Patent Application
20050078473
The invention relates to an entertainment or promotional device relating to black light. In particular, a portable, self-contained, black light device that is incorporated into or adaptable to a head gear to be used in combination with fluorescent or phosphorescent material for entertaining effect or promotional purposes.
Ultraviolet (UV) lights encompass lights having wavelengths of 4 to 400 nanometers. The longer wavelengths of the ultraviolet light spectrum are called black light, which have wavelengths slightly shorter than those that are normally visible and is generally safe for human viewing. Black light appears as a deep blue light because only a portion of the light has long enough wavelengths to be visible to human. For the purpose of this invention, blue black lights are simply called black light. An example of a shorter wavelength in the ultraviolet light spectrum is germicidal ultraviolet light that emits a much shorter wavelength that is dangerous to human skin and eyes.
The barely visible and invisible black light energizes fluorescent and/or phosphorescent pigments which then re-emits the light in visible colors. This results in the object appearing to have an independent glow as if internally lit. Black lights have been used as a source of illumination in theatrical productions, amusement park rides and home use for illuminating art covered with fluorescent and/or phosphorescent paint, and for general atmospheric effects for numerous years.
A black light source is generally a tube, similar to a fluorescent tube that produces white light, of a certain length and is not conveniently portable due to the size and the need of either alternating current or large voltage direct current. While black light has been used to illuminate all sorts of fluorescent or phosphorescent objects, black light as a portable device has not been used.
Using light emitting diodes (LEDs) that can produce UV black lights (generally known as UV LED), a portable black light device is provided. UV LEDs are similarly sized as typical prior art LEDs and can be powered by direct current such as batteries.
Therefore, there is a need for a portable black light device that can provide entertaining and promotional values.
The present invention provides a portable, self-contained small black light device that is incorporated into or adaptable to a head gear to be used in combination with fluorescent or phosphorescent material for entertaining effect or promotional purposes.
The portable black light device of the present invention comprises a housing having a plurality of openings, a plurality of UV LEDs are placed in each opening and a self-contained power source is within the housing.
In the preferred embodiment, the portable black light device is incorporated into a head gear with a brim or a visor with the housing shaped to conform with the brim or visor such that the plurality of UV LEDs are directed either upwards towards the front of the head gear or downwards to light up the face of the wearer of the head gear. The UV LED head gear, used in combination with fluorescent or phosphorescent paint or make-up on the front of the head gear or on wearer's face, will cause the fluorescent or phosphorescent material to glow brightly, as if internally lit, providing an entertaining effect or effective advertising.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein:
With reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout, there is shown in
As shown in
Housing 18 preferably has the shape and color of the visor 14 of cap 12 such that the black light device 10 is not apparently visible to others. The upper portion 18a of housing 18 is attached to the visor 14 by any attaching means known to one skill in the art, such as adhesive, sewing, molding, etc. Similarly, the lower portion 18b of housing 18 is attached to the upper portion 18a by any attaching means known to one skill in the art, such as adhesive, screws, friction, hooks and latches, etc. Contained within the housing 18 are four (4) UV LEDs 22, power source 24 and power control 16.
Protruding slightly from each opening 20 of the lower portion 18b of housing 18 is a UV LED 22. In the preferred embodiment, four (4) UV LEDs 22 are used. A pair of UV LEDs 22a, each having a 180 degree spread, are closer to a wearer's face. Another pair of UV LEDs 22b, each having a 90 or 120 degree spread, are further from a wearer's face. The difference in the UV LEDs' degree spread is to maximize and balance the intensity and coverage of the UV LEDs. Wider spread UV LEDs 22a are used nearer a wearer's face to ensure coverage of the wearer's entire forehead and edge of the nose. Narrower spread UV LEDs 22b are used further from a wearer's face to ensure coverage of the wearer's cheeks and beyond. Different combination of UV LEDs 22 with different degree spreads can be used. Each UV LEDs 22 is positioned at a predetermined angle to maximize coverage of the wearer's face.
Adjacent each opening 20 is at least one protruding lip 26. Although UV lights generated from UV LEDs 22 are less than the amount of UV lights experienced during a shady day, protruding lips 26 minimize the UV exposure to a wearer and others. Protruding lips 26a adjacent to the side of opening 20 further from a wearer's face are for concealing UV LEDs 22 from others and for minimizing exposure to others. Protruding lips 26b adjacent to the side of opening 20 closer to a wearer's face are to shield the UV lights from the wearer's eyes to minimize exposure. Protruding lips 26b are not necessary for UV LEDs 22a because the UV LEDs 22a are sufficiently closed to a wearer's face that most of the UV lights are blocked by a wearer's eye brows.
Power source 24 is self-contained within housing 18. In the preferred embodiment, power source 24 comprises a compartment 28 for storing a plurality of batteries, such as three (3) AAA-size batteries (not shown), that removably engages a slot 30 in housing 18. Compartment 28 is retained within slot by any retaining means known to one skill in the art such as latch and hook, friction, etc. Power control 16, including a switch 32, controls the on-off power to the UV LEDs 22. Electronic circuitries for connecting the power source 24 and power control 16 to each UV LEDs 22 are known to one skill in the art and are not shown to simplify the drawings.
The portable black light device 40 is identical to the portable black light device 10 of
Housing 52 has a spring actuated clamping member 58 at the upper portion 52a of the housing 52 for removably attaching the portable black light device 50 to the visor 14 of cap 12. Other removably attaching means, such as hooks and loops, etc., known to one skill in the art can be used. An arched channel 60 is provided on the lower portion 52b of housing. Contained within the housing 52 are three (3) UV LEDs 22, power source 56 and power control 16.
Protruding slightly from each opening 20 in the arched channel 60 is a UV LED 22. Although the UV LEDs 22 is shown to be fixedly mounted as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, pivotable UV LEDs 22 as in the embodiment shown in
Power source 56 is self-contained within housing 52. The power source 56 comprises a compartment 62 for storing a plurality of batteries (not shown) in housing 52. Power control 16, including a switch 32, controls the on-off power to the UV LEDs 22. Electronic circuitries for connecting the power source 56 and power control 16 to each UV LEDs 22 are known to one skill in the art and are not shown to simplify the drawings.
With a wearer having fluorescent or phosphorescent paint or make-up on his/her face, the portable black light device 10, 40 or 50 causes the designs drawn with fluorescent or phosphorescent paint or make-up glow as if internally lit, providing an entertaining effect or an effective advertising. As the UV light is localized on a wearer's face, the glowing effect is visible even in a well lit environment. Depending on the ambient light condition and the intensity of the UV LEDs 22, the black light may effective light the wearer's clothing and anything placed in front of the wearer. The portable black light device 10, 40 or 50 may be used by a sport fan during a sporting event, with a sport team's colors and/or logos drawn with fluorescent or phosphorescent paint/make-up on the wearer's face. Other uses include for advertising purposes, during Halloween, Independence Day, etc.
Although the embodiments described above have the UV LEDs 22 and openings 20 or 54 in the lower portion 18b or 52b of the housing 18 or 52, the UV LEDs 22 and openings 20 or 54 can also be in the upper portion 18a or 52a of the housing 18 or 52. As shown in
As shown in
Although the embodiments described above have either three (3) or four (4) UV LEDs arranged in a particular fashion, more or less UV LEDs arranged in any fashion may be used to provide the necessary coverage and/or intensity.
Although the embodiments described above relates to a baseball cap 12, it is understood that the portable black light device 10, 40 or 50 may be incorporated into any head gears such as visors and other hats with brims. Furthermore, the portable black light device 50 may be removably attached to any surface to provide UV black light.
The features of the invention illustrated and described herein is the preferred embodiment. Therefore, it is understood that the appended claims are intended to cover the variations disclosed and unforeseeable embodiments with insubstantial differences that are within the spirit of the claims.
