US2885755A

US2885755A - Christmas tree light holder

Info

Publication number: US2885755A
Application number: US688525A
Authority: US
Inventors: Colin L Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-10-07
Filing date: 1957-10-07
Publication date: 1959-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 1976-05-12

Description

"Mayi12, 1959 QL;JOHINSONY r 5 CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT HOLDER Filed'Oct. "Y, 1957 ZNVENTOR. COL/IV 1.. JOHNSON United States Patent CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT HOLDER Colin L. Johnson, Richmond, Calif. Application October 7, 1957, Serial No. 688,525

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-81) This invention relates to a Christmas tree light holder.

It is a matter of common knowledge that strings of Christmas tree lights are difficult to mount on Christmas trees and that, after being mounted and suitably spaced, the lights have an undesirable propensity to turn and twist so that, instead of standing erect as they should, they occupy inclined, horizontal and inverted positions.

Heretofore, many different holders have been proposed to solve the problem of mounting Christmas tree lights on Christmas trees. However, such devices have been far from satisfactory.

Thus in Grafke U.S. Patent No. 338,594, a Christmas tree candle holder is provided which comprises a socket intended to receive the base of a candle and an alligator type of clamp intended to clamp to a branch or twig of a tree. Adaptation of this device for holding a string of Christmas tree lights would be difiicult. Also the means of gripping the twig or branch is not advantageous. Thus, for an alligator clamp to work effectively, it requires something of greater width or diameter than a small twig or branch of a Christmas tree.

Other Christmas tree light holders proposed heretofore are subject to disadvantages which are as grave as the disadvantages of the aforesaid Grafke patent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved Christmas tree light holder which is easily fixed to a branch or twig of a Christmas tree, which is inexpensive to manufacture, which will readily accept the base or socket of a Christmas tree light and which will hold each light firmly in erect position or at any angle desired.

This and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claim.

One form of the invention is shown by way of example in the drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a blank cut or stamped from a piece of sheet metal or plastic and from which the Christmas tree holder of the present invention is formed.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the Christmas tree holder of the invention as made from the blank shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the Christmas tree holder of Figure 2, as seen from the left of Figure 2, showing the same mounted on a twig or branch of a Christmas tree and carrying a Christmas tree light.

Referring now to the drawings and preliminarily to Figure l, a blank is there shown which is generally designated by the reference numeral and from which a Christmas tree holder is formed in accordance with the invention, such Christmas tree holder being shown in Figure 2 and being generally designated by the reference numeral 11.

Referring again to Figure 1, the blank 10 is a unitary, integral piece which is preferably stamped out of sheet metal although it may be made of plastic or other suitable resilient material, or of sheet metal coated with plastic. The blank 10 comprises a body portion 12 which branches laterally at its upper end to form a pair of oppositely directed arms 13. Near its lower end the body has two short laterally extending arms 14. The body portion 12 extends downwardly below the lower arms 14 to provide an end tab 15. The tab 15 is perforated at 1511 for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, the blank 10 described and illustratedin Figure l, is formed into the Christmas tree holder 11 as follows:

The upper, longer arms 13 are bent on a radius to form a collar or holder element 16 within which a socket or base of a Christmas tree light is fitted as explained here inafter with reference to Figure 3. The outer ends of the arms 13 are bent reversely to form end tabs or finger holds. The body 12 is curved as shown in Figure 2 and is bent adjacent the lower arms 14 at a nearly angle to form a horizontal portion 12a. The lower arms 14 are bent to form a clip 17 and the tab 15 is bent rearwardly through an angle of so as to underlie the horizontal portion 12a. As best shown in Figure 3, the arms 14 are bent inwardly and then outwardly to form a constricted section or throat 1441. A pin 18 is provided which is passed through the perforation 15a in the end tab 15, such pin having a head which will retain it in position. The tab 15, being bent backwardly upon the horizontal portion 12a, will lock the pin 18 securely in place.

In use, a Christmas tree light such as that shown at 19 in Figure 3 is provided, such light having a bulb 20 and a base portion 25. Ordinarily, of course, a number of lights 19 will be provided which are connected by a suitable electrical cable, either in series or in parallel. For simplicity in illustrating the present invention only one such light is shown. As will be seen, the base portion 25 of the light 19 is fitted into the collar or holder element 16. The diameter of the collar 16 is such that it must be expanded to receive the base 25 and being of resilient metal construction it will clamp the base firmly. It is also adapted to clamp a range of sizes. A twig or branch of a Christmas tree is shown at 26 in Figure 3. Assuming that it is desired to mount the light 19 in erect position, the twig or branch 26 is inserted between the angular end portions 14a of the clip 14, thereby expanding them. When the twig is lodged within the clip 14, the pin 18 will penetrate the twig. It will, therefore, be apparent that the light 19 will be secured in upright position.

Instead of forming an end tab at 15 and inserting a pin as shown at 18, the tab 15 may be eliminated and the area of intersection between the arms 14 and body 12 may be punched out to form a triangular metal projection which will serve as a pin similar to the pin 18.

Among the advantages of the structure thus described and illustrated there may be mentioned the following:

It can be manufactured very cheaply and all of one piece except the pin 18. The method of mounting a Christmas tree light in the holder is the essence of simplicity, and the step of mounting the holder on a twig or branch of a tree is also very simple. There is no contact between the light 19 or any part thereof and the twig or branch and the joint action of the clip 14 and the pin 18 hold the light securely in the desired position.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a Christmas tree light holder has been provided which has several important advantages.

I claim:

A Christmas tree light holder of the character described comprising a single piece of resilient sheet material having a substantially vertical body portion having upper and lower ends, a collar portion fixed to the upper end of the body portion, projecting substantially horizontally therefrom and adapted to receive and to clamp the base of a Christmas tree light, a bifurcated clip fixed to the lower end of said body portion, projecting downwardly and adapted to fit over and to clamp to a tree branch, and a References Cited in, the file ofthisr patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,121 Varian Sept. 22, 1896 '4 Schlueter May 11,1891 Rinker Nov. 29, 1904 Deckert Apr. 2, 1912 Tedaldi Apr. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Apr. 26, 1893 Germany July 9, 1904 uin.