Lighted moving ball display system

• US 8,789,972 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lloyd R. Plumb, Lola Melody Howard Plumb
• Original Assignee: Lloyd R. Plumb, Lola Melody Howard Plumb
• Inventors: Plumb, Lloyd R., Plumb, Lola Melody Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy, Sikha
• Application Number:
  US13/221,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/249.19
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 5/00 Processes for producing special ornamental bodies
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/02 incorporating moving display members

Abstract

A lighted moving ball display system configured to provide a visual display, such as in a Christmas tree. The system includes a plurality of light emitting balls. The light emitting balls each include a light emitting device, a ball power module, and a housing configured to secure the light emitting device and the ball power module, therein. The system includes a passive transport medium configured to receive the balls and permit the balls to traverse the medium under gravitational force. The system includes a lifting mechanism functionally coupled to the medium and configured to lift the plurality of light emitting balls to a top portion of the medium. The system includes a power module configured to provide power to the modules and components of the system. The system includes a motivating apparatus configured to actively urge the plurality of light emitting balls to traverse the medium.

Claims

1. A lighted moving ball display system configured to provide a visual display, comprising:

a) a plurality of light emitting balls;

b) a passive transport medium configured to receive the balls and to permit the balls to traverse the medium under gravitational force;

c) a lifting mechanism functionally coupled to the passive transport medium and configured to lift the plurality of light emitting balls to a top portion of the medium;

d) a power module functionally coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to provide power to the modules and components of the system; and

e) a collection chamber functionally coupled to the passive transport medium and to the lifting mechanism and configured to store the plurality of light emitting balls.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motivating apparatus functionally coupled to the medium and configured to actively urge the plurality of light emitting balls to traverse the medium.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the motivating apparatus is an air pressure generator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the medium includes tubing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the medium includes a channel structure selected from the group of structures consisting of tubes, rails, tracks, ledges, ridges, banks, waves, grooves, slides, etc.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting balls each include:

a) a light emitting device;

b) a ball power module configured to power the light emitting device; and

c) a housing configured to secure the light emitting device and the ball power module, therein.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lifting mechanism includes:

a) a collection chamber in communication with the medium and configured to collect the plurality of lighted balls after moving through the medium;

b) a loading mechanism in communication with the collection chamber and configured to load the plurality of lighted balls into the lifting mechanism; and

c) a lifting device in communication the loading mechanism and the collection chamber;

wherein the lifting device includes lifting means, to lift a plurality of lighted balls to a top of the medium.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting balls each include a wireless power receiver module.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power module includes a wireless power emission module.

10. A lighted moving ball display system configured to provide a visual display, comprising:

a) a plurality of light emitting balls;

wherein the plurality of light emitting balls each include a wireless power receiver module;

b) a passive transport medium configured to receive the balls and to permit the balls to traverse the medium under gravitational force;

c) a lifting mechanism functionally coupled to the passive transport medium and configured to lift the plurality of light emitting balls to a top portion of the medium;

d) a power module functionally coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to provide power to the modules and components of the system;

wherein the power module includes a wireless power emission module; and

e) a collection chamber functionally coupled to the passive transport medium and to the lifting mechanism and configured to store the plurality of light emitting balls.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a motivating apparatus functionally coupled to the medium and configured to actively urge the plurality of light emitting balls to traverse the medium.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the motivating apparatus is a air pressure generator.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the medium includes tubing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the medium includes a channel structure selected from the group of structures consisting of tubes, rails, tracks, ledges, ridges, banks, waves, grooves, slides, etc.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of light emitting balls each include:

a) a light emitting device;

b) a ball power module configured to power the light emitting device; and

c) a housing configured to secure the light emitting device and the ball power module, therein.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the lifting mechanism includes:

a) a collection chamber in communication with the medium and configured to collect the plurality of lighted balls after moving through the medium;

b) a loading mechanism in communication with the collection chamber and configured to load the plurality of lighted balls into the lifting mechanism; and

c) a lifting device in communication the loading mechanism and the collection chamber;

wherein the lifting device includes lifting means, to lift a plurality of lighted balls to a top of the medium.

17. A lighted moving ball display system configured to provide a visual display, comprising:

a) a plurality of light emitting balls;

wherein the plurality of light emitting balls each include;

a1) a light emitting device;

a2) a ball power module configured to power the light emitting device;

a3) a housing configured to secure the light emitting device and the ball power module, therein; and

a4) a wireless power receiver module;

b) a passive transport medium configured to receive the balls and to permit the balls to traverse the medium under gravitational force;

wherein the medium includes tubing;

c) a lifting mechanism functionally coupled to the passive transport medium and configured to lift the plurality of light emitting balls to a top portion of the medium;

wherein the lifting mechanism includes;

c1) a collection chamber in communication with the medium and configured to collect the plurality of lighted balls after moving through the medium;

c2) a loading mechanism in communication with the collection chamber and configured to load the plurality of lighted balls into the lifting mechanism; and

d) a lifting device in communication the loading mechanism and the collection chamber;

wherein the lifting device includes lifting means, to lift a plurality of lighted balls to a top of the medium;

e) a power module functionally coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to provide power to the modules and components of the system;

wherein the power module includes a wireless power emission module;

f) a collection chamber functionally coupled to the passive transport medium and to the lifting mechanism and configured to store the plurality of light emitting balls; and

g) a motivating apparatus functionally coupled to the medium and configured to actively urge the plurality of light emitting balls to traverse the medium;

wherein the motivating apparatus is an air pressure generator.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the medium includes a channel structure selected from the group of structures consisting of tubes, rails, tracks, ledges, ridges, banks, waves, grooves, slides, etc.