Abstract:
A top or lid for carved objects; particularly, pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns is provided comprising a base sized to cover an opening, a figurine coupled to the base, a light coupled to a power source, and possibly a speaker in communication with the power source, a sound generator capable of playing scary sounds or music and an amplifier coupled to the speaker. The figurines are various animated representations such as a spider, haunted house, skeleton, witch, etc.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from application Ser. No. 60/760,502 which is incorporated herein by reference 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to holiday displays; it relates more particularly to figurines for Halloween and most particularly as a topper for carved pumpkins or other similar objects.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     A popular activity around Halloween is carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. Generally, this involves carving a hole, usually in the top, in a pumpkin, extracting the insides, and carving a design, such as a scary face, on at least one side surface of the pumpkin. Normally, a candle or other light source is placed inside the carved pumpkin so that the design is illuminated, and the removed portion becomes the lid for display of the newly created jack-o-lantern.  
         [0004]     This type of jack-o-lantern suffers from disadvantages. Candles may not burn brightly or at all because of weather elements or from lack of oxygen when the lid is placed over the hole. Even if they burn brightly, the candles usually do not burn for a long time and are potential safety hazards. Other methods of illumination, such as “glow sticks”, lights, etc., may not present these problems, but they usually provide illumination for only a relatively short period of time or lack the desired effect. Moreover, the appeal for a jack-o-lantern is dependent on the carved portion and, therefore, the display is limited by the carver&#39;s talent or the shape of the pumpkin.  
         [0005]     There remains a need for a creative display that is not dependent on the carver or the available surface and provides a better illumination option as a means of providing holiday entertainment.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a display figurine comprising a base, a sculpture or figurine coupled to the base and means for producing light, animation or sound in response to activity in proximity to the display piece. In one embodiment, a light and a speaker are coupled with an amplifier and a sound generator so that activity causes sudden lighting along with the playing of scary sounds and possibly animation. The figurine may be various animated figures such as a spider, haunted house, skeleton, witch, etc. or it could be tombstones and the like which appear to come to life. The figurines may be animated mechanically through a motor driven line or by air from a fan. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a display figure in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2A  illustrates another figure in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2B  illustrates another figure in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3A  illustrates the lower surface of a base for the figure in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of the base of  FIG. 3A  in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of the preferred configuration of an activation system for the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]      FIGS. 1 through 2 B illustrate various embodiments of figurines suitable for use in the present invention. The specific examples are present by way of explanation and are not to be considered as a limitation of the specific shape or appearance of a figurine.  
         [0014]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a display  2  having a base  4  and a gargoyle  6 . The base includes a motion detector  8  and a touch activator  10 . The motion detector  8  acts in the known manner of responding to activity within its sensing range and the touch activator allows for selective activation of the display independently of whether the motion detector  8  is active. In this embodiment the gargoyle  6  may be of rigid material, such as a plastic, or of flexible material, such as fabric which incorporates a skeletal frame to retain a general shape. The differences in the use of these constructions will be explained more fully below. In either configuration, it is preferred to have movable illuminated eyes  12  to add to the animation of the figurine.  
         [0015]     With reference to  FIG. 2A , there is illustrated another figurine usable with the present invention. In this example, it can be seen that the base  4  has a lens  18  for a light, such as a led, that provides illuminate for use in a carved object, such as a pumpkin, upon which the display is perched. The base  4  also includes legs  20  which can serve duel functions. When used in a carved pumpkin, the base  4  replaces the removed top portion and the legs  20  steady the display within the aperture. If the display is used separately, such as a center piece in a pile of candy, the legs  20  will support the display. In the figures, lens  18  is illustrated as longer than legs  20 , but there is no requirement that it extend beyond the legs; however, there may be applications, such as in large pumpkin, where the ability to locate the light source deeper in the object will be desirable.  
         [0016]     Still with reference to  FIG. 2A , the base  4  defines a chamber  22  which includes the working for the activation of the figurine. In chamber  22 , there is a motor  24  that winds a line  25 , that may be of monofilament or light metal, connected to a shaft  26  that extends through the base  4  to the fingers  27 . When motion is detected or activation is selected, the motor will wind for a predetermined distance to activate the line  25  and move the finger  27 , which are mounted for articulation, as show by A-B. A spring  28  is provide to reposition the fingers, however, a double acting or reversible motor could be provided if the additional expense is acceptable for the application. With respect to the figurine, the neck  28  is provided as a billow so that the figurine can move in the direction show as X-Y. The jaw  30  is hinged for movement and the top of the skull  34  may be separated from the portion  32 . Movement of the skull features may be line activated as with the fingers or the motor  25  could power a fan with which to inflate the pliable skull such as is know with holiday displays.  
         [0017]     With reference to  FIG. 2B , there is illustrated another figurine usable with the present invention. This figure illustrates a spider that permits a view of the stem  36  that provides a support for the figurine and the light source. The spider body  38  is supported by shaft  36  and the legs  40  are articulated for movement when the motor  25  is activated to wind the line  24 . Although it is presently preferred to have the light depend from the shaft  36 , it is not necessary and the light may be carried by the base  14 , see  FIG. 3A .  
         [0018]     With reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the base includes a power switch  43  that can be selective operated to select sound, light or animation. The battery recess is electrically connected to the switch  42 , for providing power to the light source  19  for downward illumination, a light source for illumination of the eyes  12 , and the circuit board  50  so that features may be selected.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a block diagram of a circuit for implementing various features of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit includes a power supply  41 , the multi-state on/off switch  42 , the motion detector  8 , the touch activator  10 , a controller  47 , a speaker  48 , light-emitting diodes  43  for eyes  12 , the motor  24 , and the light source  19 .  
         [0020]     The speaker  48  is used to emit various sounds that may be stored in a memory in the controller  47 , in a sound database  49  or in both as may fit a particular figurine. Depending on the application, such as an outdoor use, it may be desirable to also include an amplifier.  
         [0021]     The multi-state on/off switch  42  is preferably configured to enable a user to selectively activate any combination of the features. For example, any one of three components may be activated at any time, any two of these components may be activated at any time, or all three of these components may be activated at the same time.  
         [0022]     The motion detector  8  and the touch activator  10  are connected to controller  47 . When either is triggered, the controller  47  implements the selected feature or features of the present invention. For example, the controller  47  may cause the speaker  48  to emit various sounds, the LED(s)  41  to illuminate, the motor  24  to activate such that particular mechanical functions (e.g. movement of various body parts) or activation of a fan so that the figurine is animated. For example, the gargoyle of  FIG. 1  may be pliable so that air will cause slow eerie movement of the body to just hint at it being alive. The controller  47  may provide timed or intermittent activities. For example, the controller  407  may cause the eyes to be illuminated for a predetermined amount of time upon triggering of the motion detector  8 , then blink and then have the figurine emit sounds.  
         [0023]     Controller  47  may be configured to implement multiple electrical or mechanical functions in varied sequences. The controller  47  can be comprised of a processor containing a set of instructions for execution and suitable processors include both general and special purpose processors.