GB2183813A

GB2183813A - Decorative lighting

Info

Publication number: GB2183813A
Application number: GB08628526A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Maycock; Eric Shipley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-11-29
Filing date: 1986-11-28
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: GB2183813B; GB8628526D0; GB8529509D0

Abstract

The invention relates to decorative lighting e.g., for Christmas trees, (so called fairy lights) comprising a single light source 7 located at the base of the Christmas tree and a number of optical tubes 10 extending up the trunk of the Christmas tree from a point in close proximity to the light source, and through or along some at least of the boughs 2 of the tree to provide a light point at a convenient position along the length of the boughs. Preferably the optical tubes are polymer optic tubes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Decorative lighting This invention relates to decorative lighting and is particularly concerned with decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree.

Hitherto, decorative lighting for a Christmas tree has predominantly taken the form of socalled "fairy lights" a series of individual bulbs in appropriate holders on a common line. In some cases the individual bulbs are connected in the common line such that the loss of one bulb breaks the circuit, to prevent overload of the remaining bulbs, with the difficulty then of isolating the bulb that requires replacement. In other cases, the bulbs are connected in the common line such that the loss of one bulb does not break the circuit, leaving the remaining bulbs illuminated, a potentially dangerous situation where the circuit can be overloaded.

With considerable time elapsing between two occasions when the decorative lighting is required to be used, it is frequently the case that some damage has been occasioned to one or other of the bulbs whilst in storage, with the difficulty mentioned above of trying to determine which bulb requires replacement before the lighting can be used.

Another disadvantageous aspect of known decorative lighting systems is that the bulbs inevitably become very hot during use, and care has to be exhibited in ensuring that the bulbs are kept out of contact with any highly flamable material. It is also the case that when such decorative lighting systems are used in an outdoor context, they are frequently subjected to considerable vandalism by the breakage of the bulbs and by the actual theft of the bulbs.

A further disadvantageous aspect of known decorative lighting is the need to drape the common line around the tree (and remove it after use), and when the trailing portion of the common line, e.g., extending to a plug to engage in a conveniently located electrical socket, is inevitably engaged with the tree higher than its base, and if the trailing portion is within the reach of a small child, the tree can be pulled over with relative ease. By having the common line draped around the tree it is also the case that there is a high voltage presence (known systems working directly from mains electricity) and when any fault in the line or in its insulating sheathing can be highly dangerous.

The object of the present invention is to provide decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree that avoids the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention, decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree comprises a single light source located at the base of the Christmas tree, and a number of optical tubes extending up the trunk of the Christmas tree from a point in close proximity to the light source, and through or along some at least of the boughs of the tree to provide a light point at a convenient position along the length of the boughs. If desired, some of the optical tubes can emerge from a convenient point on the trunk of the tree.

Thus, on illuminating the light source, at least one point of light is provided on some at least of the boughs and possibly the trunk to provide a decorative lighting effect.

It is highly desirable that the optical tubes are polymer optic tubes, providing the threefold advantage of low cost, handlability and durability. The polymer optic tubes are constructed as a tube of polymer material with an outer plastics sheath. Thus, not only is a light point provided at the outermost end of the tube but also the sheath can be stripped at any point along its length to expose the polymer tube and provide an additional light point where desired.

The outermost end of the polymer optic tube can be left as such, but for additional decorative effect, a lens in the form of a candle can be provided into which the end of the tube is inserted, to provide a lit candle effect.

The invention has the immediate advantage of having but one source of light, and which can be a conventional bulb, and if the bulb fails, it simply requires replacement to restore the decorative lighting. Another advantage is that if a trailing wire is required to connect the light source to a conveniently located socket, it engages the tree at its base, making it that much more difficult to topple the tree if the trailing wire can be reached by a small child. A still further advantage is that the decorative lighting is inbuilt in the tree, avoiding the need for its separate application and removal from the tree, and separate storage to the tree.

A further advantage of the invention is the complete elimination of the presence of any live lead extending around the tree, and the complete elimination of any bulbs with the substantial reduction in the possibility of the decorative lighting of the invention being subjected to theft and vandalising. The absence of bulbs and their replacement by light points at the emerging ends of the tubes or at points along its length produces a "cold" light point with the obvious advantage in the reduction of any fire hazard.

It is possible with the invention that a Christmas tree of several feet in height can be provided with decorative lighting by a single bulb of low power, with the advantage of very low running costs. Such bulb of low power can be mains activated with the provision of an appropriate transformer or could be illuminated by an appropriate battery e.g., a 12 volt battery.

The light source can be made constant to provide constant points of light. However, to obtain a flashing effect, the light source can be provided with resistor means to cause it to switch on and off at regular intervals, or a simple bladed fan can be located between the light source and the end of the optical tubes, rotation of which intermittently obscures the ends of the tubes to generate an ON/OFF effect at the emerging ends of the tubes.

The light source can be of any desired colour or the emerging ends of the tubes can be provided with coloured translucent end pieces, but a further advantage of the invention is that a white light source can be provided and a rotatable multi-coloured filter provided between the light source and the ends of the tubes, to generate a changing colour effect at the ends of the boughs. The filter can of course be combined with the bladed fan mentioned above, to provide both a changing colour and ON/OFF effect at the emerging ends of the tubes.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accom panying.drawing, which is a schematic side elevation of a Christmas tree in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing a Christmas tree is shown, of the type having a hollow trunk 1 of a plastics material, and with boughs or branches 2 formed as solid wires secured to the trunk, with the solid wires provided with artificial pines 3. The trunk 1 is secured in a support spigot 4 located centrally of base 5, the base 5 forming a housing for a transformer 6 for connection to a mains electric supply, a bulb 7 connected to the transformer, and a rotating colour wheel 8 driven by a motor 9 also connected to the transformer.

Emerging from the lower end of the trunk 1 into close proximity to the rotating colour wheel 8 is a polymer optic tube harness 10, the harness extending up through the trunk.

At the position of a bough or branch, one of the polymer optic tubes of the harness emerges through a hole in the trunk to be laid along and secured to the bough or branch, buried in the artificial pines.

Thus, the number of polymer optic tubes of the harness can be the number of boughs or branches plus one or two tubes that can emerge from the top of the trunk.

The outermost ends of the polymer optic tubes can be left open to provide a pin point of light, or can be provided with a lens. Thus, as is illustrated a candle-like lens 11 can be provided at the end of each tube. In addition, the plastics sheath of each polymer optic tube can be stripped to provide a light point at any position along the length of the bough or branch.

Once connected to the mains, the bulb can be lit and the colour wheel rotated to provide an ever changing colour lighting effect over the whole of the Christmas tree.

Claims

1. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree comprising a single light source located at the base of the Christmas tree, and a number of optical tubes extending up the trunk of the Christmas tree from a point in close proximity to the light source, and through or along some at least of the boughs of the tree to provide a light point at a convenient position along the length of the boughs.

2. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in Claim 1, wherein some of the optical tubes emerge from a convenient point on the trunk of the tree.

3. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the optical tubes are polymer optic tubes.

4. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in Claim 3, wherein the polymer optic tubes are constructed as a tube of polymer material with an outer plastics sheath and whereby the sheath can be stripped at any point along its length to expose the polymer tube and provide an additional light point where desired.

5. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the light source is a single bulb of low power, a transformer being provided to connect mains supply to the low power required by the bulb.

6. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the light source is a single bulb of low power illuminated by an appropriate battery.

7. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein to obtain a flashing effect, the light source is provided with resistor means to cause it to switch on and off at regular intervals.

8. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein to obtain a flashing effect, the light source is associated with a simple fan.

9. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the light source can be of any desired colour or the emerging ends of the tubes can be provided with coloured translucent end pieces.

10. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree as in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein a white light source is provided, and rotatable multi-coloured filter provided between the light source and the ends of the tubes, to generate a changing colour effect at the ends of the boughs.

11. Decorative lighting for an artificial Christmas tree substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.