Decorative exterior trim lighting system

• US 5,067,061 A
• Filed: 08/29/1990
• Issued: 11/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert B. Prickett
• Original Assignee: Robert B. Prickett
• Inventors: Prickett, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hagarman, Sue
• Application Number:
  US07/575,154
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/151, 362/152, 362/217, 362/219, 362/225, 362/227, 362/249, 362/252, 362/806
• US Class Current: 362/145
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0808 Adhesive means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A decorative trim lighting system includes an elongated, resilient retaining strip which is formed in a laterally folded configuration and is securable to an exterior surface portion of a building. The bulb socket portions of a decorative light string are removably received in a longitudinally spaced series of openings formed through the strip, and a longitudinally spaced series of bent edge portions of the strip overlie and releasably hold the longitudinal electrical power supply wiring segments interconnecting the sockets. The strip may also be used to slidably and releasably hold enlarged end portions of retaining tab members to which the sockets are secured.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting a light string along a surface to be decoratively illuminated, said light string including a mutually spaced series of bulb sockets having first end portions operatively receiving the base portions of a series of light bulbs, and second end portions operatively connected to longitudinal segments of a length of electrical power supply wiring, said apparatus comprising:

a first elongated strip portion having opposite side edge portions extending along its length, said first elongated strip portion being laterally securable to said surface to extend longitudinally therealong;

a longitudinally spaced series of openings formed through said first elongated strip portion and positioned between its opposite side edge portions, said openings being sized to releasably receive said second end portions of said sockets; and

holding means, carried by said first elongated strip portion, for overlying and releasably holding in cavities along a surface of said first elongated strip portion, said longitudinal segments of said length of electrical power supply wiring when said second end portions of said bulb sockets are releasably received in said openings in said first elongated strip portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said apparatus further comprises a second elongated strip portion overlying and extending parallel to said first elongated strip portion, said second elongated strip portion having a longitudinally spaced series of edge recesses positioned and configured to overlie said openings in said first elongated strip portion and circumscribe portions of the bulb sockets, and a longitudinally spaced series of edge portions interdigitated with said edge recesses, and

said holding means are defined by said longitudinally spaced series of edge portions of said second elongated strip portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

said longitudinally spaced series of edge portions of said second elongated strip portion have laterally outer sections which are bent toward said first elongated strip portion and are positioned to engage said longitudinal segments of said length of electrical power supply wiring and releasably retain said segments between said first and second elongated strip portions.

4. Apparatus for supporting a light string along a surface to be decoratively illuminated, said light string including a mutually spaced series of bulb sockets having first end portions operatively receiving the base portions of a series of light bulbs, and second end portions operatively connected to longitudinal segments of a length of electrical power supply wiring, said apparatus comprising:

a first elongated strip portion having;

a first side surface securable along the surface to be decoratively illuminated,

a second side surface

a first longitudinally extending side edge,

a second longitudinally extending side edge, and

a longitudinally spaced series of openings positioned between said first and second side edges, each of said openings extending between said first and second side surfaces and being sized to releasably receive one of said second end portions of said bulb sockets and restrain movement thereof parallel to said first and second side surfaces; and

a second elongated strip portion extending parallel to and overlying said first elongated strip portion, said second elongated strip portion defining with said first elongated strip portion a longitudinally extending cavity within said apparatus and having;

a first side surface facing said second side surface of said first elongated strip portion,

a second side surface,

a first longitudinally extending side edge joined to said first longitudinally extending side edge of said first elongated strip portion, and

a free second longitudinally extending side edge overlying said second side surface of said first elongated strip portion and having a longitudinally spaced series of recesses overlying said openings and sized to circumscribe portions of said bulb sockets, and longitudinal segments interdigitated with said recesses, bent toward said second side surface of said first elongated strip portion, and configured to overlie and releasably hold said longitudinal segments of said power supply wiring within said cavity.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said apparatus is a plastic extrusion.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for alternatively supporting the light string in a spaced apart relationship with said first and second elongated strip portions in a manner facilitating adjustment of the bulb-to-bulb spacing of the supported light string, said means for alternatively supporting including:

a series of support members removably securable to said bulb sockets and having attachment portions laterally insertable into said cavity for sliding movement along the lengths of said first and second elongated strip portions, said attachment portions having enlarged sections engageable by said longitudinal segments of said second side edge of said second elongated strip portion to releasably restrain laterally outward removal of said attachment portions from said cavity.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

each of said attachment portions has a relatively thin, plate-like configuration and an outer end portion bent generally back along the balance of the attachment portion to form said enlarged section thereof.