CA2198149C - Soffit clip - Google Patents
Soffit clip Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2198149C CA2198149C CA002198149A CA2198149A CA2198149C CA 2198149 C CA2198149 C CA 2198149C CA 002198149 A CA002198149 A CA 002198149A CA 2198149 A CA2198149 A CA 2198149A CA 2198149 C CA2198149 C CA 2198149C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- leg member
- clip
- loop
- backward bend
- soffit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V21/00—Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
- F21V21/08—Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
- F21V21/088—Clips; Clamps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S4/00—Lighting devices or systems using a string or strip of light sources
- F21S4/10—Lighting devices or systems using a string or strip of light sources with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21W2121/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
- F21W2121/004—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 mounted on the exterior of houses or other buildings to illuminate parts thereof
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Building Environments (AREA)
Abstract
A clip for retaining a set of decorative lights under the eave of a house having vented vinyl soffit panels. The clip is made of a slender strip of a resilient material having a major cross-section dimension which is smaller than the size of the perforations in the soffit panels. The slender strip has a backward bend in a mid-region thereof, defining a first leg member and a second leg member. The first leg member extends from the backward bend in a generally straight alignment defining a supportive axis of the clip.
The second leg member has a first segment extending from the backward bend alongside the first leg member and a second segment extending from the first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with the first segment. This opening has a breath which is smaller than a size of the loop. The first leg member is insertable entirely into one of the perforations of the soffit panel and is readily oriented with the supportive axis of the clip laying over the upper surface of the soffit panel. When a cord of a set of decorative lights is hung from the loop, a bending moment caused by the weight of the cord in the loop about the backward bend increases a surface pressure of the first leg member against the upper surface of the soffit panel and enhances the retention of the clip to the soffitpanel.
The second leg member has a first segment extending from the backward bend alongside the first leg member and a second segment extending from the first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with the first segment. This opening has a breath which is smaller than a size of the loop. The first leg member is insertable entirely into one of the perforations of the soffit panel and is readily oriented with the supportive axis of the clip laying over the upper surface of the soffit panel. When a cord of a set of decorative lights is hung from the loop, a bending moment caused by the weight of the cord in the loop about the backward bend increases a surface pressure of the first leg member against the upper surface of the soffit panel and enhances the retention of the clip to the soffitpanel.
Description
219814~
TITLE: SOFFIT CLIP
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clip for re~ai~ g a string of Christmas lights to the underside of an eave of a house and more particularly, the present invention relates to a clip which is insertable in oneof the perforations of a vented vinyl soffit panel strip.
The use of decorative Christmas lighting on the exterior of residences is a popular practice in North America. Strings of coloured lights are usually installed along the edges of roofs and the cornices of buildings in early December of each year. The lights are lit daily for 10 several hours at sunset until about a week or so after New Years' Day.
Decorative light sets are typically hung on nails and threaded hooks which are installed through the fascia board of the roof. A first inconvenience with this practice is that the nails and hooks remain visible throughout the year. These f~t~ners alter the appearance of the house and 15 collect webs and other insect works during the spring and summer period.
Moreover, the fascia boards of modern houses are usually covered by pre-painted aluminum sheeting and any perforation of this protective cover is objectionable.
2198t4~
In this respect, a number of different devices have been developed in the past for retaining Christmas lights along the edges of a roof without using driven-type fasteners. A first example of a device for mounting decorative lights is described in U.S. Patent 5,056,747 issued on October 15, 1991 to Andrew G. Kireta. The article is a C-shaped bracket. The bracket may be clamped to wooden rafters below the eave, to rain gutter or to porch support posts. The C-shaped bracket is also attachable to the roof by inserting one leg of the bracket under a roof shingle. Several clips are provided on the surface of the bracket to accommodate decorative light strings running in any directions.
Another device of the prior art is illustrated in U.S. Patent 5,141,192, issued on August 25, 1992 to William E. Adams. The article has a spiral member on one end and a J-hook on the other end. The J-hook is adapted to retain an electrical cord of a light string and the spiral end is l 5 an~ch~ble to the outside lip of a rain gutter. The article is workable with an elongated staff such that the Christmas lights may be put up and removed without using a ladder.
One inconvenience of installing a bracket on the rain gutter or over the edge of a roof is that the bracket often becomes bound in snow and ice before the end of the holiday season. It is not uncommon to receive several heavy snow falls and freezing rain in December and early January.
Therefore, when the light set is due for being removed, the task must be done with great care to avoid d~m~ging the light bulbs, the mounting brackets and the roof itself. This task is often made quite harsh by typically inclement January winds.
2198t4~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, however, there is provided a clip for retaining a set of decorative lights under the eave of a house where the lights are protected from snow, freezing rain and icicles.
In one aspect of the present invention, the clip is attachable to a soffit panel having perforations of a common nominal diameter. The clip is made of a slender strip of a resilient material having a major cross-section dimension which is smaller than the common nominal diameter of the perforations of the soffit panel.
The slender strip has a backward bend in a mid-region thereof, defining a first leg member and a second leg member. The first leg member extends from the backward bend in a generally straight alignment defining a supportive axis of the clip. The second leg member has a first segment exten~ing from the backward bend alongside the first leg member and a second segment extending from the first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with the first segment. This opening has a breadth which is smaller than a size of the loop.
One advantage of the soffit clip of the present invention is that the first leg member is insertable entirely into one of the perforations of the soffit panel and is readily oriented with the supportive axis of the clip laying over the upper surface of the soffit panel. When a cord from the set of decorative lights is hung from the loop, a bending moment caused by a weight of said cord in the loop about the backward bend increases a surface pressure of the first leg member against the upper surface of the soffit panel. This surface pressure enhances the retention of the clip to the soffit panel and prevents the clip from moving back out of the perforation.
219814q In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a new method for attaching a set of decorative lights to a perforated soffit panel.
The method comprises the steps of inserting the first leg member of a the soffit clip of the present invention entirely into one of the perforations in 5 the soffit panel, in a direction tangential to a surface of the soffit panel, and inserting a cord of the set of decorative lights into the loop of the clip.
This method is particularly efficient in the sense that the clips are manually attachable to a perforated soffit, at any location on that soffit without using any tools and without ~m~gin~ the surface of the soffit 10 panels. Moreover, the clips are easily removable manually after the holiday season by reversing the in~t~ tion movement and pulling the clips out of the perforations. The clips may be left on the cord of the decorative light set for future use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~WINGS
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be further understood from the following description, with reference to the drawings in which:
- Figure 1 illustrates a typical in~t~ tion of a set of decorative lights under the eave of a house using the soffit clips of the preferred embodiment.
- Figure 2 is an enlarged view of Detail 2 in Figure 1 showing a closer view of the installation of the set of decorative lights illustrated in Figure 1.
- Figure 3 is a side view of a first model of soffit clip of the preferred embodiment.
- Figure 4 illustrates a typical installation of the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment through a perforation of a perforated vinyl soffit strip.
- Figure 5 illustrates a soffit clip of the pl~rell~d embodiment stapled to a wood member.
- Figure 6 illustrates three models of the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment.
10 - Figure 7 illustrates a method for ~ cturing the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment and a typical installation thereof are illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. The Figures 1 and 2 15 in particular illustrate a preferred installation of a set 22 of decorative Christmas lights under the eave 24 of a roof where the lights are protected from snow, freezing rain and icicles.
This installation is also advantageous because the reflective surfaces above and behind the lights 22 are significantly larger than a reflective 20 surface available when the lights are mounted on the rain gutter 26 for example. The visual appeal of the decoration is thereby enhanced over the traditional installation.
2198t4~
The soffit clip 20 ofthe plerellt;d embodiment is manufactured with a resilient m~teli~l preferably a strip of spring steel or stiff plastic material.
A preferred material of fabrication for the soffit clip 20 is found in a common hair pin generally known as a bobby pin. These pins are made of 5 spring steel and have a protective coating with enlarged plasticized ends.
The protective coating protects the pin from the weather conditions and the enlarged plasticized ends facilitates the manipulation of the clip during installation of a set of decorative lights. Hence, a preferred method for manufacturing the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment is by 10 modifying a bobby pin as it will be explained later.
The soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment comprises a continuous strip of spring steel, or similar resilient material, having a backward bend 30 in a mid-region of the strip. A first leg member 32 extends from the backward bend 30 in a generally straight aligmnent 15 defining a supportive axis of the soffit clip 20. A second leg member 34 also ext~n~s from the backward bend 30 alongside the first leg member 32.
The backward bend preferably has an angle of curvature which is more than 180~ such that the second leg member 34 touches the first leg member 32 at a point of contact 36 on an int~rmediate region of the first leg member 20 32.
The second leg member 34 has a curled portion 38 extending away from the first leg member 32 towards the backward bend 30 thereby forming an open loop 40 into which an electrical conductor of a set of decorative lights can be retained.
The extremity 42 of the curled portion 36 is bent inwardly relative to the curvature of the loop 40 forming thereby a funnel-like opening 44 of the loop 40 through which an electrical cord is easily insertable.
21~8t4q The first leg member 32 has a generally straight supportive axis with a several ripples 48 in a mid-region thereof adjacent to the point of contact 36. The end 50 of the first leg member 32 is curved away from the supportive axis and from the second leg member 34. This curved end 50 5 facilitates the insertion of the first leg member 32 into a perforation 28 in the soffit panel 24 in a tangential direction relative to the surface of the soffit panel.
The cross-section of the spring steel material of the clip 20 is smaller than a typical perforation 28 of a commercially available vented l o vinyl soffit panel strip 24. In this respect, it has been found that a spring steel having a major cross-section ~lim~n~ion being smaller than 0.125 inch is quite satisfactorily. Similarly, a clip having a backward bend with an inside diameter of between 0.060 inch to 0.100 inch has been found to be ~ o~liate for installation of the clip on common soffit panel strips having 15 a thickness of about 0.062 inch.
A typical installation of the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment consists of inserting the curved end 50 of the first leg member 32 into a perforation 28 of a soffit panel strip 24, and pushing the first leg member 32 entirely through the perforation 28 such that the supportive axis 20 of the clip 20 lies over the upper surface of the soffit panel 24. The resilience of the strip at the backward bend 30 exerts a pressure between the first and second leg members 32,34, to retain the soffit clip 20 in place in the perforation 28.
21~814~
The ripples 48 on the first leg member 32 also cooperate with the resilience of the backward bend for relai~ g the soffit clip 20 in the perforation 28, by increasing the friction of the first leg member 32 against the upper surface of the vinyl strip 24.
The electrical cord of the decorative light set may thereafter be installed into the loop 40 by pushing the conductor into the funnel-like opening 44.
One will understand that the installation instructions described above may be reversed according to the preference of a user. The clips 20 can be installed on the electrical cord before the cord is attached to the soffit panel 24. This particular sequence is advantageous for easing a difficult manipulation of small objects at arms length when a user is standing in a ladder and working with gloves for example.
The soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment may be installed at various distances from one-another to accommodate any particular application. It has been found that a spacing of about 24 inches to 36 inches is quite ~pl~pliate for relail~ing a common set of Christmas lights.
A rubber band (not shown) may be wrapped around a clip 20 and the electrical cord for applying a longitudinal tension in the cord, for preventing an excessive sag in the cord when the clips 20 are spaced too far apart. It is also recommended to install the clips 20 at a distance of about 3 to 6 inches from the fascia board of the eave to adequately protect the lights from snow and freezing rain.
Referring now to Figure 5, the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment is also attachable with staples 52 in a wood structure 54 for example. The staple 52 is preferably installed over the ripples 48 of the first leg member such that the soffit clip 20 cannot be easily removed from 5 the mounting structure.
The soffit clip 20 ofthe plefelled embodiment is m~mlf~cturable in various types of resilient material according to the preference of a m~mlf~cturer. As it was mentioned earlier, one of the preferred materials of fabrication for the soffit clip 20 is a common hair pin. Other materials 10 include a flat strip of spring steel 56 and a round wire 58 as illustrated in Figure 6.
When the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment is m~mlf~ctured from a flat strip of spring steel 56, the preferred strip has a width of between 0.060 inch to about 0.100 inch and a ~ickness of about 0.020 inch 15 to about 0.030 inch. When the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment is manufactured with round wire 58, the diameter of the round wire is preferably between about 0.060 inch to about 0.100 inch. The overall dimensions of the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment are a total length of about 2.0 inches and a loop size of about 0.50 inch.
One method for manufacturing the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figure 7. The method requires the use of a round bar 60 having a slot 62 through one of its end. The bar 60 is preferably held in a workshop vice 64 and oriented horizontally. The straight portion of a bobby pin 66 is inserted into the slot 62, and the pin 66 is bent in the direction as indicated by arrow 68 in Figure 7. This method is particularly efficient for producing the desired result consistently and without great expense in tooling.
21981q~
While the above description provides a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiment of this invention, various modifications, alternate constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve 5 alternate components, structural arrangement.c, construction features or the like. Therefore, the above description and the illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.
TITLE: SOFFIT CLIP
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clip for re~ai~ g a string of Christmas lights to the underside of an eave of a house and more particularly, the present invention relates to a clip which is insertable in oneof the perforations of a vented vinyl soffit panel strip.
The use of decorative Christmas lighting on the exterior of residences is a popular practice in North America. Strings of coloured lights are usually installed along the edges of roofs and the cornices of buildings in early December of each year. The lights are lit daily for 10 several hours at sunset until about a week or so after New Years' Day.
Decorative light sets are typically hung on nails and threaded hooks which are installed through the fascia board of the roof. A first inconvenience with this practice is that the nails and hooks remain visible throughout the year. These f~t~ners alter the appearance of the house and 15 collect webs and other insect works during the spring and summer period.
Moreover, the fascia boards of modern houses are usually covered by pre-painted aluminum sheeting and any perforation of this protective cover is objectionable.
2198t4~
In this respect, a number of different devices have been developed in the past for retaining Christmas lights along the edges of a roof without using driven-type fasteners. A first example of a device for mounting decorative lights is described in U.S. Patent 5,056,747 issued on October 15, 1991 to Andrew G. Kireta. The article is a C-shaped bracket. The bracket may be clamped to wooden rafters below the eave, to rain gutter or to porch support posts. The C-shaped bracket is also attachable to the roof by inserting one leg of the bracket under a roof shingle. Several clips are provided on the surface of the bracket to accommodate decorative light strings running in any directions.
Another device of the prior art is illustrated in U.S. Patent 5,141,192, issued on August 25, 1992 to William E. Adams. The article has a spiral member on one end and a J-hook on the other end. The J-hook is adapted to retain an electrical cord of a light string and the spiral end is l 5 an~ch~ble to the outside lip of a rain gutter. The article is workable with an elongated staff such that the Christmas lights may be put up and removed without using a ladder.
One inconvenience of installing a bracket on the rain gutter or over the edge of a roof is that the bracket often becomes bound in snow and ice before the end of the holiday season. It is not uncommon to receive several heavy snow falls and freezing rain in December and early January.
Therefore, when the light set is due for being removed, the task must be done with great care to avoid d~m~ging the light bulbs, the mounting brackets and the roof itself. This task is often made quite harsh by typically inclement January winds.
2198t4~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, however, there is provided a clip for retaining a set of decorative lights under the eave of a house where the lights are protected from snow, freezing rain and icicles.
In one aspect of the present invention, the clip is attachable to a soffit panel having perforations of a common nominal diameter. The clip is made of a slender strip of a resilient material having a major cross-section dimension which is smaller than the common nominal diameter of the perforations of the soffit panel.
The slender strip has a backward bend in a mid-region thereof, defining a first leg member and a second leg member. The first leg member extends from the backward bend in a generally straight alignment defining a supportive axis of the clip. The second leg member has a first segment exten~ing from the backward bend alongside the first leg member and a second segment extending from the first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with the first segment. This opening has a breadth which is smaller than a size of the loop.
One advantage of the soffit clip of the present invention is that the first leg member is insertable entirely into one of the perforations of the soffit panel and is readily oriented with the supportive axis of the clip laying over the upper surface of the soffit panel. When a cord from the set of decorative lights is hung from the loop, a bending moment caused by a weight of said cord in the loop about the backward bend increases a surface pressure of the first leg member against the upper surface of the soffit panel. This surface pressure enhances the retention of the clip to the soffit panel and prevents the clip from moving back out of the perforation.
219814q In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a new method for attaching a set of decorative lights to a perforated soffit panel.
The method comprises the steps of inserting the first leg member of a the soffit clip of the present invention entirely into one of the perforations in 5 the soffit panel, in a direction tangential to a surface of the soffit panel, and inserting a cord of the set of decorative lights into the loop of the clip.
This method is particularly efficient in the sense that the clips are manually attachable to a perforated soffit, at any location on that soffit without using any tools and without ~m~gin~ the surface of the soffit 10 panels. Moreover, the clips are easily removable manually after the holiday season by reversing the in~t~ tion movement and pulling the clips out of the perforations. The clips may be left on the cord of the decorative light set for future use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~WINGS
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be further understood from the following description, with reference to the drawings in which:
- Figure 1 illustrates a typical in~t~ tion of a set of decorative lights under the eave of a house using the soffit clips of the preferred embodiment.
- Figure 2 is an enlarged view of Detail 2 in Figure 1 showing a closer view of the installation of the set of decorative lights illustrated in Figure 1.
- Figure 3 is a side view of a first model of soffit clip of the preferred embodiment.
- Figure 4 illustrates a typical installation of the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment through a perforation of a perforated vinyl soffit strip.
- Figure 5 illustrates a soffit clip of the pl~rell~d embodiment stapled to a wood member.
- Figure 6 illustrates three models of the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment.
10 - Figure 7 illustrates a method for ~ cturing the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment and a typical installation thereof are illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. The Figures 1 and 2 15 in particular illustrate a preferred installation of a set 22 of decorative Christmas lights under the eave 24 of a roof where the lights are protected from snow, freezing rain and icicles.
This installation is also advantageous because the reflective surfaces above and behind the lights 22 are significantly larger than a reflective 20 surface available when the lights are mounted on the rain gutter 26 for example. The visual appeal of the decoration is thereby enhanced over the traditional installation.
2198t4~
The soffit clip 20 ofthe plerellt;d embodiment is manufactured with a resilient m~teli~l preferably a strip of spring steel or stiff plastic material.
A preferred material of fabrication for the soffit clip 20 is found in a common hair pin generally known as a bobby pin. These pins are made of 5 spring steel and have a protective coating with enlarged plasticized ends.
The protective coating protects the pin from the weather conditions and the enlarged plasticized ends facilitates the manipulation of the clip during installation of a set of decorative lights. Hence, a preferred method for manufacturing the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment is by 10 modifying a bobby pin as it will be explained later.
The soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment comprises a continuous strip of spring steel, or similar resilient material, having a backward bend 30 in a mid-region of the strip. A first leg member 32 extends from the backward bend 30 in a generally straight aligmnent 15 defining a supportive axis of the soffit clip 20. A second leg member 34 also ext~n~s from the backward bend 30 alongside the first leg member 32.
The backward bend preferably has an angle of curvature which is more than 180~ such that the second leg member 34 touches the first leg member 32 at a point of contact 36 on an int~rmediate region of the first leg member 20 32.
The second leg member 34 has a curled portion 38 extending away from the first leg member 32 towards the backward bend 30 thereby forming an open loop 40 into which an electrical conductor of a set of decorative lights can be retained.
The extremity 42 of the curled portion 36 is bent inwardly relative to the curvature of the loop 40 forming thereby a funnel-like opening 44 of the loop 40 through which an electrical cord is easily insertable.
21~8t4q The first leg member 32 has a generally straight supportive axis with a several ripples 48 in a mid-region thereof adjacent to the point of contact 36. The end 50 of the first leg member 32 is curved away from the supportive axis and from the second leg member 34. This curved end 50 5 facilitates the insertion of the first leg member 32 into a perforation 28 in the soffit panel 24 in a tangential direction relative to the surface of the soffit panel.
The cross-section of the spring steel material of the clip 20 is smaller than a typical perforation 28 of a commercially available vented l o vinyl soffit panel strip 24. In this respect, it has been found that a spring steel having a major cross-section ~lim~n~ion being smaller than 0.125 inch is quite satisfactorily. Similarly, a clip having a backward bend with an inside diameter of between 0.060 inch to 0.100 inch has been found to be ~ o~liate for installation of the clip on common soffit panel strips having 15 a thickness of about 0.062 inch.
A typical installation of the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment consists of inserting the curved end 50 of the first leg member 32 into a perforation 28 of a soffit panel strip 24, and pushing the first leg member 32 entirely through the perforation 28 such that the supportive axis 20 of the clip 20 lies over the upper surface of the soffit panel 24. The resilience of the strip at the backward bend 30 exerts a pressure between the first and second leg members 32,34, to retain the soffit clip 20 in place in the perforation 28.
21~814~
The ripples 48 on the first leg member 32 also cooperate with the resilience of the backward bend for relai~ g the soffit clip 20 in the perforation 28, by increasing the friction of the first leg member 32 against the upper surface of the vinyl strip 24.
The electrical cord of the decorative light set may thereafter be installed into the loop 40 by pushing the conductor into the funnel-like opening 44.
One will understand that the installation instructions described above may be reversed according to the preference of a user. The clips 20 can be installed on the electrical cord before the cord is attached to the soffit panel 24. This particular sequence is advantageous for easing a difficult manipulation of small objects at arms length when a user is standing in a ladder and working with gloves for example.
The soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment may be installed at various distances from one-another to accommodate any particular application. It has been found that a spacing of about 24 inches to 36 inches is quite ~pl~pliate for relail~ing a common set of Christmas lights.
A rubber band (not shown) may be wrapped around a clip 20 and the electrical cord for applying a longitudinal tension in the cord, for preventing an excessive sag in the cord when the clips 20 are spaced too far apart. It is also recommended to install the clips 20 at a distance of about 3 to 6 inches from the fascia board of the eave to adequately protect the lights from snow and freezing rain.
Referring now to Figure 5, the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment is also attachable with staples 52 in a wood structure 54 for example. The staple 52 is preferably installed over the ripples 48 of the first leg member such that the soffit clip 20 cannot be easily removed from 5 the mounting structure.
The soffit clip 20 ofthe plefelled embodiment is m~mlf~cturable in various types of resilient material according to the preference of a m~mlf~cturer. As it was mentioned earlier, one of the preferred materials of fabrication for the soffit clip 20 is a common hair pin. Other materials 10 include a flat strip of spring steel 56 and a round wire 58 as illustrated in Figure 6.
When the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment is m~mlf~ctured from a flat strip of spring steel 56, the preferred strip has a width of between 0.060 inch to about 0.100 inch and a ~ickness of about 0.020 inch 15 to about 0.030 inch. When the soffit clip of the preferred embodiment is manufactured with round wire 58, the diameter of the round wire is preferably between about 0.060 inch to about 0.100 inch. The overall dimensions of the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment are a total length of about 2.0 inches and a loop size of about 0.50 inch.
One method for manufacturing the soffit clip 20 of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figure 7. The method requires the use of a round bar 60 having a slot 62 through one of its end. The bar 60 is preferably held in a workshop vice 64 and oriented horizontally. The straight portion of a bobby pin 66 is inserted into the slot 62, and the pin 66 is bent in the direction as indicated by arrow 68 in Figure 7. This method is particularly efficient for producing the desired result consistently and without great expense in tooling.
21981q~
While the above description provides a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiment of this invention, various modifications, alternate constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve 5 alternate components, structural arrangement.c, construction features or the like. Therefore, the above description and the illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.
Claims (20)
1. A clip for retaining a set of decorative lights to a soffit panel having perforations of a common nominal diameter, said clip being made of a slender strip of a resilient material, said slender strip having:
a major cross-section dimension which is smaller than said common nominal diameter;
a sharp backward bend in a mid-region thereof, said backward bend defining a pair of substantially equal-length first and second leg members;
said first leg member extending from said backward bend in a generally straight alignment defining a supportive axis of said clip, and said second leg member having a first segment extending from said backward bend alongside said first leg member and a second segment extending from said first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with said first segment, said opening having a breadth which is smaller than a size of said loop;
whereby when said first leg member is inserted entirely into one of said perforations with said supportive axis laying over a surface of said soffit panel, and when a cord from said set of decorative lights is hung from said loop, a bending moment caused by a weight of said cord in said loop about said backward bend increases a surface pressure of said first leg member against said surface of said soffit panel thereby retaining said clip to said soffit panel with substantive restriction.
a major cross-section dimension which is smaller than said common nominal diameter;
a sharp backward bend in a mid-region thereof, said backward bend defining a pair of substantially equal-length first and second leg members;
said first leg member extending from said backward bend in a generally straight alignment defining a supportive axis of said clip, and said second leg member having a first segment extending from said backward bend alongside said first leg member and a second segment extending from said first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with said first segment, said opening having a breadth which is smaller than a size of said loop;
whereby when said first leg member is inserted entirely into one of said perforations with said supportive axis laying over a surface of said soffit panel, and when a cord from said set of decorative lights is hung from said loop, a bending moment caused by a weight of said cord in said loop about said backward bend increases a surface pressure of said first leg member against said surface of said soffit panel thereby retaining said clip to said soffit panel with substantive restriction.
2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first leg member has on an intermediate region thereof a series of ripples for increasing a friction of said first leg member against said surface of said soffit panel.
3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein an extremity of said first leg member is angled away from said supportive axis and from said second leg member, for facilitating an insertion of said first leg member into said one of said perforations in a direction substantially tangential to said surface of said soffit panel.
4. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sharp backward bend has an angle of curvature which is more than 180° and said first segment of said second leg member touches said first leg member at an intermediate region of said first leg member, whereby when said clip is installed on said soffit panel, a resilience of said backward bend causes a pressure between said first leg member and said first segment of said second leg member for increasing said substantive restriction.
5. A clip as claimed in claim 4 wherein said sharp backward bend has an inside diameter which is between about 0.060 inch and about 0. 100 inch.
6. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein an end portion of said second leg member is curved toward an inside region of said loop whereby said opening is a funnel-like opening oriented toward an inside region of said loop, for facilitating a placement of said cord in said loop.
7. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient material is a spring steel.
8. A clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein said slender strip is a round wire having a diameter of between about 0.060 inch and about 0. 100 inch.
9. A clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein said slender strip is a flat strip having a width of between about 0.060 inch and about 0.100 inch and a thickness of between about 0.020 inch and about 0.030 inch.
10. A clip as claimed in claim 7 wherein said resilient material is covered by a weather resistant coating.
11. A clip as claimed in claim 10 wherein said slender strip has enlarged plasticized ends.
12. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein a base material for said slender strip made of a resilient material is a hair pin commonly known as a bobby pin.
13. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein a length of said first leg member is about 2 inches and a diameter of said loop is about 0.5 inch.
14. A method for manufacturing a clip insertable in one of the perforations of a perforated soffit panel for retaining a set of decorative lights under the eave of a house, said method comprising the steps of;
providing a cylindrical mandrel having a diametrical slot through an end thereof;
providing a slender strip of resilient material having a sharp backward bend in a mid-region thereof defining a first leg member and a second leg member, said first and second leg members being substantially parallel to one-another;
inserting said first leg member in said slot in a radial direction relative to said cylindrical mandrel with an axis of said backward bend in a parallel orientation with a longitudinal axis of said mandrel;
bending said first leg member away from said second leg member, a full turn around said cylindrical mandrel; and removing said first leg member from said slot.
providing a cylindrical mandrel having a diametrical slot through an end thereof;
providing a slender strip of resilient material having a sharp backward bend in a mid-region thereof defining a first leg member and a second leg member, said first and second leg members being substantially parallel to one-another;
inserting said first leg member in said slot in a radial direction relative to said cylindrical mandrel with an axis of said backward bend in a parallel orientation with a longitudinal axis of said mandrel;
bending said first leg member away from said second leg member, a full turn around said cylindrical mandrel; and removing said first leg member from said slot.
15. A method for manufacturing a clip as claimed in claim 14 comprising the additional step of securing said cylindrical mandrel in a workshop vise before inserting said first leg member in said slot.
16. A method for manufacturing a clip as claimed in claim 14 wherein said step of providing a slender strip of resilient material is replaced by: providing a hair pin having a sharp backward bend in a mid-region thereof defining a first leg member and a second leg member.
17. A method for attaching a set of decorative lights to a soffit panel having perforations of a common diameter, comprising the steps of:
providing a slender strip of resilient material having a major cross-section dimension which is smaller than said common nominal diameter; said slender strip having a sharp backward bend in a mid-region thereof, said backward bend defining a first leg member and a second leg member; said first leg member extending from said backward bend in a generally straight alignment defining a supportive axis of said slender strip, and said second leg member having a first segment extending from said backward bend alongside said first leg member and a second segment extending from said first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with said first segment, said opening having a breadth which is smaller than a size of said loop;
inserting said first leg member of said slender strip entirely into said one of said perforations in a direction substantially tangential to a surface of said soffit panel, and inserting a cord of said set of decorative lights into said loop.
providing a slender strip of resilient material having a major cross-section dimension which is smaller than said common nominal diameter; said slender strip having a sharp backward bend in a mid-region thereof, said backward bend defining a first leg member and a second leg member; said first leg member extending from said backward bend in a generally straight alignment defining a supportive axis of said slender strip, and said second leg member having a first segment extending from said backward bend alongside said first leg member and a second segment extending from said first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with said first segment, said opening having a breadth which is smaller than a size of said loop;
inserting said first leg member of said slender strip entirely into said one of said perforations in a direction substantially tangential to a surface of said soffit panel, and inserting a cord of said set of decorative lights into said loop.
18. A method for attaching a set of decorative lights as claimed in claim 17 wherein said step of providing said slender strip is replaced by the step of providing a bobby pin having a backward bend defining a pair of substantially equal-length first and second leg members, and forming a loop in said second leg member.
19. A method for attaching a set of decorative lights as claimed in claim 17 comprising the additional step of selecting said one of said perforations being at a distance of between about 3 to 6 inches from a fascia board end of said soffit panel.
20. A method for attaching a set of decorative lights as claimed in claim 17 wherein said method comprises the additional steps of inserting said first leg members of a second and subsequent said slender strips entirely into a respective second and subsequent said perforations in a direction substantially tangential to said surface of said soffit panel at intervals of between about 24 inches to about 36 inches along said cord, and inserting said cord into said loops of said second and subsequent slender strips.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002198149A CA2198149C (en) | 1997-02-18 | 1997-02-18 | Soffit clip |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002198149A CA2198149C (en) | 1997-02-18 | 1997-02-18 | Soffit clip |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2198149A1 CA2198149A1 (en) | 1998-08-18 |
| CA2198149C true CA2198149C (en) | 2002-05-07 |
Family
ID=4159998
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002198149A Expired - Lifetime CA2198149C (en) | 1997-02-18 | 1997-02-18 | Soffit clip |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2198149C (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA2411576C (en) | 2002-11-12 | 2007-08-14 | Delphitech Corporation | Housing for an led fixture and soffit lighting system utilizing the same |
-
1997
- 1997-02-18 CA CA002198149A patent/CA2198149C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2198149A1 (en) | 1998-08-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20170220 |