LIGHT-UP CASE

Abstract

A disc jockey case is disclosed. The device comprises an upper box and a lower box that are securely held together by means of at least one latch. At least one hinge facilitates a pivotal motion of the disc jockey case from a closed position to an open position. The lower box and the upper box securely stores at least one equipment therein and facilitates easy access to the at least one equipment. A panel of the device is incorporated with a visual display panel therein. A controller is releasably secured inside the device and is connected to the visual display panel. The visual display panel displays interactive lights such as stagnant and flashing lights in synchronization with beat/rhythm and in response to the output of the controller. The visual display panel can also be utilized as a message board for scrolling messages and advertisements.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to box cases for storing electronic equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a disc jockey case that stores electronic equipment and incorporates a visual display panel or multiple panels adapted to display interactive lights and scrolling messages in response to the output of a controller.

2. Description of the Related Art

Equipment cases that transport audio devices have long been designed to permit full operation of such devices without removing a device from its case. This is accomplished by structuring a case in two device-containing boxes, one of which is then offset from the other in an operating position to reveal the elements of the devices or equipment for access by an operator.

In the past, disc jockeys used to travel with equipment cases and separate cases containing lighting systems. The equipment cases store the audio equipment therein and permit the operator the choice between a transport mode and an operating mode. The lighting cases contain the heavy lighting devices and the cords/cables required for connecting them.

One of the most significant problems is that the disc jockeys had to spend a lot of money purchasing separate lighting devices including party lights and strobe lights. This greatly increased the load disc jockeys had to transport to gigs, depending on the amount of lights needed, because the lights had to be carried in their own individual cases. Moreover, the equipment and the cords/cables stored within the case are difficult to access by the operator.

Many attempts have been made to alleviate the above problem such as utilizing larger cases which can accommodate both the audio equipments and the lighting devices. However, these bulky equipment cases are heavy for the disc jockey to transport and have the disadvantage of not providing a means to display scrolling messages. Further, these lighting devices are relatively expensive to purchase.

Hence, it can be seen, that there is a need for a disc jockey case that stores electronic equipment and incorporates a visual display panel or multiple panels adapted to display interactive lights and scrolling messages in response to the output of a controller. Such a needed device would include an upper box and a lower box containing a concave space for storing equipment and lighting devices thereby eliminating the need to carry separate cases. This needed device would facilitate easy access to the stored equipment and the cords/cables through a small opening on the lower box. Moreover, this needed device would eliminate the necessity to purchase separate lighting devices thereby rendering it less expensive and would be compact and light-weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations found in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon the reading of the specifications, the present invention provides a disc jockey case that comprises a lower box and an upper box hingedly connected to the lower box. The lower box includes an open top, a removable left side panel, a right side panel, a front panel, a rear panel and a bottom surface. The upper box includes an open bottom, a left side surface, a right side surface, a front surface, a rear surface and a top surface. One or more panels of the lower box is incorporated with a visual display panel therein. The upper box is connected to the lower box by means of at least one hinge that facilitates a pivotal motion of the disc jockey case from a closed position to an open position. The disc jockey case further includes a controller and at least one latch. The at least one latch includes a first end and a second end that releasably engages with each other to securely hold the disc jockey case in the closed position. The controller is releasably secured to the bottom surface of the lower box and is connected to the visual display panel or panels by means of a cord. The lower box and the upper box stores at least one equipment and the visual display panel displays interactive lights and/or scrolling messages thereon in response to the output of the controller. The visual display panels can also be utilized as a message board for scrolling messages and advertisements.

One objective of the invention is to provide a disc jockey case incorporating a visual display panels adapted to display interactive lights and scrolling messages in response to the output of a controller.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a disc jockey case that securely stores at least one equipment therein.

A third objective of the invention is to provide a compact disc jockey case that can be easily carried and transported in a closed position.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a disc jockey case that eliminates the need for purchasing separate lighting.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a disc jockey case that greatly reduces the amount of items/cases a disc jockey has to carry because the lighting would be a part of the main cases.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention, thus the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the present invention in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the present invention in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the present invention in the closed position;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the present invention in the closed position;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the present invention in an open position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lower box in the open position, illustrating a controller releasably secured to a bottom surface thereof and connected to a visual display panel;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the lower box in the open position, illustrating an opening of a removable left side panel thereof;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the controller in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a controller board shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is another embodiment of the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a disc jockey case 10 in a closed position. The disc jockey case 10 comprises a lower box 11 and an upper box 12 hingedly connected to the lower box 11. The lower box 11 includes an open top (not shown), a removable left side panel (not shown), a right side panel (not shown), a front panel 13, a rear panel (not shown) and a bottom surface (not shown). The upper box 12 includes an open bottom (not shown), a left side surface (not shown), a right side surface (not shown), a front surface 14, a rear surface (not shown) and a top surface 15. The right side panel of the lower box (not shown) is incorporated with an LED visual display panel (not shown) therein. The disc jockey case 10 further includes a controller (not shown) and at least one latch 16. The lower box 11 and the upper box 12 stores at least one equipment (not shown) and the LED visual display panel (not shown) displays interactive lights and/or scrolling messages thereon in response to the output of the controller (not shown).

The at least one latch 16 includes a first end 17 fastened to the front surface of the upper box 14 and a second end 18 fastened to the front panel of the lower box 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The first end 17 releasably engages with the second end 18 to securely lock the upper box to the lower box. The at least one latch 16 firmly holds the disc jockey case 10 in the closed position while being transported from place to place and can be disengaged easily to open the disc jockey case 10 during operation. As shown in FIG. 3, the LED visual display panel 19 is located in the right side panel of the lower box 20 and is connected to the controller (not shown) placed inside the lower box 11. The LED visual display panel 19 operates in response to the output of the controller (not shown) to display interactive lights thereon. The LED visual display panel 19 can also be utilized as a message board for scrolling messages and advertisements.

In an alternate embodiment, the visual display panel 19 can be another element such as a simple panel containing lights, LCD, plasma, or touch screen technology, similar to those used in mobile devices. Additionally, the visual display panel 19 can also be located on any one or more of the sides of the disc jockey case.

FIG. 4 shows a left side view of the present invention in the closed position. The removable left side panel 21 is removably attached to the lower box 11 and provides ease of access to the at least one equipment (not shown) held inside the lower box 11. The at least one equipment (not shown) may be audio/video electronic devices. The cords/cables of the at least one equipment (not shown) can easily be channeled through the removable left side panel 21. The rear panel of the lower box 22 is attached with a carrying handle 23, as shown in FIG. 5, for conveniently holding the disc jockey case 10 during transportation. The upper box 12 is hingedly connected to the lower box 11 by means of at least one hinge 24. The at least one hinge 24 provides pivotal motion of the upper box 12 and the lower box 11 from the closed position to an open position. The upper box 12 can be fully opened to a horizontal position with respect to the lower box 11.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the present invention in the open position. The lower box 11 and the upper box 12 further includes a plurality of sponge inserts 25 to protect the at least one equipment (not shown) from damage while being transported therein. The plurality of sponge inserts 25 secures the at least one equipment (not shown) in place, within the lower box 11 and the upper box 12. The controller 26 is releasably secured to the bottom surface of the lower box 27 and is connected to the LED visual display panel 19 by means of a cord 28 as shown in FIG. 7. The output of the controller 26 is passed to the LED visual display panel 19 through the cord 28. Thus, the controller 26 controls the operation of the lights displayed in the LED visual display panel 19. Messages or advertisements can also be passed through to display in the LED visual display panel 19 using the controller 26.

In an alternate embodiment, the controller 26 can be affixed to any location on the box. In addition, the controller 26 can be any device for wireless and remote operation such as a remote control as used with televisions, or even remote access applications for mobile devices, with a wireless signal receiver affixed to any location on the box.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the lower box 11 in the open position. The removable left side panel 21 can be easily detached from the lower box 11 to provide an opening 29 through which the at least one equipment (not shown) and the cords/cables of the at least one equipment (not shown) can be easily accessed. The opening 29 is formed by partially raising upwards the removable left side panel 21 from the lower box 11. FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the controller 26 in accordance with the present invention. The controller 26 includes a plurality of mounting brackets 30 and a controller board 31. The controller board 31 is fixed to and enclosed by the plurality of mounting brackets 30. Each of the plurality of mounting brackets 30 are attached together by means of at least one attachment means (not shown).

The controller board 31 includes a power supply connector 32, a control switch 33, an on-off switch 34, a controller chip 35 and at least one connector 36 for connecting to light bars as shown in FIG. 10. The control switch 33 controls the parameters and flashing of the lights. The controller 26 provides options to adjust the sound sensitivity, speed and time of flashing and the color of the lights flashed. The lights can be stagnant and/or flashing in synchronization with the beat/rhythm of the music. The disc jockey case 10 of the present invention eliminates the need for purchasing separate lighting and greatly reduces the amount of items/cases a disc jockey (not shown) has to carry as the lighting would be a part of the main cases.

Another embodiment 40 of the invention, shown in FIG. 11, may comprise a disc jockey case 41 including a video display. The video display can be incorporated by replacing the visual display panel 19 or the side, top and/or bottom surfaces with a video monitor 42.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A disc jockey case comprising:

a lower box having an open top, a left side panel, a right side panel, a front panel, a rear panel and a bottom surface, one or more of said panels capable of being removed, and one or more of said panels incorporating a visual display panel therein;

an upper box hingedly connected to the lower box having an open bottom, a left side surface, a right side surface, a front surface, a rear surface and a top surface;

a controller releasably secured to at least one surface or panel of the upper box or lower box and connected to a visual display panel; and

at least one latch having a first end fastened to the front surface of the upper box and a second end fastened to the front panel of the lower box, the first end releasably engages with the second end to securely hold the disc jockey case in a closed position;

whereby the lower box and the upper box stores at least one equipment and a visual display panel displays interactive lights and/or scrolling messages thereon in response to the output of the controller.

2. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein the upper box is hingedly connected to the lower box by means of at least one hinge.

3. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein the lower box and the upper box includes a plurality of sponge inserts to protect the at least one equipment from damage while being transported therein.

4. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein at least one panel is removable providing an opening for ease of access to the at least one equipment held inside the lower box.

5. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein the lower box further includes a carrying handle secured to the rear panel thereof for conveniently holding the disc jockey case.

6. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein the controller is connected to at least one visual display panel by means of a cord.

7. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a plurality of mounting brackets and a controller board having a power supply connector, a control switch, an on-off switch, a controller chip and at least one connector for connecting to light bars.

8. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein the controller provides options for displaying stagnant light and flashing lights in synchronization with beat/rhythm.

9. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein the controller may be a wireless receiver connected to at least one visual display panel.

10. The disc jockey case of claim 9 wherein the wireless receiver is remotely operated by a wireless device.

11. The disc jockey case of claim 1 wherein the at least one equipment may be audio/video electronic devices.