Patent ID: 7517117

Claim:
A system comprising: (a) a track having a box-shaped cross-section with a longitudinal slot on one side of the box; (b) a one-piece lock comprising: (1) a body having a wider axis and a narrower axis; (2) a finger-turnable handle; and (3) a neck formed integrally with the body at one end and formed integrally with the handle at the other end; (4) wherein one end of the neck extends from the body in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane containing the wider axis and the narrower axis of the body; (5) wherein the neck is sized to extend through the slot; (6) wherein the body is sized to fit within the interior of the track so that the body can move along the track when the wider axis is parallel the longitudinal slot of to the track and to fit within the interior of the track with opposing ends of the body frictionally engaged with opposing side walls of the track when the narrower axis is parallel the longitudinal slot of to the track; and (7) wherein the narrower axis of the body is no wider than the slot to enable the body to pass through the slot when the wider axis is parallel to the longitudinal slot; and (c) a string of lights arranged along the track, (d) wherein the body of the lock is positioned within the track with its opposing ends frictionally engaged with opposing side walls of the track, which frictional engagement holds the lock in a substantially fixed longitudinal position along the track; (e) wherein an interior portion of the track and a surface of the frictionally engaged body opposite the neck together define a circumscribed passage within the track; (f) wherein a segment of a wire of the string of lights passes through the circumscribed passage and is retained within the track by the body of the lock; and (g) wherein a light of the string is outside the track so that the wire passes through the slot at a location between the segment of wire that passes through the circumscribed passage and the light.