Abstract:
A fiber optic light device includes a power supply, circuit control, light source, fiber optic bunch, and base. The power supply includes a power supply transformer and power cord. The light source can be formed by LEDs or tungsten filament bulbs. The fiber optic bunch is comprised of a bunch of fiber optic elements. Each fiber optic element comprises an outer tubing, preferably plastic, containing a piece of wire surrounded by at least one fiber optic cable, which may have several fiber optics. The wire supports the fiber optic element so that it can be bent into various shapes. The lower end of the fiber optic bunch is closely positioned to the light source so light emitted by the light source and transmitted through the fiber optics produce light spots throughout the fiber optic element. A flashing control circuit can cause the light emitted to be constant or flashing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    This invention was not federally sponsored. 
       PRIORITY 
       [0003]    This application claims priority to Chinese patent application number 200620058178.2, filed on Apr. 27, 2006. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The embodiments of the invention relate to the field of decorative lights. More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a fiber optic withy light device for both indoor and outdoor use. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Since the event of the light bulb, people have attempted to find new and unique ways to create festive atmospheres, both indoor and outdoor, through the use of lighting. For example, decorative lights have been placed on top of furniture, in ceilings, on walls, in rooms, and in several other locations within the home. 
         [0008]    Lights have also been placed next to walkways and hung from patio covers and gazebos to provide a more festive outdoor setting. 
         [0009]    Current decorative lights are generally constructed with plain bulbs and simple lampshades. These lights, while providing great functional aspects, often lack in originality of construction and in light source. Also, prior art lighting devices have not offered the ability to quickly and efficiently configure the device to emit directed light in various specific directions. Further, the prior art decorative lights have not been able to satisfy the increasing consumer demand for aesthetic perception in the visual effect that is in-tune with the surrounding visual atmosphere. 
         [0010]    Therefore, there is a current need for a decorative lighting device that can provide a festive indoor and outdoor atmosphere that is convenient to use, can be configured to direct light in several directions, is aesthetically pleasing, and utilizes new and improved lighting techniques. 
         [0011]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0012]    It is a primary advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a decorative light device that can be used to provide a festive atmosphere for both indoor and outdoor settings. 
         [0013]    It is another advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a decorative light device that is easy to install and use. 
         [0014]    It is a further advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a decorative light device that can be quickly and efficiently manufactured. 
         [0015]    It is a yet a further advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a decorative light device that utilizes new and improved lighting technology. 
         [0016]    It is still yet a further advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a decorative light device that has dynamic lighting capabilities. 
         [0017]    It is another advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a decorative light that allows the user to program the light to change the color of the light emitted at periodic intervals. 
         [0018]    It is still a further advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a decorative light that can automatically change the color of the light emitted at periodic intervals. 
         [0019]    It is yet another advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a decorative light device that emits soft and elegant light that is visually appealing to the eye. 
         [0020]    It is still yet a further advantage of the embodiments of the invention to provide a new and unique apparatus to the field of decorative lighting devices. 
         [0021]    These advantages and other advantages and features of the embodiments of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the disclosure of the present embodiments as set forth herein. 
         [0022]    The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a fiber optic withy light device comprised of power supply system, a circuit control system, a light source system, a fiber optic bunch system and a base system. The power supply system includes power supply transformer and power supply cord. The light source system may be formed by LEDs or by other tungsten filament bulbs. The fiber optic bunch system is composed of a bunch of fiber optic elements. Each fiber optic element comprises an outer tubing, preferably plastic, containing a piece of wire surrounded by at least one fiber optic cable. The wire is used to support the fiber optic element so that the fiber optic element can be bent by the user into various shapes to form different configurations. The lower end of the fiber optic bunch is closely positioned near the light source system so that the light waves emitted by the light source system and transmitted through the fiber optics produce light spots in various places in the fiber optic element. 
         [0023]    Another embodiment of the invention provides a fiber optic withy light device comprised of power supply system, a circuit control system, a light source system, a fiber optic bunch system and a base system. The power supply system includes power supply transformer and power supply cord. The light source system may be formed by LEDs or by other tungsten filament bulbs. The fiber optic bunch system is composed of a bunch of fiber optic elements. Each fiber optic element comprises an outer tubing, preferably plastic, containing a piece of wire surrounded by at least one fiber optic cable. The wire is used to support the fiber optic element so that the fiber optic element can be bent by the user into various shapes to form different configurations. The lower end of the fiber optic bunch is closely positioned near the light source system so that the light waves emitted by the light source system and transmitted through the fiber optics produce light spots in various places in the fiber optic element. 
         [0024]    A flashing control circuit is connected between the power supply system and the light source system. The flashing control circuit controls the light spots emitted by the fiber optics cables. The flashing control circuit can automatically be set to cause the light to flash in various preset flashing patterns or remain constant. The flashing control circuit can also be manually set to allow the operator to modify the timing of the flashing. 
         [0025]    Another embodiment of the invention provides a fiber optic withy light device comprised of power supply system, a circuit control system, a light source system, a fiber optic bunch system and a base system. The power supply system includes power supply transformer and power supply cord. The light source system may be formed by LEDs or by other tungsten filament bulbs. The fiber optic bunch system is composed of a bunch of fiber optic elements. Each fiber optic element comprises an outer tubing, preferably plastic, containing a piece of wire surrounded by at least one fiber optic cable. The wire is used to support the fiber optic element so that the fiber optic element can be bent by the user into various shapes to form different configurations. The lower end of the fiber optic bunch is closely positioned near the light source system so that the light waves emitted by the light source system and transmitted through the fiber optics produce light spots in various places in the fiber optic element. 
         [0026]    A flashing control circuit is connected between the power supply system and the light source system. The flashing control circuit controls the light spots emitted by the fiber optics. The flashing control circuit can automatically be set to cause the light to flash in various preset flashing patterns or remain constant. The flashing control circuit can also be manually set to allow the operator to modify the timing of the flashing. The flashing control circuit can also be automatically set, or can also be user programmed, to flash one color of light for a set period and other colors of light for other periods of time. 
         [0027]    Another embodiment of the invention provides a fiber optic withy light device comprised of power supply system, a circuit control system, a light source system, a fiber optic bunch system and a base system. The power supply system includes power supply transformer and power supply cord. The light source system may be formed by LEDs or by other tungsten filament bulbs. The fiber optic bunch system is composed of a bunch of fiber optic elements. Each fiber optic element comprises an outer tubing, preferably plastic, containing a piece of wire surrounded by at least one fiber optic cable. Each fiber optic cable can include at least one fiber optic located therein. Preferably, each fiber optic cable includes a plurality of fiber optics located therein, each of the plurality of fiber optics being of different length. The wire is used to support the fiber optic element so that the fiber optic element can be bent by the user into various shapes to form different configurations. The lower end of the fiber optic bunch is closely positioned near the light source system so that the light waves emitted by the light source system and transmitted through the fiber optics produce light spots in various places in the fiber optic element. 
         [0028]    A flashing control circuit is connected between the power supply system and the light source system. The flashing control circuit controls the light spots emitted by the fiber optics. The flashing control circuit can automatically be set to cause the light to flash in various preset flashing patterns or remain constant. The flashing control circuit can also be manually set to allow the operator to modify the timing of the flashing. The flashing control circuit can also be automatically set, or can also be user programmed, to flash one color of light for a set period and other colors of light for other periods of time. 
         [0029]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, features of the embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the embodiments of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principals of the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the fiber optic withy light device. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the fiber optic withy light device with the power cord detached. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of the fiber optic withy light device with the power cord detached. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the fiber optic withy light device. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of the light source attached to the location disk. 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of a vertical cross-section of a fiber optic element, illustrating an arrangement of fiber optic cables around a metal wire. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a fiber optic element, illustrating the various lengths of the fiber optic cables contained within the fiber optic element. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-section view of the preferred embodiment of the fiber optic withy light device. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic of the electric circuitry contained within the preferred embodiment of the fiber optic withy light device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts are identified by like reference numerals,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the fiber optic withy light device  10 . Device  10  includes a base portion  20 , a light portion  30 , and a power transmission means  40 . Base portion  20  includes a base  21  that is preferably cylindrical in shape and contains a removable top section  22 . However, base  21  can also comprise various shapes such as spherical, rectangular, circular, trapezoidal, hexagonal, octagonal, triangular, square, polygonal, or other shapes as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. Top section  22  contains a raised lip  24  bounding a centrally-located opening  26 . Raised lip  24  can vary in height to providing an opening  26  that can support a light portion  30  of various sizes. Opening  26  is preferably circular in shape, but can also be other shapes to secure light portions  30  of various cross-section shapes. 
         [0041]    Light portion  30  is preferably comprised of a plurality of fiber optic elements  32 . Fiber optic elements  32  can be comprised of translucent tube having a fiber optic cable and a metal wire therein (see  FIG. 6 ), whereby a user can bend the wire to cause the tube to be oriented in a particular position. Fiber optic elements  32  can also be comprised of a translucent tube having more than one fiber optic cable positioned therein, surrounding a wire also located within the tube, whereby a user can bend the wire to cause the tube to be oriented in a particular position. The fiber optic elements can have more than one support structure therein to provide more flexibility and stability. The fiber optic cables can be all the same length or different lengths to achieve differing light emissions. The tube can be any type of translucent and deformable material, such as plastic. The wire can be any type of wire, including metal, that is flexible, durable, and does not interfere with the light transmission within the fiber optic cable. 
         [0042]    Power transmission means  40  preferably comprises a power cord  42  attached to a power adapter  44 . Power cord  42  runs through base  21  and connects to power supply circuitry  50  located within base  21 . Power supply circuitry preferably operates at 1 Watts and at 12 Volts. Power cord  42  can also include a control switch  46  located therein. Control switch  46  allows a user to turn the device  10  on or off. In other embodiments, control switch  46  also allows the user to select from different lighting features by sending signals to control circuit  50  that can change the color and/or duration of the light emitted. For example, a user can choose a steady emission of white light, a flashing emission of green light, or a combination of a steady and flashing light emission of red light, blue light, and yellow light. The user can also choose to set the light to turn on and off at various periods. For example, the user can choose to set the light to turn on for one hour, then off for an hour, then on again for another hour. In one embodiment, control switch  46  can comprise a box with a wheel device mounted substantially therein, whereby a user rotates the wheel until the wheel “clicks”, causing the device to change modes. Control switch  46  can also comprise a button, wherein multiple pushes of the button can cause the device to changes modes. Control switch  46  can also be comprised of other switch means as would be recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of device  10  with power cord  40  detached, illustrating the location of base  21  in relation to fiber optic elements  32 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of device  10  with power cord  40  detached, illustrating the location of top section  22  in relation to fiber optic elements  32 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of device  10 . This figure illustrates the various parts of device  10 , in particular the positioning of control circuit  50 , location disk  60 , and light source  70  within base  21 . Control circuit  50  can control whether or not light is emitted from light source  70 . In other embodiments, control circuit  50  can also control the duration of the light emitted and the color of the light emitted. For example, light source  70  can be programmed to emit light in a flashing pattern or can be programmed to emit light of one color for a certain time period and then emit light of a different color for another time period. Location disk  60  serves to align light source  60  with the bottom end of light portion  30 . This allows the maximum amount of light emitted from light source  60  to directly reach light portion  30  to provide a brighter light emitted from device  10 . Location disk  60  contains a light source receiving portion  62  located therein for receiving light source  70 . Preferably, light source receiving portion  62  is circular in shape and centrally located within location disk  60  to correspond with the centrally located opening  26  in top section  22 . However, location disk  60  can contain more than one light source receiving portion  62  of different shapes and located in different positions within location disk  60 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of light source  70  attached to location disk  60 . Light source  70  contains at least one LED  72  disposed thereon. Preferably, light source  70  contains a plurality of LEDs  72  disposed thereon. LEDs  72  can comprise similar types of LEDs that can emit the same color light, or LEDs  72  can comprise a mixture of different LEDs to emit various color lights. LEDs  72  can be various sizes and shapes to achieve the desired lighting and power consumption characteristics. 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of a vertical cross-section of a fiber optic element  32 . Fiber optic element  32  can include at least one fiber optic cable  36  disposed around a wire  34 . Preferably, fiber optic element  32  includes a plurality of fiber optic cables  36  disposed around wire  34 . Fiber optic cables  36  can be disposed around wire  34  in varying patterns, or in an arranged fashion to achieve a desired lighting effect. In another embodiment, fiber optic cables  36  can also include at least one fiber optic therein. Preferably, each of the fiber optic cables  36  can include a plurality of fiber optics therein, each fiber optic being of a different length. This allows for more illumination points throughout each of the fiber optic elements  32 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a fiber optic element  32 . Fiber optic element  32  can contain fiber optic cables  36  having various lengths, allowing fiber optic element  32  to have many illumination points. Because fiber optic element  32  can have more than one fiber optic cable  36 , and each fiber optic cable  36  can be a different length, it is possible to provide different colored lights at different points in each fiber optic element  32 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-section view of device  10 . This figure illustrates the preferred location of control circuit  50 , location disk  60 , and light source  70  within base  21 . A wire  43  is included within base  21  to connect the control circuit  50  to light source  70 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic of the electric circuitry  100  contained within the preferred embodiment of the fiber optic withy light set. Electric circuitry  100  includes power supply input  110  feeding a transformer  112  that provides input to control circuit  50 . Control circuit  50  drives many diodes  120  that are preferably connected in parallel. There can be few or many diodes  120  controlled by control circuit  50 , depending on the size of device  10 . Diodes  120  are preferably light emitting diodes, but can be other diodes as recognized by one with ordinary skill in the art. Further, each of diodes  120  can emit different wavelengths to produce various colors of light, or each of diodes  120  can emit the same wavelength to produce the same color of light. Control circuit  50  can also control the duration of the emission of light as well as the timing and sequencing of the flashing of the lights. 
         [0051]    With respect to the above description it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly, and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0052]    The above description, together with the advantages of the invention and the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific advantages attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0053]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.