Abstract:
The Improved display stand is an invention that because of its unique adjustable overhead type lights and because of it unique electroluminescent lighting provides a stand that not only accommodates the display of various action figures or the like bathed in figure appropriate lighting, but creates an intriguing luminescent display. The display stand has particular application in the display of action type figures such as figures of characters know to science fiction type movies, wherein the display of such figures is enhanced due to adjustable lighting and due to the electroluminescent structural members of both the stand and the displayed item.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to display stands for action figures or the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved display stands having light cast upon a figure placed upon the stand and to stands having light emitting from select portions of the stand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is an improved display stand for action figures or like dolls and related displayable items. The stand, having adjustable lighting arms, is adaptable to optimally cast light on a variety of different action figures which may be displayed thereon. The stand further includes a portion of the stand structure that defines a light emitting portion of the stand. In the preferred embodiment, an action figure that includes as a portion of the action figure structure, electroluminescent members, is mounted on the structure. The electroluminescent members preferably include electroluminescent strands such as the electroluminescent strands disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,930. U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,930 is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0003]    It is well know that display stands, including stands that emit light, have long existed. Some samples of such display stands include the stands disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,474, and published US patent application 20030140535. U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,474, and published US patent application 20030140535 are expressly incorporated herein by reference. However, such prior art display stands have been of the type that do not provide for adjustable lighting, that do not include electroluminescent material built into the display stand structure, and that do not include electroluminescent material as a portion of the structure of the item displayed on the stand. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a substantially front view of the improved display stand assembly. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the electrical components of the improved display stand assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0009]    In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature table is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 FEATURE TABLE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 # 
                 Feature 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 Improved display stand assembly 
               
               
                 20 
                 Base assembly 
               
               
                 21 
                 Base housing 
               
               
                 22 
                 Base display platform 
               
               
                 23 
                 Glow ring 
               
               
                 24 
                 Glow ring support column 
               
               
                 25 
                 Female type electrical outlet 
               
               
                 26 
                 Speaker 
               
               
                 30 
                 Flexible Light assembly 
               
               
                 31 
                 Flexible arm 
               
               
                 32 
                 Spot light 
               
               
                 40 
                 Action figure figurine 
               
               
                 41 
                 Figurine foot 
               
               
                 42 
                 Figurine leg 
               
               
                 43 
                 Figurine torso 
               
               
                 44 
                 Figurine arm 
               
               
                 45 
                 Figurine hand 
               
               
                 46 
                 Light saber 
               
               
                 47 
                 Figurine head 
               
               
                 48 
                 Figurine power cord 
               
               
                 49 
                 Figurine power cord plug 
               
               
                 50 
                 Schematic diagram in general 
               
               
                 51 
                 Alternating current type electrical plug 
               
               
                 52 
                 Electrical power supply 
               
               
                 53 
                 Electrical switch 
               
               
                 54 
                 Potentiometer 
               
               
                 55 
                 Sound electrical chip 
               
               
                 56 
                 Sound activation button 
               
               
                 57 
                 A first electrically activated light 
               
               
                 58 
                 A second electrically activated light 
               
               
                 59 
                 Electrical line 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0010]    Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , the invention is improved display stand assembly  10  comprising a base assembly  20 , a plurality of flexible light assemblies  30 , and an action figure type figurine  40 . 
         [0011]    Base assembly  20  comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped base housing  21 , a base display platform  22 , a glow ring  23 , a plurality of cylindrically shaped glow ring support columns  24 , a female type electrical outlet  25 , and a sound emitting electrical speaker  26 . Base housing  21  defines a generally cylindrically shaped hollow housing shell. Base display platform defines a substantially disked shaped translucent member having a plurality of energized electroluminescent strands mounted to a lower surface of display platform  22 . Display platform further includes female type electrical outlet  25  and sound emitting electrical speaker  26  retentatively connected to platform  22 . Electrical outlet  25  is powered by electrical power such as by power from a standard 110 volt wall outlet with appropriate regulation of said power by a power regulator. Electrical outlet  25  is alternately powered by standard batteries such as flashlight type batteries. Base housing  21  is adapted so as to house a power supply and batteries. Speaker  26  and display platform  22  are further connected to a power supply such that speaker  26  emits predetermined sounds at predetermined times and such that the electroluminescent strands connected to platform  22  are energized. Platform  22  is further connected to a first end of support columns  24 . A second end of support columns  24  is connected to glow ring  23 . Glow ring  23 , and support columns  24 , like platform  22  are formed from a translucent material so as enable glow ring  23  to conduct and emit light. 
         [0012]    Flexible light assembly  30  comprises a substantially flexible arm  31  and a spot light  32 . Flexible light assembly  30  is adapted such that the position of spot light  32  is readily moveable by means of bending or otherwise reconfiguring flexible arm  31 . Such positioning of spot light  32  enables unique and appealing lighting of the figurine  40  while figurine  40  is being displayed. Once positioned, flexible light assembly  30  maintains its position until it is again repositioned. 
         [0013]    Action figure figurine  40  comprises a figurine foot  41 , a figurine leg  42 , a figurine torso  43 , a figurine arm  44 , a figurine hand  45 , a light saber  46 , a figurine head  47 , a figurine power cord  48 , and a figurine power cord plug  49 . Figurine foot  41  is connected to figurine leg  42 . Figurine leg  42  is connected to figurine torso  43 . Figurine torso  43  is connected to figurine arm  44  and figurine head  47 . Figurine arm  44  is connected to figurine hand  45 . Figurine hand  45  is connected to light saber  46 . Light saber  46  comprises an elongated substantially clear plastic tube connected to a handle and having electroluminescent strands energizably contained within said tube. Figurine  40 , thus assembled defines a preferably formable and life-like repositionable figurine. Figurine  40  further includes power cord  48  having a first end connected to said figurine  40 . Power cord  48  includes a power cord plug  49  connected to a second end of power cord  48 . 
         [0014]    In practice, display stand  10  is assembled such that light assemblies  30  are repositioningly connected to base  20  and figurine  40  is rested on base  20  with plug  49  connected to outlet  25 . Further in practice, when base  20  is powered by an electrical power source such as power from a standard 110 volt electrical wall outlet or from flashlight type batteries, electroluminescent strands are energized, and base  20 , including display platform  22 , columns  24 , and glow ring  23 , light sabers  46 , and spot light  32  emit light and cast light on surrounding objects. Further, when stand  10  is powered, stand  10  emits predetermined sounds, such as those sounds that might be associated with the select figurine. Stand  10  is adapted such that different figures may be substituted for depicted figurine  40  and such that when a different figurine is displayed, a different predetermined sound associated with the substituted figurine is emitted when stand  10  is electrically powered. It is noted that because a portion of the light emitted from stand  10  is created by energizing electroluminescent strands, the emitted light creates a realistic appearing light. For instance, when light saber  46  emits light, it appears as if light saber  46  glowing in the manner that a light sabers have appeared to glow in popular science fiction movies. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is provided to display a sample electrical schematic diagram of the invention. In  FIG. 2 , diagram  50  symbolically displays alternating current type electrical plug  51 , electrical power supply  52 , electrical switch  53 , potentiometer  54 , sound electrical chip  55 , sound activation button  56 , a first electrically activated light  57 , a second electrically activated light  58 , and an electrical line  59 . The components of the invention are electrically connected in the order depicted in diagram  50  of  FIG. 2 , such that the invention functions as described above. 
         [0016]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.