Hanging ornament with central light, lenses, and spires

• US 20050231975A1
• Filed: 04/17/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deanna G. Bixler, Keith R. Bean, Kevin L. Bixler
• Original Assignee: Deanna G. Bixler, Keith R. Bean, Kevin L. Bixler
• Inventors: Bixler, Deanna G., Bixler, Kevin L., Bean, Keith R.
• Application Number:
  US10/826,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231975A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/565
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/08 Christmas tree decorations
• 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

Abstract

The present invention teaches a hanging ornament having a central core and a plurality of radiating spires. Each spire allows light to pass. An electrical cord having a plug suitable for connection to local electrical outlets leads to wiring within the core, which in turn provides electricity to a centrally located light bulb. Each spire is seated in a socket which connects one spire to the core. Lenses may advantageously be employed with the spires to focus the light. Light steps within the hollow spires may aid in light diffusion, for example by having surface areas in accordance with the inverse square law, or fiber optic bundles within the spires may serve the same purpose.

Claims

1. A hanging holiday ornament comprising:

an electrical cord having a plug at a first end, the electrical cord terminating at a light source at the second end;

a hollow core having a plurality of sockets and having disposed therein the light source;

a plurality of decoratively faceted light passing spires extending radially from the core;

each spire physically connected to one of the sockets.

2. The ornament of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light passing spires is furthermore hollow.

3. The ornament of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light passing spires extend from the core in at least two dimensions.

4. The ornament of claim 1, wherein the core further comprises an interior which reflects light.

5. The ornament of claim 3, wherein the core further comprises a first portion which may be removed to allow access to the light source.

6. A hanging holiday ornament comprising:

an electrical cord having a plug at a first end, the electrical cord terminating at a light source at the second end;

a hollow core having a plurality of sockets and having disposed therein the light source;

a plurality of light passing spires extending radially from the core;

each spire physically connected to one of the sockets; and

a plurality of lenses, at least one lens being disposed so as to focus light from the light source up at least one of the light passing spires.

7. The ornament of claim 6, wherein the at least one lens focuses light from the light source up the at least one light passing spire so as to increase the amount of light emitted by the portions of the spire further from the base.

8. The ornament of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of lenses is partially disposed within at least one of the light passing spires.

9. The ornament of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of lenses is partially disposed within at least one of the sockets.

10. The ornament of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of lenses is partially disposed within the hollow core.

11. The ornament of claim 6, wherein each light passing spire further comprises:

a plurality of light steps oriented so as to receive light from the light source via the hollow of the spire;

a plurality of facets, each facet oriented so as to receive light from at least one of the light steps.

12. The ornament of claim 11, wherein each one of the light steps has an area and a distance from the light source, and wherein the relative areas of the light steps are functions of relative distances from the light source.

13. The ornament of claim 12, wherein the relationship is the inverse square law.

14. The ornament of claim 6, wherein the spires are rigid.

15. The ornament of claim 6, wherein the spires are flexible.

16. The ornament of claim 6, wherein each spire is dimensioned and configured, and each socket is dimensioned and configured, such that each spire may be individually removed from the socket to which it is physically connected.

17. The ornament of claim 16, wherein the socket and spire base each have at least one notch and at least one tab which overlap when then the spire base is inserted into the socket and rotated.

18. The ornament of claim 6, wherein the exterior of the spires comprises a texture selected from the group consisting of:

smooth texture, faceted texture, knurled texture, straight grooved texture, spiraled grooved texture, and combinations thereof.

19. The ornament of claim 6, wherein the spires further comprise a material selected from the group consisting of:

clear polycarbonate, transparent colored polycarbonate, pearlescent polycarbonate, clear polymer, transparent colored polymer, translucent polymer, pearlescent polymer, clear glass, transparent colored glass, translucent glass, pearlescent glass, and combinations thereof.

20. The ornament of claim 19, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of clear hard PVC, acrylic, PETG, LDPE, HDPE, and combinations thereof.

21. The ornament of claim 6, wherein each spire further comprises:

at least one removable light passing sheath covering the exterior surface of the spire, wherein the light passing sheath is selected from the group consisting of;

clear polycarbonate, transparent colored polycarbonate, pearlescent polycarbonate, clear polymer, transparent colored polymer, translucent polymer, pearlescent polymer, clear glass, transparent colored glass, translucent glass, pearlescent glass, and combinations thereof.

22. The ornament of claim 6, wherein the light source is colored.

23. The ornament of claim 6, further comprising means for timed control of the electrical supply of the light source.

24. The ornament of claim 6, further comprising:

at least one electrically actuated sound device in operative connection to the electrical cord, whereby the device may make sound when in operation.

25. The ornament of claim 6, wherein a first one of the plurality of spires has a first length, and a second one of the plurality of spires has a second length.

26. The ornament of claim 6, further comprising a photoelectric control circuit regulating electrical supply to the light source based upon ambient light.

27. The ornament of claim 6, wherein the hollow core has a plurality of decorative exterior facets.

28. The ornament of claim 6, wherein at least one of the spires has a plurality of decorative exterior facets.

29. A hanging holiday ornament comprising:

an electrical cord having a plug at a first end, the electrical cord terminating at a light source at the second end;

a hollow core having a plurality of sockets and having disposed therein the light source;

a plurality of light passing spires extending radially from the core;

each spire physically connected to one of the sockets, and

at least one fiber optic bundle disposed within at least one such spire, the base of the fiber optic bundle located at the end of the spire located at the hollow core and disposed so as to receive light rays from the light source.