Multiple light installation and storage system

• US 5,513,081 A
• Filed: 04/27/1995
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emerald Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Byers Investments Co.
• Inventors: Byers, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gromada, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/429,895
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/252, 362/387, 362/396, 362/391, 362/806, 362/145, 362/389, 362/234, 362/226, 362/432, 362/147, 362/151, 362/152, 248/314, 248/223.4, 439/419, 439/533, 439/573, 439/532, 439/540, 439/569, 439/570, 439/571, 206/419, 206/420, 206/421
• US Class Current: 362/145
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/007 with provision for shipment or storage
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0005 of sources having contact pins, wires or blades, e.g. pinch sealed lamp F21V19/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/025 Elongated bases having a U-shaped cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• 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

An installation and storage system for decorative light strings which includes a plurality of track channels for holding successive segments of the light string, such track channels being supportable by snap attachment to pre-positioned snap fasteners, either on a building or in the yard surrounds. A storage rack having opposite end frames and central support is then constructed to receive successive light track channels in snap-fit for carriage and storage.

Claims

1. A light track installation system, comprising:

at least one extruded track channel of selected length, said track channel having a base, opposite side tines disposed upward and in parallel, and a central snap channel formed in said base and opening downward;

an electrical supply cord disposed along said track channel;

a plurality of spaced lamp sockets electrically connected to said electrical supply cord and each secured in snap-fit between the opposite side tines of said track channel; and

plural snap buttons mounted along a selected site to receive said track channel central snap channel in secure affixture thereby to support the electrical supply cord and spaced lamp sockets at the selected site.

2. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said selected site is on a building structure; and

said snap buttons are molded with a central hole for nail fastening to the structure.

3. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said selected site consists of at least two spaced yard stakes, each having a snap button secured thereon.

4. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 1 which further includes storage structure comprising:

first and second end frames each having opposite side rails, bottom rail and top rail, said opposite side rails each having plural lug pairs formed in equal spacing along the outer side;

a lower support tube secured between the bottom rails of the first and second end frames; and

an upper support tube secured between the top rails of the first and second end frames;

whereby at least one extruded track channel with electrical supply cord and lamp sockets affixed thereon can be secured on said storage structure by snap-fitting the track channel opposite side tines onto respective lug pairs of the first and second end frames.

5. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

a plurality of track channels with electrical supply cord and lamp sockets are secured in parallel on respective lug pairs on the side rails of the first and second end frames.

6. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said track channel opposite side tines are formed as opposite side rails having an inwardly formed flange along their length; and

said spaced lamp sockets are each formed with a protruding base flange for retention between opposite side rail and flanges.

7. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises:

a plurality of said track channels each having electrical cord with spaced lamp sockets snap-fit thereon; and

a plurality of pairs of snap buttons securely mounted along said selected site.

8. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one extruded track channel comprises:

opposite side rails extending perpendicularly and in parallel from each side of said base, said side rails each terminating with a respective inward extending flange; and

said central snap channel being formed longitudinally and centrally in said base with narrowing beads formed on each side of said channel adjacent the base.

9. A transport and storage apparatus for a multi-track Christmas light assembly, comprising:

a plurality of track channels of selected length, each track channel having opposite side tines;

a multiple light string having spaced bulbs retained on said plural track channels;

first and second end frames each having opposite side rails disposed in parallel and being interconnected by respective first and second bottom rails and top rails;

at least one support tube connecting said first and second end frames; and

plural lug pairs disposed in equal spacing along said opposite side rails of said first and second end frames so that each track channel can be snap-fit and supported on a respective pair of first end lug pairs and second end lug pairs.

10. A transport and storage apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said at least one support tube comprises:

an upper support tube connected centrally between said first and second top rails; and

a lower support tube connected centrally between said first and second bottom rails.

11. A light track installation system, comprising:

at least one extruded track channel of selected length, said track channel being formed to have a top panel and a bottom panel secured in parallel by interconnection of opposite side parallel walls, said top panel including an elongate central groove, and said bottom panel having an elongate central snap channel extending therealong;

an electrical supply cord disposed adjacent said track channel top panel;

a plurality of spaced lamp sockets electrically connected along said electrical supply cord;

a plurality of universal clips, each having a central portion disposed transverse of said track channel top panel and depressing said supply cord into said top panel central groove, said clips having opposite side tines for snap-fit onto the track channel top panel, said universal clips being disposed on each side of each lamp socket; and

plural snap buttons mounted along a selected site to receive said track channel central snap channel in secure fixture to support the light system.

12. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said universal clips each further comprise:

a transverse central panel formed on each side into an arcuate yoke, each side yoke terminating in a downward oriented tine having an inward flange.

13. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 11 wherein:

said track channel bottom panel is wider than said track channel top panel; and

said central snap channel is wider than said top panel groove.

14. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 11 which further includes storage and transportation structure comprising:

first and second end frames each having opposite side rails, bottom rail and top rail, said opposite side rails each having plural lug pairs formed in equal spacing along the outer side;

a lower support tube secured between the bottom rails of the first and second end frames; and

an upper support tube secured between the top rails of the first and second end frames;

whereby at least one extruded track channel with a length of electrical supply cord and lamp sockets affixed thereon can be secured on said storage and transportation structure by snap-fitting the track channel bottom panel between respective lug pairs of the first and second end frames.

15. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 14 wherein:

a plurality of track channels with electrical supply cord and lamp sockets are secured in parallel disposition on said respective lug pairs on the side rails of the first and second end frames.

16. A light track installation system as set forth in claim 11 which further comprises:

a plurality of said track channels each having electrical cord with spaced lamp sockets retained thereon; and

a plurality of pairs of snap buttons securely mounted along said selected site.

17. Apparatus for retaining an electrical cord with spaced lamps in operative disposition, comprising:

an extruded track channel of selected length, said track channel being formed to have a top panel and a bottom panel joined in parallel by interconnection of opposite side parallel walls, said top panel including an elongate central groove, and said bottom panel having an elongate central snap channel extending therealong; and

means for securing the electrical cord and spaced lamps along the top panel central groove.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for securing comprises:

a plurality of clip means each having a central panel extending into opposite yoke portions which terminate in downward directed tines, said plurality of clip means each being snap-fit over said track channel top panel at spaced locations to secure the electrical cord in the central groove.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for securing comprises:

a plurality of clip means each having a central panel extending into opposite yoke portions which terminate in downward directed tines, said plurality of clip means each being snap-fit over said track channel top panel at lamp locations to secure the electrical cord in the central groove; and

a plurality of resilient cylindrical clips formed to extend generally perpendicular from said clip means central panel to secure each of said spaced lamps.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 which further includes:

means for storing a plurality of extruded track channels in parallel with said electrical cord and spaced lamps secured on each of said track channels.