Abstract:
A battery-powered, low-power-consumption LED lighted curtain rod ornamental finial with an automatic light sensitive switch. The LED lights will require very small amounts of power, allowing very long battery life. The use of LED lights eliminates the need for a power cord connected to a household electrical outlet. The automatic switch will turn the LED lights on and off according to a predetermined setting, thereby enhancing the efficient use of energy, low power consumption, and increased battery life. In a preferred embodiment, the LED lights are also controlled by a manual, remote controlled power switch, so that a user may turn off the lighting system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to curtain rod finials with low-power, battery operated LED illumination and automatic light sensing switch capability. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,553 to Wojski discloses lighted curtain hardware that relied on power from a 110V household electrical outlet. Wojski also disclosed the use of a transformer to step down this voltage with a transformer ( 76 ) to lower the power supplied to the light. However, Wojski still relied on power from a household electrical outlet and an electrical cord running from the outlet up to the curtain hardware. The power cord is unattractive, especially when used with a curtain rod, because the cord must extend from near the floor, where conventional electrical outlets are located, all the way up to the rod, near the ceiling. It is very difficult to obscure the electrical cord, especially where the cord&#39;s color contrasts with that of the window&#39;s decor. Also, the use of a household electrical outlet and a transformer fails to eliminate the safety hazard created by the high voltage provided by the household power source. Another disadvantage of Wojski is that the lights must be turned on and off manually, which is an inconvenience to the user. Moreover, conventional incandescent lights, such as those disclosed in Wojski, are available in only a limited range of colors. Moreover, to change the color of incandescent lights, it is usually necessary to change the bulb, or interpose a filter, or change the shade, in this case, the finial. 
         [0003]    Wojski references two patents for illuminated batons, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,681,979 to Manoloff and 3,384,741 to Bice et al., which disclosed batteries used to power a small light at the end of a baton. These battery-powered lights have the disadvantage of having a very short life span, because the batteries quickly drain. Also, conventional incandescent bulbs have short lifespans, requiring periodic replacement. These baton patents are not analogous art to the present field of illuminated curtain rod finials, since batons are an entirely different field of endeavor and the problems considered by baton art, such as Manoloff and Bice, are very different. For example, the Manoloff patent identifies weight and the moment of inertia as baton-related problems his invention is directed to solving. See Manoloff, column 1, lines 4 through 23 and 29 through 34. In the field of curtain rod finials, weight and inertia are not concerns, since the curtain rods are hung from building walls and are stationary. Bice et al. identify safety (compared to fire wands) and balance as problems their invention is directed to solving. See Bice et al., column 1, lines 24 through 48. Illuminated curtain rod finials do not have the fire problem experienced by fire wands, and balance is not a curtain rod finial problem, since curtain rods are stationary objects hung from walls. Both Manoloff and Bice et al. also cite damage to electrical circuitry as a problem their baton inventions are directed to solving by providing more rugged structures. See Manoloff, column 1, lines 31-32, and Bice et al., column 1, lines 49 through 53. Again, because illuminated curtain rod finials are stationary objects, this is not a problem involved in the field of the present invention. Even if these baton patents are considered, they do not address the problems or benefits of the present invention. In the field of home decor, consumers are unwilling to accept the short battery and bulb life of the devices disclosed in Manoloff and Bice et al. For example, if batteries were used to illuminate a curtain rod end in a manner similar to the illuminated batons of Manoloff and Bice et al., it would be necessary to replace the batteries on a weekly or even more frequent basis. Similarly, incandescent bulbs have short life spans, especially when turned on for long periods of time, which is the case with illuminated curtain rod finials. Consumers will not accept the inconvenience of short battery or bulb life. For this reason, neither Manoloff nor Bice et al. provide a workable source of illumination for a curtain rod finial. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a system for illuminating curtain rod finials that avoids the use of a household electrical power source, eliminates electrical cords, eliminates manual switching, provides energy efficient and long-lasting illumination, and allows for simple changes to light color and finial ornamentation. 
         [0005]    The present invention employs battery-powered LED lights and a light sensor. LED lights use very little power and can operate on battery power for very long periods. In addition, a light sensor can turn the LED lights on when natural light dims and off during daylight in order further to conserve battery life. A preferred embodiment of the present invention also provides a remote control manual on/off switch, so that the lights can be turned on or off at the owner&#39;s pleasure. The on/off switch can override the light sensor switch to conserve battery life when house is empt for some days. 
         [0006]    The present invention provides a system that allows ornamented finials to be changed easily by the user. This permits many decorative options. For example, in Winter, illuminated finials with seasonal themes and colors can be used. Then, in Spring, the finials can be changed to suit new season or decorative theme of the home. The present system allows the user to keep the basic curtain rod even when the home&#39;s decor is changed, by changing the finial to suit the new decor. 
         [0007]    The present invention also takes advantage of the multi-colored light that LEDs are capable of providing, thereby allowing a user to change the light color emitted by the LED. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a cross-section view of a curtain rod and finial of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A through 2C  show how the parts of the curtain rod, LED unit and finial connect to each other, as well as the location for the batteries. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a cross section of the LED illuminated curtain rod finial system  10  of the present invention. The curtain rod is formed of right and left halves,  11  and  11 ′. The left curtain rod  11 ′ has a slightly smaller diameter than the right curtain rod  11 , so that the left rod  11 ′ is slidably received in the right curtain rod  11 , as shown by the arrows  30  at joint  21 . In this way, the length of the combined curtain rod,  11  and  11 ′, can be adjusted to fit many different sized windows and openings. Persons familiar with the art of curtain rods will appreciate that many arrangements are available to secure two halves of an adjustable curtain rod. 
         [0011]    At each of the ends,  27  and  27 ′, of the curtain rods,  11  and  11 ′, are LED illuminated finial cartridges,  20  and  20 ′. The cartridges,  20  and  20 ′, are sized to fit within the ends,  27  and  27 ′. Arrows  28  and  28 ′ show how the cartridges,  20  and  20 ′, are directed in the curtain rod ends,  27  and  27 ′. Friction surfaces,  12  and  12 ′, on the cartridges,  20  and  20 ′, engage the inside surfaces of the curtain rod ends,  27  and  27 ′, to hold the cartridges,  20  and  20 ′, in place. Alternatively, surfaces  12  and  12 ′ could have male threads and the inner surfaces of the curtain ends,  27  and  27 ′, could have complimentary female threads. Persons of skill in the art will appreciate that many different arrangements are possible to secure the cartridges,  20  and  20 ′, to the ends,  27  and  27 ′, of the curtain rods,  11  and  11 ′. 
         [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , decorative finials,  13  and  13 ′, are attached to the ends of the LED illuminated finial cartridges,  20  and  20 ′. It is conventional that finials are matched pairs, as shown, although this is not necessary and different finials can be combined. 
         [0013]    In  FIG. 1 , the curtain rod is divided into right and left halves,  11  and  11 ′. As shown in this preferred embodiment, the parts on the left half are identical to those on the right, and the corresponding numbers are the same, except those on the left include an apostrophe. For the following description, the right side will be discussed and the description applies as well to the left side. 
         [0014]    The finial  13  shown in  FIG. 1  is substantially transparent, allowing light from within to illuminate it. Decorative transparent finials can be made in an infinite variety of styles and designs. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the finial  23  is of a different design from the finial  13  shown in  FIG. 1 . Moreover, the color of the transparent finial can come in diverse colors. By changing the finial design or color, the user has a very wide selection of ornamentation available to coordinate with the decoration of a particular space, and the user can change finial designs and color to suit a whim or a season. The connecting end  17  of the finial  13  attaches to a socket  18  at the end of the cartridge  20 . There are many ways to attach the finial  13  to the socket  18 . For example, the connecting end  17  of the finial  13  could be a threaded male cylinder and the socket  18  a complimentary female threaded bore. Or, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the socket  18  could have a pair of radially extending posts and the connecting end  17  of the finial  13  a complimentary pair of ramped slots, forming a quarter-turn fastening, as indicated by the arrows at  25 . Or, the connecting end  17  of the finial  13  could form an annular groove and the socket  18  could have one or more set screws to hold the finial  13  in place. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are many arrangements that could be employed to hold the finial  13  in place while making it simple and easy to remove and replace. The socket  18  has an LED light  14 . The LED light  14  can be, for example a 0.1 W LED bulb. Alternatively, the light  14  can be an LED, or even multiple LEDs, capable of providing different colors and brightnesses. Adjacent the socket  18 , and electrically connected to the LED light  14 , is a space in the cartridge  20  for batteries  15 . Conventional curtain rods are often cylindrical, thereby providing a suitable space inside the cylindrical rod for cartridge  20 . However, other curtain rod shapes also provide interior space for differently-shaped cartridges and batteries. Preferably, the batteries  15  are No. 7 3.6V rechargeable lithium micro batteries. Under the very small power drain of an LED bulb, these batteries will last for substantial periods of time. Moreover, these batteries can be recharged, further increasing their useful life. Unlike conventional incandescent light bulbs, an LED light source has a very long life span. As a result of the very long life span of LED lights and their very low power consumption, the LED illuminated curtain rod finial disclosed by the present invention will provide illumination for very long periods of time. 
         [0015]    The batteries  15  are electrically connected to the LED light  14  through an automatic light sensitive switch  16 . The automatic light sensitive switch  16  can turn the LED light  14  on when surrounding light dims and can turn it off when surrounding light increases. An light sensitive automatic switch  16  can be directed toward the window, so that it will react to natural sunlight, thereby turning the LED light  14  on at night and off during the day. Or, the light sensitive automatic switch  16  can be directed toward the interior of the room, so that the automatic switch will respond to the light in the room, thereby turning the LED light  14  on when the room&#39;s lighting is low and off when it is high and the illumination of the LED light  14  cannot easily be discerned. In a preferred embodiment, a light sensitive automatic switch  16  is adjustable to the amount of light. In yet another preferred embodiment, the light sensitive automatic switch  16  also has a manual remote controlled on/off switch  19 , so that the user can turn the LED light  14  off or on, thereby bypassing the automatic switch  16 . A remote control  22  can have an on/off button  31  to generate a wireless signal  24  to activate the manual switch  19 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the signal  24  has a path  26  to the manual remote controlled switch  19 . The remote control  22  may also be connected to the light circuitry by a wire. In a preferred embodiment, the remote control  22  can also have a switch  32 , or multiple switches, to change the color or brightness of the LED light  14 . 
         [0016]    As noted above,  FIG. 1  shows a symmetrical arrangement of lighted finial. A left LED illuminated finial cartridge  20 ′ connects to the left curtain rod  11 ′. The left LED light  14 ′ is powered by batteries  15 ′. The left set of batteries  15 ′ is electrically connected to the left LED light  14 ′ through an automatic light sensitive switch  16 ′, which operates as described above. Also part of the left cartridge  20 ′ is a manual remote controlled switch  19 ′ which responds to the signals  24  from the remote control  22 . In an alternative embodiment, both the right and left LED lights,  14  and  14 ′, can be powered from one set of batteries, rather than from separate cartridges, and, rather than having separate light sensitive switches at each end,  16  and  16 ′, and separate remote controlled switches,  19  and  19 ′, a single automatic switch and a single remote controlled switch can control both LED lights,  14  and  14 ′. In such an arrangement, electrical wire (not shown) running from the automatic switch  16  and remote controlled switch  19  at the right end of the curtain rod  11  to the left LED light  13 ′ would control both the left and right LED lights,  13  and  13 ′. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 2A through 2C  shows how the cartridge  20  is removed from the end  27  of the curtain rod  11 , thereby exposing the port  29  for the batteries  15 . The cartridge  20  is secured in the curtain rod end  27  by the friction surface  12 , but the cartridge  20  can be easily pulled out, exposing the battery port  29 . The port  29  is opened and the old batteries can be removed and new batteries inserted, as shown. Then, the cartridge  20  is re-inserted into the curtain rod  11 , to complete the LED illuminated curtain rod finial system  10 . 
         [0018]    The drawings and description set forth here represent only some embodiments of the invention. After considering these, skilled persons will understand that there are many ways to make a battery-powered, LED-lighted, changeable ornamental finial according to the principles disclosed. The inventors contemplate that the use of alternative structures, materials, or manufacturing techniques, which result in a battery-powered, LED-lighted, changeable ornamental finial according to the principles disclosed, will be within the scope of the invention.