Illuminated christmas ornament

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US005576078A [li] Patent Number: 5,576,078 [45] Date of Patent: Nov. 19, 1996

4,833,580 5/1989 Allen 428/11 X

5,106,660 4/1992 Vorel 428/13

5,303,490 4/1994 Yang 428/13 X

5,367,806 11/1994 Hoffman 40/544

Primary Examiner—Henry F. Epstein
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Michael I. Kroll

[57] ABSTRACT

An illuminated Christmas ornament which comprises a transparent member having an aperture in a top edge, a light fixture land a light bulb carried in the light fixture. A component is for electrically connecting the light fixture to a socket of a conventional master light string. A structure is for clamping the light fixture to the transparent member adjacent the top edge with the light bulb extending into the aperture, so that the light bulb can provide illumination to the transparent member.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

ILLUMINATED CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates generally to decorative displays and more specifically it relates to an illuminated Christmas ornament.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous decorative displays have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,740,543 to Franc; 5,106,660 to Vorel; 5,303,490 to Yang and 5,367,806 to Hoffman all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

FRANC, CHARLES

BATTERY POWERED ILLUMINATED
ORNAMENT

10

20

pendent light string AC motor may be directly connected to the light string which provides power required for the toy figures to move in a designed manner.

HOFFMAN, PETER

ILLUMINATED SIGN

U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,806

An improved illuminated sign for adhesive bonding to the inner surface of a pane of transparent material such as the glass of an automotive window comprises a backing panel, a planar electro-luminescent lamp, and an indicia-bearing member. The indicia-bearing member is smaller in planar extent than an assembly of the backing panel and the lamp. Strips of double-sided adhesive tape are applied to the border of the backing panel. The second adhesive surface of the tape is used to bond the assembly of the backing panel, the lamp and the indicia-bearing member to the inner surface of an automobile window or the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,543

A portable, illuminated ornament for illuminating a greet- 25 ing card, gift package or the like, consisting of a fiat, substantially rectangular battery having a horizontally disposed, rectangular-shaped positive terminal affixed to one side thereof. A negative battery terminal, consisting of the battery casing and a rectangular member affixed to the same 30 side of the battery as the positive terminal, is disposed parallel to the positive terminal. Either the positive or negative terminal may be provided with an aperture for receiving the base of a flame-shaped lamp. The ornament may be mounted in a greeting card which has an aperture in 35 one surface thereof behind which the flame-shaped lamp is disposed, and an elongated slot which receives a flat tab disposed between the lamp base and the battery terminal to control illumination of the lamp.

40

VOREL, MARK S.
DECORATIVE WALL PANEL.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,660 45

A decorative display panel is formed by spaced transparent panes defining a space containing preferably water. A porous tube at the bottom of the space is supplied preferably with air under pressure to generate a curtain of bubbles moving upward in the water. The assembly is illuminated by 50 edge lighting. The unit can be either free-standing, or incorporated in a partition system.

YANG, STEVE

55

DISPLAY SHOWING MOVABLE ORNAMENTS

U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,490

A display device has a housing in which sound (a music 60 IC), light (light strings), and power (light string AC motors) elements are combined. At least one master light string is used as the power source, supplying the AC motor necessary power so that the motor can drive a transmission mechanism. Ornaments connected to the transmission mechanism 65 are then movable in the display device providing an attractive and lovely scene. Separate toy figures having an inde

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated Christmas ornament that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

Another object is to provide an illuminated Christmas ornament that can be connected to a conventional master light string in a quick manner involving no complicated assembly techniques or special tools.

An additional object is to provide an illuminated Christmas ornament in which a clear block-shaped member with indicia printed thereon, will be illuminated by a light bulb in a light fixture clamped thereto, that is connected to a socket of the conventional master light string.

A further object is to provide an illuminated Christmas ornament that is simple and easy to use.

A still further object is to provide an illuminated Christmas ornament that is economical in cost to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a room, showing the instant invention installed into a conventional master light string on a Christmas tree.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view as indicated by arrow 2 in FIG. 1, of the instant invention in greater detail.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged perspective view with parts broken away and in section of a portion of the instant invention as indicated by arrow 3 in FIG. 2.