This invention relates to the storage, management and usage of strands or strings of electric lights, such as decorative or “Holiday” light strands; and more particularly to electric light strand management structures.
Placement of light strands on, for example, a Holiday tree typically involves the user first unpacking one or several strands from a storage box or bag. In storage, the strands often are tangled or twisted and must be straightened out by the user before being ready for placement onto the tree. The untangling is done away from the tree, using the floor or a chair. To then connect the strands to the tree, the installer typically will grasp one strand at a time in one hand, and with the other hand place the strand among the branches while circling the tree.
Another approach is for the installer to leave the light strand on the floor or a chair, mount an end of the strand to some point on the tree and walk in a circular path to attach the strand to branches around the tree's perimeter. This approach requires the user to repeatedly re-position the un-installed portion of the strand on the floor or move the chair. Otherwise the un-installed portion will snag around the tree trunk or branches.
The typical take-down process presents similar problems. As the user disengages the strand from the tree with one hand, the removed portion is supported in the other. Alternatively, the user accumulates a pile of light strands on the floor where the bulbs can be inadvertently trampled. The user is constrained typically to disconnecting the several strands to prepare them for storage, although the strands may need to be re-connected in the same sequence for the next use. Further, it is hard to avoid tangling the strands during the act of placing them on the floor and then back in the storage box or bag. The net result is the user having to untangle the strands yet again before their next use.
Once in box or bag storage, the light strands obviously don't have any lighting or decorative utility until they are re-installed back onto a tree or other support. What is needed is a mechanism, which at least avoids the preceding difficulties, by simplifying and speeding up the process of light strand mounting and takedown. The mechanism also must provide efficient storage of the strands when not in use. If in addition the mechanism offers the possibility of putting the strands to a useful purpose while they are in their physical storage configuration, the combination of advantages could be attractive to a user.
The invention broadly is a light strand mounting device, comprising a strand receiver mounted upright on a base that rests on a floor or horizontal surface. The receiver is rotatable around a vertical axis. Simultaneously, the base is moveable in any horizontal direction.
In one embodiment, the strand receiver is elongate and rectilinear in cross-sections, with rows of indents formed along the narrow opposite edges to receive the strands. Light strands are installed by feeding one strand at a time onto the receiver as it is rotated. The strands are held in place by the indents and thus do not slip down the receiver. As the receiver is rotated during unwinding, the strands readily come free without undergoing twisting or snagging.
To place the stored strands around, for example, a Holiday tree, the installer unreels a length of strand with the base held stationary; and with two hands applies the length of strand to the tree. With the first length installed, the base/receiver assembly is circled to a new location and the operation is repeated. Placement of strands onto the tree and the circling of the tree can occur simultaneously and continuously.
Removal of in-place strands from the tree onto the device is effected by first freeing a given light strand from the tree and fastening it to a receiver indent. As the strand slackens, the receiver is rotated to take up the slack. Removal proceeds by continuing to feed the removed strands onto the receiver while rotating the receiver. Periodically during this operation, the device is advanced in a circle around the tree. On completion of removal, the stored strands are fully ready for installation onto a tree at some future time.
The based and receiver may comprise a permanently assembled entity. The mechanism that enables simultaneous rotation of the receiver and translation of the unitary base/receiver assembly along a horizontal surface, advantageously in this case are castors mounted on the base underside. In another embodiment, the device comprises a receiver mounting that allows the receiver to rotate with respect to the base. In this embodiment, the base may advantageously use sliders for floor contact. Rotation of the receiver is achieved by one of several bearing arrangements that in some instances keep the receiver connected to its base; but in others allow the receiver to be easily detached from the base. One advantage of detachability is that several upright receivers may be employed to store large quantities of light strands; and a single detachable base serves all. A further advantage of detachability is that by providing each upright receiver with a top handle capable of being hung on a rod, for example, the ravels of lights stored on one or several such receivers may be stored in the manner of clothing.
It has been further realized, however, that the strand lights in their raveled, stored position on receivers can additionally serve as attractive and utilitarian light sources. This is enabled by the fact that multiple strands on a given receiver typically stay electrically connected, or can be kept connected at take-down. To “convert” a fully populated upright receiver from an electric light strand storage means to a light source, it is only necessary to provide a way to support the strand bundle; and provide electrical power to it as by an extension cord. The handle enabling its suspension from a rod or the like is one means for supporting. Another option enables each populated upright receiver to function as a ground-supported light source, Enhancing a summer party, for example, with one or more clusters of strand lights displayed in their storage configuration, has utility as novel and effective custom lighting. Strands that are normally stored but are adapted for use as a light source can provide all white, all green, multicolor, or any desired color of light to an area needing illumination or accent lighting.
The invention is embodied in a class of electric light strand mounting devices broadly characterized by an ability to translate in a generally circular path in a horizontal plane around an object to be decorated, while at the same to rotate around a vertical axis. In a first embodiment shown in
The narrow vertical edges of receiver 11 are provided with means to keep strands wrapped around the receiver from slipping downward. One mechanism for preventing downward slippage is edge indents 15 which may take several forms. For example, the edge profile of
Light strands 21 are mounted onto receiver 11 by directing a lead end of a strand into slots 20 at the top near handle 14. The light strands 21 then are splayed around and down receiver 11 as the device 10 is rotated. Once the interior layer of light strands 21 are wrapped onto receiver 11, the additional wrap layers of strands 21 stay firmly in position wrapped on the interior strand layer. Light strands 21 are distributed to a holiday tree as illustrated in
A variation on the
Another variation of a light strand-mounting device wherein the receiver is intended to remain attached to its base is seen in FIG. 6. Light strand mounting device 30 consists of receiver 11 attached to a base 12 by a lazy-Susan type bearing 23. Use of bearing 23 enables receiver 11 to be rotated with respect to base 12 around a central axis 26. Bearing 23, and other types of bearings called for hereinafter, may be obtained from sources such as Kaydon Corporation, 315 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor Mich., 48108. Base 12 is made of material having low coefficient of moving friction, enabling the base/receiver assembly to be slid along a floor or rug. Alternatively, low friction sliders 32 are mounted on the underside of base 10 to serve the same purpose as castors. The receiver 11 of
In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in
In addition to a handle 14 which functions as earlier noted, light strand mounting device 40 also incorporates a hanger 49. Because receiver 41 may be removed from base 42 by simply lifting extension 48 out of cavity 45, it is possible to store the device 40 with its wrapped light strands 21 by placing the device on a closet or attic hanger rod 50 as shown in FIG. 9. Any number of devices 40 may be so stored. Detachability of base and receiver also simplifies shipping and assembly, by allowing base and receiver to be stacked flat in a box for shipping and assembled with no requirement for connection hardware.
Unique advantage may be taken of the device design 40 because of its shaft extension 48. Specifically, rather than limiting the mounting device to strand storage, installation and take-down, a light strand-wrapped device 40 may be combined with an appropriate base 52 and upright 53 to form a light source. Referring to
FIG. of
Device 60 may also be used as an alternative light source in the manner described earlier f11 depicts a light strand-mounting device 60 similar in operating principle to device 40 of
Cavities 70 are formed in a pattern to enable the two side members 62, 63 to be spaced apart in various degrees of separation. A substantial separation is shown in FIG. 11. Side members 62, 63 may instead be butted up against each other in edge contact. The ability to vary the distance between side members 62, 63 allows the light strand packing density to be varied. This feature is advantageous when long lengths of light strands must be accommodated, as in the case of managing outdoor string lighting. Telescoping rod 74 mounted between the top edges of side members 62, 63 provides stabilization and helps maintain the separation of side members 62, 63. Rod 74 also provides a place on which to store strands of Holiday tree tinsel 77.
As shown in
Mounting plate 91 is rotatably supported on a perimeter bearing 85 placed between plate 91 and an undercarriage 86. Bearing 85 is permanently affixed between plate 91 and undercarriage 86. Plate 91 includes a center shaft 87 extending from its bottom surface into engagement in a well 88 formed in undercarriage 86. Undercarriage 86 includes floor sliders 89 disposed along the bottom surface to enable device 80 to translate along a floor surface.
The base and receiver elements herein described may be fabricated of wood or a wood product. Alternatively they may be made of plastic materials formed by conventional plastic injection molding techniques.
This application is based in part on the disclosure contained in Provisional Patent Application Number 60/388,258, filed Jun. 12, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030230507 A1 | Dec 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60388258 | Jun 2002 | US |