Abstract:
A system of interlocking, rigid or semi-rigid, components which when connected provide a modular, easy-to-install, direct, decorative, lighting system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/416,910, filed Apr. 1, 2009, and entitled Interlocking System for Hanging Decorative Lights and Fixtures, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by this reference. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/041,253, filed Apr. 1, 2008, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to decorative lights and fixtures. More specifically, various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices and systems for interlocking and hanging decorative lights and fixtures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Outdoor decorative lighting of the type that is typically hung during the holidays has typically been comprised of light strings which when hung do not provide uniform lighting unless each bulb is individually secured using clips or other means. Individually securing each bulb is a time-consuming effort. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure provides a lighting system that can be quickly and easily installed to provide uniform, direct, decorative lighting without having to secure each bulb individually. Furthermore, one or more embodiments of the disclosure solve the problem of tangled wires as the wiring is embodied within rigid or semi-rigid components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of the disclosure&#39;s scope, the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view illustrating an example of an embodiment of a section of a lighting or fixture assembly including various features. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view illustrating a male plug end according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view illustrating a female plug end according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view illustrating a female end cap according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a flexible connector according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate various examples of mounting brackets adapted to couple a section of a lighting fixture to one or more different surfaces. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view illustrating a permanent mounting bracket according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view illustrating an “L”-bracket according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view illustrating a “U”-bracket according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view illustrating a “hinged” bracket according to at least one embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view illustrating a spacer according to at least one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The illustrations presented herein are, in some instances, not actual views of any particular interlocking components, end caps, plugs, sockets, mounting brackets, connectors, or light bulbs, but are merely idealized representations which are employed to describe the present devices and methods. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical reference designation. 
         [0018]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices and systems for hanging decorative lights and fixtures.  FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional or isometric view illustrating an example of an interlocking section  100  of a decorative lighting or fixture system. The interlocking section  100  includes an elongated housing  102  comprising a first longitudinal end  104  and a second longitudinal end  106 . The elongated housing  102 , which may also be referred to as a rail, channel and/or frame, can comprise a rigid or semi-rigid construction. The elongated housing  102  can comprise any of a number of various lengths. 
         [0019]    The elongated housing  102  further includes an internal cavity (not shown) through which an electrical conduit (not shown) is run. One or more apertures can also be included for receiving sockets  108  adapted to receive a decorative light bulb  110 . The sockets  108  can comprise any conventional socket adapted to receive a conventional light bulb and to be coupled to an electrical source, such as the electrical conduit running through the internal cavity of the elongated housing  102 . By way of example and not limitation, the sockets  108  can comprise C 7 , C 9  or other conventional sockets coupled to the internal electrical conduit. 
         [0020]    A male plug  112  having male prongs (e.g., a plurality of male conductors) can be coupled to the first or second longitudinal end  104 ,  106 . In the illustrated example, the male plug  112  is coupled to the second longitudinal end  106 . In addition, a female plug  114  (e.g., female receptacles corresponding to, and adapted to receive the male prongs) is coupled to the other of the first or second longitudinal end  104 ,  106  of the elongated housing  102 . In the illustrated example, a female plug  114  is coupled to the first longitudinal end  104 , and another female plug  114  is shown coupled to the male plug  112  with a spacer  1000  disposed between the two at the second longitudinal end  106 . Both the male and female plugs  112 ,  114  at each longitudinal end  104 ,  106  are electrically coupled to the electrical conduit running through the internal cavity of the elongated housing  102 . 
         [0021]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , an isometric view is shown illustrating a male plug  112  according to at least one embodiment. The male plug  112  comprises a plurality of male prongs (or male conductors)  202  positioned in a cavity  204  surrounded and defined by shroud  203 . The male plug  112  also includes a housing attachment end  206  adapted to be received in the elongated housing  102 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , an isometric view is shown illustrating a female plug  114  according to at least one embodiment. The female plug  114  includes female receptacles  302  corresponding to the male prongs  202  of the male plug  112  (see  FIG. 2 ) for receiving therein and completing an electrical circuit, as is common among male and female plugs. The female receptacles  302  are positioned in a projection  304  adapted to be received into the cavity  204  of the male plug  112  (see  FIG. 2 ), as illustrated at the second longitudinal end  106  of the elongated housing  102  in  FIG. 1 . The female plug  114  also includes a housing attachment end  306  adapted to be received in the elongated housing  102 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, a collar  305  is disposed about the female plug  114  between projection  304  and housing attachment end  306 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0023]    The male and female plugs  112 ,  114  can facilitate electrically coupling multiple interlocking sections  100  together in such a manner as to enable the electrical conduit to continue from one section to the next to form a decorative lighting or fixture system consisting of several interlocking sections  100 . Although the example shown illustrates only a straight interlocking sections  100 , in some implementations, an interlocking section  100  can be shaped to provide illuminated or non-illuminated letters or words, illuminated or non-illuminated designs (such as stars, birthday cakes, etc.), motorized gadgets, etc. such that each of these sections can be plugged into the system between any two other interlocking sections  100  (or between an interlocking section  100  and an end cap  400  described below). 
         [0024]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , an isometric view of an end cap  400  is illustrated according to at least one embodiment. The end cap  400  is adapted to cover or “cap” a plug coupled to the elongated housing to end a string of a plurality of interlocking sections  100 . The end cap  400  shown is adapted to “cap” a male plug  112  and accordingly includes female receptacles  402  adapted to receive the male prongs  202  of the male plug  112  (see  FIG. 2 ). The end cap  400  also includes a projection  404  adapted to be received into the cavity  204  of the male plug  112  (see  FIG. 2 ) and a shoulder  406 . In this manner, the end cap  400  covers the male plug  112  and ends the electrical circuit. 
         [0025]    In some instances an interlocking section  100  of a decorative lighting fixture assembly (see, e.g.,  FIG. 1 ) may be coupled to another interlocking section  100  of the decorative lighting fixture assembly at a corner or at one of various angles.  FIG. 5  illustrates a flexible connector adapted to facilitate such connections between interlocking sections  100  about corners and/or various angles. As illustrated, the flexible connector  500  includes a male plug connector  502  at one longitudinal end, and a female plug connector  504  at an opposing longitudinal end. The male plug connector  502  is electrically coupled to the female plug connector  504  with a flexible cord  506  extending between the two. The female plug connector  504  can be configured similar to the female plug  114  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The male plug connector  502  can be configured similar to the male plug  112  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or the male plug connector  502  can be adapted to also plug into a standard electrical outlet for providing power to one end of the assembly. 
         [0026]    The various interlocking sections  100  of a decorative lighting or fixture assembly can be hung or otherwise attached to various surfaces with one or more mechanical or magnetic mounting brackets. Such mounting brackets can be attached to each section  100  for hanging each section  100  on various surfaces, such as eaves, rain gutters, walls, etc.  FIGS. 6-9  illustrate various examples of mounting brackets that may be used in various implementations. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a permanent mounting bracket  600  is shown according to at least one embodiment. The permanent mounting bracket  600  includes a plate  602  with one or more apertures  604  therein, and a hook-shaped protrusion  606  extending from one side of the plate  602 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows an example of a mounting bracket embodied as an “L”-bracket  700  according to at least one implementation. The “L”-bracket  700  is configured with a channel  702  sized and configured to fit over a portion of the projection  304  of the female plug  114  (see  FIG. 3 ). Referring briefly to  FIG. 1 , the section  100  of the decorative lighting or fixture assembly illustrates an “L”-bracket  700  coupled to the female plug  114  at the first longitudinal end  104 . As illustrated, the channel  702  of the “L”-bracket  700  is disposed around a portion of the projection  304  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the female plug  114 . Returning to  FIG. 7 , the “L”-bracket further includes an attachment arm  704  extending from the channel  702  and adapted to be coupled to a flat surface. By way of example and not limitation, the “L”-bracket  700  may be employed for mounting the section  100  to a flat surface, such as a front surface of a home where no rain gutter is present. 
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a mounting bracket embodied as a “U”-bracket  800 , according to at least one implementation. The “U”-bracket  800  is configured with a channel  802  that is similar to the channel  702  of  FIG. 7  described above. A “U”-shaped clip  804  is also included. By way of example and not limitation, the “U”-bracket  800 , with its clip  804 , may be employed for mounting to a rain gutter or other surfaces. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of another example of a mounting bracket, where the mounting bracket is embodied as a “hinged” bracket  900 . The “hinged” bracket  900  also includes a channel  902  similar to the channels  702  and  802  from  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The “hinged” bracket  900  also includes a couple of attachment arms  904  hingedly coupled to the channel  902 . The “hinged” bracket  900  may be employed for installations on rigid surfaces. 
         [0031]    As shown, various mounting brackets may be used, and at least some of which are configured to be coupled to a female plug, such as the female plug  114  of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . However, in some implementations, no bracket may be employed. In such implementations, a spacer  1000  may be employed between a male plug  112  and a female plug  114  when sections are coupled together, as shown in  FIG. 1  at the second longitudinal end  106 . With reference to  FIG. 10 , illustrating an isometric view of a spacer  1000  according to at least one embodiment, the spacer  1000  comprises a channel  1002  that is configured similar to the channels  702 ,  802  and  902  of the various mounting brackets in  FIGS. 7-9 . 
         [0032]    The various embodiments described herein above provide for decorative lighting or fixture systems that can be quickly and easily installed to provide uniform, direct, decorative lighting without having to secure each bulb individually. Furthermore, one or more embodiments described above results in decorative lighting systems that are not subject to conventional problems relating to tangling wires, as the wiring is at least substantially enclosed within rigid or semi-rigid interlocking sections. 
         [0033]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.