Illuminated ornamental apparatus

• US 6,174,072 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald D. Root Jr
• Original Assignee: Donald D. Root Jr
• Inventors: Root, Donald D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/466,331
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 362/157, 362/190, 362/189, 362/800, 362/806, 362/278, 362/253, 362/122, 362/230, 362/231, 362/191, 362/200, 362/201, 362/254, 313/501, 404/44, 405/64, 405/71, 405/74
• US Class Current: 362/190
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An illuminated ornamental apparatus for decorating gift packages or other objects consisting of a bow that has an LED integrated within it. The LED is powered by a small battery encased in a housing, forming an LED assembly. A switch to turn the LED on and off is located on the outside of the housing in a manner to allow the LED to be switched on just prior to presentation of the gift package. The best results are achieved when the bow is made using either translucent (semi-opaque) or reflective (metallic) polypropylene ribbon materials of various colors, sizes, or configurations to create a multitude of unique and distinctive bows. The LED assembly may be integrated into the bow in several different ways. In one embodiment the housing is located below the bow. A small hole in the bottom of the bow allows the LED to extend up into the mid internal area of the bow, where the light from the LED can reflect or pass through the various loops of bow material as well as through spaces between the loops of bow material. Affixed to the bottom of the housing is a means to attach the illuminated bow to the gift package or other object.

Claims

1. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object comprising:

a bow having a plurality of bow loops secured to a top side of a bow base, wherein said bow base defines a hole therein that extends from a bottom side of said bow base through said top side of said bow base and through said plurality of bow loops secured to said bow base at said hole;

an LED having a front end and a back end, wherein an anode lead and a cathode lead extend from said back end of said LED, and further wherein said front end of said LED extends through said hole in said bow base to an inner portion of said plurality of bow loops;

a battery located on said bottom side of said bow base, said battery electrically connected to said anode lead and said cathode lead forming a circuit, wherein said LED illuminates said plurality of bow loops of said bow;

a base containing said battery, said base having a bottom side and a top side, said top side of said base fixedly attached to said bottom side of said bow base; and

a means for attaching the illuminated ornamental apparatus to the object, wherein said means for attaching is secured to said bottom side of said base.

2. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 1 further comprising:

a flasher circuit within said circuit, wherein when said battery provides power to said LED, said flasher circuit switches said LED between an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state so as to cause said LED to blink.

3. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of bow loops are made from a translucent ribbon material.

4. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of bow loops are made from a reflective ribbon material.

5. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 1 further comprising:

a switch within said circuit wherein said switch closes and opens said circuit.

6. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 1 wherein said LED is a bi-color LED having a front end and a back end, wherein a common lead, a first color lead, and a second color lead extend from said back end of said LED and are electrically connected to said circuit.

7. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 6 further comprising:

a two position dip switch within said circuit having a first switch movable to an on position and movable to an off position, and a second switch movable to an on position and movable to an off position, wherein when said first switch is moved to said on position, a first color of said bi-color LED is illuminated, and further wherein when said second switch is moved to said on position, a second color of said bi-color LED is illuminated.

8. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 6 further comprising:

a flasher circuit within said circuit, wherein when said battery provides power to said bi-color LED, said flasher circuit switches said bi-color LED between an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state so as to cause a first color and a second color of said bi-color LED to blink.

9. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object comprising:

a bow having a plurality of bow loops secured to a top side of a bow base;

an LED having a front end and a back end, wherein an anode lead and a cathode lead extend from said back end of said LED;

a battery electrically connected to said anode lead and said cathode lead forming a circuit;

a base containing said battery, said base having a bottom side and a top side, wherein said bottom side of said base is fixedly attached to said top side of said bow base, and said LED extends from said top side of said base to an inner portion of said plurality of bow loops of said bow illuminating said plurality of bow loops of said bow; and

a means for attaching the illuminated ornamental apparatus to the object, wherein said means for attaching is secured to said bottom side of said bow base.

10. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 9 further comprising:

a flasher circuit within said circuit, wherein when said battery provides power to said LED, said flasher circuit switches said LED between an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state so as to cause said LED to blink.

11. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 9 wherein said plurality of bow loops are made from a translucent ribbon material.

12. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 9 wherein said plurality of bow loops are made from a reflective ribbon material.

13. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 9 further comprising:

a switch within said circuit wherein said switch closes and opens said circuit.

14. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 9 wherein said LED is a bi-color LED having a front end and a back end, wherein a common lead, a first color lead, and a second color lead extend from said back end of said LED and are electrically connected to said circuit.

15. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 14 further comprising:

a two position dip switch within said circuit having a first switch movable to an on position and movable to an off position, and a second switch movable to an on position and movable to an off position, wherein when said first switch is moved to said on position, a first color of said bi-color LED is illuminated, and further wherein when said second switch is moved to said on position, a second color of said bi-color LED is illuminated.

16. An illuminated ornamental apparatus for attaching to an object according to claim 14 further comprising:

a flasher circuit within said circuit, wherein when said battery provides power to said bi-color LED, said flasher circuit switches said bi-color LED between an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state so as to cause a first color and a second color of said bi-color LED to blink.