Fairy lights packaging

Abstract

Device (2) for packaging a string of lights (4) with - an axle (6) which is firmly fixed between two side parts (8) and - a sleeve (10) which is rotatably mounted on the axis (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for packaging a string of lights with an axis which is firmly fastened between two side parts (in particular flat, in particular planar and arranged at right angles to the axis) in order to form the shape of a cable drum.

[0002] Electric fairy lights are popular decorations during the Christmas season, both outdoors, for example in gardens or on buildings, and indoors, especially for decorating Christmas trees. Today, such fairy lights usually consist of cables with permanently attached low-voltage bulbs, which can be electrically connected to a plug-in power supply via the cable.

[0003] As packaging, initially for sale and then after purchase for storage after use, simple cardboard boxes are commonly used, into which the wound-up string of lights is placed.

[0004] More complex cable drums exist in which a sleeve is firmly attached between two side parts and can rotate on an axis - for winding up a string of lights, this can be rotated using a crank on the outside of one of the two side parts, while the rest of the cable drum is surrounded by a housing (usually with a handle and the axis firmly attached in the housing).

[0005] Somewhat less complex, there are cable reels with essentially nothing more than a sleeve, firmly attached between two side panels - for winding a string of lights around it by hand.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of creating a device for winding and packaging a string of lights that is as simple as possible to manufacture and yet easy to handle. This object is achieved by a device having the features of independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0007] The device according to the invention shown below is used for packaging a string of lights.

[0008] According to the invention, the device has an axle which is firmly attached between two (in particular flat, in particular level and arranged at right angles to the axle) side parts (in order to form the shape of a cable drum). However, the string of lights is not wound directly onto this (axis of the) cable drum, as is conventional. Instead, experience has shown that the device also has a sleeve which is rotatably mounted on the axle. A string of lights can then be wound onto this sleeve by grasping and holding at least one side part of the device with one hand and, for example with a finger of the other hand, rotating the sleeve on the axle between the side parts with the string of lights slowly winding up on it.

[0009] To attach the string of lights to the sleeve, it would only need to be arranged around one or a few windings on the sleeve in order to clamp itself in place.

[0010] The device could include a fastener for releasably securing one end of the string of lights. This fastener could, in particular, be designed as a hook. One end of a string of lights can be attached to this hook, which can then be wound onto the sleeve.

[0011] The side parts are preferably smooth-walled on the inside so that when the light chain is wound up and the resulting relative movement between the light chain and the inside of the side parts, the light chain does not get caught or snagged on uneven surfaces.

[0012] An additional advantage of the device according to the invention is that the axis can again be tubular and then surrounds an interior space which - as an additional packaging space, for example for a power supply unit (or another power supply) of the light chain - is accessible from the outside, in particular laterally from at least one end of the axis.

[0013] To simplify production and assembly, the axle and the side parts (preferably injection-molded from plastic (especially HDPE)) are connected to each other using snap-on connections. In general, the elements of the device (as well as the sleeve and / or, if applicable, the cover, for example, of the compartment inside the axle) are preferably injection-molded from plastic (especially HDPE).

[0014] To not only simplify the manufacture and assembly of the device, but also to make it suitable for packaging light chains of different lengths and / or light bulbs of different volumes, the device features a second axle and a second sleeve. These are interchangeable with the first axle and sleeve, each of which has a different length than the first axle and sleeve—as alternative system elements of a packaging system, so to speak. These can then be used to create a cable drum of a different width for winding up a different light chain, using the same side parts.

[0015] The device preferably has a band, particularly made of paper, cardboard, or plastic, which is designed to surround a string of lights wound on the sleeve over the entire circumferential surface between the side panels. This secures the wound string of lights against accidental unwinding. This even makes it possible to dispense with a film wrapping as outer sales packaging. Furthermore, a band made of cardboard or paper can be printed, for example, for advertising purposes. A plastic band is preferably slit in a tubular shape so that (due to the elasticity of its material) it can be snapped onto the circumferential surface between the side panels.

[0016] Further aspects, features, and technical advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the figures. The figures show embodiments of the invention in which the features depicted therein and described here are also individually inventive, detached from the respective illustrated embodiment - namely Fig. 1 is a schematic, exploded, spatial view of a device according to the invention and Fig. 2 a schematic, non-exploded, spatial view of the device according to the invention according to Fig. 1 with wound-up string of lights.

[0017] The device 2 shown in the figures and described below is used to package a string of lights 4.

[0018] As can be seen, the device 2 has an axle 6, which is firmly attached (in order to form the shape of a cable drum) between two flat, level side parts 8 arranged at right angles to the axle, namely snapped together therewith. Furthermore, the device 2 has a sleeve 10 that is rotatably mounted on the axle 6. This sleeve 10 has a hook 12 as a fastening means - for releasably attaching one end of the light chain 4. One end of the light chain 4 can be attached to this hook 12 in order to then wind it onto the sleeve 10. This is done, for example, by grasping and holding at least one side part 8 of the device 2 with one hand (not shown) and, for example, with a finger of the other hand (not shown), rotating the sleeve 10 on the axle 6 between the side parts 8 with the light chain 4 slowly winding thereon.

[0019] The side parts 8 have smooth walls on the inside so that when the light chain 4 is wound up and the resulting relative movement between the light chain and the inside of the side parts 8, the light chain does not get caught or jammed on uneven surfaces.

[0020] An additional advantage of the device 2 is that the axis 6 is again tubular and surrounds an interior space 14 which - as an additional packaging space for a power supply (not shown) of the light chain 4 - is accessible from the outside, namely laterally from one end of the axis 6 and closed there with a cover 16.

[0021] For easier production and assembly, the axle 6 and the side parts 8 are injection-molded from (HDPE) and connected to each other by snap connections 18. In general, the elements 6, 8, 10, 16 of the device 2 are injection-molded from HDPE.

[0022] In order to not only simplify the manufacture and assembly of the device 2, but also to adapt the device 2 to suit the packaging for light chains of different lengths (not shown) and / or different volumes of light bulbs (not shown), the device 2 is provided with a second axle 6' and a second sleeve 10', which, with a different length than the axle 6 and the sleeve 10, can be exchanged for these (the first axle 6 and sleeve 10) - as alternative system elements of a packaging system, so to speak. These can then be used to form a cable drum of a different width (not shown) for winding up a different light chain (not shown), using the same side parts 8.

[0023] Furthermore, the device 2 has a plastic band 18, which is designed to surround a string of lights 4 wound on the sleeve 10 over the entire circumferential surface between the side parts 8. This band can be used to secure a wound string of lights 4 against accidental unwinding. The band 18 is slit in a tubular shape so that it can be snapped onto the circumferential surface between the side parts 8 (due to the elasticity of its plastic material). List of reference symbols 2 Device 4 fairy lights 6 axis 8 Side panel 10 sleeves 12 hooks 14 Additional packaging space 16 lids 18 banderol

Claims

[1] Device (2) for packaging a string of lights (4) with - an axle (6) which is firmly fixed between two side parts (8) and - a sleeve (10) which is rotatably mounted on the axis (6). [2] Device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve (10) has a fastening means (12) for releasably fastening one end of a string of lights (4). [3] Device (2) according to claim 2, wherein the fastening means is a hook (12). [4] Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the side parts (8) have smooth walls on the inside. [5] Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the axis (6) surrounds a tubular interior (14) which (as a packaging space, for example for a power supply of the light chain (4)) is accessible from the outside (and in particular laterally from at least one end of the axis (6)). [6] Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the axis (6) and the side parts (8) are connected to one another by means of snap connections (18). [7] Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a second axle and a second sleeve which are interchangeable with the axle (6) and the sleeve (10) having a different length than the axle (6) and the sleeve (10) (in order to form a cable drum of a different width for winding up a different string of lights (4)). [8] Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elements of the device (2) are injection-molded from plastic. [9] Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, with a banderole (18) (in particular made of paper, cardboard or plastic) which is designed to surround a string of lights (4) wound on the sleeve (10) over the entire circumferential surface between the side parts (8).

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