Christmas tree lighting control

• US 4,678,926 A
• Filed: 02/05/1986
• Issued: 07/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Davis
• Original Assignee: George Davis
• Inventors: Davis, George B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ip, Shik Luen Paul
• Application Number:
  US06/826,369
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 307/31, 307/34, 307/35, 307/30, 307/28, 307/38, 307/112, 307/113, 307/114, 307/115, 307/116, 307/117, 307/132 R, 307/132 E, 200/27 BA, 200/27 BB, 200/38 B, 200/38 D, 315/185 R, 315/185 S, 315/186, 315/187, 315/150-159, 338/89
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

This invention relates generally to ornamental lighting controls and particularly to a lighting control for Christmas tree lighting having preferably at least four duty cycle outputs and wherein the duty cycle pattern of each output differs, with respect to a predetermined time interval, from the duty cycle pattern of each of the other outputs of the control thereby to produce, in a plurality of ornamental lighting strings respectively connected to the outputs of the control, a coordinated condition of continuously changing light intensities between strings that occur in predetermined sequential time differing order to result in an overall lighting effect totally unobtainable by any other form of light controlling apparatus.

The present device is an improvement over applicant'"'"'s U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,057,735 and 4,125,781, by providing a mechanism responsive to light intensity changes rather than rubbing resistance surfaces thereby a mechanism substantially free of wear or changes in operational characteristics as the result of wear.

Claims

1. An ornamental lighting control including in combination, a plurality of solid state duty cycle units having a common input and respectively variable duty cycle outputs, connector means respectively connected to each unit'"'"'s output for connecting thereto an ornamental lighting source with the duty cycle of the output determining the light output intensity of a lighting source connected therewith, an RC gating circuit included in each duty cycle unit and wherein the resistance value of the gating circuit resistor determines the duty cycle of the unit and output thereof, a plurality of photoelectric cells with each of said cells being respectively connected within the RC gating circuitry of each of said duty cycle units and responsive individually to varying light intensities applied thereto vary respectively in resistance as required to effect corresponding duty cycle changes in its associate duty cycle unit and output thereof, light applying means positioned to apply light respectively to each of said cells, light control means operable to effect random like occurring variations in the light as respectively applied to each of said cells whereby the applied varying light pattern between cells differ one from the other for a predetermined operating interval of said light control means and a variable resistor respectively connected in parallel with each of said photoelectric cells and manually adjustable in resistance to vary selectively the duty cycle of its related duty cycle unit and output thereof.

2. An ornamental lighting control for Christmas tree lighting including in combination, a plurality of solid state duty cycle units each having a common input and respectively variable duty cycle outputs, connector means respectively connected to each unit'"'"'s output for connecting thereto an ornamental lighting source, an RC gating circuit included in each duty cycle unit and wherein the gating circuit resistor determines the duty cycle of the unit and output thereof, a plurality of photoelectric cells with each of said cells being respectively connected within the RC gating circuitry of each of said duty cycle units and responsive to changing light intensity variations applied respectively thereto to vary respectively in resistance as required to effect corresponding like variations in the duty cycle of its related duty cycle unit and output thereof, light applying means positioned to apply light respectively to each of said photoelectric cells, motor means, means movable by said motor means to effect random like variations in the light as applied respectively to the cells whereby the varying light pattern as applied to each of said cells differ between cells one from the other for a predetermined operating interval of said motor means and a variable resistor respectively connected in parallel with each photoelectric cell and manually adjustable in resistance to vary selectively the duty cycle of its related duty cycle unit and output thereof.