Patent Abstract:
A ridge clip is disclosed that is useful for attaching lights or other decorations to the ridge of a roof without compromising the seal on ridge shingles. The ridge clip includes a shingle hook that affixes to the overhanging portion of a shingle, and an extension arm that extends long enough to mount the decoration on the roof ridge. Ridge clips may be provided as an adapter for existing shingle tabs, or as stand-alone devices.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/323,723, filed Nov. 26, 2008, titled “Ridge Clip,” which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,963,490 on Jun. 21, 2011. The foregoing are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Provisional Applications 61/004,213 filed Nov. 26, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application 61/097,275 filed Sep. 16, 2008 are also incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This specification relates to the field of home decorations, and more particularly to a ridge clip useful for mounting decorations on the ridge of a roof. 
         [0003]    Many people enjoy stringing lights on their homes for Christmas and other holidays. One method of mounting lights to a roof is the use of a prior art shingle tab, which slides under the overhanging flap of a shingle. Shingle tabs are also sometimes used on the ridge of a roof by sliding it under ridge shingles, which run perpendicular to the regular shingles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of a ridge clip, shown as produced; 
           [0005]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the ridge clip of  FIG. 1  in modified for use; 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  discloses a perspective view of a roof with a ridge on which ridge clips are displayed; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a prior art shingle tab; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a ridge clip, including a light base clip oriented horizontally; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a ridge clip with a light base clip oriented vertically; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a ridge clip, including a tab holder configured to receive a shingle tab; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a ridge clip also configured to receive a shingle tab; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is yet another perspective view of a ridge clip configured to receive a shingle tab; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a ridge clip including a tab rod, and adapted to receive a shafted tab. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    In one aspect, a ridge clip is useful for attaching lights or other decorations to the ridge of a roof without compromising the seal on ridge shingles. The ridge clip includes a shingle hook that affixes to the overhanging portion of a shingle, and an extension arm that extends long enough to mount the decoration on the roof ridge. Ridge clips may be provided as an adapter for existing shingle tabs, or as stand-alone devices. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    A ridge clip provides an improved method of displaying lights and other decorative items along the ridge of a roof. Advantageously, the disclosed ridge clip permits a decorative item to be mounted along the ridge without compromising the seal of the ridge, because the ridge clip affixes to the overhanging part of a shingle beneath the ridge cap. 
         [0016]    A ridge clip will now be described with more particular reference to the attached drawings. Hereafter, details are set forth by way of example to facilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. It should be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the field, however, that the disclosed embodiments are exemplary and not exhaustive of all possible embodiments. Throughout this disclosure, a hyphenated form of a reference numeral refers to a specific instance or example of an element and the un-hyphenated form of the reference numeral refers to the element generically or collectively. Thus, for example,  102 - 1  may refer to a “pen,” which may be an instance or example of the class of “writing implements.” Writing implements may be referred to collectively as “writing implements  102 ” and any one may be referred to generically as a “writing implement  102 .” 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  discloses a top view of a ridge clip  100 - 1 , as it may appear when newly purchased and before it is configured for final use. A ridge clip  100  includes an overhang engagement member  130 , which is adapted to engage the overhanging portion of a shingle  192  ( FIG. 1B ). In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the overhang engagement member  130  is a shingle clip  130 - 1 , but in other embodiments, it may be any other kind of clip, adhesive, or other affixing means adapted to securely engage the overhanging portion of the shingle. A joint  112  joins shingle hook  130 - 1  to extension arm  110 . Extension arm  110  is designed with a length sufficient to extend up to the ridge cap. For example, in one embodiment, the extension arm extends approximately six inches, or between six and seven inches, and is two inches wide. Joint  112  is a flexible member and may be created with perforations or other hinge, thus allowing the shingle clip to hingedly flex underneath extension arm  110 . At a removed end, extension arm  110  is affixed to a mount  180 , which is adapted to receive a decorative item such as a light bulb in the disclosed embodiment, mount  180  includes two holes. The larger hole is adapted to receive a C7-size bulb, and the smaller hole is adapted to receive a C9-size bulb. In this embodiment, mount  180  includes two options for displaying the decorative item. A horizontal tab  150  is useful if the decorative item is to be oriented vertically with respect to the ridge cap. An upright tab  140  is useful if the decorative item is to be oriented horizontal with respect to the ridge cap. If upright tab  140  is to be used, it may be vertically supported by gusset  146  which joins lock hook  142 . Lock hook  142  may engage lock hole  144  for stability. Also disclosed are perforations  120  which extends upwards across gusset and horizontally across upright tab  140 . The perforations  120  may be provided to allow reconfiguration of the ridge clip  100 - 1 . For example, if the decorative item is to be oriented vertically, gusset  146  and upright tab  140  may be removed. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1A  discloses a perspective view of the ridge clip of  FIG. 1  in an alternative configuration. In this configuration, it is seen that shingle hook  130  has been hinged under extension arm  110  at joint  112 . Thus configured, ridge clip  100 - 1  is ready to engage an overhanging shingle. Also seen in this view, an upright tab  140  has been raised along perforation  120 . As shown, gusset  146  has been disengaged from extension arm  110  and lock hook  142  has engaged lock hole  144 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 1B  discloses a perspective view of a roof  194  with a ridge  190  on which ridge clips  100  are displayed. Ridge clip  100  engage the overhanging portion of ridge shingles  192 , thus maintaining the integrity of the seal. For display purposes, ridge clips  100  are distributed along ridge  190  on alternating sides of ridge  190 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  discloses a perspective view of a prior art shingle tab  210 . Prior art shingle tab  210  includes legs  220  adapted to engage the overhanging portion of a shingle. Also shown is mount  180 - 3  which is oriented vertically with respect to the legs  220 . The shingle tab  210  as disclosed is suitable primarily for insertion under the overhanging portion of a shingle but does not reach the ridge cap  190 . In some cases, it has also been used along the ridge of a roof. In this case it must be inserted into the ridge cap shingles  192  at the apex of the ridge cap  190 , rather than the overhanging portion, which in some cases may compromise the seal. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  discloses a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a ridge clip  100 - 2 , including a light base clip oriented horizontally. In this case, extension arm  110 - 2  is a narrow rod. As with other embodiments, the extension arm  110 - 2  is approximately six inches, and generally between six and seven inches long. Shingle hook  130 - 2  is permanently molded in place. In this case there is no need for joint  112  or perforations  120 . In this embodiment of a ridge clip  100 - 2 , a light base clip  310 - 1  is provided. This is particularly suitable for use with a bulb  320 , which is a form of decorative item. Bulb  320  may include a light base  330 . Light base clip  310 - 1  is configured to snap snugly around light base  330 , thus holding bulb  320  in place. Light base clip  310 - 1  may be constructed of flexible plastic, or other flexible material, so that it may snap tightly around either a C9 size light, or may expand to snap around a C7 size light. In  FIG. 3  it is shown that light base clip  310 - 1  is oriented so that bulb  320  would be aligned horizontally along the ridge  190 , or in other words bulb  320  will lie substantially along the top of the ridge. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3A  discloses a perspective view of a ridge clip with a light base clip oriented vertically. In this embodiment, ridge clip  100 - 3  is substantially similar to the ridge clip  100 - 2  of  FIG. 3 . In this case, however, light base clip  310 - 2  is oriented so as to hold bulb  320  substantially in a vertical orientation. In this embodiment, bulb  320  will appear to be standing straight up from the apex of the roof ridge  190 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  discloses a perspective view of a ridge clip, including a tab holder configured to receive a shingle tab. In this case, ridge clip  100 - 4  is an adaptor for receiving a prior art shingle tab. Ridge clip  100 - 4  includes a tab holder  410  which in this case is a tab frame. Tab frame  410 - 1  is adapted to receive and securely hold a shingle tab  210 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  discloses a perspective view of a ridge clip also configured to receive a shingle tab. In this case, ridge clip  100 - 5  includes a different embodiment of a tab holder  410 , specifically a clasp  410 - 2 . Clasp  410 - 2  is adapted to receive one leg  220  of the shingle tab  210  by slidably engaging the leg to securely hold it. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  discloses another perspective view of a ridge clip configured to receive a shingle tab. This embodiment includes another embodiment of an adaptor for holding a shingle tab  210 . In this case, a tab plate  410 - 3  is adapted to receive shingle tab  210 . Tab plat  630  includes a protrusion  610 , preferably molded on to tab plate  410 , which is adapted to receive legs  220  of shingle tab  210 . Shingle tab  210  may thus mount securely to tab plate  410 - 3 . Although protrusion  610  is shown substantially circular, it may also be another shape adapted to engage legs  220 , such as an oval or rhombus. 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  discloses a perspective view of a ridge clip including a tab rod  720 , and adapted to receive a shafted tab  730 . In this case, ridge clip  100 - 7  includes a tab holder plate  710  upon which is rigidly affixed a tab rod  720 . Tab rod  720  is configured to receive a shaft  732 . A shafted tab  730  is provided which includes shaft  732  adapted to slidably engage tab rod  720 . Thus shafted tab  730  may slide on its shaft  732  along tab rod  720 , and thus be secured to ridge clip  100 - 7 . 
         [0027]    While the subject of this specification has been described in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments, it is not intended to limit the claims to the particular forms set forth. On the contrary, the appended claims are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within their spirit and scope.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5