Patent ID: 7633024

Claim:
A light for use in a light string, said light comprising: a bulb; a filament in said bulb; a bulb holder carrying said bulb, said bulb holder having at least one hole formed therein; a first and a second wire extending from said filament inside said bulb through said at least one hole; a socket carrying said bulb holder, said bulb holder being removably seatable in said socket, said socket having an interior wall; a first and an opposing second electrical terminal carried by said interior wall of said socket, said first and said second wires engaging said first and said second electrical terminals, respectively, when said bulb holder is seated in said socket; a shunt housing carried by said socket between said electrical terminals, said shunt housing having a well formed therein; a push rod carried by said shunt housing and dimensioned to fit into said well of said shunt housing; a conductive spring carried by said shunt housing and having a first lateral end, an opposing second lateral end, and a central portion, said central portion being positioned in said well, said push rod being carried on said central portion so that, when said bulb holder is not seated in said socket so as to push down on said push rod, said first and second lateral ends of said conductive spring are in contact with said first and second electrical terminals, respectively, whereby electrical current flows from said first electrical terminal to said second electrical terminal through said conductive spring, and, when said bulb holder is inserted into said socket, said bulb holder pushes said push rod against said central portion of said conductive spring thereby pushing said central portion deeper into said well so that said first and second lateral ends are drawn away from said first and second electrical terminals whereupon electrical current flows from said first and second electrical terminals through said first and second wires, respectively, and thence through said filament; wherein said well has an upper, larger dimensioned portion and a lower, reduced dimension portion defining a shoulder where said larger dimensioned portion meets said reduced dimension portion, and wherein said push rod has a flange, said flange being dimensioned to fit into said larger dimensioned portion but not said reduced dimension portion so that said shoulder acts as a stop for said push rod when said bulb holder is inserted into said socket.