Color changing light object and user interface for same

• US 7,824,051 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Gruber, Dennis W., Harrity, Kevin, Walter, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney; Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US11/327,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/101, 362/154, 362/155, 362/158, 362/190, 362/251, 362/267, 362/276, 362/318, 362/326, 362/394, 362/562, 362/604, 362/605, 362/612, 362/613, 362/615, 362/631, 362/800, 362/802, 362806-809, 315/51, 315/129, 315/130
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/025 with means for amusing or giving information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/08 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/143 producing means
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 5/005 comprising inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/06 produced by transmitted light, e.g. transparencies, imitations of glass paintings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/001 being candle-shaped with varying lighting effect of simulating flames F21S10/04; string of light sources F21S4/00
• 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 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

Illuminated, decorative light objects are disclosed that provide at least one aesthetic lighting display or light show, and to a user interface for the same. A disclosed decorative light object includes a translucent housing. The housing has a bottom opening leading into a cavity. The object also includes a base assembly that covers the bottom opening of the housing. The base assembly includes a user interface. The user interface includes light show circuitry, memory for storing a plurality of light shows, switches or buttons for recalling the light shows from the memory and at least one light group comprising red, green and blue lights. The switches of the user interface are supported in the bottom opening. The light show circuitry, memory and lights are supported within the cavity. Preferably, a translucent light pipe with a roughened lambertian outer surface covers and hides the circuitry and the lights. As the light shines through the light pipe it is diffused thereby creating a warm glowing appearance.

Claims

1. A decorative light object comprising:

a translucent housing having a bottom opening, the housing comprising an open top, a sidewall defining a container portion, and a cavity comprising an inner surface;

a base assembly removably covering the bottom opening, the base assembly comprising a rigid bottom surface and light show circuitry, the light show circuitry comprising a user interface, a memory for storing a plurality of light shows and at least one light group, the user interface comprising at least one switch for selectively recalling one of the plurality of light shows from the memory, the rigid bottom surface and the user interface being configured so as to prevent contact between the at least one switch and a surface upon which the decorative light object is placed;

a light pipe disposed over the light group, the light pipe comprising an outer surface, and the light pipe shaped so that the outer surface of the light pipe is evenly spaced apart from the inner surface of the cavity of the housing; and

a reservoir of the housing containing an active selected from the group consisting of fragrance, insecticide, medicament, perfume, the light object also comprising a dispense element to dispense the active from the reservoir during the light show or periodically, the dispense element linked to the light show circuitry,

wherein the base assembly is separated from the container portion by a bottom wall.

2. The object of claim 1 wherein the light group comprises a cluster of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The object of claim 2 wherein the cluster comprises red, green, blue (RGB) LEDs.

4. The object of claim 1 further comprising a translucent light pipe disposed over the light group.

5. The object of claim 1 wherein the light pipe comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of the inner and outer surfaces having a rough texture that diffuses light passing through the light pipe.

6. The object of claim 1 wherein the housing has an inner surface that defines the cavity, the inner surface having a rough texture that diffuses light passing through the housing.

7. The object of claim 1 wherein the housing has an outer surface, the outer surface having a rough texture that diffuses light passing through the housing.

8. The object of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a pause function and a pause switch to stop a light show in progress.

9. The object of claim 1 wherein the light show circuitry comprises a flicker function and the user interface comprises flicker switch to activate the flicker function.

10. The object of claim 1 wherein the light show circuitry comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) with a connection port and the memory comprises a memory card removably connected to the port of the PCB, and wherein the memory card is interchangeable with another memory card with at least one different light show stored thereon.

11. The object of claim 1 wherein the light show circuitry comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) with a universal serial bus (USB) connection port, and wherein at least one different light show can be downloaded to the memory through the USB port.

12. The object of claim 1 wherein the light show circuitry comprises at least one microprocessor programmed with a programmable alarm function.

13. The object of claim 1 wherein the light show circuitry comprises a microprocessor and a temperature sensor linked to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed with a temperature function and wherein the microprocessor alters the at least one light show stored in the memory in response to ambient temperature as detected by the temperature sensor.

14. The object of claim 1 wherein the object further comprises a transceiver and the light show circuitry comprises a microprocessor linked to the transceiver, the user interface also comprising a transceiver, the user interface being removable from the base assembly and capable of sending signals remotely to the microprocessor through the transceivers.

15. The object of claim 1 wherein the object further comprises a transceiver and the light show circuitry comprises a microprocessor linked to the transceiver, the transceiver sending signals to and receiving signals from at least one other light object also equipped with a transceiver.

16. The object of claim 1 wherein the light show circuitry comprises a sound card and a microprocessor linked to the sound card.