Patents Examined by James W. Cranson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7244041
    Abstract: A safety candle comprising: a tea light candle holder and at least one tea light candle insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Gunter Woog
  • Patent number: 7241040
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a light supplying part and a light guide plate. The light supplying part includes a white light source and a monochromatic light source that generates a monochromatic light. The white light source generates a white light responsive to an electric power provided from exterior to the backlight assembly. The light guide plate is disposed adjacent to a side of the light supplying part. The light guide plate includes a light guiding region where the white light and the monochromatic light are guided into and a peripheral region that surrounds the light guiding region. Therefore, color reproducibility of an LCD apparatus is increased so that an image display quality of the LCD apparatus is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Ho Ahn, Hee-June Kwak
  • Patent number: 7234843
    Abstract: A light comprising a rear light modifying panel having a front surface and opposite sides; a lamp support panel assembly connected at least at two spaced apart locations to the rear light modifying panel assembly, for supporting at least one lamp in front of the front surface and between the opposite sides of the rear light modifying panel assembly; and a front light modifying panel having a rear surface spaced from the front surface of the rear light modifying panel, the front light modifying panel having opposite sides connected to the opposite sides of the rear light modifying panel. The lamp support panel assembly is between the front and rear light modifying panels for holding the at least one lamp between the front and rear light modifying panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventors: Gary Regester, David Conroy
  • Patent number: 7234829
    Abstract: A backlight assembly apparatus, including a conductive receiving container, a flat fluorescent lamp provided over the conductive receiving container, and an insulating member positioned between the conductive receiving container and the flat fluorescent lamp to provide insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyoung-Joo Kim, Hyeon-Yong Jang, Sang-Yu Lee, Seock-Hwan Kang
  • Patent number: 7232247
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp can include a plurality of light source modules each having an LED as a light source, and optical systems for distributing light from each of the light source modules frontward toward predetermined areas or predetermined patterns that are different from each other and which make up a light distribution pattern. Each of the optical systems can be optimized to emit light to a predetermined area, and each of the light source modules' LEDs can be optimally arranged for each of the corresponding optical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yatsuda, Teruo Koike, Takuya Kushimoto, Takashi Futami, Ryotaro Owada
  • Patent number: 7232251
    Abstract: A night light with fiber optics has a main object and a fiber optics arrangement to let visible wavelength light beams be seen by a viewer after passing through the fiber optics. The main object material can be selected from textile, metal, plastic, porcelain, ceramic, or viscous-mud related items, wooden toys, stuffed toys, blow-mold unit, seasonal items, dolls, porcelain units, ceramic units, poly resin units, as well as a sporting related unit, painting unit, poster unit, sign unit, photo unit, angel unit, artificial related unit, animal unit, flower unit or other conventional units in a variety of gift, toy, sports, seasonal, holiday applications to make the night light exhibit more attractive light effects than the original main objects. The night light may incorporate a switch that provides selected preferred light functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 7232238
    Abstract: A renewable energy flashlight employing a pair of elastomagnetic repulsion members to assist in reciprocating a charging magnet passing through surrounding induction coils to enhance the efficiency of manually charging a capacitor to power an LED lens amplified flashlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: RSGA International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Darin Long, Qian Tianming
  • Patent number: 7229188
    Abstract: A light generating flashlight system device utilizes a large centrally located magnet which is mounted to slide past a magnet pickup or current induction wire which may be preferably mounted at a center point of travel in a tubular housing having a tubular chamber through which the magnet travels. A pair of elastomeric dampers are located each at the end of a support system sleeve which is sized to fit within a main housing to stabilize all internal support within a sealed unit. The result is a device which both facilitates the manual movement of the flashlight body so that the magnet slides past the center magnet pickup or current induction wire, and also conserves the residual momentum of the magnet once it has traveled past the magnet pickup or current induction wire by providing a bumper and spring to conserve some of the mechanical energy going in the other direction. Ninety second of manual activation enables about five minutes of illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Daka Research Inc.
    Inventor: Pat Y. Mah
  • Patent number: 7226184
    Abstract: A backlight apparatus of an edge light type includes at least one elongated luminescent source, a holder in which the luminescent source is provided and a housing in which the holder is provided. A supporting component is attached to an end of the elongated luminescent source for securing the luminescent source in the holder. The supporting component has a projecting section that projects outward from the holder such that the projecting section is thermally connected to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7222998
    Abstract: There is provided an LED as a light source and a reflector for reflecting a light emitted from the LED toward the surface of a license plate LP. The reflector has a first reflector disposed in a region getting out of the optical axis of the LED and a second reflector disposed in a region including the optical axis of the LED, and a light getting out of the optical axis and having a low luminous intensity is reflected by the first reflector to illuminate the vicinal region of the license plate and a light transmitted along the optical axis and having a high luminous intensity is reflected by the second reflector to illuminate a distant region from the license plate. An illuminance in the license plate can be made almost uniform so that the whole surface of the license plate can be illuminated in an equal brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoshi Katase
  • Patent number: 7222990
    Abstract: A headlight apparatus has a lighting element with a connector base disposed in an aperture formed in the lighting element. The connector base has a set of terminals arranged to make contact with a set of electrical contact zones of a complementary module. Each electrical contact zone is so disposed, on a surface portion of an electronic printed circuit of the complementary module, as to be directly accessible for the corresponding terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Marc Duarte, Jean-Marc Nicolai, David Myotte
  • Patent number: 7222980
    Abstract: Accessories such as jewelry lighted with chemiluminescence. The accessories have decorative chemiluminescent article holders which utilize apertures or spaces for direct viewing of the chemiluminescent article. The accessories, may include ornamental elements back-lit by chemiluminescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventor: Fred James Pinciaro
  • Patent number: 7220041
    Abstract: Disclosed is a planar light source device comprising a light generation device comprising at least two light-emitting elements; a light-mixing device for mixing a generated light from the light generation device to generate a mixed linear light; and a planar light generation device comprising a light-scattering portion for receiving the mixed light to generate a planar light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Epistar Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Ming Chen, Chou-Chih Yin, Jun-Chung Chen, Chia-Liang Hsu, Chia-Fen Tsai, Min-Hsun Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7217000
    Abstract: A back light module in which the diffuser board has integrated bottom support rods that are stopped at the bottom wall of the lamp case of the back light module to support the diffuser board in shape and to protect the diffuser board against deformation when the diffuser board installed in the lamp case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Kang Wu
  • Patent number: 7216998
    Abstract: A first object is to prevent the leakage of chemiluminescent liquid during chemiluminescence. A second object is to provide enhanced shock resistance. A third object is to provide enhanced hydraulic-pressure resistance and a product at a low cost. A chemiluminescent device comprises a container, and a synthetic-resin ampoule contained in the flexible container. The ampoule has a surface formed with a groove extending along the circumferential direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Lumica Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Fujita
  • Patent number: 7213953
    Abstract: An illumination device adapted for attachment to a surface of a rotatable wheel comprises a rigid body having a substantially flat surface to which is attached an adhesive material effective to adhere the illumination device to a desired position on the wheel surface. The illumination device also comprises a light source, a power source, such as one or more batteries, and an electrical circuit that includes a switch for closing the circuit to result in production of light by the light source. The switch may be a motion-activated switch, a simple on-off switch, or other suitable types. In embodiments disclosed, a cavity in the rigid body holds the batteries, and a lamp cover houses the light source (and selected elements of the electrical circuit). The invention also is directed to forming a lighting pattern on a wheel by positioning such illumination devices on selected positions on the wheel, and activating them to create a desired lighting pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Inventor: Steven J. Washington
  • Patent number: 7213958
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the output surface of the light guide and the emissive material is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, John A. Wheatley, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7210808
    Abstract: A lighting device having a bulb-holder made of synthetic, electrically-nonconducting material; possibly a transparent cover; a light source; and electronic controlling elements for controlling the light source; the light source includes a high-efficiency, violet-tinged white-light, light-emitting diode (LED), and possibly a reflector formed integral with the bulb-holder; and the bulb-holder defines a lighting fixture fittable to an inner wall of a refrigeration compartment, and having elements, typically a thermostat, for detecting and controlling operating parameters of the refrigeration compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Industrial Components S.R.L.
    Inventor: Roberto Malpetti
  • Patent number: 7210812
    Abstract: A scent-distributor/flashlight having a light-producing portion with a battery, an illumination mechanism operably connected to the battery through a switch mechanism, and a first adapting mechanism having a plurality of female connectors. The invention also has a scent-producing portion with a second housing having a cavity, an intake vent, and an output vent; a second adapting mechanism having a plurality of male connectors for mating with the female connectors to physically connect the scent-producing and light-producing portions together as a unit, and to connect the male connectors to the switch mechanism of the light-producing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Inventor: Ronnie L. Linton
  • Patent number: 7204630
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, light guides coupled to the light source, each including an input surface and an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from at least one light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surfaces of the light guides is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig R. Schardt, John C. Schultz, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, John A. Wheatley, Michael F. Weber, Kenneth A. Epstein, James E. Watson