Retractable light apparatus

• US 20060158878A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Byron H. Howell
• Original Assignee: Byron H. Howell
• Inventors: Howell, Byron H.
• Application Number:
  US11/336,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158878A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/223
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/22 flexible or deformable, e.g. into a curved shape
• 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

Abstract

A retractable light apparatus includes a plug for receiving electrical power, a helical coil that can elongate and retract to its original shape when released, and decorative lights affixed to the helical coil.

Claims

1. A retractable light apparatus comprising:

a plug for receiving electrical power;

a helical coil that can elongate and retract to its original shape when released; and

decorative lights affixed to the helical coil.

2. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the helical coil comprises a flexible tube encapsulating the decorative lights.

3. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the helical coil comprises a channel encapsulating the helical coil of decorative lights.

4. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a connector adapted for securing the apparatus to another such apparatus.

5. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the connector is formed from the coil.

6. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the connector comprises a decorative element.

7. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the helical coil comprises a channel encapsulating the decorative lights.

8. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a fully extended length at least four times as long as its length when relaxed.

9. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the apparatus has a fully extended length of from about four to about sixty feet and a relaxed length of from about one inch to about sixty inches.

10. A retractable light apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a fully extended length of from about eight feet to about twenty-four feet and a relaxed length of from about four inches to about twenty inches.

12. A method of installing decorative lights comprising attaching one end of the apparatus of claim 1 to a support and thereafter attaching an opposite end of the apparatus at a distance more than four times the relaxed length of the apparatus.

11. A method of making decorative lights comprising forming a strand of lights into a helical coil having a memory, the coil having an axial length in a relaxed position which is less than four times as long as its axial length in an extended position, the coil returning to substantially its relaxed position when released.

13. A retractable light apparatus comprising a helical coil that can elongate and retract to a generally helical shape when released, and a plurality of decorative lights positioned along a major portion of the helical coil.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of hangers adapted for mounting the apparatus to a support structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an electrical plug electrically connected to the lights.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the apparatus can be stretched at least four times its relaxed length.