U.S. patent number 3,694,648 [Application Number 05/017,494] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-26 for ornamental device.
Invention is credited to Robert L. Yates.
United States Patent |
3,694,648 |
Yates |
September 26, 1972 |
ORNAMENTAL DEVICE
Abstract
An ornamental device including a housing, means on the housing
for hanging the housing on a suitable support, means within the
housing for holding an element to be viewed, means within the
housing for illuminating the element, and means carried by the
housing for permitting viewing of the illuminated element. The
device may be spherical and simulate a Christmas tree ornament. The
element to be viewed may comprise a photographic transparency.
Inventors: |
Yates; Robert L. (Chicago,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
21782905 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/017,494 |
Filed: |
March 9, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/311.03;
359/799; 362/396; 428/11; 40/716; 40/725; D11/121; 359/801;
362/808; 362/311.06; 362/311.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
33/08 (20130101); F21S 4/10 (20160101); A47G
2033/0827 (20130101); Y10S 362/808 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
33/00 (20060101); A47G 33/08 (20060101); A47g
033/16 (); G02b 027/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/1R,2AT,1S,1T
;40/152.2,13R ;350/239,241,235,236 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Prince; Louis R.
Assistant Examiner: Yasich; Daniel M.
Claims
I claim:
1. An ornamental device comprising: a light transmitting housing
arranged to present a pleasing aesthetic appearance when
illuminated from internally thereof; means on the housing for
hanging the housing on a suitable support; means within the housing
for holding an element to be viewed; means within the housing for
illuminating said element and said housing; and means carried by
the housing spaced from the element in the holding means for
permitting desired viewing of the illuminated element substantially
only from directly forwardly thereof with said housing defining a
more softly lighted surround thereabout.
2. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said housing is
arranged to glow when illuminated by said illuminating means.
3. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said housing is
translucent.
4. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said housing is
spherical.
5. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a
tubular projection, said hanging means being secured to said
housing substantially in said projection.
6. The ornamental device of claim 5 wherein said tubular projection
is adapted to pass said illuminating means therethrough for
servicing thereof.
7. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said illuminating means
includes an electrically operated lamp and wires extending
outwardly through said housing at said hanging means.
8. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said viewing means
comprises opaque tubular wall means extending between said viewing
means and said spaced holding means and having a transverse
cross-section substantially smaller than that of said housing.
9. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said holding means
comprises an open pocket means constructed to permit ready removal
and installation of the element to be viewed relative to said
device.
10. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of element
holding means and viewing means are provided.
11. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said housing simulates
a conventional Christmas tree ornament.
12. The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein a second holding means
for holding a second element to be viewed is provided within said
housing and a second means is carried by the housing for permitting
the second element to be viewed, and said illuminating means is
disposed to light each of said elements.
13. An ornamental device comprising: a light-transmitting housing
arranged to present a pleasing aesthetic appearance when
illuminated from internally thereof; means on the housing for
hanging the housing on a suitable support; means within the housing
for holding an element to be viewed; means within the housing for
illuminating said element and said housing; means carried by the
housing spaced from the element in the holding means for permitting
viewing of the illuminated element; a second holding means for
holding a second element to be viewed within said housing; and
second means carried by the housing for permitting the second
element to be viewed, said illuminating means being disposed
adjacent the center of said housing to pass light through each of
said elements where each of said elements is a transparency, a
tubular projection on said housing adapted to pass said
illuminating means therethrough for servicing thereof, and said
viewing means comprising opaque tubular wall means extending
between said viewing means and said spaced holding means and having
a transverse cross section substantially smaller than that of said
housing.
14. An ornamental device comprising:
a translucent globe suitable for use as a Christmas tree
ornament;
means for holding a transparency in said globe;
magnifying means carried by the globe for viewing the transparency;
and
illuminating means in said globe for passing light through said
globe for causing said globe circumjacent said magnifying means to
glow, and through said transparency to said magnifying viewing
means.
15. The ornamental device of claim 14 wherein the total weight of
the device is less than approximately 4 ounces.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ornamental devices and in particular to
illuminated ornamental devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One conventional form of ornamental device comprises a Christmas
tree ornament. Conventionally, such ornaments may comprise globes
having decorative finishes to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect.
The globes are provided with hangers adapted for facilitated
attachment to a tree branch. One disadvantage of conventional
ornaments of this type is the lack of personal identification with
the ornament. Thus, resort has been had to the making of ornaments
as by members of the family for providing more personal decoration
such as of a Christmas tree.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved ornamental device
permitting individual identification with the ornament while yet
providing an aesthetic, accurately manufactured over-all
appearance. More specifically, the invention comprehends providing
an ornament including a housing, means on the housing for hanging
the housing on a suitable support, means within the housing for
holding an element to be viewed, means within the housing for
illuminating the element, and means carried by the housing for
permitting viewing of the illuminated element. The housing may
comprise a light-transmitting housing for improved aesthetic
effect. The viewing element may comprise a picture or transparency
suitably selected by the user and installed in the ornament. The
viewing means may comprise a suitable lens for magnifying the image
of the element to be viewed for improved discernment of the
element. Where the element to be viewed comprises a transparency,
the illuminating means is arranged to provide substantially evenly
diffused light therethrough for improved viewing.
The ornament may comprise a device generally simulating a Christmas
tree ornament globe. The housing may be light-transmitting
permitting the illuminating means to provide a highly aesthetic
light transmission therethrough as well as provide means for
illuminating the element to be viewed therein.
The device may be arranged to carry a plurality of elements to be
viewed and the illuminating means may be suitably arranged to
provide suitable illumination of each of the plurality of
elements.
The device may be arranged to permit facilitated insertion and
removal of the elements to be viewed whereby the elements may be
installed and replaced by the user as desired. The device is
relatively light permitting it to be used in the manner of a
conventional Christmas tree ornament by hanging the same on a
branch of the Christmas tree. The illuminating means may be
energized by wires brought outwardly through the housing.
Illustratively, the illuminating means may comprise a conventional
Christmas light and may comprise one of a series of such lights on
a common string with a series of the ornamental devices being
provided for use with the lights of the series.
The ornamental device is extremely simple and economical of
construction while yet providing the above discussed desirable
features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a tree branch carrying a
number of ornamental devices embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ornamental device;
FIG. 3 is a diametric section taken substantially along the line
3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line
4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a reduced side elevation illustrating the appearance of
the device to a viewer; and
FIG. 6 is a diametric section showing a modified form of ornamental
device embodying the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGS.
1-5 of the drawing, an ornamental device generally designated 10 is
shown to comprise a device such as for hanging on a support
illustratively shown as a Christmas tree branch 11. Ornamental
device 10 is adapted for personal identification with the user by
utilization of an element to be viewed 12, such as a photograph or
photographic transparency selected by the user and viewable in the
device as will be brought out in greater detail here following.
Illustratively, the device may be utilized in conjunction with
pictures of the user's family to provide a closely personal
identification with a series of such devices hung on a Christmas
tree or the like.
Ornamental device 10 may comprise a housing 13 provided with
suitable means 14 for hanging the device on a suitable support.
Structure 15 is provided within the housing for receiving and
holding the element to be viewed. Means 16 are further provided
within the housing for illuminating the element 12. Means 17 are
carried by the housing 13 for permitting viewing of the illuminated
element. The entire ornamental device 10 is relatively light in
weight and simple and economical of construction while yet
providing improved personal identification with the device as by
permitting the elements to be viewed to be personally identified
with the user.
In the illustrated embodiment, the elements to be viewed comprise
photographic transparencies. Thus, the illuminating means may
comprise a lamp element 18 disposed rearwardly of the transparency
12 for transmission of light through the transparency and outwardly
from housing 13 through the viewing means 17. In the illustrated
embodiment, lamp element 18 comprises a conventional low wattage
Christmas decoration lamp provided with suitable wires 19 which are
brought out through the opening 20 in a cover 21 for connection to
a suitable power supply (not shown) such as a receptacle outlet.
Lamp 18 may comprise one of a series of such lamps in a string as
desired. The lamp may be held in place in the housing by suitable
bracket means 22 permitting facilitated installation and removal of
the lamp such as for maintenance purposes.
Housing 13 may define any desirable shape and in the illustrated
embodiment comprises a globe having a projecting tubular portion 23
at the upper end thereof capped by cover 21. The globe may be
formed of a suitable lightweight material, such as plastic, glass,
etc., and illustratively may be light transmitting for improved
aesthetic effect. Where the globe is formed of a translucent
material, the light transmission therethrough from lamp 18 provides
a highly desirable general glowing appearance.
Hanging means 14 may comprise a suitable hanger having a pair of
legs 24 received below the topwall 25 of cap 21, and a loop hanger
portion 26 projecting upwardly through the opening 20 such as for
hanging the device from a Christmas tree branch or the like. Legs
24 may be resilient to facilitate passage thereof through opening
20 in mounting the hanger on cover 21. Holder 15 illustratively
comprises a frame provided with a center opening 27 aligned with
the lamp 18 and viewing means 17 as best seen in FIG. 3. In the
illustrated embodiment, holder 15 is arranged to suitably carry a
transparency introduced thereinto through an upwardly opening slot
28 in the housing 13 adjacent tubular portion 23. Illustratively,
the transparency may comprise a conventional 35 mm. transparency.
The device may be adapted for mounting different size
transparencies as desired. To provide improved illumination of the
transparency, a diffusing sheet 29 may be mounted rearwardly on the
frame. Further, the inner surface adjacent lamp 22 may be provided
with a reflective coating 30 as seen in FIG. 4 to provide improved
efficiency in illumination of the transparency.
Viewing means 17 may comprise a suitable lens 31 which may be
formed of suitable material such as plastic, glass, etc. The lens
is preferably formed of plastic to minimize the weight of the
ornamental device and effectively minimize the cost thereof. The
lens is mounted in a suitable opening 32 in housing 13 and may be
secured therein by suitable adhesive means 33 as desired. A tubular
duct 34 may be provided extending between holder 15 and lens 31 to
limit viewing within the housing to the area of the transparency
12. Light from lamp 18 may pass around the outside of tubular
element 34 to illuminate the forward portions of the housing 13
where the housing is light-transmitting and such light transmission
is desired.
As seen in FIG. 5, the transparency 12 may be readily viewed
through lens 31 to provide a personal identification with the
ornamental device by suitable selection of the transparency.
Illustratively, a series of such ornamental devices may be hung on
a Christmas tree with each of the devices carrying a picture of a
different one of the user's family. As holder 15 permits ready
installation and removal of the transparency, the transparency may
be readily changed from time to time to keep pace with changes in
the user's family or retained permanently therein as desired by the
user. Where the housing is light-transmitting, the ornament
functions somewhat in the manner of an ornamental lamp as the
device not only provides for viewing of the transparency, but
provides a general illumination of the tree.
Balancing of the device may be effected by suitably selecting the
weight and positioning of lens 31, holder 15, and illuminating
means 16.
Holder 15 is provided with a cutout portion 35 permitting the
passage of lamp 18 therethrough such as for use in installing and
removing the lamp as for maintenance thereof. The lamp is
preselected to pass through the tubular portion 23 of housing 13
upon removal of the cover 21.
The invention further comprehends providing a plurality of such
elements to be viewed within the housing. Illustratively, as seen
in FIG. 6, a pair of transparencies 12a and 12b may be provided
within the housing for viewing through oppositely disposed lenses
31a and 31b. Lamp 18a may comprise a dual lamp for illuminating
both transparencies from a center portion thereof within housing
13. Suitable brackets 22a may be provided extending between the
transparency holders 15a and 15b for carrying the lamp removably
within the housing. Thus, ornamental device 10a, as shown in FIG.
6, permits use of a number of elements to be used within each
ornamental device. The elements may illustratively be identical so
that the same view will be obtained through each of the viewing
portions of the device or may comprise different pictures as
desired.
In illustrating the invention, the element to be viewed has been
shown as a transparency. As discussed above, the element may
comprise a conventional photograph which may be in black and white,
or color as desired. Where the element comprises a photograph, the
lamp is preferably mounted forwardly of the photograph such as
adjacent the bottom of housing 13 as shown in dotted lines in FIG.
3. Where the device is adapted for use with such a photograph, the
tubular device 34 may be provided with a suitable opening (not
shown) in alignment with the lamp 18 and photograph 12 to permit
illumination of the surface of the photograph by the lamp.
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of
the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.
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