Abstract:
The invention is a device attaching to a building structure wherein decorative seasonal lighting may be installed, the device having a front cover member which conceals and protects the installed seasonal lighting when the user deems it inappropriate to display such lighting, so that such installed seasonal lighting does not need to be removed from the building structure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention is a device attaching to a building structure wherein decorative seasonal lighting may be installed, the device having a front cover member which conceals and protects the installed seasonal lighting when the user deems it inappropriate to display such lighting, so that such seasonal lighting does not need to be removed from the building structure. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     The following United States patents were discovered and are disclosed within this application for utilitypatent. All relate to varied lighting devices. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,414 to Branham, Sr., a Christmas light mounting device is disclosed having a V-shaped cover plate hinge mounted to a planar cover plate, a rear wall mounted to the eave of a house, the rear plate containing a plurality of bulb sockets, the V-shaped plate allowing the illuminated bulb to be displayed through such cover. 
     A device having a hinged light mounting board is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,863 to Premetz, having the mounting board hinged to the edge of a house with the entire device pivoting out of view under the edge of the house, the lights affixed to the pivoting board. U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,568 to Byers discloses a tracked light system for mounting to a surface in a variety of methods, the invention including a snap on cover attaching to the light track to cover the illuminated view allowing the light to shine through such cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the invention is to provide a device to allow for a one-time attachment of the device to a building structure wherein strands of decorative lighting may be installed, the invention having a hinged cover over the lighting to protect the lighting from the off-season elements, in climate weather, birds, insects and leaves. This cover is also provided to temporarily block illumination of the contained lighting in lieu of disconnecting the power source. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following drawings are submitted with this utility patent application. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention with the hinged front cover in a lowered position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention with the hinged front cover raised. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the invention with the hinged front cover raised. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention  10  is a decorative lighting display device for the installation and display of seasonal lighting, as shown in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, the invention  10  comprising a rear panel  20 , a bottom panel  30 , a top panel  40 , and a hinged front cover  50 . The rear panel  20  has a front surface  22 , a rear surface  24 , an upper edge  26  and a lower edge  28 . The bottom panel  30  attaches to the lower edge  28  of the rear panel  20 , while the top panel  40  attaches to the upper edge  26  of the rear panel  20 . The hinged front cover  50  is attached to the top panel  40  by at least two hinges  42 , the hinged front cover  50  extending from the top panel  40  to the bottom panel  30  when the hinged front cover  50  is in a lowered position. The rear panel  20 , bottom panel  30 , top panel  40 , and hinged front cover  50  form a linear cavity  60 , such linear cavity  60  having two ends  62 . End caps  70  are provided with the invention which may be installed in the two ends  62  of the linear cavity  60  to enclose the linear cavity  60  from outside the invention  10 . 
     The front surface  22  of the rear panel  20 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings of the invention has a plurality of spaced hooks  80  which secure a strand of decorative lighting  100  against the front surface  22  of the rear panel  20 . At least one hole  32  is provided in the bottom panel  30  to allow access of the strand of lights  100  to an electrical power source for illumination. In various embodiments, the hinged front cover  50  has a plurality of interchangeable front panels  52  of varied color and transparency, the appropriate front panel  52  selected by the user. 
     The invention may be installed on an eave of a house or against a flat wall surface, the invention being attached with the rear surface  24  of the rear panel  20  attaching to the eave of the house or against the flat wall surface through fastening holes  90  provided in the rear panel  20 . In another embodiment, the invention may be attached to the soffit or underside surface of the eave of a house by attaching the upper panel of the invention to the soffit or underside surface of the eave of a house, provided that such attachment does not affect the ability of the hinged front cover  50  to be raised and lowered. 
     Once the invention is installed, the strands of lights  100  are attached to the plurality of spaced hooks  80 . Several of the inventions may be installed together with the linear cavities  60  of the inventions connected for the continuation of multiple strands of lights  100 , placing end caps  70  only on the ends  62  of the invention not connected to another invention. The material comprising the invention may be of a flexible or slightly deformable material allowing the invention to be installed on an irregularly shaped surface. In addition, the plurality of spaced hooks  80  may be provided in decorative patterns, causing the secured strands of lights  100  to form shapes, designs, patterns or verbal messages. 
     As disclosed, the invention may be used as a permanent installation for seasonal lighting, allowing for a one-time installation of the invention and the strands of lights  100 , with the hinged front cover  50  lowered, protecting the linear cavity  60  from weather, insects and birds. The hinged front cover  50  may be lifted for clear display of the illuminated strands of lights  100 , and lowered to prevent the illumination from display, in the event that the installed front panel  52  is opaque. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.