Abstract:
A novel decorative apparatus is disclosed that depicts various symbols including sports, school, or holiday symbols by providing a frame in the shape of the desired symbol. The frame is provided with connection devices that orient small electric lamps in a predetermined direction whereby the small electric lamps outline the symbol.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to lighted decorations and, in particular, to a lighted decoration having an ornamental and/or symbolic body shape. Holiday decorations utilizing small electric lamps are well known. Hanging decorations utilizing plastic frames of various types are also well known. In addition, decorations that depict sports team logos, school mascots, school symbols and the like utilizing small electric lamps have proved to be quite popular.  
           [0002]    There have been numerous embodiments of lighted decorations in the prior art. Many prior art embodiments utilized planar surfaces drilled with a plurality of holes in a variety of decorative shapes or patterns. The small electric lamps were then placed within the holes for ornamental effect. Other prior art embodiments utilized a plastic frame, rather than a planar surface, which contained a channel upon which connection devices were placed. The small electric lamps were attached to the connection devices in the channel such that the lamps were oriented perpendicular to the frame and the electric wires connected the lamps were routed through the channels.  
           [0003]    The prior art embodiments did not show or contemplate positioning of the connection devices on the plastic frame such that they would be oriented towards a predetermined viewing location. Nor did the prior art embodiments show or contemplate a means for hanging, the grouping of the lights for use of two or more frames with one string of lights, or direct current operation. It is desirable to produce a novel lighted decorative apparatus that utilizes these characteristics not shown in the prior art.  
           [0004]    An objective of the invention is to provide a novel lighted decorative apparatus that depicts symbols including sports, school, or holiday symbols by providing a frame in the shape of the desired symbol. The frame is provided with connection devices without utilizing a channel for routing electric wires that orient small electric lamps towards a viewer whereby the small electric lamps outline the symbol.  
           [0005]    Another objective of the invention is to provide a novel decorative apparatus that further provides a means for hanging the symbol.  
           [0006]    It is another objective of the invention to provide a novel decorative apparatus that may be connected to a variety of power sources.  
           [0007]    It is yet another objective of the invention to provide a novel decorative apparatus that may be sold as a plurality of symbols.  
           [0008]    It is still yet another objective of the invention to provide a novel decorative apparatus that may be embodied with or without the small electric lamps.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention consists of a preferably plastic frame approximately, but not limited to, six inches square in dimension with supporting clips that hold in place small lights such as those used for holiday decorations. The frame is preferably constructed in the decorative shape of a collegiate symbol or initial, the decorative shape designed to be viewed from a predetermined direction. Alternatively, the frame may be constructed in the shape of symbols for holidays such as a pumpkin for Halloween, or an Easter egg for Easter. The frame has an attachment with at least one built-in eyelet. Wire, string, or the like is then routed through the eyelet and used to suspend the frame in such a way that presents the image in the predetermined direction from which it is intended to be viewed.  
           [0010]    The frame is preferably constructed of clear plastic material in either rounded or multi-faceted form so as to enhance the illumination effect of the lamps. Alternatively, the frame is constructed of an appropriate color, such as a school color. A plurality of clips in clip bodies is located on the frame in a design to produce the detail necessary to clearly identify the image or symbol intended. The clips allow the base of each lamp to “snap in” and be held in position on the frame. The clips orient the lights towards a viewer in a manner that outlines the symbol. The alignment of the clips orient the top of the lamp toward the viewer such that the clip and the clip body are substantially hidden, permitting closer spacing of the lamps and enhancing the illumination effect of the lamps. The frame size is determined by the detail requirements of the symbol.  
           [0011]    A plurality of small electric lights may be provided with the present invention. The lights may be colored according to the symbol identity requirements, for example, orange for a pumpkin or a school color for a school trademark. The lights may be constructed in groups, for example groups of 40 lights, with minimal necessary spacing between lamps to minimize exposed wire. The groups of lights are connected by an electrical cord and the light groups are assembled with a gap of, for example, 36 to 48 inches between the groups to allow “random” spacing of a plurality of symbols if they were, for example, to be hung in a tree as Christmas ornaments. The electrical cord has on opposing ends either a plug or socket so the cords may be attached and hung in series. A plurality of symbols would accompany the electrical cord; the number of symbols corresponding to the number of light groups.  
           [0012]    In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes only the decorative shaped frame with associated clips and clip bodies. In this preferred embodiment, the lights are provided and installed separately by a consumer. In another preferred embodiment, the invention includes at least one and preferably a plurality of decorative shaped frames and appropriately colored lights or a set of lights. The invention, therefore, may be practiced with or without the plurality of lights and accompanying electric cord. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the spirit decoration in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  in FIG. 1; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a wiring schematic for the spirit decoration shown in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    There is shown in FIG. 1 a lighted decoration  10  according to the present invention. The decoration  10  has a body  11  in the representative shape of a capital letter “M” which can represent, for example, the initial of a school name. The body  11  may also be in the shape of a school or sports logo, a holiday symbol, or the like. The body  11  is preferably constructed of plastic or similar material, and may be of a rounded, multi-faceted, or similar construction. The body  11  is outlined by a plurality of clips  12  extending outwardly from the sides of the body in the plane of the body. Although only eight clips  12  are shown near the bottom of each leg of the body  11 , the clips extend along all edges of the body and are evenly spaced apart. The plurality of clips  12  outlines the body  11  in an appropriate design that produces the detail necessary to clearly identify the image or symbol intended. The body  11  is preferably “seethrough” clear plastic. The body  11  can also be of a suitable color, such as one of a school&#39;s or holiday&#39;s colors, while the lamps discussed below can be of a second school or holiday color. In addition, the lamps discussed below can be alternated in the two school or holiday colors. As also shown in FIG. 1, one or more eyelets  18  can be provided on the body  11  for suspending the lighted decoration  10  for display. Wire, string or the like (not shown) can be routed through the eyelets  18  for suspending the lighted decoration  10 .  
         [0018]    There is shown in FIG. 2 a cross section through one of the legs of the body  11  showing a lamp base  14  retained in each of the clips  12  and a lamp  13  installed in each of the bases. The lamps  13  are connected to wiring  15  to receive suitable electric power. The alignment of clip  12  in the plane of body  11  orients the top of the lamp  13  toward the viewer such that the clip  12  and the base  14  are substantially hidden, permitting closer spacing of the lamps  13  and enhancing the illumination effect of the lamps  13 .  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 3, the wiring  15  is connected to a suitable power supply  16  to light the lamps  13 . The lamps  13  may be designed to operate from standard household a.c. power, or from a d.c. power source such as a battery. If the lamps  13  are designed to operate from standard a.c. power of the type available in houses, the wiring  15  is provided with a plug (not shown) of the type used with standard electrical outlets. If the power supply  16  and the lamps  13  are not compatible, it may become necessary to utilize a power changing device  17 . If the lamps  13  are a.c. and the power supply  16  is d.c., such as a 12V car battery, then the device  17  is an inverter. If the lamps  13  are d.c. and the power supply  16  is a.c., then the device  17  is a converter.  
         [0020]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.