Decorative light stake

A light stake for holding decorative lights has a generally S-shaped or script C-shaped light holder releasably or permanently attached to a stake. The mounting clip is formed from a resilient material. The light holder will hold light sockets of the three popular sizes of Christmas lights. Display holders displaying decorative figures and reflectors can be positioned on the light stake.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to stakes for displaying decorative lights and 
particularly strings of Christmas lights. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
The use of lights for decorating the exterior of a house is well known. 
Decorative lights typically consist of a large number of light sockets 
being wired together with light bulbs positioned in the light sockets. The 
string of lights is then attached to the face of a building, wrapped 
around a tree or hung on a seasonal display. The string of lights can be 
mounted by retaining either the light socket or the wire. The object of 
these holders is to display the lights so that they can easily be seen. 
The holders must not be adversely affected by cold temperatures and should 
be able to hold the lights during high winds which commonly accompany 
winter storms. Occasionally, the string of lights is strung on poles, 
usually by tying the wire to the poles so that there are several lights 
between poles. 
Most prior art light mountings which grasp light sockets only accept one 
size light. However, there are three sizes of outdoor lights which are 
commonly displayed. Because the prior art mountings accept only one size 
light an entire new mounting would be necessary if a different size light 
is to be displayed. 
In my U.S. Pat. No. Des. 331,360 I disclose a hook for supporting Christmas 
lights adjacent roofing shingles. This hook is comprised of a small stake 
which fits between the shingles having a single spiral at one end. The 
spiral end is sized to hold the wire of the Christmas light string, not a 
bulb or socket. Similar devices comprised of a stake or straight pin with 
a curved holder attached at one end have been used to retain other 
structures or products. Mahin in U.S. Pat. No. 441,429 discloses such a 
structure for use as a hanger for mounting gutters. Bornstein in U.S. Pat. 
No. 301,083 and Fenton in U.S. Pat. No. 1,625,303 disclose pins for 
holding price cards or securing upholstered parts of automobiles. A skewer 
having this basic shape is taught by Fricano in U.S. Pat. No. 2,578,182. 
None of these devices are suitable for holding Christmas lights. 
One type of conventional, permanent light mounting is a two-piece rigid 
configuration comprising a base portion and a light socket retainer. The 
base portion is in the form of an L-shaped configuration. One leg of the 
L-shape base portion is permanently mounted to a relatively flat surface 
of a house such as a window frame. The other leg of the L-shape is a 
channel member having flanges on opposite sides which accommodate the 
light socket retainer. The light socket retainer slides into the channel 
member. The light socket retainer has two resilient clamp members which 
grasp a light. This type of light mounting is described in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,540,687. 
Another prior art device provides an L-shaped light support bracket with 
one of the legs being fitted under a shingle. The other leg includes a 
hole sized to receive a light bulb. This type of light support bracket can 
also be positioned within a retaining strip which is permanently attached 
to a flat building surface. Examples of these light mountings are shown in 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,905,131; 4,901,212; and 4,851,977; and has been sold 
under the trademark "LITES UP" by Gary Products Group, Inc. This type of 
mounting is easy to dislodge and frequently will come loose during winter 
storms. 
Other related prior art devices are used for mounting electric lights on 
Christmas trees. One such device comprises a spring-biased H-shaped clip 
having a cylindrical light socket attached to the top of the clip. 
Multiple clips are connected together by insulated electrical wire. A 
light bulb is placed in each of the light sockets and the string of 
electrical wire is positioned on a Christmas tree wherein each clip 
attaches a light to a branch of the Christmas tree. 
Another device for mounting light bulbs to Christmas trees provides a 
resilient clamp which grips the light bulb and spring fingers extending 
perpendicularly from the resilient clamp which grasps a tree limb. 
Examples of light mountings for attaching lights to Christmas tree 
branches are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,782,296 and 1,895,656. This 
type of mounting is relatively expensive and difficult to make. 
All of the prior art mentioned do not provide a light mounting having a 
light holder which releasably or permanently holds the light sockets with 
the ability to retain various size light sockets. Such light holders also 
cannot easily be attached to stakes. 
There is a need for an inexpensive stake-like nonpermanent holder for 
retaining various size outdoor lights which will securely retain the 
lights when subjected to winter storms. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
I provide a light stake which holds all of the three commonly available 
strings of Christmas lights. The light stake comprises a preferably 
plastic T-shaped or rod-shaped body or stake one end of which is driven 
into the ground or inserted into a pre-drilled hole. An S-shaped or script 
C-shaped light holder is attached to the opposite end of the body. The 
light holder is flexible and sized to retain all common sizes of 
decorative lights. The light holder and the rod shaped body can be molded 
to form a one-piece construction. 
I prefer to mold the light stake as one piece, but it can be molded as two 
pieces, one of which is snap fitted onto the other piece. If desired and 
to enable the product to be sold in a smaller package, the stake also can 
be made in two pieces which fit together. I also prefer to provide nodules 
within the S-shaped or C-shaped holder which engage the light socket to 
more securely retain the light. 
Additional details, objects and advantages of the invention will become 
more readily apparent as the following description of certain present 
preferred embodiments thereof proceed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIGS. 1 thru 4, a first presently preferred embodiment of my 
light stake 1 is substantially comprised of a generally S-shaped, 
resilient light holder 2 attached to a T-shaped body or stake 4 having a 
pointed end 7 which in driven into the ground or placed into a hole made 
with a separate tool. I prefer to provide a reinforcing rib 5 on the rear 
face of the stake. S-shaped light holder 2 has a first semi-circular 
gripping member 6 on the left side and a second semi-circular gripping 
member 8 on the right side. The S-shaped light holder 2 is sized to 
receive the light sockets of the three presently popular sizes of light 
sockets. First semi-circular gripping member 6 has a larger opening 10 
than the opening 12 in second semi-circular gripping member 8. The light 
holder is preferably made of polycarbonate or a comparable plastic which 
permits the distal ends 14 and 16 of the S-shaped holder to be flexed away 
from the relatively fixed proximate ends 13 and 15 in order that either 
opening 10 or opening 12 can be enlarged to receive a light socket (not 
shown). The light holder 2 is preferably tapered such that the height of 
the gripping members 6 and 8 is smallest at the distal ends thereof. Each 
gripping member has an interior surface 17 or 19 and an exterior surface 
21 or 23. To more securely retain the light sockets a nodule 20 can be 
placed at the transitions between the interior surface of one gripping 
member and the exterior surface of the other gripping member. Nodules 
could also be placed on either or both interior surfaces 17 and 19. If 
desired a decorative figure or a reflector having a groove can be fitted 
over the top 24 of the stake 4 or the top 25 of the reinforcing rib 5. An 
example of a suitable decorative figure is is the angel shown in chain 
line in FIG. 9. 
In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the stake 26 is comprised of an 
upper portion 28 having a square cross-section to which the light holder 2 
is attached and a lower portion 29 having a pointed end which in driven 
into the ground. The lower portion 29 may be formed of metal or a stronger 
plastic than is used for the top portion to permit the lower portion to be 
driven into the ground without breaking. A collar 30 is provided to 
receive the distal end of the upper portion 28. The light holder 2 is the 
same configuration as in the first embodiment and also has a tubular 
mounting portion 32 which fits over the top of the upper portion 28 of the 
stake. In this embodiment I provide a display holder 50. The display 
holder has a base 52 and upright portion 54. Upright portion 54 extends 
from base 52 and may support a removable figure which surrounds the 
upright. The upright may have a rib 55 on the upright. The figure (not 
shown) preferably has a slot which mates with the upright of the rib 55. 
Alternatively, the upright may have a pin or tab which mates with a hole, 
slot or tab in the decorative figure as illustrated in the embodiment of 
FIG. 9. This holder may also be used to hold an extension cord or other 
objects. 
A collar 34 of the type shown in FIG. 6 can be used to stack one light 
stake on a second light stake. The collar 34 fits over the top of the 
first light stake so that the cut out 35 surrounds the area where the 
light holder 2 is attached to the stake 4. The bottom 7 of the second 
light stake fits into the top of opening 36. The T-shaped configuration of 
the stake 4 and the opening 36 provide a stable assembly. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternate light holder 40 and 41 shaped as a 
script letter C with at least one end that spirals inward. The script 
C-shaped light holder 40 or 41 is mounted on a stake 46. The C-shaped 
light holder 40 or 41 has an interior surface 42, an exterior surface 44, 
a first end 43, a second end 45, a first curvilinear portion 46 and a 
second curvilinear portion 47. The script C-shaped light holder 40 or 41 
is formed from resilient material such that it can be deformed to grip 
various size light sockets which are represented in FIGS. 6 and 7 as 
hidden lines. As shown in FIG. 7, end 45 can be extended such that a large 
light socket A can be held by curvilinear portion 47. 
FIG. 8 illustrates a way in which script C-shaped light holder 41 can 
retain three light sockets of different sizes. Mini light D can be gripped 
between exterior surface 44 at first curvilinear portion 46 and exterior 
surface 44 at second curvilinear portion 47. Further, a large light A can 
be retained by positioning light A such that exterior surface 44 at first 
end 43 and exterior surface 44 at second end 45 contact light A and retain 
light A against interior surface 42. A small light B can be retained such 
that light B engages interior surface 42 at second curvilinear surface 46 
and exterior surface 44 at first end 43. Nodules 48 projecting from 
exterior surface 44 may be molded into the C-shaped light holder 41 in 
order to better hold lights A, B and D in position. Although not shown, 
rounded or angled nodules 48 can be positioned along both exterior surface 
44 and interior surface 42. 
FIG. 9 illustrates another light stake 58 which can be utilized. An 
S-shaped light holder 59 similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 thru 4 utilized 
in combination with a stake 62, display holder 64 and decorative FIG. 60. 
The display holder 64 and light holder 59 are fitted onto pins 61. The 
display holder 64 has a base 65 and upright portion 66. Upright portion 66 
extends from base 65 and supports a removable FIG. 60 which surrounds the 
upright and preferably engages a guide edge 67 on the upright or has a 
pin, tab or hole 69 which mates with a hole, slot or tab 68 on the base 
65. Decorative FIG. 60 is shown as a angel but can be in any form such as 
a showman or star and as well as a reflector. Decorative FIG. 60 is 
preferably made of a transparent or translucent material so that light 
emitted from a light (not shown) held in the holder 59 will pass through 
decorative FIG. 60 and illuminate it. Although light holder 60 is shown 
behind decorative FIG. 60, display holder 60 could also be positioned so 
that decorative FIG. 60 would be located behind the light. This would 
allow passersby to see the light bulb as well as decorative FIG. 60 
positioned therebehind. Display holder can be molded integrally with the 
light holder or stake or can be formed separately and attached to the 
light holder or the stake. 
I prefer to make both the light holder and stake of clear polycarbonate or 
polypropylene. However, a variety of other plastics or metals could also 
be used. Further, more than one type of plastic or material can be used in 
one product. For example, the light holder when formed separate from the 
stake can be formed of one type of plastic such as polycarbonate, and the 
stake can be made of polyvinyl chloride. 
The light stake may be sold with a tool made of metal or a harder plastic 
for making a hole into which the bottom of the light stake is inserted. 
Such a tool would be particularly useful for hard or frozen ground. 
Moreover, if the manufacturer provides a tool for making a hole into which 
the light stake is inserted, the stake could be made using less plastic or 
a lighter weight plastic thereby reducing the cost of the product. The 
manufacturer may be able to achieve the same advantage by including 
instructions telling the buyer to use his own tool to make the hole. 
Although I have illustrated and described certain presently preferred 
embodiments of my mounting clip it should be distinctly understood that my 
invention is not limited thereto, but may be variously embodied within the 
scope of the following claims.