Decorative light display unit

A decorative light display unit for displaying one or more lights for a window display, table centerpiece, or the like, wherein a substantially rectangular hollow housing is provided with a top surface having at least one transverse opening therethrough to maintain a display candle extending from each opening. A glass or plastic sconce is disposed around each candle and supported by a groove formed around the transverse opening. The sconce includes a first tubular end supported by the hollow housing and a flared bulbous open portion disposed around the bulb of the candle. The flared bulbous portion is provided with a scalloped tip end and a ribbon secured around a reduced diameter portion thereof. A hinged closure door is provided for one end of the hollow housing to permit the insertion/removal of a suitable candelabrum therein. A notch is provided in the closure door to accommodate an electric cord supplying electric current to the candelabrum. Alternate embodiments provide (1) a hinged connection for the top surface and (2) a tongue and groove sliding arrangement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to decorative display devices and relates 
specifically to a decorative unit for displaying one or more lights of a 
window display, table centerpiece, or the like. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Single electrical candles or multiple candle sets are frequently employed 
during the Christmas Holiday season to decorate some or all of the windows 
in a house. The candles presently employed are usually constructed of 
light weight plastics and frequently are unsteady and/or require 
additional support to maintain their position on the window sill. Candles 
are also frequently employed alone or in combination with floral 
arrangements as table centerpieces during the entire year but more 
frequently during holiday seasons. The present invention is directed to a 
decorative unit for supporting and displaying one or more candles or 
lights for a window display, table centerpiece, or the like, in an 
attractive and stable setting. The term "candle" as used herein is 
intended to include conventional wax candles but is primarily intended to 
define elongated or tapered electrical lights that simulate wax candles. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative unit for 
displaying one or more candle lights for use as a window display, table 
centerpiece, or the like. 
Another object of the present invention is a decorative unit that may be 
employed as a stable centerpiece or as a window display for one or more 
electric candles. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention the foregoing and additional objects are 
attained by providing a hollow substantially rectangular housing unit 
having an open end, a closed end, a top surface, a bottom surface and two 
side surfaces. A closure door is provided for the open end and is hingedly 
connected to the two sides, or to the top and bottom surfaces, to permit 
selective movement between an open and a closed position for providing 
access to the interior of the hollow housing. The top surface in the 
preferred embodiment is removable and is provided with three openings 
transversely therethrough to permit the insertion of candle lights 
therein. Each opening is provided with a stepped circumferential recess 
therearound to support a specially designed decorative glass or clear 
plastic sconce. The top surface is also provided with a peripheral flange 
to fit over offset edge surfaces of the two sides and the closed end 
portion, and over the closure door for the open end. The closure door is 
hingedly connected to the two sides and is provided with a notch at the 
base thereof for the cord that supplies electrical current to the candle 
light fixture. 
In one embodiment of the invention, the top surface is provided with a 
tongue extension along each of its linear side surfaces to slidably mate 
within a groove provided in each of the respective sides of the housing. 
In another embodiment of the invention, the top surface is hingedly 
connected to one of the side surfaces to permit easy access to the housing 
interior for insertion/withdrawal of the candle selection. 
In each embodiment the top surface selected may be provided with one, two, 
three, five, or any other standard number of equal or diverse size 
openings to accommodate separate, individual electric candles, or 
conventional electric light candelabra.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 the 
decorative light display unit or housing of the present invention is shown 
and designated generally by reference numeral 10. Decorative housing unit 
10, as shown, is of a substantially rectangular configuration and provided 
with a top surface 11, a bottom surface 13 and two side surfaces 15,17. 
One end of housing unit 10 is closed via end closure 19 and the other end 
is open and selectively closed by closure door 21, having a notch 22 
therein, as will be further explained hereinafter. 
In the preferred illustrated embodiment, top surface 11 is provided with 
three transverse openings therethrough, as designated by reference 
numerals 31,32,33 (FIG. 2). A circumferentially disposed groove is 
provided around and slightly spaced from the periphery of each through 
opening 31,32,33 and designated, respectively, by reference numerals 
35,36,37. The spacing between through openings 31,32,33 and the respective 
grooves 35,36,37 therearound forms a bead surface with these beaded 
surfaces being designated, respectively, by reference numerals 41,42,43. 
Three sconces 46,47,48 are disposed over beaded surfaces 41,42,43 and 
rest, respectively, in grooves 35,36,37. 
Sconces 46,47,48 are formed of suitable glass or clear plastic and 
disposed, respectively, around individual candle lights 51,52,53 and 
consist of an elongated tubular end resting in respective grooves 35,36,37 
and an enlarged bulbous end disposed around the light bulb of respective 
candle lights 51,52,53. The enlarged bulbous end of each sconce 46,47,48 
terminates in a flared opening provided with scalloped tip ends, 
designated respectively by reference numerals 61,62,63, and having a 
ribbon tied around a reduced diameter portion of the bulbous end adjacent 
the scalloped tip ends. The ribbons for scalloped tip ends 61,62,63, are 
designated, respectively by reference numerals 64,65,66. In the 
illustrated embodiment, sconces 46 and 48 are of equal length, while 
sconce 47 is slightly longer to accommodate the longer length of candle 
light 52. 
In most candle light fixtures, candle lights 51,52,53 are fixed or molded 
into candle fixture or candelabrum 55 as a single unit. In some fixtures, 
candles 51,51 and 53 are threadingly received in the base of a candle 
fixture or candelabrum 55 received within hollow decorative housing unit 
11, as will be further explained hereinafter. A suitable lead wire 56 
extends from candle fixture 55 through notch 22 for connection via plug 57 
to a suitable electrical current source (not shown), in a conventional 
manner. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, a top plan view of top surface 11 is shown and 
illustrating the top view of through openings 31,32,33, the spaced grooves 
35,36,37 and the beaded surfaces 41,42 and 43. 
FIG. 3a is a top plan view of an alternate top surface 11a designed for a 
decorative unit for displaying only one candle therein. As shown, top 
surface 11a is provided with one transverse through opening 32a having a 
spaced peripheral groove 36a therearound to form a beaded surface 42a and 
to support a suitable sconce (not shown). 
Referring now to FIG. 4, closure door 21 is provided with oppositely 
disposed hinge pins 67,68 extending from the side portions thereof and 
adjacent the door end opposite to notch 22. Hinge pins 67,68 are 
positioned in suitable openings (not illustrated) provided in side 
surfaces 15 and 17 and adjacent to top surface 11 to hingedly attach 
closure door 21 to housing unit 10. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 two embodiments of top surface 11 are shown. 
In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5, and that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 
top surface 11 is received within offset or stepped portions 70 provided 
in the mating surfaces of sides 15,17 (and end closure 19, not visible in 
this FIG.). A peripheral flange 71 on the stepped periphery of top surface 
11 extends over sides 15,17, end closure 19 and closure door 21 when top 
closure 11 is in the closed position. 
In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 6, top surface 11 is provided with a 
tongue extension 73,74 on the respective longitudinal edges thereof that 
slidably engage grooves 76,77 provided along the respective inside 
surfaces of sides 15,17. 
In each of the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, the end view illustrated is 
taken from the end having through opening 33 therein with opening 33, 
peripheral groove 37, and beaded surface 43 being shown in dotted line. 
In the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 7, top surface 11 is shown in the 
open position and is provided with a pair of hinges 81,82 releasably 
connecting top surface 11 to decorative unit 10. 
In operation, or assembly of the component parts, candles 51,52,53 and 
attached fixture 55 are positioned within hollow housing unit 10 while top 
surface 11 is removed therefrom (FIGS. 1-3). Electric cord 56 and the 
attached plug 57, provided on fixture 55, are extended through the open 
end of housing 10. Top surface 11 is then slipped over candles 51,52,53 to 
close housing unit 10. Upon closure of closure door 21, electric cord 56 
is received within notch 22 provided thereon and plug 57 is exposed for 
connection with a suitable source of electric current. When not in use, 
the excess length of electric cord 56 is pushed into, and stored within, 
hollow housing 10. Sconces 46,47,48 are then placed over respective 
candles 51,52,53 and received within respective grooves 35,36,37. Unit 10 
is then ready to be positioned on a window sill, or the like, with candles 
51,52,53 being illuminated upon connection of plug 47 to a suitable 
electric outlet. 
In assembly of the embodiment of FIG. 6, fixture 55 cannot be integral with 
candles 51,52,53 and must be provided with removable candles. In this 
embodiment, the candles employed are threadingly removed from fixture 55 
prior to placing the fixture through the open end of housing 10 provided 
for closure door 21. After insertion of fixture 55 in housing 10, closure 
door 21 is closed with electric cord 56 extending through notch 22, as in 
the previously described embodiment. The threaded candles are then 
inserted through the transverse openings in top surface 11 and received in 
the sockets in fixture 55. The decorative sconces are then positioned 
around the candles, as described hereinbefore in reference to the 
embodiment of FIGS. 1-2. 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the exposed ends of candles 
51,52,53 are inserted through respective openings 31,32,33 of top surface 
11 with attached fixture 55 coming to rest against the inside portion of 
top surface 11. Cord 56 and plug 57 are positioned through the open end of 
housing 10 while closure door is in the open position shown in this FIG. 
While holding fixture 55 against the inside portion of top surface 11, the 
top surface is rotated about hinges 81,82 to close the top of housing 10. 
This closure of top surface 11 positions fixture 55 within housing 10 and 
leaves candles 51,52,53 extending therefrom. Closure door 21 is then 
closed to leave cord 56 extending through notch 22 as shown in FIG. 1. The 
decorative sconces are also employed in this embodiment as in the 
previously described embodiments. 
No specific dimensions or materials have been mentioned for constructing 
display unit 10. In a specific example, housing unit 10 was constructed 
from one-half inch valsa wood and had a height of two and one-quarter 
inches, a width of two inches and a length of nine inches. The balsa wood 
was decorated by painting the entire exposed surfaces white. In another 
example, the balsa wood unit 10 was constructed, as described, and hand 
painted to produce a Christmas scene on one side surface, a poinsettia 
arrangement on the other side, and the end surfaces painted white. 
Obviously, this decoration may be custom designed for the user, or the 
occasion, and could include staining, the use of scrolled initials, 
stenciling, or the like. Also, the dimensions chosen in this specific 
embodiment were for a three light candelabrum but could be used with a 
single candle by using the top surface illustrated in FIG. 3a. Also, a 
single or pair of candles may be used with the top surface illustrated in 
FIG. 3 with the excess hole(s) therein being suitably plugged, covered, or 
employed to display a flower, flag, pennant, or other ornamentation. In 
lieu of the electrical candles, conventional wax candles may be employed 
in housing 10 for a window or table centerpiece decoration. 
In lieu of the balsa wood construction, plywood, solid wood, 
polyvinylchloride, or other suitable plastic materials, may be employed to 
construct housing 10. Suitable decorative surfaces may be formed or molded 
with the plastics or may be painted, scrolled or stenciled thereon, as so 
desired. 
Thus, although the invention has been described relative to specific 
embodiments thereof, it is not so limited and there are numerous 
variations and modifications of the invention that will be readily 
apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the above teachings. 
It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended 
claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically 
described herein.