U.S. patent application number 10/605494 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-07 for device for hanging decorative fixtures.
Invention is credited to Morin, Denis.
Application Number | 20050072881 10/605494 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34393283 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050072881 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morin, Denis |
April 7, 2005 |
DEVICE FOR HANGING DECORATIVE FIXTURES
Abstract
System and method to easily install and remove hangers for a
string of decorative lights around a house or a tree, while
standing on the ground and without the use of a ladder. The system
and method are particularly intended for attachment to gutter lips,
but could be used to attach light strings to a variety of hard to
reach surfaces found on and around buildings. The system is
comprised of two components, a hanger clip which holds the light
string and which is adapted to be suspended by a gutter or tree
branch, for example, and an elongated staff configured at one end
to temporarily hold the clip until it can be positioned and
attached. The staff and hanger clip are engaged by corresponding
locking means configured in each, to selectively and temporarily
lock the hanger clip at a desired rotation angle relative to an
axis defining the elongated staff. In an exemplary embodiment, the
hanger clip is configured to simulate an icicle or ornamental
object.
Inventors: |
Morin, Denis; (Canterbury,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN, LLP
55 GRIFFIN ROAD SOUTH
BLOOMFIELD
CT
06002
|
Family ID: |
34393283 |
Appl. No.: |
10/605494 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/48.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 33/10 20130101;
F21S 4/10 20160101; A47G 33/0845 20130101; F21V 21/088
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/048.2 |
International
Class: |
E04D 013/072 |
Claims
1. A device for mounting a cord on a gutter and similar hard to
reach structures comprising: a hanger clip having a cord retainer
and a first bight, said first bight configured to suspend said
hanger clip; and an elongated staff for installing and removing
said hanger clip, said elongated staff having a lock feature
disposed at one end of said elongated staff to engage a
corresponding mating feature extending from said hanger clip for
releasably holding said hanger clip, such that when the features
are engaged, said hanger clip is temporarily and securely held onto
said elongated staff when one of installing and removing said
hanger clip to and from the structure from below the structure,
wherein disengagement of the features occurs by rotation of said
elongated staff about an axis defining said elongated staff.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a member configured to
simulate one of an icicle and a decorative figure, said member
extending from said hanger clip to said corresponding mating
feature.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein said member configured to
simulate said icicle is formed of two generally planar plates
defined by tapered sides intersecting one another along centerlines
defining each and defined with said tapered sides substantially
normal to each other.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said hanger clip is formed of
extruded plastic.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said hanger clip is configured
substantially as an S hook defined by said first bight configured
to fit over a gutter lip and contour to at least a bight portion in
a gutter and a second bight having said cord retainer.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein said first bight of said S hook
is configured to extend below said second bight of said S hook to
clip against an inside surface defining said leading edge of said
gutter.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first bight of said S hook
is configured generally wider than a remaining portion of said
hanger clip and extends below said second bight of said S hook to
provide a resilient bias against an inside surface defining said
leading edge of said gutter.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein said first bight terminates in an
open flare configured to allow said gutter lip therethrough.
9. The device of claim 5, wherein said second bight is configured
so as to accommodate at least one cord therethrough.
10. The device as described in claim 1, wherein said hanger clip is
configured to specifically contour around a gutter lip and to at
least one of two opposing surfaces defining a bight in a leading
edge defining said gutter.
11. The device as described in claim 1, wherein the features engage
in a direction along said axis defining said elongated staff via a
complimentary lockable profile on each of the features, such that
rotation of one of the features provides a lockable profile
orientation to keep said hanger clip securely and temporarily
engaged onto said elongated staff while limited rotation of one of
the features relative to the other disengages the same.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein said limited rotation is
substantially less than 180.degree. of rotation about said
axis.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said cord retainer is configured
as a spiral configured to retain at least one cord.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein said hanger clip and said
elongated staff are engaged by the features as a locking means, to
selectively and temporarily lock the hanger clip at a desired
rotation angle relative to said elongated staff and about said
axis.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein said locking means is comprised
of a complimentary configured lockable feature combination, wherein
when a complimentary profile of each feature is aligned with the
other essentially coincident with said axis of rotation via
rotation thereof about said axis, said device may be disengaged
from said elongated staff via translation in a direction
corresponding to said axis.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein when said complimentary profile
of said each feature is misaligned with the other upon respective
rotation of either essentially coincident with said axis of
rotation, said device is engaged with said elongated staff and
translation in a direction corresponding to said axis is
prohibited.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein said hanger clip is operably
suspended from one of the gutter and a tree branch.
18. A method for mounting a cord on a gutter and similar hard to
reach structures comprising the steps of: configuring a hanger clip
having a cord retainer and a first bight, said first bight
configured to suspend said hanger clip with said first bight; using
an elongated staff for installing and removing said hanger clip,
said elongated staff having a lock feature disposed at one end of
said elongated staff; and engaging a corresponding mating feature
extending from said hanger clip with said lock feature for
releasably holding said hanger clip, such that when the features
are engaged, said hanger clip is temporarily and securely held onto
said elongated staff when one of installing and removing said
hanger clip to and from the structure from below the structure,
wherein disengagement of the features occurs by rotation of said
elongated staff about an axis defining said elongated staff.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: configuring a
member to simulate one of an icicle and a decorative figure, said
member extending from said hanger clip to said corresponding mating
feature, and configuring said corresponding mating feature to
simulate one of a water drop and a corresponding ornamental figure
extending from said member.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein said configuring said member to
simulate said icicle is formed of two generally planar plates
defined by tapered sides intersecting one another along centerlines
defining each and defined with said tapered sides substantially
normal to each other.
21. A device comprising: a hanger clip having a cord retainer and a
first bight; and an elongated staff or installing and removing the
hanger clips, the staff having a lock feature disposed at one end
to engage a corresponding mating feature extending from the hanger
clip, such that when the features are engaged, the hanger clip is
temporarily and securely held onto the staff when one of installing
and removing the hanger clip to and from the structure from below
the structure, and wherein disengagement of the features occurs by
rotation of the staff about an axis defining the elongated staff.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of installing and
displaying decorative lights, such as a continuous strand of
Christmas lights, around a house, while standing on the ground, and
without the necessity of having to use a ladder. More specifically,
the present invention relates to decorative simulated icicles for
supporting ornamental lights that may be used during the holiday
season.
[0002] Decorative lighting fixtures are becoming more sophisticated
with every new holiday season. Gone are the days when simple
blinking lights strung around trees would suffice to welcome
Christmas and the New Year. Today there is a demand for more
sophisticated lighting scenarios to adorn homes and buildings. With
the demand for new lighting arrangements comes the need for newer
and improved flexible frames to support these lighting arrangements
and attachment devices to affix such frames to buildings and other
structures.
[0003] In addition to the increasing demand for more versatile
lighting frames, there is a concurrent demand for improved ways and
devices for attaching such frames to the building structure.
Previously, numerous hooks and hangers for supporting cords and
wires, particularly those with ornamental Christmas lights were
available to adorn homes. Many of these hooks and hangers were
permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the building structure.
The installation of these devices was particularly time consuming
and laborious and removal was equally complicated. In addition,
these devices could not be rearranged at a later date to
accommodate changes in the structure of the building or simply to
rearrange for a different display of the lights.
[0004] Removable hooks such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,181,827, wherein a clip designed to hold a cord with ornamental
lights has an extended portion that fits between shingles and a
clip portion that fits around a gutter are also commercially
available. Such hooks have many advantages in that they are
relatively easy to use and remove but may still be difficult to
install onto gutters and other building fixtures or hard to reach
structures. Other hooks that hold decorative lights are designed
solely to fit between shingles such as those shown in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 356,246 and 356, 492, while some such as that described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,141,192 and 6,347,780 are specially designed to
mount onto a gutter.
[0005] There are a large number of patents related to this field,
but there is only two, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,141,192 and 6,347,780, that
specifically address a solution for installing decorative light
hangers to an elevated part of a house, specifically a gutter lip,
while standing on the ground and without the use of a ladder. The
6,347,780 patent requires a complex system including a
spring-loaded hanger clip having jaws that grip the gutter and a
string connected to a hand actuated slider distal from the hanger
clip jaws to actuate the same. Furthermore, the U.S. Pat. No.
6,347,780 requires two-handed operation. The U.S. Pat. No.
5,141,192 requires the use of an elongated staff with a horizontal
rod mounted at one end. In practice, however, this solution
requires a difficult and delicate operation to get the hook to seat
properly on the wide variety of gutter lips found on houses,
particularly when the desired mounting location is at a fairly high
elevation (11 feet or more on many houses). Moreover, use of the
elongated staff is cumbersome, as there needs to be amble room and
the staff long enough to pivot the staff at an end opposite the
hook to properly position the hook with respect to the gutter lip
extending horizontally from a leading edge defining the gutter
toward the house.
[0006] Accordingly, a less complex and simpler system is desired
for mounting a cord on a gutter and similar hard to reach
structures.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies are
overcome or alleviated by an apparatus and method device for
mounting a cord on a gutter and similar hard to reach structures,
including gutters and trees. The apparatus and method include a
hanger clip having a cord retainer and a first bight configured to
at least one of clip to two opposing substantially vertical
surfaces defining the structure and suspend the hanger clip by the
first bight; and an elongated staff for installing and removing the
hanger clip. The elongated staff includes a lock feature disposed
at one end of thereof to engage a corresponding mating feature
extending from the hanger clip for releasably holding the hanger
clip, such that when the two sets of features are engaged, the
hanger clip is temporarily and securely held onto the elongated
staff when either installing or removing the hanger clip to and
from the structure from below the structure, wherein disengagement
of the two sets of features occurs by rotation of the elongated
staff about an axis defining the elongated staff. In an exemplary
embodiment, the hanger clip includes a member configured to
simulate an icicle or other decorative figure extending from the
hanger clip to the corresponding mating feature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements
are numbered alike in the several Figures:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross section view of an exemplary embodiment of
a clip releasably locked to an elongated staff for installation or
removal from a gutter;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial cross section view of FIG. 1
illustrating the clip oriented with respect to the elongated staff
for removal therefrom;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clip of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the clip having a cord
extending therethrough;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the clip of FIG. 1
illustrating attachment over a gutter lip and releasable profile
engagement therebetween; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an alternative
embodiment of the clip of FIG. 1 used to hang a cord of hanging
lights in a tree.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a
hanger clip and elongated staff. Although the present invention
will be described with reference to the single embodiment shown in
the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention
can be embodied in many alternate forms or embodiments. In
addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials
could be used.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a hanger clip 10 removably coupled to an
elongated staff 12 for operably coupling clip 10 to a gutter 14.
Hanger clip 10 includes a S-hook 16 and a member 18 extending
therefrom and terminating at a lockable profile feature or lock
feature 20. Lockable profile feature 20 engages a complimentary
lock feature 22 configured in elongated staff 12 for preventing
translation of clip 10 in a direction corresponding to an axis
defining staff 12.
[0017] Elongated staff 12 includes an elongated rod 24 disposed in
a hanger clip tool 26 defining one end of staff 12. Tool 26 is
configured with complimentary lock feature 22 to selectively and
temporarily lock or releasably retain feature 20 at a desired
rotation angle relative to an axis defining said elongated staff 12
relative to clip 10. Tool 26 is further configured with a cavity 28
to receive at least a portion of member 18 therein. At an opposite
end of tool 26 having cavity 28, a second cavity 30 is configured
to receive rod 24 and prevent axial rotation of each relative to
one another. In this manner, complimentary lock feature 22 is
configured in tool 26 intermediate cavities 28 and 38.
[0018] When the two sets of lock features 20 and 22 are engaged or
properly aligned with respect to each other as illustrated in FIG.
1, the hanger clip 10 is temporarily and securely held onto the
elongated staff 12 when either installing or removing the hanger
clip 10 to and from, respectively, substantially a vertical surface
defining a leading edge of gutter 14 therebelow. Disengagement of
the two sets of features 20 and 22 occurs by rotation of the
elongated staff 12 about an axis 32 defining elongated staff 12 or
rod 24 as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates that when lock
feature 20 is rotated about 90.degree. about axis 32 relative to
the position shown in FIG. 1, lock feature 20 is properly aligned
with an aperture 34 defined at an interface between cavity 28 and
lock feature 22 such that clip 10 may be separated from elongated
staff 12 by translation of staff 12 along axis 32 so that lock
feature 20 may be slid through aperture 34 without interference
therewith. In this manner, the dimensional profile 36 of lock
feature 20 with respect to the dimensions defining aperture 34 is
smaller in this orientation. However, the dimensional profile 36 is
larger than that of aperture 34 when lock feature 20 is rotated
preferably between about 10.degree. to about 170.degree., and more
preferably to about 90.degree..
[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, an exemplary embodiment
of hanger clip 10 will be described in more detail. Member 18
disposed intermediate hook 16 and lock feature 20 is preferably
configured to simulate an icicle wherein lock feature 20 is
appropriately configured to simulate a water drop from the icicle
for ornamental design while maintaining the structural design
attributes with respect to having a releasable lock profile that is
complimentary to lock feature 22. Member 18 resembling an icicle is
preferably integrally formed of two planar tapered plates 38 and 40
generally normal to each other intersecting at centerlines 42
defining each and corresponding to axis 32 as best seen in FIG. 3.
In this manner, tapered plates 38 and 40 extend to lock feature 20
resembling an icicle with a water drop dripping from an end
thereof. However, member 18 may be formed in other configurations
suitable to the desired end purpose. For example, member 18 may be
formed as another decorative design for use as a Halloween
decoration for stringing lights appropriate to the holiday. For
example, member 18 may be configured as a devil figurine holding a
pitch fork. At the other end of the pitch fork, a corresponding
lock feature 20 may be configured to mate with lock feature 22 in
tool 26. For instance, the pitch forks defining one end of the
pitch fork is optionally utilized to provide the function of lock
feature 20. It will be noted that member 18 is not to be limited to
simulate just icicles having a water drop lock feature 20 or a
devil figurine with a pitch fork lock feature 20, as other
decorative and ornamental configurations are contemplated for use
with member 18 and lock feature 20.
[0020] At an opposite end from attachment with lock feature 20,
member 18 is coupled to a bottom portion 44 defining S hook 16. S
hook 16 is defined by a top portion 42 and bottom portion 44. Top
portion 42 includes a first bight 46 defined by a substantially
U-shaped member 48 that terminates in a flared out portion 50 that
is substantially wider than the remaining portion defining U-shaped
member 48. Flared out portion 50 is configured to easily allow a
gutter lip 52 defining a top leading edge of gutter 14 to slide by
flare out portion 50 toward bight 46. Clip 10 is suspended by first
bight 46 being suspended by gutter lip 52. Flared out portion 50 is
preferably configured to provide a bias 54 against an inside
surface 56 defining a leading edge 58 of gutter 14. Flared out
portion 50 is preferably wider than a remaining portion defining
hook 16 in order to facilitate assembly and disassembly of clip 10
with a gutter 14 or similar hard to reach structure. Flared out
portion 50 is widera remaining portion defining U-shaped member 48
to orient hook 16 substantially parallel with the leading edge of
the gutter and prevent the clip 10 from twisting when staff 12 is
engaged and disengaged therefrom.
[0021] Bottom portion 44 of S hook 16 includes a second bight 60
configured to accommodate and help restrain a cord 62 therein (FIG.
4). In an exemplary embodiment, cord 62 is a light string of a
plurality of ornamental lights, however, cord 62 may include one or
more cords suitable for the desired purpose. In an exemplary
embodiment, cord 62 is preferably encompassed in bottom portion 44
configured as a spiral section 64 defined by a small entry 66 so
that removal of cord 62 from second bight 60 is less prone due to
wind, for example, or during installation of clip 10.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 5, hanger clip 10 preferably includes
bottom portion 44 of S hook 16 configured with a clip profile 70
complimentary to a gutter profile 72 of leading edge 58 such that
vertical translation of clip 10 relative to leading edge 58 is
inhibited by abutment between the complimentary configured profiles
70 and 72. Clip profile 70 corresponds to an interface between top
and bottom portions 42 and 44 of S hook 16, but is not limited
thereto, as clip profile 70 may depend from other suitable
locations of hook 16. Furthermore, first bight 46 is configured to
properly receive and be suspended by gutter lip 52.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the method of suspending the
device from a gutter is displayed. A cord is passed through the
opening 66 in hook 16 (as seen in FIG. 4, not shown here). The clip
10 is attached to tool 26, which is itself connected to elongated
shaft 12. The clip 10 is suspended over gutter lip 52, which
extends inwardly from the termination of the gutter trough. The
clip 10 is then lowered over lip 52 so that spiral curvature or
profile 70 is in contact with a complimentary configured profile 72
in an outside face of lead edge 58. The clip 10 may then be
slidingly positioned as being suspended by gutter lip 52 so that
contiguous clips 10 may be evenly or proportionately displaced from
one another. Clip 10 is then firmly mounted while being suspended
on the gutter lip 52 by pinching the gutter trough 14 on both sides
defining leading edge 58 with clip profile 70 engaged with gutter
profile 72 and flared out portion 50 biasing from inside the gutter
trough. The clip 10 is then operably removed from tool 26 by
rotating staff 12 approximately 90.degree. about axis 32 so that
the orientations of features 20 and 22 shown in FIG. 1 become
oriented as in FIG. 2. Then tool 26 is removed from clip 10 by
pulling downward on the elongated shaft 12. Gutter lip 52 thus
slides into first bight 46, distorting flared out portion 50 which
then grips an inside face defining leading edge 58 of the gutter
trough.
[0024] Removal of the clip is simply the reversal of the steps
previously mentioned, i.e. insertion of the rod into the clip with
feature 22 aligned with aperture 34 to slide therethrough, rotation
of the tool 26 by about 90.degree. to engage complimentary lock
features 20 and 22, raising the clip slightly away from to the
ground to disengage the clip 10 with the leading edge 58 of the
gutter trough, and lowering the clip disposed at the end of the
elongated shaft to the ground below.
[0025] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, hanger
clip 10 and tool 26 are each preferably constructed from a rigid
material such as plastic. However, it is considered within the
scope of the invention that hanger clip 10 and tool 26 may be
constructed from any material suitable to the desired end purpose.
In an exemplary embodiment, each of hanger clip 10 and tool 26 is
integrally molded, using injection molding, for example. Further,
hanger clip 10 is preferably molded with a plastic having a color
to simulate the color of an icicle such as clear or white
plastic.
[0026] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, elongated
rod 24 is preferably constructed from a rigid material such as
plastic or wood. However, it is considered within the scope of the
invention that elongated rod 24 may be constructed from any
material suitable to the desired end purpose. For example, it is
contemplated that elongated rod 24 may be a common household
threaded broom handle, wherein tool 26 is molded with complimentary
threads to receive the threaded broom handle. Other embodiments are
contemplated as well, including, but not limited to, mechanical and
chemical bonding means and press fit engagement therebetween (e.g.,
between tool 26 and rod 24).
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 6, clip 10 is illustrated being used
to suspend cord 62 in a tree 100 without the use of a ladder. As
described above with reference to being suspended by a gutter lip
52, FIG. 6 illustrates that clip 10 may be suspended from branches
110 extending from tree 100 using staff 12 without employing a
ladder. In this manner, one or more strings of lights may be strung
around tree 100 while clips 10 simulate icicles hanging
therefrom.
[0028] The above described embodiments allow hanging a string of
lights on an ice-laden day without a ladder perched on the slippery
ground. In addition, the need to wait until a winter thaw to remove
the lights is avoided, because the need for a ladder is eliminated.
The above described system allows stringing lights on any standard
gutter or branches of a tree and allows removal of the same with
just an upward nudge with the elongated staff on the releasably
locked clip so that the clip may be easily lowered to the ground
with the cord of strung lights still attached to the clip.
Furthermore, the above operation may be easily done with one hand
from beneath the gutter or branch without awkward angling of the
staff to properly seat or unseat the clip.
[0029] While the invention has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *