Decorative light storage device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a decorative light storage device [1000]. Decorative light sets [100], such as icicle lights, have a transverse strand [110] with multiple, hanging vertical strands [120] of varying lengths. The present invention [1000] provides an economical compact and easy to use storage device. The light storage device [1000] incorporates a panel [1110] having an upper row [1130] and a lower row [1140] of protrusions [1131, 1141] creating a transverse track 1190 between them. It also includes securing devices [1120] arranged vertically to create vertical tracks [1160] between them. The transverse strands [110] are wrapped around panel [1110] in the transverse track [1190] allowing the vertical strands [120] to fall into the vertical tracks [1160] and be held by securing devices [1120]. Several storage devices may be held in tracks of an enclosure [1400] to facilitate easy storage.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/847,346 filed Sep. 26, 2007 (the “Parent Application”) by the same inventor, Joseph Andrews. The Parent Application is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a decorative light storage device, and more specifically to an economical decorative light storage device.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Decorative lights, such as icicle lights are comprised of strands of electric lights used to decorate homes, public buildings, commercial buildings and Christmas trees typically during the Christmas season. Typically these lights are comprised of both a transverse main strand and perpendicular hanging vertical strands of electric lights that simulate hanging, glistening icicles. The hanging strands typically have varying lengths to make them more realistic. When these lights are not in use, they must be stored. Storage of these lights is often fraught with broken bulbs, broken sockets, torn strands and tangled strands, which make it time consuming and costly to reuse.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,323 discloses a Christmas tree light storage device consisting of one or more discs each with a plurality of radially oriented slots around the outside circumference thereof which disc or discs are concentrically mounted on a central cylinder wherein light sockets are mounted sequentially over the slots with the cable to and from the sockets passing through the slots and being wrapped around the central cylinder.

This is directing to storing only a continuous set of lights on a single strand. It does not address the problem of storing strands having a transverse strand with multiple vertical hanging strands.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,067 describes a Christmas light organizer which provides a frame for the handling and storage of strings of Christmas lights.

Again this is directed to single stranded sets of lights and does not function well with the decorative icicle lights having multiple strands.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,953 describes a Christmas light wrapping apparatus comprising wrapping trays with indentations for keeping the light strings separated and a base with a crankshaft for turning the trays, thereby winding the Christmas light strings.

This is based on the idea of reeling in a rope on a reel. Again it does not address the problem of storing lights having multiple strands in other directions.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,816,407, 5,941,388, 6,237,769, 6,431,489 and 6,823,993 all disclose systems for storage of Christmas lights constructed of single strands and do not address the storage of the geometry of the decorative icicle lights described above.

Currently, there is a need for a decorative light storage system that allows for easily winding, unwinding and storage of decorative lights having a multiple strand construction when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a decorative light storage device for the storage of lights having a transverse strand and a plurality of vertical strands comprising:

• • a) A panel 1110 having a top portion 1111 and a bottom portion 1115;
  • b) A transverse track 1190 encircling panel 1110 near the top portion 1111 for receiving the transverse strand 110;
  • c) A plurality of vertical tracks 1160 for receiving the vertical strands 120;
  • d) At least one securing device 1120 in the vertical track 1160 functioning to secure the vertical light strands in the vertical track 1160 to the panel 1110.

The present invention may also be embodied employing vertically extending recesses 1260 in place of the vertical tracks 1160 which are larger and deeper nearer to the top portion 1111 of panel 1110 and gradually decrease in size and depth as they approach the bottom portion 1115 of panel 1110.

Finally, the present invention may be embodied as multiple panels 1110 held in an enclosure 1400 for storage in a parallel formation by a plurality of vertical rails 1410.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the storage of decorative lights having multiple strands when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the storage of decorative lights having multiple strands that prevents tangling.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the storage of decorative lights having multiple strands that allows for the user to easily wind up or collect the decorative lights when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the storage of decorative lights having multiple strands that allows for the user to easily unwind the decorative lights when needed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the storage of decorative lights having multiple strands that is easily manageable by one single user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the storage of decorative lights having multiple strands that requires a small amount of storage space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the storage of decorative lights having multiple strands that is easy to use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the storage of decorative lights having multiple strands that is compact when stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the instant disclosure will become more apparent when read with the specification and the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the general structure of decorative lights known as icicle lights composed of multiple strands.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the decorative light storage system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 along the lines marked “VII” in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention having several storage devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain decorative lights used to decorate homes, public buildings, commercial buildings and Christmas trees during the Christmas season employ multiple strands of lights. Typically these lights are comprised of both a transverse main strand as well as multiple vertical hanging strands of electric lights so as to provide an aesthetic glimering icicle effect.

During the off season or the time when not in use, these lights must be stored. As result of their configuration, storage of said lights becomes difficult and the lights become tangled. Storage of said lights is often fraught with broken bulbs, broken sockets, torn strands and tangled strands, which makes it time consuming and costly to reuse.

The present invention alleviates the above problems by offering an apparatus which provides a simple and aesthetic means for storing these lights.

In the following figures and throughout this specification, like parts are given like numbers.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the general structure of decorative lights known as icicle lights composed of multiple strands. A typical decorative icicle light set 100 has a transverse strand 110 which has electric plugs 113, 115 to connect to other strands. Transverse strand 110 may also include lights 111.

Transverse strand 110 also includes junctions 117 where vertical strands 120 of varying lengths hang downward. Vertical strands 120 include a number of lights 121. As stated above, this odd geometry makes storage a problem.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the decorative light storage system according to the present invention. A panel 1110, which may be a board, has a top portion 1111 and a bottom portion 1115.

Panel 1110 includes an upper row 1130 of protrusions 1131 extending from the top portion 1111 of panel 1110.

Panel 1110 also includes a lower row 1140 of protrusions 1141. The region between the upper row 1130 and lower row 1140 creates a transverse track 1190.

The transverse strand 110 of the light set 100 is wrapped around transverse track 1190. Here, and throughout the figures, all parts of light set 100 are shown in thick dashed lines.

By the nature of the geometry, the vertical strands 120 with lights 121 hang downward between holes 1121, referred to as a vertical track 1160.

A plurality of securing devices 1120 are positioned adjacent to the vertical tracks 1160 and attach the vertical strands 120 to panel 1110. The securing devices 1120 may be any commonly known attachment means. In the embodiment shown, securing device 120 employs holes 1121 and bands 1123. Bands 123 can be a tie wrap, commonly known as a zip tie, which passes through the holes 1121 and over the vertical strands 120 to secure the vertical strands 120 to panel 1110. Securing devices 1120 may also be wire, wire wraps, snaps, hooks, clips, hook-and-loop attachment means, rubber straps, rubber bands or any currently known attachment devices.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 2. Here the upper row 1130 and lower row 1140 of protrusions are shown defining the transverse track 1190 near the top portion 1111 of panel 1110. The transverse strand 110 is shown wrapped around transverse track 1190.

Vertical strands 120 to hang and lay between holes 1121 of the securing devices 1120. Bands 1123 pass through holes 1121 and around the vertical strands 120 securing them to panel 1110.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. Panel 1110 has the upper row 1130 of protrusions 1131 and the lower row 1140 of protrusions 1141 defining the transverse track 1190 as in the previous embodiment.

However, securing devices 1120 are now a plurality of vertical row protrusions 1125 connected to panel 1110 to define the vertical tracks 1160. These vertical protrusions 1125 act to hold, and prevent tangling of vertical strands 120.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4. In this figure we are able to better see the vertical strands 120 hanging in the vertical tracks 1160 between vertical row protrusions 1125.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the present invention. Since vertical strands 120 have various lengths, when the transverse strand 110 is wrapped around the storage device 1000, there will be many vertical strands in the vertical track 1160 near the top portion 1111 and fewer as one moves down vertical track 1160 toward the bottom portion 1115.

Therefore, vertical impressions 1260 may be employed shown by the dotted lines. These vertical impressions 1260 allow for the vertical strands 120 to lie within the impression, effectively acting as a reservoir for the many strands that congregate while the transverse strand 110 is being wrapped around the panel 1110 in the transverse track 1190. Therefore, panel 1110 is created with vertical impressions 1260 which are wider and deeper near the top portion 1111 as compared with the bottom portion 1115. The greater depth is needed to handle greater strand density near the top due to the varying lengths of the vertical strands 120.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 along the lines marked “VII” in FIG. 6. Here the upper portion 1111 of panel 1110 is curved into vertical impressions 1260 on alternating sides of panel 1110.

Protrusions 1125 are shown in this cross section. Vertical impressions 1260 are shown extending from both sides of panel 1110. This allows for more compact storage of the decorative lights.

These vertical impressions 1260 may diminish as they move toward the lower portion 1115 and flatten into a flat surface as show in phantom in this figure.

Any of the above embodiments may be employed with other types of protrusions for rows 1130 and 1140 instead of the ‘peg-like’ protrusions shown.

The invention also may be embodied with a single row of protrusions, either being rows 1130 or 1140 instead of two rows.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, one or more formed guides 1300 are used having extended portions 1350 with a plurality of intermediate slots 1350.

Above the top formed guide 1300 is a transverse track 1190 for wrapping the transverse strands 110.

The intermediate slots are spaced to receive the vertical strands 120. The formed guides 1300 may be formed and positioned such that the slots 1350 line up vertically so that they form a vertical track 1160 for vertical strands 120.

These may also be formed to have wider slots 1350 near the top with progressively smaller slots toward the bottom to hold the vertical strands which vary in length.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention having several storage devices. An enclosure device 1400 includes a number of rails 1410 located on either side of the enclosure. These are used to receive the edge of each panel 1110 as a user slides the panel 1110 into the rails 1410. A number of panels 1110 may be received and stored by enclosure 1400.

Optionally, the rails may be replaced by other attachment means allowing the panels 1110 to slide into, or be taken out of enclosure 1400.

While several presently preferred embodiments of the present novel invention have been described in detail herein, many modifications and variations will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is our intent therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appending claims and not by the specific details presented by way of illustration.

Claims

1. A decorative light storage device for storing light strings having at least one elongated transverse strand and a plurality of vertical strands comprising:

a A panel [1110] having a top portion [1111] and a bottom portion [1115];

b. At least one structure defining a bottom of a transverse track [1190] in the top portion [1111] of the panel [1110] for receiving said transverse strand [120];

c. At least one structure defining a vertical track [1160] extending toward the bottom portion [1115] for receiving at least one vertical strand [120] for storage of the decorative lights.

2. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the structure defining the bottom of the transverse track is constructed from protrusions [1141].

3. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the structure defining the vertical track [1160] is constructed from vertical protrusions [1125].

4. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the vertical strands [1120] are secured to panel [1110] with bands [1123] through holes [1121].

5. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of protrusions [1131] along the top of the transverse track [1190] to further secure the transverse strands [110].

6. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the vertical tracks are impressions in the panel [1110].

7. The decorative light storage device of claim 6 wherein the vertical tracks are wider near the top portion [1111], as compared with the bottom portion [1115].

8. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the structure defining the bottom of the transverse track is constructed from a formed guide [1300].

9. The decorative light storage device of claim 1 wherein the structure defining the vertical track [1160] is a plurality of formed guides [1300] each having a plurality of extensions [1340] and a plurality of intervening slots [1350] which line up vertically to form vertical tracks [1360].

10. A decorative light storage system having an enclosure device [1400] with a plurality of rails [1410], each of the rails capable of storing a decorative light storage device for storing light strings having at least one elongated transverse strand and a plurality of vertical strands comprising:

a A panel [1110] having a top portion [1111] and a bottom portion [1115];

b. At least one structure defining a bottom of a transverse track [1190] in the top portion [1111] of the panel [1110] for receiving said transverse strand [120];

c. At least one structure defining a vertical track [1160] extending toward the bottom portion [ 115] for receiving at least one vertical strand [120] for storage of the decorative lights.

11. The decorative light storage system of claim 10 wherein the structure defining the bottom of the transverse track is constructed from protrusions [1141].

12. The decorative light storage system of claim 10 wherein the structure defining the vertical track [1160] is constructed from vertical protrusions [1125].

13. The decorative light storage system of claim 10 wherein the vertical strands [1120] are secured to panel [1110] with bands [1123] through holes [1121].

14. The decorative light storage system of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of protrusions [1131] along the top of the transverse track [1190] to further secure the transverse strands [110].

15. The decorative light storage system of claim 10 wherein the vertical tracks are impressions in the panel [1110].

16. The decorative light storage system of claim 15 wherein the vertical tracks are wider near the top portion [1111], as compared with the bottom portion [1115].

17. The decorative light storage system of claim 10 wherein the structure defining the bottom of the transverse track is constructed from a formed guide [1300].

18. The decorative light storage system of claim 10 wherein the structure defining the vertical track [1160] is a plurality of formed guides [1300] each having a plurality of extensions [1340] and a plurality of intervening slots [1350] which line up vertically to form vertical tracks [1360].