Device for holding decorative string lights
View Patent ↗A device for holding a string-like member, such as a holiday decorative string light, includes a housing with an inside member for winding the string-like member thereabout, and multiple hangers extending outwardly from the housing. A string light, such as a rope light may be wound about the inside member of the housing, and an icicle light string or a net light can be supported from the hangers by winding externally about the housing.
1. A device for holding a string member, comprising:
a) a housing including a sidewall and an internal recess;
b) an inside member positioned in said internal recess;
c) a plurality of hangers extending outwardly from said housing;
d) said internal recess including upper and lower portions; and
e) said lower portion of said recess defined by said inside member and said sidewall being undivided to accommodate a string member.
2. The holding device of claim 1 , wherein:
a) said housing includes a bottom; and
b) said inside member extends from said bottom.
3. The holding device of claim 2 , wherein:
a) said housing includes a side opening for guiding the string member therethrough to be wound about said inside member.
4. The holding device of claim 3 , wherein:
a) said inside member is integrally formed with said housing.
5. The holding device of claim 3 , wherein:
a) said inside member is generally bell-shaped.
6. The holding device of claim 1 , wherein:
a) said housing includes upper and lower end portions; and
b) said hangers are disposed on said housing closer to said upper end portion than said lower end portion thereof;
c) whereby an icicle light string can be supported on said housing by winding about said upper end portion thereof in a manner that icicle-lights hang from said hangers.
7. The holding device of claim 6 , wherein:
a) one of said hangers is at least one inch in length.
8. The holding device of claim 6 , wherein:
a) one of said hangers includes a free curved end portion for securing the icicles thereon.
9. The holding device of claim 8 , wherein:
a) three of said hangers are angularly equilaterally spaced from one another and extend from the exterior of said housing.
10. The holding device of claim 8 , wherein:
(a) six of said hangers are angularly equilaterally spaced from one another and extend from the exterior of said housing.
11. The holding device of claim 8 , wherein:
a) said housing is generally cylindrical in shape.
12. The holding device of claim 1 , wherein:
a) said housing includes a recess for receiving an end of the string member.
13. The holding device of claim 1 , in combination with an enclosure for storing the device.
14. A device for holding a light string, comprising:
a) a generally cylindrical housing including a side opening for guiding a first light string thereinto; and
b) said housing including an inside bottom projection for winding the first string thereabout for storage;
c) a plurality of angularly equilaterally spaced hangers extending outwardly from the exterior of said housing for holding a second light string; and
d) the second light string including a plurality of icicle-light strands connected to a common strand;
e) whereby the second light string can be wound about said housing in a manner that the common strand is supported on said hangers and the icicle-light strands hang freely therefrom.
15. The holding device of claim 14 , in combination with an enclosure for storing the device.
16. The holding device of claim 15 , wherein:
a) said enclosure includes an inside member for immobilizing the device within said enclosure.
17. The containment unit of claim 16 wherein:
a) said enclosure includes a bottom; and
b) said inside member extends from said bottom.
18. The containment unit of claim 17 , wherein:
a) said inside member is integrally formed with said enclosure.
19. The containment unit of claim 17 , wherein:
a) said device includes a recess for receiving said inside member.
20. The containment unit of claim 19 , wherein:
a) said recess is generally bell-shaped.
21. The containment unit of claim 15 , wherein:
a) said enclosure includes a shipping container reusable as a storage container.