US20030099786A1

US20030099786A1 - Stand for ornamental light string

Info

Publication number: US20030099786A1
Application number: US09/997,818
Authority: US
Inventors: Jessica Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-28
Filing date: 2001-11-28
Publication date: 2003-05-29

Abstract

An ornamental light string stand includes a substrate, a shaft mounted on top of the substrate and having a star mounted on a free end of the shaft. Supporting units are securely connected to the shaft. Each supporting unit has a base, a centrally defined through hole defined in the base to communicate with the sleeve so as to allow the shaft to extend through the sleeve and the through hole. Cutouts are equally distributed on and defined through the base. A ring is securely connected to an underside of the base. Extensions are pivotally connected to the ring and each extension extends out from a corresponding one of the cutout. A stop is securely mounted on a top face of the base to limit pivotal movement of each extension in the corresponding cutout.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stand for ornamental light string, and more particularly to a stand having a shaft and extensions extending out from the shaft to form a skeleton of a tree so that the ornamental light string are able to be hung on the extensions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ornamental light string is popular in seasonal festival, especially in Christmas Day. People use ornamental light string to decorate the Christmas tree, the roof and windows to share the seasonal joy with others. The conventional ornamental light string has a plug intended to be electrically connected with a power source, such as an outlet, multiple light bulbs securely and electrically connected with one another by wires. Each of the light bulbs has a retaining device securely connected with the light bulb and configured to connect the wires into a net-like structure. That is, after the wire is connected to the light bulb, the retaining device functions as a joint between the wire and the light bulbs. With the retaining device, the wires are mutually connected together, such that when the ornamental light string of this kind spreads, it is quite easy for the user to hang it over the tree, the roof or any thing required.

However, with this type of ornamental light string, the user will have to prepare multiple wires not only to electrically connect to the light bulb, but also to string the light bulbs into a net-like structure. Accordingly, the total length of the wires is long and inevitably the cost for manufacturing this kind of light string is high.

Furthermore, because the light bulbs are mutually connected with each other by means of the wires and it is well known that the strength of the wire can not resist pulling and stretching, this kind of ornamental light string hanging on a tree or even dangling in the air will easily break and thus cause a short.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention intends to provide an improved stand for ornamental light string to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the invention is to provide an ornamental light string stand. With the stand, the ornamental light string is able to be hung on the extensions of the stand. Because the extensions are able to be arranged in any kind of shape, after the ornamental light string is hung on the extensions of the stand, the ornamental effect is greatly increased.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stand of the present invention; [0008]
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a supporting unit of the stand in FIG. 1; [0009]
FIG. 3 is a side plan view in partial section, wherein the extensions are foldable with respect to a base; and [0010]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the extensions of the stand are folded.[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the stand in accordance with the present invention has a [0012] substrate 10, a shaft 20 and multiple supporting units 30.
The [0013] shaft 20 is securely mounted on top of the substrate 10 and the supporting units 30 are securely connected to the shaft 20 at various height along the shaft 20.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each supporting [0014] unit 30 has a ring 31, a base 32, extensions 33 (only one is shown for clarity) and a stop 34. The base 32 has a sleeve 321 formed on an underside of the base 32, a centrally defined through hole 322 communicating with the sleeve 321, cutouts 323 equally distributed on and defined through the base 32 to correspond to each of the extensions 33.
Each [0015] extension 33 has branches 331 extending out from the extension 33 and a hook 332 formed on a distal end of the extension 33.
The [0016] stop 34 has a configuration, for example annular shape, corresponding to the shape of the base 32 and a diameter slightly larger than that of the base 32 so that the stop 34 is able to be placed on top of the base 32 to be supported by the base 32. The stop 34 further has multiple recesses 341 defined to correspond to each of the extensions 33.
When the supporting unit is assembled, each [0017] hook 332 is first hooked on the ring 31 and the ring 31 is securely connected to a bottom face of the base 32 by, for example, welding. Then each of the extensions 33 extend through a corresponding one of the cutouts 323 of the base 32. The stop 34 is securely connected to a top face of the base 32 by, for example, welding and each of the recesses 341 corresponds to one of the extensions 33. When the foregoing assembly is finished, normally a mediate portion of each of the extensions 33 is supported by an edge defining the recess 341 of the stop 34. Because the distal end of the extension 33 is securely yet pivotally connected to the ring 31 so that the extensions 33 are able to pivot relative to the base 32. Lastly, the supporting units 30 are each securely connected to the shaft 20 at various height along the shaft 20. Because the extensions 33 are able to be arranged like a tree so that the wire (not shown) of the ornamental light string is able to be hung on the branches 331 and thus the light bulbs (not shown) are able to light the stand. Further, in order to increase the ornamental effect, a star 40 is mounted on top of the shaft 20 and the length of the extensions 33 on one supporting unit 30 is different from the length of the extensions 33 on another supporting unit 30. Preferably, the length of the extensions 33 are tapered away from the substrate 10.
With reference to FIG. 4 and taking FIG. 1 for example, when the stand of the present invention is not in use, the [0018] extensions 33 are pivoted toward the shaft 20 for storage.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. [0019]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A stand for ornamental light string, the stand comprising:

a substrate;

a shaft mounted on top of the substrate and having a star mounted on a free end of the shaft;

supporting units securely connected to the shaft at various heights of the shaft and each having a base with a sleeve formed on an underside of the base, a centrally defined through hole defined in the base to communicate with the sleeve so as to allow the shaft to extend through the sleeve and the through hole, cutouts equally distributed on and defined through the base, a ring securely connected to an underside of the base; extensions pivotally connected to the ring and each extending out from a corresponding one of the cutout, each of the extensions having branches extending out therefrom, and a stop securely mounted on a top face of the base to limit pivotal movement of each extension in the corresponding cutout.

2. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein each extension has a hook formed at a distal end thereof to be connected to the ring.

3. The stand as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stop further has recesses each corresponding to the cutouts of the base so as to limit the pivotal movement of the extension.

4. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stop has a configuration corresponding to that of the base and has a diameter slightly larger than that of the base so as to support the stop.

5. The stand as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stop has a configuration corresponding to that of the base and has a diameter slightly larger than that of the base so as to support the stop.

6. The stand as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stop has a configuration corresponding to that of the base and has a diameter slightly larger than that of the base so as to support the stop.