Miniature light holder

• US 5,481,444 A
• Filed: 02/16/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Semico Company Limited (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LG Semico Company Limited (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Inventors: Schultz, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/197,144
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 362/806, 362/396, 362/249, 362/391, 362/123, 362/392, 439/699, 439/506, 439/502, 439/505, 439/419, 439/558, 439/452, 439/575, 439/453, 439/463, 248/319, 248/224.3, 248/229, 248/231.8, 248/316.7, D26/138, D26/25, D26/113, D26/140, D 8/395, D 8/373
• US Class Current: 362/249.14
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/105 Fastening means for Christmas tree candle holders
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights

Abstract

A light holder includes a receptacle which receives a miniature light without requiring the imposition of significant application forces by the user during insertion and which thus permits miniature lights to be strung on a christmas tree or the like in a desired orientation without fear of damaging the lights or the holders. The receptacle may have a body which slidably receives a socket of a stock light, in which case the receptacle body should be formed with slots for guiding the electrical cord of the light string into and through the receptacle. The receptacle may also be formed integral with a light socket when the light is manufactured. In either case, the receptacle and a clip for clipping the holder to a support are preferably formed from a single injection molded element.

Claims

1. A holder for a miniature light including a light socket and a bulb removably inserted into said light socket, said holder comprising:

A. a receptacle having a base and a generally tubular body extending upwardly from said base, said body having a minimum inside diameter which is significantly larger than a maximum outside diameter of said light socket, thereby permitting relatively loose insertion of said light socket into and removal of said light socket from said receptacle, wherein said body of said receptacle has upwardly extending axial slots formed therein for the passage of an electrical cord therethrough, and wherein said slots have upper ends which flare outwardly; and

B. a clip, extending downwardly from said base of said receptacle, for attaching said holder to a support, said clip being formed from a unitary plate member having a slot formed therein to define a pair of opposed jaws, wherein said clip and said receptacle are formed as a unitary injection molded element.

2. A holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said slot in said clip has an upper end which flares outwardly.

3. An apparatus comprising

A. a light string comprising a plurality of miniature lights and an electrical cord interconnecting said lights, each of said lights comprising a light socket connected to said cord and a bulb extending from said light socket;

and

B. a plurality of holders, each of which supports a respective one of said lights, each of said holders including

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the slot in each of said clips has an upper end which flares outwardly.

4. a receptacle having a base and a generally tubular body extending upwardly from said base, said body having a minimum inside diameter which is significantly larger than a maximum outside diameter of said light sockets, thereby permitting relatively loose insertion of said light sockets into and removal of said light sockets from said receptacles, wherein said body of each said receptacle has upwardly extending axial slots formed therein for the passage of said electrical cord therethrough, and wherein said slots of each said receptacle have upper ends which flare outwardly;

and

2. a clip, extending downwardly from a bottom surface of said receptacle, for attaching said holder to a support, said clip being formed from a unitary plate member having a slot formed therein to define a pair of opposed jaws, wherein said clip and said receptacle are formed as a unitary injection molded element.