Magnetic light strand clip device

• US 10,228,114 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brenda Payton
• Original Assignee: Brenda Payton
• Inventors: Payton, Brenda
• Primary Examiner(s): McKinnon, Terrell L
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDuffie, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/341,348
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 248683, 248 50, 248 51, 248 52, 248 58, 248 62, 248 63, 248 65, 248 677, 248 681, 248 70, 248 741, 248 742, 248 744, 2482065, 2483161, 2483167, 24822926, 24822916, 24823181, 362398, 362654
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/22 of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material F16B2/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/088 Clips; Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices

Abstract

A magnetic light strand clip device including a base with an internal removable magnet to couple and uncouple the base from a metal surface, such as a metal roof. A pair of diametrically opposed U-shaped first clips and U-shaped second clips are disposed on the front side proximal right and left sides and top and bottom sides, respectively, of the base. Each of the pair of first and second clips has a central slot open crosswise or lengthwise, respectively, relative the base for securing a respective string of lights or a rope light therein. The front portion of each first clip is wider than that of each second clip. Each second clip rear portion is circular. Each first clip rear portion has a circular external portion adjacent the front portion and a rectangular internal portion. Each second clip rear portion has a larger diameter than that of each first clip.

Claims

1. A magnetic light strand clip device comprising:

a base having a front side, a rear side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the base having a removable magnet centrally disposed therein, the base being configured to couple to and uncouple from a metal surface;

a pair of U-shaped first clips disposed on the front side, one of each of the pair of first clips centrally disposed proximal the respective right side and left side of the base, the pair of first clips being aligned with each other;

a pair of U-shaped second clips disposed on the front side, one of each of the pair of second clips disposed proximal the respective top side and bottom side of the base, the pair of second clips being aligned with each other, each of the pair of first clips and the pair of second clips having a first arm perpendicular to the front side, a second arm parallel to the first arm, each of the first clips having an upper side, a lower side parallel to the upper side, a forward side, an interior side, and a rearward side, each of the second clips having an upper end, a lower end parallel to the upper end, a forward end, an interior end, and a rearward end, a connection segment disposed between the first arm and the second arm of each of the pair of first clips and the pair of second clips at the respective rearward side and rearward end thereof, the upper side of each of the second clips being parallel to the top side of the respective base;

a central slot continuously disposed along the respective interior side and interior end of the first arm and the second arm in a position between the respective forward side and forward end of each of the first arm and second arm and the connection segment of each of the pair of first clips and the pair of second clips, the central slot having a rear portion directly adjacent the connection segment and a front portion continuously disposed between the respective forward side and forward end and the rear portion, the rear portion and the front portion of the central slot of each of the first clips being open from the right side to the left side, the rear portion and the front portion of the central slot of each of the second clips being open from the top side to the bottom side;

wherein the front portion of the central slot each of the pair of first clips has a width greater than a width of the front portion of the central slot of each of the pair of second clips;

wherein the rear portion of each of the pair of second clips is circular;

wherein the rear portion of each of the pair of first clips has a circular external portion directly adjacent the front portion and a rectangular internal portion, wherein the rear portion of each of the pair of second clips has a diameter greater than a diameter of the external portion of the rear portion of each of the pair of first clips; and

wherein the base is repositionable upon the metal surface from a first position to a second position, wherein the top and bottom sides are oriented horizontally on the metal surface in the first position, wherein the top and bottom sides are oriented vertically on the metal surface in the second position.

2. The magnetic light strand clip device of claim 1 comprising:

a resilient retainer disposed on the rear side of the base, the resilient retainer having a central opening therein;

wherein the central opening is configured to receive the magnet therethrough; and

wherein the resilient retainer is sized and is configured to secure the magnet therein.

3. The magnetic light strand clip device of claim 1 wherein the magnet has a length at least one-half of a length of the top side of the base and a width at least one-half of a width of the top side.

4. The magnetic light strand clip device of claim 2 wherein the resilient retainer has substantially a same surface area as a surface area of the rear side of the base.

5. The magnetic light strand clip device of claim 2 wherein the resilient retainer comprises:

a plurality of resilient flaps; and

a slit between each of the resilient flaps.

6. The magnetic light strand clip device of claim 5 wherein the resilient retainer is a tetraflexagon defined by rear side of the base, the plurality of resilient flaps, and the slit between each of the resilient flaps, wherein each of the plurality of resilient flaps is a triangle and has a central apex disposed directly adjacent the central opening.

7. A magnetic light strand clip device comprising:

a base having a front side, a rear side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the base having a removable magnet centrally disposed therein, the base being configured to couple to and uncouple from a metal surface, wherein the magnet has a length at least one-half of a length of the top side of the base and a width at least one-half of a width of the top side;

a pair of U-shaped first clips disposed on the front side, one of each of the pair of first clips centrally disposed proximal the respective right side and left side of the base, the pair of first clips being aligned with each other;

a pair of U-shaped second clips disposed on the front side, one of each of the pair of second clips disposed proximal the respective top side and bottom side of the base, the pair of second clips being aligned with each other, each of the pair of first clips and the pair of second clips having a first arm perpendicular to the front side, a second arm parallel to the first arm, each of the pair of first clips having an upper side, a lower side parallel to the upper side, a forward side, an interior side, and a rearward side, each of the second clips having an upper end, a lower end parallel to the upper end, a forward end, an interior end, and a rearward end, a connection segment disposed between the first arm and the second arm of each of the pair of first clips and the pair of second clips at the respective rearward side and rearward end thereof, the upper side of each of the second clips being parallel to the top side of the respective base;

a central slot continuously disposed along the respective interior side and interior end of the first arm and the second arm in a position between the respective forward side and forward end of each of the first arm and second arm and the connection segment of each of the pair of first clips and the pair of second clips, the central slot having a rear portion directly adjacent the connection segment and a front portion continuously disposed between the respective forward side and forward end and the rear portion, the rear portion and the front portion of the central slot of each of the first clips being open from the right side to the left side, the rear portion and the front portion of the central slot of each of the second clips being open from the top side to the bottom side;

a resilient retainer disposed on the rear side of the base, the resilient retainer having a central opening therein, a plurality of resilient flaps, and a slit between each of the resilient flaps;

wherein the front portion of the central slot of each of the pair of first clips has a width greater than a width of the front portion of the central slot of each of the pair of second clips;

wherein the rear portion of each of the pair of second clips is circular;

wherein the rear portion of each of the pair of first clips has a circular external portion directly adjacent the front portion and a rectangular internal portion, wherein the rear portion of each of the second clips has a diameter greater than a diameter of the rear portion of each of the first clips;

wherein the base is repositionable upon the metal surface from a first position to a second position, wherein the top and bottom sides are oriented horizontally on the metal surface in the first position, wherein the top and bottom sides are oriented vertically on the metal surface in the second position;

wherein the central opening is configured to receive the magnet therethrough; and

wherein the resilient retainer is sized and is configured to secure the magnet therein.

8. The magnetic light strand clip device of claim 7 wherein the resilient retainer is a tetraflexagon defined by rear side of the base, the plurality of resilient flaps, and the slit between each of the resilient flaps, wherein each of the plurality of resilient flaps is a triangle and has a central apex disposed directly adjacent the central opening.

9. The magnetic light strand clip device of claim 7 wherein the resilient retainer has substantially a same surface area as a surface area of the rear side of the base.

10. The magnetic light strand clip device of claim 8 wherein the resilient retainer has substantially a same surface area as a surface area of the rear side of the base.