Title:
LIGHT CLIP
United States Patent 3596859
Abstract:
A clip for attaching decorative lights to eavestroughs which hooks over the front edge of the eavestrough, said clip having resilient jaws to receive the bulb holders of the light and an arcuately curved resilient rear strip engaging the inside of the eavestrough and holding the clip firmly on to the eavestrough regardless of different constructions of front edges of eavestroughs.
US Patent References:
Shoulder supported light clamp
Roberts - January 1951 - 2536394
Garment hanger bracket
Sanford - May 1959 - 2888224
Clip structure for hanging wire
Sassin - May 1965 - 3181827
Hanger for string of lights
Stock - June 1965 - 3193229
Shoulder supported light clamp
Roberts - January 1951 - 2536394
Garment hanger bracket
Sanford - May 1959 - 2888224
Clip structure for hanging wire
Sassin - May 1965 - 3181827
Hanger for string of lights
Stock - June 1965 - 3193229
Application Number:
04/868027
Publication Date:
08/03/1971
Filing Date:
10/21/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
D07/620, 248/229.260
International Classes:
F21S8/00; A47B97/00; E04B7/18
Field of Search:
248/51,73,74,112,113,205,214,215,224,229,312,313,316D 24/1A,81B,73PC
Primary Examiner:
Schultz, William H.
Claims:
What I claim as my invention is
1. A self-adjusting clip for attaching decorative lights to the lip portion of different eavestroughs which have a sheet material wall with a lip of different widths; said clip comprising an inverted U-shaped support adapted to straddle an eavestrough lip, said support including a front member, a back member and a bight portion connecting said front and back members at the top thereof, the dimension of said bight portion being such as to accommodate the widest eavestrough lip on which the clip is to be positioned, a resilient light retaining clamp provided on and projecting forwardly from the lower end of said front member, and a resilient keeper element provided at the lower end of said back member and, in its relaxed condition, projecting forwardly from the back member to the plane of said front member so that a sheet material eavestrough wall may be frictionally gripped between the keeper element and the front member, said keeper element being resiliently bendable rearwardly at least as far back as said back member to facilitate placing and removal of said support on and off an eavestrough lip.
2. The clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said keeper element is horizontally elongated and includes a center portion connected to the lower end of said back member and a pair of end portions extending from opposite sides of said center portion outwardly and forwardly to the plane of said front member when the keeper element is in its relaxed condition.
3. The clip as defined in claim 1 which is further characterized in that said support and said light retaining clamp and said keeper member are formed integrally from plastic material having such characteristics as to lend resilient flexibility to the keeper member and clamp.
1. A self-adjusting clip for attaching decorative lights to the lip portion of different eavestroughs which have a sheet material wall with a lip of different widths; said clip comprising an inverted U-shaped support adapted to straddle an eavestrough lip, said support including a front member, a back member and a bight portion connecting said front and back members at the top thereof, the dimension of said bight portion being such as to accommodate the widest eavestrough lip on which the clip is to be positioned, a resilient light retaining clamp provided on and projecting forwardly from the lower end of said front member, and a resilient keeper element provided at the lower end of said back member and, in its relaxed condition, projecting forwardly from the back member to the plane of said front member so that a sheet material eavestrough wall may be frictionally gripped between the keeper element and the front member, said keeper element being resiliently bendable rearwardly at least as far back as said back member to facilitate placing and removal of said support on and off an eavestrough lip.
2. The clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said keeper element is horizontally elongated and includes a center portion connected to the lower end of said back member and a pair of end portions extending from opposite sides of said center portion outwardly and forwardly to the plane of said front member when the keeper element is in its relaxed condition.
3. The clip as defined in claim 1 which is further characterized in that said support and said light retaining clamp and said keeper member are formed integrally from plastic material having such characteristics as to lend resilient flexibility to the keeper member and clamp.
Description:
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clips for attaching decorative lights such as Christmas lights, to the front edges or lips of eavestroughs.
Such clips are presently in use but these consist of a jaw section to hold the bulb or the wire extending between the bulb holders and a resilient downturned portion which clips over the edge of the eavestrough. However, eavestroughs come in various designs and one particular section of the eavestrough which varies considerably in size and shape is the front lip or edge over which such clips engage. Therefore such clips are only useful if they are designed specifically for one type of eavestrough. If they are used on eavestroughs having a narrower cross section front edge then of course they are not held firmly. Alternatively, if they are engaged over eavestroughs having a wider cross section front edge then the resilient portion is strained often to breaking point.
Furthermore, such clips are often made of metal and scratch the finish or paint of the eavestroughs.
The present invention overcomes all of these disadvantages firstly, because it is designed specifically to be manufactured from plastic and secondly because it is provided with a horizontally extending arcuately curved rear member which engages over the eavestrough and adjusts to any thickness of front edge always holding the clip firmly in position against untoward movement due to wind and the like. Furthermore, it is easily disengaged and engaged over the eavestrough lip so that installation and removal of lights is readily accomplished.
The plastic prevents damage to the paint or finish of the eavestrough and withstands the flexing action without breaking.
The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore to provide a decorative light holder for eavestrough having an arcuately curved rear strip engageable with the inner wall of the eavestrough lip to hold the clip firmly in position at all times regardless of the cross-sectional configuration of the eavestrough front edge or lip.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the resilient jaws are adapted to receive bulb holders of different manufacturers.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.
With the foregoing in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of, and is hereby claimed to reside in the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, of which concept, one or more specific embodiments of same are herein exemplified as illustrative only of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying Figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my bulb holder.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows my bulb holder engaged over a relatively wide lip of an eavestrough which is shown in cross section.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a front lip of a relatively narrow cross section.
FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing my bulb holders in use on an eavestrough lip.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different Figures.
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in which my device will be seen to comprise generally a jaw portion collectively designated 10, an eavestrough front lip engaging portion collectively designated 11, and an eavestrough inner wall engaging portion collectively designated 12.
In detail, the jaw portion 10 includes a pair of jaws 13 forming a substantially arcuately curved unit within which a bulb holder 14 may be snapped. The jaws are resilient and the outer ends are out-turned as at 15 to facilitate the engaging and disengaging of the bulb holder within the jaws.
Extending upwardly from the rear 16 of the jaw portion is a vertical wall portion 17 forming part of the lip engaging portion 11. A horizontal portion extends rearwardly from the upper end 19 of the vertical wall portion 17 and a support 20 extends downwardly from the rear end 21 of the horizontal portion, substantially parallel to the wall portion 17.
The inner wall engaging portion 12 consists of an arcuately curved resilient strip or member 22 formed or secured to the lower end 23 of the support 20 with the ends 24 extending one upon each side of the support 20 and curving towards the jaw portion 10 as clearly shown in FIG. 3.
It will of course be appreciated that the entire clip is preferably made integrally from a suitable plastic and is entirely resilient in nature and able to withstand continual flexing regardless of the outside air temperature.
FIG. 4 shows an eavestrough 25 having a front lip cross section 26 of relatively wide dimensions. Under these circumstances, the clip is engaged over this front lip or edge 26 with the horizontal portion 18 engaging the horizontal part 27 of the front lip of the eavestrough. The wall portion 17 engages against the vertical part 28 of the eavestrough lip as clearly shown so that the jaw portion 10 extends horizontally from the eavestrough to receive the bulb holder 14 as clearly shown in FIG. 6.
The resilient arcuately curved strip 22 engages the inner wall 29 of the eavestrough forming the inner surface of the vertical part 28 of the lip as clearly shown in FIG. 4 and the resiliency of this strip 22 biases or urges the vertical wall portion 17 together with the jaw portion 10 against the vertical part 28 as clearly shown.
If, however, the cross-sectional configuration of the lip 26 is relatively narrow as shown in FIG. 5, then the resiliency of the strip 22 still permits the firm holding of the clip upon the lip inasmuch as the ends 24 of the strip extend forwardly to adjacent a line drawn through the rear of the jaw portion and identified by reference character 30 in FIG. 1. In engaging the clip over the eavestrough lip 26, the strip 22 can be moved to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1 to enable it to be slipped over the lip 26.
The clips are adjusted so that the wires or conduits 30 between adjacent bulb holders are relatively taut as shown in FIG. 6.
To disengage the clips, they are merely manipulated over the lip 26, the ends 24 of the strip 22 being moved outwardly against the inherent arcuately curved resiliency thereof.
Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.
Such clips are presently in use but these consist of a jaw section to hold the bulb or the wire extending between the bulb holders and a resilient downturned portion which clips over the edge of the eavestrough. However, eavestroughs come in various designs and one particular section of the eavestrough which varies considerably in size and shape is the front lip or edge over which such clips engage. Therefore such clips are only useful if they are designed specifically for one type of eavestrough. If they are used on eavestroughs having a narrower cross section front edge then of course they are not held firmly. Alternatively, if they are engaged over eavestroughs having a wider cross section front edge then the resilient portion is strained often to breaking point.
Furthermore, such clips are often made of metal and scratch the finish or paint of the eavestroughs.
The present invention overcomes all of these disadvantages firstly, because it is designed specifically to be manufactured from plastic and secondly because it is provided with a horizontally extending arcuately curved rear member which engages over the eavestrough and adjusts to any thickness of front edge always holding the clip firmly in position against untoward movement due to wind and the like. Furthermore, it is easily disengaged and engaged over the eavestrough lip so that installation and removal of lights is readily accomplished.
The plastic prevents damage to the paint or finish of the eavestrough and withstands the flexing action without breaking.
The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore to provide a decorative light holder for eavestrough having an arcuately curved rear strip engageable with the inner wall of the eavestrough lip to hold the clip firmly in position at all times regardless of the cross-sectional configuration of the eavestrough front edge or lip.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the resilient jaws are adapted to receive bulb holders of different manufacturers.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.
With the foregoing in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of, and is hereby claimed to reside in the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, of which concept, one or more specific embodiments of same are herein exemplified as illustrative only of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying Figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my bulb holder.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows my bulb holder engaged over a relatively wide lip of an eavestrough which is shown in cross section.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a front lip of a relatively narrow cross section.
FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing my bulb holders in use on an eavestrough lip.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different Figures.
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in which my device will be seen to comprise generally a jaw portion collectively designated 10, an eavestrough front lip engaging portion collectively designated 11, and an eavestrough inner wall engaging portion collectively designated 12.
In detail, the jaw portion 10 includes a pair of jaws 13 forming a substantially arcuately curved unit within which a bulb holder 14 may be snapped. The jaws are resilient and the outer ends are out-turned as at 15 to facilitate the engaging and disengaging of the bulb holder within the jaws.
Extending upwardly from the rear 16 of the jaw portion is a vertical wall portion 17 forming part of the lip engaging portion 11. A horizontal portion extends rearwardly from the upper end 19 of the vertical wall portion 17 and a support 20 extends downwardly from the rear end 21 of the horizontal portion, substantially parallel to the wall portion 17.
The inner wall engaging portion 12 consists of an arcuately curved resilient strip or member 22 formed or secured to the lower end 23 of the support 20 with the ends 24 extending one upon each side of the support 20 and curving towards the jaw portion 10 as clearly shown in FIG. 3.
It will of course be appreciated that the entire clip is preferably made integrally from a suitable plastic and is entirely resilient in nature and able to withstand continual flexing regardless of the outside air temperature.
FIG. 4 shows an eavestrough 25 having a front lip cross section 26 of relatively wide dimensions. Under these circumstances, the clip is engaged over this front lip or edge 26 with the horizontal portion 18 engaging the horizontal part 27 of the front lip of the eavestrough. The wall portion 17 engages against the vertical part 28 of the eavestrough lip as clearly shown so that the jaw portion 10 extends horizontally from the eavestrough to receive the bulb holder 14 as clearly shown in FIG. 6.
The resilient arcuately curved strip 22 engages the inner wall 29 of the eavestrough forming the inner surface of the vertical part 28 of the lip as clearly shown in FIG. 4 and the resiliency of this strip 22 biases or urges the vertical wall portion 17 together with the jaw portion 10 against the vertical part 28 as clearly shown.
If, however, the cross-sectional configuration of the lip 26 is relatively narrow as shown in FIG. 5, then the resiliency of the strip 22 still permits the firm holding of the clip upon the lip inasmuch as the ends 24 of the strip extend forwardly to adjacent a line drawn through the rear of the jaw portion and identified by reference character 30 in FIG. 1. In engaging the clip over the eavestrough lip 26, the strip 22 can be moved to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 1 to enable it to be slipped over the lip 26.
The clips are adjusted so that the wires or conduits 30 between adjacent bulb holders are relatively taut as shown in FIG. 6.
To disengage the clips, they are merely manipulated over the lip 26, the ends 24 of the strip 22 being moved outwardly against the inherent arcuately curved resiliency thereof.
Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.