Modular String Light with Detachable Cable Joints
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional string lights with light covers connected in series on the cable suffer from aesthetic issues and are difficult to assemble and maintain, as they require replacing the entire string when a single light cover is broken or a cable is damaged, leading to waste.
Innovation Solution
A string light design featuring detachably connectable light emitting units and cables with integrally-formed light covers, allowing for easy assembly and replacement of individual components, where each light cover has through holes for connection cables and nuts for secure attachment, enabling flexible cable length adjustment and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If light covers are connected in parallel with the cable, then assembly is simplified, but aesthetics deteriorate due to poor arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The light string is divided into modular light emitting units, each with its own light cover and connection cables. This segmentation allows individual units to be assembled independently and connected in series, achieving both assembly simplicity and aesthetic arrangement where each unit maintains its own structured form.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection cables are routed through the light covers rather than having covers attached parallel to the cable. By moving the connection points into a different spatial dimension (through the covers), the design achieves both easy connection and aesthetically pleasing series arrangement of light covers along the cable path.
2Shape
If light covers are connected in series on the cable, then aesthetics improve, but assembly and maintenance become difficult requiring replacement of entire string
Solution Approach 1:
The light string is divided into modular light emitting units with detachable connections. Each unit can be independently assembled and connected to adjacent units through connection cables, allowing easy assembly by simply connecting individual units rather than assembling the entire string at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection cables are designed to be detachable and reconfigurable, allowing individual light emitting units to be easily connected or disconnected from the string. This dynamic connection system enables simple maintenance by removing only the faulty unit rather than replacing the entire string.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single light cover is used for each light emitting element, then assembly is facilitated, but the entire string must be replaced when one component fails causing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The light string is divided into independent modular units, each containing a light emitting element and its own light cover. This segmentation allows individual units to be replaced separately, preventing waste by replacing only the faulty unit rather than the entire string.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design with detachable connections enables the recovery and reuse of functional light emitting units. When one unit fails, it can be removed and replaced while the remaining units continue to function, effectively recovering and reusing the majority of the light string components.
4Ease of repair
If components are made detachable for easy maintenance, then repairability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection cables are designed with universal male and female connectors that can connect any light emitting unit to any connection point on the cable. This universal connection design simplifies the repair process by using standardized connectors rather than complex unit-specific connection mechanisms, achieving easy repairability without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A string light includes a number of light emitting units, a number of connection cables, any two of which are detachably connectable to each other, and a number of integrally-formed light covers. Each of the light emitting units is connected to two of the connection cables. The light emitting units are received in the light covers, respectively. Each of the light covers defines two through holes that allow a corresponding one of the light emitting units and ends of two of the connection cables to pass therethrough. The light covers are connected to the connection cables.