Spring supported illuminated novelty device with spinning light sources

A novelty item that spins at least one array of lights to produce a predetermined changing pattern of lights. The device has at least one array of lights that is supported by at least one flexible arm. The arms radially extend from a spinning hub. Consequently, when the arms rotate, the various lights in the array of lights rotate about the hub in a variety of circular pathways. A control circuit is provided in the hub that spins with the arms. The lights in the array of lights are coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit selectively flashes the lights in the array of lights in a manner that is synchronous to the speed at which the various lights are traveling in their circular pathways. As a result, the control circuit can cause the spinning array of lights to produce any desired pattern, display or alphanumeric message.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to illuminated novelty devices that are used to produce observable patterns of light during low light conditions. More particularly, the present invention relates to such novelty devices where the observed pattern of light is produced from an array of spinning light sources.

2. Prior Art Statement

In the prior art, there are many different types of illuminated novelty devices that produce an observable pattern of light. Such devices are not used for the purposes of illumination, like a flashlight. Rather, such novelty devices are merely used to produce an interesting pattern of light that can be observed during low light conditions. Such novelty devices are commonly sold or distributed at events that are frequented by children and where there are low light conditions. Examples of such events include children's concerts, circuses, amusement parks at night, firework shows and the like.

There is a great variety in the types of illuminated novelty devices that exist. Some illuminated novelty devices use chemical luminescent light sources, where the observed light is created from a chemical reaction. Such chemical luminescent devices, however, cannot be selectively turned on and off once the chemical reaction has started. Furthermore, after a few hours, the chemical reaction ends and the novelty device is incapable of producing light. Furthermore, most chemical compositions used to produce light are toxic. Accordingly, the use of chemical luminescent novelty devices is inappropriate for many young children who may bite or teethe on the device.

Other types of illuminated novelty devices use batteries to provide power to either incandescent bulbs or light emitting diodes (LEDs). Often, to increase the interest of the pattern of light produced by the device, motors are used to move the electric light sources when they are illuminated. One popular type of illuminated novelty device is a device where multiple electric light sources are positioned on the tips of narrow flexible arms. The flexible arms are attached to a hub that is supported by a handle. In the handle is a motor that spins the hub when activated. As such, when a user activates the motor, the hub spins and the lights at the ends of the arms illuminate. The result is a circular pattern of light that is interesting to observe especially in low light conditions.

A problem associated with spinning electric novelty devices is one of play value. Once a child observes the pattern of light emitted by some prior art spinning lights, the child quickly becomes bored with the pattern of light produced. As such, the child no longer is interested in playing with the toy. This is particularly annoying to the parent of the child who just paid a substantial sum of money to buy the spinning light toy.

A need therefore exists for a spinning novelty light that produces a changing pattern of lights that is highly interesting to an observer, especially a child observer, thereby increasing the play value of the device. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a novelty item that spins at least one array of lights to produce a predetermined changing pattern of lights. The device has at least one array of lights that is supported by at least one flexible arm. The arms radially extend from a spinning hub. Consequently, when the arms rotate, the various lights in the array of lights rotate about the hub in a variety of circular pathways. A control circuit is provided in the hub that spins with the arms. The lights in the array of lights are coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit selectively flashes the lights in the array of lights in a manner that is synchronous to the speed at which the various lights are traveling in their circular pathways. As a result, the control circuit can cause the spinning array of lights to produce any desired pattern, display or alphanumeric message.

The hub that supports the array of lights is connected to an elongated resilient support that connects the hub to a handle. As the handle is moved, the resilient support bends and the array of lights can be caused to move through a predetermined range of motion relative to the handle as said array of lights spins in its circular pattern. The result is a highly complex pattern of light that is constantly changing and interesting to view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring toFIG. 1, a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention device10is show. The device10contains a handle12. A resilient support13extends from the handle12. The resilient support13has a bottom end that is anchored to the handle12. However, the opposite end of the resilient support13is free, thereby enabling the resilient support13to elastically bend in any direction. An illumination assembly15is attached to the free end of the resilient support13opposite the handle12. The illumination assembly15has a predetermined weight. The resilient support13is rigid enough to vertically support the weight of the illumination assembly15. However, the resilient support13is also flexible enough to enable the illumination assembly15to swing back and forth and side-to-side when the handle12is manually rocked or otherwise shaken. As such, the resilient support13allows the illumination assembly15to move throughout a predetermined range of motion (RM) relative the handle12, when the handle12is rocked or shaken.

The illumination assembly15includes a hub14. Arms16radially extend from the hub14. In the shown embodiment, two arms16extend from the hub14. However, it should be understood that such a number is arbitrary and any number of arms16can be made to radially extend from the hub14.

The arms16can be just flat elements that spin with the hub14. However, in the shown embodiment, the arms16are pitched. As a consequence, the arms16act as fan blades when they spin and displace air. This causes the arm16to create a flow of air. The flow of air, in turn, creates an opposite and equal force to the illumination assembly15. It will therefore be understood that when the arms16spin, the arms16create a force that acts to bend the resilient support13. Thus, when the arms16spin, the arms16cause the illumination assembly15to move about in the range of motion (RM) even without any manual manipulation of the handle12.

In the shown embodiment, each of the arms16supports a plurality of light sources20in a fixed position. The light sources20can be incandescent bulbs, but are preferably high-output light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light emitted by the light sources20can be any color or combination of colors, depending upon the type of bulbs or LEDs selected. Although five linearly aligned light sources20are specifically illustrated on one arm16, it should be understood that any array of light sources can be mounted on any or all of the arms16in any desired configuration.

The hub14on the illumination assembly15rotates. The arms16are attached to the hub14. Accordingly, as the hub14rotates, the arms16extending from the hub14also rotate. As the hub14and arms16rotate, current is directed to the light sources20. Consequently, the light sources20illuminate as they spin, thereby producing circular patterns of light. The speed at which the light sources20are rotated is known. The light sources20are connected to a control circuit that selectively turns on and off the light sources20in at least one preprogrammed sequence. The control circuit is synchronized to the speed of rotation for the hub14. Consequently, as the light sources20spin, complex changing patterns of light can be produced. If desired, even alphanumeric messages can be generated.

Referring toFIG. 2, it can be seen that on at least one of the arms16, the light sources20are mounted to flexible circuit boards21. Each arm16is also preferably made of flexible material. The flexible material is preferably an elastomeric material, such as a type of synthetic rubber, silicone or foam rubber. As such, the arms16are free to bend and twist even though they contain the circuit boards21for the light sources20. Consequently, the arms16are unencumbered by the presence of the circuit boards21and the light sources20.

Since the material of the arms16is elastomeric, it provides a natural safety structure. The elastomeric material of the arms16surrounds the periphery of the circuit boards21. Accordingly, if some object, such as a child's face, were to contact the arms16as they rotate, the soft elastomeric material of the arms16would be the part of the arms16that makes contact. Since the material of the arms16is soft and flexible, it is not likely to cause injury.

Referring now toFIG. 3, it can be seen that in the handle12, there is a port25for holding batteries27. The power from the batteries27is used to both illuminate the light sources20and rotate the arms16.

The illumination assembly15is supported at the top end of the resilient support13. FromFIG. 3, it can be seen that the resilient support13includes a coil spring30. An optional outer sleeve32can be used to cover the spring to prevent the spring30from being hyper-extended or becoming tangled in a child's hair. Power is fed to the illumination assembly15through wires34. The wires34receive power from the batteries27in the handle12.

In the illumination assembly15, there is a motor36. The motor36turns the hub14. A shaft assembly24connects the motor36to the hub14. The shaft assembly24contains a conductive inner shaft26and a conductive outer shaft28. The inner shaft26and the outer shaft28are insulated from each other using spacers30that are disposed in between the inner shaft26and the outer shaft28. The spacers30also act as bearings between the inner shaft26and the outer shaft28. As such, the outer shaft28is free to rotate independently of the inner shaft26.

In the hub14, there is located a central circuit board33that spins around the inner shaft26. A wiper contact29is mounted on the central circuit board33that makes electrical contact with the inner shaft26. A control circuit is mounted to the central circuit board33in the hub14. The control circuit receives one of the leads from each of the light sources20. The control circuit contains the circuitry that lights the various light sources20in at least one predetermined sequence to produce a desired changing pattern of light.

In the hub14is also located a second connector35. The second connector35is coupled to both the structure of the hub14and the outer shaft28. The second lead from each light source20is coupled to the outer shaft28, via the second connector35.

The inner shaft26is coupled to one of the wires34that lead to the batteries27. One of the wires34is disrupted by an on/off switch40that can be manually activated by a person holding the handle12. Accordingly, a person holding the handle12can selectively control the on/off switch40and therefore can control the flow of electrical power to the inner shaft26.

The opposite terminal of the batteries27is coupled to a wiping contact42. The wiping contact42presses against the outer shaft28of the shaft assembly24. Accordingly, when the on/off switch40is manually closed, a circuit is completed. The circuit starts at one terminal of the batteries27and then travels through the resilient support13to the illumination assembly15. In the illumination assembly15, electricity flows through the inner shaft26up to the light sources20. The circuit then returns to the opposite terminal of the batteries27from the light sources20through the outer shaft28, via the wiping contact42. It should therefore be understood that each time the on/off switch40is pressed closed, the light sources20illuminate.

The electric motor36rotates at a known speed. Accordingly, when the electric motor36is activated, the electric motor36turns the outer shaft28, that turns the hub14, that turns the arms16. Since the speed at which the electric motor36spins is known, the rotational speed of the arms16is also known because it is proportional to the speed of the electric motor36multiplied by the radius of the arms16.

The wires34that connect the electric motor36to the batteries27also pass through the on/off switch40. Consequently, when the on/off switch40is pressed, power is supplied to the light sources20and power is supplied to the motor36that turns the hub14.

In the shown embodiment ofFIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 3the array of light sources20is a single straight line of LEDs. It will be understood that the array of light sources can be a matrix of LEDs where multiple LEDs are arranged in rows and columns. The use of a single row of LEDs is merely exemplary.

Referring now toFIG. 4, it can be seen that as the light sources20rotate, each light source20follows its own circular path60around the hub14. The circular path60of any one light source20depends upon the distance between that light source20and the center of the hub14. There are five light sources20shown in the exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, they create only five circular paths60of light as they spin.

As the light sources20on the arms16spin, the control circuit on the central circuit board33(FIG. 2) selectively turns on and off the light sources20in a preprogrammed pattern. The pattern programmed into the control circuit produces at least one changing pattern of lights. The changing pattern of lights can create a geometric pattern, a recognizable shape, such as Mickey Mouse ears, or alphanumeric characters as the light sources20spin.

In order for the array of light sources20on the moving arms16to produce a readable display, the lighting of the various light sources20on the arms16must be synchronized with the rate of rotation of the arms16. If the lighting of the light sources20is not synchronized with the movement of the light sources20, then the pattern or message set forth by the light sources20will appear as a blur and will not be readable.

The speed at which the arms16spin is a known constant in the present invention. The circular path60of each of the light sources20is also known. Knowing the speed of rotation and the circular pattern of light60of each light source20, the relative speed of each light source20is readily calculated. The control circuit on the central circuit board33(FIG. 2) is preprogrammed with the relative speed of each of the light sources20on the arms16. The control circuit can then synchronize the lighting of the various light sources20to create a clear display of any preprogrammed pattern and/or message.

In addition to the light sources20spinning around the hub14, the hub14can also be moving relative the handle12. As the handle12is manipulated, the resilient support13bends. The lights sources therefore not only move in a circular pattern, but also move throughout a complex range of motion RM (FIG. 1). The pattern of light60being observed is therefore highly complex and interesting to view. This keeps the assembly interesting to an observer, especially a child observer.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention specifically described and illustrated is merely exemplary and the shown embodiment can be modified in many ways. For example, the number of light sources, the number of arms and the position of the light sources on the arms can be varied in any manner by a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, the shape of the arms, the hub and the handle can be varied. In the shown embodiment, the arms have an elongated shape. This shape can be varied into any shape including recognizable object shapes such as Mickey Mouse arms, dinosaur legs and the like. Additionally, the length and flexibility of the resilient support can be changed to acquire different degrees of movement. All such alternate embodiments and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims as listed below.