Abstract: A two piece jaw type clip has a standard base member and a decoratively shaped top member that could be any of a number of pleasing shapes that can be interchangeably attached to the base. The base member has a generally flat or single step shaped body having a spring portion that extends in an arc over the body. The body of the base has slots or sockets that receive complimentary legs or prongs extending from the underside of the top piece to enable pivotable attachment of the two members together. Alternatively the legs could extend from the base into sockets in the top member. The top member has a cutout through which the spring portion from the base member extends and presses the top member against the base.
Abstract: A molded resin folding chair having a pair of uprights generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other being connected by at least one cross piece forming a backrest. At least a portion of each upright has a generally C-shaped channel. A seat has a rear portion and opposite sides thereof provided with a tab that is slidably engaged in the C-shaped channel of a respective upright. A pair of struts each have an upper end rotatably attached to the seat and a medial region rotatably attached to respective uprights. The folding chair is folded by sliding the rear of the seat upwards, causing the front portion to move downwards, via the tabs sliding in the C-shaped channels. The struts rotate about the rotatable attachments to the seat and uprights, such that the uprights, struts and the seat fold as flat as possible.
Abstract: A flexible plastic tie molded from a plastic having a durometer of from 60 to 95 has an elongated spine with a plurality of rod-like projections attached to the spine. The projections are arranged in spaced apart pairs such that each pair of projections is co-linear and there is a selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections. A fastening head is attached to one end of the spine. There is a generally rectangular slot passing through the fastening head. The slot has a width not less than the width of the spine and less than the selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, such that the slot and the outside surface define a wall encircling the slot. The projections have a height of greater than 1 mm.
Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for hanging rope lights on a gutter. The light holder has a spiral that fits over the lip of a gutter and a hook at an opposite end sized to receive a rope light. The body is shaped so that the hook is opposite a curved portion of the front wall of the gutter, at the intersection of the front wall and the bottom of the gutter or below the bottom of the gutter. Curved sections may be provided on the body between the hook and the spiral to receive additional rope lights. A hook may be provided to mount rope lights above the top lip of the gutter or adjacent the flat portion at the top of the gutter.
Abstract: A decorative magnet has a plastic body with at least one magnet heat staked to the back of the body. The body has at least one opening extending through the body from the front face to the back and a stake extending from the back of the body. An insert has a first portion within the at least one opening and a second portion extending from the first portion. The second portion rests against the back of the body and prevents the insert from completely passing through the opening. A portion of the magnet covers at least a portion of the insert thereby retaining the insert within the opening or openings in the body.
Abstract: A decorative light holder has a decorative shape, is made of a translucent material and has at least three substantially parallel reflective surfaces. A portion of light striking each surface is reflected and another portion of that light passes through the light holder. This structure provides a pleasing appearance in which areas of one side of the light holder appear to be darker than other areas of the same side. The corresponding areas on the opposite side of the light holder also appear to be lighter and darker but the area that was lighter on one side is darker on the opposite side and the area that was darker on one side is lighter on the opposite side. When made of two injection molded pieces, each piece is made of a different color plastic, enhancing the pleasing appearance of the holder. Preferably the surfaces on at least one side are textured, such as with a prismatic structure.
Abstract: A kit for making decorative lawn ornaments has a set of rods and rod connectors that enable the rods to be connected together to form two dimensional shapes and three-dimensional structures. The rod connectors permit two rods to be connected end to end collinearly or to connect two or more rods together at a selected angle between pairs of connected rods. Light holders are also provided to enable strings of decorative lights to be attached to the rods.
Abstract: A magnetic hook, jaw-type clip or spring clip has a rectangular housing containing magnets. A conventional hook or clip is attached to the housing. A finger tab extends from one edge or wall of the housing. When a user desires to remove the magnetic hook from a mounting surface he or she places a fingertip on a curved portion of the finger tab causing the upper edge of the magnetic hook to move away from the mounting surface. This results in a pivoting action forcing the magnetic hook away from the mounting surface with little or no sliding. A flexible fin may be adjacent the magnets and extend slightly beyond the housing. When the magnet is placed against a metal surface the flexible fin will bend to a smaller height and bear against the metal surface thereby improving the load carrying capacity of the device.
Abstract: A construction element has at least one coupling device and the coupling device has at least two prongs. Each prong is comprised of two radially extending mating surfaces which frictionally engage the radially extending surfaces of a mating coupling device. The construction device may have a straight shaft or an angled shaft to accommodate the needs of the user and, furthermore, the prongs of a coupling device may be inserted within mateable apertures in the shaft of another construction element. Using a plurality of such construction elements, a lattice frame may be constructed.
Abstract: A Christmas tree outdoor ornament has an elongated hook member with one end having a spiral hook and the other end having a hook sized to receive at least one string of decorative lights. A star fits over the body of the hook member. The spiral hook attached to a gutter or a suction cup and decorative light strings are routed from the hook member to anchors creating a triangular tree shape. The anchors may be stakes in the ground or suction cups attached to any flat surface such as a window or window sill.
Abstract: A cord wrap with integrally molded light holders and mold and method of making same is disclosed. The light holders are molded in cavities connected by runners. The runners are shaped and positioned to form a cord wrap. After the light holders are broken away from the runners, the runner can be used as a cord wrap to store strings of decorative lights such as those which were held by the light holders.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 24, 1998
Date of Patent:
March 26, 2002
Assignee:
Adams Mfg. Corp.
Inventors:
Jeffrey B. Smith, William E. Adams, Matthew French
Abstract: A spring clip has a base member attached by a flexible connector to a clip member which has a body portion and a flexible tail portion. The base member preferably includes magnets for holding the spring clip against a metal surface. The flexible tail portion has a distal end which is normally biased toward the base member for holding an object therebetween. A gap can be created between the distal end and the base member by pushing on the body portion to cause the clip member to pivot about the flexible connector such that the flexible tail portion moves away from the base member. The gap can also be created by pulling on the distal end which causes the flexible tail to flex away from the base member. Further, the body portion can be pushed to create the gap and the flexible tail portion also flexed to make the gap wider such that thicker objects can be held in the gap. The distal end can be hook shaped to hold a writing instrument or other object.
Abstract: A ground stake is disclosed having a plurality of blades extending outwardly from a longitudinal axis. The blades are connected along the length of the axis by at least one conical rib to promote retention of the stake within the ground.
Abstract: A holder for holding decorative lights and other objects having a generally cylindrical portion has a holding segment containing two curvilinear arms and a mounting segment to attach the holder to a mounting surface. The holding segment has a first curvilinear portion and a second curvilinear portion extending from the mounting. The first curvilinear portion is sized and shaped to define a generally cylindrical opening having a first selected diameter. The second curvilinear portion is sized and shaped to define a second generally cylindrical opening having a second selected diameter that is larger than the first selected diameter. Additionally, the end of the second curvilinear portion is adjacent the end of the first curvilinear portion.