Patent Publication Number: US-6910918-B1

Title: Light bulb mounting assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to light bulb mounting devices and more particularly pertains to a new light bulb mounting device for mounting a light bulb socket to a stake. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of light bulb mounting devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,952 describes a device for running a power cord through the top end of a stake for mounting a light socket, electrically coupled to the power cord, to the stake. Another type of light bulb mounting device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,391 having a housing into which the light socket is extended before the upper of a stake is then extended into an opposite end of the housing. In this manner, the socket is coupled to the stake. In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,447 includes a stack into which a particularly designed light socket clips so that the light socket is attached to the stake. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that more efficiently, and securely, attaches a light socket to a stake. This is necessary for providing a user of the lights more freedom in determining if the lights are to hung on a vertical surface or tree, or if the lights should be positioned on a stake so that they are positioned generally adjacent to a ground surface. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a socket assembly that has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The peripheral wall has an upper edge defining an opening extending into the socket. The opening has an inner threaded surface adapted for threadably coupling with a light bulb. The opening has a pair of electrical contacts therein. A power cord extends through the socket assembly and is electrically coupled to each of the electrical contacts. A male coupler is attached to a surface of the bottom wall and extends downwardly therefrom. A stake has a bottom end, a top end and a perimeter wall extending between the top and bottom ends. The bottom end is pointed and the top end is substantially flat. The top end has a female coupler extending therein for selectively coupling with the male coupler. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a light bulb mounting assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the socket assembly of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 2  of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the socket assembly of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a stake of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new light bulb mounting device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the light bulb mounting assembly  10  generally comprises a plurality of socket assemblies  12  that each have a bottom wall  14  and a peripheral wall  16  that is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall  14 . Each of the peripheral walls  16  of the socket assemblies  12  has an upper edge  18  defining an opening  20  extending into the socket. The openings  20  each have an inner threaded surface  22  adapted for threadably coupling with a light bulb  8 . A power  24  cord extends through each of the socket assemblies  12 . Each of the socket assemblies  12  has a pair of electrical contacts  26 ,  28  mounted within a corresponding one of the openings  20  and each of the electrical contacts  26 ,  28  is electrically coupled to the power cord  24 . 
   In particular, it is preferred that each of the socket assemblies  12  includes an outer covering  30  having an upper open end  31  and a bottom open end  32 . The peripheral wall  16  extends between the upper  31  and bottom  32  open ends. A bridge  33  is mounted in and extends across the covering  30 . The bridge  33  is positioned nearer the bottom open end  32  than the top open end  31 . A first contact  26  of the pair of contacts is mounted in the bridge  33  and has a first end  34  extending downwardly away from the bridge  33  and a second end  35  mounted on the bridge  33 . A second contact  28  of the pair of contacts is mounted in the bridge  33  and has a first end  36  extending downwardly away from the bridge  33  and a second end  37  extending upwardly along an inner surface of the covering  30 . Each of the first ends  34 ,  36  of the first  26  and second  28  contacts is preferably pointed and each extends into the power cord  24 . A cap member  40  includes the bottom wall  14  and a pair of arms  41  extending upwardly from the bottom wall  14 . The arms  41  may be extended upwardly through the bottom open end  32  on either side of the bridge  33  such that the arms  41  are removably secured in the covering  30 . This may be done with interlocking shoulders  42 . Each of the arms  41  has an inside surface  43  facing each other. The inside surfaces  43  are threaded for threadably coupling with the light bulb  8 . A gripping  44 , or aligning, member is attached to the bottom wall  14  and is positioned between the arms  41 . The gripping member  44  has elongated channels  45  therein for receiving the power cord  24 . The gripping member  44  biases the power cord  24  against the first ends  34 ,  36  of the first  26  and second  28  contacts so that the first ends  34 ,  36  puncture the power cord  24  and are thereby electrically coupled to the power cord  24 . 
   Each of a plurality of male couplers  50  is attached to a surface of the bottom wall  16  and extends downwardly therefrom. Each of the male couplers  50  preferably comprises a threaded rod. 
   A plurality of stakes  52  has a bottom end  53 , a top end  54  and a perimeter wall  55  extends between the top  54  and bottom ends  53 . Each of the bottom ends  53  is pointed and each of the top ends  54  is substantially flat. Each of the top ends  54  has a female coupler  55  extending therein. The female couplers  55  each comprise a threaded well adapted for threadably coupling with one of the male couplers  50 . A plurality of flanges  56  is attached to and extends outwardly from each of the perimeter walls  55 . The flanges  56  each extend from and taper from a respective one of the top ends  54  to the bottom ends  53  such that each of the flanges  56  ends adjacent to the bottom ends  53 . The plurality of flanges  56  is preferably four flanges  56  attached to each of the stakes  52 . 
   In use, the above description may be used for one socket assembly  12  and one stake  52  or a plurality of sockets assemblies  12  and stakes. The male coupler  50  allows the socket assembly  12  to be selectively removed from the stakes  52  with minimal effort. Thus, if a person wishes to hang the lights  8 , they may do so, or they may attach the socket assemblies  12  to the stakes  52  so that they may be staked into a ground surface. The socket assemblies  12  may be configured to hold any conventional light bulb, though it is preferred that low wattage holiday lights are utilized. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.