Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a division and continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 09/854,255 filed May 14, 2001, and entitled “Light Plug With Storage Compartment.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to electrical plugs and receptacles and more particularly to a storage compartment formed with or attached to the plug or receptacle. 
     Many electrical devices are supplied with a multitude of replacement components. This is especially true of strings of Christmas Lights. These light strings are generally comprised of approximately one hundred lamps wired in series. The lamps vary in size, voltage and color. One manufacturer&#39;s lamps are not necessarily interchangeable with another manufacturer&#39;s lamps. Furthermore the lamp voltages, bases and sockets are not necessarily the same from manufacturer to manufacturer. Bulbs have different voltages, types of glass bottoms to prevent twisting and different plastic bases that may or may not fit and some will fit but are loose so arcing can be a problem. Some manufacturers furnish spare parts in a plastic bag packaged with a new light string, but the user has no way to keep the spare parts with the light string. 
     The fuses used to protect each string of lamps are also not necessarily interchangeable from string to string as the amperage of each string may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example the one ampere fuse from a fifty light string and the three ampere fuse from a one hundred light string are not interchangeable. 
     Christmas Lights are commonly purchased a few strings at a time. At the time of original purchase, each string of Christmas Lights is normally supplied with spare lamps, flashers and spare fuses. These are selected to match the original string of lamps so that the user has the proper replacement parts. Having and using the proper replacement parts is not only a convenience, it is a matter of safety. It is common that the replacement parts are placed in a plastic bag that is packed with the string of lights. The bag may be left loose in the package or may be stapled or taped to the light string. Each manufacturer has its own set of spare fuses and lamps resulting in the user collecting numerous bags of spare parts. Generally the user takes the spare parts bag and puts it away. The bag is often lost, misplaced or otherwise can&#39;t be located when the parts are needed. If the user finds the place where the numerous bags of spare parts are kept, the user usually cannot identify which bag of spare parts is used for a given string of lights. 
     Some people merely throw the entire string of lights away if a bulb burns out. This is expensive, wasteful and is inconvenient to keep replacing an entire light string when one lamp bums out. Leaving the burned lamp in its socket increases the voltage to other lamps in the string resulting in shortening the life of the other lamps and exacerbates the problem. Equally important, the user may just go through his spares until he finds one that fits, which can lead to other problems, such as the wrong voltage or loose connections. 
     The manufacturer may also supply special tools or items such as a bulb remover designed for use with the Christmas Lights. The problem with this is the same as the replacement bulbs; the tool can be easily lost. Another problem is that these special bulb removing tools are always sold separately and have not been provided with the light set in the current marketplace. 
     Applicant&#39;s invention solves the problem of losing or misplacing the spare parts provided with a string of Christmas Lights. A storage compartment is provided as a part of the light string. It can be molded as a part of the plug or receptacle on an end of the light string, or it can be an add-on compartment for existing plugs, receptacles or light-string wires. The compartment can be opened from the top, side or surface end to allow access to the interior of the compartment. The compartment is designed to accommodate the extra lamps and fuses normally supplied in a plastic bag. The compartment can also provide access to an easy-to-store bulb remover, or the bulb remover can be formed as a part of the compartment. 
     Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a decorative light string with an integral or attached storage compartment for spare components such as spare lamps and fuses. 
     Another object is to provide a decorative light string having an electrical plug or receptacle with a storage compartment in which the storage compartment has integrally formed therein a lamp-removing tool. The advantage of this is that it eliminates the need for a separate tool that may be easily lost. 
     Another object is to provide a decorative light string having an integral or attached storage compartment that can be economically and efficiently manufactured. 
     Yet another object is to have readily available the proper replacement components for a decorative light string, to minimize the possibility of the user selecting and using the wrong replacement component, such as an improperly sized fuse which creates a safety hazard. 
     These and other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative light string embodying the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the electrical plug included in the light string of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 as a left end view of the electrical plug of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the electrical plug of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 5 is a left end view of a first alternative embodiment of an electrical plug in which a semi-circular lamp remover is formed in the body of the plug. 
     FIG. 6 is a left end view of a second alternative embodiment of an electrical plug in which the body of the plug and the cover form a circular lamp remover. 
     FIG. 7 is a left end view of a third alternative embodiment of an electrical plug in which the cover is slidably retained in channels on the body of the plug. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a fourth alternative embodiment of an electrical plug in which the compartment is a separate component that is attached to a conventional electrical plug. 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of another alternative embodiment in which the compartment is attached to a receptacle instead of a plug. 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of a storage compartment that can be attached to a plug, receptacle or wires of a light string. 
     FIG. 11 is a plan view of a modified version of the embodiment of FIG. 10 in which the storage compartment accommodates two tiers of replacement components. 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the storage compartment of FIG. 11 and a light-string plug to which the storage compartment is attachable. 
     FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the storage compartment shown in FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an electrical plug  10  molded of an electrically non-conductive material such as plastic or a rubber compound. There are electrical prongs  12  that engage a socket. Alternatively the electrical plug can be formed as a receptacle  11  (FIG. 9) on the female end or socket end of an electrical cord. There are two or more, commonly three, electrical wires  14  that connect to the prongs  12  or, in the case of a female plug, to the receptacles in the socket. Throughout this application the term “electrical plug” shall also mean an “electrical socket”. The electrical wires  14  have a plurality of electrical sockets  16  connected to them. In the case of Christmas Lights, the electrical connection is generally a series connection. Each socket  16  has a lamp  18  mounted in it. There may be thirty-five to one hundred fifty lights in a string of Christmas Lights. The lamps are commonly 2.5 or 3.5 volts each and may be made of various colors for decoration. 
     As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the molded plug  10  has a pair of opposed sidewalls  20 ,  22 , a front wall  24  and a rear wall  26 . Alternatively the molded plug may be formed of other configurations such as a dome, cylinder or circle. Within the confines of the walls  20 - 26  is a compartment  28 . The compartment  28  has a bottom  30 . There is a cover  32  that closes the top of the compartment  28 . The cover  32  is attached to the sidewall  20  by means of a molded or living hinge  34 . The living hinge  34  can be formed at the same time that the electrical plug  10  is molded. This minimizes the cost and number of components necessary to attach the cover  32  to the sidewall  20 . The cover  32  can be made of clear plastic or colored plastic or rubber, depending on the needs and desires of the manufacturer and user. The compartment is dimensioned to hold several spare lamps  36 , spare fuses  38  and a bulb pulling tool. 
     The cover  32  can also be provided with a set of raised domes or bubbles that are used to indicate light bulb voltage, amperage or other information relating to the bulbs or fuses. By depressing the appropriate domes or bubbles, the user has a visual indication of the bulbs or fuses to buy for replacement items. Additional information such as the number of lights in a string, the length of the string, the date purchased or other such indications can also be added to the cover by similar indicia. Alternatively, the voltage, amperage or other important information can be molded into the plug  10 , the cover  32  or bottom  30  when the parts are formed. This is a safety feature so that the user always knows what size lamps and fuses he or she should be using with a string of lights. 
     In order to keep the cover  32  in a secure closed position on the compartment  28 , there is provided a latch means  40  on the top of the side wall  22 . The latch can be a molded piece of rubber that engages an edge of the cover  32  opposite the living hinge. Instead of a latch, a magnetic strip may be added to the top of the sidewall  22  and a complementary magnetic strip on the edge of the cover  32 . Other closure devices could be utilized as known in the art. If desired, the cover may be made water-tight to keep moisture from entering the compartment  28  and possibly damaging the spare lamps  36  or fuses  38 . 
     As described above, there is provided a compartment  28  that is capable of storing spare lamps  36  and spare fuses  38  that is integral with the molded electrical plug  10 . The spare components are readily accessible when needed. The user merely opens the cover  28 , removes the needed spare, and closes the cover. There is no searching for the whereabouts of the spare parts bag or worrying about installing a wrong lamp or fuse. The current system of supplying the spare parts in a bag that is stapled to the wires between two of the bulbs also presents another safety issue. The staple can pierce the insulation and wire or can scratch the wire or the person removing the staple. 
     In FIG. 5, there is an alternative embodiment in which a semi-circular recess  42  is formed in the front wall  24 . The semi-circular recess  42  forms an opening  44  that creates a lamp remover tool to remove burned out lamps from their respective sockets. The diameter of the opening  44  is substantially the same as the diameter of the base of the lamp  18 . This allows the base of a burned out lamp  18  to be inserted into the opening  44  when the cover is opened. The cover is closed and held down by the user. This securely holds the lamp in the opening  44 . The user then pulls the socket  16  away from the lamp  18 . Optionally the recess  42  may have a metal insert  46  placed around its edge if the material forming the front wall  24  is not strong enough to withstand the force necessary to remove the burned out lamp. The recess is illustrated in the front wall  24  but can also be formed in the rear wall  26 . A small piece of flexible material can also be formed on the cover or as part of the front wall  24  to partially or completely cover the opening  44 . This keeps the spare lamps or fuses from falling out through the opening  44 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates another alternative embodiment. The cover  28  is formed with a semi-circular dome  48  that aligns with the semi-circular recess  42  in the front wall  24 . The aligned dome  48  and recess  42  form a circular opening  50 . The dimension should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the socket  16 . When a burned out lamp  18  is inserted into the opening  50 , the user holds the socket  16  in place. The lamp  18  is then pulled out from the socket  16 . There is optionally provided a flexible webbed material  52  that has a plurality slits emanating from the center of the opening  50  toward the circumference of the opening  50 . This provides a covered opening that is easily penetrated by a lamp  18  when it is inserted into the opening  50 . The webbed material  52  can be easily formed with the cover  32  and front wall  24 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative embodiment in which the cover  32  is attached to the molded plug  10  by a different means. Instead of using a molded hinge  34 , the cover  32  is held within a pair of U-shaped channels  54 ,  56  extending along the top of the sidewalls  20 ,  22 . The U-shaped channels  54 ,  56  retain the edges of the cover  32  so that the cover can be removed from the compartment  28  by sliding the cover  32  horizontally along the top of the compartment  28 . The same types of lamp removers as described in the alternative embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be used with the embodiment shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates another alternative embodiment in which a compartment  58  is formed as a separate stand-alone element. The compartment  58  can have the same features as the previously described compartment  28  such as different closure means and alternative lamp removal devices. However the compartment  58  has one or more open slots  60  at its bottom. The slots  60  receive plastic closure devices  62  such as conventionally used to secure bundles of wires together. These wire ties  62  securely hold the compartment  58  to the molded electrical plug  10 . Other means such as clips or clamps can be used to attach the compartment  58  to the plug  10 . Such alternative fastening means will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In this manner the compartments  58  can be added to existing Christmas Light strings. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates another alternative embodiment in which the plug  10  is replaced by a receptacle  11  having electrically conductive socket receiving slots  13  to receive the electrical prongs  12 . The compartment  58  is otherwise the same as described in FIG. 8 above. The compartment  58  is shown holding a bulb puller or bulb removing tool  68 . Any of the plugs  10  described herein can be replaced by a receptacle  11  with all other features of the compartment remaining intact. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a modified storage compartment  70  that provides sub-compartments for more organized storage of different types of replacement components. The entire storage compartment shown in FIG. 10 is preferably formed as a single molded plastic part. Three yokes  71 ,  72  and  73  extend upwardly from the bottom wall  74  of the compartment  70  to receive the tips of three replacement lamps  75 ,  76  and  77 , respectively. The open upper end of each of the yokes  71 - 73  forms an opening that is slightly smaller than the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the lamp, and then flares out in the central portion of the yoke to approximately match the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the lamp. As a lamp is pressed down into the open end of the yoke, the two arms of the yoke are forced slightly apart to allow the lamp to enter, and then the arms spring back to capture the lamp within the yoke as the lamp enters the wider central portion of the opening in the yoke. 
     Near the right-hand side of the compartment as viewed in FIG. 10, a post  78  extends upwardly from the bottom wall  74  to capture a replacement fuse  79  against the adjacent sidewall  80  of the compartment  70 . The side of the post  78  facing the sidewall  80  is undercut slightly beneath its free end to capture the fuse  79  after it has been pressed down into the space between the post  78  and the sidewall  80 , deflecting the resilient post  78  slightly away from the sidewall  80  in the process. 
     The space between the post  78  and the end yoke  73  is utilized to store a lamp base  81  inserted between the post  78  and a second post  82  extending upward from the bottom wall  74 . The second post  82  positions the lamp base  81  between the fuse  78  and the lamp  77 . 
     The storage compartment of FIG. 10 can be provided with any of the different types of closures described above, such as a lid attached to one sidewall of the compartment by a living hinge. Alternatively, a plug or receptacle attached to an end of the light string may be provided with depending L-shaped flanges that mesh with corresponding exterior grooves in a pair of opposed sidewalls of the compartment so that the plug or receptacle serves as a closure for the storage compartment. A simple latch may be provided to prevent the compartment from sliding off the flanges. 
     FIGS. 11-13 illustrate a modified storage compartment  90  that is dimensioned to receive two tiers of replacement components. The thickest components are the lamp bases  91  and  92 , which are much smaller at their lower ends than at their upper ends. Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, they are stored with their small ends overlapping, so that the depth of the storage compartment need be increased by only about 50% to receive the two overlapping bases  91  and  92 . This increase in depth is sufficient to accommodate two tiers of lamps and fuses. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the storage compartment  90  is provided with two plastic prongs  93  and  94  formed as an integral part of the storage compartment and adapted to fit into the socket of a standard socket  95  on the end of a light string. Thus, the storage compartment  90  can be removably attached to a light string by simply plugging it into the socket typically provided on one end of a light string. In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 13, the plastic prongs  93  and  94  form notches  93   a  and  94   a  so that the prongs can be removably attached to the wires  96  and  97  of a light string. Each of the notches  93   a  and  94   a  has a narrow throat  93   b  or  94   b  at its open end to hold the storage compartment  90  captive on the wires  96 ,  97  after the prongs  93 ,  94  have been pressed onto the wires. 
     Thus there has been described a that has a storage compartment for safely and securely storing spare components such as lamps and fuses. Furthermore the storage compartment may include an integrally formed lamp remover. Although the invention has been described in conjunction with certain specific embodiments, it will be understood that alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: f