GB2371109A

GB2371109A - Decorative fibre optic lighting for trees

Info

Publication number: GB2371109A
Application number: GB0115463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alistair Tidey; Joseph O'connell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-16
Filing date: 2001-06-25
Publication date: 2002-07-17
Also published as: IES20010035A2; GB0115463D0

Abstract

A kit comprising fibre optic lighting for trees, especially Christmas trees, is described. The fibre optic lighting can be easily fitted to a tree and comprises a plurality of fibre optic filaments 2 which are used in conjunction with a light source. One or more of the filaments 2 have an extending light emitting region 80 where the fibre optic inner core 50 extends beyond the end of the sheath 70 allowing light to leave the filament radially as well as axially through the exit port 4. Also claimed is a Christmas tree carrying such lighting.

Description

Title A Fibre Optic Kit for Trees Field of the Invention The invention relates to fibre optic lighting and particularly to fibre optic lighting for use with a tree, but especially artificial Christmas trees. The invention specifically relates to such fibre optic lighting in the form of a kit.

Background to the Invention Artificial Christmas trees are well known. Such Christmas trees include those described in our European patent application EP-A-0920826. It is known to provide lighting arrangements for such trees and the lighting arrangements available for mounting on artificial Christmas trees vary from fixed candles, to light bulbs to fibre optic lighting.

Attaching fibre optics to the outside of the branches is known. US-A-4,060, 722 discloses a bundle of fibre optics which travel up the trunk of an artificial Christmas tree, separating at each branch and travelling to the tip of each branch on the outside of the branches. The Christmas tree utilised in US-A-4,060, 722 does not appear capable of being dismantled to a smaller structure for storage after use. The fibre optic components of the tree are an integral part of the tree, and the individual fibre optic components for each branch travel in a bundle within the trunk of the tree and are presented to the light source at the base of the tree as a single bundle.

Once the fibre optic bundle separates at the trunk to travel along the branches a variety of methods are described for attaching the fibre optic to the individual branches.

US-A-5,422, 797 describes the ravelling of the branches around the filament of the fibre optic. US-A-5,104, 608 describes a programmable coloured Christmas tree where the user can select different coloured discs between the light source and the optical fibres which create an infinite number of user created light displays in the tree. This programmable light display, however, only allows the user to select which colours will be displayed in a specific sequence, and not which area of the tree will be illuminated with which the specific colours at specific times.

The aforementioned disclosed fibre optic lighting arrangements for Christmas trees are complicated and need to be fitted within the Christmas tree during manufacture.

Irish Patent Application S990807 of the present applicants describes a lighting arrangement kit which can be fitted after manufacture of the Christmas tree, either by the manufacturer or the user of the Christmas tree. It further provides a lighting arrangement that can be easily modified by the user so as to position the light components at specific positions on the tree, and also allows the user to create patterns of light on the Christmas tree.

Although this overcomes much of the problems associated with the previous fibre optic kits it still suffers from some of the limitations associated with known kits; namely the light emitted from individual fibre optic strands is emitted simply from the end ports of individual fibres and the intensity of light to the viewer is concentrated from this region. In order to increase the luminosity emitting from a certain region of the tree it is necessary to increase the number of fibre optic strands of fibres located at that specific region.

There, therefore, still exists a need to provide an improved fibre optic kit for use with trees; a kit which will provide improved output of light from individual fibres without requiring an increase in the number of fibres.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a fibre optic kit that provides increased luminosity from the end portions of the individual fibres.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly the invention provides a fibre optic kit adapted to be used with a tree having a trunk and a plurality of branches, the kit comprising a plurality of fibre optic filaments, each filament having an inner core and an outer cladding, the inner core comprising an entry port through which light may be introduced to the core and an exit port through which light is emitted from the core, the kit being characterised in that one or more filaments comprise an additional light emitting portion, the additional light emitting portion extending from the exit port towards the entry port, the additional light emitting region adapted to effect the emission of light through side walls of the inner

core, thereby enabling an emission of light from the filament along an extended region of the filament.

The combination of the exit port and additional light emitting portion defines a light emitting end of the filament.

The light emitting region is preferably generated by a removal of the outer cladding from the region of the filament equating to the desired positioning of the light emitting region and a crushing of the inner core in that region.

The kit may additionally comprises means for attaching each of said plurality of fibre optic filaments to the branches, and means for presenting each of said plurality of fibre optic filaments independently to a light source.

The plurality of fibre optic filaments are preferably of varying length, the choice of which filament is used for a particular location on the tree being determined by the length of the filament.

Each fibre optic filament typically comprises one entry port or light receiving end and one light emitting end, the fibres may be adapted to comprise two or more light emitting ends.

The fibre optic filaments are preferably attached to the outer portion of the branches.

The filaments suitably travel from the light source to the branches on the exterior portion of the trunk.

The means for presenting each of the filaments independently to the light source preferably comprises a connection means having a plurality of receiver portions, each receiver portion adapted to receive a single fibre optic filament.

The invention also provides an artificial Christmas tree comprising a trunk portion, a plurality of branches removably detachable from said trunk portion and further comprising a plurality of fibre optic filaments having a first end adapted to be mounted at a light source, a second end adapted to be mounted on a chosen branch of said Christmas tree, wherein at least one of said plurality of fibre optic filaments

comprises a light emitting end located at the second end of the filament, the light emitting end comprising an exit port and an additional light emitting portion, the light emitting end adapted to effect an emission of light along an extended portion of the filament.

Typically the individual fibres can be independently removed or connected to said light source.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a known fibre optic filament, Figure 2 shows a section through the known filament of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section through a fibre optic filament of the present invention, Figure 4 is a detail of a fibre of the present invention mounted on a Christmas Tree, Figure 5 shows an alternative to the fibre filament of the present invention, Figure 6 shows a light box to be used with fibre optic filaments of the present invention, Figure 7 is a section through the light box of Figure 6 Figure 8 shows a Christmas tree with the fibre optics of the present invention mounted thereon, and Figure 9 shows a portion of the tree of Figure 6 with a filament secured on a branch.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a fibre optic filament 1, of a type well known in the art. The mode of function of fibre optics resulting from the total internal reflection of light passing through the fibre optic is well known. The fibre optic filament 1 comprises a first light receiving end 2 where light may enter the fibre optic, separated by a central stem portion 3 from an exit port 4, where light may be emitted from or transmitted out of, the fibre.

As shown in section in Figure 2 the fibre optic filament 1 comprises a central core region 50 through which light 60 passing though the fibre is contained within by means of total internal reflection of the light within the fibre. An outer cladding region 70 is provided about the core 50, the outer cladding 70 serving to both protect the core from damage and also assist in the retention of light within the core.

Figure 3 shows a filament of the present invention. The same reference numerals will be used for equivalent parts. Similarly to that described with reference to

Figure 2, light is introduced to the inner core 50 via an entry port 2. The light travels along the stem 3 of the filament to a light emitting region 80 where it is emitted. The filament of the present invention differs to those known before in that an extended light emitting region 80 is formed adjacent the exit port 4. This extended light emitting region 80 is formed by removing the outer cladding 70 from the core 50 in the region where the light emitting region is to be formed. The removal of the cladding 70 permits any light 60 that is leaking from the inner core 50 to be visible to a viewer. The amount of light may be accentuated by a crushing of the fibre core in this extended light emitting region 80. The crushing of the fibre serves to disrupt the efficiency of the total internal reflection normally present at side walls 90 of the core, thereby effecting an escape of more light from this region, than would normally be resultant. It will be appreciated the amount of crushing may be varied, depending on the effect ultimately required.

Figure 4 shows a detail of a branch 14 with a fibre optic filament according to the present invention mounted thereon. By forming an extended light emitting region 80, the area from which light is emitted from the end of the fibre filament is extended and the effect of the fibre optic lighting is improved. In contrast to the prior art arrangements, the filaments of the present invention provide larger source areas of light at the branch end of the tree on which they are mounted. The lighting effect of the tree is thereby improved and an aesthetically improved tree is created.

The extended light emitting region typically extends about 5 cm from the exit port 4, along the stem 3 towards the entry port 2. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any dimension may be chosen by defining what length of cladding is removed and how much of the core is crushed. The provision of the extended light emitting region does not increment the amount or total quantity of light emitted from a single fibre, it simply broadens or lengthens the light emitting region of the fibre so as to effect a larger source than is available from the exit port of the same filament.

Similarly to that described with reference to the kit of IE S990807, as shown in Figure 5, it is possible to splice the central stem portion into two or more substrand filaments 5, each of which has an exit port 4, which may be adapted to include the extended light emitting region 80 of the present invention.

Figures 6 and 7 show a light source 6 to be used with the fibre optics of the present invention. The light source comprises a lighting element 7, and rotatable disc 8 having variable colour filters 20 printed thereon. The disc is mounted on a stem 9 positioned between the light source 7 and connection means 10, so that patterns of

different coloured light are transmitted by the fibre optic filaments in waves or in sequence, depending upon the location of the light emitting ends of the fibre optic filaments on the tree. The disc 8 rotates about the stem 9 and filters the light which is incident on the connection means 10. The connection means 10 preferably comprises a series of receivers or apertures 11 which are adapted to receive the light receiving portion 2 of the filament 1. Each aperture 11 of the connection means 10 is adapted so that the filament end portion 2 cannot be positioned too close to the light source, i. e. the depth of insertion of the filament into the light source is controlled.

Figure 8 and 9 show a Christmas tree 12 in accordance with one embodiment with the present invention. In this embodiment the Christmas tree comprises a series of trunk segments 13 which are connectable in a predetermined fashion above a base portion 15, similar to that described in our European Patent Application EP-A-0920826.

Once the trunk sections have been assembled, it is possible to attach removable branch portions 14 at predetermined locations on the trunk.

The light source 6 is positioned adjacent to the base portion 15. Fibre filaments 3 of suitable length are chosen for specific location of the tree. The filament must be of sufficient length to allow for the distance between the light source and the end of the branch 14 on which the filament 3 is to be located. The filament is fixed, as shown in Figure 6, to the outer portion of the branch using tie wraps 16 or other suitable means.

The fibre is then allowed to drop freely to the light source or can be secured to the outside portion of the trunk segment 13 using a fabric wrap 21 or other suitable means.

Although all the fibre optic filaments are independently connectable to the connection means 10, it is possible, as shown in Figure 8, to bundle them together at the base of the tree using a wrap or protective covering 22 so as to minimise any single filament getting caught by presents or other items which are commonly located at the base of the tree.

When being assembled the tree is initially constructed with the branches connected and mounted to the trunk. The user then determines where on the tree the lights should be located. Suitable length filaments are chosen for specific locations on the tree and are then attached to the desired branch using the tie wraps illustrated in Figure 9.

When the desired quantity of filaments are located on the respective branches the plurality of filaments that are draping down the side of the trunk may be attached or covered as was described with reference to Figure 8.

In certain circumstances the user may wish to personalise the light pattern on different portions of the tree; e. g. he may wish to illuminate the base portion with the same colour all at the same time before the upper portions are illuminated with this colour or alternatively may wish to illuminate the left hand side portion of the tree with the same light colour before the right hand side. By selecting or choosing which filament or group of filaments is positioned in which receiver 11 it is possible to locate all light receiving portions of various fibres over an incident light source of the same colour. As the coloured filter elements 20 rotate above the light source 7 all the filaments that are positioned in the same section of the connection means 10 will receive the same colour sequence.

Although described with reference to artificial Christmas trees it will be appreciated that the fibre optics of the present invention may also be used with conventional trees. The fibre filaments may be attached to branches in the same manner as discussed above with reference to the artificial tree.

The words"comprises/comprising"and the words"having/including"when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

Claims 1. A fibre optic kit adapted to be used with a tree having a trunk and a plurality of branches, the kit comprising a plurality of fibre optic filaments, each filament having an inner core and an outer cladding, the inner core comprising an entry port through which light may be introduced to the core and an exit port through which light is emitted from the core, the kit being characterised in that one or more filaments comprise an additional light emitting portion, the additional light emitting portion extending from the exit port towards the entry port, the additional light emitting region adapted to effect the emission of light through side walls of the inner core, thereby enabling an emission of light from the filament along an extended region of the filament.
2. The kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the combination of the exit port and additional light emitting portion defines a light emitting end of the filament, the light emitting end extending from the exit port at least 5 cm towards the entry port.
3. The kit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the light emitting region is generated by a removal of the outer cladding from the region of the filament equating to the desired positioning of the light emitting region and a crushing of the inner core in that region.
4. The kit as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising: a) means for attaching each of said plurality of fibre optic filaments to the branches, and b) means for presenting each of said plurality of fibre optic filaments independently to a light source.
5. An artificial Christmas tree comprising a trunk portion, a plurality of branches removably detachable from said trunk portion and further comprising a plurality of fibre optic filaments having a first end adapted to be mounted at a light source, a second end adapted to be mounted on a chosen branch of said Christmas tree, wherein at least one of said plurality of fibre optic filaments comprises a light emitting end located at the second end of the filament, the light emitting end comprising an exit port and an additional light emitting portion, the

light emitting end adapted to effect an emission of light along an extended portion of the filament.
6. The tree as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the individual fibres can be independently removed or connected to said light source.
7. A fibre optic kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
8. An artificial Christmas tree substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawing.