Shapeable light string and methods for tree decoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lighted artificial decorations with LED light strings suffer from inconsistent light emission due to uncontrolled orientation of LEDs, leading to a non-uniform appearance and reduced attractiveness, especially as the number of lights increases, resulting in visible and unsightly lengths of insulated wire.
Innovation Solution
A shaped LED light string design featuring parallel wires with insulative material and gaps to allow individual directional control of LEDs, using translucent material to encapsulate LEDs and wires, and forming lighting sections with bends to direct light intensity, enabling uniform and aesthetically improved illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional insulated multi-strand conductor wiring is used with LED bulbs, then energy efficiency and reliability are improved, but the visible length of insulated wire increases and attractiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the insulation material from portions of the conductor wires, creating exposed conductive sections. This allows the wiring to be less visible and more aesthetically pleasing while maintaining electrical functionality. The insulation is selectively removed rather than completely eliminated, preserving protection where needed while reducing visual prominence in decorative applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different portions of the same conductor. Some sections retain insulation for protection and flexibility, while other sections have insulation removed to reduce visibility. This local differentiation allows the wiring system to simultaneously achieve reliability through insulation where needed and aesthetic appeal through exposed sections where visibility matters.
2Illumination intensity
If LEDs are distributed among branches, then illumination coverage is improved, but light emission uniformity deteriorates due to uncontrolled LED orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-positions and pre-orients the LED bulbs during the manufacturing process. Each LED is installed in a specific orientation and location that has been predetermined to achieve uniform light emission. This preliminary action ensures that when the light string is installed on branches, the LEDs emit light consistently without requiring post-installation adjustment, thus maintaining both coverage and uniformity.
3Area of stationary object
If more LEDs are added to increase decoration coverage, then illumination area is improved, but wire visibility and attractiveness worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes insulation from conductor sections to reduce wire visibility, allowing more LEDs to be installed without proportionally increasing the visual prominence of the wiring. The exposed conductive sections are less obtrusive than fully insulated wiring, enabling higher LED density while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
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 solution provides a method to control the direction of light emission from LEDs, enhancing the uniformity and appearance of pre-lit artificial structures by shaping the light strings to direct light intensity, thereby improving the perceived attractiveness and reducing the visibility of wiring.
Implementation Method 1
The insulative material is transparent or translucent, allowing light emitted by the LEDs to pass through the insulative material
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial tree that includes a tree trunk, branches on the tree trunk, a power circuit and a shaped light string. The shaped light string is on the branches, is in electrical connection with the power circuit and includes a pair of parallel wires and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) assemblies electrically connected to the wires, the LED assemblies oriented to direct a maximum intensity of light in a first direction. The shaped light string defines multiple of lighting sections, that extend from a main portion of the shaped light string and include a first longitudinally-extending portion of the wires, a second longitudinally-extending portion of the wires, the second portion being adjacent to, and in contact with, the first portion, an LED assembly adjacent the first and second portions, and a bend forming an end portion of the lighting section.