Decorative lighting system

• US 6,971,768 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alvin M. Pepito, Lota P. Pepito
• Original Assignee: Alvin M. Pepito, Lota P. Pepito
• Inventors: Pepito, Lota P, Pepito, Alvin M
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US10/689,299
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/151, 362/152, 362/252, 362/255, 362/256, 362/311, 362806-812, 362/249, 362/323, 362/391, 362/310, 362/329, 362/300, 362/253, 362435-439, 362/457, 362/458, 404/09, 404/10, 404/39, 404/77
• US Class Current: 362/238
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• 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: F21W 2121/004 mounted on the exterior of houses or other buildings to illuminate parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/006 for illumination or simulation of snowy or iced items, e.g. icicle

Abstract

A lighting system has a light string, a mounting bracket, an a plurality of light covers. The light string has a main electrical cord and a plurality of light strands connected to and extending outwardly from the main electrical cord. The mounting bracket is adapted to receive a plurality of fasteners and to support the main electrical cord. The plurality of light covers are each adapted to receive one of the light strands and comprising a connecting member for connecting the light cover to the mounting bracket.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a light string comprising a main electrical cord and a plurality of light strands connected to and extending outwardly from the main electrical cord;

a mounting bracket adapted to receive a plurality of fasteners and to support the main electrical cord;

a plurality of light covers each adapted to receive one of the light strands and comprising a connecting member for connecting the light cover to the mounting bracket; and

wherein the mounting bracket comprises a plurality of “

U”

-shaped cuts in an upward directed edge for receiving the connecting member of the light covers.

2. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a cylindrical hanging member having an annular groove in an exterior surface.

3. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the light covers comprises:

a hollow body adapted to receive one of the light strands of the light string; and

a cylindrical hanging member adapted for insertion into one of the “

U”

-shaped cuts of the mounting bracket.

4. The lighting system as recited in claim 3, wherein the hollow body extends radially from the cylindrical hanging member.

5. The lighting system as recited in claim 4, wherein when the cylindrical hanging member of a given one of the light covers is inserted into one of the “

U”

-shaped cuts of the mounting bracket, the force of gravity acting on the body of the given light cover causes the cylindrical hanging member to rotate within the “

U”

-shaped cut until the body is substantially directly below the cylindrical hanging member.

6. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the light strands comprises a plurality of electric lights.

7. The lighting system as recited in claim 6, wherein the electric lights are adapted to receive electrical power from the main electrical cord.

8. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light covers are translucent.

9. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the light strands comprises two opposed ends, and wherein one end of each of the light strands is connected to the main electrical cord.

10. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light strands are connected to the main electrical cord at regular intervals along the main electrical cord.

11. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the main electrical cord comprises an electrical plug at one end and an electrical receptacle at an opposite end.

12. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is substantially “

S”

shaped in cross section and comprises a front section and a rear section.

13. The lighting system as recited in claim 12, wherein the rear section of the mounting bracket comprises a plurality of slots for receiving the fasteners.

14. The lighting system as recited in claim 12, wherein the front section of the mounting bracket comprises a trough for supporting the main electrical cord of the light string.

15. The lighting system as recited in claim 12, wherein the front section of the mounting bracket comprises a plurality of “

U”

-shaped cuts in an upward directed edge for receiving the connecting members of the light covers.

16. The lighting system as recited in claim 15, wherein the front section of the mounting bracket comprises a plurality of slots extending from the “

U”

-shaped cuts for receiving the light strands of the light string.

17. The lighting system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket cover adapted for attaching to the mounting bracket, the mounting bracket cover being adapted to substantially cover the mounting bracket when attached thereto.

18. A lighting system, comprising:

a light string comprising a main electrical cord and a plurality of light strands connected to and extending outwardly from the main electrical cord;

a mounting bracket adapted to receive a plurality of fasteners and to support the main electrical cord, and having a plurality of “

U”

-shaped cuts in an upward directed edge;

a plurality of light covers, each comprising;

a hollow body adapted to receive one of the light strands of the light string; and

a cylindrical hanging member adapted for insertion into one of the “

U”

-shaped cuts of the mounting bracket.