US3400263A - Ornamental illuminated color star light - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1968 c. YAKlM ORNAMENTAL ILLUMINATED COLOR STAR LIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 25, 1966 INVENTOR.

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Sept. 3, 1968 c. YAKIM ORNAMENTAL ILLUMINATED COLOR STAR LIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec, 23, 1966 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,400,263 ORNAMENTAL ILLUMINATED COLOR STAR LIGHT Charles Yakim, 612 /2 Soles St., McKeesport, Pa. 15132 Filed Dec. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 604,240

Claims. (Cl. 240-) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An illuminated star consisting of an intermediate fiat rigid star-shaped frame with a center in the form of an open pentagon and open triangular points on the sides of the pentagon. Each point has a straight intermediate cross arm parallel to the associated pentagon side. Different colored outwardly projecting lamps are mounted in the points and on the midportions of the respective sides of the pentagon in radial alinement. Additional inwardly projecting colored lamps are mounted on the corners of the pentagon and on the midportions of the pentagon sides, forming an inner pentagon concentric with the frame pentagon. A pair of outwardly convex starshaped translucent covers are secured to the opposite side surfaces of the frame. The lamps are wired so that groups of lamps of common color may be simultaneously energized, and so that the respective groups may be sequentially energized.

This invention relates to ornamental lighting devices, and more particularly to an ornamental illuminated de vice in the form of a star especially suitable for use on Christmas trees, for various types of display lighting, and for other purposes requiring the use of an illuminated decorative star-shaped lighting device.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved ornamental lighting device which is highly decorative, which includes a plurality of differently colored groups of lamps mounted internally therein, and which is wired so that the lamps may be sequentially energized, if so desired, thus providing novel and highly attractive visual effects.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamental lighting device in the form of a star, the device being provided internally with a plurality of groups of differently colored lamps which may be primary or other colors and which are wiredso that they may be sequentiallyenergized, for example, so that the various groups may be energized in a predetermined sequence, the lamp device assembly being relatively inexpensive to fabricate, being durable in construction, and providing a highly unusual and ornamental decorative effect.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved star-shaped ornamental lighting device which involves relatively few parts, which is easy to install, and which is economical to operate.

. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an improved star-shaped ornamental light assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the ornamental light assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram showing the wiring connections of the various lamps contained in the light assembly of FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

3,400,263 Patented Sept. 3, 1968 FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 7--7 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved ornamental light assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention. The assembly 11 comprises a main flat, rigid star-shaped frame 12 formed of a suitable rigid relatively sturdy insulating material, the frame 12 being in the form of a fiat, five-pointed star, as shown, and comprising a pentagonal center portion 13 and five generally triangular points 14, each point comprising the respective outwardly convergent side arms 15, 15, the base arm 16, and an intermediate cross-arm 17 parallel to base arm 16. The pentagonal center portion is defined by the five base arms 16 of the respective star points 14.

As above-stated, the star-shaped frame may be made of any suitable material, for example, rigid plastic material, or of suitable light sturdy metal, such as aluminum.

In a typical example illustrated herein, the frame 12 is of translucent plastic material.

Suitably mounted in the frame 12 are a plurality of lamp sockets carrying differently colored lamp bulbs, the lamps being arranged in respective groups in a manner presently to be described. Thus, each star point 14 is pro vided with a first lamp socket 21 mounted on a bracket 22 and secured to the outermost portion 23 of the star point, as shown in FIGURE 4, with the socket 21 arranged horizontally and containing a green lamp bulb 24 which is illustrated, and which is mounted substantially in the plane of the frame 12. Similarly mounted on the crossarm 17 is another lamp socket 25 which is supported on an angle bracket 22 secured to the cross-arm 17 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6, the socket 25 containing a rose-colored lamp bulb 26 which is directed toward the outer lamp bulb 24 and is substantially coplanar therewith and in radial alignment therewith with respect to the center of frame 12. An additional socket 28 is mounted in a similar manner on the base arm 16, the socket 28 containing a red bulb 29, the socket 28 being in radial alignment with the sockets 25 and 21, and being directed outwardly, as shown in FIGURE 4. Mounted on the base arm 16 is an oppositely-directed socket 30 which is directed inwardly into the pentagonal central space 13 and which contains a blue bulb 31. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 4, the respective differently colored bulbs 24, 26, 29 and 31 are substantially in radial alignment and are located substantially in the plane of frame 12 on a common radial line leading from the outer point portion 23 to the center of the pentagonal-shaped inner space 13.

Secured to the corner portions of the pentagonalshaped inner space 13 and projecting radially inwardly thereof are respective brackets 32 on which are mounted lamp sockets 33 containing orange lamps 34. It will be seen from FIGURE 4 that the orange bulbs 34 alternate wilth the blue bulbs 31 and are located substantially on a common pentagon-shaped inner figure whose arms are spaced inwardly from and are parallel to the frame arms 16, the blue bulbs 31 being located substantially at the centers of the inner pentagon and the orange bulbs 34 being located substantially at the corners of said inner pentagon.

One terminal of each of the sockets 21, 25, 28, 30 and 33 is connected to a common supply wire 40, as by the respective branch conductors 41, as shown in FIGURE 3. Respective additional supply conductors numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are provided for separately energizing the respective groups of orange, blue, red, rosecolored and green lamps. Thus, the remaining terminal of each socket 33 associated with an orange lamp 34 is connected to the supply wire 1, the remaining terminal of each socket 30 associated with a blue lamp is connected to the supply wire 2, the remaining terminal of each socket 28 associated with a red lamp is connected to the supply wire 3, the remaining terminal of each socket 25 associated with a rose-colored lamp is connected to the supply wire 4, and the remaining terminal of each socket 21 associated with a green lamp is connected to the supply wire 5. The supply wires 40 and 1 to are encased in a suitable covering and form a cable 42 leading to a suitable current source which may include a sequential switch assembly or other suitable switching means for intermittently energizing the respective conductors 1 to 5 in a desired sequence or according to a predetermined program, thereby correspondingly energizing the respective groups of different colored lamps 24, 26, 29, 31 and 34. Thus, the conductor 40 always remains connected to one side of the power supply system, whereas the other side of the system is sequentially connected to the wires 1 to 5 in any desired sequence or pattern. It the lamps are flashed at a relatively rapid sequential rate, blending of the lamp colors occurs providing interesting visual effects, and the type of blending and visual effects may be varied by varying the switching arrangement for the conductors 1 to 5.

Respectively outwardly-convex translucent plastic covers 52, 52 are provided on opposite sides of the frame 12, the covers being star-shaped and being of stepped configuration, including the successive steps 53 which lead toward the outer flat flanges 54. The outer portions of the frame 12 are received between the flanges 54, 54 of the opposing translucent plastic cover elements 52, 52, and the flanges 54 are suitably secured to the opposite sides of the frame by transverse fastening means, such as rivets 55, as shown in FIGURE 5.

The translucent plastic covers 52, 52 provide a diffusion elfect aiding in the visual blending of the different colors produced by the lamps 24, 26, 29, 31 and 34. Thus, the combination of the red, green and blue color components produces white when properly diffused, and the addition of the other color components introduced by the additional lamps 26 and 34 provides various additional tints and hues, the total color pattern produced varying with the switching pattern provided for switching the conductors l to 5. Thus, rapid flashing will give substantially all of the visible colors of the spectrum at the star points and center, with the star points and center continually changing in color. Due to the outwardlyconvex shape of the covers 52, 52, the diffusion effect is more pronounced at the central portion of the star-shaped lamp assembly than at the points, since the walls of the covers are closer to the lamps 24, 26 and 29 in the points of the assembly and more direct light transmission takes place in these regions. Also, since the lamps in the central portion of the unit comprise orange and blue lamps, and the lamps contained in the points of the assembly comprise red, rose and green lamps, the spectral composition of the visual color effect provided at the points is somewhat different from that provided in the central portion of the unit. However, it will be noted that each point contains two primary-colored lamps, namely, a red lamp 29 and a green lamp 24, and that a third primary-colored lamp, namely, the blue lamp 31 is mounted in radial alignment with the first two primary-colored lamps, but directed inwardly of the central frame polygon 13. Therefore, if the radially aligned lamps 24, 26 and 31 are energized in rapid sequence, their combined output is visually blended to produce a resultant effect comprising that of white light tinted by the admixture of colored light from the lamp 26. As will be readily apparent, various schemes of sequential energization of the lamps may be employed so that correspondingly different visual color effects can be obtained.

While a specific embodiment of an improved ornamental star-shaped lighting device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ornamental lighting device comprising a flat rigid frame in the form of a star and having a center portion in the form of an open regular polygon and having substantially open generally triangular points projecting from the respective sides of said open regular polygon, a plurality of differently colored electric lamps mounted in each of said triangular points, additional colored electric lamps secured to portions of said regular polygon and projecting inwardly thereof, said lamps comprising a plurality of groups, each of a different color, the electric lamps being all substantially in the plane of said flat rigid frame, separate energizing circuits connected to the respective groups of lamps for independently energizing said differently colored groups of lamps, and respective star-shaped, outwardly convex translucent cover members disposed on opposite sides of the frame and having substantially the same outline shape and contour as the frame, the frame being positioned between the cover members and being in registry therewith, wherein said cover members are formed with flat marginal flanges engageable on opposite sides of the frame, and wherein said securing means comprises fastening members extending through said flanges and the intervening frame, wherein the electric lamps in the points of the frame are substantially radially alined with respect to the center of said regular polygon, wherein said additional lamps comprise lamps of a first color mounted on the intermediate portions of the sides of said regular polygon and lamps of a second color mounted on the corners of said regular polygon, wherein said additional lamps substantially define an inner regular polygon similar to and concentric with the first-named regular polygon, and wherein said points are provided with intermediate straight cross arms extending substantially parallel to the sides of said firstnamed regular polygon, each cross arm having an outwardly directed electric lamp mounted thereon.

2. The ornamental lighting device of claim 1, and wherein the electric lamps mounted on the cross-arms are of the same color.

3. The ornamental lighting device of claim 2,. and wherein the electric lamps mounted in each point include two lamps, each of a different primary color.

4. The ornamental lighting device of claim 3, and wherein the electric lamps secured to and projecting inwardly of the first-named regular polygon include lamps of the third primary color.

5. The ornamental lighting device of claim 4, and wherein the two primary-colored lamps of the triangular points and the third primary-colored lamps of the firstnamed regular polygon are arranged on respective radial lines directed toward the center of the first-named regular polygon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 83,471 2/1931 Schultz 240-10 2,696,596 12/ 1954 Enrich 240-10 X 3,014,124 12/1961 Yakem 240-10 3,143,300 8/1964 Way 240-3.1 3,189,731 8 6/1965 Dover 240-112 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. E. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

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