Abstract:
A flashlight confection combination novelty provides various illusions and color variations to an observer by using multi-color filters, that can be moved relative to the confection, and by providing the confection and/or an insert within the confection with irregularities and contours that transfer light differently including shading, reflecting, refracting and diffusion, and by using additional lighting with projection of images.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     A novelty device combines a confection and a multi-color light filter on a light source to give different impressions and illusions to an observer. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Novelty devices combining a confection and illumination means are old. One example of this is U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,748, issued Apr. 3, 1990 to W. Schlotter et al. This patent discloses a confection that includes a light source that projects through the confection to illuminate it. Another confection light combination is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,373, issued Nov. 28, 1995 to T. Coleman et al. This patent discloses projecting a light upwardly and outwardly from the confection. Still another confection light combination is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,033, issued Mar. 31, 1998 to T. Coleman et al. This patent combines a confection, sound and light with the light flashing in concert with sound production. 
     The concept of having a multi-color disk that can be used to project different colors is old per se. U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,083, issued Aug. 15, 1989 to Y. Wakimoto, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,789, issued Sep. 7, 1999 to A. Chan, disclose a multi-color disk that can be moved by gravity and/or inertia due to a tilting device housing the loosely held disk. U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,865, issued Sep. 12, 1967 to T. Southwick and U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,346, issued Aug. 6, 1991 to B. Cimock, disclose a multi-color disk that can be moved by rotation of a tab provided on the disk. U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,054, issued Jul. 16, 1996 to C. Liaw, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,352, issued Feb. 13, 2001 to S. Crosbie, teach confections that are pivotal on a holder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,414, issued Nov. 25, 1997 to J. Jeng, provides for internal and external lighting along a screwdriver for illumination and signaling, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,606, issued Oct. 24, 2000 to R. Fernandez et al, disclose a translucent confection illuminated internally by multi-color blinking lights from a confection holder. The confection can take a variety of colors and shapes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,377, issued May 10, 1994 to T. Joja, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,697 disclose the projection of images. 
     This invention relates to an improvement over the flashlight candy combination described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,748, issued Apr. 3, 1990. In that patent a multi-color candy has light directed to the different colored linear sections through apertures in a connector. It has been found that multi-color effects can be obtained by placing a multi-color transparent and/or translucent disk between the light bulb and candy. The disk can be stationary or movable and the candy and an internal light conducting element within the candy can be shaped to deflect, reflect or refract light. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The novelty device of this invention combines a confection with a multi-color light filter placed between the confection and the light source. By relative movement between the observer, confection and/or the multi-color light filter, different light patterns, colors and impressions are achieved by one observing the confection. The change in color and/or color patterns can be brought about by gravity, manual or mechanical movement of the confection or color filters. The color filters can contain opaque areas that define an image and the confection can be contoured to obstruct and reflect and diffuse light to yield variable patterns. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a novelty device of the invention including a flashlight multi-color filter and confection. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional end view of the multi-color filter area of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the multi-color filter of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional end view of a floating multi-color filter. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the floating multi-color filter of FIG. 4 within the novelty housing. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional end view of a manually movable multi-color filter. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the manually movable multi-color filter of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional end view of a modified confection and multi-color filter with additional lighting. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the multi-color filter and LED bulbs with their support of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional end view of a pivotable confection and modified multi-color filter. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the multi-color filter and confection support of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The basic components of the novelty device are a confection, a color filter means, and a light source. As seen in FIG. 1, the novelty device  1  includes a flashlight-mounted novelty. The flashlight includes a housing  6  having a closed end  7  and an open end  8 . An electrical energy source  3 , consisting of one or more batteries, provides electricity for the light bulb  4  through conductors  5  with the electric current controlled with a switch  9 . Light from the light bulb either passes upwardly, or is reflected upwardly, from a reflector  2 , that surrounds the light bulb, through the housing open end  8  and the multi-color light filter  20  and into the base  19  of a plastic FIG.  10  and/or confection  11 . 
     In FIG. 1, a stationary multi-cooler disk  20  is placed between the light bulb  4  and the candy or confection  11  having a plastic FIG. 10 fixed on the housing and placed within the candy. The candy and/or plastic figure can take the shape of an animate or inanimate object with the irregularities on either or both designed to pass and/or reflect and/or refract light into select configurations or designs. The remote ends  12 ,  13  of the plastic confection figure can be shaped to focus or control the beam of light during use and the remaining device can function as a flashlight after the candy is consumed. The multi-color light filter  20  can have an opaque area or distinct colored areas in the shape of an animate or inanimate image or object such that light passing through the filter conveys the image through the plastic FIG.  10  and/or confection  11  and beyond. Using this arrangement the image can be projected onto a distant object or conveyed to an observer remote from the flashlight. This arrangement permits the flashlight and plastic figure to be used as an amusement device or toy or for illumination after the confection is consumed. 
     The plastic FIG. 10 is shown transparent with irregularities. The irregularities are designed to convey special effects common to optics. The upper extreme  12  is formed convex to converge light rays. One area  14  is designed to refract light passing through it. This can yield a variety of color and a halo effect. A second area  15  is designed to reflect light striking it back across the plastic figure to assist illumination of the adjacent confection features. A third area  16  is designed to pass light through into the confection. A fourth area  17  and reflection area  15  act to block light and thus provide a somewhat shaded area. 
     The shaped confection  11  is in the shape of a human head. Without the use of a plastic figure, the features can be constructed to yield specific highlighting and optical features. Recessing and raising the features and diminishing and exaggerating feature sizes can be used to shade and emphasize features. The color schemes of the multi-color disk can be used in concert with these feature irregularities to enhance various visual affects. Normally the nose  18 , being remote from internally transmitted rays, forms a shaded or less illuminated area, the eyes  19  when directly in line with the light source brightly reflect light, etc. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 represent a side view of the multi-color filter and its position within the housing and top view of the multi-color filter respectively. The multi-color filter  20  is shown with an opaque area  21 , that can be projected through the plastic figures and confection, as well as transparent and/or translucent multi-color areas  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 . Because of the various colors projected into the plastic FIG.  10  and confection  11  through the multi-color filter  20  and because of the light manipulation by the irregular configuration of the plastic FIG.  10  and confection  11 , any relative movement between the observer and novelty device  1  will result in varying the impressions seen by the observer. This will be significant in view of the motions inherent in using the device as a light source and in consumption of the confection. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are similar to those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 except that the multi-color filter  30  is free to float between the reflector  2  and base support  19 . A transparent support  37  extends partially or completely over the reflector to house and frictionally support the multi-color filter  30 . The frictional forces retaining the multi-color filter in place are so weak that tilting the device or shaking it readily permits the multi-color filter  30  to translate  35  and/or to rotate  36  due to gravity and momentum. The movement of the multi-color filter  30  exposes the plastic FIG.  10  and confection  11  to different colors  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  in different areas and changes the angle of incident of the different colors. The result is an enhanced varying of the impressions of the objects being observed due to the changing color schemes. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the multi-color filter  40  is provided with a tab  48  that projects through a slot  49  in the housing  6  to permit manual manipulation of the frictionally secured multi-color filter located between the reflection means  2  plastic FIG.  10  and confection  11 . By rotating and/or reciprocating  47  the color filter, the various colors  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  shift under the plastic figure and confection to expose the various areas to different colors and thus change the color scheme and impressions seen by an observer. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 represent a modification of the structure shown in FIGS. 1-3 in that a common spherical shape, such as a lollipop, on a stick is provided for. The confection  57  can have its holding stick  56  placed through an opening  55  in the multi-color filter  50 . In addition, a second light source is provided for in the form of multi-color LED bulbs  58  that extend around and above the multi-color filter and project additional light into the confection  57 . A separate switch  29  and wiring circuit  28  can be used, with a control  27  for varying the sequence and combination of illuminating the lights alone or in concert with lights shining through the multi-color filter  50 . The light entering the confection  57  can be entirely from the LED&#39;s  58  or from the light from the bulb  4  passing through the multi-color filter colors  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  or from both that can be used alternately or together in random sequences for a large number of color schemes. The colors can be blended together for various additional effects seen by an observer, including forming new colors by addition or subtraction of colors. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 modify the structure shown in FIGS. 1-3 somewhat in that the multi-color filter  60  is formed arcuate to accommodate the lower end of a confection that can be pivoted about its base on a bearing means  65 . An elongated confection  67  is directly pivoted  63  on the bearing means  65  or a support holder  64  to expose the confection to multi-colors produced as the light from the bulbs  4  passes through the multi-color filter  60 . To separate the colors entering into the confection, the lower extreme  61  of the confection or transparent support holder  64  is rounded off for use as a color pick up. Adjacent areas are covered by an opaque covering  62  to prevent adjacent colors from combining with those closest to the multi-color filter pick up area  61 . The opaque covering prevents colors that are not adjacent to the lower extreme  61  from traveling simultaneously up the confection  67 . 
     It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative only and that changes, variations, substitutions, modifications and equivalents will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art and that such may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.