Decorative lights & method

• US 6,250,779 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John R. Martinez
• Original Assignee: John R. Martinez
• Inventors: Martinez, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US09/385,477
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 362/362, 362/363, 362/806, 362/809, 362/808, 362/154, 362/191, 362/184, 362/234, 362/252, 362/248, 362/351, 362/361
• US Class Current: 362/363
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• 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: F21W 2121/004 mounted on the exterior of houses or other buildings to illuminate parts thereof

Abstract

Decorative lights includes a plurality of pairs of lamps attached to a conductive line terminating in a plug member adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power. Each pair of lamps are connected to a rigid support member that maintains each individual lamp of each pair spaced apart at a predetermined distance. Each lamp comprises an enclosure with a light source therein. The enclosure has an opaque portion and a light transmitting portion, and the opaque and a light transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye. A mouthpiece member is adapted to be removably attached to the support member.

Claims

1. Decorative lights, including

a pair of lamps attached to a conductive line,

said lamps being connected to a rigid support member, and each lamp comprising an enclosure with a light source therein, each said enclosure being a substantially spherical structure comprising first and second substantially hemispherical shells,

said enclosures each having an opaque portion and a light transmitting portion, said light transmitting portion including a light transmitting element inserted into one of the hemispherical shells,

said opaque and light transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye.

2. The decorative lights of claim 1 where

the first hemispherical shell has an open section in the form of an outline of an eye and substantially entirely opaque remainder section, and

the second hemispherical shell being substantially entirely opaque and having a central opening therein at a base portion adjacent the support member to enable the light source to be inserted therein.

3. The decorative lights of claim 2 where the open section in the form of an outline of an eye in the first hemispherical shell and the central opening in the second hemispherical shell are aligned.

4. The decorative lights of claim 2 the hemispherical shells are detachably connected together.

5. The decorative lights of claim 1 where the transmitting element has a hemispherical shape that is slightly smaller than the hemispherical shape of the first hemispherical shell.

6. The decorative lights of claim 1 where there is attached to an exterior portion of the transmitting element a small opaque portion shaped to simulate a pupil of an eye.

7. The decorative lights of claim 1 where the enclosures are mounted to rotate.

8. The decorative lights of claim 1 where the individual lamps are spaced apart a distance of from 0.1 to 8 inches.

9. The decorative lights of claim 1 where the support member includes

a pair of detachable sockets, each individual socket receiving an individual light source, and

a pair of gripping members that are moveable between an open position to receive the sockets and a closed position where the sockets are held in position in the support member.

10. The decorative lights of claim 1 where the opaque and light transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye are formed by cutting away a section of the opaque portion.

11. The decorative lights of claim 1 where the support member has a hook element thereon.

12. The decorative lights of claim 1 where the rigid support member maintains each individual lamp of each pair spaced apart at a predetermined distance.

14. The decorative lights of claim 1 where there is a motion sensor connected to the decorative lights to turn said lights on in response to motion.

13. The decorative lights of claim l where the lamps emit light of different colors.

15. Decorative lights, including

a plurality of pairs of lamps attached to a conductive line,

each pair of lamps connected to a rigid support member, and each lamp comprising an enclosure with a light source therein, each said enclosure being a substantially spherical structure comprising first and second substantially hemispherical shells,

said enclosure having an opaque portion and a light transmitting portion, said light transmitting portion including a light transmitting element inserted into one of the hemispherical shells,

said opaque and light transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye.

16. The decorative lights of claim 15 including a male plug at one end of the conductive line and a female connector at the other end of the conductive line.

17. The decorative lights of claim 15 where there is switch member that turns at least one of the pairs of lamps on and off intermittently.

18. The decorative lights of claim 15 where different pairs of lamps have said opaque and a light transmitting portions arranged to resemble open eyes of different shapes.

19. The decorative lights of claim 15 where the conductive line terminates in a plug member.

20. Decorative lights, including

a pair of lamps spaced apart a distance of from 0.1 to 8 inches and attached to a conductive line,

each lamp comprising a substantially water-tight enclosure with a light source therein, said enclosure having an opaque portion and a light transmitting portion, said enclosure being a substantially spherical structure comprising first and second substantially hemispherical shells, said light transmitting portion including a light transmitting element inserted into one of the hemispherical shells,

said opaque and light transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye.

21. Decorative lights, including

a plurality of pairs of lamps attached to a conductive line,

each pair of lamps connected to a rigid support member that maintains each individual lamp of each pair spaced apart,

said support member including

a pair of detachable sockets, each individual socket receiving an individual light source, and

a pair of gripping members that are moveable between an open position to receive the sockets and a closed position where the sockets are held in a stationary position in the support member,

each lamp comprising a substantially spherical, watertight enclosure with a light source therein, said enclosure having an opaque portion and a light-transmitting portion, said light-transmitting portion including a light transmitting element inserted into the spherical enclosure,

said opaque and light-transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye.

22. The decorative lights of claim 21 where the gripping members are hinged together.

23. The decorative lights of claim 21 where the support member has attached thereto a mouthpiece member comprising an arm having a first end which is connected to the support member and a second end to which is connected a lamp, said lamp including an enclosure with a light source therein, said enclosure having an opaque portion and a light transmitting portion arranged to resemble an open mouth.

24. A decorating method comprising

providing decorative lights, including a pair of spaced apart lamps attached to a conductive line, each lamp comprising an enclosure with a light source therein, said enclosure having an opaque portion and a light transmitting portion, with each said enclosure being a substantially spherical structure comprising first and second substantially hemispherical shells and said light transmitting portion including a light transmitting element inserted into one of the hemispherical shells, said opaque and light transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye,

hanging the decorative lights on an item to be decorated, and

attaching the line to a source of electrical power.

25. The method of claim 24 where the lamps are attached to a support member with a hook thereon that facilitates hanging the decorative lights.

26. A decorative light comprising

an enclosure attached to a rigid support member, said enclosure including

a segment of a sphere that has opaque and light transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye, said light transmitting portion including a light transmitting element inserted into said segment of a sphere, and

a source of light within said enclosure and attached to a conductive line.

27. A decorative light comprising

a light source,

a pair eye members each including opaque and light transmitting portions arranged to resemble an open eye,

said eye members forming a part of an enclosure for the light source, with each eye member including a hemispherical light transmitting element,

each pair of eye members attached to a rigid support member that is connected to a conductive line.

28. A decorating method wherein darkness is partially illuminated with decorative lights including light sources attached to a conductive line,

said lights including a plurality of pairs of eye members, each eye member including opaque and light transmitting portions, with the opaque portion forming an outline of an open eye, and the open eye including a pupil, and the light transmitting portion passing light there through to create, when the lights are illuminated, an impression that the eyes of unseen life forms lurk within and peer from the darkness,

placing the decorative lights in the darkness, and

attaching the line to a source of electrical power and turning on said lights.