Mood lamp

• US 5,592,144 A
• Filed: 09/09/1994
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James W. Greene
• Original Assignee: James W. Greene
• Inventors: Greene, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/303,669
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 340/332, 340/691, 340/286.11, 434/236, 434/237, 434/238, 362/252, 362/806, 362/810, 362/811
• US Class Current: 340/332
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A lamp device for communicating moods between users having a base with a plurality of individually illuminatable elements extending from the base and two control units remote from the base for regulating the illumination of the elements. In a preferred embodiment, the illuminatable elements are in the form of five translucent flames of various heights containing two small electric bulbs at their bases for selectively producing colored illumination of each. Appropriate circuitry is disposed in the base member and connected to each of the external control units which may be used to activate the bulbs individually or collectively. The control units may each have five settings designed to supply power in a synchronized manner to the bulbs within the flame elements. Two persons involved in using the lamp for communication each operate a respective control unit which may be concealed, if desired, and by which a level of illumination may be selected to indicate, for instance, the level of interest of the user. When the user couple fails to synchronize their "levels", there is no illumination, but, upon synchronization, a flame of an appropriate color will light up, e.g., if level 1, a blue bulb illuminates the shortest flame. If both select level 2, a yellow bulb may illuminate the next flame in height; level 3, the next highest flame may glow orange; and at level 4, the next highest flame turns pink. At level 5, all of the flames light up in a lush red. Each level may be assigned specific understood psychological definitions that identify the mood or attitude of the users.

Claims

1. A lamp device for non-verbally communicating moods and sexual feelings between two persons, said lamp device comprising:

a base member;

a first elongated illuminatable element projecting from said base member, formed to define a length;

a second elongated illuminatable element projecting from said base member, formed to define a length greater than the length of said first illuminatable element;

at least one elongated intermediate illuminatable element, projecting from said base member, formed to define a length between the length of said first illuminatable element and the length of said second illuminatable element;

a plurality of illuminatable first electric bulbs, each having a different color, one said first electric bulb being disposed within each of said illuminatable elements;

a plurality of illuminatable second electric bulbs, all having a single color, one said second electric bulb being disposed within each of said illuminatable elements; and

two separate control means for selectively illuminating the electric bulbs, each said control means being disposed remotely from said base member and connected to the electric bulbs, and each said control means having a plurality of selective settings including a lowest setting, at least one intermediate setting, and a highest setting, each said intermediate setting corresponding to one said intermediate illuminatable element, where the selection of said lowest setting on each said control means illuminates said first electric bulb within said first illuminatable element, the selection of one said intermediate setting on each said control means illuminates said first electric bulb within said corresponding intermediate illuminatable element, and the selection of said highest setting on each said control means illuminates said second electric bulbs within all said illuminatable elements, whereby the illumination of each said illuminatable element non-verbally communicates a mood and sexual feeling.

2. A lamp device as in claim 1, wherein said illuminatable elements comprise members in the form of flames.

3. A lamp device as in claim 1, wherein said illuminatable elements comprise members of a material selected from the group consisting of acrylic and crystal.