GB2471475A

GB2471475A - Illuminator for decorative optic fibre lighting

Info

Publication number: GB2471475A
Application number: GB0911300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: King Yiu Ronald Fung
Original assignee: Packway Ind Ltd
Current assignee: Packway Ind Ltd
Priority date: 2009-06-30
Filing date: 2009-06-30
Publication date: 2011-01-05
Also published as: GB0911300D0

Abstract

An illuminator for illuminating one end of a bundle of optic fibres for lighting of an artificial Christmas tree, or other decorative purposes, includes a motor-driven 29 colour wheel 25 and a light source 27 held within a housing 10. The source may be one or more LEDs. The bundle of optic fibres (20) is held in a sleeve 18 mounted so as to be removable from an opening in the housing. By removing the sleeve the colour wheel is accessible for changing. A switch arrangement 16,17,24 may be provided whereby power to the light source is cut automatically upon removal of the sleeve, to avoid the possibility of exposing the user to intense light.

Description

I

ILLUMINATOR FOR FIRRE OPTIC LIGHTING

Technical fikI The present invention relates to fibre optic lighting, and particularly to illuminators for decorative fibre optic lighting.

Background of th Invention

Decorative fibre optic lighting systems are used for illuminating artificial Christmas trees, amoAg a number of other applications. In a fibre optic Christmas tree, for instance, a bundle of optical fibres lead from an illuminator at a base of the trunk, the bundle branching such that individual strands terminate near the tips of simulated needles on the tree. The illuminator includes a housing holding a light source and a motor-driven colour wheel. The bundle of optical fibres is held in the housing with the ends of the fibres disposed adjacent the colour wheel. When the colour wheel is rotated and the light source is energized, the optical fibres transmit changing colours * to their terminal ends adjacent the tips thereby providing a decorative tree that **S.

includes a large number of illuminated terminal ends which continuously change colour in accordance with the arrangement of transparent colour segments in the colour wheel. * S * *.*

It will be understood that it is advantageous to provide an opening in the housing allowing access for changing of the colour wheel, thereby allowing the user to customise the light display. However, the need to use tools to disassemble the housing discourages the user from performing this task. Moreover, as illuminators of * this kind employ a very high intensity light source a disadvantage of prior art illuminators is that care must be exercised in changing the colour wheel so as to avoid exposure to the light source in a manner which could cause eye damage. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages, or more generally to provide an improved illuminator for decorative fibre optic lighting.

Disdosur of th Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an illuminator for illuminating one end of a bundle of optic fibres for decorative lighting, comprising: a housing having an open upper end; a light source, or socket assembly for receiving a light source, in the upper end of the housing for illuminating the end of the bundle of optic fibres; a colour wheel mounted between the light source and the bundle of optic fibres; and a demountable' sleeve in which the bundle of optic fibres is held, the sleeve being S...

.. : complementary to, and sized to close, the open upper end. S... * .

*.*. . Preferably the sleeve is substantially cylindrical and sized to be received within the open upper end. Optionally, the sleeve may have another tubular form, and may receive therein the open upper end. . * * . Preferably illuminator further comprises a normally open switch electrically connected in series between a power inlet to the illuminator and the light source, or socket assembly for receiving a light source,, the switch being closed by connection of the sleeve to the housing so as to close the upper end.

Preferably the sleeve has an axis and the illuminator further includes a motor having an output shaft aligned with the axis, the output shaft and colour wheel having coupling parts mutually engagable for transmitting torque.

Preferably the light source, or socket assembly for receiving a light source, comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted upon a circuit board, an axially-extending aperture in the circuit board receiving the output shaft.

Preferably the normally open switch comprises a pair of contacts mounted to the housing and a conductor mounted to the sleeve, such that the conductor electrically connects the contacts when the sleeve is connected to the housing to close the upper end.

In another aspect the invention provides an illuminator for illuminating one end of a bundle of optic fibres for decorative lighting, comprising: a housing having an open upper end and an opposing ground supported base; a light source, or socket assembly for receiving a light source, in the upper end of .. the housing for illuminating the end of the bundle of optic fibres; S...

a motor having an output shaft with a first coupling part; a colour wheel mounted between the light source and the bundle of optic fibres, the * colour wheel having a second coupling part for engaging the first coupling part; *5* a sleeve in which the bundle of optic fibres is held, the sleeve having an exterior surface complementary to, and sized to close, the open upper end; a clearance between the exterior surface of the sleeve and an interior surface of the open upper end so as to permit an axial sliding engagement between the sleeve and* the housing, and a normally open switch electrically connected in series between a power inlet to the illuminator and the light source, or socket assembly for receiving a light source, the switch being closed by connection of the sleeve to the housing so as to close the upper end.

This invention provides an illuminator with a sleeve holding the optical fibres which also serves as a closure thereby providing an overall simple design which minimizes manufacturing costs and maximizes, performance.

BriM fscription of th trawinps Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a preferred illuminator for an artificial Christmas tree according to the invention; Figure 2 is a part longitudinal sectional view of the illuminator of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the illuminator of Fig. 1.

Description of the Preferred Pmhodiments

Referring to the drawings, an illuminator for an artificial Christmas tree includes an opaque, hollow housing 10 at the base of which are four integral legs.11 which protrude radially and axially from the cylindrical portion 12 and support the housing 10 upright upon a horizontal surface. Each leg 11 includes an axial slot which can be used to fasten stabiliser legs (not shown). Opposing the base, the housing 10 has a cylindrical open upper end 13 with a rim disposed in a radial plane and interrupted by circumferentially spaced notches 15 to provide a castellated form. A male coupling 16 is mounted proximate the open end 13 and has its outer end generally aligned with the rim 13. The male coupling includes a pair or parallel openings 17. -An opaque sleeve 18 has an axially extending opening therein in which a tubular trunk 19 of an artificial Christmas tree is fixe& Also held within the sleeve 18 is a bundle of optic fibres 20. The sleeve 18 has a cylindrical central portion 21 with an integral outwardly projecting flange 22. Projecting radially outwardly of the central portion 21 are a plurality of axially elongated ribs 23 which are spaced apart circumferentially. The outer elongate edges of the ribs 23 define an imaginary cylindrical surface complementary to the open upper end 13. A clearance 45 is provided between the exterior surface of the sleeve defined by the imaginary cylindrical surface and the cylindrical interior surface of the open upper end 13 so as *.

to permit an axial sliding engagement between the sleeve and the housing. A female coupling 24 mounted to the sleeve has a downwardly opening recess therein (not shown) for receiving the coupling 16.

The ends of the fibres of the bundle 20 terminate in a transverse plane immediately above the colour wheel 25, spaced inwardly from the lower face of the sleeve 18.

The colour wheel includes a plurality of transparent colour segments and a central rectangular aperture 26.

The light source for illuminating the ends of the bundle of optic fibres comprise eleven light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 27, providing substantially white light of a high intensity. The diodes 27 are located immediately below the colour wheel 25 mounted to a printed circuit board 28 aligned in a transverse plane.

An electric motor a motor 29 has a cylindrical housing 29a and an elongate output shaft 30 aligned with the central axis of the sleeve 18, but eccentric relative to the axis of the cylindrical housing 29a. The shaft 30 extends through an opening (not shown) in the circuit board 28. The output shaft 30 has a rectangular coupling part 31 for engaging with the aperture 26 for transmitting torque to the colour wheel 27.

A fixture 32 includes stanchion parts 33 protruding from a disc portion 34 and cooperates with a mount 35 to fix the motor 29 and circuit board 28 in the housing 10.

The disc portion 34 includes a plurality of vent openings 35 and is secured in the lower end of the housing 10 as by fasteners, with the opposing ends of the mount 35 secured to respective stanchion parts 33. The motor 29 and circuit board 28 are fixed to opposing sides of the mount 35.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a power supply circuit for, the artificial Christmas tree 0* . . . . . including a plug connector 40 for connection to a mains supply which is connected to a regulating circuit 41 that supplies DC power to the LEDs 27 and the motor 29 via the coupling 16. Recessed in the openings 17 in the coupling 16 are. electrical contacts 42 and 43 respectively connected to the regulating circuit 41 and the LEDs 27. . Recessed in the coupling 24 is a conductor 44 configured to engage both the contacts 42 and 43. . . . * 7 In use, when the sleeve 18. closes the open upper end 13 of the housing 10, the LEDs 27 are not visible. The flange 22 generally overlies the rim 14, the spaces between the ribs 23 and the notches 15 providing ventilating passageways communicating with the space in the top of the housing 10 in which the LEDs are received. The conductor 44 connects the contacts 42, 43 thereby providing current to the LEDs 27 and the motor 29. However, when the sleeve 18 is removed to access the housing, for instance to change the colour wheel 25, then an open circuit state arises which cuts power to the LEDs, thereby preventing the user from being exposed to high intensity light from the LEDs 27. It will be understood that the contacts 42, 43 and conductor 44 thereby comprise a normally-open switch, and that a number of alternative arrangements whereby an open switch is closed when the sleeve 18 closes the housing may also be employed within the scope of the invention.

With the sleeve 18 removed the user can reach in and lift out the colour wheel 25, replacing it as desired, or possibly stacking colour wheels to customize the output colours. *1s

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof. * *.* S. .

S 8.