overcomes the shortcoming occurred in the conventional series lamp string that the whole lamp string may be off when a bulb is burned out or a lamp holder is apart. Also, the present invention has not yet been made public, which is consistent with relevant Patent Law.  
      Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.