Light Winding Apparatus

Abstract

A light winding apparatus that may be used to wind strands of holiday lighting, extension cords, and the like for compact, convenient, and organized storage is described. The light winding apparatus may also be used to unwind/redeploy the wound strands of lighting and the like. The apparatus may also be used to wind/store and/or unwind/deploy other similarly oriented materials, including ropes, twines, cords, wires, garlands, etc. The apparatus is designed to allow releasing of the wound light strand from the apparatus so that the apparatus may be re-used for winding additional light strands.

1 . An apparatus for winding light strands, comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end;   a first jaw attached to the body at the first end;   a second jaw attached to the body at the second end, wherein the second jaw is an openable jaw for releasing light strands after they have been wound on the apparatus without removing a portion of the apparatus so that the apparatus may be re-used for winding additional light strands and for unwinding wound light strands; and   a handle attached to the body between the first jaw and the second jaw.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body is elongate between the first jaw and the second jaw. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first jaw in an openable jaw. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle is attached to the body at a midpoint of the body. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle is attached to the body at a location offset from a midpoint of the body. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle is rotatably attached to the body. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle is selectively rotatably attached to the body. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the handle is selectively fixable at two rotational locations relative to the body. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the two rotational locations are in-line with the body. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second jaw comprises:
 a fixed jaw member; and   a moveable jaw member, wherein the moveable jaw member is selectively moveable to open the openable jaw.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw comprises a light strand channel configured to receive and secure a light strand to permit the light strand to be wound around the apparatus. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a securing means channel configured to receive a means for securing a light strand, wherein the means for securing a light strand is inserted into the securing means channel and is secured about the light strand wound on the apparatus. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the securing means channel is located in the first jaw. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a securing means storage located on the body. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a finger hole located on one of the first jaw and the second jaw for rotating the apparatus during winding and unwinding light strands. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for winding light strands, comprising:
 an elongate body having a first end and a second end;   a fixed jaw attached to the elongate body at the first end;   an openable jaw attached to the elongate body at the second end for releasing light strands after they have been wound on the apparatus without removing a portion of the apparatus so that the apparatus may be re-used for winding additional light strands and for unwinding wound light strands; and   a handle selectively rotatably attached to the elongate body between the fixed jaw and the openable jaw.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the openable jaw comprises:
 a fixed jaw member; and   a moveable jaw member, wherein the moveable jaw member is selectively moveable to open the openable jaw.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the fixed jaw further comprises:
 a light strand channel within the fixed jaw configured to receive and secure a light strand to permit the light strand to be wound around the apparatus; and   a securing means channel substantially perpendicularly crossing the light strand channel within the fixed jaw and configured to receive a means for securing a light strand, wherein the means for securing a light strand is inserted into the securing means channel and is secured about the light strand wound on the apparatus.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the moveable jaw member is configured to open the openable jaw by being pulled downward and rotated. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for winding light strands, comprising:
 an elongate body having a first end and a second end;   a fixed jaw attached to the elongate body at the first end comprising:
 a light strand channel within the fixed jaw configured to receive and secure a light strand to permit the light strand to be wound around the apparatus; and 
 a securing means channel substantially perpendicularly crossing the light strand channel within the fixed jaw and configured to receive a means for securing a light strand, wherein the means for securing a light strand is inserted into the securing means channel and is secured about the light strand wound on the apparatus. 
   an openable jaw attached to the elongate body at the second end for releasing light strands after they have been wound on the apparatus without removing a portion of the apparatus so that the apparatus may be re-used for winding additional light strands and for unwinding wound light strands, the openable jaw comprising:
 a fixed jaw member; and 
 a moveable jaw member that is selectively moveable to open the openable jaw; and 
   a handle selectively rotatably attached to the elongate body between the fixed jaw and the openable jaw.