Abstract:
An illuminated novelty dice display having two opaque hollow dies with non-opaque dots on the die faces. The dots are illuminated by light sources within the hollow portions. The light sources are energized by an electric cord which may also be used to hang the dice from an overhead support such as a vehicle rear view mirror mounting bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Dice have been known for thousands of years, at least from the time of the early Egyptians as depicted on their monuments. Dice have been used not only for amusement and gambling, but also for decoration, for example a pair of dice secured together with a cord and suspended from a support such as the rear view mirror in an automobile. Frequently such decorative dice are embellished in some additional manner such as the presently popular furry dice. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     The known dice comprise a small cube. On each of its six sides is placed a number ranging from one to six. The sum of the two numbers on the opposite sides of a die is always seven, thus if six is at the top, one is at the bottom and so on. 
     Usually, one, two, three or five dice are used in many games with the dice placed in a cylindrical box about four inches high and from one and a half to two inches in diameter. The box, open at the top is shaken and turned up quickly so that the dice will fall flat on a table. The aggregate amount of the spots uppermost at each throw are summed up and credited to the score of the thrower. 
     Various other gambling games are played by throwing the dice, including electronically and mechanically operated games that simulate the throwing of a pair of dice. 
     There are known types of so called electronic dice which are sometimes lighted to improve visibility of the dots or to simulate the rolling of dice by lighting one of the faces of a cube to display a digit rather than dots. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,306,939 to Ferris discloses a pair of dice with fluorescent paint or dye in the dots. When the dice are rolled on a surface (especially on a black surface) and under a black (ultra violet) light the dots will visibly glow. 
     Haber et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,881 teaches a pair of dice with a battery inside which is connected to light emitting diodes for illuminating dots on the faces. A gravity responsive switch on each face is connected so that only the uppermost face will be illuminated when a die comes to rest after being rolled. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,840 to Larson is directed to a plastic cube which supports a seven segment numeric display on each of its six facets. Within the cube, an electronic circuit including a random number generator and motion-sensing switch are supported. During cube motion, the electronic circuit is operative to impress various numbers on the numeric displays. Once motion ceases, the last occurring number is displayed on all six numeric displays. The disclosure of each of the foregoing patents is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns a decorative display or novelty device similar to the popular furry dice which is usually hung above an automobile dashboard from the rearview mirror support. However such furry dice are usually flimsy static structures often made from foam material such as Styrofoam. 
     To the contrary the present invention has two die bodies each of which is made of a light weight and strong material such as rigid or flexible plastic with each die face having dots which can be illuminated. Instead of having an internal battery which is expensive and hard to replace, the illumination of the of the dots of the present invention is actuated by an external power source such as a cord connected to a jack for plugging into a cigarette lighter. 
     The dice of the present invention are preferably made of a light weight but strong material such as molded opaque plastic material with six die faces that enclose a hollow central portion where a source of illumination, such as a miniature 12 volt light bulb or a light emitting diode (LED) can be housed. Light weight is important so that the dice do not swing excessively or damage the windshield during emergency stopping. It is also preferable that the surface of the dice be covered with a fabric or flocking material to prevent unwanted reflections and have a soft exterior. 
     In addition the device of the present invention is sturdier and more durable than styrofoam structures of the prior art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the attached specification and drawings in which like reference numerals identify like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of dice according to this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of a portion of a die face, showing a dot plug in elevation; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the dot plug of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the dot plug of FIGS.  2  and  3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1 there is shown a pair of dice comprising first die  12  and second die  14  connected by conductors  16  and  18  to a Y shaped fitting  20 , which in turn has main conductor  22  leading to jack housing  24 . Cigarette lighter adapter  26  is at the opposite end of housing  24  and when adaptor  26  is connected to a source of electric power, the illumination source in the first and second dies  12  and  14  will be energized to illuminate the dots under control of a control means  40 . 
     First die  12  has six faces, only three of which are shown: face  28  has single dot  29 , face  30  has four dots  31  and face  32  has two dots  33 . As is the usual custom in dice construction the number of dots on the opposing faces not shown would be such that total number of dots on two opposing faces would equal seven, i.e. the face opposite face  28  would have six dots, the face opposite face  30  would have three dots and the face opposite face  32  would have five dots. 
     The dots disbursement of second die  14  is similar to that of first die  12  discussed above, i.e. opposite two dot face  36  is five dots, opposite four dot face  34  is three dots, and opposite six dot face  38  is a single dot. 
     It should be understood that the routing of conductors  16 - 22  is only one example; optionally main conductor  22  could run directly to either first die  12  or second die  14  with a subsequent bridging conductor between the two dies. However the illustrated arrangement is presently preferred because Y fitting  20  can be hooked over a rear view mirror support and conductors  16  and  18  can then be used to support dies  12  and  14 . Alternatively Y fitting  20  may have securing means such as an extending metal or plastic hook or strap means  42  with hook and loop (“Velcro”) surfaces designed for wrapping around and securing the Y connector to the rear view mirror support. 
     The dots  29 ,  31 ,  33 , etc. have an associated light emitting source, preferably a single miniature 12 volt light bulb or a light emitting diode (LED) in each die. It is also contemplated to use a plurality of bulbs or LEDs, e g one for each dot. All such bulbs or LEDs on a particular face would be connected together to be energized at the same time and be illuminated simultaneously e.g. all four dots on face  30  or all six dots on face  38 . 
     Each of the dies may be separately controllable, the arrangement being such that under usual circumstances all of the dots on all of the faces of one of dies are illuminated but none of the dots on the other die are illuminated. 
     In a preferred arrangement, all of the dots on a particular face, when illuminated, would be steadily illuminated, that is, not flashing. However it is also contemplated that for some display effects, the dots on one face, or even all the dots on all the faces could be flashed on and off. 
     The energization of the light source for either steady illumination or flashing illumination is actuated by a control means  40  in the form of an off/on switch which is preferably located on the jack housing  24 ; alternatively the control means could be located in the Y fitting  20  or in one or both of the first and second dies  12  and/or  14 . 
     The dots on the faces of each die are formed of a non-opaque (translucent or transparent) material such as molded plastic. These dots can be non-opaque integral parts of the material of the otherwise opaque die faces, but the dots are preferably separately molded plastic plugs  50  that are fitted into openings in the die faces. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, a dot plug  50  is fitted into an opening  49  in a die face, with an interference fit. For purpose of illustration the die face  28  is shown, but of course the same type of dot plug  50  would be used in any of the die faces  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , or  38 . The dot plugs  50  are preferably all of the same size except on face  28  where the single opening  49  and the dot plug  50  may be of a larger diameter for the sake of visual effect. 
     The dot plugs  50  preferably have an outwardly curved outer face  51  and an inner face with at least two projecting fingers  52 , for frictionally engagement with the sidewall of opening  49 . Preferably at least one finger on each dot plug  50  has a radially outward extending hook  54  to engage the inner surface of the adjacent die face to prevent accidental removal of the plug  50  from the opening  49 . 
     In the foregoing description of the invention certain terms have been used for conciseness, clarity, and comprehension. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be implied from or because of the terms used, beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Furthermore the description and illustrations of the invention are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown, represented, or described. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not so limited but rather includes any and all changes and modifications thereto which would be apparent to those skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.