Abstract:
A fiber optic illumination system and method is utilized to provide illumination for decorative fixtures and objects situated in an aquarium, terrarium, and the like. An external, high-intensity lamp, powered by household electricity, provides the light source for a flexible, fiber optic bundle that is insulated and waterproofed. A motorized, interchangeable color wheel, located between the lamp and the fiber optic bundle, modifies the light source to create colored light. Once the light bundle is inserted into the water tank, the fiber optic strands are separated and directed to a plurality of interchangeable, transparent and translucent fixtures and objects to decorate the aquarium.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Registration No. 546,247 filed on Feb. 17, 2004 and, subsequently, in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/674,538 filed on Apr. 25, 2005. Presently, there are no other co-pending, non-provisional applications anywhere in the world. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a method for illuminating decorative fixtures and objects and, more particularly, to a method for illumination provided by a fiber optic bundle having an external light source, a motorized color wheel and an external electrical power supply that is attached with various strands from the bundle to underwater aquarium fixtures. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Keeping fish in a tank or aquarium is a hobby enjoyed by many people. Such aquariums serve many purposes. Not only do they form a centerpiece for room decor, but they are a calming and soothing visual device as well. As with many hobbies, tank owners are constantly looking for new and exciting developments associated with the hobby that they can utilize to customize and decorate their tank. In the past, such developments have centered on accessories and plants placed in the water. With the advancement of fiber optic technology, more interesting possibilities exist, including illumination for aquarium fixtures and objects. 
   Several attempts have been made in the past to provide ornamental light inside an aquarium. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,059 issued in the name of Hwang provides for a fiber optic, variable light source using an ornamental color wheel to decorate fixtures inside an aquarium. This patent places the lamp source on the exterior of the aquarium with the optical fiber units inside. The light would be projected through the glass wall of the tank to match the fiber bundle and color wheel located in the tank and underwater. The lighted fiber optic strands would then proceed to the decorative fixture. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,746 issued in the name of Kao provides an artificial tree, or similar foliage, having at least one bundle of optical fibers. This patent has a light source at the proximal end, directed toward the distal end where the fibers are sharply bent, to create a unique effect. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,215 issued in the name of Giattino et al. describes a laser light device having an external power supply that is waterproof, allowing it to be placed within the aquarium and to project a laser light beam through the water. The laser can be mounted within a fixture, and projected from the fixture, for reflections throughout the tank while interacting with the fish. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,071 issued in the name of Baumberg et al. discloses an aquarium lighting system for illuminating the interior of an aquarium. The primary focus of this patent is to create underwater patterns by using lengths of flexible electroluminescent filaments with power provided by an external to the aquarium, conventional electrical supply. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,469 issued in the name of Mathias et al. describes an aquarium lighting system for in-tank, underwater illumination. The method of illumination is that of an insulated low-voltage wire, energizing a waterproof, light-emitting diode (LED) lens. The LED is then attachable to a fixture or object by means of a tie wrap or suction cup. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,421 issued in the name of Guastella describes a decorative fiber optic lamp. A motor and a color wheel located above the light source allow for a cycle of blended color changes. This patent is representative of other fiber optic light fixtures that wholly reside outside an aquarium or other water tanks. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,228 issued in the name of Boyle discloses an illuminated aquarium landscaping system having a plurality of terrain levels and underwater objects. The base of the water tank is transparent. Attached to the transparent tank base is a light compartment. Within the light compartment resides a switched light source that projects lamp light up through the tank&#39;s transparent base, to illuminate decorative objects and fixtures that are underwater. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,056 issued in the name of Ruthenberg discloses an apparatus for producing a fiber optic illuminated waterfall. This patent includes eight separate embodiments to accomplish decorative lighting effects for cascading water. 
   None of the prior art particularly describes the method of ornamental lighting of underwater fixtures and objects within an aquarium or similar tank by means of a fiber optic strand bundle comprised of an external light source, motorized color wheel and an external power supply that can be placed within the water tank at any time. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is a need for a system that allows for inserting illuminated fixtures and objects into an aquarium or similar tank in order to produce decorative lighting effects. 
   It has further been observed that there is a need for a means to insert the illuminated fixtures and objects into the aquarium or similar tank when the tank is already filled with water. 
   The object of the invention is to provide a method of producing ornamental water fixtures and objects that are illuminated by fiber optics. 
   It is a further object of the invention to ensure that the method of providing electricity to the fiber optic light source is safe. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a motorized, rotating color wheel that alters the color of the light source projected through the fiber optic bundle. 
   It is a further object of the invention that the color wheel be interchangeable, allowing multiple variations of colors that could be projected into the fiber optic bundle, and ultimately to the underwater fixtures and objects, for enhanced decorative displays. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide for the secure connectivity of the fiber optic illumination into the aquarium or similar tank to ensure reliability. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide for the capability to remove fiber optic illuminated fixtures or objects without hazard or needing to empty the water tank. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide for the simple interchangeability of fixtures and objects within the aquarium or similar tank to the fiber optic bundle. 
   To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention advances the art by providing a new and novel system and method of illuminating fixtures and objects that can placed, or interchanged with other fixtures and objects, within an aquarium or similar tank at any time in a safe and efficient manner using a fiber optic strand bundle having an external light source, a motorized color wheel that is capable of a plurality of other optional interchangeable color wheels, and a switched alternating current (AC) electrical power supply. The herein disclosed method will result in providing interesting illuminated color decorations for inside of an aquarium or similar tank that can be simply modified. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the optical fiber decorative inserts  160  in operation inside an aquarium  190 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 2  is a cut-away view of a fiber optic lighting source unit  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a close-up transparent view of a non-terminal “T” connector  150  and its connectivity with a decorative optical fiber insert  160 ; and, 
       FIG. 4  is a close-up cut-away view of a fiber optic lighting source unit  10 , depicting the color wheel  120  and color filter  125  portions, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               fiber optic lighting source unit 
             
             
               20 
               power supply cord 
             
             
               30 
               power supply (with GFI) 
             
             
               40 
               motor and lighting mount 
             
             
               50 
               wire for lighting unit 
             
             
               60 
               wire for motor 
             
             
               70 
               lamp socket 
             
             
               80 
               lamp 
             
             
               90 
               lamp shroud 
             
             
               100 
               motor 
             
             
               110 
               wheel driver 
             
             
               115 
               angle of rotation 
             
             
               120 
               rotary wheels 
             
             
               125 
               color filter 
             
             
               130 
               optical fiber bundle 
             
             
               135 
               colored light 
             
             
               140 
               optical fiber sheath 
             
             
               145 
               optical fiber sheath terminus 
             
             
               150 
               optical fiber “T” connector 
             
             
               155 
               retaining clip 
             
             
               160 
               optical fiber decorative insert 
             
             
               165 
               stop 
             
             
               170 
               decorative insert optical fiber bundle 
             
             
               190 
               aquarium 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 , respectively. However the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
   The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , various views of a system for illuminating the aquarium are disclosed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, generally comprising a fiber optic lighting source unit  10  and an aquarium  190 . 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the illumination of aquarium  190  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Optical fiber decorative inserts  160  having decorative insert optical fibers  170  are placed in the aquarium  190  to serve the dual purpose of decoration and illumination. The optical fiber decorative inserts  160  are connected through the optical fiber “T” connector  150 . All the optical fibers are routed to the aquarium  190  from the fiber optic lighting source unit  10  in the form of a bundle  130  protected by an optical fiber sheath  140 . 
   The fiber optic lighting source unit  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2  comprises a power supply  30  supplying power to a lamp  80  and an electric motor  100 . The power supply  30  is power from an external supply using a power cord  20 . The motor  100  and the lamp  80  are clamped over a motor  100  and lighting mount  40  and powered using wire  60  and  50 , respectively. Depending upon the type of lighting, the unit  10  may be provided with a lamp socket  70  and lamp shroud  90 . Further, the motor  100  is provided with a wheel driver  110  and rotary wheel  120 . The rotary wheel  120  has a color filter  125  placed such that when the device is functional, the motor  100  rotates the wheel driver  110  and hence the color filter  125 . The lamp  80  illuminates the optical figure bundle  130  through the color filter  125  thereby creating a colored light  135 . A fiber optical cable bundle  130  within a sheath  140  is provided which has a terminus  145  that is removably inserted into a port of the unit  10 . The terminus  145  is open ended, thereby providing access for the colored light  135  to enter a proximal end of the each strand of the fiber optic bundle  130 , for subsequent travel down the fiber optic cables. 
     FIG. 3  depicts a close-up transparent view of a non-terminal “T” connector  150  and its connectivity with a decorative optical fiber insert  160 . The T connector  150  is connected on both linear ends to the fiber optic bundle sheath  140  and allows the fiber optic bundle  130  to pass therethrough. The “T” end permits the passage of a small amount of fiber optical threads from the bundle  130  up to a stop  165 . This small bundle of fiber optical threads are retained with a clip  155  to orient the distal ends of the threads perpendicular to the stop  165 , which is manufactured out of a transparent plastic to permit the passage of the colored light impulse  135 . A decorative optical fiber insert  160  is placed therein the “T” end of the “T” connector  150  until it abuts the stop  165 . The interior decorative insert optical fiber bundle  170  proximal ends are then immediately across the stop  165  from the distal ends of the small bundle of optical threads, thereby receiving the colored light impulse  135  and transmitting it through the decorative optical fiber insert  160 . 
     FIG. 4  is a close-up cut-away view of a fiber optic lighting source unit  10 , depicting the color wheel  120  and color filter  125  portions, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Herein depicted is an angled view of the color filter  125  as it is attached to the color wheel  120  driven by a wheel driver  110  of a motor  100 . An angle of rotation  115  depicts the motion that the motor  100  and wheel driver  110  imparts on the color wheel  120  and color filter  110 , thereby providing a means for altering color of illuminated light. Such a means is produced when the light source  80  illuminates the color filter  125  as it rotates and produces a colored light  135 , which is subsequently transmitted to the optical fiber bundle  130 . The color filter  125  may be a single color or a sectionalized amount of differing colors (herein depicted as four (4) distinct colors), thereby providing said means for altering color of illuminating light. 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention is designed to be used by the common consumer with little or no special skills or prior experience or training necessary. The implementation of the preferred embodiment is a highly simple procedure. The distal end of the fiber optic bundle  130  with a plurality of optical fiber “T” connectors  150  are placed within a conventional aquarium, terrarium, or other similar device. The artificial aquarium decorative fixtures, fitted with/containing optical fiber inserts  160 , are then installed within each “T” connector  150  and retained therein. This action aligns the decorative insert optical fiber bundle  170  with the distal ends of certain optical fiber threads of the bundle  130 , which are retained therein via a clip  155 . In the fixtures, the optical fiber inserts  160  may bifurcate into narrower tapering units, which supply the peripheral extremities  170  of the fixtures. The tapering units are collectively linked by a median trunk fiber at the base of which the fiber inserts coalesce and enter the optical fiber “T” connector  150 . The “T” connectors are interlinked via an optical fiber bundle  130  encapsulated by a sheath  140 , which leads from the unit  10 . The terminus end  145  of the optical fiber bundle  130  is inserted into a port of the unit  10 , with the proximal ends of the individual threads of the fiber optic bundle  130  being open-ended to receive a light from a light source. The device  10  is powered by means of the power supply cord  20 . Alternately, the unit  10  is powered via on-board batteries. Once connected, the lighting source unit  10  provides the electric impulse, which activates the device  10  and, hence, the lamp  80  and the motor  100  located within the device. The colored light  135  is transmitted to the optical fiber bundle  130  after being subjected to passage through a color filter  125  connected to the rotary wheel  120  that is driven by the motor  100 . The colored light impulse  135  is subsequently transmitted from the unit  10  through “T” connectors  150 , which supply the decorative fixtures  160  containing the optical fiber inserts  170  and, subsequently, transmits the colored light  135  emanating from the optical fiber bundle  130 , thus producing the illumination effect within the aquarium  190 . 
   Thus, the present invention provides a changing color-scape inside of the aquarium  190 , which can serve as the sole source of tank illumination if so desired. The use of this invention will provide a new appearance for aquariums  190  in a manner, which is not only quick, easy and effective, but aesthetically attractive and unique as well. 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with numerous modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.