Patent Abstract:
A device for creating and enhancing a mood is disclosed. The device includes a cylindrical gobo with a light source and a motor to rotate the gobo. The device may also include color-changing LEDs. Through variations in color, light source intensity and gobo design, a user may create or enhance a desired mood in a room.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to lighting systems, and particularly to artistic lighting systems for creating or enhancing a particular mood. 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Artistic lighting can create and enhance a particular mood in a particular environment. In the case of a single room, artistic lighting choices such as lighting color and intensity can create an atmosphere of calm, excitement, romance, etc. 
         [0003]    One particular artistic lighting device is a gobo. A gobo (go between) is traditionally a metal disk with patterns cut out to let light pass through. A gobo is put into a holder and then placed in between a tight source and a surface onto which the pattern is to be projected. Gobos create stationary projections, but cannot create the impression of a dynamic environment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention is an apparatus for providing dynamic, artistic lighting to a room. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical gobo functionally connected to a motor for rotating the cylindrical gobo. Light from a light source in the center of the cylindrical gobo passes through patterned openings in the gobo to form projected images on a surface. 
         [0005]    The apparatus may also have color changing LEDs to further alter and enhance the effect created by the projected light patterns from the cylindrical gobo. Multiple devices may be connected together to project light patterns on a larger surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a top sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a rear view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a side sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a environmental view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims; numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents are encompassed. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the embodiments has not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of an artistic lighting apparatus  100  according to the present invention includes a cylindrical gobo  108 . A gobo is a device known in the art for creating projected light patterns. Gobos are generally thin metallic structures with patterns cut into the surface to allow light to pass through. A user places a gobo between a light source and a surface onto which the user wishes the pattern projected. Gobos known in the art are flat metallic disks held in gobo holders. In the present invention, the cylindrical gobo  108  may be a metallic surface with patterns cut through the surface to allow light from a light source to pass through. The artistic lighting apparatus  100  may include an elongated light source  112  inside the cylindrical gobo  108 , such as a fluorescent tube or some other light emitting structure capable of illuminating the entire interior length of the cylindrical gobo  108  and projecting light onto a surface. The artistic lighting apparatus  100  may include a gobo rotating motor  104 . The gobo rotating motor  104  may be connected to one or more gobo rotating gears  102 , also connected to the cylindrical gobo  108 . The gobo rotating motor  104  may turn the gobo rotating gears  102 , and thereby turn the cylindrical gobo  108  about an axis defined by a centerline of the cylindrical gobo  108 . The artistic lighting apparatus  100  may include one or more color-changing LED lamps  110 , known in the art. Color-changing LED lamps  110  may project colored, unpatterned light onto a surface while the elongated light source  112  emits light through the cylindrical gobo  108  to project patterned light onto the same surface. The artistic lighting apparatus  100  may include a display control computer  106 , functionally connected to the gobo rotating motor  104 , the color-changing LED lamps  110  and the elongated light source  112 . The display control computer  106  may be programmed to operate the gobo rotating motor  104 , color-changing LED lamps  110  and elongated light source  112  according to a predetermined program. The display control computer may vary the speed of rotating of the cylindrical gobo  108  by varying the speed of rotation of the gobo rotating motor  104 ; it may vary the color and intensity of the color changing LED lamps  110 ; and it may vary the intensity of the elongated light source  112 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the artistic lighting apparatus  100  may further include light obstructive housing  200  to define a direction for light emitted from the artistic lighting apparatus  100  to project onto a surface. The light obstructive housing  200  obstructs allows the user to position the artistic lighting apparatus  100  such that light may be projected onto a single surface and obscured form all other surfaces. The light obstructive housing  200  also provides a structure for mounting the gobo rotating motor  104  and the gobo rotating gears  102 . The light obstructive housing  200  also supports the cylindrical gobo  108 , because the cylindrical gobo  108  would be functionally connected to the gobo rotating gears  102 . The light obstructive housing  200  may also provide a housing for the color-changing LED lamps  110 , and support for the elongated light source  112 . The artistic lighting apparatus  100  may include a power input connector  202  such as a power cord, functionally connected to the display control computer  106 , and may include a pass-through power output connector  204  to connect a second artistic lighting apparatus. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the figures show a sectional view and side view of the artistic lighting apparatus  100  in operation. The light obstructive housing  200  obstructs light emanating from the elongated light source  112  and the color-changing LED lamps  110  except where the user has oriented the artistic lighting apparatus  100  to direct such light  400  toward a particular surface. The light obstructive housing allows the user to create a particular artistic affect, and contain the affect to a defined area. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in another embodiment, a user may connect a first artistic lighting apparatus  600  to an identical second artistic lighting apparatus  604 . In this embodiment, the first artistic lighting apparatus  600  may include a detachable power cord  602 . The detachable power cord  602  would be detached from the second artistic lighting apparatus  604 . The first artistic lighting apparatus may have a pass-through power output connector  204  (not shown), that would engage a receptacle where the detachable power cord  602  would have been attached, and thereby provide power to the second artistic lighting apparatus  604 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the artistic lighting apparatus  100  projects an artistic light display  700  onto a surface. The light display  700  may include various colors to create or enhance a particular mood. The light display may also change as the cylindrical gobo  108  rotates within the artistic lighting apparatus  100 . 
         [0019]    Although the disclosure has been described in terms of specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognized that various modifications may be made that are within the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should not be limited to the foregoing description. Rather, the scope of the disclosure should be determined based upon the claims recited herein, including the full scope of equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5