Ornamental antenna light

• US 6,377,222 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: A. Aronson, Inc. (Evriholder Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: A. Aronson, Inc. (Evriholder Products LLC)
• Inventors: Nicholson, Michele
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clinger, James
• Application Number:
  US09/666,785
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/721, 343/894, 343/720, 343/760, 116/209
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/06 Means for the lighting or illuminating of antennas, e.g. for purpose of warning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

An ornamental antenna light is provided to be placed on an automobile antenna to decorate one'"'"'s automobile or to identify the automobile to its owner. The light includes a particular configuration of molded plastic, a lighting mechanism, and a retaining means for retaining the light assembly onto the automobile'"'"'s antenna. The configuration of molded plastic can be in different sizes, shapes, and colors to correspond to different designs, characters, and insignias. The molded plastic is preferably of the transparent or translucent type, so that when the internal lighting mechanism is activated, light shall be capable of passing through the plastic. The lighting mechanism is simple electrical circuit comprising a battery, an on/off switch, and a light bulb, all wholly contained within the configuration of molded plastic thus eliminating a need for an external light and power source. The retaining means comprises a locking switch and spring to positively engage the automobile'"'"'s antenna.

Claims

1. An ornamental antenna light to be removably secured to an automobile'"'"'s antenna, said ornamental antenna light comprising:

a configuration formed of molded plastic to define a cavity, said configuration formed with a top surface and a bottom surface, with said bottom surface including an aperture to define an insert area for said automobile antenna;

a lighting mechanism disposed within said cavity of said configuration;

an elongated, tubular guide fixed in said configuration and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aperture, said guide including two holes aligned with said aperture'"'"'s longitudinal axis; and

retaining means disposed within said guide for firmly holding said ornamental antenna light on said antenna, said retaining means including a spring biased locking switch with an opening extending therethrough, said retaining means further including a plunger connected to said locking switch and extending through the configuration, whereby when said plunger is depressed, the opening of the locking switch, said aperture of the configuration and the holes in the guide are aligned to permit the antenna to extend into the configuration and when the plunger is released, the spring biases the locking switch to engage and hold the antenna in position.

2. An ornamental antenna light as in claim 1, wherein said configuration is formed from transparent or translucent plastic.

3. An ornamental antenna light as in claim 1, wherein said configuration is formed from a glow-in-the-dark material.

4. An ornamental antenna light as in claim 1, wherein said lighting mechanism further comprises a battery, an on/off switch and a light bulb.

5. An ornamental antenna light as in claim 4, wherein said light bulb is a light emitting diode (LED).

6. An ornamental antenna light as in claim 4, wherein said battery is a lithium battery.

7. An ornamental antenna light as in claim 1, wherein said retaining means further comprises a cylindrically shaped tube formed with a closed end and an open end, said tube being disposed within said cavity of said configuration such that the tube is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the molded plastic and the open end is aligned with said aperture of said bottom surface of said configuration.

8. An ornamental antenna light as in claim 1, wherein said retaining means is positioned in close proximity to said bottom surface of said configuration.

9. An ornamental antenna light as in claim 1, wherein said retaining means is positioned to come into contact with said on/off switch of said lighting mechanism whereby when the retaining means is actuated said on/off switch closes to illuminate said light.