TOY WITH ELECTRO-LUMINESCENT WIRE

• US 20070032319A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: i3Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: i3Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Tufte, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1048 with lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1872 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/20 for water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00

Abstract

A lighting apparatus is disclosed for providing illumination to an object or surface. In one illustrative embodiment, the light apparatus is used to help improve the visibility of a vehicle by providing illumination to at least part of the vehicle. In other illustrative embodiments, the light apparatus may be used to provide illumination for other objects or equipment including, for example, docks, retail and/or store shelving and/or equipment, bars, desks, counters, walls, railings, steps, and/or any other object or surface, as desired. In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus includes a bumper. When so provided, the lighting apparatus may help provide a level of protection to objects and/or surfaces that are subject to bumping, sliding or other abuse. In other illustrative embodiments, the lighting apparatus may be used to increase the visual appeal of an object or surface, such as a wall, a toy, an appliance or any other object, as desired.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a toy body;

an elongated electroluminescent wire for emitting light when activated, the electroluminescent wire extending along at least part of the toy body such that light emitted by the electroluminescent wire is visible to the user of the toy; and

an inverter for activating the electroluminescent wire.

2. The toy according to claim 1 wherein the inverter is situated within the toy body.

3. The toy according to claim 1 wherein the elongated electroluminescent wire comprises:

a core wire;

an electroluminescent material situated about the core wire;

one or more conductors extending about the electroluminescent material, wherein when an alternating voltage is applied between the core wire and the one or more conductors via the inverter, the electroluminescent material is excited to produce light; and

a polymer sleeve situated about the elongated electroluminescent light source.

4. The toy according to claim 1 further comprises a power source situated within the toy body for providing power to the inverter.

5. The toy according to claim 1 further comprising a switch for selectively activating the electroluminescent wire.

6. The toy according to claim 1 further comprises a controller for controlling the activation of the electroluminescent wire.

7. The toy according to claim 6 wherein the controller causes the electroluminescent wire to blink on and off.

8. The toy according to claim 6 wherein the controller causes the electroluminescent wire to be activated by a movement of the toy.

9. The toy according to claim 6 wherein the controller causes the electroluminescent wire to be activated when the toy is brought within a distance of another similarly equipped toy.

10. The toy according to claim 1 wherein the toy is a toy sword.

11. The toy according to claim 1 wherein the toy is a toy vehicle.

12. The toy according to claim 1 wherein the toy is a board game.

13. The toy according to claim 1 wherein the toy is a stuffed animate object.

14. A toy comprising:

an elongated electroluminescent wire for emitting light along at least part of its length when activated;

a toy body;

an elongated cavity extending along at least part of the toy body, the elongated cavity is adapted to receive at least part of the electroluminescent wire such that when the at least part of the electroluminescent wire is received by the elongated cavity at least some of the light emitted by the electroluminescent wire is visible to the user of the toy; and

an inverter for activating the electroluminescent wire.

15. The toy according to claim 14 wherein at least part of the toy body includes a rigid outer shell.

16. The toy according to claim 14 wherein at least part of the toy body includes a flexible outer shell.

17. The toy according to claim 16 wherein the electroluminescent wire extends out of the outer shell of the toy body, into the elongated cavity and around at least part of the toy body.

18. The toy according to claim 14 wherein the cavity is at least partially defined by a transparent or semi-transparent material.

19. The toy according to claim 18 wherein the cavity is at least partially defined by a non-transparent material.

20. The toy according to claim 14 wherein the cavity has an open side.

21. The toy according to claim 14 wherein the cavity is a lumen.

22. A toy comprising:

an elongated electroluminescent wire for emitting light along at least part of its length when activated;

a toy body having a flexible outer shell;

an elongated cavity extending along at least part of the toy body, wherein the elongated cavity is adapted to receive at least part of the electroluminescent wire such that when the at least part of the electroluminescent wire is received by the elongated cavity, at least some of the light emitted by the electroluminescent wire is visible to the user of the toy, and wherein the electroluminescent wire extends out of the outer shell of the toy body, into the elongated cavity and around at least part of the toy body;

an inverter situated within the toy body and electrically coupled to the electroluminescent wire; and

a power source situated within the toy body for providing power to the inverter.

23. The toy according to claim 22 wherein the electroluminescent wire travels along a path that extends in two-dimensions.

24. The toy according to claim 22 wherein the electroluminescent wire travels along a path that extends in three-dimensions.

25. A toy comprising:

a toy body having an outer shell;

an elongated electroluminescent wire for emitting light when activated, the electroluminescent wire extending out through the outer shell and around at least part of the toy body;

an inverter situated in the toy body for activating the electroluminescent wire;

a power source situated in the toy body for providing power to the inverter; and

a switch for selectively providing power from the power source to the inverter.

26. The toy according to claim 25 wherein at least part of the outer shell is rigid.

27. The toy according to claim 25 wherein at least part of the outer shell is flexible.

28. The toy according to claim 27 wherein the toy is a stuffed animate object having a neck.

29. The toy according to claim 28 wherein the electroluminescent wire extends out through the outer shell and around at least a majority of the neck of the stuffed animate object.

30. A toy comprising:

a toy body having a handle and an elongated member having an outer shell that extends out from the handle, the elongated member having a length and an elongated cavity that extends along at least part of the length of the elongated member;

an elongated electroluminescent wire for emitting light when activated, the electroluminescent wire extending along at least part of the elongated cavity, at least part of the elongated cavity being defined by a transparent or semi-transparent material that extends to an outer surface of the elongated member such that at least some of the light emitted by the electroluminescent wire is visible to the user of the toy;

an inverter for activating the electroluminescent wire; and

a power source for providing power either directly or indirectly to the inverter.

31. The toy according to claim 30 further comprising a switch for selectively connecting the power source to the inverter.

32. The toy according to claim 30 wherein the outer shell is rigid.

33. The toy according to claim 30 wherein at least part of the outer shell is flexible.

34. The toy according to claim 30 wherein at least part of the outer shell is flexible.

35. The toy according to claim 30 wherein the elongated cavity has an open side.

36. The toy according to claim 30 wherein the cavity is a lumen.

37. The toy according to claim 30 further comprises a controller for controlling the activation of the electroluminescent wire.

38. The toy according to claim 37 wherein the controller causes the electroluminescent wire to blink on and off.

39. The toy according to claim 37 wherein the controller causes the electroluminescent wire to be activated by a movement of the toy.

40. The toy according to claim 37 wherein the controller causes the electroluminescent wire to be activated when the toy is brought within a distance of another similarly equipped toy.

41. The toy according to claim 30 wherein the inverter and the power source are situated within the toy body.

42. A toy, comprising:

an elongated electroluminescent wire; and

a toy body, the toy body having an elongated cavity extending along at least a portion of the toy body for receiving the elongated electroluminescent wire.

43. The toy according to claim 42 wherein the electroluminescent wire travels along a path that extends in two-dimensions.

44. The toy according to claim 42 wherein the electroluminescent wire travels along a path that extends in three-dimensions.

45. The toy according to claim 42 wherein the cavity is at least partially defined by a material that is at least partially transparent.

46. The toy according to claim 42 wherein the toy body has an outer shell and at least part of the outer shell is rigid.

47. The toy according to claim 42 wherein the toy body has an outer shell and at least part of the outer shell is flexible.

48. The toy according to claim 42 wherein the cavity has an open side.

49. The toy according to claim 42 wherein the cavity is a lumen.