MULTIPURPOSE COUPLING FOR CONNECTING DECORATIONS TO A STAKE

摘要

A decorative lighting arrangement includes a support, especially a stake driven into the ground, and a lighting fixture including a socket and a light bulb mounted in the socket. A coupling connects the lighting fixture to the support so that the light bulb and at least a predominant portion of the socket are disposed upwardly of an upper region of the support to be visible thereat. The coupling includes a coupling element forming an integral part of the support, and a coupling portion connected with the socket. The coupling element includes a platform and an upstanding rim peripherally surrounding a portion of the platform. The coupling portion at least frictionally engages the platform and the rim of the coupling element to retain the lighting fixture in position on the support. The rim of the coupling element includes respective open-ended slots for the passage of electric wires of the lighting fixture. The surfaces bounding such slots frictionally engage the wires to obtain the retaining effect. The coupling portion may include a generally hook-shaped projection integral with and extending upwardly from the bottom portion of the housing to be introduced into an opening of the rim to engage the latter. Alternatively, a decorative element has the lighting fixture mounted thereon and includes a base that constitutes the coupling portion. The base includes a bottom wall and two upstanding lateral walls flanking the bottom wall at its opposite sides. The rim of the coupling element has a cantilevered portion that overhangs the platform and bounds therewith a channel for receiving, guiding and frictionally engaging the lateral walls of the base.