Patent Publication Number: US-6210762-B1

Title: Ornamental display

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an ornamental display and is more particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with an ornamental display for use around the christmas period. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided an ornamental display comprising a hollow body which is externally ornamented, an ornamental scene within the hollow body, at least one door in the hollow body, said at least one door being movable between a relatively closed position in which the ornamental scene is substantially hidden from view and a relatively open position in which the ornamental scene is exposed to view, and electrically actuable means for moving said at least one door between its open and closed positions. 
     Preferably, the ornamental scene is a scene which is caused to be animated when said at least one door is opened. 
     Conveniently, said at least one door is side-, top- or bottom-hinged and may be spring-biassed into either of its positions, preferably its closed position. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the electrically actuable means includes a movement and/or sound sensor which causes said at least one door to open when the sensor senses sound and/or movement in the vicinity of the display. 
     Said at least one door may be operable by means of an electric actuator such as an electric motor or a magnet and moveable armature assembly via any suitable linkage such as a lever system, a gear system, a cam and can follower system, or a cord/band and pulley system. 
     In a particularly convenient embodiment, the ornamental hollow body is of conical shape and more preferably takes the form of an artificial christmas tree. In such a case, it is preferred for the hollow body to be mounted on a base which takes the form of a tree trunk and/or a pot in which the artificial tree is “potted”. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 and 2 are perspective views of one embodiment of ornamental display according to the present invention shown with doors thereof in open and closed positions, respectively; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the display of FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4,  5 ,  6  and  7  are diagrammatic view illustrating various possible forms of drive for animating an internal scene in a decorative display according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a control circuit for a door-operating motor in an ornamental display according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 to  3  of the drawings, the ornament display in this embodiment takes the form of an artificial christmas tree and comprises a conical hollow body  10  externally ornamented so as to simulate a decorated christmas tree, and a decorative base  12  simulating the trunk of the christmas tree. The hollow body  10  comprises a fixed, curved, rear wall portion  10   a  and a pair of side-hinged doors  10   b  and  10   c  hingedly connected to opposite peripheral ends of the wall portion  10   a  by means of sets of hinges  14 . The doors  10   b  and  10   c  are pivotable about the sets of hinges  14  between a closed position (FIG. 1) in which, together with the rear wall portion  10   a , they define the conical shape of the body  10 , and an open position (FIG. 2) in which the interior of the hollow body  10  is exposed to view. Each door  10   b ,  10   c  is biassed into its closed position by means of a respective spring  16  but is moveable into its open position by means of an electric motor  18 . The motor  18  powers the doors  10   b  and  10   c  via a bevel gear  20  which drives a pulley  22  around which operating cords  24  and  26  are wound. The cords  24  and  26  are connected to the respective doors  10   b  and  10   c  so that rotation of the motor  18  in one direction causes the cords  24  and  26  to be tensioned and thereby to open the doors against the action of the springs  16 . Rotation of the motor  18  in the opposite direction releases the tension on the cords  24  and  26  and permits the doors  10   b  and  10   c  to move into their closed position under the action of the respective springs  16 . A limit switch arrangement (not shown) is provided for stopping the motor  18 . The manner in which the motor  18  is energised will be described hereinafter. 
     Instead of being operated by a cord and pulley system, the doors  10   b  and  10   c  may be operated by a rotary cam and cam follower system mounted in the base  12 , the cam followers being mounted at the bottom edges of the respective doors. 
     The interior surfaces of the doors  10   b  and the rear wall portion  10   a  are provided with a decorative scene thereon, in this embodiment Santa&#39;s Workshop. 
     The hollow body  10  has a floor  28  by which it is supported on the base  12 . Centrally mounted on the floor  28  is an animated feature  30  of the decorative scene within the hollow body  10 . In this embodiment, the animated feature consists of Santa Claus and two reindeer whose mouths and eyes are moveable by means of a further electric motor  32  via a crank mechanism  34  and linkage (not shown). 
     Such a crank mechanism is shown in slightly greater detail in FIG.  4 . 
     In FIG. 5, an alternative arrangement is shown where motor  32  drives a gear wheel  36  connected to two smaller gear wheels  38  driving respective rotary shafts  40  upon which FIGS. 42 forming part of an animated internal decorative scene are mounted so as to be rotable. 
     In FIG. 6, an arrangement of rack  44  and pinions  46  provides an alternative mechanism for operating animated features of the internal decorative scene. 
     In FIG. 7, motor  32  drives a cam wheel  48  with moveable cam followers  50  driving individual racks  52  via links  54 . Individual pinions  56  engage with the respective racks  52  so that the teeth can be oscillated about their respective axes of rotation. 
     In FIG. 8, a control system is illustrated for controlling actuation of the motor  18 . A low voltage power supply of battery  50  is connected via an on-off switch  62  with a control unit  64 . The control unit  64  includes a movement sensor  66  or a sound sensor  66 , either being of a type known per se. The sensor  66  is mounted at an appropriate location (e.g. on the base  12 ) so as to pick up sound or movements in the vicinity of the ornamental display. Sound or movement picked up by the sensor  66  results in the control unit  64  causing the motor  18  to be energised for a predetermined period of time. If desired, the electrical supply to the motor  32  may be effected via a switch associated with either of the doors  10   b  and  10   c  such that opening of the appropriate door causes the motor  32  to be energised.