Multiple light device

A multiple light device for displaying a shower of colors includes a plurality of neon light sets supported between a top flared cover member and a bottom support member both of which are mounted upon a support pole which may be mounted in the ground or the like. A blue neon, a white neon, and a red neon bulb are included in each plurality of light sets which are in turn covered by a transparent outer protective tube. The top flared cover is removable for replacement of the individual tubes and lights. The electrical wiring and transformer circuitry for the neon bulbs are included within the center support tube and the base support member. Appropriate breaker or flasher members are provided for each of the individual neon tubes so they will turn on and off automatically. The overall effect is that of a shower of light, i.e. the topmost bulbs will turn on first, then the intermediate bulbs will turn on secondly with the top bulbs bulbs turning off, and then lastly the bottom bulbs will turn on while the intermediate bulbs turn off. The overall effect is that of a descending shower of light. Provision is also made for an electronic eye to be installed in the top cover panel for automatically turning on the overall device at sundown and off at dawn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to lights for display and attention 
getting purposes and specifically to a light having the bicentennial 
colors of blue, white and red, which are mounted and appropriately 
connected electrically to turn on and off in a manner which will give a 
shower-like effect. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A common problem with known type multiple light devices is that they do not 
have the desired attention and attraction gaining performance which is 
desired with such lights. 
Another problem with lights having different colors is that they normally 
are all turned on simultaneously and merely display the different colors 
simultaneously, and/or they turn the colors on and off simultaneously or 
in a random pattern without creating any special effect. 
Another problem with known devices are that they are not easily changeable 
or replaceable with new bulbs or elements when failures or defects occur 
in the existing ones. 
Another problem is that unless someone turns the overall lighting device on 
or off at dusk and dawn, the lights will operate continuously which is 
expensive and unpatriotic in these days of electric conservation. 
Known prior art patents which may be pertinent to this invention are as 
follows: U.S. Pat. Nos. 602,966; 1,849,552; 2,323,172; 2,355,467; 
2,364,854; 2,429,850; 2,907,868; 2,976,399. 
None of these known prior art devices offers the new and unique features of 
the invention disclosed herein. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a multiple light device 
which is unique in the manner of operation in that the overall effect 
produced by the light is one of a shower of light. This is effected by the 
top portion of the overall light device turning on, then the intermediate 
portion turning on while the top portion turns off, and then the bottom 
portion turning on while the intermediate portion turns off. The process 
then repeats itself with the bottom portion turning off when the upper 
portion turns on again. If the first, second and third described portions 
are of different colors, for example, blue on the top, white in the 
middle, and red on the bottom, a very attractive and desirable 
bicentennial effect will be produced. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multiple light 
device which is easily maintained, relatively easy to replace individual 
lights as they become defective, and yet offers a safe, attractive, 
overall struture which will withstand the outside elements. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a light device having bottom 
and top mounting structures for a plurality of tubular light members, said 
light members being enclosed within transparent plexiglass outer 
protective tubes, and said inner lights being of the neon type of 
different colors. Each light is provided with an individual circuit 
breaker or flasher so connected as to energize/deenergize the respective 
lights in a repetitive manner. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide a multiple light 
device wherein all of the electrical components are contained within the 
structure out of exposure to the weather and also include an electric eye 
device for the purpose of automatically turning the overall fixture on at 
dusk and off at dawn. 
The multiple light device of this invention has a number of very important 
features. It is mounted upon a central support pole and has a top flared 
cover member supported from the top of said pole in a removable manner. 
The flared top cover member supports one end of the sets of individual 
protective light tubes with a lower support member appropriately mounted 
on the central support tube a predetermined distance therebelow for 
supporting the lower ends of said light sets. The distance of the 
individual support members for the bottom portion of the light sets is 
much closer to the central tube than the distance of the top sets which 
will give a slanted or tapered effect to the overall light output. This 
will cause the light emitted from the individual light sets to be radiated 
outwardly in a downward manner. 
Another important feature of this device is in the overall light effect 
achieved thereby. Because of the unique arrangement of the individual neon 
lights within each protective light tube set, the effect to the viewer is 
that of a shower of light. This is achieved by having lights in the upper 
portions of the protective tubes all of one color, lights in the center 
portions of the individual tube sets of another color, and lights in the 
bottom portions of the individual tube sets of a third color. The 
individual lights are connected electrically with flashing breaker members 
which will individually energize said lights in a repetitive fashion and 
in a predetermined manner. This predetermined manner consists of turning 
on the first upper set of lights with the other sets being off, then 
turning on the next set, for example, the middle set and shortly 
thereafter turning off the upper set, and then turning on the lower set, 
while turning off the middle set. If the respective colors of these three 
sets are, for example, blue at the top, white in the middle, and red at 
the bottom, a very attractive and unique bicentenial effect and shower of 
light effect will be achieved. Each set of lights are covered by a 
plexiglass protective tube for overall protection thereof and to allow 
complete visibility of the lights themselves while giving adequate 
protection to same, and also protecting and supporting the multiplicity of 
electrical flasher breakers as associated with the energization hookup and 
the lights themselves. 
Another feature of this invention is in the inclusion of a photo cell on 
the top removable cover member which will as appropriately hooked into the 
electrical circuitry, turn on the overall light device at dusk, and turn 
off the overall light device at dawn. This permits the device to be 
installed in shopping centers, restaurants, motels, and other facilities 
where individual attention to the light device might not easily be 
available each and every day. 
The mounting of the protective tubes containing the sets of illuminating 
neon bulbs also is unique in that cup-like receptacles are provided on the 
inside of the flared top of a member for engaging the upper ends of the 
protective light tubes while similar cup receptacles ar provided on the 
upper outside portion of the lower support member for reception of the 
bottom end of the light protective tubes. This simple but sufficient 
support structure permits quick and easy replacements of individual light 
structures if a defect should occur in same. It is merely necessary to 
remove one center nut at the top of the overall light and support 
therefor, then remove the flared top cover member and the entire set of 
light structures are readily available for changing, etc. 
These, together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates in 
general the multiple light device of this invention. Mounted in the ground 
or other appropriate support surface is a member 12 of tubular 
construction. Mounted upon this support post or pole is a base member 14 
for supporting the plurality of light structures 16 and a top flared cover 
member 18. This cover member 18 is removably mounted by means of an 
attractive flared nut 20 as seen in greater detail in FIG. 3. Also mounted 
on the flared cover member 18 for access to the visible outside light is a 
photoelectric cell or electric eye 22. 
Looking at FIG. 3 of the drawings, the detailed construction features will 
be described. Depending from the outer edge of the flared cover member 18 
is a flange 19. This flange offers protection to the upper portions of the 
light sets as will be described below. Mounted within the upper cover and 
closely adjacent to the flange 19 are individual cup receptacles 30 
appropriately fastened by welding, epoxy, and the like to the cover 
member. These cup receptacles form the upper support points for the light 
tubes 16. Similar lower cup receptacles 32 are appropriately provided on 
the lower support member 14 and are directly fastened to the tapered panel 
15 which has a taper at an angle closely similar to the flare of the top 
cover. Thus the cup receptacles 30, 32 will be substantially perpendicular 
to the light devices 16 as they support same. 
The support member 14 has a base plate 17 with a central aperture therein 
which slidably fits over and engages with the center support post 12. The 
panel member 15 has an extruded flange portion at the center thereof 15' 
for close engagement with the center support tube 12. This extruded 
portion 15' may be appropriately fastened by set screws, not shown, or 
similar fastening devices to the center support post. A special center 
recessed washer 26 with a central aperture therein fits over the top 
opening of the cover 18 for reception of the retaining stud 25 which is 
mounted in the top of post 12 by means of a top fixture member 13. The 
washer member 26 may be of semi-resilient material to effectively form a 
water tight blocking member at the top of the light device. As can be 
readily visualized when the nut 20 is tightened, the semi-resilient member 
26 will appropriately deform to securely close any openings present at 
this point and thereby effect a completely water tight top enclosure. 
As can also readily be seen from FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the lower cup 32 
receptacles are much closer to the center support tube 12 than the upper 
cup receptacles 30, which provides an overall upwardly and outwardly 
tapered effect to the light. This also effects an illumination of 
surrounding areas outwardly and downwardly from the multiple light sets 
16. 
The protective transparent tubes 16 are preferable made of plexiglass or 
other break resistant yet transparent material. Mounted within each of the 
lights 16 are a plurality of individual neon bulbs 35 appropriately 
indicated as A, B, and C in FIG. 3. Interconnecting the sets of lights A, 
B and C are flasher breakers 36. These flasher breakers 36 are hooked to 
the supply wires 34 in a conventional manner. Also, an electric eye 22 may 
be appropriately connected by the electric wires W so as to effectively 
turn on the overall light device at dusk and turn it off at dawn. Again, 
this eye would be hooked in series with the electric supply wiring and the 
wiring to the flashing breakers 34 according to approved elecric code 
wiring requirements. 
As shown, the preferred manner of constructing this device is to provide 
the light set A all of one color such as blue, the middle light set B of 
another color or in the example shown white, and the lower set of a third 
color as in the example shown red. The neon bulbs 35 of each respective 
set will then, when appropriately energized from the supply wiring, and 
the flashing breakers 36 as closed, turn on the respective light sets in a 
repetivitive sequence manner. That is, the top set of blue lights will 
turn on first, then as the top lights are turned off the middle set will 
turn on, and as the middle set are turned off the bottom lower set are 
turned on, and then as the bottom set are turned off the upper set again 
turned on. This sequential repetitive manner, and especially with the 
blue, white and red arrangement will produce a very attractive 
bicentennial shower of light effect. Connected with the lights and 
associated wiring W are appropriate neon transformers and starters 38 as 
is conventional with neon bulbs. Mounting screws 29 fasten the plate 17 
and the member 14, 15 together and permits access to the wiring and 
components when necessary. 
As can be readily visualized by looking at the drawings, this multiple 
light device will produce a very attractive and unique effect and will be 
very, very useful for attention getting purposes. 
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, and 
accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, 
falling within the scope of the invention.