US2136780A - Decorative light ornament - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 1938. B. BERWICK DECORATIVE LIGHT ORNAMENT Filed April 29. 1956 INVENTOR .Eeznard fiern 'c' BS Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to lighted decorative or naments and particularly to such lighted decorativeuornaments for use on Christmas trees, wreaths and the like. Decorative effects on Christmas trees and the like have heretofore been obtained by the use ofcolored or uncoloredlights associated or not associated with ornaments of' various designs, shapes and forms such as stars and globes made from tinsel, foil or the like. The decorative effects created by such lights when associated with conventional ornaments such as tinsel-stars, globes and the like, as a background for the light, have been comparatively drab and ineffective belights, with which they have been heretofore associated, have been disposed to reflectthe light merely intensified and in a glare that is. ordinarily harmful to the eyes. i

My invention contemplates the proviison of an ornamental reflector whereby the light will be concentrated or reflected in a decorative, pleasing or? ornamental manner providing pleasing and ornamental illusory effects surrounding the source of light. r

My invention further contemplates the provision of ornamental reflectors of the character described whichicreate upon illumination the illu sionary appearance of luminous ornamental figuresof specific configuration and of well defined outline having a selected shape to form a design such as stars, crosses, sunbursts, crescents, globes or the like, surrounding the source of light.

My inventioncontemplates still further the provision of such ornamental reflectors which have in association with such illusionary luminous ornamental figures surrounding the light, means for reflecting halos of lesser luminosity surrounding the luminous images.

Still'further contemplated by the present inventionl provideornaments of the character described which'will reflect illusionary designs or 'illusionary configurations of the character described of differingcolors and hues and of varying intensities and degrees.

Further objects of my from the description which follows and from the drawing inwhich 50 Fig. l is aplan view of a decorative ornament constructed-in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modification ofmy invention, partially broken away.

= Fig.3 isa plan view of a: further, modification 55 of my. invention, partially, broken away.

cause such ornamental backgrounds and the invention will beclear Fig. 4' is a side-elevation and partialsection of a still furthermodification of my. invention.

Fig.- 5. isaperspective view of the decorative ornament: illustrated inFig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a still further modification of my invention.

While the accompanying drawing illustrates the application of my invention tovornaments which produce the illusion or. optical effect of a radiating luminous star, aura and/or corona or a combination thereof, it willbe understoodthat the complementary light reflecting planes which together combine with a source of illumination to provide the novel decorative lighting efiects may-be adapted to= form other selected shapes and forms.

Referring now to. the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and: 5, I. have therein illustratedianrembodiment. of: my invention which is adapted to provide a decorative luminousornament in the form. of a five pointed star;

The ornament frame :l-ll may be fabricated from any suitable material such as. paper, cardboard, fibre board, sheet metal, thermosetting plastics or the like in the form of a five pointed star having a plurality. of. preferably similar light reflecting elements IZreXtending from the hub l4.

Centrallyv disposed, in. the hub, I provide the light socket receiving aperture 16' in which a source of illumination, such as the conventional light. bulb i 8: is arranged The decorative ornament: isassembled together with the light by inserting the threaded light bulb base 20Linto the aperture 16 into engagementwiththeconventional socket 22, which is connected to a. suitable electrical current supply by the electrical wires 24.

The light bulb is screwedinto the socket, which is. thereby urged against theinsulating washer 26, secured. to the underside 28iof the ornament hub, in any suitable manner, as by cementing it thereto.

The washer is formed from any suitable insulating material and is preferably somewhat resilient to thereby-at the same time provide a locking washer. betweenthe light bulb, socket and ornament; for securing the parts together.

The insulating washer is arranged adjacent the-ornamenuaperture concentric therewith and extends radially beyond the inner aperture wall, thereby disposing the insulating annulus 30 over a portion ofthe aperturaqthe central portion 3| of .which washer is also apertured toreceive the light bulb basetinserted, thereinto. upon assembling the parts.

It will be seen that I have provided an extremely simplified insulated structure which eliminates danger of fire which might be occasioned by possible short circuiting of the light or socket and. which provides an inexpensive ornamental frame for the bulb.

In order to provide the novel decorative lighting effect ornaments of the present invention'I arrange on the frame a plurality 'of elements having reflecting surfaces of highintensity which complement one another to form a figure of definite and specific configuration and outline, which figure will appear in the reflected light from the I light source as an intensely luminous object and which will be distinctly set off by the base or other surrounding non-luminous portions of the frame.

In order to effect such an optical illusion, I have found that the dimensions of the mirrored surfaces in relation to the height and diameter of the light bulb should not be great enough to reflect an outline image of the bulb but should be of. such dimensions that the entire mirrored surfaces reflect the light preferably of even .intensity from all parts thereof.

If desired, in order to further accentuate the outline of the radially extended mirrored surfaces, thesaid mirrored surfaces may be disposed on the radially extending elements inwardly of the outer edges thereof to provide the outline moulding strips 34, which may beprovided with a comparatively nonreflecting surface similar to that of the hub.

I have also found thatthe illusion and optical effect created by my novel decorative ornament is somewhat intensified by disposing the highly reflecting surfaces at an angle to the comparatively. nonreflecting surface. The exact angle at which the highly reflecting surfaces are disposed is dependent on their dimensions in relation to the size of the .light bulb, but within the limits above mentioned, namely that. the entire mirrored surface reflects the'light, these surfaces may be arranged at any angle from 0.,to, 90 degrees.

For the light bulbs'conventionally. used for Christmas tree. decorations; I prefer-to arrange the mirrored'surfaces at an angle of 45 degrees to the comparatively nonreflecting surface- I have found that in the modification just described where the radially extending elements are disposed at an angle to the hub, the hub may be provided with a reflecting surface similar to that of the radially extending elements. and a similarly radiating luminous figure is obtained, thoughits intensity. and outline definition is somewhat lessened. g

If desired, the light bulb may be tinted any desirable color, such as purple, gold, blue, green or the like, which color is reflected by the mirrored surface to give the optical impression of a colored star or the like. i

It will be apparent that the highly reflecting and comparatively nonreflecting surfaces may each, themselves, likewise be tinted by similar or dissimilar colors and combined with a tinted light bulb, the color of which may be selected to complement and/or merge with the colors of the different reflecting surfaces. 'It will be apparent that innumerable combinations of colors and designs may be efi'ected by changing the figures, designs and the like, the colors. of their reflecting surfaces and intermingling the colors of the light bulb andof the reflecting surfaces and their designs.

For example, I have found that an extremely novel decorative effect may be produced by pro viding both the radially extending elements and the hub portion with similar mirrored surfaces. The upper bulb portion 36 is tinted with any desired color, for example blue, and the lower bulb 38 is uncolored. The length of that part of the bulb which is colored in relation to the angularly disposed surfaces, is such that only colored light is reflected by them and not by the hub portion.

The effect produced is quite startling and is that of a five pointed star having luminously colored radiating points and a brightly luminous centre portion. Different combinations, variations and effects of this modification will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, I have therein illustrated a modified embodiment of my invention.

In order to provide the optical effect of a luminous aura or corona, I provide on the ornament frame 40 a plurality of comparatively small elements 42, which are disposed circumferentially onthe comparatively extended hub portion 44 of the frame to thereby project radially therefrom and which elements are provided with surfaces 46 of comparatively high light reflecting power, such as have been hereinabove described. The extended hub portion is preferably provided with a surface of contrasting and dissimilar reflecting power.

Upon association with a light the optical effect of a radiating luminous aura or corona is thereby produced.

.It will be understood that the relative dimensions and angles of the reflecting surfaces and the light bulb, the combinations of colors, lights and designs thereof are governed by the same considerations enumerated with the description of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5.

v In order to provide a still further novel effect, I superimpose concentrically therewith the ornament frame 40 on a similar ornament frame 48. The upper and lower ornament frames are secured to the insulating Washer 50, interposed between the frames, in any suitable manner as by cementing them thereto.

The upper and lower frames are provided respectively with the light bulb base receiving apertures 52 and 54.

The insulating washer is arranged adjacent the ornament frame apertures, concentric therewith and extending beyond the side walls thereof to provide the insulating annulus 56.

The ornament frame and light are assembled by inserting the threaded light bulb base 58 into engagement with the conventional socket 60, which is connected to a source of electric current supply by the wires 62.

The shoulder 64 of the socket is urged by the bulb against the washer, which is formed from any suitable insulating material, preferably resilient, to thereby secure the ornament frame therebetween. The under frame is provided with a plurality of radially extending elements 66, which are preferably arranged intermediate the radial elements extending on the upper frame to thereby complement the light reflected by them.

The under frame radial elements are preferably provided with a surface of somewhat lower light reflecting power than that of the adjacent upper frame radial elements, though it will be understood that surfaces of similar light reflecting power may be provided.

This resulting modification of my invention produces the optical. effect and illusion of two radiating luminous superimposed auras or C- ronas.

It will be understood that, if desired, the radially extending elements may be disposed at an angle to the frame hub as illustrated in Fig. 4.

It will be further understood that the relative dimensions of the reflecting surface of the upper and lower frames with respect to the light bulb, their combinations and colors, lights and designs are governed by the same considerations enumerated above.

A still further modification of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the ornament frame comprises an upper frame 68, provided with a comparatively large number of radially extending elements and superimposed upon a lower frame 12 having a surface of different light reflecting power and provided preferably with an equal number of radially extending elements 14, which are arranged to extend intermediately of the upper frame radial elements. The surfaces are preferably not mirrored or highly polished.

The frames are assembled together on an insulating washer 16, in the manner heretofore described and which need not therefore be repeated here.

The reflecting surface of the upper frame throughout the hub 18 and the radial elements extending therefrom is the same, the novel decorative effect,upon assembly with a source of light in the manner heretofore described, resulting from the reflecting superimposed reflecting surfaces of contrasting light reflecting power.

The radial extending elements of the ornament frames of this modification may be disposed at an angle to the hub portion and the surfaces and lights tinted with different colors and. different designs combined in the manner heretofore described.

It will be apparent that I have provided means for securing new decorative effects from the association with a source of illumination of a decorative ornament.

It will be further apparent that I have provided a novel decorative ornament which, upon association with a source of illumination, produces the optical effect of an intensely luminous figure, design, motif or emblem.

It will be still further apparent that decorative ornaments constructed in accordance with my invention may be arranged in innumerable combinations of designs, colors and lights to thereby provide countless different optical effects.

While the invention has been described in detail with specific examples, such examples are illustrative and are not given as limitations since modifications other than the star, corona 0r aura,

which have been illustrated and which are within the spirit and scope of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Hence, the invention is to be understood as limited only as indicated in the appended claims, in which the intent is to .set forth all the novelty over the prior art.

I claim:

1. A decorative ornament for association with a light source comprising a hub portion having an opening for the base of the light source and having a dull surface, anda reflector portion of selected outline defining a specific configuration, said reflector portion being of a size and disposed at an angle relative to the light source whereby it is adapted to reflect less than a complete image of the light source to thereby provide the illusion of a luminous figure of said specific configuration.

2. A decorative ornament for association with a light source comprising a hub portion having a dull surface and an opening for the base of the light source and a reflector portion comprising a plurality of reflecting elements having high reflective intensity radiating from the said base and arranged in selected outline defining a specific configurationQand a plurality of elements of comparatively lesser reflective intensity radiating from the said base and extending beyond the said highly reflective elements, the said highly reflective elements being of a size and disposed at an angle relative to the source of light whereby they are adapted to reflect an intensely luminous image of the specific configuration, and the said reflecting elements of lesser intensity adapted to reflect a comparatively lessluminous halo surrounding the said highly luminous image of the specific configuration.

BERNARD BERWICK.

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