Patent Publication Number: US-2003235053-A1

Title: Seasonal light strand hanger

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to devices for hanging lights attached to and spread over the length of a wire and, more particularly, to a hanger for strands of seasonal lights typically mounted to a dwelling.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Holiday lights are a very popular and lucrative element of seasonal celebrations, and their popularity persists despite their effort-intensive and time consuming hanging requirements. Typically, the lights are attached to the home along the outline of the roof or other unique architectural features.  
       [0003] Holiday lights generally come as part of a wire strand, with the light bulbs hanging from the wire. The lights are attached to the house by clipping, nailing, stapling, or gluing the wire onto the house itself. In order to attach the light strands in a manner that outlines the roof, the lights must be attached along the eaves or the facia board. Because the desired location for attaching the lights is near the roof, the holiday light hanger typically uses a ladder or climbs on the roof to reach the proper place for affixing the lights.  
       [0004] The above requirements often result in a handyman-ballet where the fearless light hanger climbs a ladder with strand of lights and staplegun in hand. The light hanger must balance precariously on a ladder while simultaneously positioning the light strand for optimum aesthetic appeal and attaching the light strand to the house without toppling to the ground. The light hanger must then descend the ladder to reposition the ladder and properly attach the remaining portions of the light strand to the house.  
       [0005] In addition to the hassles described above, Holiday Light Etiquette, and many homeowner association contracts, place further demands and strains on the light hanger. Holiday lights cannot be left attached to the home year round; they must be removed after the holiday season has ended. This further requirement brings an entirely new set of hassles: the lights must be removed, the lights must be stored for the next holiday season, the lights must be examined for defects, and then re-attached in the Fall. This frustrating cycle continues each year.  
       [0006] Prior attempts to remedy this situation and save light hangers from the frustrating light-hanging-cycle have focused primarily on large metal or plastic housing units, with lights installed, that are permanently attached to the house under the roof. These housing units must be mounted onto the house and are generally large and cumbersome. The pre-fabricated housings are also disadvantageous because they only fit certain home designs and do not easily adapt to different architectural features. These housing units can hold anywhere from ten lights to an entire strand of lights. The lights are exposed either by opening a door on the front of the housing or keeping the lights on a rotatable plate that can be moved to expose the lights.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] There is, therefore, provided in the practice of the invention a novel device for hanging strands of seasonal lights, which can be left attached to the house year-round, for nearly hassle free holiday light ornamentation. The seasonal light strand hanger broadly includes a clip for holding the light strand wire, and the clip is attached to an arm that is hingably connected to a mounting plate.  
       [0008] In a preferred embodiment, the wire holding clip consists of two crescent shaped wire receiving structures, or clip heads, attached to the clip arm for holding the light strand wire. The clip heads have an opening opposite the clip arm and each other that allows the light strand wire to enter the selected wire receiving area defined by the clip head. The clip arm is a substantially straight structure extending from the clip heads to a cylindrical hinge. The cylindrical hinge is a cylinder with ridges along the outer surface of the cylinder. The ridges on the cylindrical hinge engage a locking projection of the mounting plate to hold the hinge in position. Attachment arms, extending in opposite directions from the cylindrical hinge, pivotally connect the cylindrical hinge to the mounting plate. Thus, the cylindrical hinge can rotate substantially freely around the axis of the attachment arms while the locking projection is operable to hold the hinge in a desired location. The mounting plate defines the attachment arm receiving area for connecting the attachment arms to the mounting plate. The mounting plate also has a mounting guide extending perpendicular to the mounting plate for positioning the mounting plate on the facia board. A mounting plate aperture allows the mounting plate to be fastened to the facia board.  
       [0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved holiday light strand hanger for mounting holiday light strands to a structure. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] These and other inventive features, advantages, and objects will appear from the following Detailed Description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views and wherein:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a side view of the seasonal light strand hanger according to the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is the same side view as shown in FIG. 1, but with the device shown attached to a vertical face angled facia board;  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of a cylindrical hinge component of the seasonal light strand hanger of FIG. 1;  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a side view of a mounting plate component of the seasonal light strand hanger of FIG. 1;  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a top view of the mounting plate component of FIG. 4, and;  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the mounting plate component of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0017] Referring to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a light strand hanger  18  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The light strand hanger  18  broadly includes a clip arm  20 , cylindrical hinge  24 , and mounting plate  32 . The mounting plate  32  attaches the light strand hanger  18  to a facia board  16  of a dwelling (not shown). The clip arm  20  grasps a wire portion of a holiday light strand holding it in position. The cylindrical hinge  24  allows the home owner to move the light strand from a storage position behind the facia board  16  to the display position below the facia board  16 .  
     [0018] The clip arm  20 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, comprises two substantially identical clips  22  defining wire receiving areas for holding the holiday light strand wire. The clips are crescent shaped, with each opening to the wire receiving areas facing away from the clip arm  20 . The clips are integrally molded with the clip arm  20 . The clips  22  are positioned proximate to a free end  21  of the clip arm  20 , with one clip attached to the top side of the clip arm and the other clip attached to the bottom side of the clip arm. Thus, the top and bottom clips  22 A and  22 B are positioned on opposite sides of the clip arm and have openings in opposite directions. The dual clips allow the light hanger to position the light strand wire either behind the clip arm or in front of the clip arm. The light hanger will also have the option of hanging two strands of lights on the same light strand hanger. Further, for added stability, the light hanger can wrap the strand of lights around the clip arm  20 , through both clips  22 . Alternatively, the clips  22  are staggered along the length of the clip arm. This dual clip arrangement gives the light hanger greater flexibility. In another embodiment, the clip arm can have multiple clips. The clip arm  20  is a substantially rigid structure extending from and fixedly attached to the cylindrical hinge  24 .  
     [0019] The cylindrical hinge  24 , as show in FIGS. 1 and 3, is a cylindrical structure having a rotating center cylinder  27 , two pivoting attachment arms  30  and rounded ridges  26 . The cylindrical hinge rotates around the axis  29  of the pivoting attachment arms  30 . The cylindrical hinge is integrally molded with the clip arm  20 , and the cylindrical hinge is pivotally attached to the mounting plate  32  by the pivoting attachment arms  30 .  
     [0020] The cylindrical hinge has between approximately fifteen and thirty ridges  26  on the outer surface of the center cylinder  27  running parallel to the attachment arm  30  axis  29 . The ridges  26  extend across the middle of the outer surface of the cylinder, and are generally evenly spread around the entire circumference of the center cylinder  27 . The ridges are rounded with a channel  25  between each ridge. The ridges and channels form catch areas for a locking projection  38 . When the locking projection  38 , which is also rounded and slightly flexible, passes over a ridge and slips into a channel, the cylindrical hinge stops rotating. If the cylindrical hinge does not rotate, the clip arm also does not move, thereby holding a light strand wire in either the display or storage position relative to a facia board. The cylindrical hinge maintains a stable position until the light hanger exerts gentle pressure on the clip arm to move the locking projection out of its present channel and into a new one. The rounded shape of the ridges and locking projection allows the locking projection to move smoothly from one channel to the next. Generally, the space between the ridges, that is the channels, are substantially equal to the widths of the locking projection. The hinge  24  and clip arm  20  can rotate approximately 270° to provide a broad range of motion and many mounting positions.  
     [0021] The cylindrical hinge also has the pivoting attachment arms  30 . The pivoting attachment arms are also cylindrically shaped and extend out from the center cylinder  27  along the axis of the cylinder. The pivoting attachment arms have smaller diameters than the center cylinder. The cylindrical hinge also includes inner tapered shoulders  31  and outer tapered shoulders  33 . They make attachment of the cylindrical hinge to the mounting plate easier. The tapering helps guide the cylindrical hinge into the proper position between mount legs  42  of the mounting plate  32 , thereby aligning the pivoting attachment arms with the attachment arm receiving areas  40 , for easy connection of the cylindrical hinge to the mounting plate.  
     [0022] The cylindrical hinge also has five pores  28  running through the center cylinder  27  parallel to the axis of the pivoting attachment arms  30  and the ridges. The pores  28  are positioned outwardly from the attachment arms  30 , and these pores  28  allow the center cylinder  27  to flex inwardly as the hinge pivots and the locking projection  38  passes over the ridges  26 . Thus, the pores  28  reduce the amount of force required to dislodge the locking projection from the channels and pivot the hinge. Further, the pores  28  reduce the material required for manufacturing.  
     [0023] The mounting plate  32 , as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, having a mounting aperture, locking projection and mount legs with receiving areas for pivoting attachment arms, fixes the seasonal light strand hanger  18  to the facia board  16 . The mounting plate  32  has a flat bottom surface with a mounting aperture  34  for attaching the mounting plate to the facia board. In one embodiment, the mounting aperture is a hole with straight sides for fastening to the facia board  16  with a fastener such as a nail  14 . In another embodiment, the mounting aperture has a slight bevel towards the bottom side of the mounting plate, allowing for properly fastening the mounting plate to a facia board using a beveled screw that will mate with the beveled aperture, so that the screw is recessed below or flush with the mounting plate surface. Other methods for attaching the mounting plate to a structure may be used, such as self-applied or pre-applied adhesive. The adhesive may also be used as a temporary hold while the fastener is attached to the facia board  16  through the mounting aperture. The mounting aperture is centered in the mounting plate to provide a suitable location for nailing the mounting plate to a structure.  
     [0024] The mounting plate  32 , in one embodiment, has two mounting teeth  41  on the top side of the mounting plate. The mounting teeth are located on each side of the mounting aperture  34 , although they could be positioned anywhere on the top side of the mounting plate. The teeth project slightly above the surface of the mounting plate and fasten to the facia board  16  when the mounting plate is attached. The teeth prevent the mounting plate from rotating around a central fastener, such as a nail  14 , as shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0025] The substantially rigid mounting plate  32  also forms the locking projection  38  that engages the cylindrical hinge  24 , specifically channels  25  of the cylindrical hinge  24 . The locking projection is located on the end of the mounting plate closest to the cylindrical hinge  24  component and is substantially co-planer with the plate. The locking projection is formed at the center of the edge of the mounting plate with two open relief areas  44  on either side of the projection. The relief areas  44  allow the projection to flex up and down relative to the rest of the plate. The two mount legs  42  of the mounting plate flank the locking projection. The locking projection interacts with the channels  25  of the cylindrical hinge  24  to prevent the cylindrical hinge from rotating. The locking projection is flexible enough to bend slightly as it,passes over the ridges  26  of the cylindrical hinge and has a rounded distal end  35  to make that passage easier.  
     [0026] The top of the mounting plate  32  has a mounting guide  36  protruding perpendicular from the mounting plate. The mounting guide  36 , as shown in FIG. 4, is placed behind the attachment arm receiving areas  40 , to provide the correct placement of the mounting plate on the facia board  16 . The mounting guide allows the light hanger to position the mounting plate so that the clip arm  20  will not be hindered in its rotation by the facia board. As shown in FIG. 2, the clip arm will rotate with the cylindrical hinge to position the clips  22  behind the facia board. If the mounting plate were fastened too far forward on the facia board, the clip arm could not swing freely into the storage position because the clip arm would hit the facia board. The mounting guide ensures the clip arm can rotate free of the facia board. The mounting guide also aids the light hanger when fastening the mounting plate. In one embodiment, the mounting plate is nailed into the facia board. The mounting guide allows the light hanger to hold the mounting plate from the side, exerting pressure at a 45° angle. The mounting guide prevents the mounting plate from slipping sideways due to the horizontal pressure. Therefore, the light hanger can hold the mounting plate away from the mounting aperture without moving the mounting plate while trying to hammer in a nail. This holding location is safer for the light hanger&#39;s fingers.  
     [0027] The two mount legs  42  define the attachment arm receiving areas  40  for receiving the pivoting attachment arms  30 . The mount legs are smooth and flat on the top, with a slight indentation  46  near the end of the mount legs  42 , as shown in FIG. 4. This indentation  46  allows the mount legs  42  to flex slightly when attaching the pivot attachment arms  30 . The mount legs also form the generally U-shaped receiving areas  40  recessed into the mount legs from the bottom, with slight protrusions on either end of the “U” on the bottom side of the mounting plate. The receiving areas are shaped to fit around the cylindrical shape of the pivoting attachment arms. In one embodiment, the pivoting attachment arms can be snapped in and out of the receiving areas in the mount legs, making the cylindrical hinge detachable from the mounting plate. In another embodiment, the receiving area  40  encloses the pivoting attachment arm, preventing the cylindrical hinge from being removed.  
     [0028] In one embodiment, the hangers are manufactured using a plastic capable of withstanding outdoor conditions, particularly ultraviolet exposure, climate variations, and precipitation. The hangers  18  can be manufactured in different colors selected to match colors commonly chosen for facia boards.  
     [0029] In operation, a light hanger will fasten a plurality of the hangers  18  to the facia board  16  or other components of a structure, which is typically a family dwelling such as a house or apartment. With the hangers  18  in place, the person hanging the light then inserts one or more strands of lights into the desired clip  22 . Assuming that the first installation occurs at the beginning of the holiday season, the light hanger would position the clip arms in a display position as the wire was inserted in the clips. After the holiday season, the light hanger will, instead of removing the hangers  18 , apply gentle pressure to the clip arm forcing the locking projection to ratchet through the channels defined between the ridges  26  of the center cylinder  27 . The light hanger would continue to rotate the clip arm and hinge  24  until the clip arm and light strand (not shown) are in the desired storage position.  
     [0030] When the holiday season arrives again, the light hanger simply rotates the hinge  24  and clip arm  20  until the lights are again in the desired display position. Thus, the locking projection selectively engages the ridges to hold the hinge in a desired position for either storage or display. If the light hanger wants to use lights for different holidays with contrasting light colors, such as Halloween and Christmas, an orange strand of lights is held in one set of the clips, and a red and green strand of lights is held in the set of other clips. The light hanger simply deploys the clip arm and supplies power to the desired strand of lights for the appropriate season. The second clip could alternatively hold icicle-style holiday lights. When the holiday season was complete, the light hanger could wrap the icicle-style holiday lights around the clips of the clip arm before moving the clip arm into the storage position behind the facia board.  
     [0031] The seasonal light strand hanger  18  according to the present invention provides a simple, adaptable system for year-round mounting of holiday light strands to a building. The seasonal light strand hanger is easy to attach to a building and adapts to almost any shape or architectural feature of a building. The present invention allows holiday lights to be moved between a storage position hidden behind a facia board to a display position located below the facia board, eliminating the need to remove and replace the lights each holiday season.  
     [0032] Thus, a holiday light strand hanger is disclosed which utilizes a hinged clip arm to move holiday lights between a storage position and a display position, thereby allowing the light strands to be mounted on a building year-round instead of only during the holiday season. While preferred embodiments and particular applications of this invention have been shown and described, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that many other modifications and applications of this invention are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. For example, the mounting plate could be fastened to the facia board using glue or staples instead of the mounting aperture, and the hanger could be used for something other than lights. It is, therefore, to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described, and the invention is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Though some of the features of the invention may be claimed in dependency, each feature has merit if used independently.