Illumination – Self powered lamp – With support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-01-16
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Self powered lamp
With support
C362S800000, C362S806000, C362S200000, C362S253000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174072
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to decorating gift packages and, more particularly, to an illuminated ornamental apparatus for decorating gift packages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When giving gifts, it is traditional to decorate the gift package with wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows of various sizes, colors, and shapes. The wrapping paper itself, as well as the ribbons and bows, are designed to be attractive and to catch the eye of the recipient. Thus, bows come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and shapes and are made out of a wide variety of materials to be used for these purposes. Bows may also be attached to other objects besides gift packages to achieve ornamental affect, such as to doors, walls, automobiles, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is a need in the art to improve upon decorating gift packages and other objects with bows in order to bring more attention to the gift package or object. There is also a need in the art to make bows that are more unique, attractive, and pleasing to the eye. Thus, it is an aspect of the present invention to decorate a gift package or object with a bow that can be illuminated. Another aspect of the invention is to illuminate the bow with a light emitting diode (LED) placed inside the bow. Still another aspect of the invention is to use ribbon for the bow material that is highly transmissive or reflective of light. A still further aspect of the invention is to be able to attach and reattach the illuminated bow from one package or object to another in an easy manner. Another aspect of the invention is to allow the LED within the bow to blink or flash. Another aspect of the invention is to utilize a bi-color LED in the illuminated bow.
The above and other aspects of the invention are accomplished in a bow that has an LED assembly integrated within it. LEDs come in many different colors which are well suited for this use. For example, red and green LEDs are appropriate for bows at Christmas, as well as other colors. The LED is powered by a small battery encased in a base or housing, forming an LED assembly. The LED assembly is integrated within the bow's structure forming the illuminated ornamental apparatus of the present invention.
The best results are achieved when the bow is made using either translucent (semi-opaque) or reflective (metallic) polypropylene ribbon materials of various colors, sizes, or configurations to create a multitude of unique and distinctive bows. Excellent eye-catching results are obtained with bows utilizing translucent or reflective material. One such reflective material is a silver propylene ribbon material that affords a prismatic effect by being surfaced with countless shiny dots of mirror-like coating.
The LED assembly may be integrated into the bow in several different ways. In one embodiment the housing is located below the base of the bow. A small hole in the bottom of the base of the bow allows the LED to extend up into the mid internal area of the bow, where the light from the LED can reflect or pass through the various loops of bow material as well as through spaces between the loops of bow material.
Affixed to the bottom of the housing is a means to attach the illuminated bow to the gift package. Various attachment methods may be used. For example, a well known self-adhesive crack-and-peel type backing may be affixed to the bottom of the housing. Once the waxy protective paper is peeled away, the sticky surface of the crack-and-peel backing is exposed. When the sticky surface is pressed against the wrapping paper of the gift package, or a gift box with no wrapping paper, the illuminated bow becomes attached.
Another attachment method utilizes Velcro® brand fastening tape, which consists of two mated strips. Each strip has a sticky back protected by a waxy paper cover. One strip has miniature nylon hooks on the non-sticky back side, and the other mated strip has an uncut pile material on the non-sticky back side. After removing the waxy paper cover, the sticky back of one strip is attached to the bottom of the housing, and the sticky back of the other strip is attached to the gift package. The exposed hook and uncut pile material are then matched and pressed together, affixing the bow to the gift package. This approach is advantageous because it allows for easy transfer and reuse of the bow from gift package to gift package by utilizing additional Velcro® brand fastening tape having exposed hook and uncut pile material.
In another embodiment, the housing is located entirely within the bow. The bottom of the housing is securely affixed to the upper surface of the bottom of the bow. A crack-and-peel type of backing attached to the bottom of the bow allows for attaching the illuminated bow to the gift package or gift box. Velcro® brand fastening tape having exposed hood and uncut pile material could also be used.
A switch to turn the LED on and off is located on the outside of the housing in a manner to allow the LED to be switched on just prior to presentation of the gift package. The illuminated bow can be switched off and then on again anytime thereafter. One skilled in the art will recognize that a switch is not necessary, but is useful. For example, in an embodiment of the invention without a switch, the battery could be installed just prior to affixing the illuminated bow to a gift package and presenting the gift package to the recipient.
LEDs are small in size, light in weight, operate under low power and low voltage, are highly luminous at a small current, and produce only negligibly small amounts of heat, and thus are quite safe when incorporated within a bow. In addition, many ribbons and other materials used in making bows are made out of flame retardant material, increasing the safety. LEDs can provide illumination for several hours using only a small battery for power.
Bows equipped with such an LED assembly integrated within the bow may be utilized in other ways besides on gift packages. They may also be used for general decoration and ornamentation purposes for parties and events, and affixed to walls, doors, tables, chairs, and other objects. They may also be used in sales and marketing displays in order to attract more attention to the products on display.
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Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, LLP
Gradisar Stanley J.
Sember Thomas M.
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