Hinged Lamp Holder Sealing for Water-Resistant Light Strings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Decorative light strings used outdoors are susceptible to water ingress through gaps in the lamp assembly, leading to potential damage or malfunction due to exposure to weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A water-resistant decorative lighting system featuring a lamp assembly with a hinged lamp holder, waterproofing device, and outer bulb, along with a wiring harness and insulated conductors, utilizing materials like ethylene propylene rubber and heat shrink tubes to seal electrical components and prevent water intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lamp assembly uses a typical construction with wire exits through holes in the base, then the assembly allows for electrical connectivity and ease of manufacture, but water can enter the internal compartment through these holes causing damage or malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp holder is divided into a first side portion and a second side portion that can be assembled separately around the light source and wiring harness, then joined together to form a sealed enclosure. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing while achieving water resistance through the joined configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproofing device is positioned within the lamp holder assembly, nested between the first and second side portions. The wiring harness is also nested within the lamp holder, with the waterproofing device sealing around it. This nested arrangement protects internal components while maintaining a compact structure.
2Reliability
If the lamp assembly is sealed to prevent water ingress, then water resistance is improved, but the assembly becomes more complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp holder is segmented into two side portions that can be manufactured separately and then joined. This allows for simpler individual component manufacturing while achieving the sealed enclosure needed for water resistance when assembled together.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproofing device is pre-positioned within the lamp holder assembly before final assembly. The wiring harness is also prepared and positioned in advance, allowing for easier integration during assembly and reducing the complexity of creating a sealed enclosure.
3Ease of operation
If wires exit through holes in the lamp base for electrical connectivity, then ease of operation and installation is improved, but these holes create pathways for water to enter the internal compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproofing device acts as an intermediary element that seals around the wiring harness where it passes through the lamp holder. This mediator component allows electrical connectivity to be maintained while blocking the harmful effect of water ingress through the wire exit pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproofing device uses a flexible membrane or film structure that can conform to the wiring harness and seal around it. This flexible sealing mechanism maintains electrical connectivity while preventing water from penetrating through the wire exit holes.
4Device complexity
If the lamp assembly allows water entry through wire exit holes, then the structure remains simple and easy to manufacture, but the assembly becomes susceptible to damage and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp holder is divided into separable side portions that can be manufactured with simple structures individually, yet when joined together with the waterproofing device in between, they create an effective seal against water ingress, achieving reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproofing device serves as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the two side portions of the lamp holder, sealing around the wiring harness. This single intermediary element provides water resistance while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents water from entering the internal compartment of the lamp assembly, ensuring the decorative lighting system functions reliably in outdoor conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the waterproofing device can be configured to seal around at least a portion of the light source
Implementation Method 2
The heat shrink tube can be configured to shrink when heat is applied to the heat shrink tube
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a water-resistant decorative lighting system having a plurality of lamp assemblies and a wiring harness having two or more insulating conductors and configured to electrically connect the plurality of lamp assemblies. Each lamp assembly of the plurality of lamp assemblies includes a lamp holder, a light source, a waterproofing device, and an outer bulb. The lamp holder comprises a hinged portion connected between a first and second side portions. The lamp holder is configured to move about the hinged portion from an open position to a closed position. Each side portion includes a locking mechanism. The light is configured to fit within the lamp holder when the lamp holder is in the closed position. The outer bulb is detachably attachable to the lamp holder.