Container using fiber optic imaging

• US 5,575,553 A
• Filed: 06/23/1995
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tommy B. Tipton
• Original Assignee: Tommy B. Tipton
• Inventors: Tipton, Tommy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gromada, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US08/494,002
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 40/546, 40/324, 40/326, 362/31, 362/101, 362/154, 362/184, 362/186, 362/276, 362/800, 362/802, 362/812, 362/32, 362/806, 362/808
• 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: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An optically transparent container includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base and having indicia formed as recesses. The recesses are emergent upon an exterior surface of the container and the base includes a sealed compartment. A lighting mechanism housed within the compartment, includes a battery for activating at least one diode disposed beneath a lowermost extremity of the sidewall. A switch mechanism positioned within the compartment includes a touch-sensitive switch for energizing the at least one diode for a predetermined time period when the container is touched. The at least one diode is de-energized when one of the predetermined time period expires and the container is touched subsequently. The at least one light-emitting diode is formed in an orientation which is other than parallel to a bottom surface of the container.

Claims

1. An optically transparent container, comprising:

a base;

a sidewall extending from said base and having indicia formed as recesses, said recesses being emergent upon an exterior surface of said container, said base comprising a sealed compartment;

a lighting mechanism housed within said compartment and including a battery and at least one diode disposed beneath said sidewall, said at least one diode being operatively connected to and activated by said battery; and

a switch mechanism positioned within said compartment and comprising a touch-sensitive switch, operatively connected to said battery and said at least one diode, for energizing said at least one diode for a predetermined time period when the container is touched,

wherein said at least one diode is de-energized when one of said predetermined time period expires and said container is subsequently touched.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is formed in an orientation which is other than parallel to a bottom surface of the container.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is formed in an orientation which is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the container.

4. A container, comprising:

a base;

a sidewall extending from said base and having indicia formed as recesses, said recesses being emergent upon a surface of said container, said base comprising a sealed compartment;

a lighting mechanism housed within said compartment and including a battery and at least one light-emitting diode disposed beneath an extremity of said sidewall, said at least one diode being activated by said battery; and

a switch mechanism positioned within said compartment and comprising means for energizing said at least one light-emitting diode for a predetermined time period when the container is actuated,

wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is formed in an orientation which is other than parallel to a bottom surface of the container,

wherein said switch mechanism comprises a touch-sensitive switch for energizing said at least one diode for a predetermined time period when the container is touched.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is formed in an orientation which is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the container.

6. A container according to claim 4,

wherein said at least one diode is de-energized when one of said predetermined time period expires and said container is subsequently touched.

13. A container according to claim 4, wherein said diode emits a light beam which is other than parallel to a plane formed by said bottom surface of said container.

14. A container according to claim 13, wherein said light beam is transmitted directly from said diode to said indicia by said sidewall.

15. A container according to claim 13, wherein said light beam is perpendicular to said plane formed by said bottom surface of said container.

7. A container, comprising:

an elongated sidewall of circular cylindrical contour having a center axis of symmetry and extending between an uppermost lip extremity and a lowermost extremity, said sidewall being bounded in part by opposed interior and exterior surfaces,

indicia formed as recesses in said sidewall,

a base joining the lowermost extremity of the sidewall as a continuous integral extension thereof, said base comprising;

an opaque upper panel that joins with said sidewall to constitute therewith a liquid-impervious vessel,

an impervious sealable compartment, and

a flat lower panel,

a lighting mechanism housed within said compartment and comprised of a battery and at least one light-emitting diode disposed beneath the lowermost extremity of said sidewall, said at least one diode being activated by said battery;

a switch mechanism confined within said compartment and including means for energizing said at least one light-emitting diode when at least one of the glass is upright on its base, when one of a user touches the container and when the container is moved, and means for de-energizing said at least one light-emitting diode when at least one of a user touches the container for a second time, when the container is moved a second time and after expiration of a predetermined time period; and

a threadably removable, sealable access panel associated with said base to provide access to said compartment.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is formed in an orientation which is other than parallel to a bottom surface of the container.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is formed in an orientation which is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the container.

10. A container according to claim 9, wherein said recesses are emergent upon said exterior surface and extending in depth between about 10% and 40% through said sidewall toward said interior surface, said recesses defined by facets which in part are angled with respect to said axis.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein said container is fabricated of optically transparent plastic material.

12. A container according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of light-emitting diodes are provided, said plurality of light-emitting diodes being equidistantly spaced about said sidewall.