Patent attributes
A lamp for a light string has a mechanical shunt to allow current to pass to the next light in the event of a missing bulb. A resilient shunt is held in a generally lateral orientation by a shunt holder within the socket. When the hollow base with its bottom opening is inserted into the socket, the walls of the base cam the ends of the shunt away from the electrical contacts on the walls of the socket. Likewise, when the base is removed, the resilient lateral ends of the shunt return to engage the electrical contacts. The timing of the contact by the shunt with the electrical contacts avoids arcing. Additionally, slits formed in the wall of the base allows the Dumet wires to exit the sides of the base in the correct location for engaging the electrical contacts, thus reducing the instances of misaligned Dumet wires.
