Apparatus for hanging decorative lights from a rail or gutter

Abstract

A device is provided for mounting decorative lights has a ribbon-shaped body having a front face, a rear face, and two ends. One end has a spiral curvature of sufficient size, shape and resilience to enable the spiral end to be opened and placed upon a rail or post having at least one substantially flat side. The spiral has at least one flat segment that is positioned on the spiral to press against the substantially flat side of the rail or post preventing the device from being dislodged by common winter winds. A hook at the second end defines one or more openings of sufficient size to receive a decorative light socket, a rope light or an electrical cord. Straight surfaces can be provided on each of the hook end and the spiral that are opposite one another so that a decorative light socket can be held between the straight surfaces.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A holder for hanging decorative lights on a rail or post having at least one substantially flat side, the holder comprising: 
 a ribbon-shaped body having a front face, a rear face, and two ends;    one end having a spiral curvature with a proximal point adjacent to the body, wherein the spiral curvature adjacent the proximal point is formed by a plurality of flat segments on the front face, the spiral end being of sufficient size, shape and resilience to enable the spiral end to be opened and placed upon a rail or post having at least one substantially flat side, such that one of the flat segments of the spiral end presses against the at least one substantially flat side of the rail or post; and    a hook at the second end, the hook defining at least one space of sufficient size to receive at least one of a decorative light socket, a rope light and an electric cord.    
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the end having a spiral curvature is sized to fit over a portion of a gutter of the type having a front wall, a rear wall and a lip extending from the front wall toward the rear wall in a manner such that the lip is passed between the proximal point and the body when said proximal point of said spiral curvature is positioned inside said gutter and the end having a spiral curvature has sufficient size, shape and resilience to enable that end to grip the gutter lip.  
     
     
         3 . The hook of  claim 2  wherein the gutter is of the type in which the front wall has a flat portion extending from the lip toward the bottom and an inwardly curving section adjacent the flat portion and opposite the lip, wherein the hook at the second end defines a space of sufficient size to receive a rope light and wherein the elongated body and the hook are sized and configured so that when the spiral portion is over the lip the hook will be adjacent the inwardly curving section of the front wall of the gutter.  
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the hook at the second end defines a first space of sufficient size to receive a rope light and a second space of sufficient size to receive an electrical cord.  
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the holder is plastic selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyethylene and polypropylene.  
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 5  wherein the plastic is a clear plastic.  
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the hook at the second end has a distal portion that is adjacent to and spaced apart from at least one point on the front face of the end having a spiral curvature.  
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 7  wherein the hook at the second end is resilient and the distal portion is spaced apart from the front face of the end having a spiral curvature by a distance smaller than a diameter of the space defined by the hook to be of sufficient size to receive at least one of a decorative light socket, a rope light and an electric cord.  
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 7  also comprising a curved portion on a distal end of the hook that curves away from the front face of the end having a spiral curvature.  
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 7  wherein the front face of the end having a spiral curvature has a straight surface that includes the at least one point on the front face of the end having a spiral curvature, and the hook has a straight surface opposite the straight surface on the spiral end.  
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 10  also comprising at least one rib on the straight surface on the end having a spiral curvature.  
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 10  also comprising at least one rib on the straight surface of the hook.  
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 10  wherein the straight surfaces have a curvature across their width.  
     
     
         14 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the ribbon-shaped body and the hook are sized and configured so that when the holder is placed on a gutter having a front wall extending upwardly from a bottom the ribbon shaped body extends along the front wall to a point under the bottom.  
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the ribbon-shaped body and the hook are sized and configured so that when the holder is placed on a gutter having a front wall extending upwardly from a bottom at least one of the hook and the body together with a portion of the front wall define a space sized to receive a rope light.  
     
     
         16 . A holder for hanging decorative lights on a rail or post having at least one substantially flat side, the holder comprising: 
 a ribbon-shaped body having a front face, a rear face, and two ends;    one end having a spiral curvature with a proximal point adjacent to the body and a straight surface; and    a hook at the second end, the hook defining at least one space of sufficient size to receive at least one of a decorative light socket, a rope light and an electric cord, the hook having a distal end having a straight surface, wherein the straight surface of the hook and the straight surface of the end having a spiral curvature are opposite one another such that the two straight surfaces define an opening between the hook and the end having a spiral curvature.    
     
     
         17 . The holder of  claim 16  also comprising at least one rib on the straight surface on the end having a spiral curvature.  
     
     
         18 . The holder of  claim 16  also comprising at least one rib on the straight surface of the hook end.  
     
     
         19 . The holder of  claim 16  wherein the straight surfaces have a curvature across their width.