Methods and systems for illuminating household products

• US 7,303,300 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FKA Distributing Company
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Cella, Charles H., Dowling, Kevin J., Blackwell, Michael K., Strauss, Josh
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward; John Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/656,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/101, 362/231, 362/249, 362/800, 362/217, 315/297, 315/312
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/04 Attracting insects by using illumination or colours A01M1/08 and A01M1/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2038 Holders or dispensers for pressurized insecticide, e.g. pressurized vessels, cans
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• 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: A47G 21/02 Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/08 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/048 air treating gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/125 emanating multiple odours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/006 for illumination or simulation of snowy or iced items, e.g. icicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/28 : using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 : Pulse-width modulation [PWM]

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided herein for illuminating a variety of household products and other items using color-controlled illumination systems that include lights under the control of processors.

Claims

1. A method of providing illumination for a household fluid product not intended for human consumption and/or a container that contains the household fluid product, the method comprising:

providing at least one light system, comprising at least one light source controllable by a processor for generating a variable color radiation;

disposing the at least one light system in proximity to the container so as to illuminate the container and/or the household fluid product with the variable color radiation, when generated; and

generating a selected color of the variable color radiation in response to a signal from the processor so as to cause a color change of the container and/or the household fluid product.

2. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of disposing the at least one light system in proximity to the container includes disposing the at least one light system in at least one of the bottom of the container, the neck of the container, the interior of the container, the top of the container, and the nozzle of the container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the household fluid product is selected from the group consisting of ammonia, bleach, window cleaner, insect repellant, insect killer, lotion, soap, liquid soap, kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, shaving gel, cleaning fluid, lighter fluid, furniture polish, wood treatment, paint, primer, drain cleaner, disinfectant, room deodorizer, carpet deodorizer, room scent, perfume, cologne, shaving foam, toilet cleaner, aerosol, skin care fluid, suntan lotion, shampoo, surface cleaner, and liquid wax.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal relates to data indicative of a condition of the household fluid product.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data relates to the freshness of the household fluid product.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the data relates to the efficacy of the household fluid product.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is responsive to a network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor responds to data directed to an address.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is responsive to a sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected color has a color temperature of white illumination.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises an optical facility for operating on light generated by the light system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical facility is selected from the group consisting of a lens, a mirror, a liquid lens, a spinning mirror, a fresnel lens, a convex lens, a concave lens, a fiber optic, and a light pipe.

13. A method of providing illumination for a fluid, the method comprising:

providing a light system, comprising at least one light source controllable by a processor for generating a variable color radiation;

disposing the light system in proximity to a nozzle of a spray container containing the fluid;

discharging a portion of the fluid though the nozzle of the spray container; and

illuminating the portion of the fluid with a selected color of the variable color radiation.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising producing a rainbow effect on the portion of the fluid.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing the color of the portion of the fluid in response to the processor.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the spray container is an aerosol can.

17. A system for providing illumination for a household fluid product not intended for human consumption and/or a container that contains the household fluid product, the system comprising:

at least one light system, comprising at least one light source controllable by a processor for generating a variable color radiation, the light system disposed proximate to the container and configured to generate a selected color of the variable color radiation in response to a signal from the processor to illuminate the container and/or the household fluid product with the selected color of the variable color radiation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one light system is disposed in at least one of the bottom of the container, the neck of the container, the interior of the container, the top of the container, and the nozzle of the container.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the household fluid product is selected from the group consisting of ammonia, bleach, window cleaner, insect repellant, insect killer, lotion, soap, liquid soap, kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, shaving gel, cleaning fluid, lighter fluid, furniture polish, wood treatment, paint, primer, drain cleaner, disinfectant, room deodorizer, carpet deodorizer, room scent, perfume, cologne, shaving foam, toilet cleaner, aerosol, skin care fluid, suntan lotion, shampoo, surface cleaner, and liquid wax.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the signal relates to data indicative of a condition of the household fluid product.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the data relates to the freshness of the household fluid product.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the data relates to the efficacy of the household fluid product.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is responsive to a network.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor responds to data directed to an address.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is responsive to a sensor.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the selected color has a color temperature of white illumination.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the container further comprises an optical facility for operating on light generated by the light system.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the optical facility is selected from the group consisting of a lens, a mirror, a liquid lens, a spinning mirror, a fresnel lens, a convex lens, a concave lens, a fiber optic, and a light pipe.

29. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of LEDs of different colors, of which at least one first color LED radiates at a first wavelength different from a second wavelength at which at least one second color LED radiates.

30. A system for providing illumination for a fluid, comprising:

at least one light system, comprising at least one light source controllable by a processor for generating a variable color radiation, the system disposed proximate to a nozzle of a spray container, containing the fluid and configured to generate a selected color of the variable color radiation in response to a signal from the processor to illuminate a portion of the fluid discharged through the nozzle of the container with the selected color.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the light system is configured to produce a rainbow effect on the discharged portion of the fluid.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the light system changes the color of the discharged portion of the fluid in response to the processor.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the container is an aerosol can.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of LEDs of different colors, of which at least one first color LED radiates at a first wavelength different from a second wavelength at which at least one second color LED radiates.

35. A method of illuminating a fluid not intended for human consumption, comprising:

disposing the fluid in a substantially transparent or translucent container;

providing a light system in operative connection with the container, the light system comprising a light source controllable by a processor for generating a variable color radiation; and

generating a selected color by the light system in response to a signal from the processor to illuminate the fluid.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the light system illuminates a portion of the fluid being discharged from the container.

37. A system for illuminating a fluid not intended for human consumption, comprising:

a substantially transparent or translucent container for storing the fluid; and

a light system in operative connection with the container, the light system comprising a light source controllable by a processor for generating a variable color radiation; and

configured to generate a selected color in response to a signal from the processor to illuminate the fluid.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the light system illuminates a portion of the fluid being discharged from the container.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs of different colors, of which at least one first color LED radiates at a first wavelength different from a second wavelength at which at least one second color LED radiates.