Color changing light devices with active ingredient and sound emission for mood enhancement

• US 7,476,002 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Mineau, Steven B., Nelson, Cory J., Demarest, Scott W., Wolf, Jeffrey J., Walter, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, EVAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/548,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 362/253, 362/650, 362/276, 362/640, 362/646, 422/227, 422/234, 392/393
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2083 using a light bulb as heat source
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• 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 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 of different form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/54 supported by a separate part, e.g. base
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/70 Lamps with low-pressure unconstricted discharge having a cold pressure < 400 Torr
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/46 supported by a separate part, e.g. base, cap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/9453 for screw type coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A light element includes a translucent shell and a base. The base supports a plurality of LEDs positioned so as to emit a light show through the shell. The device also includes a compartment for receiving and securing a replaceable volatile active cartridge and a heater for enabling the device to effectively emit an active ingredient from the cartridge when the cartridge is secured in the compartment. A white light source is provided in the shell as a source of illumination along with the LEDs The device can be used as a white light source, for displaying a colored light show, for displaying colored light schemes and for volatile active emission The devise may include an acoustic transducer for producing light and sound show. The devise may also include a light sensor, a motion detector and/or a microphone or acoustic receiver thereby enabling the light and sound show to be dependent upon ambient light intensity, motion detection and or/ambient noise.

Claims

1. A combination multicolored and illuminating light source and volatile active dispenser comprising:

a base coupled to an illuminating light source and supporting light show circuitry, the base further supporting at least one light group comprising red, green and blue lights and a volatile active dispenser, the base being connected to an electrical connector,

the light show circuitry comprising memory for storing at least one light show that is carried out through the at least one light group,

a volatile active dispenser receiving a replaceable insert containing a volatile active material, wherein the insert comprises an indicator that is linked to the light show circuitry, the light show circuitry selecting a particular light show or sequence of light shows from the memory of the light show circuitry based on the indicator of the insert, the volatile active comprising a fragrance, the indicator being dependent on the fragrance,

an outer shell connected to the base and enclosing the illuminating light source and red, green and blue lights,

the base being disposed between the outer shell and the electrical connector.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sound card;

a transducer; and

the light show circuitry is a light and sound show circuitry and the light show is a light and sound show.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a remote control wirelessly coupled to the light and sound show circuitry, the remote control comprising a slot for receiving a memory card programmed with at least one light and sound show, the memory card being wirelessly coupled to the light and sound show circuitry by the remote when the memory card is received in the slot.

4. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a light sensor or motion detector that is coupled to the light and sound show circuitry, wherein the light and sound show circuitry adjusts the light and sound show based upon ambient light intensity or motion detection.

5. The device of claim 2, further comprising a microphone that is coupled to the light and sound show circuitry, wherein the light and sound show circuitry adjusts the light and sound show based upon ambient noise.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the light show is dependent upon the volatile active or vice versa.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one switch performing one or more functions selected from the group consisting of:

activating the light show and turning off the illuminating light source;

turning on the illuminating light source and deactivating the light show;

turning off both the illuminating light source and light show;

freezing the light show;

selecting a light show from a plurality of light shows stored in the memory; and

adjusting the rate of volatile active emission.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a heater to heat the insert.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a remote control for controlling the light show circuitry and the illuminating light source.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient in the active ingredient insert is selected from the group consisting of a fragrance, an air sanitizer, an air deodorizer, an insecticide, an insect repellant, an insect attractant, a medicine, an aromatherapy oil, and combinations thereof.

11. A combination multicolored and illuminating light device, comprising:

a base coupled to an illuminating light source and supporting a light control circuitry and at least one light group comprising red, green and blue lights,

the light control circuitry comprising a timer for displaying light of different color schemes over different but regular time periods,

an outer shell connected to the base and enclosing the illuminating light source, the light control circuitry and the red, green and blue lights,

a volatile active dispenser receiving a replaceable insert containing a volatile active comprising a fragrance,

the insert comprises an indicator that is linked to the light show circuitry, the light show circuitry selecting a particular light show or sequence of light shows from the memory of the light show circuitry based on the indicator, the indicator being dependent on the fragrance.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the insert is received in a compartment disposed in one of the outer shell or the base of the device.

13. The device according to claim 11 further comprising a remote control wirelessly coupled to the light control circuitry, the remote control comprising a slot for receiving a memory card programmed with color scheme time intervals, the memory card being wirelessly coupled to the light control circuitry by the remote when the memory card is received in the slot.

14. The device according to claim 11 wherein the illuminating light source is a fluorescent light and the light control circuitry varies light emitted from the red, green and blue lights to adjust the total light emitted from the device from a cool red light to a warm blue light.

15. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a light sensor or motion detector that is coupled to the light control circuitry, wherein the light control circuitry adjusts the color scheme based upon ambient light intensity or detected motion.

16. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a microphone that is coupled to the light control circuitry, wherein the light in sound show circuitry adjusts the color scheme based upon ambient noise.

17. A combination illuminating light source, light and sound show generator, air treatment device and acoustic transducer, comprising:

a male base for engaging a light socket, the base being coupled to an illuminating light source, the base supporting a light and sound show circuitry and at least one light group comprising a red, green and blue light cluster,

the light and sound show circuitry comprising a memory for storing a plurality of light and sound shows,

a fragrance dispenser disposed in the male base and receiving a replaceable insert containing a volatile active, the volatile active being matched with the plurality of light and sound shows,

an acoustic transducer,

an outer shell connected to the base and enclosing the illuminating light source and light and sound show circuitry,

at least one switch performing one or more functions selected from the group consisting of activating the light and sound show and turning off the illuminating light source, turning on the illuminating light source and deactivating the light and sound show, turning off both the illuminating light source and the light and sound show, freezing the light and sound show, adjusting the volume of the acoustic transducer, muting the acoustic transducer, and

scrolling through the plurality of light and sound shows stored in the memory.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the insert is received in a slot disposed in the device, the device further comprising a heater which engages the insert when received in the slot, the heater being controlled by the light and sound show circuitry and the current supplied to the heater being dependent upon the active contained within the insert.

19. The device of claim 17 further comprising a remote control for controlling the at least one switch.