Selective Or Intermittent Illumination Patents (Class 40/442)
  • Patent number: 6013346
    Abstract: A display sticker with integral LED flasher circuit and power source adapted to be adhesively affixed to and readily removed from a fabric article. A printed circuit board having an LED, a control circuit and a battery is adhesively affixed to the back surface of a thin flexible sheet having printed indicia on its front surface. A rubber-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided on the back surface of the flexible sheet to adhere the circuit board thereto, and also to adhere the sticker assembly to a fabric article such as an article of clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Buztronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward D. Lewis, Raymond W. Leung
  • Patent number: 6009648
    Abstract: A changeable display element is edgewise mounted on an insulating board and carries to rotate through about 180.degree. to show one color face or the other to a viewer. The board provides a similarly colored face for each face to form a pixel. The element carries a permanent magnet and is driven by a switchable magnetic field provided from the board. Soft iron pads on the board cooperates with the magnet on each position to retain the element against incidental displacement between application of the field. The board may support arrays of such elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mark IV Industries Limited
    Inventor: Veso S. Tijanic
  • Patent number: 5933329
    Abstract: A board usually resembling a PCB or a PWB mounts a display element, whose appearance in a viewing direction is controlled by the sense of magnetization of a core which extends through a bore in the board. A conducting coil formed on the surface of said board is located so that current in said coil will magnetize the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Mark IV Industries Limited
    Inventors: Veso S. Tijanoc, Matthew D. Dennis, Coeman L. S. Wong, Van H. Le
  • Patent number: 5925437
    Abstract: A one-way see-through panel assembly enhanced by a retroreflective surface. The panel assembly has a first panel which has a dark light-absorbing surface and an opposite light reflecting surface. A retroreflective sheet is applied over the light reflecting surface to form an assembly. Light passageways, either perforations or a pattern of discrete transparent areas, are provided in the assembly. An image is imprinted on either the surface of the retroreflective panel or the light reflecting surface. The method includes mechanically perforating the assembly which is facilitated by the retroreflective sheet having non-glass reflective formations thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen G. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5900813
    Abstract: The invention comprises a vehicular wide turn warning device having a placard with a warning printed thereon. The placard also has mounted thereon a strobe lamp and a plurality of light-emitting mechanisms, the light-emitting mechanisms being arranged to form an arrow having a point and a tail. The invention also comprises a control circuit for operating the light-emitting mechanisms and strobe lamp mounted upon the placard. The control circuit is arranged such that the light-emitting mechanisms forming the arrow are sequentially and cyclically illuminated beginning with the light-emitting mechanisms forming the tail of the arrow and preceding to the light-emitting mechanisms forming the head of the arrow. The strobe lamp is cyclically illuminated in conjunction with the light-emitting mechanisms forming the arrow. A manually operable switching means located adjacent a driver of a vehicle activates a control circuit for the vehicular wide turn warning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Stanley Ruminski
    Inventors: Stanley Ruminski, William Carrell
  • Patent number: 5900812
    Abstract: The invention comprises a vehicular wide turn warning device having a placard with a warning printed thereon. The placard also has mounted thereon a strobe lamp and a plurality of light-emitting mechanisms, the light-emitting mechanisms being arranged to form an arrow having a point and a tail. The invention also comprises a control circuit for operating the light-emitting mechanisms and strobe lamp mounted upon the placard. The control circuit is arranged such that the light-emitting mechanisms forming the arrow are sequentially and cyclically illuminated beginning with the light-emitting mechanisms forming the tail of the arrow and preceding to the light-emitting mechanisms forming the head of the arrow. The strobe lamp is cyclically illuminated in conjunction with the light-emitting mechanisms forming the arrow. A manually operable switching means located adjacent a driver of a vehicle activates a control circuit for the vehicular wide turn warning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Stanley Ruminski
    Inventors: Stanley Ruminski, William Carrell
  • Patent number: 5876112
    Abstract: A plurality of lamps electrically connected together have different decorative patterns on the surfaces of the lamp bulbs so that when the bulbs are sequentially lit, a story is progressively and visually displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Gordon K.H. Wu
  • Patent number: 5863109
    Abstract: A phantom color light mirror including a mirror, a plurality of colored light sources, and a central control device. The mirror is composed of a transparent sheet having a reflective layer affixed to a rear surface thereof. A plurality of lines of a sufficient width are used to engrave the reflective layer with a graphic design visible from the front side of the transparent sheet. The operation of the colored light sources are controlled by the central control device. The mirror, the light sources and the central control device may be accommodated in a cabinet. A refracting device may further be disposed behind the mirror to provide enhanced visual effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Chung-Tai Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5855001
    Abstract: A talking trading card playing system consists of a portable card player and a plurality of trading cards. Each card includes a card body having front and back surfaces, flexible sheets affixed to the front surface and to the back surface of the housing, and a voice chip for storing and generating sound patterns. The portable player comprises a power source located in the housing for supplying electrical power to the voice chip, and sound generation components. The subject trading card and player may be activated by inserting the card into the player, thereby establishing electrical contact between the card and the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Micra SoundCards, Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter D. Doederlein, G. Dale Newman, Anthony C. Sharp, Michael E. Lucas
  • Patent number: 5822898
    Abstract: A point of sale unit is disclosed comprising a platform which supports an actual product on sale. The platform has a horizontal support panel, a front panel and side panels. A pictorial sculpture is on the front panel having a theme related to the product. A plurality of lights mounted in a line along part of the pictorial sculpture are repeatedly flashed in sequence by a light flashing circuit. The pictorial sculpture comprises a photo print of a subject related to the product which is screen printed onto acrylic plastic with its outer edges conforming to the outer edges of the subject of the photo print. A pressure sensitive switch mounted on the platform operates the flashing lights only when the product is supported on the horizontal support panel. A manually-operable switch is in parallel with the pressure sensitive switch so that the repeatedly flashing lights may be operated when the product is not supported by the horizontal support panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Weissleder
  • Patent number: 5819451
    Abstract: An electronic bookmark for a copy holder that aids a user's ability to ascertain viewed text on paper retained by the copy holder is provided. The invented copy holder includes vertically adjustable indicating device that directs the user's attention to text adjacent without the use of a guide or illumination of the paper, so that text is not obscured or distorted. The copy holder comprises a backboard for retaining paper thereon and a plate rotatably coupled thereto. The plate has a bottom surface configured to releasably couple the plate to the backboard without interfering with paper interposed therebetween. The indicating device comprises a display that extends along a top surface of the plate. The display preferably comprises an array of electrodes, such as a liquid crystal display, light emitting diodes, or signal lamps, with desired segments of an array activated for directing a users attention to a selected portion of text on the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Trinh Cam Khon
  • Patent number: 5809675
    Abstract: A board usually resembling a PCB or a PWB mounts a display element, whose appearance in a viewing direction is controlled by the sense of magnetization of a core which extends through a bore in the board. A conducting coil formed on the surface of said board is located so that current in said coil will magnetize the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Mark IV Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Veso S. Tijanic, Matthew D. Dennis, Coeman L. S. Wong, Van H. Le
  • Patent number: 5806218
    Abstract: A border for a substantially two-dimensional image comprises an anterior pattern and a posterior pattern, the patterns being space one from the other and being arranged to form, when viewed together, a resultant apparent pattern in a different plane to that of the image. The patterns each comprise relatively brighter and relatively darker regions, but each usually has a different pitch. The posterior pattern may advantageously comprise an array of reflective dots printed onto a major surface of a light transmissive sheet which may be edge lit by a light source. The border brightness can then be independent of ambient light conditions and simple to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Central Research Laboratories Limited
    Inventors: Ian Alexander Shanks, Christoph Dobrusskin
  • Patent number: 5762534
    Abstract: An automatic opening/closing mechanism is disclosed. It includes a coil spring, a pushing member, a driven member and a contact board which are disposed in a cylinder under a decorative article. A shaft is disposed at a center of the coil spring. One end of the shaft is connected with one end face of the pushing member. The pushing member has a disc-like shape. The other end face of the pushing member is disposed with several slope teeth which are slidably engaged with several slope recesses of one end of the driven member. The other end of the driven member abuts against the contact board. Two electric contacts are disposed beside the contact board. The power of coil spring is gradually released to rotate the pushing member so as to upward push the driven member for lifting the contact board to contact with the electric contacts and close the circuit. At this time, a bulb or a music box is turned on to emit light or music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Yi-Chen Lo
  • Patent number: 5759671
    Abstract: Ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting includes a retroreflective portion containing retroreflective elements and an ultraviolet luminescent portion to facilitate nighttime viewing by persons not located at or near a source of light being retroreflected by the retroreflective portion. At least part of the ultraviolet luminescent portion is provided as the bonding lines for bonding the transparent cover sheet to the support sheet to form a series of sealed cells in which the retroreflective elements, which may be of the encapsulated lens-type or the encapsulated cube-corner-type, are disposed. The ultraviolet luminescenct portion includes fluorescent agent which emits light when irradiation by ultraviolet irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Tanaka, Kiyohito Hiromitsu, Hidenori Fushimi
  • Patent number: 5758824
    Abstract: Pressurized fluid enters by way of the flow control valve 90 which regulates flow and thus simulated raindrop size, through the fluid supply tube 80 and enters the fixed fluid distributor body 20, past a rotational seal 154 and into the rotating shaft 10, cushioned by the accumulator chamber 50. As the rotating shaft is made to rotate by means of the drive motor 60 and transmission means 70, the radial outlet port(s) 14 sequentially line up momentarily with each side port 26, allowing fluid flow through each outlet tube 30-35 in turn overflowing each respective conical vessel 40-45 to create a fluid drop at the lower point 48 which falls as simulated rain 160 in a desired three dimensional array. Each raindrop is thus timed perfectly according to the speed of rotation of the rotating shaft 10. The transducer 100 produces an electrical pulse for each rotation, also perfectly timed to the raindrops, which is input to the triggered oscillator 110 to ultimately control the strobe light 140.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventors: Robert L. Kuykendal, Ronald S. Deichmann
  • Patent number: 5657563
    Abstract: A picture illumination display device (10) comprising a picture frame (12). A one-way mirror (14) is in the picture frame (12), so that when a person normally looks into the one-way mirror (14) a reflection will be seen. A picture (16) is carried in the picture frame (12) behind the one-way mirror (14). A facility (18) behind the picture (16), is for producing light. Once the light producing facility (18) is activated an image of the picture (16) will be projected through the one-way mirror (14), to allow a person looking into the one-way mirror (14) to see the projected image from the picture (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Patrick Lane
  • Patent number: 5641164
    Abstract: A trading card capable of generating sounds comprises a thin housing having front and back surfaces, flexible sheets affixed to the front surface and to the back surface of the housing, a voice chip located in the housing for generating patterns of sounds, a battery located in the housing for supplying electrical power to the voice chip, and a switch located in the housing for activating the voice chip. The trading card preferably has a piezoelectric driver coupled to a foam sound board for increasing the volume of sound. The subject trading card may be activated by squeezing the flexible sheets between the thumb and forefinger at a selected switch location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: The M2000 Group Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter D. Doederlein, G. Dale Newman, Brian J. Burgess, Anthony C. Sharp
  • Patent number: 5636462
    Abstract: A message display sign apparatus includes a display panel having front and rear faces, a multiplicity of light emitting elements disposed on the front face of the display panel for displaying a built-in message on the display panel being defined by groups thereof being arranged to form the letters of the two words, a mounting panel having upper and lower faces, and a hinge pivotally interconnecting an edge of the display panel to an edge of the mounting panel such that the display panel and mounting panel can undergo pivotal movement relative to one another between a message display position in which the rear face of the display panel is angularly displaced away from the upper face of the mounting panel and a storage position in which the rear face of the display panel is disposed adjacent to the upper face of the mounting panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Robert M. Kleiman
  • Patent number: 5633565
    Abstract: An electrical flasher circuit has improved operating characteristics, in particular by providing continuous illumination for a long period of time from a fully charged solar battery. The circuit employs a solar battery recharging circuit component that achieves full charge in a short period of time. The flasher circuit may be used in roadside warning device having a sign member with a warning image. Placed around the warning image are a plurality of light emitters for providing a visual warning during evening and night hours. The light emitters are powered by a solar energy source connected to a flasher circuit including an oscillator for causing the light emitters to be energized in a particular sequence. When the device is exposed to sunlight, the battery is disconnected to avoid unnecessary draining of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Interplex Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Roni Friedman, Chaim Chacham, William F. Richardson, Jr., Brian N. Raymond
  • Patent number: 5588235
    Abstract: Light processing apparatus creates a number of visual effects which simulate movement with light from a light source. A multiplicity of flexible fibre optic light guides having optically finished input and output ends are grouped into groups, with each group being assigned to create a particular effect. The input ends of each group of light guides are placed in adjacent receptor zones of pre-selected geometry, and the output ends of each group of light guides are located on an effects surface in a pre-selected pattern. Light from the light source is filtered by a color changer having a plurality of discrete moveable colored filter zones shaped to correlate with the receptor zones, and is then received by the input ends of the light guides and distributed to the output ends of the light guides. The color changer may be a rotatable color wheel filter, an endless band filter or a cylindrical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Roberts Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Y. Juchymenko, J. Richard Howard, Andrew J. Laczynski, James S. Angus
  • Patent number: 5480156
    Abstract: A trading card capable of generating sounds comprises a thin housing having front and back surfaces, flexible sheets affixed to the front surface and to the back surface of the housing, a voice chip located in the housing for generating patterns of sounds, a battery located in the housing for supplying electrical power to the voice chip, and a switch located in the housing for activating the voice chip. The subject trading card may be activated by squeezing the flexible sheets between the thumb and forefinger at a selected switch location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: The M2000 Group Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter D. Doederlein, G. Dale Newman, Brian J. Burgess, Anthony C. Sharp
  • Patent number: 5467076
    Abstract: The realty sign lighting and display assembly is in the form of a real estate standard having a vertical post and a horizontal cross-arm from which depends a display panel. The cross-arm is specially constructed to incorporate within it anti-theft and display components and components for powering the anti-theft display components. Thus, the cross-arm includes a solar panel, preferably at the top of the cross-arm, and a rechargeable battery connected to the solar panel. The battery powers one or more spot lights located in the bottom of the cross-arm and directed at the display panel below the cross-arm. The solar panel includes electrical heating elements which keep the solar panel free of snow. A thermal sensor may be disposed in the top of the cross-arm and be connected to a switch operating the solar panel. An alarm connected to the battery prevents theft of the cross-arm. Preferably, the alarm includes a pendulum switch activatable by moving the cross-arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventors: Rita Ruocco, Roger Hance
  • Patent number: 5456032
    Abstract: A self-sufficient, blinking-light LED device formed by a decoratively-shaped casing having a LED projecting from its face, the casing being attachable to the shoe of an individual or elsewhere on his person whereby as the individual walks or jogs, the resultant changes in velocity cause the LED to be intermittently activated to create strobe light effects which attract attention. Housed in the casing is a D-C power source connected through an acceleration-sensitive make-and-break switch to the short leads of the LED, one of which forms the fixed contact of the switch. The movable contact is defined by a cantilevered flat spring having a weight attached to its free end. A change in velocity causes the spring contact to flex to momentarily engage the fixed contact to close the switch and activate the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Inventors: Susan Matsumoto, Melvin Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5408772
    Abstract: A rectangular vehicle license plate frame includes side columns which mount printed circuit boards internally. The printed circuit boards mount yellow dot transformers and an integrated chip and light a number of light emitting diodes mounted on the external surface of the columns proportionate to the strength of the signals received. The strength of the signals received is dependent on the output of the respective channels of the vehicle's stereo system to which the printed circuit boards are connected by appropriate wires. Connections to the vehicle's battery provide power for energizing the respective diodes. Thus the license plate frame displays an unlimited variation of patterns in which various numbers of LEDs are illuminated in accordance with the strength of the outputs of the stereo system in rhythmic-like fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventor: Brad M. Pettyjohn
  • Patent number: 5379202
    Abstract: Partially overlapping display elements have light string sets mounted thereon and sequentially illuminated to simulate animation of a decorative part of an outdoor light display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Noma International, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Daun
  • Patent number: 5367959
    Abstract: A device for use in connection with scraping coatings from lottery tickets. The device includes a base surface for supporting lottery tickets for scraping off said coating therefrom, and a moat surrounding at least a substantial part of the base surface for catching the coatings scraped from the tickets. In one embodiment, an advertising display is mounted on the device, which display may be brought into view only upon use of the device. The display may be brought into view by a light source activated by use of the device in connection with the lottery tickets, such as by a switch activated by depression of the base surface, the light source thus illuminating the display upon closure of the switch. In one embodiment the base surface is pivotally mounted in the housing so that application of pressure on the surface causes one side thereof to be pivoted downwardly, causing closure of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventors: Reed Allen, Paul J. Juhasz
  • Patent number: 5311686
    Abstract: An illuminated natural gas display panel assembly simulates the generation and transmission of natural gas to different classes of users by means of a plurality of elongated strips of light-transmitting arrays, each strip made up of a plurality of LEDs and with different light-sequencing circuits for individually controlling the rate and direction of sequencing of the lights to represent a desired pressure level and direction of flow along each said array; and different colored light elements are employed to aid in giving the optical illusion of different pressure levels along each of the light-transmitting arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Public Service Company of Colorado
    Inventors: Kenneth K. Christensen, Randy A. Bishop, Daniel Bettis, Michael Markano
  • Patent number: 5309656
    Abstract: A flashing advertising sign is provided for indoor use. The sign is of box-like transparent construction having parallel front and rear panels and elongated upper and lower panels having facing retaining channels which slidably secure a flat placard. Photovoltaic cells positioned in the upper panel supply energy to a rechargeable storage battery. A timing circuit periodically directs electrical current from the battery to light-emitting diodes which illuminate the placard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Richard Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5301982
    Abstract: A sheet or page of a book being self-illuminating, each such sheet utilizing electroluminescent polymer film to be illuminated as indicia or, in an alternate embodiment, as background for indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 5251392
    Abstract: An artificial window comprises a box having a rear wall, and walls bounding an interior space which faces longitudinally forwardly; sheet structure extending laterally crosswise of the space, and a viewable pattern associated with the sheet structure to be illuminated by light passing forwardly from the box interior; first and second light sources in the box; a reflector structure in the box to reflect light from the first source in a direction toward the sheet structure for effecting illumination of the viewable pattern; and there being control structure for controlling the illumination of the viewable pattern to independently, differentially, and progressively change the illumination of the viewable pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Vemco Corporation
    Inventor: Paul G. McManigal
  • Patent number: 5228879
    Abstract: A hand held two-way mirror assembly 10 having one or more hidden images 26 mounted behind the back surface of a two-way mirror 20, one of which images can be seen when a light 36 behind the image is lit. The mirror assembly includes a frame 12, 14, 16, there being a cavity 30 behind the mirror 20, which cavity receives the lights 36 and a circuit board 48. A speaker 50 is mounted on the board. One or more digitized voices is stored in a memory chip 54 mounted on the board. Electronic switches 52 and 56 select a lamp 36 to be lit when a manually engageable switch is operated, and also cause one of the digitized voice tracks to be broadcast through the speaker, the particular voice track being associated with the illuminated image, the lights and voices preferably being selected in a predetermined manner to follow a script.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Wayne G. Fromm
  • Patent number: 5168646
    Abstract: A method of creating apparent motion on a two-dimensional surface, the surface being illumination responsive to a directed moving reference of light source. The method comprising the steps of devising on a tracing sheet at least one pattern of apparent motion to be created on the surface. Dividing the pattern into a plurality of discrete and spatially related zones. Next a direction of apparent motion to be created within each zone is determined. The pattern and zones thereof are then transferred onto the surface of a light responsive deformable material. On the surface is found a plurality of grooves corresponding to each zone. The grooves in the direction of apparent motion are progressively angled relative to the directed moving reference of light source from about 90 degrees through about 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: NCM International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dippong, Gerald R. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 5165580
    Abstract: The invention relates to creating an optical illusion of fluid or water in a display device which shows a solid water stream with undulations that rises, levitates or falls slowly. The illusion can be viewed under certain circumstances in ordinary room lighting. Also, the solid water stream with undulations can simultaneously transform into a set of rising, levitating or falling water droplets. The entire illusion may be examined and even touched by the audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Inventor: L. Kenneth Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 5152089
    Abstract: A multi-image sign display (10,100) controllably interrelates a pair of controllable illumination means (22,24), for providing different selectable media effects from first and second displayable scenes (14,16) dependent on the first and second lighting effects which enable a controllable display of the second scene (16) visually perceptible through the first scene (14) dependent on these effects, such as a visually perceptible cross-dissolve effect, ort a full on/full off effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Burson-Marstellar
    Inventor: Ernie Bellico
  • Patent number: 5123192
    Abstract: A show window includes a liquid crystal display plate which is alternatingly caused to become transparent in order to permit viewing of a static object displayed behind the window, and translucent in order to form a screen for projection of a slide onto the window in order to permit viewing of the slide through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Chi-Sheng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5107637
    Abstract: A shelter structure includes a photovoltaic illumination system. A pair of translucent, spaced-apart panels define an interior volume which houses and protects the lamps, batteries and illumination circuitry of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: B & E Energy Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Robbins
  • Patent number: 5040319
    Abstract: A toy band assembly including a stage assembly, a plurality of movable toy figures, such as toy frog figures, a plurality of toy musical instruments, a sound pick-up unit, a stage lights assembly, power supply, a power supply switch, an integrated circuit, a front transmission mechanism, a front reciprocating mechanism, a rear transmission mechanism, and a rear reciprocating mechanism. When the power supply switch is switched on, light bulbs in a stage lights assembly start to flash and the sound pick-up unit picks up sound signals from the surroundings and directs electric signals to the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit electrically connects the power supply means to a front and a rear motor when sufficient electrical signal is received. The front and rear motors rotate and translate their rotations to the front and rear transmission mechanisms and to the front and rear reciprocating mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Metro Toy Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuang C. Wang, Arthur Y. P. Wang
  • Patent number: 5025919
    Abstract: A portable directory and note pad tray with several features. A first feature is a directory with a cover movable between open and closed positions that activates a light bulb circuit for lighting the directory cards when the cover is opened and deactivates the circuit for turning out the light bulb when the cover is closed. A second feature is a novel slide track, and slide arm structure by which the directory and tray are mountable to and de-mountable from a desired surface to present an optimum mounting angle for that surface. A third feature is a note pad tray with a novel base that includes a first finger gap in one of the tray's upstanding walls to allow individual sheets of a note pad to be easily removed from the tray, and a pencil recess defined in the tray with a magnetically attachable pencil that cooperates with a second finger gap in one of the tray's walls to allow easy removal of the pencil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Totes', Incorporated
    Inventors: Barry Brinker, John E. Busse
  • Patent number: 5010665
    Abstract: A modular electronic message badge has a detachable lamp unit which contains a light bulb associated with an interchangeable lens cover. A power pack unit provides one protected enclosure for receipt of electronic components or circuitry, and another portion defining a chamber, which opens to the exterior of the power pack unit for receipt of a battery. Introduction and removal of a battery from the chamber automatically switches on and off the electronic circuitry protectively enclosed within the power pack unit without requiring that such unit be opened. The lamp unit is physically attached to the power pack unit for support thereon and electrically connected therewith so that the light bulb is powered by an output of the electronic circuitry. The lens cover may be partially transparent and provided with a selected message or design. The cover is backlighted by the lamp to display the message intermittently, under the control of the power pack unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Inventor: Cornell Clinkscales
  • Patent number: 5003715
    Abstract: A painted display assembly comprising a sheet adapted for the passage of light therethrough and including an exposed front face and a rear face each having painted portions thereon, the sheet being mounted to one side of a mounting frame having an open center wherein the sheet is disposed in covering relation to the open center. A light assembly including a light source is mounted to an opposite side of the mounting frame and is specifically adapted to direct light on to the rear face of the sheet wherein a background scene appears in relation to a painted main scene within a frame viewing surface on the exposed front face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Norm Steiner
  • Patent number: 4991331
    Abstract: A display assembly 10 for mounting in a fruit machine comprises an open topped housing 14. A pair of two-way mirrors 20a, 20b are joined at right angles to one another with their mirrored sides defining the included angle and facing towards the housing's opening. A visual representation 21a, 21b is printed on the reverse side of each mirror and is visible through the respective mirror when lamps 22 therebehind are lit, with a mirror image of the representation visible reflected from the other mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: R. A. James & Co. Limited
    Inventor: Roger A. James
  • Patent number: 4947989
    Abstract: A video cassette storage container having a cover removably connected to a base portion. The cover is surrounded about its periphery by a series of lights that are programmed to flash in an eye-catching fashion. The cover is designed to contain any suitable printed indicia such as a description of the contents of the storage container or an advertisement. The lights are included to draw attention to the printed indicia encased within the cover below a transparent sheet of material. In an alternate embodiment, the lights about the periphery of the cover are activated by touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Azor R. Horton
  • Patent number: 4934940
    Abstract: A dental hygiene instructional display using a humanoid figure providing a facial expressing exhibiting representations of human teeth in adjacent upper and lower jaws. The teeth are divided into sectors and a pair of light emitting diodes of different colors are dedicated to flashingly illuminate each of the sectors, in sequence. A circuit for controlling illumination of the light emitting diodes adjustably controls both the duration of the period of brushing devoted to each sector, as well as the flash period during illumination of each cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventor: Winsor T. Savery
  • Patent number: 4924363
    Abstract: An attention-attracting device for use e.g. beneath a supermarket shelf has light-emitting diodes at the front of the device for presenting a visually noticeable signal to persons in the vicinity of the device, the light-emitting diodes being intermittently energized to cause the signal to be flashing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Dapopp Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Bradley F. Kornelson
  • Patent number: 4922384
    Abstract: An illuminated picture display having a surrounding scintilating show of lights, including a housing holding a front half-silvered mirror and a rear mirror, the mirrors being proximate to one another and at a small angle to one another, congruent openings in the mirrors to receive a transparency for display, a light within the housing for illuminating the transparency, a plurality of lamps between the mirrors along the periphery, and a programmed timer causing the lamps to blink on and off in predetermined sequence, and a refraction plate mounted in front of the front half-silvered mirror proximate to the opening in the front mirror, so that the transparency is displayed surrounded by a flashing light display. A fiber optics system may be used instead of the plurality of lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Mechtronics Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur L. Torrence
  • Patent number: 4882865
    Abstract: Disclosed is a graphics display system having a plurality of discrete light sources disposed along, and forming an integral part of, an illustration which is printed upon a shirt or other substrate. A battery-powered pre-programmed timing control circuit selectively illuminates the light sources disclosed as light-emitting diodes extending through openings in the shirt, to produce animation of the illustration and in particular motion of an item from one location on the illustration to a spaced location thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: Frits J. Andeweg
  • Patent number: 4747223
    Abstract: A partially transparent mirrored screen extends continuously over a preselected area and contains a distribution of reflective material which varies in optical density to define regions of differing optical transmittance to light. A plurality of regions are selectively backlighted to reveal two-dimensional or three-dimensional images embodied within media behind the screen. The densities of the regions are chosen so that the images are displayed clearly when the regions are backlighted and disappear in the absence of backlighting, leaving the screen uniformly reflective of environmental light in an "off" condition. In a preferred embodiment, the reflective material includes a front layer of uniform optical density over the preselected area and a rear layer of nonuniform optical density. The front layer corresponds to the density required for a first object or image-bearing sheet located behind one region of the mirror and the rear layer provides a different density for a sheet located behind another region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Inventor: Cesar Borda
  • Patent number: 4718185
    Abstract: A modular solar generating system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of self-contained solar modules which are interconnectedly disposed in an array about the perimeter of a rigid framework housing a sign, light, or other load means necessitating electrical power during the night time hours. The modules themselves consist of a photovoltaic plate sandwiched between two suitable cover plates, including in this arrangement one or more continuous conductors. The modules are linked together by way of male and female plug connectors whereby the array may then be electrically connected to a battery. When the modular system is arranged in this fashion and exposed to incident sunlight for an appropriate period of time, power may be provided to a sign, light or other electrical apparatus for nighttime use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Solar Signage, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Conlin, Michael P. Cantrell
  • Patent number: RE35556
    Abstract: A figure placed into a first unit and watched through a transparent door is made to disappear and simultaneously to reappear in a remote second unit from which it may be removed. The first unit, also referred to as the sending unit, comprises a housing which includes a multi-chamber turntable which can contain one or more figures. A door in the first unit includes a half silvered mirror and an additional chamber so that a figure in a turntable chamber can be made to seem to dissolve and disappear. A second multi-chamber unit, also referred to as a receiving unit, substantially identical to the first, is connected to the first unit by wires. Selected chambers of the second unit are filled with figures substantially identical to the figures to be sent by the first unit. Initially, a first figure is placed into the first unit. The transparent door closes and locks and the figure seems to dissolve by the transfer of lighting to the additional chamber in the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Inventures, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Weinreich