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US5281158A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Light socket and socket adapter

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-01-11
•
Granted: 1994-01-25
•
Expires: 2013-01-11
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is a light socket and socket adapter including a socket adapter inserted in a light socket of a decorative light string to electrically connect an electric ornament to the electric circuit of the decorative light string. The two opposite contacts of the light socket are short-circuited by a conductive spring as the socket adapter was disconnected, and therefore the integrity of the electric circuit of the decorative light string is maintained.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wen-Hsiung Lin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 19:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R33/00; H01R33/05; H01R33/18; F; F21; F21S; F21S4/00; F21S4/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 140 words
A socket adapter for a light socket of the type having two opposite contacts on the inside connected to the two opposite ends of an electric circuit of a decorative light string and a conductive spring stopped by said contacts in an inside hole thereof, the socket adapter comprising a solid body made from a plastic material through the process of injection molding having having a tip at one end, two electric wires inserted through two longitudinal through holes on said solid body, the electric wires of said socket adapter being each coupled with a respective terminal, whereby inserting said socket adapter into said light socket causes the tip of said socket adapter to disconnect said conductive spring from said contacts for permitting said contacts to be respectively connected to the terminal on either electric wire of said socket adapter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 140 words
A socket adapter for a light socket of the type having two opposite contacts on the inside connected to the two opposite ends of an electric circuit of a decorative light string and a conductive spring stopped by said contacts in an inside hole thereof, the socket adapter comprising a solid body made from a plastic material through the process of injection molding having having a tip at one end, two electric wires inserted through two longitudinal through holes on said solid body, the electric wires of said socket adapter being each coupled with a respective terminal, whereby inserting said socket adapter into said light socket causes the tip of said socket adapter to disconnect said conductive spring from said contacts for permitting said contacts to be respectively connected to the terminal on either electric wire of said socket adapter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The socket adapter of claim 1 wherein an electric ornament is electrically connected to the electric wires of said light socket by said socket adapter.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3915536A Cited
US3936122A Cited
US4047167A Cited
EP0077046A1 Cited
US4513182A Cited
US4768966A Cited
US5069632A Cited
US5030124A Cited
US5145391A Cited
US5201853A Cited
US5139343A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-01-24 1997-07-26 1998-01-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-01-24 2001-07-26 2002-01-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-01-24 2005-07-26 2006-01-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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