Hanger for suspending an ornament from a tree branch

Abstract

An ornament is suspended from a tree branch by a hanger formed by a pair of elongated jaws with serrated clamping faces pivotal into a confronting relation for engaging a tree branch. A pivot surrounded by a spring maintains a resilient contact force between the end portions of the jaws. An elongated hook projects from the pivot opposite to the pair of elongated jaws with a terminal end portion at a juxtaposition with a shank portion to form an entrance to a reversely extending loop for retaining a mounting fixture of an ornament.

1 . A hanger for suspending ornament from a tree branch, said hanger including the combination of: 
 a pair of elongated jaws with one of said jaws having serrated clamp face pivotal into a confronting relation with a clamp surface of the other of said elongated jaws for engaging a tree branch between said jaws;    a pivot for pivotally interconnecting end portions of said jaws;    a resilient member arranged for applying a resilient force in a direction to urge said pair of elongated jaws toward one another under a resilient force sufficient for griping and retaining a tree branch against said serrated clamp face; and    an elongated hook projecting from said pivot oppositely to said pair of elongated jaws, said elongated hook having a terminal end portion at a juxtaposition with a shank portion to form an entrance to a reversely extending loop for retaining a mounting fixture of an ornament.    
     
     
         2 . The hanger according to  claim 1  wherein said resilient member includes a spring having a coiled mid portion mounted on said pivot and terminal end portions arranged to apply a resilient force urging said pair of elongated jaws into mutual engagement.  
     
     
         3 . The hanger according to  claim 1  wherein said pair of said elongated jaws each include confronting serrations for gripping a tree branch there between.  
     
     
         4 . The hanger according to  claim 3  wherein said confronting serrations are spaced at a predetermined minimum distance by contact surfaces on said pair of said elongated jaws.  
     
     
         5 . The hanger according to  claim 4  wherein said contact surfaces are disposed at the distal ends of said elongated jaws remote to said pivot.  
     
     
         6 . The hanger according to  claim 1  further including an actuator arm extending from one of said pair of said elongated jaws towards said elongated hook.  
     
     
         7 . The hanger according to  claim 6  wherein said terminal end portion of said elongated hook lies in a plane containing said pivot and extending between said serrated clamp face and said clamp surface.  
     
     
         8 . The hanger according to  claim 6  wherein said terminal end portion of said elongated hook lies in a plane extending along an outer lateral side of one of said pair of elongated jaws.  
     
     
         9 . The hanger according to  claim 6  further including a latch pivotally supported by said shank portion to releasably engage with said terminal end portion for forming a barrier member traversing the entrance to said reversely extending loop.  
     
     
         10 . The hanger according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said pair of elongated jaws includes an adornment face extending along the extended length thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The hanger according to  claim 10  wherein said adornment face is defined by a sufficient mass lying in a plane laterally offset from a vertical plane containing said reversely extending loop to counterbalance the weight of said adornment suspended by said reversely extending loop in an upright position.