US3873880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-powered illuminated ornamental device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-02-08
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-02-08
Abstract
Abstract Gas-discharge tubes, such as neon lamps, are operated from a D.C. power supply which is loacted inside of an ornamental device. The supply may be a plurality of batteries or a D.C.-toD.C. converter powered by a battery. R-C circuits couple the supply to the discharge tubes to provide intermittent gas discharge in the tubes and a flashing effect. The gas-discharge tubes may be disposed within an ornamental device with the power supply, or they may be outside of the device in convenient locations and connected to the device and power supply by wires and connectors. In the latter case, the R-C circuits are contained in the bases into which the tubes are placed for operation. In one embodiment, individual batteries are disposed in the tube bases and connected in series to provide the discharge voltage. To conserve battery charge, a photoelectric circuit turns the device off during times when ambient light exceeds a predetermined intensity.
Inventors
- 👤 Horace G Riddell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:33
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/30; H05B41/34; A; A47; A47G; A47G33/00; A47G33/04; A47G33/08; F; F21; F21L; F21L4/00; F21S; F21S4/00; F21S4/10; A47G2033/0827; F21W; F21W2121/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A self-powered illuminated ornamental device, comprising: a hollow housing having ornamentation on at least part of its outer surface, said housing being separable into at least two parts; a power supply disposed within said housing; a plurality of gas-discharge tubes; and, a plurality of individual circuit means respectively coupling individual ones of said gas-discharge tubes to said power supply for causing intermittent discharge in said tubes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A self-powered illuminated ornamental device, comprising: a hollow housing having ornamentation on at least part of its outer surface, said housing being separable into at least two parts; a power supply disposed within said housing; a plurality of gas-discharge tubes; and, a plurality of individual circuit means respectively coupling individual ones of said gas-discharge tubes to said power supply for causing intermittent discharge in said tubes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein: said gas-discharge tubes have a predetermined ionization potential; and, said power supply comprises a plurality of batteries connected together in series such that the total voltage exceeds said predetermined ionization potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said power supply comprises: a battery; and, a D.C.-to-D.C. converter powered by said battery and having its output terminals connected to said circuit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ornamental device of claim 3 wherein said power supply further comprises: means for switchably connecting said battery to said converter; and, a photosensitive device mounted on said housing with its photosensitive surface viewing the exterior of said housing and coupled to said battery connecting means so as to control its switching state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ornamental device of claim 3 wherein: at least a portion of said housing is light transmissive; and, said gas-discharge tubes are disposed within said housing adjacent said light transmissive portion so as to be visible from outside the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ornamental device of claim 5 wherein said housing consists of two matable parts connected together by a hinge, each part also having a tab with an aperture therethrough, said tabs being so disposed that when the parts are mated, the apertures are in line with each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ornamental device of claim 1 wherein said tubes are disposed exteriorly of said housing, and further including electrical connector means for connecting through said housing said tubes to said power supply.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The ornamental device of claim 7 wherein said electrical connector means comprises a plurality of plug and socket combinations, the number of combinations being the same as the number of gas-discharge tubes, and further including a base for each tube, each base being of ornamental design and containing within it an individual circuit means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
A self-powered, illuminated ornamental device comprising: a plurality of separated physical units wherein each unit includes a gas-discharge tube, circuit means for causing said tube to discharge intermittently, and a battery, said tube and said circuit means constituting an electrical subunit; means for connecting said batteries in series, whereby the sum of the battery voltages constitutes the operating voltage; and, means for connecting said electrical subunits in parallel across said operating voltage, the number of units in the device being such that the operating voltage exceeds the ionization potential of the gas-discharge tubes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A self-powered, illuminated ornamental device comprising: a plurality of separated physical units wherein each unit includes a gas-discharge tube, circuit means for causing said tube to discharge intermittently, and a battery, said tube and said circuit means constituting an electrical subunit; means for connecting said batteries in series, whereby the sum of the battery voltages constitutes the operating voltage; and, means for connecting said electrical subunits in parallel across said operating voltage, the number of units in the device being such that the operating voltage exceeds the ionization potential of the gas-discharge tubes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ornamental device of claim 9 wherein a physical unit comprises: a gas-discharge tube; and, a hollow ornamental base, containing a circuit means and a battery, to which the tube is detachably connected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |