Shadow Artwork Platform with Lighting Control Arrangement

Abstract

A shadow artwork platform includes a light platform which includes a support base and a light source having a plurality of light illuminating elements supported on the support base, and a plurality of control spacers for spacedly and replaceably arranging a plurality of light shading elements in front of the plurality of light illuminating elements which is arranged for casting light beams towards the light shading elements to create the shadow artworks with various shadow patterns by replacing the light shading elements.

Description

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a shadow artwork creating device, and more particularly to a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement that allows a user to create his or her desired shadow pattern by selectively placing a plurality of replaceable light shading elements in front of a light platform.

Description of Related Arts

A conventional shadow box is a box housing a lighting element which is able to cast light beams to an opaque object to create a shadow effect. The shadow box can be placed in a bedroom so as to provide a tender and mellow lighting to aid a user to sleep, or can be a tool teaching a child about lighting and shading.

However, since the lighting element and a shadow creating element which comprises the opaque object is secured and housed in the conventional shadow box, the shadow pattern is actually determined when the shadow creating element with the opaque object is assembled in a light path of the lighting element within the box, and a user can only buy a shadow box with a fixed shadow pattern. In other words, the user is not able to change the shadow pattern, so that it is disadvantageous for the conventional box because it is not able to provide various and diversified shadow visual views for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement that allows a user to create various shadow patterns on the shadow artwork platform.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement, wherein a plurality of replaceable light shading elements can be placed in front of a light platform so as to allow the user to create his or her desired shadow artwork.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement, wherein the light shading elements allow the user to configure desired opaque patterns so as to create the desired shadow pattern.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement, wherein multiple light shading elements can be overlappedly aligned in front of the light platform, so as to create illusion of depth for the shadow artwork.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement, wherein a plurality of spacers are introduced so as to spacedly apart adjacent light shading elements, so as to spacedly arrange the multiple light shading elements for creating illusion of depth.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement, wherein each of the light shading elements is firmly sandwiched between two control spacers so as to prevent light beams to leak out from the lighting control arrangement.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement, wherein the spacers are detachably mounted to each other so as to allow the light shading elements sandwiched between two spacers to be selectively replaced by the user.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement, wherein when the light source is not turned on, the shadow artwork with the multiple light shading element can be used as a decorative item, and the light shading elements are replaceable, so as to provide multiple decorative patterns.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointing out in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a shadow artwork platform for creating shadow artworks with a plurality of light shading elements, comprising:

• • a light platform which comprises a support base and a light source comprising a plurality of light illuminating elements supported on the support base; and
  • a plurality of control spacers for spacedly and replaceably arranging the plurality of light shading elements in front of the plurality of light illuminating elements which is arranged for casting light beams towards the plurality of light shading elements, thereby allowing the shadow artworks to be created with varied shadow patterns.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a method of creating a shadow artwork on a shadow artwork platform with a plurality of light shading elements, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• • (a) Retain the plurality of light shading elements in front of a plurality of light illuminating elements by a plurality of control spacers supported on a support base.
  • (b) Cast light beams on the plurality of light shading elements by the plurality of light illuminating elements to create the shadow artwork.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shadow artwork created by a shadow artwork platform according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a plurality of light shading elements for being assembled on the shadow artwork platform according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3F are schematic views respectively illustrating each of the plurality of light shading elements for being assembled on the shadow artwork platform according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a light platform of the shadow artwork platform according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are respectively perspective views of a spacer of the shadow artwork platform according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A to FIG. 6L are perspective views illustrating the assembling of the plurality of light shading elements on the shadow artwork platform according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are perspective views illustrating the replacement of the light shading elements on the shadow artwork platform according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a light platform of a shadow artwork platform according to a first alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the light platform of the shadow artwork platform according to the first alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a shadow artwork platform according to a second alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a light platform of the shadow artwork platform according to the second alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are respectively perspective views of a spacer of the shadow artwork platform according to the second alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the shadow artwork prepared by the shadow artwork platform according to the second alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are respectively perspective views of a spacer of the shadow artwork platform according to a third alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a shadow artwork platform according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the shadow artwork platform according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating the assembling of the light shading elements on the shadow artwork platform according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an exploded view illustrating a shadow artwork platform according to a first alternative mode of the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a spacer integrated with a transparent plate of the shadow artwork platform according to a second alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a spacer of a shadow artwork platform according to a third alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a shadow artwork platform according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view illustrating the assembling of the light shading element on the shadow artwork platform according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a shadow artwork created by the shadow artwork platform according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view illustrating a light platform of a shadow artwork platform according to an alternative mode of the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view illustrating the assembling of a spacer attached with a light shading element into the light platform of the shadow artwork platform according to the alternative mode of the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7B of the drawings of the present invention, a shadow artwork platform with lighting control arrangement for creating a shadow artwork 100 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The shadow artwork platform comprises a light platform 10 and a plurality of control spacers 20 for detachably and spacedly aligning a plurality of replaceable light shading elements 30 for creating the shadow artwork 100. Since the light shading elements 30 can be replaced, a plurality of the shadow artworks 100 can be formed so that the user is able to create his or her desired shadow artwork 100 with a desired shadow pattern.

Accordingly, the arrangement of the control spacers 20 with the replaceable light shading elements 30 is able to allow the user to create his or her desired shadow pattern by selectively assembling desired light shading elements 30 by the control spacers 20 on the light platform 10, so as to adjust and control the lighting and shadow pattern of the shadow artwork 100, so that the present invention provides a lighting control arrangement which is able to create various shadow patterns for the shadow artwork 100.

According to this preferred embodiment, the light platform 10 comprises a light source 11 and a support base 12 for supporting the light source 11. The light source 11 comprises a plurality of light illumination elements 111, a circuit board 112 electrically connected to the plurality of light illumination elements 111, an electrical connecting interface 113, an electrical cable 114 which is adapted for electrically connecting to the electrical connecting interface 113 such a USB interface for electrically connecting a power supply to the circuit board 112 so as to supply electrical power to the circuit board 112 for turning on the plurality of light illumination elements 111.

The plurality of light illumination elements 111 can be arranged in an array and is assembled on the support base 12. According to this preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the plurality of light illumination elements 111 is arranged in a ring for providing a ring-shaped light illumination. Accordingly, the support base 12 comprises a base wall 121 having a peripheral edge portion 1211, and an enclosing side wall 122 integrally extended from the peripheral edge portion 1211 of the base wall 121 to define a cavity 123 having an opening 124 for receiving the plurality of light illumination elements 111. The plurality of light illumination elements 111 is arranged along the peripheral edge portion 1211 of the base wall 121 to form a ring-shaped illumination unit. As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the plurality of light illumination elements 111 of this preferred embodiment form four illumination sections to provide a rectangular ring-shaped illumination unit.

The circuit board 112 can be a rigid printed circuit board, Or it is preferred that the circuit board 112 is embodied as a flexible circuit board that can be easy to bend, so that the circuit board 112 can be bent at corners of the support base 12 in the cavity 123 for guiding the light illumination elements 111 to extend along the peripheral edge portion 1211 of the base wall 121, and also the light illumination elements 111 are ensured to be provided to face towards the opening 124 after bending the circuit board.

The circuit board 112 is attached to the base wall 121 by any suitable mounting manner such as by fixing screws. In this preferred embodiment, the circuit board 112 of the light source 11 is attached to the base wall 121 by a bonding glue.

It is appreciated that the person of ordinary skilled in the art should understand that the positions of the plurality of light illumination elements 111 are aligned with edge portions of the a plurality of light shading elements 30, so that most of the light beams emitted from the plurality of light illumination elements 111 are projected to the a plurality of light shading elements 30.

According to this preferred embodiment, the shadow artwork platform comprises the plurality of the control spacers 20 for detachably mounting the plurality of the light shading elements 30 in front of the plurality of light illumination elements 111, so as to create an illusion of depth for the shadow artwork 100.

Each of the plurality of light shading elements 30 of this preferred embodiment may comprise an opaque artwork area 31. The opaque artwork area 31 can be made of any suitable opaque material such as paper, plastic, or painting material. As an example, each of the plurality of light shading elements 30 can be made by papercuts from a paper to define the opaque artwork area 31 having a plurality of penetrating openings 32. The light beams from the light source 11 cast on the opaque artwork areas 31 to form shadows while the light beams projecting towards the penetrating openings 32 are allowed to pass therethrough to provide illumination to an outer side of the shadow artwork 100.

Accordingly, a plurality of artwork papers can be provided to a user, and the user is able to prepare his or her desired pattern of each light shading element 31 by configuring a shape of the opaque artwork area 31 as well as to obtain a desired shadow artwork pattern by the combination of the plurality of light shading elements 30 which is made by the user and is overlappedly and spacedly arranged in front of the plurality of light illumination elements 111 for creating the desired shadow artwork pattern when the plurality of light illumination elements 111 is turned on to cast light on the opaque artwork areas 32 of the plurality of light shading elements 30.

Alternatively, the plurality of light shading elements 30 also can be prepared by the shadow artwork platform. In other words, the user also may not need to make his or her desired pattern of each light shading element 31 by paper-cuts, each of the plurality of light shading elements 30 has a predetermined pattern, and the plurality of light shading elements 30 is arranged to provide various artwork patterns for the user to select therefrom and arrange his or her desired combination from a selected group of light shading elements 30.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3A, one or more light shading elements 301 of the light shading elements 30 may comprise a transparent sheet 33 which is made of transparent glass or plastic, and an opaque artwork area 31 which is formed by painting a painting material on a partial area of the transparent sheet by the user or by the provider of the shadow artwork platform. Accordingly, the shadow artwork platform may provide a plurality of transparent sheets 33 for the user to paint his or her desired painting patterns on the plurality of transparent sheets for creating his or her desired shadow pattern when the light source 11 is in operation to project light beams to the painted opaque artwork areas 31 of the plurality of light shading elements 30 to provide the shadow artwork performance.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 3F and 6A to 6L of the drawings of this preferred embodiment of the present invention, six light shading elements 30 are shown in the drawings, each of the six light shading elements 30 has a different opaque artwork area 31 which contains artwork features such as human characters or scenery layouts. The six light shading elements 30 can be overlapped on the light platform 10 for providing a shadow artwork pattern. A bottom light shading element 301 is embodied to comprise a transparent sheet 33 having an opaque artwork areas 31 which is a painted pattern, the other light shading elements 302, 303, 304, 305, and 306 are made of papers with the opaque artwork areas 31 and the penetrating openings 32.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B of the drawings of this preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of control spacers 20 comprises a spacer frame 21 having a frame opening 22, and a couple arrangement 23 for detachably connecting to the adjacent spacer frame 21 or the light platform 10. As shown in the drawings, each coupling arrangement 23 comprises one or more first coupling elements 231 at a first side of the spacer frame 21 and one or more second coupling elements 232 at an opposite second side of the spacer frame 21. Accordingly, the adjacent control spacers can be detachably connected with each other via the detachable connection between one or more first coupling elements 231 of one control spacer 20 and the corresponding one or more second coupling elements 232 of the other control spacer 20. In other words, a control spacer 20 can be detachably connected to an adjacent control spacer 20 by detachably coupling the first coupling elements 231 of the control spacer 20 with the second coupling elements 232 of the adjacent control spacer 20.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B of the drawings, an illustrated control spacer 20 of this preferred embodiment in the drawings comprises four first coupling elements 231 at four corners at a top side of the spacer frame 21 and four second coupling elements 232 at four corners at a bottom side of the spacer frame 21. Accordingly, the illustrated control spacer 20 can be connected to an adjacent control spacer 20 at a top side thereof by the connection between the four first coupling elements 231 of the illustrated control spacer 20 and four second coupling elements 232 of the adjacent control spacer 20 at the top side, and also can be connected to an adjacent control spacer 20 at a bottom side thereof by the connection between the four second coupling elements 232 of the illustrated control spacer 20 and four first coupling elements 232 of the adjacent control spacer 20 at the bottom side.

The person of ordinary skilled in the art should understand that a bottom control spacer 20 of the plurality of control spacers 20 is connected to the light platform 20, while a top control spacer 20 of the plurality of control spacers 20 may not need to form both of the first and second coupling elements 231 and 232. The top control spacer 20 can be formed only with the one or more second coupling elements 232 at the bottom side of the corresponding spacer frame 21.

The connecting manner of the first coupling elements 231 and the corresponding second coupling elements 232 can be achieved by any suitable coupling manner. As an example, each of the first coupling elements 231 can be a connecting pin while the corresponding second coupling element 232 is a hole. According to this preferred embodiment, each of the first coupling elements 231 can be magnetically coupled with the corresponding second coupling element 232. The corresponding first and second coupling elements 231 and 232 are magnetically coupling elements having different magnetic poles. Each of the spacer frame 21 may be formed by a plastic material while each of the first and second coupling elements 231 and 232 can be integrally embedded into the spacer frame 21 through an integral embedding process.

Alternatively, each of the first and second coupling elements 231 and 232 can be adhered to the spacer frame 21 via a glue. Preferably, each of the spacer frame 21 may have a groove for receiving each of the first and second coupling elements 231 and 232 so that an exposed surface of each of the first and second coupling elements 231 and 232 is in a same plane with a surface of the spacer frame 21, so that when two adjacent spacer frames 21 are stacked with each other, there is no gap is formed between two adjacent spacer frames 21 for preventing light beams from the light source 11 to leak out.

According to this preferred embodiment, four magnets 230, which are respectively embedded into the four corners of the corresponding spacer frame 21, can be employed to form four first coupling elements 231 and four second coupling elements 232. Each of the four magnets 230 have different magnetic poles at two opposite sides thereof. Accordingly, a first end portion of each of the magnets 230 functions as a first coupling element 231 while an opposite second end portion of each of the magnets 230 functions as a second coupling element 232.

The plurality of spacer frames 21 is preferred to be shaped and sized to overlap with each other to form a spacer stack on the light platform 10 for spacing the plurality of light shading elements 30. A light shading element 30 can be placed between two spacer frames 21 and the light shading element 30 is arranged at a position that it will not cover the coupling elements 231 and 232, so that the function of the coupling elements 231 and 232 will not be influenced.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the support base 12 of the light platform 10 further comprises one or more connecting members 125 at a support surface 1221 for detachably coupling with the second coupling elements 232 of a bottom control spacer 20 via a suitable coupling manner. Similarly, each connecting member 125 may be embodied as a magnetically attracting member to be magnetically coupled with the second coupling elements 232 of the bottom control spacer 20 for detachably coupling the light platform 10 with the plurality of control spacers 20.

Referring to FIGS. 6A to 6L of the drawings of this preferred embodiment, a process for assembling six light shading elements 30 on the light platform 10 by the six control spacers 20 to form the shadow artwork 100 is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, a first light shading element 301 is placed in front of the light platform 10 at a position that it is supported on the enclosing side wall 122 at the opening 124 of the light platform 10. As shown in FIG. 6B, a first control spacer 201 which is the bottom spacer is stacked on the first light shading element 301 and is magnetically connected to the one or more connecting members 125 of the support base 12 of the light platform 10. As shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, a second light shading element 302 can be placed on the first control spacer 201, and then a second control spacer 202 can be overlapped on and connected with the first control spacer 201 to sandwich the second light shading element 302 between the first and second control spacers 201 and 202. As shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F, a third light shading element 303 can be placed on the second control spacer 202, and then a third control spacer 203 can be overlapped on and connected with the second control spacer 202 to sandwich the third light shading element 303 between the second and third control spacers 202 and 203. As shown in FIGS. 6G and 6H, a fourth light shading element 304 can be placed on the third control spacer 203, and then a fourth control spacer 204 can be overlapped on and connected with the third control spacer 203 to sandwich the fourth light shading element 304 between the third and fourth control spacers 203 and 204. As shown in FIGS. 61 and 6J, a fifth light shading element 305 can be placed on the fourth control spacer 204, and then a fifth control spacer 205 can be overlapped on and connected with the fourth control spacer 204 to sandwich the fifth light shading element 305 between the fourth and fifth control spacers 204 and 205. As shown in FIGS. 6K and 6L, a sixth light shading element 306 can be placed on the fifth control spacer 205, and then a sixth control spacer 206 can be overlapped on and connected with the fifth control spacer 205 to sandwich the sixth light shading element 306 between the fifth and sixth control spacers 205 and 206. When the plurality of light illumination elements is powered on to project light beams to the overlappedly and spacedly arranged light shading elements 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 and 306, a shadow pattern with an illusion of depth is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B of the drawings, since all of the control spacers 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 and 206 are detachably mounted with each other, the light shading elements 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 and 306 are easy for being replaced with new light shading elements. As shown in the drawings, the third light shading element 303 can be replaced by a new light shading element 307 to create a new shadow pattern. In other words, the user is able to select or make a group of light shading elements 30 to create the shadow artwork 100 with a desired shadow pattern. In other words, by replacing the light shading elements 30, the lighting control and shadow configuring performance are achieved in the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to a first alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The shadow artwork platform of this embodiment comprises a light platform 10A and a plurality of control spacers 20A. In this embodiment, one of the plurality of control spacers 20A is embodied as a fixed control spacer 207A which is fixed to the light platform 10A which comprises a light source 11A and a support base 12A. In other words, the support base 12A of the light platform 10A of this embodiment can be easy to be manufactured by a mold without embedding the magnetically coupling members, and the fixed control spacer 207A is fixed to the light platform 20A by one or more fixing members 126A each may comprise a fixing screw and a fixing nut, or may be embodied as a fixing glue. Accordingly, the rest of the control spacers 20A are detachable spacers and can then be stacked on the fixed control spacer 207A one by one and are detachable for easy to replace the light shading elements 30.

In other words, the support base 12A can be embodied to have a simple structure and is not required to be installed with the one or more connecting members 125A. The plurality of control spacers 20A can be configured to have a same or similar structure so that they are easy for mass production.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 13 of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to a second alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. More specifically, the shadow artwork platform comprises a light platform 10B and a plurality of control spacers 20B. The light platform 10B comprises a light source 11B and a support base 12B which comprises a base wall 121B. Accordingly, the support base 12B of this embodiment is embodied as a base board without the above encircling side wall 122.

The support base 12B further comprises one or more connecting members 125B provided on the base wall 121B for coupling with a bottom control spacer 201B of the plurality of control spacers 20B. Preferably, each of the connecting members 125B is integrally embedded in the base wall 12B for coupling with a bottom control spacer 201B.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B of the drawings, the bottom control spacer 201B is embodied as an enclosing spacer which comprises a spacer frame 21B having a frame opening 22B. The spacer frame 21B comprises a leg support 211B and a frame support 212B transversely and integrally extended from the leg support 211B. The spacer frame 21B of the enclosing spacer is adapted for being placed on the base wall 121B to define a cavity 123B having the opening 124B. Accordingly, a plurality of light illumination elements 111B of the light sources 11B of the light platform 10B is mounted on the base wall 121B and can be housed in the cavity 123B when the enclosing spacer is mounted on the base wall 121B.

The enclosing spacer comprises a coupling arrangement 23B which comprises one or more first coupling elements 231B at a top side of the frame support 212B for detachably coupling with other control spacers 20B and one or more second coupling elements 232B at a bottom side of the leg support 211B for detachably coupling with the corresponding one or more connecting members 125B of the light platform 10B.

As mentioned above, the connecting members 125B and the first and second coupling elements 231B and 232B can be any suitable detachable connecting components while they may be embodied as magnetically coupling elements in this embodiment.

A top surface 1251B of each of the connecting members 125B can be coplanar with a top surface 1212B of the base wall 121B. A bottom surface 2321B of each of the second coupling elements 232B can be coplanar with a bottom surface 2111B of the leg support 211B, so that when each of the connecting members 125B is coupled with the corresponding second coupling element 232B, the bottom surface 2321B of each of the second coupling elements 232B is attached to the top surface 1251B of the corresponding connecting member 125B while the bottom surface 2111B of the leg support 211B is attached to the top surface 1212B of the base wall 121B, so as to avoid a gap to be formed between the leg support 211B and the base wall 121B to prevent light beams from leaking out.

Alternatively, the top surface 1251B of each of the connecting members 125B can be indented from the top surface 1212B of the base wall 121B. The bottom surface 2321B of each of the second coupling elements 232B can be protruded from the bottom surface 2111B of the leg support 211B, so that when each of the connecting members 125B is coupled with the corresponding second coupling element 232B, the bottom surface 2321B of each of the second coupling elements 232B is disposed into the recess in the top surface 1251B of the corresponding connecting member 125B while the bottom surface 2111B of the leg support 211B is attached to the top surface 1212B of the base wall 121B. Alternatively, the top surface 1251B of each of the connecting members 125B can be protruded from the top surface 1212B of the base wall 121B. The bottom surface 2321B of each of the second coupling elements 232B can be indented from the bottom surface 2111B of the leg support 211B.

In addition, the shadow artwork platform can comprise a plurality of light platforms 10B, each of the plurality of light platforms 10B is constructed to have a different configuration of the plurality of light illumination elements 111B. More specifically, each group of the plurality of light illumination elements 111B can be arranged to have a different shape or each group of the plurality of light illumination elements 111B may emit different colors of illumination. As an example, the light platforms 10B can be respectively provided with red, blue, yellow, or white LED light illumination elements. The enclosing spacer can be detached from one light platform 10B and assembled on another light platform 10B which is able to provide a different illumination performance.

The rest of the plurality of control spacers 20B can be configured to have a same configuration of the bottom control spacer 201B which is the enclosing spacer comprising the leg support 211B and the frame support 212B. Alternatively, the rest of the plurality of control spacers 20B also can be configured to have a same structure of the above control spacers 20 of the first preferred embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to a third alternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. More specifically, the shadow artwork platform comprises a plurality of control spacers 20C. Each of the control spacers 20C comprises a spacer frame 21C having a frame opening 22C and a coupling arrangement 23C.

In this embodiment, the coupling arrangement 23C comprises a first coupling element 231C at a top side of the spacer frame 21C and a second coupling element 232 at a bottom side of the spacer frame 21C. Each of the first and second coupling element 231C and 232C can be an adhering element which can be a bonding glue or a double-sided adhesive which is attached on the spacer frame 21C.

Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17 of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. More specifically, the shadow artwork platform comprises a light platform 10D and a plurality of control spacers 20D. The light platform 10D comprises a light source 11D and a support base 12D which comprises a base wall 121D and an encircling side wall 122D integrally extended from a periphery of the base wall 121D to define a cavity 123D having an opening 124D.

According to this preferred embodiment, the light platform 10D further comprises one or more connecting members 125D extended from the base wall 121D of the support base 12D for coupling with the plurality of control spacers 20D. Each of the control spacers 20D comprises a spacer frame 21D having a frame opening 22D and one or more coupling holes 24D. Accordingly, each of the connecting members 125D is embodied to comprise a connecting pin 1252D which is adapted for penetrating the coupling holes 24D for detachably mounting the plurality of control spacers 20D on the light platform 10D.

As shown in FIG. 16 of the drawings, seven control spacers 20D can assemble six light shading elements 30 above the light platform 10D and each of the seven control spacers 20D is stacked above the light platform 10B by allowing the four connecting pins 1252D to penetrate through the coupling hole 24D.

Each of the connecting members 125D further comprises a coupling thread 1253D and a screw nut 1254D which is adapted for engaging with the coupling thread 1253D. Accordingly, when all of the spacer frames 20D are overlappedly arranged above the light platform 10D, the user can fasten the screw nut 1254D on the corresponding connecting pin 1252D and engage with the coupling thread 1253D so as to apply a pressing force to the plurality of spacer frames 21D, so as to urge a spacer frame 21D at a top side to firmly bias against a spacer frame 21D at a bottom side, so as to prevent any gap formed between adjacent spacer frames 21D.

In this preferred embodiment, old light shading elements 30 can be taken out from the shadow artwork platform and be replaced with new light shading elements 30. In addition, according to this preferred embodiment, the plurality of spacers frames 21D can slid along the connecting pins 1252D, and there is no need to detach the spacers frames 21D from the light platform 10D when replacing the light shading elements 30. More specifically, by loosening the screw nut 1254D, one or more of the spacers frames 21D can slid along the connecting pins 1252D to be spaced apart from each other, and then an old light shading elements 30 between two adjacent spacers frames 21D can be taken out and replaced by a new one which is placed between the two adjacent spacer frames 21D. And then by fastening the screw nut 1254D again, the plurality of spacers frames 21D are firmly overlapped and stacked with each other again.

Referring to FIG. 18 of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to a second alternative mode of the above second preferred embodiment is illustrated, the shadow artwork platform of this embodiment comprises the light platform 10D, the plurality of control spacers 20D and a detachable cover casing 40D for covering the plurality of control spacers 20D and the light platform 10D.

More specifically, the cover casing 40D may comprise a transparent wall 41D adapted for aligning with the light shading elements 30, a side wall 42D for covering the control spacers 20D and the light platform 10D, so that the control spacers 20D are not exposed, but are hidden and received within the cover casing 40D when creating the shadow artwork 100D.

Referring to FIG. 19 of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to a second alternative mode of the above second preferred embodiment is illustrated, the shadow artwork platform of this embodiment comprises a plurality of control spacers 20E each comprises a spacer frame 21E having one or more coupling holes 24E, and a transparent plate 25E which is made of transparent glass or plastic and is fixed to the spacer frame 21E. An opaque artwork area 31 can be formed on the transparent plate 25E by painting to form a light shading element 30 by the transparent plate 25E and the opaque artwork area 31. In other words, the user can draw his desired paining on the transparent plate 25E to form the light shading element 30.

Referring to FIG. 20 of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to a third alternative mode of the above second preferred embodiment is illustrated, the shadow artwork platform of this embodiment comprises a plurality of control spacers 20F each comprising a transparent plate 25F having one or more coupling holes 24F. An opaque artwork area 31 can be formed on the transparent plate 25F by adhering a light shading member 34 on the transparent plate 25F to form a light shading element 30 by the transparent plate 25F and the light shading member 34. In other words, the user can prepare a plurality of the light shading members 34 by papercuts and then adhere the plurality of the light shading members 34 on the transparent plate 25F to create the light shading elements 30.

Accordingly, it is appreciated that the person of ordinary skilled in the art is able to understand that the light shading elements 30E and 30F of the above alternative modes of the above second preferred embodiments can be integrally formed with the control spacers 20E and 20F.

Referring to FIGS. 21 to 23 of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to a third preferred embodiment is illustrated. More specifically, the shadow artwork platform comprises a light platform 10G and a plurality of control spacers 20G for creating a shadow artwork 100G with a plurality of light shading elements 30.

The light platform 10G comprises a light source 11G and a support base 12G which comprises a base wall 121G and an enclosing side wall 122G integrally extended from the base wall 121G to define a cavity 123G with an opening 124G and a plurality of inserting slots 126G. The opening 124G can be exposed or is covered by a transparent cover. The plurality of control spacers 20G is spacedly formed at an inner side of the enclosing side wall 122G and is extended into the cavity 123G. Each of the control spacers 20G is integrally formed with the enclosing side wall 122G and comprises a space frame 21G and a groove 26G is formed between two adjacent spacer frames 21G for receiving and retaining one of the light shading elements 30.

As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 of the drawings, the plurality of light shading elements 30 can be respectively inserted through the inserting slots 126G and placed in the grooves 26G between the spacer frames 21G so that the plurality of light shading elements 30 are overlappedly arranged in the cavity 123G of the shadow artwork platform. Accordingly, the plurality of light shading elements 30 can be easily replaced by drawing out one or more of the light shading elements 30 and inserting new light shading elements into the shadow artwork platform through the inserting slots 126G.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25 of the drawings, a shadow artwork platform according to an alternative mode of the above third preferred embodiment is illustrated. More specifically, the shadow artwork platform comprises a light platform 10H and a plurality of control spacers 20H for assembling a plurality of replaceable light shading elements 30 in the light platform 10H.

The light platform 10H comprises a light source 11H and a support base 12H which comprises a base wall 121H and an enclosing side wall 122H integrally extended from the base wall 121H to define a cavity 123H with an opening 124H and a plurality of inserting slots 126H. The light shading elements 30 can be respectively attached to the plurality of control spacers 20H and then the control spacers 20H with the light shading elements can be inserted into the cavity 123H through the inserting slots 126H.

Each of the control spacers 20H of this embodiment comprises a spacer frame 21H and a retention arm 27H integrally and transversely extended from the spacer frame 21H for sealing the corresponding inserting slot 126H when each of the control spacers 20H is mounted and assembled to the light platform 10H. More specifically, each of the light shading element 30 can be adhered to the spacer frame 21H of the corresponding control spacer 20H, and then the control spacer 20H is assembled to the light platform 10H through the corresponding inserting slot 126H and the retention arm 27H is seated on the enclosing side wall 122H to seal the corresponding inserting slot 126H, so that the plurality of light shading elements 30 can be hanging in the cavity 123H and is respectively overlapped with each other in front of the light source 11H.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and are subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A shadow artwork platform for creating shadow artworks with a plurality of light shading elements, comprising:

a light platform which comprises a support base and a light source comprising a plurality of light illuminating elements supported on said support base; and

a plurality of control spacers spacedly and replaceably arranging the plurality of light shading elements in front of said plurality of light illuminating elements which is arranged for casting light beams towards the plurality of light shading elements, thereby allowing the shadow artworks to be created with varied shadow patterns.

2. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of control spacers comprises a spacer frame, one or more first coupling elements at a first side of said spacer frame and one or more second coupling elements at an opposite second side of said spacer frame, wherein two adjacent control spacers are capable of being overlapped with each other and detachably coupled with each other by an detachable coupling between said one or more first coupling elements of one control spacer and the corresponding one or more second coupling elements of the other control spacer, wherein two adjacent said control spacers are adapted for retaining one of the plurality of light shading elements therebetween.

3. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 2, wherein said support base comprises a base wall for supporting said plurality of light illuminating elements and an enclosing side wall integrally extended from said base wall to define a cavity with an opening, wherein said plurality of light illumination elements is received in said cavity, wherein said support base further comprises one or more connecting members for detachably coupling with said one or more second coupling elements of one of said plurality of control spacers which is arranged to be supported on said enclosing side wall.

4. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 2, wherein said support base comprises a base wall for supporting said plurality of light illuminating elements and an enclosing side wall integrally extended from said base wall to define a cavity with an opening, wherein said plurality of light illumination elements is received in said cavity, wherein one of said plurality of control spacers is a fixed spacer which is seated on said enclosing side wall and fixed to said support base, wherein the rest of said plurality of control spacers are detachable spacers which are capable of being overlapped above said fixed spacer.

5. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 2, wherein said support base comprises a base wall for supporting said plurality of light illuminating elements and one or more connecting members arranged on said base wall, wherein one of said plurality of control spacers is an enclosing spacer which comprises a spacer frame having a frame opening, wherein said spacer frame comprises a leg support and a frame support transversely and integrally extended from said leg support, wherein said enclosing spacer further comprises said one or more second coupling elements for detachably coupling with said one or more connecting members of said support base to define a cavity for receiving said plurality of light illumination elements.

6. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 1, wherein said support base comprises a base wall for supporting said plurality of light illuminating elements and one or more connecting members arranged on said base wall, wherein each of said one or more connecting members comprises a connecting pin, wherein each of said plurality of control spacers has one or more coupling holes for coupling with said one or more connecting members, so as to place the plurality of light illumination elements in such a manner that two adjacent said control spacers are adapted for retaining one of the plurality of light shading elements therebetween.

7. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said one or more connecting members further comprises a coupling thread on said connecting pin and a screw nut for coupling with said coupling thread to urge against said plurality of control spacers when said plurality of control spacers is arranged to retain the plurality of light shading elements in front of said plurality of light illumination elements for creating the shadow artworks.

8. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 6, further comprising a detachable cover casing which comprises a transparent wall adapted for aligning with the light shading elements, and a side wall for covering said plurality of control spacers and said light platform.

9. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 1, wherein said support base comprises a base wall for supporting said plurality of light illuminating elements, an enclosing side wall integrally extended from said base wall to define a cavity for receiving said plurality of light illumination elements, and a plurality of inserting slots formed in said enclosing side wall and is communicated to said cavity, wherein said plurality of control spacers is respectively spacedly arranged on an inner side of said enclosing side wall to define a plurality of grooves for positioning the plurality of light shading elements when plurality of light shading elements is respectively inserted into said cavity through said plurality of inserting slots.

10. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 1, wherein said support base comprises a base wall for supporting said plurality of light illuminating elements, an enclosing side wall integrally extended from said base wall to define a cavity for receiving said plurality of light illumination elements, and a plurality of inserting slots formed in said enclosing side wall and is communicated to said cavity, wherein each of the plurality of light shading elements is adapted for being respectively attached on each of said plurality of control spacers, wherein each of said plurality of control spacers is adapted for being respectively inserted into said cavity trough said corresponding plurality of inserting slots.

11. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of control spacers comprises a spacer frame for carrying the corresponding light shading element and a retention arm integrally and transversely extended from said spacer frame for sealing the corresponding inserting slot.

12. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of control spacers comprises a spacer frame and a transparent plate fixed to the spacer frame to allow an opaque artwork area to be formed on said transparent plate, so as to form one of the plurality of light shading element.

13. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of control spacers comprises a transparent plate having said one or more coupling holes, wherein an opaque artwork area is allowed to be formed on the transparent plate by adhering one or more light shading members on said transparent plate to form one of the plurality of light shading elements.

14. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 2, wherein two adjacent control spacers are capable of being overlapped with each other and detachably coupled with each other by a magnetically coupling manner between said one or more first coupling elements of one control spacer and the corresponding one or more second coupling elements of the other control space.

15. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 2, further comprising one or more magnets provided at said spacer frame of each of said plurality of control spacers to define said one or more first coupling elements and said one or more second coupling elements at two opposite ends thereof.

16. The shadow artwork platform, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said one or more first coupling elements and said one or more second coupling elements is a bonding adhesive.

17. A method of creating a shadow artwork on a shadow artwork platform with a plurality of light shading elements, comprising the following steps:

(a) retaining the plurality of light shading elements in front of a plurality of light illuminating elements by a plurality of control spacers supported on a support base; and

(b) casting light beams on the plurality of light shading elements by the plurality of light illuminating elements to create the shadow artwork.

18. The method, as recited in claim 17, further comprising a step of allowing the plurality of light shading elements to be replaceably retained at the plurality of control spacers for creating a plurality of the shadow artworks with varied shadow patterns.

19. The method, as recited in claim 17, further comprising a step of retaining the plurality of light shading elements in such a manner that one light shading element is placed between two adjacent control spacers which are magnetically coupled with each other.

20. The method, as recited in claim 17, further comprising a step of sliding the plurality of control spacers along on or more connecting pins on the support base for retaining or releasing the plurality of light shading elements.

21. The method, as recited in claim 17, further comprising a step of receiving the plurality of light shading element which is respectively inserted into a cavity of the support base through a plurality of inserting slots.