Lamp and alarm clock with gradually increasing light or sounds

• US 6,236,622 B1
• Filed: 05/01/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verilux Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Verilux Incorporated
• Inventors: Blackman, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MISKA, VIT W
• Application Number:
  US09/303,392
• Time in Patent Office: 752 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/72-75, 368/79, 368/250, 368/251, 368/252, 362/84, 362/86, 362/103, 362/226, 362/228, 362/234, 362/251, 362/253
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/023 Adjusting the duration or amplitude of signals

Abstract

A lighting fixture having a lamp and alarm clock with a wake-up cycle and sleep cycle with gradually increasing and decreasing light and sounds. The lighting fixture includes at least one lamp for emitting light in the wake-up cycle and in the sleep cycle. The lighting fixture also includes at least one speaker for emitting sound in the wake-up cycle and in the sleep cycle. The lighting fixture further includes a dimmer switch for dimming the light and wake-up cycle control buttons for setting and controlling a wake-up cycle having a light control button for setting the time when the wake-up cycle control buttons activates the light mode and gradually increases the lamp brightness emitted from the at least one lamp; and sound control buttons for setting and controlling the time when the wake-up cycle control buttons activates the sound mode and gradually increases the sound intensity emitted from the at least one speaker; and sound selection switches for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for the sound mode of the wake-up cycle, or for full time operation as background sound.

Claims

1. An apparatus for gradually increasing and decreasing light and sounds, comprising:

a. a lighting fixture having at least one lamp for emitting light in a wake-up cycle and in a sleep cycle;

b. said lighting fixture having at least one speaker for emitting sound in the wake-up cycle and in the sleep cycle;

c. a programmable wake-up cycle control for setting and controlling a wake-up cycle including a light control for setting a time period when said wake-up cycle control activates a light mode and gradually increases a lamp brightness emitted from said at least one lamp;

a programmable sound control for setting and controlling a time when said wake-up cycle control activates a sound mode and gradually increases a sound intensity emitted from said at least one speaker; and

a programmable sound selector for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for the sound mode of the wake-up cycle;

d. a programmable sleep cycle control for setting and controlling the sleep cycle including said light control for setting a time period when the sleep cycle control activates the light mode and gradually decreases the lamp brightness emitted from said at least one lamp;

a programmable sound control for setting and controlling a time period when said sleep cycle control activates the sound mode and gradually decreases the sound intensity emitted from said at least one speaker; and

a programmable sound selector for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for the sound mode of the sleep cycle; and

e. an electrical circuit connected to said wake-up cycle control and to said sleep cycle control for supplying electrical power thereto.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the light control includes a light control button and a plurality of clock set-control buttons for setting a specific time for activating the light mode and said at least one lamp to gradually brighten or dim.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound control includes a sound control button and a plurality of clock set-control buttons for setting a specific time for activating the sound mode and gradually increase or decrease said sound intensity.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound selector includes a plurality of sound selection switches for selecting pre-set environmental sounds.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a mechanism for varying a cycle time for pre-selected time periods from 1 minute to 90 minutes.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a mechanism for varying cycle time for pre-selected time periods from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said mechanism for varying the cycle time is in the form of a switch, a dial knob, or a push button for allowing a user to set pre-selected time periods for use in the wake-up cycle and the sleep cycle.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a dimmer for a clock display.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said dimmer is in the form of a switch, a dial knob, or a push button for allowing a user to set a light brightness level on said sleep cycle control.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including an alternate power source in a form of a battery power source for a clock and alarm.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a radio within said lighting fixture.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lighting fixture further includes a reduced-glare glass shade having an interior reflector.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lighting fixture further includes a fabric shade having an interior reflector.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including sound synthesis microchips for emanating sounds selected from the group consisting of an ocean surf, a water fall, a babbling brook, a tree rustling in the wind, rain drops splattering on a surface, chimes, church bells, a bird singing, a nighttime noise, a forest sound, a harbor sound, a wolf howling, a cricket chirping, rhythmic chanting, a heart beat, a baby cooing, and combinations thereof.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one lamp for emitting light is in a form of an incandescent light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, a neon lamp, or a color coated light bulb.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lighting fixture is in a form of a table lamp, a floor lamp, a desk lamp, a ceiling lamp, a shelf lamp, a portable lamp, a wall lamp, or a travel clock with a lamp.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lighting fixture includes a fixture housing made from materials selected from the group consisting of light-weight metals, plastics, ceramics, woods, and combinations thereof.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including an alarm clock having a digital or analog display mode.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wake-up cycle control includes a dimmer switch for dimming light.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleep cycle control includes sleep cycle control buttons for setting and controlling the sleep cycle.

21. An apparatus for gradually increasing light and sounds, comprising:

a. a lighting fixture having at least one lamp for emitting light in a wake-up cycle;

b. said lighting fixture having at least one speaker for emitting sound in the wake-up cycle;

c. a programmable wake-up cycle control for setting and controlling a wake-up cycle including a light control for setting a time period when said wake-up cycle control activates a light mode and gradually increases a lamp brightness emitted from said at least one lamp;

a programmable sound control for setting and controlling a time when said wake-up cycle control activates a sound mode and gradually increases a sound intensity emitted from said at least one speaker; and

a programmable sound selector for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for the sound mode of the wake-up cycle; and

c. an electrical circuit connected to said wake-up cycle control for supplying electrical power thereto.

22. An apparatus for gradually increasing and decreasing light and sounds, comprising:

a. a lighting fixture having at least one lamp for emitting light;

b. said lighting fixture having at least one speaker for emitting sound;

c. a programmable cycle control for setting and controlling a cycle including a light control for setting a time period when said cycle control activates a light mode and gradually increases or decreases a lamp brightness emitted from said at least one lamp;

a programmable sound control for setting and controlling a time when said cycle control activates a sound mode and gradually increases or decreases a sound intensity emitted from said at least one speaker;

a programmable sound selector for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for the sound mode of the cycle; and

d. an electrical circuit connected to said cycle control for supplying electrical power thereto.

23. An apparatus for gradually increasing and decreasing light and sounds, comprising:

a. a fixture having a connection for receiving a lamp;

b. said fixture having at least one speaker for emitting sound in a wake-up cycle and a sleep cycle;

c. a wake-up cycle control for setting and controlling the wake-up cycle including a light control for setting a time period when said wake-up cycle control activates a light made and gradually increases a lamp brightness;

a sound control for setting and controlling a time when said wake-up cycle control activates a sound mode and gradually increases a sound intensity; and

a sound selector for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for a sound mode of the wake-up cycle;

d. a sleep cycle control for setting and controlling the sleep cycle including a light control for setting a time period when said sleep cycle control activates a light mode and gradually decreases the lamp brightness;

a sound control for setting and controlling a time period when said sleep cycle control activates the sound mode and gradually decreases the sound intensity; and

a sound selector for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for a sound mode of the sleep cycle; and

e. an electrical circuit connected to said wake-up cycle control and to said sleep cycle control for supplying electrical power thereto.

24. An apparatus for gradually increasing light and sounds, comprising:

a. a fixture having a connection for receiving a lamp;

b. said fixture having at least one speaker for emitting sound in a wake-up cycle and a sleep cycle;

c. a wake-up cycle control for setting and controlling the wake-up cyde including a light control for setting a time period when said wake-up cycle control activates a light mode and gradually increases a lamp brightness;

a sound control for setting and controlling a time when said wake-up cycle control activates a sound mode and gradually increases a sound intensity; and

a sound selector for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for a sound mode of the wake-up cycle; and

d. an electrical circuit connected to said wake-up cycle control for supplying electrical power thereto.

25. An apparatus for gradually increasing and decreasing light and sounds, comprising;

a. a fixture having a connection for receiving a lamp;

b. said fixture having at least one speaker for emitting sound in a wake-up cycle and a sleep cycle;

c. a cycle control for setting and controlling a cycle including a light control for setting a time period when said cycle control activates a light mode and gradually increases or decreases a lamp brightness;

a sound control for setting and controlling a time when said cycle control activates a sound mode and gradually increases or decreases a sound intensity; and

a sound selector for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for the sound mode of the cycle; and

d. an electrical circuit connected to said cycle control for supplying electrical power thereto.