DECORATIVE LIGHT CURTAIN

• US 20020105803A1
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerald Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Emerald Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Jones, Chad H., Deutsch, Daniel, Fillipp, Stephen L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,431,730 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/252
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/108 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0016 Furnishing for windows and doors sunshades F21V33/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A decorative light curtain that can be draped inside a doorway, window or other opening using a conventional tension rod and a plurality of specially adapted light support brackets that separate and position a plurality of substantially parallel strands of decorative lights. The resultant lighting display simulates a lighted drape that spans the top and each side of the door or window in which it is used.

Claims

1. A decorative light curtain installable inside a wall opening having a top, bottom and sides, the light curtain comprising:

a transverse support rod having sufficient length to substantially spanning the opening and having first and second ends, the rod being supportable near the top of the opening;

first and second light support brackets attachable to the support rod near the first and second ends, respectively, the first and second brackets extending downwardly into the opening from the support rod and further comprising a plurality of spaced-apart receiving positions; and

a plurality of substantially parallel light strands, each light strand comprising insulated electrical conductors and a plurality of decorative bulb and socket assemblies longitudinally spaced along the strands, the strands spanning the opening between the first and second brackets with each strand being supported at one of the receiving positions of each bracket and a portion of each strand draping downwardly from each bracket near a side of the opening, each strand having an electrical connection to at least one other strand, and at least one of the strands further comprising a connector attachable to an electrical power source.

2. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein the wall opening is one of an interior or an exterior building opening.

3. The decorative light curtain of claim 2 wherein the wall opening is one of a window opening or a door opening.

4. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein the transverse rod is a tension rod.

5. The decorative light curtain of claim 4 wherein the tension rod is spring-biased.

6. The decorative light curtain of claim 5 wherein the tension rod has telescoping sections.

7. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein the transverse rod is supportable inside the opening.

8. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein the first and second brackets are connected to the first and second ends, respectively, of the transverse rod.

9. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein the first and second brackets are angled downwardly and inwardly into the opening.

10. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein the first and second brackets each comprise four spaced-apart receiving positions.

11. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein each receiving position is a partially occluded curvilinear recess.

12. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein the receiving positions are laterally spaced.

13. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 wherein at least two of the substantially parallel light strands are a continuous decorative light string that is doubled near the bottom at one side of the opening.

14. The decorative light curtain of claim 13 wherein all the light strands are part of a single decorative light string.

15. The decorative light curtain of claim 1 where all the light strands are serially interconnected.

16. The decorative light curtain of claim 1, further comprising third and fourth light support brackets, each of the third and fourth light support brackets having a plurality of spaced-apart receiving positions, each receiving position adapted to receive and releasably engage a light strand hanging from a receiving position of one of the first and second light support brackets.

17. The decorative light curtain of claim 16 wherein one of the third and fourth light support brackets is disposed at each side of the opening.

18. The decorative light curtain of claim 16 wherein each of the third and fourth light support brackets is releasably connected to one side of the opening.

19. The decorative light curtain of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate strand support member that supports the light strands from the transverse rod between the first and second light support brackets.

20. The decorative light curtain of claim 1, further comprising a tie member that gathers the light strands near the bottom at each side of the opening.