U.S. patent number 3,790,772 [Application Number 05/254,490] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-05 for light box assembly.
Invention is credited to Peter M. Newman, Daniel P. Rowan.
United States Patent |
3,790,772 |
Newman , et al. |
February 5, 1974 |
LIGHT BOX ASSEMBLY
Abstract
This invention is a light box assembly which includes a box-like
structure having interiorly mirrored walls. Multiple illuminating
members are mounted on the walls within the box and interchangeable
exterior wall panels are removably engaged with the box. Interior
wall panels having cut-out portions are removably positioned within
the box. The illuminating members are sequentially activated and
deactivated and a constantly changing visual and color effect is
thereby produced within the box itself, on the surface of the box
and projected on surrounding walls and ceiling. Various effects are
obtainable through the use of different interior and exterior wall
panels.
Inventors: |
Newman; Peter M.
(Charlottesville, VA), Rowan; Daniel P. (Arlington, VA) |
Family
ID: |
22964486 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/254,490 |
Filed: |
May 18, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/444; 40/573;
362/811; 40/577 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21W
2121/00 (20130101); Y10S 362/811 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21S
8/00 (20060101); F21p 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/1R,10.1,46.59
;40/13R,132R,132D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peters; Joseph F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: B. Edward Shlesinger, Jr. et
al.
Claims
1. A light box assembly including:
a. a box-like structure having a plurality of wall panels,
b. the interior surface of at least one of said wall panels being
of a reflective material,
c. at least one other of said wall panels being of a light
transmitting material,
d. a plurality of illuminating lights mounted on at least one of
said wall panels, removable interior wall panels positioned within
said box-like structure in spaced, parallel relationship to said
light-transmitting material,
e. said interior wall panels having aligned cut-out portions
through which light is transmitted,
f. said illuminating lights being positioned between said interior
wall panels, and
2. The light box assembly of claim 1, with the addition of:
a. means for sequentially activating and deactivating said
illuminating
3. The light box assembly of claim 2, wherein:
4. The light box assembly of claim 1, wherein:
5. The light box assembly of claim 4, with the addition of:
a. a plurality of removable wall panels of at least partially
translucent and transparent material selectively employed as the
light-transmitting
6. The light box assembly of claim 1, wherein:
7. The light box assembly of claim 6, wherein:
8. The light box assembly of claim 7, with the addition of:
a. a plurality of wall panels of translucent and transparent
material
9. The light box assembly of claim 1, wherein:
a. said cut-out portions comprise geometric designs of
progressively
10. The light box assembly of claim 1 wherein:
a. the interior surfaces of a plurality of said wall panels are of
a
11. The light box assembly of claim 1, wherein:
12. A light box assembly including:
a. a box-like member having side, back, front, bottom and top wall
panels,
b. the interior of a plurality of said wall panels being of
reflective material,
c. a plurality of spaced illuminating lights of different colors
mounted on the interior surfaces of said side panels,
d. said front wall panel being of a light transmitting
material,
e. a plurality of interior wall panels removably inserted in said
box-like structure in spaced, parallel relationship to each other
and to said front wall panel,
f. Said illuminating lights being positioned between said removable
interior wall panels, and
g. means for sequentially activating and deactivating said
illuminating lights,
h. each of said interior wall panels having cut-out portions
through which the colors from said illuminating lights are
transmitted, whereby different colored animated light patterns are
viewed through said front
13. The light box assembly of claim 12, wherein:
14. The light box assembly of claim 13, with the addition of:
a. a plurality of at least partially translucent and transparent
panels
15. The light box assembly of claim 12, wherein:
a. The interior surface of said back, bottom and side panels are of
a
16. A light box assembly including:
a. a box-like member having side, back, front, bottom and top wall
panels,
b. said top panel being removable,
c. the interior of a plurality of said wall panels being of a
reflective material,
d. a plurality of spaced illuminating lights of different colors
mounted on the interior surfaces of said side panels,
e. said front wall panel being of a light-transmitting
material,
f. means for sequentially activating and deactivating said
illuminating lights, and
g. a plurality of interior wall panels removably inserted in said
box-like stucture in spaced, parallel relationship to each other
and to said front wall panel,
h. each of said interior wall panels having cut-out portions
through which the colors from said illuminating lights are
transmitted, whereby different colored animated light patterns are
viewed through said front wall panel upon sequential activation and
deactivation of said
17. The light box assembly of claim 16, with the addition of:
a. a plurality of at least partially transparent panels
selectively
18. A light box assembly including:
a. a box-like member having side, back, front, bottom and top wall
panels,
b. the interior of a plurality of said wall panels being of
reflective material,
c. a plurality of spaced illuminating lights of different colors
mounted on the interior surfaces of said side panels,
d. said front wall panel being of a light-transmitting
material,
e. means for sequentially activating and deactivating said
illuminating lights,
f. a plurality of interior wall panels removably inserted in said
box-like structure in spaced, parallel relationship to each other
and to said front wall panel,
g. said interior wall panels having cut-out portions through which
the colors from said illuminating lights are transmitted,
h. said interior wall panels being of different colors and said
cut-out portions progressively decreasing in size from the front to
the back of the assembly, whereby different colored animated light
patterns are viewed through said front wall panel upon sequential
activation and deactivation of said illuminating lights.
Description
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a light box assembly
equipped with mirrors, sequentially activated and deactivated
illuminating members and removable and interchangeable wall panels,
the assembly producing everchanging animated light patterns and
colors.
Another object is to provide a light box assembly of the kind
described wherein exterior and interior wall panels may be
selectively employed to produce a variety of visual effects with a
minimum number of parts.
A further object is to provide a light box assembly of the kind
here described wherein the exterior panels are interchangeable and
comprise screens, two-way glass, plexiglass, translucent glass or
mirrors and the interior walls comprise opaque panels of different
colors having cut-out portions of geometric shape through which
light from the sequentially operated illuminating members pass, the
illuminating members preferably being of different colors to
further enhance the effect produced by the assembly.
A still further object is to provide a light box assembly which may
be economically manufactured and readily assembled, the assembly
lending itself to use by itself, for incorporation in pieces of
furniture, for ornamental use as a display case for merchandise, as
an advertising device, etc.
Other objects will become apparent from the following description
of the presently preferred form of this invention taken in
conjunction with the appended drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the light box assembly of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention, a
portion of the front wall thereof being broken away to disclose
details;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2,
looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2,
looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a corner
section of the assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, showing the
removable top panel of the assembly partially removed;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the front panel of the
assembly partially removed;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an interior wall panel forming a
part of the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a second/interior wall
panel employed in connection with the wall panel of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The light box assembly of the present invention preferably includes
a box generally designated 20 which is of cube shape and includes
four vertical corner posts 22, 24, 26 and 28. The lower terminals
of posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 are joined by a series of rails or frame
members 30, 32, 34, and 36. The terminals of the rails or frame
members are mitered for appearance and for facility in connecting
the frame members to each other and to the lower terminals of the
corner posts.
The upper end of box 20 is further provided with a series of
connecting rail members or frames joining the upper extremities of
corner posts 22, 24, 26 and 28. Frame member 38 joins post 24 to
26, frame member 40 joins post 26 and 28 and frame 42 joins post 28
to post 22. No frame member is provided between the upper terminals
of posts 22 and 24.
Exterior side panels are indicated at 44 and 46, the lateral
portions thereof being fixedly embedded in corner posts 22, 24, 26
and 28. A back wall panel is designated 48, and the lateral
extremities thereof are embedded in corner posts 26 and 28.
An interior back wall panel is indicated at 50 which is in spaced
relation to exterior panel 48, and the lateral extremities thereof
are embedded in corner posts 26 and 28. The interior wall surface
of panel 50 is of a reflective material for purposes which will be
hereinafter more fully set out. A bottom wall panel is indicated at
52 which panel is preferably supported by the lower side rails as
indicated in FIG. 4. of bottom panel 52 is also preferably of a
reflective material, and is provided with a plurality of spaced,
parallel, transverse grooves 54, also shown in FIG. 4.
Interior side wall panels are indicated at 56 and 58, the lateral
extremities of which are fixed in corner posts 22, 24, 26 and 28.
Side panel 56 is provided with a series of spaced, parallel,
vertical grooves 59 which are in opposed relationship to
corresponding grooves 60 in side panel 58. The interior faces of
both side panels are of a reflective material.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a series of light bulbs 61 are engaged
with electrical sockets 62 mounted in spaced relationship in panels
56, one light bulb being preferably located within each section as
defined by longitudinal grooves 59 but in spaced vertical
relationship to each other. An electrical line 64 connects the
sockets to a source of electrical energy. Side panel 58 is likewise
provided with a plurality of light bulbs 61' mounted in sockets 62'
in opposed relationship to bulbs 61 of panel 56, which bulbs are
likewise connected to electrical line 64 by feeder lines 64'. Back
wall panel is also provided with a plurality of light bulbs 66
mounted in sockets 68 and connected to electrical line 64 by feeder
lines 70.
Light bulbs 61, 61' and 66 are preferably of the blinker type
whereby they are sequentially activated and deactivated in order to
produce a unique visual and color pattern.
In conjunction with the arrangement of lights, it is further an
object of this invention to provide a series of interior wall
panels designated 72, 74, 76 and 78 which may be of any desired
color or colors, each of which is provided with a cut-out portion
80, 82, 84 and 86. Panels 74, 76, and 78 are held in spaced
parallel relationship within the assembly by virtue of the
insertion of the lateral extremities thereof in opposed grooves 59
and 60 in side panels 56 and 58. It will be noted from FIGS. 3, 4,
8 and 9 that geometrical cut-out portions 80 and 82, 84 and 86 are
preferably of decreasing size from the front of the assembly to the
back thereof in order to produce the desired visual effect. The
cut-out portions may assume many various shapes for producing
different color patterns.
It wil be further noted from FIG. 3 that interior wall panel 72 is
removably mounted in the box assembly by virtue of vertical grooves
88 and 90 located in corner posts 22 and 24. Corner posts 22 and 24
are provided with a second set of spaced opposed vertical grooves
92 and 94 which are adapted to receive a removable front panel 96
which is preferably of a translucent or transparent glass in order
to observe visually the various effects produced by the flashing
light bulbs, removable interior wall panels and the reflective
surfaces within the box assembly. However, when desired, an opaque
or combination opaque and translucent panel may be employed.
In addition to the removable front panel, it is also within the
contemplation of the present invention to provide a removable top
panel which is slideable in grooves 100 and 102 of upper side rails
38 and 42. Top panel 98 is also preferably of transparent or
translucent glass in order to either project the light patterns on
the ceiling or in the case of a translucent glass member, to
produce a striping effect when the interior wall panels are in
place or a multi colored animated effect when the panels are
removed. However, an opaque or a combination opaque and translucent
panel may be employed when desired.
In use of the assembly of the present invention, many variations in
the light patterns and colors are obtained by the blinking colored
lights, the insertion and removal of the interior wall panels and
replacement of top and front panels, e.g., translucent,
transparent, plexiglass or two-way glass panels.
An example of the visual effect obtained is illustrated in FIG. 2
wherein the cut-out sections of the interior wall panels in
conjunction with the blinking colored lights and the mirrors
produce a depth effect as well as creating colorful and unique
colored geometric patterns which are constantly changing to provide
an animated effect.
It will be apparent from the foregoing description that many visual
and color effects are obtainable by inserting and removing interior
and exterior panels. One effect is the "sunburst effect" wherein
light is reflected and mixed with the colors of the interior wall
panels in a three dimensional pattern of everchanging colors.
A second effect is the "mystic light" wherein light is projected
around the silhouette of the interior wall panels producing color
mixtures on a translucent front panel.
A third effect is the "projector effect" whereby silhouetted
patterns on the top and sides of the assembly project colored
patterns on the wall and ceiling of a room. An infinity effect is
produced by use of a two-way mirror. Looking into the box through
the two-way mirror, an infinite number of blinking lights is
seen.
Plexiglass sheets employed as the top and front panels produce
geometrical shapes of colored light on the surface of the box.
With this invention, therefore, the mirrors, blinking colored
lights and the removable panels, both exterior and interior,
cooperate to produce everchanging and animated color patterns which
are esthetically appealing and attractive.
The assembly of the present invention lends itself to multiple uses
as an entertainment entity, an advertising entity, for medical
purposes, etc. In these capacities, it may be used by itself,
incorporated in furniture such as end tables, a coffee table or a
stereo unit, as a display for merchandise, a package for Christmas
lights, a Christmas decoration and a gameboard. It further has a
medical application as a sleep or hypnosis inducer, as a mood
establisher for soothing the ill, and as a meditation box.
While there has been herein shown and described the presently
preferred forms of this invention, it is to be understood that such
has been done for purposes of illustration only, and that various
changes may be made therein within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *