Patent Abstract:
Embodiments of collapsible and adjustable support frames hold sockets of light strings at an equal distance and orientation to each other. Each frame can include, for example, a scissor frame with a locking slide arm on both ends to facilitate connection of the scissor frame of other scissor frames. Removable hooks that can be used from a vertical to a horizontal orientation from a gutter or any means that supports said hooks and adjustable light socket clips that can be rotated so as to be used in any orientation. This device can be adjusted and equipped with lights on the ground, thereby facilitating a reduction in the time need to install the light string. After use, the frames can be collapsed with the light string installed thereon to facilitate storage.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/388,474, filed Oct. 30, 2010, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The embodiments and methods disclosed herein relate to electric lighting such as but not limited to strings of decorative electric lights. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Electric lights can be arranged in strings containing multiple lights. For example, many homeowners install strings of decorative electric lights on exterior of their homes during the holiday season. A typical string of decorative lights typically can include a plurality of light sockets connected by wiring, and plurality of lights each mounted in a respective socket. Each socket can include a clip that facilitates mounting of the string. The clips typically need to be installed on a mounting surface, such as the eve of a roof, on a manual basis. Mounting the clips, therefore, can be a time-consuming task. In applications where the mounting location is high off the ground, mounting each clip individually can present a substantial hazard to the installer. Moreover, it can be difficult to space the light clips evenly to achieve a uniform appearance along the light string. Also, the wiring of the string of decorative lights can easily become tangled during storage, further adding to the time and effort needed to install the string during its next use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments of support frames for light strings can hold mounting clips for light sockets of the light string at a substantially uniform spacing from adjacent clips. A light string can be mounted on the support frame at a relatively safe location, such as on the ground, and the frame and string can then be hung with a minimum of time and effort. For example, in some embodiments, the frame can be suspended from only two mounting points. Minimizing installation time can help to reduce the hazard to which the installer is exposed, especially where the mounting surface is located high off the ground. Moreover, relatively uniform spacing between adjacent lights can be achieved with relative ease. 
         [0005]    In one possible embodiment, a collapsible and adjustable light support system comprises one or more scissor frames, with the overall number of frames being determined by the number of light sockets to be supported. The frames include rotating light socket clips that can be attached at the center pivots of the frame arms. The clips are sized for the particular light sockets to be supported on the frames. The scissor frames can include locking slide arms at both ends to facilitate adjustment of overall length of the system. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, a lighting system includes a collapsible frame movable between an open position at which the frame has a first length, and a second position at which the frame has a second length that is less than the first length. The lighting system also includes a light string mounted on the frame. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, a method for mounting a light string can include providing a collapsible frame movable between an open position at which the frame has a first length, and a second position at which the frame has a second length that is less than the first length. The method can also include mounting the light string on the frame while the frame is in the open position, subsequently moving the frame and the light string to a mounting location, and 
         [0000]    suspending the frame and the light string from a mounting provision at the mounting location. 
         [0008]    In accordance with a further aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, a method for mounting a light string includes moving a collapsible frame having the light string mounted thereon to a mounting area, and suspending the frame and the light string from a mounting provision at the mounting area while the frame is in an extended position. 
     
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS 
         [0009]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, are better understood when read in conjunction with the appended diagrammatic drawings. The drawings are presented for illustrative purposes only, and the scope of the appended claims is not limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a portion of a frame in a partially open or extended position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the frame shown in  FIG. 1 , depicting the frame in a closed or collapsed position, and without end arms of the frame installed thereon; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of a light clip of the frame shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3B and 3C  are side views of pins of the frame shown in  FIGS. 1-3A ; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3D and 3E  are side views of arms of the frame shown in  FIGS. 1-3C ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3F  is a perspective view of a hanger of the frame shown in  FIGS. 1-3E ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3G  is a side view of an eye screw of the frame shown in  FIGS. 1-3F ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3H  is a perspective view of a bracket used to connect two of the frames shown in  FIGS. 1-3G ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the area designated “A” in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the area designated “B” in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6A  is an exploded view of the area designated “C” in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6B  is an exploded view of the area designated “D” in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the frame shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , suspended in a substantially horizontal orientation from a roof eave, with light string installed on the frame; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a front view illustrating how two of the frames shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , can be connected together; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are front views illustrating other ways in which two of the frames shown in  FIGS. 1-9  can be connected together; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are top views illustrating how two of the frames shown in  FIGS. 1-11  can be connected together using a bracket; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 14A and 14B  are top perspective and top views, respectively, of an arm of an alternative embodiment of the frame shown in  FIGS. 1-13 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a pin of the alternative embodiment referenced in  FIGS. 14A and 14B ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a side view of a hanger of the alternative embodiment referenced in  FIGS. 14A-15 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a pin of the alternative embodiment referenced in  FIGS. 14A-16 ; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a front view of the alternative embodiment referenced in  FIGS. 14A-17 , in an extended and locked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    An embodiment of a lighting system is depicted in  FIGS. 1-10 . The system comprises a hanger or frame  1 , and a light string  12  that can be mounted on the frame  1 . The frame  1  is movable between an open and locked position depicted in  FIG. 1 , and a closed or collapsed condition depicted in  FIG. 2 . The light string  12  can be, for example, a string of decorative outdoor lights typically installed on the exterior of home during the holiday season. 
         [0032]    The light string  12  can include a plurality of light sockets  14  that each accommodates a light bulb  16 , and wiring  18  that electrically connects, and conducts electrical power to the light sockets  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0033]    The frame  1  can be configured as a scissor bracket comprising fourteen pairs of interconnected arms  4 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Only two of the pairs of arms  4  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 , and  8 , for clarity of illustration. The use of fourteen pairs of arms  4  is disclosed for exemplary purposes only. The optimum number of arms  4  is application-dependent, and can vary with factors such as the required overall length of the frame  1 , which in turn is driven by factors such as the overall length of the light string  12 , and the space available to accommodate the frame  1 . Moreover, the use of multiple pairs of arms  4  configured in a scissor arrangement is disclosed for exemplary purposes only. The frame  1  can have other configurations in alternative embodiments. The arms  4  and  5  can be made of a rigid or semi-rigid material or materials, such as plastic, with sufficient strength to allow the frame member  1  to support light string  12 . 
         [0034]    Each pair of arms  4  can be pivotally connected at their respective centers by a clip  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 A,  5 , and  7 - 11 . Each clip  10  can include a pair of curved arms  100 , a pair of straight arms  102 , and a substantially flat middle portion  103  that adjoins, and is located between the curved arms  100  and the straight arms  102  as depicted in  FIG. 3A . The curved arms  100  of each clip  10  can accommodate a light sockets  14  of different diameters, as shown in  FIG. 3A . The curved arms  10  can resiliently deflect outwardly in response to the insertion of the socket or wiring  18  therebetween, and the resilience of the curved arms  10  causes the curved arms  10  to exert a clamping force on the light socket  14  disposed therebetween. The optimal dimensions of the curved arms  100  are determined by size of light socket  14  to be accommodated by the clip  10 . 
         [0035]    The straight arms  102  of each clip  10  are received in circular holes  106  formed in each of two arms  14  that are being interconnected by the clip  10 . The holes  106  are located at the approximate midpoint of each arm  4 , as depicted in  FIGS. 3D and 5 . Thus, the light string  12  extends along the approximate midpoint of the frame  1  when the clips are installed in the holes  106 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Each straight arm  102  has a barb  104  located at the end thereof, as shown in  FIG. 3A . The barbs  104 , when inserted through the holes  106 , cause the straight arms  102  to deflect inwardly, toward each other, so that the barbs  104  can pass through the holes  106 . The length of the straight arms  102  is chosen so that the adjacent portions of the arms  4  fit between the barbs  104  and the middle portion  103  of the clip  10  with minimal clearance after the barbs  104  have passed through the holes  106 . Interference between the barbs  104  and the surface of the adjacent arm  4  retains the clip  10  on the arms  4 , and maintains the adjacent arms  4  in a pivotally connected relationship with each other. 
         [0036]    The ends of each arm  4  can be pivotally connected to the ends of adjacent arms  4  by a pin  2 , as depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 B,  4 , and  7 - 11 . Each pin  2  can include a pair of straight arms  110 , and a substantially flat end portion  112  that adjoins an end of each straight arm  112 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0037]    The straight arms  110  of each pin  2  are received in circular holes  116  formed in each of the arms  4 . The holes  116  are located proximate the ends of each arm  4 , as depicted in  FIG. 3D and 4 . Each straight arm  110  has a barb  114  located at the end thereof. The barbs  110 , when inserted through the holes  116 , cause the straight arms  110  to deflect inwardly, toward each other, so that the barbs  114  can pass through the holes  116 . The length of the straight arms  110  is chosen so that the adjacent portions of the arms  4  fit between the barbs  114  and the end portion  112  of the pin  2  with minimal clearance after the barbs  114  have passed through the holes  116 . Interference between the barbs  114  and the surface of the adjacent arm  4  retains the pin  2  on the arms  4 , and maintains the adjacent arms  4  in a pivotally connected relationship with each other. 
         [0038]    The use of the pins  2  and the clips  10  to connect the arms  4  is disclosed for exemplary purposes only. Other suitable connecting means that interconnect the arms  4  while facilitating the desired relative movement therebetween can be used in the alternative. Moreover, the clips  10  can be installed in the holes  116  proximate the ends of the arms  4  in alternative embodiments, so that the light string  12 , or additional light strings  12 , can extend along the top and/or bottom of the frame  1 . The pins  2  can be installed in the holes  106  proximate the midpoint of the arms  4  in lieu of the clips  10  in embodiments in which the light string or strings  12  are extend along the top and/or bottom of the frame  1 . 
         [0039]    The frame  1  also includes one or two arms  5  positioned at one or both ends of the frame  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 , and  8 . The ends of each arm  5  can be pivotally connected to the ends of two adjacent arms  4  by two pins  2 . One of the pins  2  can be accommodated by one of the circular holes  116  formed in one of the adjacent arms  4 , and by another circular hole  116  formed in the arm  5  proximate an end thereof. The other pin  2  can be accommodated by one of the circular holes  116  in the other adjacent arm  4 , and by an elongated slot  120  formed in the arm  5  as shown in  FIGS. 3E ,  6 A, and  6 B. 
         [0040]    The pin  2  located within the slot  120  can slide along the length of the slot  120 . The ability of the pin  2  to move in this manner permits the overall length of the frame  1  to be varied. More specifically, the frame  1  can be extended and collapsed between its open and closed positions, and positions between the open and closed positions. This feature permits the length of the frame  1  to be adjusted to suit a particular application. The pin  2  located within the slot  120  can be configured with a locking feature (not shown), such as a wing nut, that permits the pin  2  to lock the adjacent arms  4  (and the frame  1 ) in a particular position once the frame  1  has been extended to a desired length. 
         [0041]    One or both of the pins  2  can be removed from the arm  5 , to permit the frame  1  to assume the fully collapsed configuration shown in  FIG. 2  and thereby facilitate storage of the frame  1  in a compact state. 
         [0042]    The arm  5  can be formed with a second circular hole  116  in lieu of the slot  120  in alternative embodiments in which is not necessary to adjust the length of the frame  1 . Moreover, the use of the pins  2  to connect the ends of the arms  4  and  5  is disclosed for exemplary purposes only. Other suitable connecting means that facilitate the desired relative movement of the arms  4  and  5 , while facilitating the desired relative movement therebetween and relatively easy disconnection and re-connection thereof can be used in the alternative. 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  illustrates how two or more of the frames  1  can be connected to form a system that spans a distance greater than the length of one frame  1 . Two of the frames  1  can be connected by removing one of the arms  5  of each frame  1  from its adjacent arms  4 , and connecting the adjacent arm  4  of the two frames using the pins  2 .  FIGS. 10 and 11  depict other ways in which two of the frames  1  can be interconnected. 
         [0044]    The light string  12  can be mounted on the frame  1  by attaching each light socket  14  to a respective clip  10  on the frame  1  while the frame  1  is in its open or extended position. Adjacent sockets  14  on the string  12  can be mounted on adjacent clips  10  on the frame  1 , to help maintain substantially uniform spacing between the light bulbs  16 . 
         [0045]    The frame  1  can subsequently be mounted at the location at which the light string  12  it is to be displayed. In particular, the frame  1 , with the light string  12  attached thereto, can be carried to the mounting location in its open or closed position. If necessary, the frame  1  can be opened once is has been carried to the mounting location. The orientation, or clock position, of each light socket  14  can be adjusted to provide the light bulbs  16  with a uniform appearance across the light string  12 . These adjustments can be performed before or after the frame  1  and light string  12  have been moved to the mounting location. The frame  1  can be suspended from a structure, such as a roof eave  123  shown in  FIG. 8  or a gutter  125  shown in  FIG. 7 , using any appropriate means such as hooks, wire, etc. 
         [0046]    The frame  1  can include mounting provisions. For example, the frame  1  optionally can include hangers  6 , shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 F,  6 A,  6 B, and  7 - 11 . 
         [0047]    Each hanger  6  has a hooked portion  124 , and a substantially flat portion  126  that adjoins the hooked portion  124 . The flat portion  126  has a circular hole  128  formed therein that receives a pin  3 . 
         [0048]    The hanger  6  can be attached to the remainder of the frame  1  by pins  3 . Each pin  3  is substantially identical to the pin  2 , with the exception that the length of the straight arms of the pins  3  is greater than the length of the straight arms  110  of the pins  2 , to accommodate the thickness of the hanger  6 . The hole  128  of the hanger  6  can be aligned with the holes  106  or  116  of an associated pair of the arms  4 , or with the holes  106  and/or the slot  120  of an associated pair of the arms  4 ,  5 . The pin  3  can be inserted into and through the hole  128  of the hook  6  via the holes  106 ,  116  and/or the slot  120 , until the barbs of the pin  3  have cleared the hole  128 . The barbs and the substantially flat end portion of the pin  3  engage the adjacent surfaces of the hook  6  and the arms  4  or  5 , and thereby maintain the hook  6 , and the arms  4  and/or  5  in proximity to each other. 
         [0049]    Provisions, such as eye screws  8  depicted in  FIGS. 3G and 8 , can be installed on the mounting surface if suitable provisions are not present for accommodating the hangers  6 . Each eye screw  8  has a circular hole  130  formed therein that receives the hooked portion  124  of a corresponding hanger  6 . The frame  1  can be extended or collapsed as needed to align the hangers  6  with the mounting provisions on the mounting surface. 
         [0050]    In the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 1-11 , only two of the hangers  6  are required. Thus, the frame  1  and the light string  12  can be hung from the mounting surface with relatively little effort, and in a relatively short amount of time in comparison to a mounting methodology in which every clip  10  is individually mounted on the mounting surface. Moreover, the hangers  6  can be configured so that the frame  1  can be suspended in a substantially horizontal orientation as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , or a substantially vertical orientation as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0051]    The frame  1  and the light string  12  can be removed from the display location by disengaging the hangers  6  from their mounting provisions. The frame  1  can be collapsed to its closed position with the light string  12  mounted thereon, and the frame  1  and light string  12  can be stored together until they are needed again. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are top views of two of the frames  1  connected to each other, where the frames  1  are positioned substantially at right angles in relation to each other. This arrangement can be used, for example, where the lighting string  12  is being run around a corner. The frames  1  can be connected using a bracket  7 , shown in  FIG. 3H . The bracket  7  has holes  131  formed therein. Each hole can be aligned with corresponding hole  116  on one of the arms  4 . A pin  2  can be inserted into the aligned holes  131  to connect the bracket  7  to the associated arm  4 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 18  depicts an alternative embodiment of the frame  1  in the form of a frame  1   a.  The frame  1   a  comprises a plurality of arms  4   a.  Each arm  4   a  has a pin  140  integrally formed at one end thereof, as shown in  FIGS. 14A and 14B . The pin  140  comprises two straight arms  142  each having a barb  143  formed at the free-standing lower end thereof, and an upper portion  144  that adjoins the straight arms  142 . 
         [0054]    Each of the arms  4   a  can be pivotally connected to another arm  4   a  by a pin  146 , shown in  FIG. 17 . The pin  146  comprises two straight arms  150  each having a barb  152  formed in the freestanding end thereof. The pin  146  also comprises an intermediate portion  154  that adjoins the straight arms  150 , and a bracket  158  that adjoins the intermediate portion  154 . 
         [0055]    Each arm  4   a  has a circular hole  160  located at its approximate midpoint, as depicted in  FIG. 14A . The holes  160  of the adjacent arms  4   a  are aligned, and the straight arms  150  of the pin  146  are inserted through the holes  160  until the barbs  152  have cleared both of the arms  4   a,  and the intermediate portion  154  is disposed in a recess  161  formed in the arm  4   a.  Interference between the barbs  152  and the surface of the adjacent arm  4   a  retains the pin  146  on the arms  4   a,  and maintains the adjacent arms  4   a  in a pivotally connected relationship with each other. The lighting string  12  or other objects can be suspended from the bracket  158  using cable ties or other suitable means. 
         [0056]    Each arm  4   a  has another circular hole  162  formed proximate an end thereof, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 18 . The arms  4   a  are oriented as shown in  FIG. 18 , so that the straight arms  142  of the pin  140  of one arm  4   a  engages the holes  162  of an adjacent arm  4   a.  The resulting interference between the barbs  143  of the straight arms  142  and the surface of the adjacent arm  4   a  retains the pin  140  in the hole  162 , and maintains the adjacent arms  4   a  in a pivotally connected relationship with each other. Moreover, the upper portion  144  of the pin  140  is disposed in a recess  164  formed in the arm  4   a.    
         [0057]    The frame  1   a  can be locked in an extended position using one of arms  4   a  as a locking arm  4   a,  as depicted in  FIG. 18 . In particular, each arm  4   a  has fourteen circular holes  166  formed therein between is mid and end points, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 18 . Once the frame  1   a  has been extended to a desired length, the pin  140  of the arm  14   a  being used as a locking arm  4   a  can be inserted into one of the holes  166  of one of the other arms  4   a  to connect the two arms  4   a.  A hole  166  in the locking arm  4   a  can be aligned with one of the holes  166  in another one of the arms  4   a,  and a pin  170 , shown in  FIG. 15 , can be inserted into the aligned holes  166  to connect these two arms  4   a.  The connection of the locking arm  4   a  to the other two arms  4   a  locks the frame  1   a  in its extended position. 
         [0058]      FIG. 16  depicts a hanger  6   a  that can be used as part of the frame  1   a.  The hanger  6   a  includes a hook portion  172 , and an adjoining pin  174 . The pin  174  includes two arms  176  having barbs formed at the freestanding ends thereof. The arms  176  can be inserted into a hole  166  on one of the arms  4   a  at a desired location on the frame  1   a,  so that the hanger  6   a  engages the arm  4   a.    
         [0059]    The foregoing description is provided for the purpose of explanation and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments or preferred methods, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Furthermore, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular structure, methods, and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein, as the invention extends to all structures, methods and uses that are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the relevant art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, can make numerous modifications to the invention as described herein, and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5