Light Stake Socket Structure for Straight, Secure Bulb Mounting
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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 to securely hold light bulbs, allowing for easy insertion and removal, and optionally including a shingle clip for roof installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional light string installation methods are used, then lights can be installed outdoors, but the installation process is cumbersome and tedious, and achieving straight and secure arrangements is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The light string is divided into individual light units, each with its own stake. This segmentation allows each light to be independently installed and positioned, eliminating the need to handle entire long strings of lights and making the installation process much faster and easier.
Solution Approach 2:
A stake serves as an intermediary element between the ground and the light bulb. The stake with integrated socket provides a pre-prepared mounting structure that simplifies installation by combining the support function (stake) and the electrical connection function (socket) into a single component.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional light string installation methods are used, then lights can be installed, but achieving uniform orientation of lights in a straight, perpendicular arrangement is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The stake is pre-formed with a perpendicular socket orientation relative to the stake axis. This preliminary preparation of the correct geometric relationship ensures that when lights are installed on stakes, they automatically achieve uniform perpendicular orientation without requiring complex alignment procedures during installation.
3Reliability
If lights are installed outdoors without proper support, then installation can be completed, but the lights are not properly supported against unfavorable weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The light unit is extracted from the vulnerable configuration of being part of a long flexible string and is instead mounted on an individual rigid stake. This extraction provides structural support that protects the light from weather-related damage and maintains its position securely.
4Ease of manufacture
If a socket with thin walls is used, then the socket is easier to manufacture, but the socket lacks strength to support insertion and removal of light bulbs
Solution Approach 1:
The socket base is designed with locally increased thickness at critical areas, particularly at the bottom and at the roots of the fingers. This local quality enhancement provides the necessary strength for bulb insertion and removal while keeping the overall socket design simple and easy to manufacture using standard molding techniques.
5Strength
If a socket with rigid fingers is used, then the socket structure is stronger, but the fingers cannot flex to facilitate insertion and removal of light bulbs
Solution Approach 1:
The socket fingers are designed as dynamic elements that can flex and move. The fingers are dimensioned to be flexible enough to deflect during bulb insertion and removal, yet connected to a sufficiently strong base that maintains overall structural integrity. This dynamic design allows the socket to adapt during operation while maintaining strength.
6Ease of manufacture
If a socket without strengthening features is used, then the socket is simpler to manufacture, but the fixed ends of fingers lack sufficient rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The socket design incorporates local parameter changes in the form of thickened regions at the finger roots and base areas. These parameter changes (increased local thickness) are achieved through standard molding techniques and provide enhanced rigidity to the finger fixed ends without fundamentally changing the manufacturing process or significantly increasing complexity.
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.