Light Stake Socket Structure for Straight Outdoor Bulb Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decorative light string installations are cumbersome and tedious, particularly in achieving a straight and secure arrangement, and are exacerbated by unfavorable weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A light stake with a spike and socket design, featuring a solid-material periphery and flexible fingers for enhanced rigidity and ease of bulb insertion/removal, along with a connecting base for secure ground penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional light installation methods are used, then lights can be installed outdoors, but the installation process is cumbersome and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a ground-penetrating stake for secure installation, a connecting base for structural support, and a socket assembly for bulb insertion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall installation process by providing a pre-assembled unit that requires minimal assembly on-site.
Solution Approach 2:
The stake serves as an intermediary element between the ground and the light bulb socket, providing a stable mounting structure. The connecting base acts as an intermediary between the stake and the socket, facilitating secure connection while allowing for easy bulb replacement. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for complex mounting arrangements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If lights are installed to be straight and secure, then uniform orientation is achieved, but the installation process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The stake features a pointed insertion end for easy ground penetration, while the upper portion maintains a rigid structure with the connecting base and socket assembly. This local differentiation in structural properties allows the lower portion to be easily installed while the upper portion provides stable, straight orientation for the lights.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket assembly is pre-attached to the connecting base and stake, creating a pre-assembled unit that ensures proper alignment and straight orientation before installation. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures during installation, as the rigid structure inherently maintains uniform orientation when installed in the ground.
3Strength
If the socket base is made stronger to support bulb insertion/removal, then durability is improved, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The socket base incorporates a solid-material periphery that extends on all sides of the socket axis, concentrating material where structural strength is most needed for bulb insertion and removal. This localized reinforcement provides maximum strength with minimal additional material, avoiding unnecessary material usage in areas where strength is not critical.
4Strength
If the fingers are made more rigid to hold the bulb securely, then holding strength is improved, but ease of bulb insertion/removal decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fingers are designed with differential rigidity: the fixed ends are rigidly attached to the socket base for stable bulb holding, while the movable ends have reduced rigidity to allow flexible movement during bulb insertion and removal. This dynamic design allows the fingers to provide secure holding strength when needed while maintaining ease of operation during installation and maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A light stake for holding a light bulb includes a spike with a body extending along a spike axis between a top end and an insertion end, a connecting base at the top end of the body, and a socket having a socket axis. The socket has a socket base, a plurality of fingers, and a strengthening fillet. The socket base is perpendicular to the socket axis and with a solid-material periphery extending on all sides of the socket axis. The fingers extend from the socket base along the socket axis, with each finger extending between a fixed end near the socket base and a movable end. The strengthening fillet is at the intersection between the fixed end of each finger and the socket base, and increases the local thickness of each fixed end and of the socket base for increased rigidity of the fixed end.