GB2392489A

GB2392489A - Supporting structure for Christmas light decoration

Info

Publication number: GB2392489A
Application number: GB0220245A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hung-Chi Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-29
Filing date: 2002-08-31
Publication date: 2004-03-03
Also published as: GB0220245D0; CA2400510A1; DE20214734U1

Abstract

A supporting structure for Christmas lights comprises a centre pole 1 having a fixed hub 4, a movable hub 6 slidable along the pole, a plurality of hanging bars 2 attached to the fixed hub and corresponding supporting struts 5 attached to the movable hub. This forms an umbrella-like structure. Lights 3 are hung or clipped to the hanging bars. The hanging bars and support struts may be formed of hollow tubes with slots for fixing the lights. A plurality of these structures may be layered to form a Christmas tree.

Description

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE I'OR CHRISTMAS LIGHT DECORATION

FIELD OF THE INVF,NTION

1()0011 This invention relates to a supporting structure for Christmas light 5 decoration, and more particularly to a new supporting structure easy for folding and storage. BACKGROUND Ol; THE INVENTION

100021 As people pay more and more attention to holiday celebration, it is easy to see decorative lights everywhere during the holidays. One of the most popular styles 10 among those is an artificial Christmas tree decorated with colorful small lights.

However, the present design of the artificial Christmas trees is usually bulky, and difficult for storage. FIence, it is prone to damage during the transportation and storage. 100031 The present invention is a foldable supporting structure for decorative 15 Christmas lights. It is easy to set up and fold, and suitable for transportation and storage. SUMMARY OFTlIEINVENTION

l()004J The present invention is a supporting stricture for decorative Christmas lights. It uses a multi-level structure to form a number of variations. The lights can 20 be hanged, or clipped to the structure. Alternatively, when the structure is implemented with hollow tubes, Ine lights can be inserted inside the tubes. The ditltrent styles of attaching lights to the supporting structure can be combined lo achieve various desirable visual effects.

l0U05l The main structure of the present invention is the center pole with a fixed 25 hub at the top, and a movable hub, which can move along the center pole. A

plurality of hanging bars are connected to the fixed hub at one end, and connected to the supportive struts at the other end. The other ends of the supportive struts are hooked to the movable hub. This forms an umbrella-like slructurc. component is used to attach the hanging bar to the fixed hub, and another component to attach the 5 supportive strut to the movable hub. A joint component used to connect the hanging bar and the supportive struts are foldable. Both the hanging bars and the supportive struts can be made of tubes so that the lights can be inserted inside the tubes. By moving the movable hub along the center pole, the structure can be easily opened up for display or folded to save storage space.

10 100061 The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show,

for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

15 [00071 Figure I shows the side view of the present invention.

100081 Figure 2 shows the embodiment of a multi-level structure of the present invention. 1 91 Figure 3 shows the side view when the present invention is folded.

100101 Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

20 [00111 I;igure 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the bars and the struts being made of tubes.

00121 Figure 6 shows the attaching components used hi the figure 5.

100131 Figure 7 shows the joint components used to joint the hanging bar and supportive strut in figure 5.

100111 Figure 8A shows the enlarged diagram of lights clipped to the supportive struts. 100151 1 igure 8B shows the enlarged liagra!n of another embodiment of the lights clipped to the supportive struts.

5 100161 Figure 9 shows the embodiment of the lights being inserted inside the supportive struts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TIIE INVENTION

10017J figure I shows the side view of the present invention, including a center pole 1, hanging bars 2. Lights 3 are hanging around hanging bars 2. On the center 10 pole 1, there is a fixed hub 4, whose rim is connected to a plurality of hanging bars 2.

The other ends of the hanging bars 2 are connected to the supportive struts 5, whose other ends are connected to a movable hub 6, which can move along the center pole [0018J Figure 2 shows the embodiment of a multi-level structure of the present IS invention. By moving the movable hub 6 downward along the center pole 1, the supportive struts 5 extends horizontally to open up the hanging bars 2 into an umbrella-like form. By using multi-level structure, the present invention shows a shape of a Christmas tree. When the lights 3 are lit, a colorful Christmas tree lights is displayed.

20 10019] Figure 3 shows diagram when the multi-level structure is unfolded. F3y moving the movable hub 6 upward along the center pole 1, supportive struts 5 retreat into the upright position, and the hanging bars 2 are pulled towards the center pole 1. It is like unfolding an umbrella. The unfolded structure is easy for transportation and storage.

i00201 Figure 4 sl,ows a second e,,bouir,,en; of the present inventions. The embodiment uses a flexible spring as a connecting component between the hanging bar 2 and the supportive struts S. A plurality of clips 31 arc constructed along the hanging bars 2 and supportive struts 5 for clipping the lights 3. By moving the 5 movable hub 6, the structure can be opened for display or folded to save space.

100211 Figure S shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment uses hollow tubes to construct the hanging bars 2 and the supportive struts S. The tubes can be transparent, opaque, or translucent with color. A small gap 21, 51 is opened on the tubes to fix tile lights 3. A small triangular bump 32 I O (shown in figures 8A, 813) on the light 3 is used for clipping the lights to the gap 21, 51 on the tube. An attachment component 22 (shown in figure 6) is constructed to connect the hanging bar 2 to the fixed hub 4. The attachment component 22 includes a tube part 221, inside which is a square bump 222. Phe attachment component 22 is connected to the fixed hub at one end, and the tube part 221 of the 15 attachment component 22 is used to hold the hanging bars 2, and the square bump 222 is inserted between the gap 21 to hold the hanging bars 2 in position. The other end of the hanging bar 2 is connected by a flexible component 23 (shovel in figures S. 7) to a supportive strut 5. An opening 231 is constructed on the component 23 for easy bending, and a square bump 232 is also constructed inside both ends of the 20 component 23. The position of the square bumps 232 in each end of the component 23 depends on the relative position of the hanging bars 2 and the supportive struts S. A gap 51 is also constructed on the supportive struts 5 to hokl the lights 3 in position.

The supportive strut S is connected to the movable hub 6 by an attachment component 52, which is identical to the attachment component 22. The hanging bar 25 2 and supportive strut S can be disassembled from the structure by detaching the

attachment components 22, 52. The design for easy assembly and disassembly can further reduce the volume for the convenience of transportation and storage.

100221 Figure 8B shows how the triangular bump 32 on the lights 3 is clipped outside of the hanging bar 2 or supportive strut 5, so that the lights 3 are hidden 5 inside the tube. In this embodiment, the tubes must be transparent or translucent to create another desirable visual effects, as shown in figure 9.

100231 While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present 1 0 invention.

Claims

What is claimed is

I 1. A supporting structure for Christmas lights decoration, comprising:
2 a center pole; 3 a plurality of hanging bars; 4 a plurality of supportive struts; 5 a fixed hub; and 6 a movable hub; 7 wherein said fixed hub being constructed on said center pole for hanging said 8 hanging bars; lights being hanged or clipped on hanging bars; said movable hub 9 being movable along said center pole, and being attached to one end of said 10 supportive struts; the other ends of said supportive struts being connected to said 11 hanging bars.

I 2. The structure claimed as in claim l, wherein said hanging bars and supportive struts 2 being connected by a flexible spring.

I 3. The structure claimed as in claim 1, wherein said hanging bars and said supportive 2 struts being made of hollow tubes with opening gap for fixing said lights; an 3 attachment component being used to attach said hanging bar to said fixed hub; an a attachment component being used to attach said supportive struts to said movable S hub; and staid hanging bar and said supportive struts being connected by a flexible 6 connecting component.

I 4. I he- structure claimed as in claim 3, wherein said lights have triangular bumps for 2 clipping to the gap on said hanging bars and supportive struts to hold said lights in 3 position. I 5. The structure claimed as in claim 3, wherein said attachment component including 2 a tube part with a square bump inside; said attachment component being connected
3 to the fixed hub, and said tube part to hold said hanging bar with said square bump
4 clipped to spiel opening gap on said hanging bars; said attachment component
5 connected to the movable hub also including a tube part with a square bump inside
6 to hold supportive struts in position.

I 6. The structure claimed as in claim 3, wherein said flexible connecting component 2 including an opening for easy bending; both ends of said component having a 3 square bump for clipping to said gaps on said hanging bars and supportive struts.

I
7. The structure claimed as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said structures being 2 layered to form a multi-level structure in a form of a Christmas tree.
8. A supporting structure for a Christmas lights decoration constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1, or Figs. 2 and 3, or l;ig.4, or Fig.S, or Fig.9, of the accompanying drawings.