Patent Publication Number: US-2016223171-A1

Title: Powered mounting clips for mounting decorative articles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage application (under 35 USC §371) of PCT/US2014/024107, filed Mar. 12, 2014, which claims benefit of U.S. application No. 61/777,599, filed Mar. 12, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The field of the present invention relates to mounting clips configured to mount onto a rain gutter downspout, household post, deck post, tree, pole, various sizes of lumber, doorway, or other comparable mounting surface. 
     Homeowners frequently mount various types of items onto the exterior of a building structure, including security lights, decorative lights, flags, and seasonal decorations. Many times, however, these items are not easily mounted onto building exteriors. Security lights, for example, are usually mounted onto exterior corners of buildings, using screws and specially designed mounting brackets. Decorative lights are often mounted with hook-type attachments, which are nailed or screwed into the building exterior or joined to horizontally disposed rain gutters. Flag mounts and other types of seasonal decorations are similarly mounted to building exteriors, using special attachments which are screwed or nailed into place. 
     Unfortunately, when lights, flags, decorations, and other mountable elements are not in use, the mounting devices used to attach these lights and decorations are left behind, potentially decreasing the aesthetic value of the building. In addition, when these mounting devices and their respective fastening elements are removed, damage made during installation is revealed. Depending on the material of the building structure, after removal of these elements, scratches, holes, cracks, rips, and tears in building exteriors are apparent. Besides negatively affecting the aesthetic appearance of building exteriors, the resulting damage may also provide entry sites for insects, water, wind, and dirt. 
     Various types of solutions have been proposed to attach lights, flags, decorations and other types of mountable elements to building exteriors. However, few solutions allow for attachment to a building structure without penetrating the structure&#39;s exterior. Moreover, few, if any, of these proposed solutions have considered attaching mountable elements, such as lights and decorations to rain gutter downspouts and other comparable vertically disposed mounting surfaces. 
     Downspouts, which are also commonly known as waterspouts, down pipes, drain spouts, and drain pipes, are vertically positioned conduits which are coupled to horizontally positioned gutters to carry rainwater from a gutter to ground level. Downspouts primarily direct water away from a building&#39;s foundation. By using downspouts, water may be directed to a sewer, rain collection area, or to the ground at a distance from a building foundation. Downspouts generally are positioned vertically against exterior building walls, and typically are coupled to building exteriors using straps positioned at various points along the vertical length of the downspout. Although some proposed solutions have considered clip-type attachments for decorative lights to horizontally-positioned gutters disposed along a roofline, these attachments are not adaptable to the shape and configuration of downspouts and other comparable vertically disposed mounting surfaces. 
     For these reasons, among others, there is a clear need for improved mounting clips used to mount lights, decorations, and other types of mountable elements. More particularly, a need exists for mounting clips that may be installed and removed repeatedly without causing significant harm to the supporting structure. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages, as described in the following summary. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect of the invention, a mounting clip is configured for attachment to a downspout or other comparable mounting surface. The mounting clip includes a frame having a plurality of extending arms and a central portion disposed between at least two of the plurality of extending arms. 
     In one mounting clip configuration, a blank receiving area, configured to mate with a blank, is defined in the central portion. Various types of mountable elements may be coupled to the blank, including hooks, clips, arms, and mounting plates. The extending arms, central portions and/or rear portions of the frame may include projections and channels, which are complementary to the mounting surface such that the clip engages with the surface without the need for fastening elements. 
     Variations include incorporating electrical connectors or conductive leads into the frame that are adapted for electrical communication with powered elements of decorative articles. The powered mounting clips may be electrically joined together, such as by wire connections, to form an integrated system of powered mounting clips. The powered mounting clips may be joined to power sources, such as batteries, and particularly battery packs associated with solar panels. The powered mounting clips may be linked in series with other powered accessories, such as staked lights, strings of lights and holiday decorations with movable parts or appendages. 
     A more complete understanding of the invention, including an understanding of the various configurations of mounting clips and decorative mounting articles, will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by consideration of the followed detailed description. Reference will be made to the appended drawing sheets which will first be described briefly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar components: 
         FIG. 1  is a right perspective view of one configuration of a mounting clip positioned for alignment onto a downspout; 
         FIG. 2  is a left perspective view of the mounting clip shown in FIG. I; 
         FIG. 3A  is a right perspective view of the mounting clip shown in FIG. I and a blank positioned in alignment with a blank receiving area on the clip; 
         FIG. 3B  is a right perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the first configuration of a mounting clip with a blank therein, wherein said blank is coupled to a flag or banner attachment; 
         FIG. 3C  is a right perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the first configuration of a mounting clip with a blank therein, wherein said blank is coupled to a hook attachment; 
         FIG. 4A  is a right perspective view of a second configuration of a mounting clip; 
         FIG. 4B  is a right perspective view of a third configuration of a mounting clip; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the mounting clip configuration shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a right perspective view of a fourth configuration of a mounting clip; 
         FIG. 7  is a right perspective view of a mounting clip assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a right perspective view of a fifth configuration of a mounting clip; 
         FIG. 9A  is a top view of a mounting clip configuration shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 9B  is a top view of a sixth mounting clip configuration; 
         FIG. 10  is a right perspective view of a decorative article coupled to a mounting clip; 
         FIG. 11  is a right perspective view of a decorative article having an integrated mounting clip; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one mounting clip configuration mounted onto a vertical post; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic perspective view of a house featuring a solar-powered display system that includes solar panels and battery packs in electrical communication with several mounting clips and several other powered elements, such as staked light bulbs and strings of light bulbs; 
         FIG. 14  is a partially exploded right perspective view showing a powered mounting clip assembly with a powered mounting clip and mating blank; 
         FIG. 15  is a right perspective view of the powered mounting clip assembly of  FIG. 14 , installed onto a vertical downspout or post; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  in  FIGS. 14 ; and 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  in  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning in detail to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-12  show various configurations of mounting clips  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600 ,  700 . The mounting clips and decorative mounting articles described herein are configured for mounting onto a downspout or other comparable vertically disposed mounting surface. As used herein, the term “downspout” should be broadly construed as any conduit that may couple to a roof gutter or drainage system on a building structure. Moreover, as used here, the term “building structure” should be construed broadly as any structure having walls suitable for installation of a downspout or comparable vertically disposed mounting surface. Such structures are therefore not limited to stationary building structures, but may also include boats, mobile homes, and recreational vehicles, which may be suitable for habitation. 
     It is also within the scope of this invention for the mounting clips and decorative mounting articles to be mounted on alternative mounting surfaces other than vertically disposed mounting surfaces. Alternative mounting surfaces may comprise, for example and without limitation, hand railings, deck railings, porch railings, whether horizontally disposed or angularly disposed, trees, poles, various sizes of lumber, and doorways. 
     The mounting clips and decorative mounting articles shown may be manufactured from a variety of material types. However, in preferred configurations, the clips and articles are manufactured with flexible materials, including, but not limited to, elastomeric, thermoplastic, and metallic materials. A representative metal is aluminum. Representative thermoplastic materials are polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polyurethane. A representative elastomeric material is rubber or latex rubber. Such materials should be substantially weather resistant such that they are not subject to significant corrosion upon frequent exposure to rain, snow, ice, humidity, etc. Alternatively, the materials may be impregnated with or coated with protective materials, such as but not limited to, antimicrobials, UV-resistants and/or flame retardants, which provide sufficient weather resistance. 
     Mounting clips and decorative mounting articles may also be manufactured with different types of colors such that they blend with the building structure or downspout material. Alternatively, mounting clips and decorative mounting articles may be manufactured having a contrasting color, decoration, or pattern that lends to building aesthetics or seasonal decor. For example, mounting clips may have a shape and color that changes the appearance of a downspout to appear from a distance to be a striped candy cane. In addition, mounting clips and decorative mounting articles may have shapes and colors that are complementary to other decor positioned close to the building structure. 
       FIGS. 1-3C and 12  show on version of a mounting clip  10  configured for attachment to a mounting surface  2 , such as a downspout  2   a,  a post  2   b  ( FIG. 12 ), or other comparable mounting surface. The downspout  2   a  is in a substantially vertical position against a building structure  4  and may be coupled to a horizontally positioned gutter  6 , which is coupled to a roof  8  of the building structure. Referring particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 3A , in one configuration, the mounting clip  10  includes a frame  12  having a plurality of extending arms  14  and a central portion  16  disposed between at least two of the plurality of extending arms. The frame  12  has a shape that is complementary to a profiled mounting surface  17 , which is represented in hidden lines in  FIG. 2 . A “profiled mounting surface” is defined herein as a surface that engages with complementary engagement portions of a mounting clip or a decorative mounting article, as further described below. 
     Where the mounting surface  2  is a downspout that has a generally rectangular cross-section with rounded corners, the frame  12  may be substantially u-shaped such that it covers front sections and side sections of the downspout. If the mounting surface, such as a downspout, has a generally circular cross-section, however, the frame may be substantially c-shaped. Other complementary frame configurations may also be realized, depending upon the cross-sectional shape of the mounting surface. 
     In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A , the mounting clip  10  includes at least two extending arms  14  each having an engagement portion  18  with a profiled inner section  20 . The clip  10  also includes a corner section  22  that engages with the corners  26  of the mounting surface  2 , while the profiled inner sections  20  is configured to engage with a profiled mounting surface  17 . The profiled inner section  20  of the extending arm also may include projections  30  and channels  32  that extend from an upper arm edge  34  to a lower arm edge  36 . 
     Opposing extending arms  14   a,    14   b  may be slightly tapered toward one another such that upon installation onto a mounting surface  2 , the arms  14   a,    14   b  are pulled apart. During installation, extending arms  14   a,    14   b  may then be released and positioned such that projections  30  and channels  32  of the profiled inner section  20  are in substantial alignment with the profiled mounting surface  17 . Thus, when the mounting clip  10  is installed on a downspout, projections  30  fit within or engage recesses or channels of the profiled mounting surface  17 , and ridges or raised portions of the profiled mounting surface  17  fit within or engage with channels  32  such that the clip is held onto the surface without the use of fastening elements, such as tape, nails, and screws, or the like. The engagement of the profiled sections  20  of the clip  10  and the mounting surface  17  is such that the clip  10  may be quickly installed onto the mounting surfaces by pushing force, and then in turn quickly removed by pulling the extending arms away from the mounting surface  17 . When the clip  10  is mounted on the mounting surface  17 , the extending arms  14   a,    14   b  provide sufficient force to hold the clip in place and to support various types of mountable elements  19 , including decorations, flag poles, and lights, as further described below. The engagement of the clip  10  to the mounting surface  17  is a snap fit or comparable to a snap fit, and the clip  10  may be installed and removed repeatedly from the engagement to the mounting surface  17 . 
     In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1-3C , the central portion  16  includes a blank receiving area  38 , having a varying wall thickness, with at least one wall thickness portion having a greater wall thickness than the extending arm wall thickness. The blank receiving area  38  defines a slotted are  40 , having one section with a substantially rectangular shape, and a blank opening area  42 . The shapes of the slotted area and the blank opening area shown in  FIGS. 1-3C , however, should not be construed as limited. Each of these areas  40 ,  42  may have any shape that facilitates mating with a blank  44 . Mating may occur by slidable engagement, snap engagement, lock and key type arrangements, male and female arrangements, and/or any other engagement method used alone or in combination that allows for mounting of the blank onto the mounting clip. 
     In the configuration of  FIGS. 1-3C , the blank  44  includes a protruding section  46  and a mating section  48 . The mating section  48  is configured for positioning within the slotted area  40  such that the blank  44  slides into the blank receiving area  38 . The protruding section  46  includes a face portion  47 , which is configured for coupling with various types of mountable elements. 
     Mountable elements include, but are not limited to, arm attachments  50  ( FIG. 3B ), hook attachments  52   a  ( FIGS. 3C, 12 ),  52   b  ( FIG. 4B ),  52   c  ( FIG. 8 ), clip attachments  54  ( FIGS. 4A, 5 and 6 ), plate or bracket attachments  56  ( FIG. 7 ), and decorative articles  700  ( FIG. 10 ). These types of mountable elements  19  allow a user to position flags or banners  53  ( FIG. 3B ), string lights, security lights, birdhouses, decorative lights, decorative articles, electrical outlets, and any other product type suitable for mounting. In alternative configurations, these types of mountable elements may be integral to the central portion, as shown particularly in  FIGS. 4A, 6 and 11 . Alternatively, hooks, clips, mounting plates, and similar devices may be directly attached to a central portion on one or more clips, using fastening elements such as adhesives, tapes, and screws. See, e.g.,  FIG. 7 . The central portion  16  of the clip  10  is preferably used as an attachment point for one or more mountable elements. As such, a mountable element may be coupled to the central portion using any viable method. Such methods include use of molding techniques, adhesives, fasteners  58  ( FIG. 7 ), and other types of fastening elements. 
       FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5  show other configurations of a mounting clip  100 ,  200  that may attach to a mounting surface  2 . Here, each mounting clip includes a frame  112 ,  212  having two extending arms  114 ,  214  and an angularly aligned or slanted central portion  116 ,  216  disposed between the extending arms. When multiple mounting clips of this configuration are coupled to a downspout, the downspout may have a striped appearance when viewed from a distance. For example, where the downspout is white and the clips  100 ,  200  are red, from a distance, the downspout may look like a candy cane. This type of configuration is therefore particularly suitable for use as a decorative element during the Christmas holidays.  FIGS. 4A and 5  show a clip-type attachment  54  which may be used to string lights, garland, ropes, cords, etc.  FIG. 4B  shows an alligator hook-type attachment  52   b,  which may also be used to hang lights, garland, ropes, cords, and similar objects. 
       FIG. 6  shows one configuration of a mounting clip  300  having a horizontally positioned central portion  316  and extending arms  314 . Here, the central portion of the clip includes an arm engagement portion  318   a  and a central engagement portion  318   b.  The central engagement portion extends from an upper face  315  to the lower face  317  of the central portion  316 . These engagement portions  218   a,    318   b  provide additional means of retaining the clip  300  onto a mounting surface. 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of one method of coupling mounting clips  400  to form a mounting clip assembly  402 , using a plate or bracket  56 . This type of attachment may be used to couple other types of mountable elements such as a flag holder  60 , security light brackets, etc., which are normally directly mounted onto vertical surfaces of building structures. 
       FIGS. 8, 9A and 9B  show additional configurations of mounting clips  500 ,  600 . Here, each mounting clip includes a frame  512 ,  612  having four extending arms  514 ,  614  and horizontally positioned central portion  516 ,  616  disposed between the extending arms with engagement portions  518   a,    618   a.    FIGS. 8 and 9A  show engagement portions  518   a,    518   b  disposed on profiled inner sections on the extending arm and the central portion. In  FIG. 9B , each extending arm  614  is configured to extend around a rear portion of a mounting surface (not shown). As such, this version of the mounting clip  600  includes rear engagement portions  618   c . Each engagement portion has projections  530 ,  630 , respectively, separated by channels  532 ,  632 , which facilitate attachment of the mounting clip  500 ,  600  to a mounting surface. 
       FIG. 10  shows another configuration of a decorative article  62  suitable for attachment to a mounting clip  10 . In  FIG. 10 , the rear of the decorative article is coupled to a blank  44 . Alternatively, a blank may be formed integrally to extend from a surface of a decorative article. Although a pumpkin is shown as the decorative article in this example, any type of decorative article or element may be coupled to the blank  44  or may have a blank integrally formed therein. Other nonlimiting examples of decorative articles include mountable stars, hearts, icicles, snow men, candy canes, reindeer, Santa Clauses, angels, stuffed animals, etc. 
       FIG. 11  shows a mounting article  700  integrally formed with the decorative article  62 , using any viable technique. Such techniques include, but are not limited to, molding and machining. 
     The mounting clips shown include engagement portions having shapes, which may be complementary to various types of profiled mounting surfaces. In preferred configurations, extending arms, central portions, and/or rear portions each include respective engagement portions having projections and channels. These respective engagement portions are configured to engage with profiled mounting surfaces such that mounting clips and decorative elements may be coupled to the mounting surfaces without use of other fastening elements. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 13 , an integrated system  1000  of powered mounting clips  800  and other powered accessories  1020 ,  1030  is shown. A building structure  804  such as a home as shown in  FIG. 13 , includes mounting surfaces  802  such as downspouts that are attached or engaged to the building structure or to the gutter system associated with the building structure. The integrated system  1000  illustrated has a series of solar panels  1010  in electrical communication with electrically powered accessories, including staked lighting  1020  and light strands or LED strands  1030 . As shown, the staked lighting  1020  is positioned adjacent a front walk or entryway, and the light strands or LED strands  1030  are mounted to the roof  802 . Underground or buried wire  1018  links the staked lighting  1020  to the solar panels  1010  or batteries or energy accumulators associated with the solar panels  1010 . The underground or buried wire  1018  also links the solar panels  1010  or batteries or energy accumulators associated with the solar panels  1010  to powered mounting clips  800  that have been installed on mounting surfaces  802 . Decorative lights  870  may be engaged with the powered mounting clips  800 , such as but not limited to, the star-shaped decorative lights shown in  FIG. 13 . The powered mounting clips  800  are joined in series by wires, and are in turn in electrical communication with the light strands or LED strands  1030 . 
       FIGS. 14-17  show a powered mounting clip  800  in more detail. As shown in  FIG. 14 , a powered mounting clip  800  has a central portion  816  and outwardly extending arms  814 . The extending arms  814  have inwardly facing surfaces and outwardly facing surfaces. The inwardly facing surface of the extending arms  814  preferably include engagement portions  818 , such as the upstanding ridges alternating with channels as shown in  FIG. 14 . The central portion  816  of the powered mounting clip  800  defines a blank receiving area  838  having a slotted area  840  and a blank opening area  842 . Conductive contacts or contact regions  880   a,    880   b  are found on an inner surface of the blank receiving area  838 . The conductive contact regions may be formed of an electrically conductive material, including but not limited to, a metal, such as copper or aluminum, or a conductive plastic, such as Nylon  6 / 6  with conductive particles dispersed therein. 
     A drain channel  890  is provided at a bottom portion of the slotted area  840  to drain water that may penetrate into the slotted area  840 . 
     A first male jack or connector  900   a  engages a female socket  882   a.  Conductive wires lead through the central portion  816  from the female socket  882   a  to the conductive contacts or contact regions  880   a,    8806 . A second male jack or connector  900   b  engages a female socket  882   b.  Conductive wires lead through the central portion  816  from the female socket  882   b  to the conductive contacts or contact regions  880   a,    880   b.    
     A blank  844  has a protruding section  846  and a mating section  848 . The mating section  848  is of a configuration to be slidably received into the slotted area  840  of the blank receiving area  838 . The blank  844  has conductive wires  876 ,  878  inserted therethrough or held therein. The wires  876 ,  878  may terminate at one end at contact points (not shown). Attached to or formed integrally with the blank is a post  872  for a decorative light  870  or other powered decorative article. 
     The decorative light  870  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 15 . The decorative light  870  in this embodiment is formed as a star-shaped globe extending from the post  872 . A light or bulb  874 , which may be an incandescent bulb, an LED, or other powered structure that emits light, is in electrical communication with the wires  876 ,  878 . 
     When the blank  844  is slidably engaged into the slotted area  840  of the blank receiving area  838  of the powered mounting clip, the tips or contact points of the wires  876 ,  878  are in electrical contact with the conductive contacts or contact regions  880   a,    880   b  of the powered mounting clip  800  to complete an electrical circuit. When the male jack connectors  900   a,    900   b  are attached and the wires from such connectors are in communication with a source of electricity, the bulb  874  will receive electricity to illuminate the decorative light  870 . While the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13  connects the powered mounting clips in series with solar panels  1010 , the invention is not limited to use of solar panels. Any source of electricity of suitable voltage may be used to power the powered mounting clips and decorative accessories joined to the powered mounting clips. Electrical connection to a residential power grid is contemplated. As another alternative, batteries other than batteries associated with solar panels may also be suitable power sources. 
     Thus, various configurations of mounting clips and decorative mounting articles are disclosed. While embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the following claims. 
     GLOSSARY 
       2  mounting surface
 
 2   a  downspout
 
 2   b  post
 
 4  building structure
 
 8  roof
 
 10  mounting clip
 
 12  frame
 
 14 ,  14   a,    14   b  extending arms
 
 16  central portion
 
 17  profiled mounting surface
 
 18  engagement portion
 
 19  mountable element
 
 20  inner surface or section
 
 22  corner section
 
 26  corner of mounting surface
 
 30  projections
 
 32  channels
 
 34  upper arm edge
 
 36  lower arm edge
 
 38  blank receiving area
 
 40  slotted area
 
 42  blank opening area
 
 44  blank
 
 46  protruding section
 
 47  face portion
 
 48  mating section
 
 50  arm attachments
 
 52   a,    52   b,    52   c  hook attachments
 
 54  clip attachment
 
 56  plate or bracket attachment
 
 58  fastener
 
 62  decorative article
 
 100  mounting clip
 
 112  frame
 
 114  extending arm
 
 116  central portion
 
 200  mounting clip
 
 212  frame
 
 214  extending arm
 
 216  central portion
 
 300  mounting clip
 
 314  extending arm
 
 316  central portion
 
 317  lower face
 
 318   a,    318   b  engagement portions
 
 400  mounting clip
 
 402  mounting clip assembly
 
 500  mounting clip
 
 512  frame
 
 514  extending arm
 
 516  central portion
 
 518   a,    518   b  engagement portions
 
 530  projections
 
 532  channels
 
 600  mounting clip
 
 612  frame
 
 614  extending arm
 
 616  central portion
 
 618   a,    618   b  engagement portions
 
 630  projections
 
 632  channels
 
 700  mounting article
 
 800  powered mounting clip
 
 802  mounting surface
 
 804  building structure
 
 808  roof
 
 812  frame
 
 814  extending arms
 
 816  central portion
 
 818  engagement portion
 
 838  blank receiving area
 
 840  slotted area
 
 842  blank opening area
 
 844  blank
 
 846  protruding section
 
 848  mating section
 
 870  decorative light
 
 872  post attachment
 
 874  light or bulb
 
 876  wire
 
 878  wire
 
 880   a,    880   b  conductive contact region
 
 882   a,    882   b  female receiving plug
 
 884  wire
 
 890  drainage hole
 
 900   a,    900   b  male jack
 
 902  wire
 
 904  wire
 
 1000  integrated system of powered mounting clips and other powered accessories
 
 1010  solar panel
 
 1014  wire
 
 1018  wire
 
 1020  staked lights
 
 1030  bulbs on light string