Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Display with special effects – Electromotor operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-27
2001-06-26
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Display with special effects
Electromotor operated
C040S560000, C040S506000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249997
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a blacklight special effect and, in particular, to an apparatus that is used in conjunction with a blacklight to create a special lighting effect on a projection surface that has been treated such that it converts the ultraviolet (“uv”) light produced by the blacklight into visible light.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Special effect lighting can be generally categorized according to the type of light used to achieve the effect. One type of light that is used to produce special effects is “white light”, which is the spectrum of light that is visible to humans and seen, for example, in a rainbow. One type of white light special effect involves the placement of two overlapping disks between a white light source and a projection surface to achieve various effects. The disks have holes or windows that permit light to pass through. Upon rotation of the disks, the windows associated with one of the disks occasionally line up with windows associated with the other disk so that light from the white light source passes through the disks and onto the projection surface. By appropriately selecting the positions of the windows, various special effects can be achieved. For example, a random pattern of windows can be used to achieve a “snowfall” effect.
Separate from white light special effects are “blacklight” special effects that use ultraviolet light, which is outside the spectrum of light that is generally visible to humans, to produce the special effect. Because ultraviolet light or blacklight cannot be seen, these special effects also involve a projection surface that has been treated with a blacklight paint or similar substance that when irradiated with ultraviolet light, produces visible light. However, the visible light that is produced is relatively faint. The faint light produced in blacklight special effects provides the “eerie” glow that makes blacklight special effects especially appropriate in, for example, the haunted house rides in amusement and theme parks. However, due to the faintness of the light produced in a blacklight special effects, the effect can be easily ruined or washed out by white light. Consequently, the implementation of a blacklight special effect generally requires greater attention to the design of the environment in which the effect is to occur than does the typical white light special effect. One type of blacklight special effect involves the placement of a rotating disk between the blacklight source and the projection surface. The disk has one or more windows that permit the blacklight to pass through and onto the projection surface. Rotation of the disk creates a flickering or strobing effect, i.e. the ultraviolet light is permitted to pass by the windows to pass onto the projection surface and then prevented from passing onto the projection surface by opaque areas that are located between the windows on the disk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a fixture for use in conjunction with a blacklight and an appropriately treated projection surface to produce a “water ripple” or “shimmering” type of special effect similar to the image produced upon a wall that is located adjacent to a rippling pool of water when light is shined upon the pool of water. Such an image is complex. To elaborate, the image of the ripple produced on the wall has varying intensities, i.e. the portion of the image associated with the crest of a ripple is more prominent than the portion of the image associated with the trough of the ripple. However, the intensity of the image corresponding to the trough of the ripple is typically not characterized by the absence of light, i.e. this portion of the image is not black. Instead, the trough portion of the image is typically fainter than the portion of the image associated with the crest. The image of the ripple produced on the wall also moves across the wall as the ripple moves across the pool. Further, the shape of the ripple typically changes over time as the ripple interacts with, for example, other ripples. The invention includes a mask structure that facilitates the production of blacklight image on a projection surface that emulates the noted “water ripple” image, a motor for moving the mask and a frame for positioning the mask between the blacklight source and the projection surface. In one embodiment, the mask structure employs a drum with an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the blacklight is being projected. The drum has a series of cutouts that modulate the blacklight and, in so doing, facilitate the production of an image on the projection surface that has the noted variation in intensities. By rotating the drum, the movement and change in shape needed to emulate a water ripple is achieved.
The present invention also provides a fixture for producing a blacklight special effect in which a mask moves in a linear fashion that facilitates the production of blacklight special effects. In one embodiment, the fixture includes a mask, a frame for positioning the mask in front of the blacklight source, and a motor for moving the mask such that the projection of a point on the mask onto a plane that is perpendicular to the direction in which the blacklight is being projected follows a substantially linear path. In one embodiment, the mask includes a closed and substantially rigid surface, such as a hollow drum, that rotates about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the blacklight is being projected. Windows are cut in the surface of the drum so that upon rotation of the drum at least portions of two of the windows line up with one another to let blacklight pass through the drum and onto the projection surface. In another embodiment, the mask includes a flexible web, i.e. a flexible material such as paper, cloth, sheet metal or plastic, that is formed into a belt or closed-surface which defines an enclosed space. Two rollers positioned within the web cooperate to move the web in the required linear fashion. A further embodiment employs a mask with two separate screens that are moved in the required linear fashion. With two separate screens, independent control over the direction in which the two screens are moved and the speed at which the two screens are moved is possible, thereby facilitating further control over the type of special effect. In yet another embodiment, the mask includes a panel and a motor for moving the panel in the noted linear fashion.
The present invention also provides a fixture in which ultraviolet light passes through two portions of a mask to achieve a blacklight special effect. The fixture employs a mask that requires the blacklight produced by the blacklight source to pass through both a first portion of the mask and a second portion of the mask to reach the projection surface. Moreover, both the first and second portions of the mask move. In one embodiment, certain special effects are achieved by controlling the direction in which the two portions of the mask move. For instance, the portions of the mask can be moved in the same direction, opposite directions or at an angle to one another. Further effects can be achieved by moving the portions at the same or different speeds.
The present invention also provides a fixture for use in producing blacklight special effect that is capable of producing an image on the projection surface that moves in a linear fashion. The fixture includes a mask and a motor to move the mask so as to achieve the linear movement of the image. In one embodiment, the mask is a drum with an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the blacklight is being projected. The drum has a pair of windows that have a helix characteristic. As the drum rotates, the points on diametrically opposite sides of the helix that line up with one another to let blacklight pass onto the projection surface move along the length of the drum as the drum rotates, thereby producing an image on the projection surface with l
Holme Roberts & Owen LLP
Knight Anthony
Kulish Christopher J.
Technifex, Inc.
Williams Mark
LandOfFree
Blacklight special effect fixture does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Blacklight special effect fixture, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Blacklight special effect fixture will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2525873