Abstract:
An electric light display assembly for displaying electric lights which contains at least two rods and electric lights removably connected to the rods. A connector located between the rods engages each of the rods. Each of the rods contains a top rail section which, optionally, may contain an orifice. A wall located within the connector limits the extent to which the rods can be inserted into the connector.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     An electric light display assembly comprised of a rod, a lamp retaining device, a connector, and electric lamps. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 of Boechel describes a device for displaying electric lamps in a window frame, the device comprising rod means, lamp retaining means, end members, and electric lamps. The entire disclosure of this United States patent is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. 
     The rod means of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 includes a first intermediate member having a length nearly equal to but somewhat less than a first distance between spaced apart surfaces of the window frame. 
     The rod means of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 also includes a plurality of first lamp retaining means provided as clip means at spaced intervals along the length of the first intermediate members. 
     The rod means of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 also includes first end members provided at opposed terminal ends of the first intermediate member to fit between the spaced apart surfaces defining the first distance of the window frame. 
     In addition to such rod means, the display device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 also includes a plurality of electric lamps supported by respective ones of the plurality of lamp retaining means. 
     The device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 has met with a fair degree of commercial success. However, such device is not readily adaptable to produce a display assembly which will fit in a large variety of differently sized windows or doors or frames. It is an object of this invention to provide a connector which will allow the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 to fit in a substantially infinite number of different configurations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with this invention, there is provided an electric light display assembly comprised of a first rod means described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 (or a derivation thereof), a second rod means described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083, a multiplicity of electric lamps, and connector disposed between said first means and said second rod means. The connector. The connector is slidably engaged with one end of the rod means, and contains an intermediate wall adapted to limit movement of the rod means and to receive and engage a portion of the rod means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described by reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an end view of one preferred rod of the display device of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the rod of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the rod of FIG. 1, taken along lines  3 — 3 ; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the rod of FIG. 1, taken along lines  4 — 4 ; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of means for connecting the rod of FIGS. 1-4 to another, similar rod; 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of the connector used in the display device of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the connector of FIGS. 6-7 connecting two rods; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the device depicted in FIG. 8, taken along lines  9 — 9   
     FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the display device of this invention; and 
     FIG. 10A is a sectional view of an expandable and compressible end means of the display device of this invention. 
     FIG. 11 is another schematic representation of the display device of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a end view of a preferred rod assembly  10 . Referring to FIG. 1, and in the preferred embodiment depicted therein, rod assembly  10  is preferably an integral assembly comprised of a top rail  12 . 
     In the embodiment depicted, rail  12  has a substantially arcuate shape. The connector described elsewhere in this specification is preferably adapted to receive such rail within an interior wall disposed within such connector. 
     In one preferred embodiment, depicted in FIG. 1, rail  12  is comprised of an orifice  14  which preferably extends the entire length of rail  12 . This orifice  14  may be of any size which does not substantially adversely affect the mechanical properties of rail  12 . In one aspect of this embodiment, the orifice  14  has a maximum dimension which is from about 5 to about 80 percent of the maximum dimension of the rail  12 . 
     In one embodiment, the orifice  14  is filled with a reinforcing material, such as a wire, metal, polyurethane, string, etc. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, and in the preferred embodiment depicted therein, it will be seen that the rod assembly  10  is comprised of a first horizontally extending wing  16  and a second horizontally extending wing  18 . In the embodiment depicted, the wings  16  and  18  are substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis  20  of the rod. In another embodiment, not shown, such wings  16  and  18  may form acute and/or obtuse angles with such vertical axis  20 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, and in the preferred embodiment depicted therein, each of the wings  16  and  18  is shown as having a substantially rectilinear shape. In another embodiment, not shown, the wings  16  and  18  may have other shapes, such as, e.g., arcuate shapes. 
     In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, a second orifice  22  is shown disposed between wing  16  and wing  18 , preferably centrally disposed therebetween. The second orifice  22  may be the same size and/or shape as the first orifice  14 , or it may be different. The device  10  may include only orifice  14 , only orifice  22 , both orifices  14  and  22 , and/or one or more additional orifices  14  and/or  22  may extend the entire length of device  10 , or it may extend only along one or more portions of such length. In one embodiment, not shown, the rod assembly  12  contains no orifices. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, the rod  10  is comprised of an exterior wall  24  which has length  26  of at least about 0.2 inches and, more preferably, at least about 0.3 inches. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the rod assembly  10  from which details regarding orifices  14  and  18  have been omitted for the sake of simplicity of representation. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that exterior wall  24  is comprised of a multiplicity of resilient slotted orifices  28 . 
     For every foot of length of exterior wall  24 , there should be at least about  6  such resilient slotted orifices  28 . It is preferred not to use more than about 36 such slotted orifices  28  per linear foot of exterior wall  24 . 
     The resilient slotted orifices  28  operate similarly to the lamp retaining means disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. 
     The resilient slotted orifices  28  are adapted to receive and removably engage the rail  12  (see, e.g., FIG.  5 ). Thus, e.g., the resilient slotted orifices  28  also must be substantially arcuate to conform to the arcuate surfaces of rail  12 . The resilent slotted orifices  28  act as clip means. 
     Each of the resilient slotted orifices  28  is defined by an arcuate opening  30  communicating with a smaller entry section  32 . The entry section  32  has a smaller width  34  than the maximum width  36  of the arcuate opening  30 . Thus, as will be apparent, the walls  38  and  40  of entry section  32  must be moved in the directions of arrows  46  and  42  to allow rail  12  to enter arcuate opening  30  and be engaged therein by a friction fit. 
     As will be apparent, the clip means defined by resilient slotted orifices  28  are adapted to receive and removably engage both electrical lights and rail  12 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the rod  10 , taken along lines  3 — 3 . FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the rod  10 , taken along lines  4 — 4 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of a first rod  10  removably connected to second rod  10  which is substantially perpendicular to the first rod  10 , extending upwardly out of the plane of the paper as well as downwardly into the plane of the paper. 
     As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the slotted orifices  28  allow the connection of two rods  10  in different planes, substantially orthogonal to each other. However, these slotted orifices  28  do not allow the connection of two rods  10  in the same plane. That, however, is the function of connector  44 . 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of one preferred embodiment of a connector  44 . Referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that connector  44  is comprised of a body  46  and, disposed therein, orifices  29 ,  48 , and  50 . 
     The orifice  29  in connector  44  is substantially identical to the orifice  28  in wall  24  (see FIG.  2 ). The latter orifice  29 , like the former orifice  28 , is comprised of an arcuate section  30  and an entry section  33 . 
     The entry section  33  of connector  44  may be identical to the entry section  32  of the wall  24  of rod  10  (see FIG.  2 ). In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the entry section  32  has substantially linear walls. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the entry section  33  has substantially arcuate walls. Other configurations for the entry section(s) will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     The entry section  33  of connector  44 , and its associated arcuate section  29  orifice  48 , are individually and collectively adapted to slidably engage rod  10 . Thus, e.g., the orifice  48  is adapted to receive an engage with wings  16  and  18  (see, e.g., FIG.  3 ). 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of connector  44 , taken along its horizontal axis. As will be seen, the connector  44  is comprised of an interior wall  52 . 
     The interior wall  52  provides a multiplicity of stop surfaces on both of its sides  54  and  56 . Thus, e.g., section  58  of wall  52  provides a stop surface for rail  12  (see FIG.  3 ). 
     FIG. 8 illustrates how the connector  44  may be used to connect two rods  10 . The movement of one of the rods  10  is stopped by surface  54  of wall  52 . The movement of the other rod  10  is stopped by surface  56  of wall  52 . 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG. 8, showing one rod  10  removably disposed within connector  44 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates how a series of the rods  10  may be connected together within a frame  70 . A first rod  72  is connected in to a second rod  74  in the manner depicted in FIG. 5, and the second rod  74  is connected to a third rod  76  in the manner depicted in FIG. 5, and the third rod  76  is connected to a fourth rod  78  in the manner depicted in FIG.  5 . As will be apparent, at each connection point, the rods being connected are disposed in planes substantially orthogonal to each other. 
     Referring again to FIG. 10, a multiplicity of electric lamps assemblies are removably connected within orifices  28  (see FIG.  2 ). In another embodiment, the electric lamps are connected by other means to the rods  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the electric lamp assemblies  80  are miniature Christmas lights. These miniature Christmas lights are well known. Reference may be had, e.g., to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,059,423, 5,813,747 (Christmas tree lights), U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,624,181, 5,542,636, 5,485,068, 5,453,664, 5,428,516, 5,410,458, 5,236,374, 5,094,632, 5,682,079, 4,544,318, 4,253,267, and the like. The entire disclosure of each of these United States patents is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. 
     In one embodiment, the electric lamp assemblies are comprised of an electric cord  82  (see FIG.  10 ). 
     Referring again to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the assembly depicted in comprised of end members  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90 . These end members are provided at opposed terminal ends of the rod  10 , and they fit between the spaced apart surfaces of the frame  70  to effect a snug friction fit of the device within such frame. 
     One may use any suitable end members adapted to secure the rods  10  to the inside surfaces of the frame  70 . Thus, by way of illustration, one may use the compressible ends means  28  described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083. These compressible end means  28  are in the shape of cups. 
     In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, the end means  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  is preferably an expandable and compressible caps  84 , a sectional view of which is presented in FIG.  10 A. 
     FIG. 11 shows a frame  90  within which is disposed an assembly similar to that depicted in FIG. 10 but differing therefrom in that rod assemblies  92 , and  94  are connected by means of connector  44 , and rod means  96  and  98  are also connected by means of a connector  44 . A detailed view of the connector  44 , enclosed in circle  8 — 8  of FIG. 11, is provided in FIG.  8 . Cross rods  100 ,  102 ,  104 , and  106  are connected to rods  92 / 94 / 96 / 98  by the use of orifices  28 , as is more clearly depicted in FIG.  5 . Christmas light assemblies  80  are connected to the various rods, using orifices  28 , in the manner depicted. 
     As will be apparent, by the means of connector  44 , and/or by using orifices  28 , one may make a multiplicity of different shapes and designs in both the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, thereby being able to make many different two dimensional, three dimensional, and four dimensional designs with the rods  10  which can be ornamented with the miniature Christmas tree lights. The rods  10 , or comparable rods  10 , can be made in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations to enable “Christmas tree light artists” to design ever more complex and wonderful designs. 
     The rod  10  assembly is preferably constructed from a rigid plastic material which has some degree of flexibility. One suitable plastic material which may be used is, e.g., “Compound  51 ”, which is sold by the Vinylex Corporation of Knoxville, Tenn. 
     The plastic material used to construct the rod assembly  10  preferably has a tensile strength (as measured by A.S.T.M. D638) of from about 5,000 to about 75,000 pounds per square inch, a flexural modulus (as measured by A.S.T.M. D790) of from about 280,000 to about 460,000 pounds per square inch, a deflection temperature at 264 pounds per square inch (as measured by A.S.T.M. D648) of from about 135 to about 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and a specific gravity (as measured by A.S.T.M. D792) of from about 1.25 to about 1.6. 
     It is to be understood that the aforementioned description is illustrative only and that changes can be made in the apparatus, in the ingredients and their proportions, and in the sequence of combinations and process steps, as well as in other aspects of the invention discussed herein, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims adapted to be connected to an electric power source to power the electric lamps. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083; the entire disclosure of this United States patent is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.