BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplification of a surface supported area lighting media assembly device embodying the principles of the present invention by means of a light stick tube containing chromagens and an auxochrome which react to emit a chemical luminescent light upon being mixed.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the lighting media assembly device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an alternate exemplification of the support portion of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the exemplification of FIG. 3 showing a split diaphragm arrangement for accommodating different sized light elements; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an second exemplification of a surface supported lighting medium embodying the principles of the present invention by means of a light stick tube containing at least one semi-conductor light emitting diode (LED) which provides emission light activation by contact with battery and switch mechanism contained therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, the invention is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described as a present exemplification with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific exemplification illustrated.
It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there is shown an exemplification of a surface supported lighting media assembly device 10 embodying the principles of the present invention. The lighting media assembly device 10 includes illuminating light stick element 12, such as the illustrated chemiluminescent element (e.g., a first light stick) and a support element 14. The example of the media assembly device 10 in FIG. 1 includes light stick 12 having an annular top-sealed sleeve 16 formed in a bottom-sealed end 18 of light stick 12 that defines a socket or female portion of light stick 12. It is anticipated that the surface supported lighting media assembly device 10 will be used to, for example, illuminate the ground (e.g., a fairway or pathway, or indicate the location of a water hazard or sand trap) of a golf course, as a ground supported media. It will however be appreciated that the lighting media assembly device 10 can also be positioned in other surfaces, vertical as well as horizontal, to provide a cost effective, easily replaceable local lighting. The light stick 12 is supported in a desired orientation (e.g., vertical when in the ground and horizontal when in a wall or other vertical surface).
Referring to FIG. 2, the support element 14 includes a spike portion 20 and an insert 22 that is received in socket portion 16 of light stick 12. A flange 24 is disposed at the juncture of the insert 22 and the spike 20. The spike 20 is preferably formed with a penetrating tip 26.
Referring to the exemplification of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 1 illustrates the exemplification of a first light stick containing chemiluminescent light emitting elements. The chemiluminescent first light stick 12 can be any of a number of commercially available light sticks which provide chemical luminescence of colors as determined by the auxochrome. One preferred configuration of the first light stick 12 has a sealed outside chamber 28 and a breakable sealed inside chamber 30 within the sealed outside chamber 28. The sealed outside chamber 28 contains a first chemical solution 32 and the sealed internal chamber 30 contains a second solution 34 such that the sealed internal chamber 30 is breakable by a user so that the solutions 32, 34 mix and react with one another to chemically drive the chemiluminescent light emission. In one known combination of solutions the first solution 32 contains a reductant compound and a fluorescent dye compound and the second solution 34 contains an oxidant compound and a solvent. One known oxidant is hydrogen peroxide, which can be used as an oxalic phthalate reductant, and water solvent. Exemplary fluorescent dye compounds are 9,10-diphenylanthracene, 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl) anthracene, and 5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphthacene. Other combinations of chemicals and methods/materials for providing the chemiluminescent effect will be recognized by those skilled in the art and are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
In use, the support element insert 22 is inserted into the sealed socket 16 of the sealed light stick 12, the sealed inside or internal chamber 30 in the light stick 12 is broken and the chemicals 32, 34 in light stick 12 are mixed to provide the chemiluminescent effect. The spike 20 of media 10 is inserted into a surface, for example into ground G, and the light stick 12 is supported in a desired orientation. Advantageously, the flange 24 provides a relatively large surface at which the light stick 12 and support 14 contact one another and by which pressure is exerted on the light stick 12. This prevents over-stressing the light stick 12 at the socket 16, which could otherwise result in tearing the light stick 12 material.
It will be appreciated that the exemplification of assembly device 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 requires the use of a light stick 12 having a socket or female portion 16 in order to engage the upright ground support 14.
Accordingly, an alternate exemplification of the ground supported lighting media assembly device 110 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the alternate exemplification 110, the support element 114 includes a sleeve 116 into which the sealed light stick 112 is inserted or fitted. In this manner, a conventional, non-socket-containing sealed light stick 112 can be used to provide the ground supported lighting media 110. The sleeve 116 extends upwardly only so far as to provide support for the light stick 112, without blocking or interfering with too large of a portion of the lower end 118 of the stick 112. The base 124 of the sleeve or cup 116 provides a sufficiently large area over which pressure is exerted when inserting the media 110 into the ground G, again, to prevent overstressing the light stick 112. In the alternate exemplification 110, the chemiluminescent light emitting elements are present as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and, on mixing, provide the chemiluminescent effect.
Referring to FIG. 4, optionally, the support 114 can include a gripping element 136 inside of the sleeve 116 that can permit the support portion 114 and sleeve 116 to accommodate light sticks 112 of various diameters. The gripping element 136 can, for example, be formed by a thin, flexible inwardly extending membrane that is slit or cut radially (as at 138), or discrete, elongated “fingers” (not shown) that extend inwardly to engage the sides of the light stick 112 when the stick 112 is inserted into the sleeve 116.
Referring to the exemplification of FIG. 5, FIG. 5 illustrates the alternative exemplification of the light stick comprising a second light stick containing the LED light emitting assembly elements. The LED light assembly 42 comprises LED 44, battery 40, and switch mechanism 48. The LED light stick assembly 42 can comprise any of a number of commercially available LEDs and suitable batteries 40 activated by a switch mechanism 48. The LED, light emitting diode 44, when activated, provides an emission of light at a wave-length in the visible white, red, green and yellow light regions as determined by its composition material and dopants.
In use, the support element 22 is inserted into the socket 16 of the LED light stick 42, the inserted insert 22 activates the switch mechanism 48 and causes the LED 44 to emit a white or colored luminescence and/or light depending upon the composition characteristics of the LED. Upon removal of the LED light stick 42 from insert 22, the switch mechanism 48 is deactivated and the LED is turned off.
It will also be appreciated that the light stick can include UV other light emitting element(s) that may not be visible to the unaided eye.
In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.
From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific exemplifications illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the disclosed, exemplary exemplifications.
Patent Application
20070247843
