Outdoor lighting fixture providing audio and visual effects

• US 5,980,056 A
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West, Mark
• Original Assignee: West, Mark
• Inventors: West, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOPPER, TODD R
• Application Number:
  US08/919,970
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 362/253, 362/86, 362/404, 362/408, 84/402, 84/403, 84/404, 84/102
• US Class Current: 362/86
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/06 Hanging lustres for chandeliers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 1/066 the sounding member being a tube, plate or rod

Abstract

An outdoor lighting fixture for providing coordinated visual and audio effects which includes a first housing adapted to be carried by a ceiling support, an electric light source mounted in the housing for directing light downwardly therefrom and a plurality of chime members, preferably tubular in configuration, depending from the housing in a laterally spaced array within the area below the light source. Upon activation of the light source in a light breeze, the chime members will contact one another to provide the melodic audio effect of a wind chime while their movement below the light source creates a moving shadow effect on the floor below having a tempo corresponding to that of the melodic audio effect created by the contacting chime elements.

Claims

1. A light fixture adapted to be mounted on an outdoor ceiling support for providing coordinated visual and audio effects, said fixture comprising:

a first housing adapted to be carried by the ceiling support;

a light source mounted in said housing for directing light downwardly therefrom and illuminating an area below said housing; and

a plurality of depending chime members disposed in a laterally spaced array within said area below said light source such that upon such light source being activated, said chime members cooperate with said source to provide decorative shadows therebelow and upon said chime members being moved into contact with one another, said shadows are caused to move at a rate corresponding to the tempo of the audio effects created by the contacting chime members.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the chime members are defined by a corresponding plurality of tubular elements to allow for the passage of light therethrough.

3. The light fixture of claim 1 including a decorative outer housing disposed about and extending below said first housing so as to conceal at least a portion of said first housing and said light source.

4. The light fixture of claim 1 including at least one cord extending between said chime members and said first housing for suspending said chime members from said housing in a laterally spaced disposition and including a decorative housing disposed about and extending below said first housing so as to conceal a portion of said cord member.

5. A light fixture adapted to be mounted on an outdoor ceiling support for providing coordinated visual and audio effects:

said fixture comprising a first housing adapted to be carried by the ceiling support;

a light source mounted in said first housing for directing a light downwardly therefrom and illuminating an area below said housing;

a plurality of tubular chime members depending from said housing in a laterally spaced array within said area below said light source; and

a decorative housing disposed about and extending below said first housing whereby upon said light source being activated and said chime members being moved into contact with one another by a breeze, a decorative moving shadow pattern is formed below said fixture, said pattern moving at a rate corresponding to the tempo of the audio effects created by the contacting chime members.