Abstract:
A decorative lighting display unit includes a housing having a shape of an eye mask including areas simulating a pair of eye balls. An illumination source is disposed within the housing for illuminating the areas simulating the pair of eye balls. A controller is utilized for energizing the display unit which may control multiple units for creating an on\off lighting pattern.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to lighting display systems, and more particularly to a Halloween eye mask lighting display unit and system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Seasonal lighting display systems are utilized to decorate homes, typically at Christmastime, to create a pleasing and festive environment for the season. Ghosts, goblins, and trick or treaters are typically associated with Halloween, and home owners also desire to decorate their houses using lighting displays to celebrate the season. A need has thus arisen for a unique decorative lighting system for Halloween. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a decorative lighting display unit is provided. The unit includes a housing having a shape of an eye mask including areas simulating a pair of eye balls. An illumination source is disposed within the housing for illuminating the areas simulating the pair of eye balls. A controller is utilized for energizing the display unit which may control multiple units for creating an on\off lighting pattern. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present lighting display unit; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present lighting display unit shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a pictorial scene showing use of the present lighting display system; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the present lighting display unit shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a fastener; and 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the present control system for the present lighting display system. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present decorative lighting display unit is illustrated, and is generally identified by the numeral  20 . Unit  20  has a shape of an eye mask to simulate the appearance of a pair of eyes of a human or animal. Unit  20  includes a housing  22  having a front portion  24  and rear portion  26 . Front portion  24  of housing  22  includes eye apertures  28 , simulating the position of eyes covered by a mask in the form of front portion  24 . Surrounding eye apertures  28  are concave reflective surfaces  30 . 
     Disposed within housing  22  are light sources, such as, for example, light emitting diodes  40  which are aligned with eye apertures  28 , and mounted to rear portion  26  of housing  22 . Light emitting diodes  40  are interconnected to a printed circuit board  42  which includes related circuitry for driving light emitting diodes  40 , as is well known to those skilled in the art. Printed circuit boards  42  are mounted within a frame  44  within rear portion  26  of housing  22 . Rear portion  26  also includes an aperture  46  through which light emitting diode electrical leads  48  pass. Leads  48  are connected to a controller to be subsequently described with respect to FIG.  5 . Light emitting diodes  40  include a spherical lens  50  which protrudes through eye apertures  28 . Lens  50  creates an illumination source which is concentrated in the area of eye apertures  28  and which radiates outwardly into area  30  of front portion  24  of housing  22  to further illuminate unit  20  and create the appearance of eyes. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a house  60  decorated for the Halloween season is illustrated. Decorations include multiple units  20  which are attached to shrubbery  62  and a tree  64 . Units  20  are electrically connected in series to be continuously illuminated, periodically illuminates, or illuminated in a predetermined on/off lighting sequence to create the present lighting display system. 
     Units  20  may be attached to shrubbery  62  and tree  64  utilizing a clip  66 , as illustrated in FIG.  4 . Clip  66  is attached to rear portion  26  of housing  22  and provides for numerous mounting positions. 
     Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 3 and 5, units  20  are controlled by a controller unit  80 . Controller unit  80  may comprise, for example, an integrated circuit Model No. SPC41A1 manufactured and sold by Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd. Controller  80  includes a timer and counter for sequencing the on/off lighting cycle of each unit  20  in a predetermined lighting pattern. Additionally, controller  80  can turn all units  20  on in a continuous manner. Controller  80  includes a selector switch  82  for selecting an off mode, sequence mode, motion sensor mode, and continuous on mode. In the motion sensor mode of controller  80 , a motion sensor  84  provides an output signal to controller  80  to illuminate units  20 . Motion sensor  84  includes a sensor and detector such as, for example, an infrared motion sensor which be positioned along sidewalk  86  leading to house  60 . Motion sensor  84  includes a signal generator and detector which may be housed within simulated pumpkins  88  and  90 , respectively. The unsuspecting trick or treaters  92  and  94  walking along sidewalk  86 , and adjacent to pumpkin  88  will actuate motion sensor  84  with controller  82  in the motion sensor mode of operation to actuate units  20 , and surprise the trick or treaters  92  and  94  with the illumination of eyes coming from shrubbery  62  and tree  64 . 
     Controller  80  may also include a read only memory and central processing unit for speech and melody synthesis. Users of the present system can record or synthesize sound and digitize such sound into the read only memory of controller  80 . The sound can be played in sequence with the illumination of units  20  through speakers  100  which may be located adjacent to display units  20  in shrubbery  62  or inside house  60 . Sounds such as screams, chewing and crunching, and burps may emanate from speakers  100  to additionally surprise trick or treaters  92  and  94 . Controller  80  is powered by a power supply  102  which may also be integral to controller  80  and comprise battery or on-line power. 
     It therefore can be seen that the present invention provides for a decorative lighting display system for use in Halloween displays including the illumination of simulated eyes. 
     Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art and it is intended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.