Patent Publication Number: US-6712483-B2

Title: Decorative light device having rotary actuating member

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an illuminative device or a light device, and more particularly to a decorative light device having a rotary actuating member. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various kinds of typical light devices have been developed for generating lights, warning lights, etc., and comprise one or more batteries coupled to one or more light bulbs or the like, and a switch disposed or coupled between the batteries and the light bulbs, or coupled in the electric circuit to the light bulbs, for controlling the energizing of the light bulbs. The switches normally include a switch button to be depressed or actuated by the users in order to control the on and off of the light bulbs. 
     However, the switch button may be depressed inadvertently, such that the light bulbs may be energized inadvertently, and such that the batteries may be consumed inadvertently. 
     Some of the typical light devices may include a control ferrule rotatably attached to a light housing, and movable relative to the light housing, for adjusting the light beam of the light devices. However, the rotational movement of the control ferrule relative to the light housing may not be used for controlling the on and off of the light bulbs. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional light devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a decorative light device including a rotary actuating member for effectively actuating and controlling the light device. 
     The other objective of the present invention is to provide a decorative light device including two conductors that may be selectively contacted with each other to control the light device. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a light device comprising a circuit board, a light member coupled to the circuit board, means for energizing the light member, a bucket including a bore formed therein and defined in a peripheral wall, and including a first end, a first conductor engaged in the first end of the bucket, and electrically coupled to the circuit board, a second conductor disposed close to the first end of the bucket, a follower electrically coupled to the circuit board, and rotatably disposed close to the first end of the bucket and engaged onto the second conductor, for rotating the second conductor to align with and to contact with the first conductor, and for rotating the second conductor to be supported on the peripheral wall of the bucket and to be disengaged from the first conductor. The second conductor is selectively caused to be engaged with and electrically contacted with the first conductor when the second conductor is rotated relative to the bucket by the follower. 
     The first conductor includes two ends each having an enlarged head provided thereon. The second conductor includes two ends each having an enlarged head provided thereon, for selectively engaging with the heads of the first conductor when the second conductor is rotated to be aligned with the first conductor. 
     The first end of the bucket includes a pair of depressions formed in the peripheral wall thereof for receiving the heads of the second conductor. The first end of the bucket includes a pair of apertures formed in the peripheral wall thereof for receiving the heads of the first conductor. 
     The follower includes a lateral channel formed therein for receiving the second conductor, and for rotating the second conductor relative to the bucket. 
     A casing is further provided and has a space formed therein for rotatably receiving the follower, the bucket is received in the space of the casing. The follower includes a first end extended outward of the casing, and a knob secured to the first end of the follower for rotating the follower relative to the casing. 
     The follower includes a cavity formed therein, a spring received in the cavity of the follower, and engaged with the second conductor for biasing the second conductor to engage with the first conductor. 
     The energizing means includes a battery partially received in the bore of the bucket and having a first electrode electrically coupled to the first conductor and having a second electrode coupled to the circuit board. 
     The circuit board includes a socket attached thereto and having a socket opening formed therein for receiving the second electrode of the battery. 
     A housing is further provided for partially receiving the battery, the socket and the circuit board are received in the housing, and a decorative member is attached to the housing. 
     A barrel is further provided and attached to the housing, the decorative member is attached to the barrel and includes a cavity formed therein for receiving the light member. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a light device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the decorative light device; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 4,  5  are perspective views illustrating the operation or the actuation between two conductors of the light device; 
     FIGS. 6,  7  are partial cross sectional views taken along lines  6 — 6 , and  7 — 7  of FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively; and 
     FIGS. 8,  9 ,  10  are perspective views illustrating the operation and/or the application of the light device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a decorative light device in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing  10  including a chamber  11  formed therein, and including an inner thread  12  formed in the lower portion thereof, and including an outer thread  13  formed in the upper portion thereof. 
     A barrel  14  includes an outer thread  15  formed on one end for threading with the inner thread  12  of the housing  10 , and for securing the barrel  14  to the housing  10 ; and includes an inner thread  16  formed in the other end thereof for threading with an outer thread  18  of a decorative member  17  which includes a cavity  19  formed in one end thereof and located within the barrel  14 . 
     A circuit board  20  is received in the housing  10 , and includes a socket  21  attached thereto and having a socket opening  22  and an orifice  23  formed therein. A light member  24 , such as a light bulb, a light emitting diode, or the like is attached to the circuit board  20 , and partially engaged in the cavity  19  of the decorative member  17 . 
     It is preferable that the decorative member  17  is made of transparent or semi-transparent materials, for allowing the light generated by the light member  24  to be transmitted through the decorative member  17  and to be seen through the decorative member  17 . The decorative member  17  may be made or formed into various kinds of shapes or profiles for decorative purposes. 
     The socket  21  is made of non-conductive materials. A sealing ring  25  is preferably provided and engaged between the housing  10  and the barrel  14  for making a water tight seal between the housing  10  and the barrel  14 , and for preventing water or humidity from entering into the barrel  14  and the housing  10  to damage the circuit board  20  and the light member  24 . 
     The circuit board  20  may include a conductor or a terminal  27  provided thereon or extended therefrom (FIG. 3) for electrically coupling to or engaging with the housing  10  which is made of electric conductive materials. The terminal  27  and the housing  10  may be electrically coupled to either the case electrode or the central electrode of the light member  24 . 
     A conductive casing  30  includes a hole  31  formed in one end thereof and communicating with the hollow space  33  thereof, and includes an inner thread  32  formed in the other end thereof for threading with the outer thread  13  of the housing  10 , and for securing the casing  30  to the housing  10 , and for electrically coupling the casing  30  to the housing  10 . The casing  30  may also be formed as a one-piece integral member with the housing  10 . 
     A non-conductive bucket  34  is received in the space  33  of the casing  30 , and includes a bore  35  formed therein, and includes an aperture  36  or a pair of apertures  36  formed in one end of the peripheral wall  38  of the bucket  34 , and includes a depression  37  or a pair of depressions  37  formed in the peripheral wall  38  of the bucket  34 , and offset from the apertures  36  of the bucket  34 . 
     One or more batteries  40  may be partially received in the bucket  34  and the housing  10 , and include a first electrode, such as a central electrode  41  engaged into the socket opening  22  and the orifice  23  of the socket  21 , and electrically coupled to either the central electrode or the case electrode of the light member  24 . 
     A protective and non-conductive sleeve  42  may be disposed between the batteries  40  and the housing  10  for safety purposes, or for preventing the batteries  40  from electrically contacting with the housing  10 . A sealing ring  39  is preferably engaged between the housing  10  and the casing  30  for making a water tight seal and for preventing water or humidity from damaging the batteries  40 . 
     A conductor member  43  is engaged in the aperture  36  of the bucket  34 , or includes a pair of enlarged heads  44  provided on the ends thereof and engaged in the apertures  36  of the peripheral wall  38  of the bucket  34  respectively. A spring  45  is received in the bucket  34  and selectively or optionally or electrically coupled between the conductor  43  and the case electrode of the batteries  40 . 
     Another conductor member  47  is provided above the bucket  34 , and includes two ends or two enlarged end heads  48  for being selectively received in the depressions  37  of the peripheral wall  38  of the bucket  34  respectively, or for selectively and electrically contacting with the conductor member  43  when the conductor member  47  is rotated relative to the other conductor member  43 . 
     A follower  60  is rotatably received in the casing  30 , and includes an extension  61  extended through the hole  31  of the casing  30 , and a peripheral recess  62  formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof for receiving a sealing ring  67  therein and for making a water tight seal with the casing  30 . A clamping ring  65  may be engaged into the extension  61  and engaged with the casing  30  for rotatably securing the follower  60  to the casing  30 , for example. 
     The follower  60  includes a cavity  63  formed therein, such as formed in the bottom portion thereof for receiving a spring  68  therein, and includes a lateral channel  64  formed therein, such as formed in the bottom portion thereof and communicating with the cavity  63  thereof, for receiving and thus for rotating the conductor member  47  relative to the other conductor member  43 . 
     The extension  61  of the follower  60  may be threaded to a screw hole  71  of a seat  70 , and a knob  73  may include a screw or a fastener  74  extended therefrom and threaded to the screw hole  71  of the seat  70 , for securing the knob  73  to the follower  60  and for allowing the follower  60  to be rotated relative to the casing  30  and the housing  10  with the knob  73  (FIGS. 8,  9 ). 
     The knob  73  may also be directly secured to the follower  60  without the seat  70 . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, a loop, or a ring  77  or the like may be attached to the seat  70  or to the follower  60  for rotating the follower  60  relative to the casing  30  and the housing  10 , and for coupling the light device to a chain  78  or the like. 
     In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, when the conductor  47  is rotated by the knob  73  and selectively received in the depression(s)  37  of the peripheral wall  38  of the bucket  34 , or perpendicular to or offset from the conductor  43 , the conductor  47  or the heads  48  may be disengaged from the conductor  43  or the heads  44 , such that the electric circuit to the light member  24  may be turned off or shut off. 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the conductor  47  is rotated by the knob  73  and aligned with the conductor  43 , the conductor  47  or the heads  48  may be engaged with or contacted with the conductor  43  or the heads  44 , such that the electric circuit to the light member  24  may be turned on, and such that the light member  24  may be energized by the batteries  40 . The spring  68  may further be used to bias and force the conductor  47  or the heads  48  to be contacted with the conductor  43  or the heads  44 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the case electrode of the batteries  40  may be coupled to the conductor  43  directly or with the spring  45 . When the conductor  47  or the heads  48  may be engaged with or contacted with the conductor  43  or the heads  44 , the conductor  47  or the heads  48  may be electrically coupled to the follower  60  or via the spring  68 . 
     The follower  60  is then electrically coupled to the casing  30  which is electrically coupled to the housing  10 . The housing  10  may be directly coupled to the light member  24  or coupled to the circuit board  20  with the terminal  27  (FIG.  3 ). The central electrode  41  of the batteries  40  is coupled to the socket  21  of the circuit board  20 , such that the light member  24  may be energized by the batteries  40  when the conductor  47  or the heads  48  are contacted with the conductor  43  or the heads  44 . 
     It is to be noted that the conductors  43 ,  47  may be made with or without the heads  44 ,  48 . The formation or the provision of the heads  44 ,  48  on the ends of the conductors  43 ,  47  is to make sure that the heads  44 ,  48  of the conductors  43 ,  47  may be effectively and electrically coupled with each other (FIGS. 5,  7 ), and to make sure that the conductors  43 ,  47  may be absolutely disengaged or separated from each other (FIGS. 4,  6 ). 
     It is further to be noted that the conductor  47  and the heads  48  may be rotated and caused to be disengaged from the other conductor  43  and the heads  44  thereof by the follower  60  or by the knob  73 , and the conductor  47  and the heads  48  will have no chance to be engaged with the other conductor  43  and the heads  44  inadvertently when the conductor  47  or the heads  48  are rested in the depression(s)  37  of the peripheral wall  38  of the bucket  34 . 
     Accordingly, the decorative light device in accordance with the present invention includes a rotary actuating member for effectively actuating and controlling the light device, and includes two conductors that may be selectively contacted with each other to control the light device. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.