Water-Resistant Light String Lamp Holder With Sealed Wire Exits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Decorative light strings used outdoors are prone to water ingress due to unsealed construction, leading to potential damage and malfunction from moisture exposure.
Innovation Solution
A water-resistant decorative lighting system featuring a hinged lamp holder with locking mechanisms, a waterproofing device that seals around the light source and wiring harness, and an electrically insulating member, using materials like ethylene propylene rubber and heat shrink tubes to prevent water intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If decorative light strings are used outdoors, then they can provide lighting and decoration in outdoor environments, but they are prone to water ingress that causes damage and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp assembly is divided into separate components including a lamp holder, outer bulb, light source, and waterproofing device that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to achieve water resistance and outdoor usability.
Solution Approach 2:
A waterproofing device is introduced as an intermediary component between the electrical components and the external environment. This waterproofing device includes seals and gaskets that prevent water ingress while allowing the lamp assembly to function outdoors, thus resolving the contradiction between outdoor usability and water resistance.
2Ease of operation
If wires exit through holes in the base of the lamp assembly, then electrical connection is enabled, but water can enter through these holes and cause short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproofing device incorporates flexible seals and gaskets that conform to the wire exit holes in the lamp holder base. These flexible sealing elements maintain electrical connectivity through the wires while preventing water from penetrating through the same pathways, thus enabling electrical connection while blocking water ingress.
3Reliability
If the lamp assembly is entirely sealed, then water resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating a single entirely sealed unit, the lamp assembly is segmented into multiple components (lamp holder, outer bulb, waterproofing device) that are assembled together. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing each component to be produced separately with standard processes, while the combination achieves the required water resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproofing device serves as an intermediary that provides water resistance without requiring the entire assembly to be heavily sealed. This approach uses targeted sealing at critical points (wire exits, component interfaces) rather than comprehensive sealing, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliability.
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 lamp assemblies, ensuring reliable operation and durability in outdoor weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a waterproofing device, and an outer bulb... at least a portion of the waterproofing device can be configured to seal around at least a portion of the light source... at least a portion of the waterproofing device can be configured to seal around at least a portion of the wiring harness
Implementation Method 2
The light source can comprise one or more electrical contacts. The electrically insulating member can be configured to insert between the one or more electrical contacts
Implementation Method 3
using materials like ethylene propylene rubber and heat shrink tubes to prevent water intrusion
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.