Abstract:
A sealed, chemiluminescent novelty device includes a housing having side walls and a bottom wall to define a housing and a lid sealable to the housing. The lid has a flexible membrane with a depending plunger. A sealed charge having side walls and a top wall with a flexible membrane, is positioned in the housing. The charge has an activation post aligned with the membrane. A sealed, frangible ampoule is disposed in the charge. A first chemical is disposed in the charge, outside of the ampoule and a second chemical is disposed in the ampoule. Pressure applied to the housing lid urges contact with the charge top wall to urge the top wall to move the activation post into contact with the ampoule to break the ampoule allowing the first and second chemicals to mix.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an illuminated novelty device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a chemiluminescent illuminated novelty device. 
     There are several illuminated novelty devices commercially available, some of which are in the form of, or resemble beverage accessory devices, such as ice cubes. Two principal types of devices are known, chemically activated devices and electrically activated devices. The chemically activated devices are exemplified by that described in Cheng, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,724, which includes a chemiluminescent light emitter within a housing shaped like an ice cube. The housing has several chambers each filled with chemicals that when mixed together emit light. 
     The device in Cheng is a relatively complex construction, with multiple (three) chambers and a thin film or membrane that is needed to maintain the chemicals segregated from one another. In addition, the construction makes mixing the chemicals, following fracture of the film, difficult in that the flow space between the chambers is limited by the area of the film. 
     In the electrically activated devices, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are typically used to produce light. The LED require a power source, i.e., batteries, that have their inherent drawbacks, such as possibly limited shelf life. One such LED-type construction is illustrated in Vanderschuit, U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,198 and its progeny. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a chemically activated or chemiluminescent illuminated novelty device. Desirably, such a device is a beverage accessory device, resembling or shaped much like an ice cube. More desirably still, such a device is readily easy to manufacture with a minimal number of chambers require to maintain the chemicals segregated from one another. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A sealed, chemiluminescent novelty device includes a sealed outer housing and a sealed charge within the housing. The housing includes side walls and a bottom wall formed as a unitary member to define a housing inner region. A housing lid is sealable to the housing side walls to enclose the inner region. 
     The housing lid has a flexible membrane and a plunger depending from the membrane. The housing lid is flexible so as to urge the plunger into the inner region. The housing lid flexible membrane can be formed with a living hinge. 
     The charge has side walls and a top wall formed as a unitary member to define a charge inner region. The charge has centering abutments formed therein. 
     The charge top wall has a flexible membrane, and an activation post depending from the membrane. The charge top wall is flexible so as to urge the activation post into the charge inner region. The charge top wall and the housing lid are aligned with one another. The charge top wall flexible membrane can be formed with a living hinge. 
     A charge lid is sealed to the charge side walls to seal the charge and enclose the inner region. The charge abutments are formed integral with the charge side walls and bottom wall. 
     A sealed, frangible ampoule is disposed in the charge between the centering abutments, the charge lid, and the top wall. A first chemical is disposed in the charge, outside of the ampoule and a second chemical is disposed in the ampoule. 
     Pressure is applied to the housing lid to urge the housing lid into contact with the charge top wall. Continued pressure on the housing lid urges the charge top wall inward of the charge inner region to move the activation post into contact with the ampoule to break the ampoule to allow the first and second chemicals to mix to provide a chemiluminescent lighting effect. After activation, the chemicals are maintained within the sealed charge. 
     The housing lid is sealed to the housing side walls by heat sealing, the application of ultrasonic energy to a juncture of the housing lid and the side walls, an adhesive or the like. Similarly, the charge lid is sealed to the charge side walls by heat sealing, the application of ultrasonic energy to a juncture of the charge lid and the side walls, an adhesive or the like. 
     The housing lid flexible membrane can be formed integral with the housing lid and the charge top wall flexible membrane can be formed integral with the top wall and the charge body. 
     The charge lid can be formed having a generally U-shaped profile defining free ends of the lid such that the free ends define feet to space the charge from the housing bottom wall. 
     The housing lid plunger and the charge top wall activation post are aligned with one another to communicate pressure on the housing lid flexible membrane to the frangible ampoule. 
     The novelty device and be manufactured to resemble or have the shape of a beverage accessory, such as an ice cube. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional or side view of a chemiluminescent novelty device embodying the principles of the present invention, the device is shown as a beverage accessory device shaped like or resembling an ice cube and having an activator stored in a sealed ampoule; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the charge portion of the device which encloses the chemicals; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of the device with a user&#39;s finger positioned above the device, prior to activation; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of the device with the user&#39;s finger placed on an outer surface of the device, above the activating switch; and 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of the user&#39;s finger depressing the outer surface and moving the activating switch against the plunger to fracture the ampoule. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
     Referring to the figures and in particular to FIG.  1 ., there is shown a chemiluminescent illuminated novelty device  10 . As illustrated, the device  10  is formed as or resembling an ice cube or beverage accessory device. The device  10  includes an outer housing  12  with a housing lid  14  and an inner module or charge  16  that contains the chemicals  18 ,  20  needed to produce the chemiluminescent lighting effect. 
     In a present embodiment, the outer housing  12  includes five sides (five of the six sides of a cube), including a top wall  22  and four side walls  24 . A bottom side  26  is defined by the lid  14 , and encloses the housing  12 , creating a liquid-tight enclosure  28 . In a present embodiment a seal  30  is formed between the lid  14  and the housing sides walls  24 . The seal  30  can be provided by affixing the lid  14  to the side walls  24  by an adhesive, for example, a liquid impervious adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or the like. 
     The lid  14  includes a movable, hinged portion  32 , the purpose of which is discussed in more detail below. The hinged portion  32  is formed by a flexible membrane  34  or the like to define what is commonly referred to as a living hinge indicated at  36 . In a present embodiment, the living hinge  36  is formed in an annular configuration about centrally disposed on the lid  14 . To permit movement of the membrane  34 , the hinge  36  is formed as a flexible S-shaped portion  38  in the flexible membrane  34  to provide sufficient material to effect movement of the hinge  36 . 
     A plunger  40  is disposed within the hinged portion  38 , extending inwardly of the housing  12 . The plunger  40  can be formed from the same material, and as part of the membrane  34 , for ease of manufacture. Alternately, the plunger  40  can be formed from a different material that is adhered to or affixed to the membrane  34  or, for example, formed in a co-extrusion or like process to provide a unitary member of two different materials. 
     The charge  16  is a self-contained unit that is disposed in the housing  12  and contains the segregated chemicals  18 ,  20  necessary for producing the chemiluminescent light. Those skilled in the art will recognize the chemicals  18 ,  20  commonly used to produce such an effect, such as an oxalate and an activator. 
     In a present embodiment, the charge  16  is constructed similar to the housing  14  and includes a body  42  having five sides (five of the six sides of a cube), including a top wall  44  and four side walls  46 . A bottom side  48  is defined by a charge lid  50 , and encloses the charge  16 , creating a liquid-tight enclosure  52 . In a present embodiment a seal  54  is formed between the charge lid  50  and the side walls  46 . The seal  54  can be provided by affixing the charge lid  50  to the walls  46  by an adhesive, for example, a liquid impervious adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or the like. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the charge lid  50  has a generally U-shaped profile, the free ends  56  of the U-shaped lid defining feet or spacers  58 . The feet  58  space the charge  16  in the housing  12  and facilitate centering or positioning the charge  16  within the housing  12 . 
     Also similar to the housing  12 , the charge top wall  44  includes a movable or flexible portion  60 , the purpose of which is discussed in more detail below. The flexible portion  60  is formed by a flexible membrane  62 , diaphragm or the like, to define a living hinge  64 . In this manner, the membrane or diaphragm  62  can be flexed inwardly of the charge body  42 . 
     A plunger or activation post  66  is disposed on the diaphragm  62 , extending inwardly of the body  42 . The post  66  can be formed from the same material, and as part of the membrane  62 , for ease of manufacture. Alternately, the post  66  can be formed from a different material that is adhered to or affixed to the membrane  62  or, for example, formed in a co-extrusion or like process to provide a unitary member of two different materials. 
     Centering wings or abutments  68  are disposed inside of the charge body  42 . The abutments  68  can be formed integral with, e.g., as part of the charge body  42 , or mounted within the body  42 . 
     A sealed ampoule  70  is positioned within the charge  16 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the ampoule  70  is positioned on the activation post  66 , and is held in place by the abutments or wings  68 . This configuration assures that the ampoule  70  will remain in place, within the charge  16  and that movement of the ampoule  70  is limited once the lid  50  is in place, on the charge  16 . In a present embodiment, the ampoule  70  is formed from glass or another frangible, generally liquid impervious material. One of the chemicals  18  necessary for generation of the chemiluminescent effect is contained with the ampoule  70 . For example, the oxalate can be contained within the ampoule  70 . 
     The other of the chemicals  20  is contained within the body  42  of the charge  16  and is sealed within the charge  16  by the sealed charge lid  50 . In this manner, the chemicals  18 ,  20  are segregated from one another by the ampoule  70 , and both the ampoule  70  and the other of the chemicals  20  are contained within the sealed charge  16 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , when the charge  16  is positioned in the housing  12 , there is a double barrier between the chemicals  18 ,  20  and the environs. In a present embodiment, the housing  12  is formed from a mixture of polypropylene resin and a polypropylene-based elastomer, such as VISTAMAXX, commercially available from ExxonMobil Chemical Company of Houston, Texas. The charge  16  is formed from a low density polyethylene (LDPE) resin. Those skilled in the art will recognize the various materials from which the housing  12 , housing lid  14 , charge  16 , charge lid  50 , and flexible membranes  34 ,  62  can be form, all such materials being within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , activation of the device  10  is straight-forward. A user places a finger on the housing lid  14  and depresses the flexible, hinged portion  32  of the lid  14 . Urging the plunger  40  downward (into the housing  12 ), moves the plunger  40  into contact with the charge membrane  62 , which in turn urges the activation post  66  into contact with the ampoule  70 . With sufficient force against the flexible, hinged portion  32  and consequently against the activation post  66 , the activation post  66  will contact and break the ampoule  70 . This will result in the chemicals  18 ,  20  being in intimate contact with one another. Because the ampoule  70  will break and shatter, there is a relatively large flow path and mixing chamber formed within the charge body  42 . This makes is quite easy to mix the chemicals  18 ,  20  with one another (merely by shaking the device  10 ), to produce the chemiluminescent effect. 
     It will be appreciate by those skilled in the art that although the device  10  is shown and described as a beverage accessory device or ice cube, the device  10  may take other forms and shapes and that such other forms and shapes are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     All patents referred to herein, are incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
     In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred.