Abstract:
A hand-held light-up toy including a see-through housing, a handle connected to the see-through housing, a light source assembly rotatably mounted within the see-through housing, the light source assembly comprising a housing and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing, a plurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuit board, a power source disposed within the handle, motor disposed within the handle and connected to the power source, having a motor shaft extending therefrom, a rotation means disposed within the handle and connected to the motor shaft, and to the printed circuit board assembly for rotating the printed circuit board assembly when the motor is turned on, and an on/off switch assessable on the handle for selectively activating the power source and the motor.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/684,208, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a novelty light-up toy which includes a plurality of rotating illumination sources, which form a variety of light patterns during operation.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     There are known types of novelty items or toys that have lights that spin and are selectively turned on and off in patterns. For example, U.S. Published Application No. U.S. 2004/0004828 to Chernick et al. discloses a spinning, illuminated novelty device. More specifically, the device includes a handle supporting a flexible hub  14 , the hub having at least one radially extending flexible arm  16 . Disposed upon the flexible arm is at least one array of lights  20  (preferably light emitting diodes) on circuit boards  21 . When the arms rotate, the lights in the array rotate about the hub in a variety of circular pathways producing changing patterns of light. A rotatable control circuit mounted on circuit board  32  within the hub is coupled to the lights, and selectively flashes the lights in a manner synchronous to the speed at which they rotate to produce a desired changing pattern of lights. Preferably, the arms are made of a flexible material such as foam rubber, synthetic rubber, or silicone. The array of lights disposed on the arms may comprise a line or matrix of light emitting diodes.  FIG. 3 , for example, shows two opposite arms, each arm having  5  light emitting diodes thereon.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,491 to Connelly discloses an animated paddle  10  comprised of a handle  12  and a paddle body  14  rotationally mounted thereto. The paddle includes an outer shell protecting an interior PCB  37 . The PCB is electrically connected to batteries and lights (preferably light emitting diodes), wherein the lights are mounted upon the surface of the paddle. When the toy is activated, the LEDs illuminate according to a predetermined pattern, stored in a ROM within the paddle.  
         [0005]     Peebles et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,796, provide for a light twirler wand comprised of a central, hand-grip portion  12  housing batteries, motors, switches, and an electrical power transfer device  22 . Additionally, the wand includes a series of rotating lighted arms  18 ,  34  at one or both ends of the central portion. The lighted arms may include lights merely at the protruding tip of each arm, or the arms may be equipped with several lights along their entire length.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,039 to Wong discloses a battery-powered, gyroscopic toy comprising a motor rotated flywheel  24  within a domed housing  32 . Protruding from beneath the domed housing is a tubular housing  12  with noise generators and flashing lights controlled by a centrifugal switch. The toy may be spun on either the top of the dome or the bottom of the tubular portion. When the housing rotates, small lights  44 ,  46 , within the top start flashing.  
         [0007]     McCaslin, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,547, now expired, proposes an apparatus and method for generating light designs. Specifically, the device includes a flat motor-driven rotor  12  with a plurality of light emitting diodes  18  disposed thereon. The rotor is rotatably mounted to a base  14 , and the light emitting diodes are coupled to control circuitry  38  on the base. The circuitry includes a switching network that controls when each light emitting diode is turned on or off, creating distinctive, repeatable designs as the light emitting diodes rotate. Optionally, speakers may be utilized to provide sounds corresponding to the light patterns produced by the light emitting diodes.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,094 to Spencer discloses a hand held light display, comprised of a handle with transparent enclosure mounted thereon. Within the transparent enclosure is a light display, with a motor that rotates the light display about the handle. Preferably, a battery powers both the light source and the rotation of the motor.  
         [0009]     Other, similar, novelty hand-held lighting devices can be found in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,547 to McCaslin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,039 to Wong, U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,693 to Glynn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,482 to Davidson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,343 to Wakimoto, U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,144 to Williams, and U.S. Published Application No. US 2002/0068505, also to Williams.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     An object of the present invention is to provide a novelty light-up toy, which is fun to watch and creates a festive atmosphere.  
         [0011]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held, illuminated novelty device, which creates an entertaining display of lights.  
         [0012]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dynamic display of lights, utilizing at least two rotating, illuminated arms and a rotating light display within a see-through housing.  
         [0013]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelty light-up toy in which a plurality of light sources are rotated within a housing and outside the housing in such a way that creates light patterns during the rotation.  
         [0014]     The scope and content of the present invention is not intended to be limited by or to the above mentioned objects.  
         [0015]     Briefly, the invention is characterized in particular by the construction of a hand-held light-up toy including a see-through housing, a handle connected to the see-through housing, a light source assembly rotatably mounted within the see-through housing, the light source assembly comprising a housing and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing, a plurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuit board, a power source disposed within the handle, motor disposed within the handle and connected to the power source, having a motor shaft extending therefrom, a rotation means disposed within the handle and connected to the motor shaft, and to the printed circuit board assembly for rotating the printed circuit board assembly when the motor is turned on, and an on/off switch assessable on the handle for selectively activating the power source and the motor.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     For better understanding of the invention and additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment, wherein  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the light-up toy, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is another side view of the light-up toy of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the light-up toy of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  provides an interior view of the handle of the light-up toy in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the see-through housing and the light source assembly contained therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  provides a side view of a light-up toy having a light source assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  provides a detailed view of the interior of the handle in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a colored picture of the interior of the handle shown in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective exploded view of a handle in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective exploded view of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0027]     FIGS.  11 A-B are perspective views of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 ; and  
         [0028]     FIGS.  11 C-G are plan views of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     The invention will be described in general with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , which illustrate various embodiments of the novelty light-up toy  1  according to the present invention. Referring now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the light-up toy  1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, which includes a see-through housing  4  that permits a three-dimensional view of the rotating light source assembly when the device is in use. The housing  4  can be in any desired shape, but preferably is dome-shaped.  
         [0030]     Disposed within the housing  4  is a rotatably mounted light source assembly  20  comprised of a wing portion  3  and an arch portion  2  extending from one end of the wing portion  3 . The light source assembly  20  comprises a printed circuit board  13  disposed therein. The printed circuit board  13  has a shape that fits within the light source assembly  20 . Affixed to the printed circuit board  13  is a series of light sources  7  designed to illuminate when the light source assembly  20  rotates. The light sources  7  may be comprised of light emitting diodes, or other suitable light sources. The light sources  7  may be provided in a plurality of colors to create a colorful visual effect. The printed circuit board  13  includes an integrated circuit (IC, not shown), which includes a program to cause the light sources  7  to light up at different intensities and different intervals, causing patterns to appear in the light as the light source assembly  20  rotates. The IC is an off the shelf component, which can be purchased, for example, from MUPAC Development Ltd., in Hong Kong, China, model #MD-264.  
         [0031]     An additional pair of light sources  6  is found at the ends of two flexible, rotatable arms  5 . These arms  5 , preferably constructed of PVC or similar flexible, or semi-flexible material, are located directly beneath the housing  4  of the toy. Also disposed within the handle  8  according to the embodiments in  FIG. 4  and  7  is a printed circuit board  34  which controls operation of the motor  12 . In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the light source assembly  20  is connected to the motor shaft  22 , so that the light source assembly  20  rotates when the motor is turn on by the on/off switch  9 . In another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , both the flexible arms  5  and the light source assembly  20  are connected to a series of gears  14  and a motor  12 , which cause the arms  5  and light source assembly  20  to rotate upon activation of an on/off switch  9 . The arms  5  may be different lengths so that as the arms rotate, an oval appearance of the lights sources  6  is created.  
         [0032]     The on/off switch  9  is located on the handle  8  of the toy  1 . The handle  8  may be further enhanced with a series of corrugated ridges  10  or other similar grip-facilitating features. The handle may be made of a rigid plastic material, or another similar suitable material.  
         [0033]     Disposed within the handle  8  is the power source  25  for the toy  1 , as well as the motor  12  that rotates the light source assembly and the flexible arms  5 . Preferably, the power source  25  comprises several batteries  15  ( FIG. 7 ), although alternate sources are also possible. As shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the batteries  15  are located alongside and below the motor  12 . A wire  30  connetes the motor to the battery contact  32 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the motor shaft  24  is connected to an armature  26 , which in turn is connected to the light source assembly  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). The armature is connected to the motor shaft contact  27 , which is in turn connected to the motor  12  via wire  28 .  
         [0034]     Alternatively, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , directly above and in contact with the power source  20  and motor  12  is a series of gears  14  that permit rotation of the light source assembly  20  and the flexible arms  5 . The gears  14  rotate upon the user&#39;s activation of the on/off switch  9  on the exterior portion of the handle  8 . Placing the switch  9  in the on position closes the circuitry connecting the batteries  15  to the motor  12 . The motor  12  then causes the gears  14  to rotate, which in turn rotates the light source assembly  20  and the flexible, rotatable arms  5 . Simultaneously, the light sources  7  disposed along the arch  2  and wing  3  portions of the light source assembly  20 , as well as those light sources  6  at the ends of the flexible arms  5  illuminate, creating a Saturn-like light display. According to the present invention, the arms  5 , the housing  4 , and the light source assembly  20  all spin together at the same time. This allows for cost efficiency and also provides a unique visual effect.  
         [0035]     According to one embodiment, the handle portion  8  holds 3 AAA batteries. However, other battery configurations are possible.  
         [0036]     It is also a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the flexible arms  5  have a single light source  6  disposed only at their ends. The light sources  6  may be light emitting diodes or other similar devices. However, the invention also contemplates the use and placement of additional light sources  6  along the length of the flexible arms  5 , or more than two arms, if a more complex lighting display pattern is desired.  
         [0037]     The printed circuit board  13  is shown in  FIG. 5  as having a half-arch shape (arch  2 ), extending from a wing  3  at one end thereof. However, the “arch  2  and wing  3 ” configuration of the light source assembly  20  within the dome  4  may be modified (see, for example, the alternate embodiment provided in  FIG. 6 ).  FIG. 6  is an alternative embodiment of the toy  1  in which the light source assembly  20 ′ has a wing  3 ′, a connecting section  30  having one end connected to one of the wing  3 ′, and an arch  2 ′ extending from the second end of the connecting section  30 . As in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the printed circuit board (not shown) is shaped to fit within the light source assembly  20 ′.  
         [0038]     Another embodiment of the handle is shown in  FIGS. 8-11 . In this embodiment, the front handle body  101  includes a recess  112  in which the on/off button  103  sits. Inside the recess  112  is a through-hole  114 , through which the slide switch  104  passes when the handle is assembled. The two halves of the handle body, front handle body  101  and back handle body  102  are assembled with all of the parts placed in the respective cavities (as will be described), and the handle bodies are fixed together using screws (not shown) that are inserted into the protrusions  150  and  152  and tightened until the handle is securely closed.  
         [0039]     The slide switch  104  a peg  118  protruding from one side and a contact pad  120  protruding from the other side. On an inner side of the button  103  is a seat  116 , into which the peg  118  formed on one side of the switch  104  is inserted. The contact pad  120  comes into contact with the printed circuit board  105 . The printed circuit board  105  is connected, via wire  122 , to the motor  106 . The motor  106  sits on motor seat  134  when the handle is assembled. The printed circuit board  105  fits in the handle between the motor  106  and a top contact plate  128 .  
         [0040]     Similarly to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the motor shaft  124  is connected to an armature (not shown), which in turn is connected to the light source assembly  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). The armature is connected to the motor shaft contact  107 , which is in turn connected to the motor  106  via wire  126 .  
         [0041]     The top contact plate  128  forms the top of the battery compartment  136 . A battery chamber divider log is provided to separate the battery compartment  136  into separate chambers, one for each battery  108 . A battery door  110  is removably connected via a screw (not shown) that can be inserted and tightened in corresponding openings  138  and  140  in the battery door  110  and back handle body  102 , respectively.  
         [0042]     The contact plate  128  is connected via wire  130  to the motor  106 . A bottom contact plate  144  is positioned at the bottom of the battery compartment  136  and is connected via wire  132  to the printed circuit board  105 . A wire  142  connects the bottom of the top contact plate  128  where one of the batteries contact the contact plate  128  to the top of the contact plate  128 . The wires  130 ,  132 , and  142  serve to electrically connect the power source (in this case, three batteries) to the motor  106  and printed circuit board  105 , so as to provide them with power when the on/off switch  103  is turned on.  
         [0043]     FIGS.  11 A-B are perspective views of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 . FIGS.  11 C-G are plan views of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0044]     Furthermore, although all the figures show a dome-shaped housing portion  4 , it is certainly possible to utilize an alternate shape, such as a pyramid, and perhaps a transparent but colored dome  4  or pyramid, so long as the shape and color allow the user a 3-D view of the printed circuit board  13  and light sources  7 . The number and placement of the light sources  6 ,  7  along the flexible arms  5  and printed circuit board  13 , respectively, may also be modified, according to the lighting display desired.  
         [0045]     The light source assembly  20  may be made of a rigid material, such as plastic. Decorative sheets may be adhered to the outer surface of the light source assembly  20 . These sheets can be solid opaque film sheets or they could be in the form of images or patterns. In addition, without departing from the inventive design, the decorative sheets can be omitted in their entirety. In this case, during the rotation the light patterns would appear to be free floating within the housing.  
         [0046]     Although various features of the invention have been described with particular embodiments. It is considered within one of ordinary skill in the art to mix and match the features in other embodiments not depicted in the figures.  
         [0047]     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.  
         [0048]     Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.