USER-ACTUATED LIGHTING EFFECT DEVICE

• US 20140077723A1
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael John Ahern
• Original Assignee: Michael John Ahern
• Inventors: Ahern, Michael John
• Granted Patent: US 9,185,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/299
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 17/00 Apparatus for performing colour-music
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/00 Details of electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/348 Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/146 using a membrane, e.g. a drum; Pick-up means for vibrating surfaces, e.g. housing of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations

Abstract

A user-actuated lighting effect device includes a housing, a light-generating lamp coupled to the housing, a power source, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a user-actuated switch operably coupling the lamp and the power source. The lamp creates a lighting effect on or near the user when the first switch is on. The housing can be mounted in a use orientation on a pedal board. The lamp can create an upwardly directed lighting effect. An operational mode can be selected using a lighting mode switch.

Claims

1. A user-actuated lighting effect device, comprising:

a housing;

a light-generating lamp coupled to the housing;

a power source;

a control circuit including a user-actuated switch operably coupling the lamp and the power source, the switch placeable in an off state to electrically isolate the lamp from the power source and in an on state to electrically connect the lamp to the power source; and

the lamp creating a lighting effect on or near the user when the switch is in the on state.

2. The lighting effect device according to claim 1, wherein the lamp creates upwardly directed lighting effect.

3. The lighting effect device according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a remotely actuated switch.

4. The lighting effect device according to claim 1, wherein the switch as a user-actuated foot switch on the housing.

5. The lighting effect device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a standalone housing.

6. The lighting effect device according to claim 1, wherein the lamp is an integral part of a pedal board housing.

7. The lighting effect device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises pedal board attachment structure, the housing mountable in a use orientation on a pedal board by the pedal board attachment structure.

8. The lighting effect device according to claim 1, wherein the lamp comprises a multi-color lamp.

9. The lighting effect device according to claim 8, further comprising a second user-actuated, color-select switch operably coupled to the multi-color lamp allowing the performer to select the color of light created by the multi-color lamp.

10. The lighting effect device according to claim 8, further comprising a user-actuated mode switch operably coupled to the multi-color lamp allowing the performer to select from at least the following lighting effects:

different colored lighting effects, a strobe lighting effect, a fader lighting effect, and a lighting effect affected by an audio signal to the control circuit.

11. The lighting effect device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a microcontroller operably coupling the user-actuated switch to the lamp, the microcontroller providing lighting signals to the lamp according to inputs to the microcontroller.

12. The lighting effect device according to claim 11, wherein the microcontroller comprises a microphone input, and further comprising a microphone operably coupled to the microphone input so that microphone signals applied to the microphone input affects the lighting signals provided by the microcontroller to the lamp.

13. The lighting effect device according to claim 11, wherein the microcontroller comprises a computer input so that instructions applied to the computer input affects the lighting signals provided by the microcontroller to the lamp.

14. The lighting effect device according to claim 13, wherein the computer input comprises a USB socket.

15. The lighting effect device according to claim 13, wherein the computer input comprises a wireless computer input.

16. A method for providing a performer with upwardly directed illumination comprising:

placing a foot-actuated lighting effect device on a support surface at a location adjacent to an area where a performer will be during a performance, the foot-actuated lighting effect device comprising a lamp for selectively creating an upwardly directed lighting effect on or near the performer, a lighting mode switch and a performer-actuated first foot switch, the lighting mode switch comprising a plurality of operational modes;

selecting an operational mode using the lighting mode switch;

operating, by the performer, the foot switch to selectively place the device in the selected operational mode; and

creating a lighting effect on or near the performer by the lamp according to the selected operational mode.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising operating, by the performer, a second foot switch to change the color of the light from the lamp.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising operating, by the performer, the mode switch allowing the performer to select at least the following operational modes:

different colored lighting effects, a strobe lighting effect, a fader lighting effect, and a lighting effect affected by an audio signal.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the placing step is carried out with the lighting effect device being an integral part of a pedal board.