Container with illuminated interior visual display

• US 6,923,549 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard Dale Hoy
• Original Assignee: Richard Dale Hoy
• Inventors: Hoy, Richard Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/416,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040047147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 362/154, 362/101, 362/34, 362/96, 362/800, 362/318, 362/364, 362/326, 362/562, 362/806, 362/565
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2227 with means for amusing or giving information to the user A47G23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2019/2238 with illumination means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/00 Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising G09F9/00, G09F11/00 take precedence; control of displays in general using static means to present variable information G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An illuminated message or design is displayed on the surface of an inner container for viewing through an outer container. Light emitting diodes are placed under the outer container, and near its perimeter, allowing the light to be directly introduced into the peripheral wall cavity formed between the inner container and outer container. This allows optimal utilization of the light for lighting the inner container surface generally, and for directing a portion of the light to the inner container'"'"'s bottom edge for entrapment within the inner container peripheral wall. The entrapped light is transmitted through the inner container peripheral wall until the light encounters a nonconformity that redirects the light outwardly through the outer container. Varying inner container shapes interact with the light and create several distinct light mantles.

Claims

1. An illustrated container, comprising:

an outer container having a peripheral wall and a bottom the outer container peripheral wall and bottom being at least partially light-pervious;

an inner container having an outer surface, the inner container positioned at least partially within the outer container to form a peripheral wall cavity between at least a portion of the inner container outer surface and the outer container peripheral wall; and

at least one light source positioned outside the outer container in a substantially vertical alignment with the peripheral wall cavity, such that the light source directs light through the outer container bottom, into the peripheral wall cavity and onto the inner container outer surface, the illuminated portion of the inner container outer surface being at least partially visible through the outer container peripheral wall.

2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a light altering element positioned with respect to the at least one light source such that at least part of the light is directionally altered prior to striking the inner container outer surface.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the light altering element is positioned above the outer container bottom.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the light altering element is positioned below the outer container bottom.

5. The container of claim 2, wherein the light altering element is attached to the outer container and is positioned above the outer container bottom.

6. The container of claim 2, wherein the light altering element is attached to the outer container and is positioned below the outer container bottom.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the outer container bottom further comprises a light altering element such that at least part of the light is directionally altered prior to striking the inner container outer surface.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the outer container peripheral wall has a curved inside surface and the light altering element is generally planar and curved, the light altering element curve following the outer container peripheral wall curved inner surface.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the at least one light source has a light emitting portion and the light altering element has an inside edge, the inside edge being positioned such that an imaginary line extending perpendicularly from the inside edge intersects the at least one light source light emitting portion.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container further comprises a peripheral wall and at least one light altering nonconformity on the peripheral wall.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity alters the direction of light striking the light altering nonconformity from the peripheral wall cavity.

12. The container of claim 10, wherein a portion of the light striking the inner container outer surface enters and is transported by the inner container peripheral wall to the light altering nonconformity, and the light altering nonconformity alters the direction of such light.

13. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity protrudes from the inner container outer surface.

14. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity is recessed in the inner container peripheral wall.

15. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity includes alphanumeric characters and figures.

16. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity includes designs.

17. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity is illuminated by the altered light such that the nonconformity is visible through the outer container peripheral wall.

18. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity causes a portion of the light to be directed toward the outer container peripheral wall.

19. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity further comprises at least one aspect, the light altering nonconformity causing a portion of the light to intensify the illumination of the at least one aspect.

20. The container of claim 10, wherein the light altering nonconformity causes a portion of the light to be diffused.

21. The container of claim 1, where the inner container further comprises a peripheral wall and a bottom, the positioned inner container forming a bottom peripheral cavity between the inner container bottom and the outer container bottom.

22. The container of claim 21, wherein the inner container further comprises at least one light altering nonconformity on the inner container peripheral wall.

23. The container of claim 22, wherein a portion of the light striking the inner container outer surface enters the inner container bottom and is transported through the inner container peripheral wall to the light altering nonconformity, and the light altering nonconformity alters the direction of such light.

24. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom.

25. The container of claim 24, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is angular.

26. The container of claim 24, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is curved.

27. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along a first portion of the pripheral wall'"'"'s length at one angle, and along a second portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length at a second, more severe angle, to the inner container bottom.

28. The container of claim 27, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is angular.

29. The container of claim 27, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is curved.

30. The container of claim 27, wherein the change in taper is angular.

31. The container of claim 27, wherein the change in taper is curved.

32. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along a first portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length, and curved along a second portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom.

33. The container of claim 32, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is angular.

34. The container of claim 32, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is curved.

35. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along a first portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'slength, and curved along a second portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom.

36. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along a first portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length, and radially stepped along a second portion of the peripheal wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom.

37. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being square shaped and tapered along the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom.

38. The container of claim 37, wherein the square shape includes rounded corner shapes.

39. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being triangle shaped and tapered along the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom.

40. The container of claim 39, wherein the triangle shape includes rounded corner shapes.

41. The container of claim 1, wherein the outer container has a top edge and the inner container has a top edge, the top edge extending over the outer container top edge, the top edge being at least partially illuminated by the light in the peripheral wall cavity, such illumination causing the top edge to glow.

42. The container of claim 1, wherein the outer container has a top edge and the inner container has a top edge, the outer container top edge supporting and securing the inner container top edge.

43. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode.

44. The container of claim 43, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is clear.

45. The container of claim 43, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is diffused.

46. The container of claim 43, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is dome shaped.

47. The container of claim 43, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is cylindrical.

48. The container of claim 43, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is rectangular.

49. The container of claim 43, wherein the at least one light emitting diode is flat-topped.

50. The container of claim 43, wherein the at least one light emitting diode emits white light.

51. The container of claim 43, wherein the at least one light emitting diode emits colored light.

52. The container of claim 1, wherein the outer container further comprises a base, the at least one light source being positioned in the base.

53. The container of claim 52, wherein the base is detachable from the outer container.

54. The container of claim 53, wherein the base is configured to receive a battery for powering the at least one light source.

55. The container of claim 53, wherein the base further comprises means for receiving and securing a battery for powering the at least one light source.

56. The container of claim 1, wherein the number of light sources is two.

57. The container of claim 56, wherein the light sources are positioned opposite from each other with respect to the outer container peripheral wall.

58. The container of claim 1, wherein the number of light sources is three.

59. The container of claim 58, wherein the light sources are positioned equidistantly.

60. The container of claim 1, wherein the number of light sources is four.

61. The container of claim 60, wherein the light sources are positioned equidistantly.

62. The container of claim 1, wherein the number of light sources is five or more.

63. The container of claim 62, wherein the light sources are positioned equidistantly.

64. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is battery powered.

65. The container of claim 1, further comprising means for powering the at least one light source by battery power.

66. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom, the peripheral wall having an increasing thickness toward the inner container bottom.

67. The container of claim 66, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is angular.

68. The container of claim 66, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is curved.

69. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along a first portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length at one angle, and along a second portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length at a second, more severe angle, to the bottom, the peripheral wall having an increased thickness proximate the joinder of the first and second length portions.

70. The container of claim 69, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is angular.

71. The container of claim 69, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is curved.

72. The container of claim 69, wherein the change in taper is angular.

73. The container of claim 69, wherein the change in taper is curved.

74. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall the peripheral wall, being circularly shaped and tapered along a fist portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length, and curved along a second portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom, the inner container having an inner wall surface, the inner surface tapering toward the inner container bottom, the inner container taper changing angularly proximate the planar bottom, the peripheral wall having an increased thickness proximate the joinder of the first and second length portions.

75. The container of claim 74, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is angular.

76. The container of claim 74, wherein the joinder of the inner container peripheral wall to the inner container bottom is curved.

77. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along a first portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length, and curved along a second portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom, the peripheral wall having an increased thickness proximate the joinder of the first and second length portions.

78. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being circularly shaped and tapered along a first portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length, and radially stepped along a second portion of the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom, the peripheral wall having an increased thickness proximate the joinder of the first and second length portions.

79. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being square shaped and tapered along the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom, the peripheral wall having an increasing thickness toward the inner container bottom.

80. The container of claim 79, wherein the square shape includes rounded corner shapes.

81. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a generally planar bottom and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being triangle shaped and tapered along the peripheral wall'"'"'s length to the inner container bottom, the peripheral wall having an increasing thickness toward the inner container bottom.

82. The container of claim 81, wherein the triangle shape includes rounded corner shapes.

83. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container further has a sidewall and an inner surface, the sidewall having a top and a bottom, the inner container outer surface and the inner surface defining the sidewall thickness, the sidewall thickness increasing along at least a portion of the length of the sidewall as the sidewall extends from the sidewall top to the sidewall bottom.

84. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner container is at least partially transparent.

85. An illuminated container, comprising:

an outer container having a peripheral wall and a bottom, the outer container peripheral wall and bottom being at least partially light-pervious;

an inner container having an outer surface, the inner container positioned at least partially within the outer container to form a peripheral wall cavity between at least a portion of the inner container outer surface and the outer container peripheral wall; and

means for directing light through the outer container bottom, into the peripheral wall cavity and onto the inner container outer surface, the illuminated portion of the inner container outer surface being at least partially visible through the outer container peripheral wall, said means comprising at least one light source positioned outside the outer container in a substantially vertical alignment with the peripheral wall cavity.

86. The container of claim 85, further comprising means for directionally altering the light prior to the light striking the inner container outer surface.

87. The container of claim 85, wherein the outer container bottom further comprises means for directionally altering the light prior to the light striking the inner container outer surface.

88. The container of claim 85, wherein the inner container further comprises a peripheral wall and means for altering the light, the means being positioned on the inner container peripheral wall.

89. The container of claim 88, wherein the means for altering the light alters the direction of light striking the light from the peripheral wall cavity.

90. The container of claim 88, wherein a portion of the light striking the inner container outer surface enters and is transported by the inner container peripheral wall to the means for altering the light, and the means for altering the light alters the direction of such light.

91. The container of claim 88, wherein the light altering nonconformity protrudes from the inner container outer surface.

92. The container of claim 88, wherein the means for altering the light is recessed in the inner container peripheral wall.

93. The container of claim 88, wherein the means for altering the light includes alphanumeric characters figures.

94. The container of claim 88, wherein the means for altering the light includes designs.

95. The container of claim 88, wherein the means for altering the light is illuminated by the altered light such that the nonconformity is visible through the outer container peripheral wall.

96. The container of claim 88, wherein the means for altering the light causes a portion of the light to be directed toward the outer container peripheral wall.

97. The container of claim 88, wherein the means for altering the light further comprises at least one aspect, the means for altering the light causing a portion of the light to intensify the illumination of the at least one aspect.

98. The container of claim 88, wherein the means for altering the light causes a portion of the light to be diffused.

99. The container of claim 85, wherein the inner container further comprises a peripheral wall and a bottom, the positioned inner container forming a bottom peripheral cavity between the inner container bottom and the outer container bottom, the inner container further comprising means for altering the light the means being on the inner container peripheral wall.

100. The container of claim 98, wherein a portion of the light striking the inner container outer surface enters the inner container bottom and is transported through the inner container peripheral wall to the means for altering the light, the means for altering the light altering the direction of such light.

101. The container of claim 85, wherein the inner container has a top edge and means for illuminating the inner container top edge by light from the peripheral wall cavity, such illumination causing the top edge to glow.

102. The container of claim 85, wherein the inner container further has a sidewall and an inner surface, the sidewall having a top and a bottom, the inner container outer surface and the inner surface defining the sidewall thickness, the sidewall thickness increasing along at least a portion of the length of the sidewall as the sidewall extends from the sidewall top to the sidewall bottom.

103. The container of claim 85, wherein the inner container is at least partially transparent.

104. An illuminated container, comprising:

an outer container having a peripheral wall and a bottom, the outer container peripheral wall and bottom being at least partially light-pervious;

an inner container having a peripheral wall, the inner container positioned at least partially within the outer container to form a peripheral wall cavity between at least a portion of the inner container peripheral wall and the outer container peripheral wall; and

means for directing light through the outer container bottom, into the peripheral wall cavity and onto a targeted portion of the inner container peripheral wall, the illuminated target portion of the inner container peripheral wall being at least partially visible through the outer container peripheral wall, said means comprising at least one light source positioned outside the outer container bottom in a substantially vertical alignment with the peripheral wall cavity.

105. An illuminated container, comprising:

an outer container having a peripheral wall and a bottom, the outer container peripheral wall and bottom being at least partially light-pervious;

an inner container having an outer surface, the inner container positioned at least partially within the outer container to form a peripheral wall cavity between at least a portion of the inner container outer surface and the outer container peripheral wall; and

at least one light source positioned beneath the outer container bottom in a substantially vertical alignment with the peripheral wall cavity, such that the at least one light source directs light through the outer container bottom, into the peripheral wall cavity and onto the inner container outer surface, the illuminated portion of the inner container outer surface being at least partially visible through the outer container peripheral wall;

the outer container bottom having a downwardly extending portion for at least one of the at least one light sources, each portion having a slot, the slot at least partially encompassing one of the at least one light sources, the slot extending laterally from the light source such that a portion of the light from the light source is directed into and upwardly out of the slot, then into the peripheral wall cavity and onto the inner container outer surface.

106. The container of claim 105, wherein the at least one light source comprises four light sources and the outer container bottom has a downwardly extending portion for each of the four light sources.

107. The container of claim 106, wherein the inner container is at least partially transparent.