Ornament with backlit film image

• US 10,139,058 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Santiago
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Santiago
• Inventors: Santiago, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B
• Application Number:
  US15/295,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20170027361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/0827 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/0836 comprising means for attaching to a lamp or candle holder, e.g. reflectors, lamp shades
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/04 rigid F21V1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/143 The cover being attached to a supporting lampshade frame
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/104 using feather joints, e.g. tongues and grooves, with or without friction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/04 Optical design
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/045 with spherical surface
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0413 Frames or casing structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0481 Signs, boards or panels having a curved shape

Abstract

An ornament with a backlit film image having a curved substrate with a smooth surface and an at least partially transparent portion viewable therethrough when backlit. The backlit film image includes a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface, wherein one of the flat top surface or the flat bottom surface is positioned flush against the smooth surface of the curved substrate when the backlit film image is removably coupled thereto. A first end cap and a second end cap are configured to receive and retain a portion of the substrate such that the first and second end caps and the substrate support one another into a substantially upright position to define an enclosure. An insert removably engages one of the first or second end caps and includes an aperture having a size and shape for compression-fit engagement with a light source.

Claims

1. An ornament, comprising:

a substantially rigid and upright frame generally forming a plurality of open frame sections each having a smooth inner surface and framing a respective viewing region;

at least one transparent outer lens having a smooth outer surface and a smooth inner surface, the smooth outer surface being positioned flush against the smooth inner surface of one of the open frame sections;

at least one backlit film image having a flat top surface positioned flush against the smooth inner surface of the at least one transparent outer lens and substantially aligned within the framed viewing region of one of the open frame sections for viewing;

at least one transparent inner lens having a smooth outer surface configured for flush engagement with a flat bottom surface of the backlit film image; and

at least one retainer cap configured to selectively receive and retain at least a portion of the frame to define an enclosure with the at least one backlit film image positioned therein and viewable within respective viewing region.

2. The ornament of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a set of lens tabs inwardly projecting between adjoining open frame sections.

3. The ornament of claim 1, including a substantially rigid and upright internal frame having a smooth outer surface configured for flush engagement with a flat bottom surface of the at least one transparent inner lens.

4. The ornament of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a prismatic shape formed by interconnection of the plurality of open frame sections.

5. The ornament of claim 4, including a pyramid-shaped reflector coupled to the frame opposite the at least one retainer cap and positioned to reflect light from a light source onto the backlit film image.

6. The ornament of claim 5, wherein the pyramid-shaped reflector includes a baffle vent and an interior surface coated with a reflective material.

7. The ornament of claim 4, wherein the at least one retainer cap comprises a triangular shape.

8. The ornament of claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent outer lens comprises multiple transparent outer lenses, the at least one backlit film image comprises multiple backlit film images, and the at least one transparent inner lens comprises multiple transparent inner lenses, one for each for the plurality of open frame sections.

9. The ornament of claim 8, wherein each of the multiple transparent outer lenses interconnect into a transparent outer lens assembly and each of the multiple transparent inner lenses separately interconnect into a transparent inner lens assembly.

10. The ornament of claim 9, wherein the transparent inner lens assembly has a size and shape to selectively slide within the transparent outer lens assembly.

11. The ornament of claim 1, including a plug insertable into the at least one retainer cap in non-rotatable compression-fit engagement therewith.

12. The ornament of claim 11, including a light source positioned within the enclosure and associated with the plug, the light source being fixed in non-rotatable relation relative to the plug.

13. The ornament of claim 1, wherein the at least one retainer cap comprises an upper retainer cap and a lower retainer cap, each of which include a respective channel therein.

14. The ornament of claim 13, including a plurality of engagement projections within each of the channels in the upper and lower retainer caps, the projections configured for select engagement with a respective set of receptacles formed in the frame.

15. The ornament of claim 13, wherein at least one of the upper or lower retainer caps is permanently attached to the frame.

16. The ornament of claim 13, wherein at least one of the upper or lower retainer caps is integrally formed with the frame.

17. An ornament, comprising:

a substantially rigid and upright frame generally including a plurality of open frame sections each having a smooth inner surface and framing a respective viewing region;

at least one backlit film image having a flat top surface capable of being positioned flush against the smooth inner surface of one of the plurality of open frame sections;

a set of lens tabs inwardly projecting between adjoining open frame sections and including at least one pinch point therein for positioning the at least one backlit film image in a position viewable within the respective viewing region; and

at least one cap configured for select engagement with at least a portion of the frame to define an enclosure with the at least one backlit film image positioned therein.

18. The ornament of claim 17, wherein the set of lens tabs comprise at least two upper lens tabs and at least two lower lens tabs.

19. The ornament of claim 18, including a respective vertical lens tab positioned between a respective one of the at least two upper lens tabs and one of the at least two lower lens tabs.

20. The ornament of claim 19, wherein the upper and lower lens tabs project inwardly a relatively greater distance than the vertical lens tabs.

21. The ornament of claim 17, including at least one transparent outer lens having a smooth outer surface and a smooth inner surface, the smooth outer surface being positioned flush against the smooth inner surface of one of the open frame sections and the smooth inner surface being positioned flush and co-planar with the flat top surface of the at least one backlit film image.

22. The ornament of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of a vertical edge of the at least one transparent outer lens engages within the at least one pinch point in compression-fit engagement therein.

23. The ornament of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of a vertical edge of the backlit film image resides in compression-fit engagement between one of the inwardly projecting lens tabs and the transparent outer lens.

24. The ornament of claim 21, including at least one transparent inner lens having a smooth outer surface configured for flush engagement with a flat bottom surface of the backlit film image and positioned within the pinch point to suspend the backlit film image therein in sandwiched relationship with the at least one transparent outer lens.

25. The ornament of claim 24, wherein the backlit film image comprises a shape different than the shape of the at least one transparent outer lens or the at least one transparent inner lens.

26. The ornament of claim 17, including multiple of the at least one transparent outer lenses connected together forming an outer lens assembly and including multiple of the at least one transparent inner lenses connected together forming an inner lens assembly, the outer lens assembly having a size and shape to encompass the inner lens assembly.

27. The ornament of claim 17, wherein each of the lens tabs form an angle between 20 and 40 degrees relative to the respective open frame section.

28. The ornament of claim 17, wherein each of the lens tabs form an angle between 35 and 55 degrees relative to the respective open frame section.

29. The ornament of claim 17, wherein the frame comprises a prismatic shape formed by interconnection of the plurality of open frame sections.

30. The ornament of claim 17, including a pyramid-shaped reflector extending inwardly into the frame and generally positioned opposite the at least one cap, the reflector having a baffle vent and an interior surface coated with a reflective material that reflects light from a light source onto the backlit film image.

31. The ornament of claim 17, including a plug insertable into the at least one cap in non-rotatable compression-fit engagement therewith.

32. The ornament of claim 17, wherein the at least one cap comprises an upper cap and a lower cap, each having a respective channel with a plurality of projections therein for engaging a reciprocal plurality of engagement receptacles in the frame.