Patent Publication Number: US-2009226643-A1

Title: Illuminating decorative bow

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a non-provisional application of a provisional application having an application No. 61/068,332 and a filing date of Mar. 05, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a decorative bow, and more particularly to an illuminating decorative bow, which is capable to produce an illuminating effect on an ordinary decorative bow, so as to enhance a decoration effect. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     Mostly at night, lamp strips are always used for decorating trees, architectures, houses, or indoors decoration to bring a festival atmosphere in the festivals, such as Christmas or New Year&#39; Eve. The lamp strip is a plurality of lamps connected in series or parallel by wires, forming a strip of lamps. The lamps can be always shining or set to glitter. However, such a lamp is usually big in size, so that it only suitable for decorating a large area. 
     LEDs as an illuminating light have been widely used in decoration area indoors or outdoors. Due to its small size and long life span, the LED becomes more and more popular. The LED strips are usually hung around the Christmas trees, so as to producing an illuminating effect. Especially in a dark place or at night, the Christmas tree becomes shining and more beautiful, bringing people happy environment and good mood. Also the LED strip can be used in the similar circumstance. However, the LED strip can only shine or glitter and with no further enhanced effect. 
     The decorative bows are always used for decorating walls, or covering holes on the wall, but theses decorative bows can not been seen at night, or when it is dark. The decorative bows are also wildly used at parties for decorating the hall and the stage. However, when the light is turned off, all these conventional decorative bows disappear. 
     Further more, the conventional decorative bows have been developed to meet the trend and to make life more colorful. However, only patters and colors have been changed during the past days, which is obviously can not keep up the fast changing fashion. Therefore, a breakthrough and innovation are needed for these traditional decoration bows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A main object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating decorative bow, which is capable to produce an illuminating effect on an ordinary decorative bow, so as to enhance a decoration effect. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating decorative bow, which is capable of functioning as decoration at night or dark place. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating decorative bow, which is made of at least one elongated fabric ribbon which comprises a light string extending along the elongated fabric ribbon, so as to produce an illuminating effect on the decorative bow. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating decorative bow comprising a plurality of optical fibers scattered within the decorative bow, so as to produce an illuminating effect on the decorative bow. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating decorative bow, wherein any product, such as bow or bowtie, made of the ribbon adapted to incorporate with the illumination device of the present invention. In other words, the user is able to tie the ribbon to form the bow or bowtie for enhancing the aesthetic appearance with the light effect of the present invention. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating decorative bow of any pattern for decoration purpose. 
     Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an illuminating decorative bow, which comprises a decorative bow made by at least an elongated fabric ribbon, a plurality of illuminating elements spacedly extended along the fabric ribbon of the decorative bow for illuminating the decorative bow, and a power supply arrangement comprising a power supply and a switch connected to the power supply, and then connected to the illuminating elements for supplying power to the illuminating elements. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illuminating decorative bow according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a partially enlarged view of the illuminating decorative bow according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a sectional view of the illuminating decorative bow according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an alternative mode of the illuminating decorative bow according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the alternative mode of the illuminating arrangement and a second preferred embodiment according to the first and second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the illuminating decorative bow according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the LED serial connectivity of the illuminating elements according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the illuminating decorative bow with the DC power supply of the illuminating fabric product according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the DC power supply of the illuminating decorative bow according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the DC power supply of the illuminating decorative bow according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B of the drawings, an illuminating decorative bow according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the illuminating decorative bow comprises a decorative bow  1 , an illuminating arrangement  2  comprising a plurality of illuminating elements  21  scattered on the decorative bow  1  for illuminating the decorative bow  1 , and a power supply arrangement  3  connected to the illuminating elements  21  for supplying power to the illuminating elements  21 . 
     The decorative bow  1  is embodied as a fabric decorative bow, which is made of at least an elongated fabric ribbon  11 . That is to say the elongated fabric ribbon  11  is folded to forming the decorative bow  1 . Also, a plurality of elongated fabric ribbons  11  may be used to make the fabric decorative bow. 
     The illuminating arrangement  2  further comprises a bendable electric wire  22  electrically connecting the illuminating elements  21 , wherein the illuminating elements  21  are spacedly provided along the electric wire  22  to form a light string. The light string longitudinally extends along the elongated fabric ribbon  11  and folded with fabric ribbon  11  to form the decorative bow, so as to produce an illuminating effect on the decorative bow  1 . 
     Alternatively, the elongated fabric ribbon  11 , having a double-layer structure, has two light transmitting layers forming an elongated hollow core  112  therebetween, so that the light string is longitudinally disposed between the two light transmitting layers of the fabric ribbon  11  end-to-end. Two end portions of the elongated fabric ribbon  11  are fastened with two end portions of the electric wire  22  of the light string respectively, so as to securely receive the light string inside the elongated fabric ribbon  11 . 
     The elongated fabric ribbon  11  is made of transparent or translucent material, so that the light from the light string penetrates through the two light transmitting layers of the elongated fabric ribbon  11 . In particularly, the two light transmitting layers are two fabric nets respectively allowing the light of each of the illuminating elements  21  passing through. Therefore, no matter how the fabric ribbon  11  is folded to form the decorative bow  1 , the light can pass through either side of the fabric ribbon  11 . 
     Alternatively, the elongated fabric ribbon  11  is loosely interwoven forming apertures distributed along the elongated fabric ribbon  11 , so that the light string inside emits light through the apertures of the elongated fabric ribbon  11 . It is worth mentioning that the electric wire  22  is made of bendable conductive metal for not only electrically connecting the illuminating elements  21  with each other but also substantially providing a predetermined stiffness for the fabric ribbon  11  to retain the decorative bow  1  in a predetermined shape especially the curving portion of the decorative bow  1 . In other words, even though the fabric ribbon  11  is made of soft material, the electric wire  22  forms a skeleton to retain the shape of the decorative bow  1  while the electric wire  22  also provides a bendable feature for the fabric ribbon  11  being bent and twisted to form the decorative bow  1 . 
     Each of the illuminating elements  21  of the light string is LED, which is popular in decoration area due to it small size and long life span. In addition, the LED has the features of low energy consumption and lower heat generation. The illuminating elements  21  can be embodies as different colors and/or different flashing patterns to match the color of the elongated fabric ribbon  11 , so as to produce a better illuminating effect on the elongated fabric ribbon  11 . 
     It is worth mentioning that each LED is sealedly covered by resin so as to be waterproof. The connection of the LED of the illuminating element  21  and the wire is also sealedly covered by resin with LED. Therefore, the illuminating decorative bow can be used outdoors, and the LEDs will not turn off accidentally. 
     The power supply arrangement  3  comprises a power supply  31  and a switch  32  electrically connected with the battery, wherein the switch  32  electrically connected with the electric wire  22  to operatively control the illuminating elements  21  in an on-and-off manner so as to supply power to the illuminating elements  21 . 
     The power supply  31  is embodied as a battery-type power supply, which is ordinary AA batter, Li battery or small button battery. The Li button battery is small in size, which can be portably used.  FIG. 6  illustrates the LED serial connectivity of the illuminating elements  21  via the DC power supply  31 . Alternatively, the power supply  31  can be an A/C type power supply having an electric socket for electrically connecting to the electric wire  22  to provide power to the illuminating elements  21 . The power supply  31  also comprises a converter for connecting the electric wire  22  to the A/C power supply. 
     Therefore, when the power supply  31  supplies power to the illuminating elements  21 , the illuminating elements  21  illuminate along the fabric ribbon  11  of the decorative bow  1 , so that the illuminating decorative bow not only decorates the environment in the day, but also decorates the environment in the dark or at night. 
     The power supply arrangement  3  further comprises an extension adapter  33  provided at a free end of the electric wire  22  to electrically couple with another extension adapter  33  or the power supply  31 . Accordingly, when two or more fabric ribbons  11  are needed to form the decorative bow  1 , the light strings within the fabric ribbons  11  are electrically coupled via the extension adapters  33 . Once the decorative bow  1  is formed, the power supply  31  is electrically coupled with the light stings via the extension adapter  33 . Therefore, the overall length of the fabric ribbons  11  will not be limited by coupling the fabric ribbons  11  end-to-end. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the power supply  31  comprises a battery casing  311  receiving a battery  312  therein to electrically couple with the electric wire  22  and a fixation element  313  provided at a rear wall of the battery casing  311  to detachably affix to the fabric ribbon  11  so as to retain the power supply  31  in position. Accordingly, the fixation element  313  is a fixation pin longitudinally provided at the rear wall of the battery casing  311  for detachably affixing to the fabric ribbon  11 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the fabric ribbon  11  is folded into the decorative bow that the fixation element  313  is affixed to the tying portion of the bow. 
     In addition, the illuminating decorative bow further comprises a sensor  41  and a speaker  42  electrically coupling with the electric wire  22 , preferably by the extension adapter  33 , to electrically link with the illuminating elements  21  of the light string such that when the sensor  41  is activated, the illuminating elements  21  will generate light effect while the speaker  42  will generate sound effect as well. Preferably, the sensor  41  is a motion sensor to detect the motion of the illuminating decorative bow, especially when the user holds the gift with the illuminating decorative bow attached thereto. The speaker  42  has a built-in music program to generate the sound effect. It is worth to mention that the sensor  41  and the speaker  42  can be electrically connected to the illuminating elements  21  in serial connection via the DC power supply  31 . 
     Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the illuminating arrangement  2  comprises a plurality of optical fibers  23  and a light source  24  optically connected with the optical fibers  23 , so as to provide lights to these optical fibers  23 . When the optical fiber  23  is folded, the optical fiber  23  is capable of illuminating at the folded point. 
     It is worth mentioning that each of the optical fibers  23  is made of bendable material for not only providing the light effect of the decorative bow  1  but also substantially providing a predetermined stiffness for the fabric ribbon  11  to retain the decorative bow  1  in a predetermined shape especially the curving portion of the decorative bow  1 . In other words, even though the fabric ribbon  11  is made of soft material, the optical fiber  23  forms a skeleton to retain the shape of the decorative bow  1  while the optical fiber  23  also provides a bendable feature for the fabric ribbon  11  being bent and twisted to form the decorative bow  1 . 
     The power supply  31  is connected with the light source  24  through a switch so as to provide power to the light source  24 . When the light source  24  is illuminating, the light source transmits lights to each of the optical fibers  23 . 
     The power supply  31  is embodied as a battery-type power supply, which is ordinary AA batter, Li battery or small button battery. The Li button battery is small in size, which can be portably used. Alternatively, the power supply  31  can be an A/C type power supply having an electric socket for electrically connecting to the light source  24  to provide light to the optical fibers  23 . The power supply  31  also comprises a converter for connecting the light source  24  to the A/C power supply. 
     The light source  24  is mounted within the decorative bow  1  in a hidden manner, and optical fibers  23  are extended outwardly from the light source  24  along the fabric ribbon  11  of the decorative bow  1  so as to illuminate the decorative bow  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  of the drawings, an illuminating decorative bow according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The decorative bow is embodies as a branch of flowers, wherein the flowers are made by the fabric ribbons  11 . 
     The illuminating arrangement  2  comprises a plurality of optical fibers  23  and a light source  24  optically connected with the optical fibers  23 , so as to provide lights to these optical fibers  23 . 
     The power supply  31  is connected with the light source  24  through a switch so as to provide power to the light source  24 . When the light source  24  is illuminating, the light source transmits lights to each of the optical fibers  23 . 
     The power supply  31  is embodied as a battery-type power supply, which is ordinary AA batter, Li battery or small button battery. The Li button battery is small in size, which can be portably used. Alternatively, the power supply can be an A/C type power supply having an electric socket for electrically connecting to the light source  24  to provide light to the optical fibers  23 . The power supply also comprises a converter for connecting the light source  24  to the A/C power supply. 
     The light source  24  is mounted within the flowers of the decorative bow in a hidden manner, and the optical fibers  23  is extend outwardly from the light source  24  along the fabric ribbons  11  to form the flowers so as to illuminate the branch of flowers. 
     It is worth mentioning that the light string as mentioned in the first embodiment can be used as a substitution of the optical fiber  23  to extend within the fabric ribbon  11  to form the flower of the decorative bow as shown in the second embodiment. 
     The illuminating decorative bow can be mounted on the wall or other place for decoration purpose. Therefore, such an illuminating decorative bow can illuminate at dark place or at night to still function as a decoration. 
     The illuminating decorative bow also can be sewed at edges of clothes, hat or many others to produce an illuminating effect on clothes. User can wear these clothes or hat in club, at party, or even on stage. Definitely, the user wearing such clothes or hat is more shining and attractive among the people. In addition, the fabric ribbon  11  can be made of PVC material to product tree skirt, stocking, hat, clothing, carpet, table cover and runner, chair cover and sashes, window curtains and drape, etc . . . , for producing the illuminating effect on the fabric so as to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the product. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.