Patent Publication Number: US-10788193-B2

Title: Removable clamp for decorative lights

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to removable clamps, and more particularly to removable clamps that facilitate the hanging of light strings on metal surfaces on the outside of buildings. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 And 1.98 
     Decorative lights typically do not come provided with means for mounting them to display surfaces, such as housing sides. People have used many methods for hanging up decorative lights and other objects from the roof or on the side of their residence. For decorative lights, typically, staples or nails are used. Staples are used to staple the wire strand of the decorative lights to the roof edge or to the side of the residence, and nails are put in place so that the wire strand of the decorative lights wraps around the nails. However, stapling has several potential drawbacks, including damage to the mounting surface, which increases with repeated mounting and dismounting of the decorative lights, and potential damage to the wire strand of the decorative lights. The decorative lights installer is also exposed to injury during the stapling process. Nails also have similar drawbacks as staples. 
     It is desirable to have a method for temporarily mounting decorative lights (and other objects) to a mounting surface, such as a roofing edge, without the need for damaging the surface. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A removable clamp for a light string is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the removable clamp comprises a base with engagement members designed to engage a portion of a wire in the light string. The removable clamp also comprises a cap, wherein the cap is attached to the base by a hinge connection at one side and is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cap comprises a peripheral skirt and friction members, wherein the peripheral skirt comprises a first set of openings positioned on a plane parallel to the hinge connection in the closed position and the friction members are arranged to form a second set of openings on the plane parallel to the hinge connection in the closed position, wherein the portion of the wire is designed to fit in the first set of openings and in the second set of openings; wherein the open position of the cap exposes the engagement members of the base. The removable clamp may also comprise a magnet embedded in the base such that the magnet does not protrude outside of the base. In some embodiments, the clamp is made from plastic. 
     In some embodiments, the magnet is a neodymium magnet. The magnet can be a disc one half inch in diameter and ⅛ inch thick. The magnet can be embedded flush with a bottom surface of the base and is opposite the engagement members. 
     In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the base can be circular. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional area can be rectangular. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a removable clamp for a light string is provided. The removable clamp comprises a base with engagement members designed to engage a portion of a wire in the light string; a cap wherein the cap comprises a peripheral skirt and a set of friction members, wherein the peripheral skirt comprises a first set of openings positioned on a plane perpendicular to a top surface of the base and the set of friction members is arranged to form a second set of openings on the plane perpendicular to the top surface of the base, wherein the portion of the wire is designed to fit in the first set of openings and in the second set of openings; and a magnet embedded in the base such that the magnet does not protrude outside of the base. 
     In some embodiments, the cap is a screw top with the first set of threads along an interior surface of the peripheral skirt and the base comprises a base skirt with a second set of threads along an exterior surface, and the cap engages the base via the first set of threads and the second set of threads. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a method for installing a system of removable clamps for hanging a light string is provided. The method comprises selecting a location containing a ferrous metal surface. A portion of wire is positioned between engagement members of a base of a first removable clamp of the system of removable clamps. A cap of the first removable clamp is closed into a closed position from an open position, wherein the cap comprises a peripheral skirt and a friction member, wherein the peripheral skirt comprises a first set of openings positioned on a plane perpendicular to a top surface of the cap; and the friction member comprises a second set of openings on the plane perpendicular to the top surface of the cap, wherein the portion of the wire is designed to fit in the first set of openings and in the second set of openings. The base of the removable clamp is attached to the selected location via a magnet embedded in the base of the first removable clamp. 
     Other aspects, embodiments and features of the invention will become apparent in the following written detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a removable clamp in an open position in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in a closed position in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in the open position in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrates the first exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp used with a light string on a metal roofing edge hanger in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a fourth exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C  illustrate a fifth exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C  illustrate a sixth exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
         FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C  illustrate a seventh exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. 
     
    
    
     The above figures are provided for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosed invention. Use of the same reference number in multiple figures is intended to designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the particular embodiment. The extension of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosed principles provide a number of innovations, including novel removable clamps and methods of using same for hanging a light string. The removable clamp and method of using the removable clamps can be used for hanging decorative lights along the edges of a roof. The removable clamp and method can also be used to hang other objects along the edges of a roof. A detailed discussion of the exemplary removable clamps is provided below; however, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein are only exemplary and do not limit the broader scope of the disclosed principles. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a removable clamp in an open position in accordance with the disclosed principles. The exemplary removable clamps  100  is designed to hold a piece of wire of a light string between the base  110  and the cap  120  in a closed position, and then the clamp  100  is attached to a metal surface via the magnet  114  embedded in the base  110  of the clamp  100 . A plurality of the exemplary removable clamp  100  can be used to facilitate hanging of a light string on metal surface on the outside of a building. In the exemplary embodiment, the base  110  and the cap  120  are made from plastic, and can be constructed using a molding process. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the base  110  of the removable clamp  100  comprises engagement members  112  protruding outwardly from the top surface of the base  110 . In the first exemplary embodiment, the engagement members  112  are semi-circular protrusions arranged to fit a portion of wire of the light strand between the engagement members  112 . In another embodiment, the engagement members  112  can be shaped as grooves in the base  110  to accommodate a portion of the wire of the light string. 
     Opposite of the engagement members  112  of the base  110  is the magnet  114  embedded in the base  110  of the removable clamp  100 . The magnet  114  can be embedded so that the outward-facing surface of the magnet  114  is flush with the bottom surface of the base  110  and does not protrude out from the base  110 . In one embodiment, the magnet is a neodymium magnet. The magnet can have pull strength ranging from 1 ounce to 16 pounds. In the exemplary embodiment, the magnet is a disc that is one-half (½) inch in diameter and one-eighth (⅛) of an inch thick. As mentioned previously, the magnet  114  allows for the removable clamp  110  to attach to metal surfaces on the outside of buildings and thereby facilitate the hanging of light strings on the outside of buildings. 
     To ensure that the portion of wire of the light string is engaged with the removable clamp  100 , the removable clamp  100  also comprises a cap  120  that closes around the engagement members  112  of the base  110  to form the closed position of the removable clamp  110 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . By having a cap that closes around the engagement members  112 , the removable clamp  100  prevents the portion of wire from sliding up from or falling out from between the engagement members. The cap  120  comprises a peripheral skirt  122  with a first set of openings  123 , and friction members  124  with a second set of openings  125 . The first set of openings  123  and the second set of openings  125  are lined up with each other so that the portion of wire of the light string can pass through the openings  123  and  125 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the cap  120  is attached to the base  110  via a hinge connection  130  on one side of the base. The hinge connection  130  is positioned so that the portion of wire positioned between the engagement members  112  can also pass through the first set of openings  123  and the second set of openings  125  when the cap  120  is moved into the closed position. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in a closed position in accordance with the disclosed principles. As mentioned previously, the cap  120  is attached to the base  110  by a hinge connection  130  and the hinge connection  130  allows for the cap  120  to move from an open position to a closed position. In the closed position, the removable clamp  100  closes around the portion of wire  140  engaged by the engagement members (not shown), and the portion of wire  140  pass through the second set of openings (not shown) of the friction members (not shown) and through the first set of openings  123  of the peripheral skirt  122  of the cap  120 . The first set of openings  123 , the second set of openings  125 , and the gap between the engagement members  112  are designed to accommodate the width of the wire  140 , which can be any desired width for the application 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp  100  in the open position in accordance with the disclosed principles. As mentioned previously, the magnet  114  of the removable clamp  100  is opposite of the engagement members  112  of the base  110  and is embedded in the base  110 . In the exemplary embodiment, the magnet  114  is embedded such that the exposed surface or the outwardly-facing surface of the magnet  114  is flush with the bottom surface of the base  110  and is not protruding out from the base  110 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the removable clamps  400  used with a light string on a metal roofing edge hanger in accordance with the disclosed principles.  FIG. 4  illustrates a plurality of removable clamps  400  in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3  used with a metal roofing edge hanger  401 . As shown, the removable clamps  402  are closed around different portions of wire of the light string  404 , and lights  406  may be located on the light string  404  between the removable clamps  402 . The removable clamps are arranged so that the magnet faces the metal roofing edge hanger  401 , and then the removable clamps  402  are attached to the hanger  401  via the magnetic force between the magnet of the removable clamps  402  and the metal of the hanger  401 . In another embodiment, the removable clamps  401  can be attached to any type of ferrous metal surface or fascia on the outside of a building. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a side view of a removable clamp in the closed position around a portion of wire of a light string, with the removable clamp attached to a metal hanger. In other embodiments, the removable clamp can be attached to other portions of the metal hanger not shown with  FIG. 5 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. The removable clamp  600  comprises similar features as the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 : the removable clamp  600  wraps around a piece of wire  640  between the base  610  and the cap  620  by passing through a first set of openings  623  of the skirt  622  of the cap  620 . The removable clamp further comprise tabs  650  protruding from the exterior surface of the base  610 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the tabs  650  are located on opposite sides of each other on the base  610 , and in other embodiments, can be located at any location along the perimeter of the base  610 . In some embodiments, the tabs  650  are parallel to the portion of wire of a light string to be engaged with the clamp  600 , and comprises holes for screws to pass through and hold the clamp  600  in place on a wood surface. In some embodiments, the tabs can be used with a slot mount, as shown in  FIG. 7B . The tabs  750  of the present exemplary embodiment can be combined with any of the embodiments disclosed herein. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. The removable clamp  700  comprises similar features as the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 : the removable clamp  700  wraps around a piece of wire  740  between the base  710  and the cap  720  by passing through a first set of openings  723  of the skirt  722  of the cap  720 . The removable clamp further comprises a circular ring  750  protruding from the exterior surface of the base  710  and also wrapping around the bottom of the base  710 . The present exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp  700  is designed to fit in any type of slot mount, one of which is shown in  FIG. 7B . The ring  750  can comprise any diameter to fit in any size slot mount, and the ring  750  feature of the present exemplary embodiment can be combined with any of the embodiments disclosed herein. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a fourth exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. The removable clamp  800  comprises similar features as the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 : the removable clamp  800  wraps around a piece of wire  840  between the base  810  and the cap by passing through a first set of openings  823  of the skirt  822  of the cap  820 . The removable clamp further comprises a hook  850  protruding from the bottom of the base  810 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the hook  850  is located opposite the cap  822 , and is centered on the bottom of the base  810  to provide maximum stability. The hook  850  can have any angle of curvature to accommodate suspending the clamp  800  from the ground. The hook  850  of the present exemplary embodiment can be combined with any of the embodiments disclosed herein. 
       FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C  illustrate a fifth exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. As with the previous exemplary embodiments, the present exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp is designed to wrap around a portion of wire of a light string and to facilitate the hanging of the light string on metal surfaces on the outside of buildings. The exemplary removable clamp  900  comprises a base  910  and a cap  920 , connected together by a hinge connection  930 . The hinge connection  930  allows for the cap  920  to move from a closed position to an open position, as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . 
     In the open position shown in  FIG. 9B , the engagement members  912  are exposed. As mentioned earlier, the engagement members  912  may have any shape to accommodate a portion of wire of the light string, and in the present exemplary embodiment, the engagement members  912  are shaped as grooves to accommodate the portion of wire of the light string. Similarly, the friction members  924  of the cap  920  may also have any shape to accommodate the portion of wire of the light string, and in the present exemplary embodiment, the friction members  924  are also shaped as grooves to accommodate the portion of wire of the light string. In the present exemplary embodiment, the engagement members  912  span the diameter of the base  910 , and similarly, the friction members  924  span the diameter of the cap  910 . By spanning the diameters of the base  910  and the cap  920 , the engagement members  912  and the friction members  924  are exposed through a first set of openings  923  of the cap  920 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the engagement members  912  and the friction members  924  are positioned parallel to the hinge connection  930 . In other embodiments, the hinge connection can be positioned between the first set of openings  923  of the cap and at a corresponding location on the base  910 , so regardless of the position of the hinge connection  930 , the friction members  924  can contact the engagement members  912  to wrap around the portion of wire of the light string. 
     To ensure that the removable clamp  900  stays closed when the cap  920  is moved into the closed position, the base  910  can further comprise base friction members  916  designed to contact the inward-facing surface of the peripheral skirt  922  of the cap  910 . The base friction members  916  are shaped and arranged to accommodate the engagement members  912  of the base  910 . 
     In the closed position shown in  FIG. 9A , the engagement members  912  contact the friction members  924  and the peripheral skirt  922  of the cap  920  engages with the base friction members  916  of the base  910 . In the closed position, the ends of the engagement members  912  and the friction members  924  are exposed via the first set of openings  923  of the cap  920 . With the present exemplary embodiment, the shapes of the engagement members  912  and friction members  924  are designed to accommodate the size and shape of the portion of wire to be wrapped. 
       FIG. 9C  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the present exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp  900 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the magnet  914  is also embedded in the base  910  and flush with the bottom surface of the base  910 . 
       FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. As with the previous exemplary embodiments, the present exemplary embodiment is designed to wrap around a portion of wire of a light string to facilitate the hanging of the light string on a metal surface on the outside of a building. The exemplary removable clamp  1000  comprises a base  1010  as shown in  FIG. 10C  and a cap  1020  as shown in  FIG. 10B .  FIG. 10A  depicts the removable clamp  1000  in the closed position after the cap  1020  has engaged the base  1010  to form the closed position of the removable clamp  1000 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the open position of the removable clamp  1000  comprises exposing the engagement members  1012  of the base and the friction members  1024  of the cap  1020 . As shown in  FIG. 10B , the base  1010  is shaped to provide additional height between the magnet  1014  and the engagement members  1012 . The base  1010  may comprise any shape to accommodate the magnet  1014  and the engagement members  1012 , and in the present exemplary embodiment, the base comprises a generally rectangular shape. As with the previously described exemplary embodiments, the magnet  1014  is embedded in the base  1010  so that the magnet  1014  is flush with the bottom surface of the base  1010  and is opposite the engagement members  1012 . The engagement members  1012  are positioned between the base friction members  1016 , and similar to the previously described second exemplary embodiment, the engagement members  1012  are shaped as grooves to conform to the shape of the portion of wire of the light string. The engagement members  1012  and the base friction members  1016  span the length of the base  1010 , and in other embodiments, the members  1012  and  1016  can vary in length. 
       FIG. 10C  is a bottom view of the cap  1020  of the removable clamp  900 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the cap  1020  has a shape corresponding to the shape of the base  1010 , and is generally rectangular in shape. The friction members  1024  protrude from the bottom surface of the cap  1020  and are positioned between the peripheral skirt  1022  of the cap  1020 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the peripheral skirt  1022  comprises a skirt rim  1026  designed to keep the base  1010  in place when the replacement clamp  1000  is in the closed position. In the present exemplary embodiment, the peripheral skirt  1022  is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the cap  1020 , and the skirt rim  1026  protrudes from the end of the peripheral skirt  1022  in a perpendicular direction so that the skirt rim  1026  is parallel to the bottom surface of the cap  1020 . 
     To achieve the closed position of the removable clamp  1000  as shown in  FIG. 10A , the present exemplary embodiment allows the base  1010  to slide into the closed position. The base friction members  1016  of the base  1010  are lined up between the peripheral skirt  1022 , the skirt rim  1026 , and the bottom surface of the cap  1020 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the base friction members  1016  are designed to fit between the bottom surface of the cap  1020  and the skirt rim  1026  so that the cap  1020  slides into place on top of the base  1010 . By sliding the cap  1020  into place, the removable clamp  1000  provides a tighter and sturdier fit for the portion of wire of the light string so that the portion of wire does not as easily fall out. In other embodiments, the cap  1020  can be made from a more flexible material and thereby allowing the cap to clip around the base  1010 , especially the base friction members  1016 . 
       FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp in accordance with the disclosed principles. As with the previously described exemplary embodiments, the fourth exemplary embodiment of the removable clamp is designed to wrap around a portion of wire of a light string and to facilitate the hanging of the light string on metal surfaces on the outside of buildings. The present exemplary removable clamp  1100  comprises a base  1110  as shown in  FIG. 11B  and a cap  1120  as shown in  FIG. 11C .  FIG. 11A  depicts the removable clamp  1100  in the closed position after the cap  1120  has engaged the base  1110  to form the closed position of the removable clamp  1100 . 
     In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the open position of the removable clamp  1100  comprises exposing the engagement members  1112  of the base  1110  and the friction member  1124  of the cap  1120 . As shown in  FIG. 11B , the base  1110  comprises engagement members  1112  that are situated between threaded base friction members  1116 , and similar to the previously described exemplary embodiments, the engagement members  1112  are shaped as grooved to conform to the shape of the portion of wire of the light string. The base  1110  further comprises a magnet  1114  embedded in the base  1110  so that the magnet  1114  is flush with the bottom surface of the base  1110  and is opposite the engagement members  1112 . 
       FIG. 11C  is a bottom view of the cap  1120  of the removable clamp  1100 . In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the cap  1120  has a shape corresponding to the shape of the base  1120 , and is circular in shape. In the present embodiment, the cap  1120  comprises a friction members  1124  that protrudes from the bottom surface of the cap  1120  and is surrounded by the peripheral skirt  1122  of the cap  1120 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the peripheral skirt  1122  comprises threading on the surface facing the friction member  1124 . 
     To achieve the closed position of the removable clamp  1100  as shown in  FIG. 11A , the present exemplary embodiment allows the cap  1120  to screw onto the base  1110  to form the closed position. Because the inward-facing surface of the peripheral skirt  1122  is threaded and the outward-facing surface of the base friction members is counter-threaded, the threading of the base  1110  and the cap  1120  allows for the cap  1120  to be screwed onto the base  1110 . With a portion of wire situated between the base friction members  1116 , in the closed position, the friction member  1124  of the cap  1120  applies downward force onto the portion of wire to secure the portion of wire of the light string. 
     A method for installing a system of removable clamps for hanging a light string is also provided. A location is selected on a ferrous metal surface. Using a first removable clamp, a portion of wire of the light string is selected and positioned between the engagement members of a base of the first removable clamp. The first removable clamp can be any removable clamp of the previously described exemplary embodiments. The cap of the first removable clamp is then closed from the open position to form the closed position. At this point, the portion of wire of the light string is secured by the first removable clamp, and the removable clamp is attached to the selected location on the ferrous metal surface via the magnet embedded in the base of the clamp. In case the first removable clamp needs to be removed, the first removable clamp is removed from the selected location and then opened from the closed position to the open position, thereby releasing the portion of wire from the engagement members of the base of the clamp. 
     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is established by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. Further, the recitation of method steps does not denote a particular sequence for execution of the steps. Such method steps may therefore be performed in a sequence other than recited unless the particular claim expressly states otherwise.