Patent ID: 8083276

Claim:
An installation and removal tool for a string of lights and a cup hook, the tool comprising: (a) a generally cylindrical body comprised of a molded, hard plastic, the body having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a threaded socket at the proximal end of the body, the threaded socket having a size and pitch to receive an externally threaded tip of an extension pole; (c) a cruciform tip at the distal end of the body, the cruciform tip comprising an elongated slot in a first pair of opposing cruciform arms and a longitudinal channel in a second pair of opposing cruciform arms, the longitudinal channel being generally perpendicular to the elongated slot, and the cruciform tip having a chamfer where the longitudinal channel intersects the elongated slot; (d) the elongated slot having a width, length, and depth of size just sufficient to snuggly receive a hook portion of a cup hook, the elongated slot having a narrow, elongated, rectangular opening, and a bottom of the elongated slot being rounded to conform to a rounded hook portion of the cup hook; (e) the longitudinal channel extending diametrically across the distal end, intersecting the elongated slot, and being of a width just sufficient to snuggly receive a strand of twisted insulated wires of a light string; (f) indicia on an external side surface of the body, the indicia comprising a single longitudinal groove in line with the elongated slot and a pair of mutually parallel grooves in line with the longitudinal channel, providing a visual aid to ascertain an angular orientation of the installation and removal tool; (g) a plurality of longitudinally elongated corner cavities, each of the corner cavities being located between the first pair of opposing cruciform arms and the second pair of opposing cruciform arms at the distal end of the body; and (h) the body being connected to an end of an extension pole; wherein the tool facilitates installation or removal of the string of lights and cup hook on an elevated structure.