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[0001] The invention relates to a holiday light storage system. More particularly, the invention relates to a storage system which allows holiday lights to be conveniently stored without tangling.
[0002] Holiday lights have been used through the ages to celebrate the holiday season, at a time when the days are short and natural light is most scarce. Once electricity became commonly available, people have decorated their homes and businesses with strings of electric lights.
[0003] Perhaps the most radical development of electric holiday lights in recent years has been the “icicle” lights, which have all but replaced the traditional linear light strings.
[0004] The icicle lights have a main cord, which is generally strung horizontally across the eaves of a building, just as traditional light strings. However, the icicle lights then have a plurality of dangling strands, which dangle from the main cord at uniform intervals. Each dangling strand has several light bulbs thereon, giving the appearance of an illuminated icicle.
[0005] Perhaps the only drawback to the use of holiday lights is the difficulty storing these light strings between holiday seasons. Even when coiled prior to storage, traditional holiday lights seem to tangle anyway. The light bulbs catch upon each other, making untangling an expected task. However, the icicle lights present even further difficulties, considering that with the multiple dangling strands, dozens of individual strands and ends are present. Accordingly, untangling these lights presents an unusually difficult and frustrating task to the homeowner. In addition, the fragile bulbs can be easily damaged while attempting to untangle the strands.
[0006] Schemes have been devised for storing holiday decorations of all kinds between holiday seasons. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a holiday light storage system which allows holiday light strings to be effectively stored between holiday seasons. Accordingly, a system is provided which allows strings of lights to be wound around a central hub, to prevent tangling thereof.
[0008] It is a further object of the invention to provide a holiday light storage system which allows multiple branch, “icicle” lights to be stored without tangling. Accordingly, the system winds the main cord of these light strings around the hub such that the dangling strands are allowed to hang plumb beneath the main cord in a manner that prevents tangling from taking place.
[0009] It is a still further object of the invention to facilitate easy winding of the light strings upon the hub. Accordingly, by the preferred embodiment, the hub is mounted upon a “lazy susan” turntable, such that the hub may be rotated as the light strings are wrapped therearound, and may once again rotate when the light strings are being removed from the hub.
[0010] It is an even further object of the invention to allow a significant quantity of holiday lights to be stored using a single unit. Accordingly, at least two spokes extend radially from the hub, allowing the main cords of several light strings the spiral therearound, while the dangling strands associated therewith hand directly therebelow.
[0011] The invention is a holiday light storage system, for storing holiday light strings having a main cord and a plurality of dangling strands spaced along and extending from the main cord, using a storage device having a base, a hub extending upward from the base, and a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub. The main cord is wrapped around the hub, supported above the spokes, and the dangling strands hang perpendicularly downward from the main cord. Accordingly, the holiday lights are maintained in a substantially tangle-free condition. The base preferably allows the hub to rotate to facilitate wrapping the light strings around the hub, and removal of the light strings from the hub.
[0012] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.
[0013] In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows.
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
[0018] A plurality of spokes
[0019] The base
[0020]
[0021] As illustrated in
[0022] In order to allow the dangling strands
[0023] Because the base
[0024] To facilitate both rotation of the hub
[0025]
[0026] In conclusion, illustrated herein is a holiday light storage system which allows holiday light strings to be stored in a neat, logical, and tangle-free manner. The invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which provides an example of an implementation of the inventive concepts. These illustrations, however, are exemplative only. Numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concepts. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.