Ornament with image projector

• US 7,547,111 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Inventors: Klenke, Brenda S., Kobza, Carol A., Steiger, Therese F., Finken, Stephen E., Richmond, Rebecca M., Carlson, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils; Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US12/115,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20080205039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 362/123, 362/121, 362/564, 362/565, 362/806, 362/807, 362/654, 362/811, 428/11, 428/19
• US Class Current: 362/123
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/0827 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/089 for the upper extremity of the central stem
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/08 Christmas tree decorations
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/807 Star

Abstract

Some embodiments of a decoration apparatus may have an attractive appearance and multi-functional capabilities. The decoration apparatus may include one or more internal light sources that provide lighting effects in combination with decorative elements formed in the structure. In addition to providing internal lighting effects, the decoration apparatus may include a projector device, which is capable of displaying a light pattern on a remote surface, such as a wall or a ceiling.

Claims

1. A method of operating a tree topper decoration apparatus, comprising:

activating one or more light sources arranged in an ornament structure of a tree topper decoration apparatus so as to illuminate decorative elements formed in the ornament structure, the tree topper decoration apparatus including a base portion to releasably couple the ornament portion to a top portion of a tree; and

activating a projection light source of a projector device that is coupled to the ornament structure, the projector device including an image-bearing element and at least one lens disposed proximate to the projection light source,

wherein when the projection light source is activated, light is projected through the lens and through the image-bearing element to project an image onto a surface remote from the projector device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the projection light source comprises projecting the image projected onto the remote surface to display a theme associated with at least a portion of the decorative elements formed in the ornament structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the projection light source comprises controlling illumination of the projection light source so as to selectively illuminate and fade the image projected onto the remote surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the projection light source comprises projecting the light through a plurality of lenses, the projector device including the plurality of lenses disposed proximate to the projection light source so as to focus the image projected onto the remote surface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the one or more light sources comprises providing a backlighting effect through the decorative elements, the decorative elements comprising at least one surface pattern formed in a surface of the ornament structure such that activating the one or more light sources provides the backlighting effect through the at least one surface pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the one or more light sources comprises providing a glowing effect for the decorative elements, the decorative elements comprising at least one substantially solid light piping member such that activating the one or more light sources provides the glowing effect for the substantially solid light piping member.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein activating the one or more light sources comprises providing edge lighting through outwardly facing ends of the substantially solid light piping member.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the one or more light sources comprises activating an internal light source disposed in an interior space of the ornament structure such that, when the internal light source is activated, light is emitted through the decorative elements of the ornament structure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein activating the one or more light sources comprises lighting a plurality of adjacent hollow shell portions defined by the ornament structure, each hollow shell portion having an associated internal light source disposed therein.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein activating the one or more light sources comprises controlling illumination of the internal light sources so as to selectively illuminate and fade the internal light sources disposed in the plurality of hollow shell portions.

13. The method of claim of claim 1, wherein activating the projection light source comprises projecting an image pattern onto the surface, the image-bearing element comprising an image-bearing mask disposed proximate to the projection light source, the mask defining the image pattern to be projected onto the surface.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the projection light source comprises displaying the image in an LCD projection panel for projecting onto the surface, the image-bearing element comprising the LCD projection panel disposed proximate to the projection light source, the LCD projection panel comprising an active region operable to display the image to be projected onto the surface.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling the image displayed in the active region of the LCD projection panel so as to modify over an interval of time the image displayed.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing at least one digital image in nonvolatile memory so as to display the digital image in the active region of the LCD projection panel.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing one or more digital images to the nonvolatile memory, the nonvolatile memory being user accessible such that one or more digital images are uploadable to the nonvolatile memory.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein activating one or more light sources comprises illuminating the ornament structure to have the appearance of a star.

5. A method of operating a tree topper decoration apparatus, comprising:

activating one or more light sources arranged in an ornament structure of a tree topper decoration apparatus so as to illuminate decorative elements formed in the ornament structure, the tree topper decoration apparatus including a base portion to releasably couple the ornament portion to a top portion of a tree; and

activating a projection light source of a projector device that is coupled to the ornament structure, the projector device including an image-bearing element and at least one lens disposed proximate to the projection light source,

wherein when the projection light source is activated, light is projected through the lens and through the image-bearing element to project an image onto a surface remote from the projector device, and wherein the projector device is oriented parallel to a vertical axis so as to project the image in a substantially vertical direction onto a ceiling surface remote from the projector device.

19. The method of claim 5, wherein activating the projection light source comprises projecting the image projected onto the remote surface to display a theme associated with at least a portion of the decorative elements formed in the ornament structure.

6. A method of operating a tree topper decoration apparatus, comprising:

activating one or more light sources arranged in an ornament structure of a tree topper decoration apparatus so as to illuminate decorative elements formed in the ornament structure, the tree topper decoration apparatus including a base portion to releasably couple the ornament portion to a top portion of a tree, wherein the decorative elements comprise openings defined in a surface of the ornament structure such that activating the one or more light sources projects light forward through the openings; and

activating a projection light source of a projector device that is coupled to the ornament structure, the projector device including an image-bearing element and at least one lens disposed proximate to the projection light source,

wherein when the projection light source is activated, light is projected through the lens and through the image-bearing element to project an image onto a surface remote from the projector device.

20. The method of claim 6, wherein activating the projection light source comprises controlling illumination of the projection light source so as to selectively illuminate and fade the image projected onto the remote surface.