Light stake

A light stake particularly useful for mounting ornamental electrical lighting is provided which includes an elongated shank and a head presenting small and large loops for respectively mounting smaller and larger light sockets. The head is angularly oriented relative to the shank and the large and small loops are cooperatively formed, preferably oriented in opposite directions. The light stake is most economically formed of a single piece of resilient wire, and may mount either a small socket, a large socket, or small and large sockets simultaneously.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a stake used to hold and elevate lights, and in 
particular ornamental lights, and is configured to mount lights of 
different light socket dimensions. More particularly, it is concerned with 
a light stake configured to releasably retain one of a plurality of 
sockets of lights in a string whereby a single stake can economically 
mount lights of either or both of two different socket sizes. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Placement of lights along the side of a pathway is a custom during 
Christmas. The lights, called "luminaria" were traditionally candles which 
were placed in lanterns and lit on Christmas eve to symbolically light the 
pathway of the baby Jesus to a home. In many residential neighborhoods, 
candles or flashlights were held in sand within a paper bag, which 
diffused and colored the light, such that sidewalks and entrance walkways 
of entire neighborhoods are illuminated. 
More recently, a series of electric ornamental lights connected to a common 
electrical wire have been used as luminaria. These electric ornamental 
lights are popular in both "mini" and "regular" sizes. Because of the need 
to elevate the lights above accumulated snowfall to display the lights and 
to avoid the intrusion of moisture into the socket, small wire stakes have 
been used to hold the sockets of the bulbs. However, the light stakes 
heretofore developed have been configured to accommodate sockets of only 
one size. Thus, it has been necessary to manufacture separate light stakes 
for both mini and regular sizes of socket. Some purchasers use one or two 
different sizes of sockets, and it has not heretofore been feasible to use 
lights with sockets of both different sizes in combination. Moreover, some 
purchasers mistakenly purchase one size of light stake when desiring 
another, or have purchased both sizes of light stakes and commingled them, 
requiring sorting of the very similar stakes prior to use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These problems have largely been solved by the light stake in accordance 
with the present invention. That is to say, the present invention provides 
an economical light stake which is adaptable for use with either size of 
socket or, most conveniently, can simultaneously mount both regular and 
mini sized sockets. By a unique configuration, the light stake hereof uses 
a minimum of additional material, is easy to fabricate, and provides 
improved user flexibility. 
These and other objects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the 
art with reference to the following description and drawings:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawing, FIGS. 1 through 7 show a light stake 10 in 
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention which 
includes an elongated shank 12 and a head 14. The head 14 presents a 
relatively large loop 16 sized for mounting therein a standard or regular 
socket 18 of an standard-size ornamental lamp 20, and a small loop 22 
sized for mounting therein a smaller or mini socket 24 of a smaller 
ornamental lamp 26. The light stake 10 is preferably formed of a single 
length of resilient wire bent to shape, but it may be appreciated that the 
light stake may also be formed of two or more interconnected pieces and 
that it may be molded or shaped of synthetic resin or other resilient 
material. 
In greater detail, the shank 12 is elongated and while it may be made of 
any length to elevate the lamps a desired distance above the ground, a 
shank length of 6 to 8 inches is a typical economical length. The shank 
presents a ground-penetrating end 28 which typically need not be sharpened 
to achieve penetration. The shank 12 is most preferably formed of mild 
steel wire of a diameter of from about 0.06 to 0.12 inches, which provides 
sufficient ground penetrating ability, is resistant to ultraviolet rays 
and easily workable, as well as resilient. The shank 12 is connected to 
the head 14 at turn 30 which orients the shank 12 at approximately a 
90.degree. angle to head 14 as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. 
The head 14 is preferably integrally formed with the shank 12 of a 
continuous length of wire. The head 14 includes a stem 32 extending from 
turn 30 at a right angle to shank 12, a large bend 34 and a return arm 36 
which together form large loop 16. The large loop 16 forms a curved large 
throat 38 and a neck 40 between the stem 32 and return arm 36. The large 
throat 38 presents a greatest transverse dimension D which is greater than 
the transverse dimension N of neck. The head 14 also includes a small bend 
42 and a nose 44 which together with return arm 36 form small loop 22. The 
small loop 22 defines a curved small throat 46 which presents a greatest 
transverse dimension D', which is greater than the transverse dimension G 
of a gap 48 formed between the return arm and the nose 44, with the 
transverse dimension D' of small throat 46 being smaller than the 
transverse dimension D of large throat 38. The transverse dimension G at 
gap 48 is also smaller than the transverse dimension N of neck. A guide 50 
extends from the nose 44 and diverges from large bend 34. 
In use, the light stake 10 hereof is sufficiently economical to make that a 
number of the stakes can be purchased and used to hold light sockets in a 
string of ornamental lights. A regular socket 18 of a standard sized lamp 
20 is inserted into the large throat 38 of large loop 16 as shown in FIGS. 
5 and 7. The return arm 36 is spread to clamp the socket 18 between the 
return arm 36 and the stem 32, with the spreading action causing the large 
bend to resiliently bias the return arm 36 toward the stem 32. As shown in 
FIG. 4, a mini socket 24 of a smaller ornamental lamp may be received in 
the small loop 22 when the nose 44 is spread to receive the mini socket in 
the small throat 46. The spreading action causes the nose 44 to be 
resiliently biased toward the return arm and clamp the mini-socket 
therebetween. The guide 50 eases the task of spreading the nose 44 away 
from the return arm 36, and guides the mini socket 24 into the small loop 
22. Similarly, the user may grasp the small bend, return arm or the nose 
to pull the return arm 36 away from the stem 32 for inserting a regular 
socket 18 into the large loop 16, with the curved outer surface of the 
small bend 42 serving to aid in guiding the socket 18 during insertion. 
As shown in FIG. 7, it may be appreciated that the structure of the light 
stake 10 uniquely permits simultaneous mounting of both regular socket 18 
and mini socket 24 on a single stake 10. Thus, the light stake 10 hereof 
uniquely provides the capability to accommodate two lights of different 
sizes on a single stake, which provides an improved appearance and reduced 
cost by avoiding the necessity of placement of two different stakes for 
differently sized lights. The placement of the large loop 16 and the small 
loop 22 cooperate to enable the return arm 36 to function as a part of 
both the large loop 16 and the small loop 22, providing enhanced economy 
and allowing the regular socket 18 and mini socket 24 to be placed in 
immediate adjacency. 
Once the light socket or two light sockets are mounted in the head 14, the 
user may position the light stake 10 in the desired location and insert 
the shank 12 into the ground a sufficient distance to support the stake 10 
and any lights mounted thereon. The amount of penetration to accomplish 
this function will vary according to temperature, moisture, soil type and 
vegetation, and the distance the lamps should be elevated above the ground 
will be a matter of user choice. 
Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is 
to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and 
should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of 
the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, 
as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the 
art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
The inventor hereby states his intent to rely on the Doctrine of 
Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his 
invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but 
outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following 
claims.