Illumination – With plant-like ornament or wreath – Tree
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-05-01
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With plant-like ornament or wreath
Tree
C362S191000, C362S196000, C362S396000, C362S806000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224230
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to electric spotlights, and more particularly, to a Christmas tree ornament spotlight that directs light to other ornaments.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
For several decades people of many cultures around the world have annually decorated Christmas trees with ornaments and strings of light. Ordinarily, the string of lights functions primarily as a decoration unto itself, and only secondarily and indirectly as a means of illuminating the unlighted ornaments or other decorations. Thus, only when ambient light is relatively high are the unilluminated tree ornaments fully displayed. However, when the ambient light is low, many ornaments cannot be viewed and a significant component of the decorative effect of the tree may be lost. Increasing ambient light to increase the visibility of the ornaments may compromise the decorative effect of the lights strung on the tree. Additionally, selectively (spot) lighting ornaments from sources physically independent of the decorated tree may compromise the decorative aesthetic and require cumbersome apparatus.
Therefore, there is a need for a simple means to illuminate Christmas tree ornaments in low ambient light conditions without compromising the beautiful effect of the illuminated string of lights. Heretofore, there are no known lighting devices that accomplish these objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The Christmas tree ornament spotlight of the present invention solves the above-described problems. As implied by the delineation of problems, the primary purpose of the present invention is to decoratively illuminate ornaments by means of a miniature spotlight, which is itself a tree ornament and which not only enhances the decorative effect of other ornaments, but itself has decorative effect, both in its housing, and in the patterns of the beams of light cast by the spotlight.
To achieve this purpose, the present invention essentially comprises a hollow and preferably generally spherical housing having an integrally formed groove cut into the apex of its superior portion. The groove extends forward and rearward from the apex. Integrally formed with and extending forwardly from the spherical housing is a hollow and preferably generally cylindrical housing.
The spherical housing hangs from the branch of a Christmas tree, or other small diameter overhead fixture, by means of an eye hook connected to and through the superior surface of the spherical housing at the aforementioned groove. The eye hook may be slid forward and backward in the groove as well as rotated within the groove.
Each of the spherical and cylindrical housings are preferably formed by coupling two halves defined by a cut along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing and through the apex of the superior surface of the spherical housing.
Housed at the proximal end of the hollow cylindrical housing, and partly within the spherical housing, is a smooth or faceted reflector having a forwardly facing concave distal surface and an opening for a lamp bulb.
Mounted partly within both the cylindrical housing and the spherical housing, is a light source electrically connected to a source of electrical power, and located such that light from the light source can be reflected off the reflector to produce a cylindrical or other beam of light.
A key feature of the present invention is its maneuverability. The beam of light emitted from the cylindrical housing can be selectively pointed and fixed in a large range of directions for highlighting particular neighboring ornaments and/or for creating a distinctive pattern of light beams.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3011049 (1961-11-01), Kinghorn
patent: 3655495 (1972-04-01), Carrell
patent: 3694648 (1972-09-01), Yates
patent: 3873880 (1975-03-01), Riddell
patent: 4452836 (1984-06-01), Daniel, Jr.
patent: 4652980 (1987-03-01), Segan
patent: 5599092 (1997-02-01), Yen
patent: 5822088 (1998-10-01), Danno et al.
Husar Stephen
Johnson Larry
Johnson & Stainbrook LLP
Stainbrook Craig M.
Ward John Anthony
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