GB2594099A

GB2594099A - A Decorative unit for providing an illuminated festive seasonal image

Info

Publication number: GB2594099A
Application number: GB2005909.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adesinmisola Esan Teresa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-03-26
Filing date: 2020-03-26
Publication date: 2021-10-20
Also published as: GB202005909D0

Abstract

A decorative unit for providing an illuminated image comprises a housing 4, an image panel 6 and lighting means 10 in the form of LEDs. The image is formed by cut-outs in the image panel. The LEDs may be caused to flash to cause the image to appear to be animated. An inner compartment 14 may be provided to cause different parts of the image to be illuminated separately with differently coloured LEDs being provided in different compartments.

Description

I

A DECORATIVE UNIT FOR PROVIDING

AN ILLUMINATED FESTIVE SEASONAL IMAGE

This invention relates to a decorative unit and, more especially, this invention relates to a decorative unit for providing an illuminated festive seasonal image.

It is customary to decorate houses and other premises at festive seasons, and especially at Christmas. At Christmas, most decorations are centred around an image of Santa Clause and/or reindeer and/or a sleigh.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved decorative unit.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a decorative unit for providing an illuminated image. The illuminated image is preferably a nativity scene.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a decorative unit for providing an illuminated festive seasonal image, which decorative unit comprises: (i) a housing; (ii) an image panel which is positioned in the housing and which contains a festive seasonable image; (iii) lighting means which is positioned in the housing and which is for illuminating the festive seasonal image from behind; and (iv) a viewing face which is on an opposite side of the image panel to the lighting means, and wherein: (v) the festive seasonal image is viewed through the viewing face; (vi) the festive seasonal image is defined by cut outs in the image panel; and (vii) the lighting means provides even illumination of the festive seasonal image.

The decorative unit of the present invention is advantageous in that the festive seasonal image is able to be back illuminated by the lighting means. The illumination provides good definition and clarity of the illuminated festive seasonal image when the illuminated festive seasonal image is viewed from the front of the decorative unit and through the viewing face of the decorative unit. A preferred festive seasonal image is a nativity scene. Various nativity seasons may be employed. Festive seasonal images other than nativity scenes may be employed if desired, including festive seasonal images appropriate for festive seasons other than Christmas.

Preferably, the decorative unit is one in which the lighting means is a plurality of light emitting diodes. Other types of lighting means may be employed providing they give the required even illumination of the festive seasonal image.

The device may include current interrupter means for causing the lighting means to flash on and off and thereby cause the festive seasonal image to appear to be animated when the festive seasonal image is viewed through the viewing face. The animation may be movement. Other types of animation may be employed. If it is not desired to have the festive seasonal image appearing to be animated, then the festive seasonal image may appear stationary when viewed through the viewing face.

The lighting means may provide a single colour. Alternatively the lighting means may provide a plurality of different colours.

The device may be one in which the housing comprises at least one inner compartment for enabling different parts of the housing to receive different parts of the lighting means and thereby illuminate different parts of the festive seasonal image. The different parts of the lighting means may provide the different colours.

The device may include sealing means for sealing component parts of the decorative unit. The sealing means may be employed for avoiding the generation of stray light, typically inside the housing, which could detract from the even illumination of the festive seasonal image. Additionally or alternatively, the sealing means may be such as to prevent the ingress of dust and/or moisture into the decorative unit.

The decorative unit may be one in which the housing is formed in a plurality of parts, and in which the housing comprises a rear housing part and a front housing part. The housing may be constructed in any suitable and appropriate manner.

The decorative unit may be one in which the festive seasonal image is Mary and Joseph and a donkey, sheep in a field with an angel in the sky, three wise men on camels being led by a star, or a manger scene with three wise men presenting gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Other gifts and other festive seasonal images may be employed.

The decorative unit will be in which there is one festive seasonal image per unit. If desired however there may be two or more of the festive seasonal images per unit so that there may be, for example, four of the festive seasonal images per unit.

The present invention also extends to a decorative set comprising a plurality of the decorative units of the invention.

The decorative set may comprise four of the decorative units. By way of example, it is mentioned that each one of the four decorative units may comprise one of the above mentioned nativity seasonal images.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first decorative unit for providing an illuminated festive seasonable image; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second decorative unit for providing an illuminated festive seasonal image; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a rear housing part of the decorative unit shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a front housing part of the decorative unit shown in Figure 2 with the festive seasonable image being represented by the word "artwork"; Figure 5 is a front view of the decorative unit shown in Figure 2 with the festive seasonal image again being represented by the word "artwork".

Figure 6 is a side view of the decorative unit as shown in Figure 2; Figure 7 is a section on the line A -A shown in Figure 5; Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of the part circled in Figure 7 and marked "B"; and Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the part circled in Figure 7 and marked Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a decorative unit 2 for providing an illuminated festive seasonal image. The decorative unit 2 comprises a housing 4 and an image panel 6. The image panel 6 is positioned in the housing 4. The image panel 6 contains a festive seasonal image 8.

The decorative unit 2 also comprises lighting means 10 which is positioned in the housing 4. The lighting means 10 is for illuminating the festive seasonable image 8 from behind. Thus the festive seasonal image 8 is back lit.

The decorative unit 2 has a viewing face 12 which is on an opposite side of the image panel 6 to the lighting means 10. The viewing face 12 is transparent and it may be made of Perspex. Other materials may be employed.

The decorative unit 2 is such that the festive seasonal image 8 is viewed through the viewing face 12. The festive seasonal image 8 is defined by cut-outs in the image panel 6. The lighting means 10 provides even illumination of the festive seasonal image 8.

The lighting means 10 is a plurality of light emitting diodes.

Optionally, the decorative unit 2 includes current interrupter means for causing the lighting means 10 to flash on and off and thereby cause the festive seasonal image 8 to be appear to be animated when the festive seasonal image 8 is viewed through the viewing face 12. The animation is movement. Other types of animation may be employed. The festive seasonal image 8 may alternatively be seen as a still festive seasonal image 8, this being dependent upon the particular type of festive seasonal image 8 being employed for the decorative unit 2.

The housing 4 comprises an inner compartment 14 for enabling different parts of the housing to receive different parts of the lighting means, or other visual effects, and thereby illuminate different parts of the festive seasonal image. The different parts of the lighting means may provide different colours.

The decorative until 2 may include sealing means (not shown) for sealing component parts of the decorative unit 2. The sealing means may be effective to prevent the generation of stray light which could detract from the even illumination of the festive seasonal image. Additionally or alternatively, the sealing means may be such as to prevent the ingress of dust or other dirt and/or moisture into the decorative unit 2.

The housing 4 comprises a rear housing part 16 and a front housing part 18 which comprises the viewing face 12.

The image panel 6 contains one festive seasonal image 8. The festive seasonal image 8 is a nativity festive seasonable image 8.

Referring now to Figures 2 -9, there is shown a second decorative until 20 for providing an illuminated festive seasonal image. Similar parts as in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

The decorative unit 20 has a rear housing part 16 containing lighting means 10 in an inner compartment 22 which is differently placed to the inner compartment 14 in the decorative unit 2. As shown in Figure 3, the rear housing part 16 contains lighting means 10 in the form of a strip of light emitting diodes 24 in the inner compartment 22, and one or more strips of light emitting diodes 26 around the periphery of the housing 4.

Figures 7 and 8 show how the decorative unit 2 comprises a sealing gasket 28 between parts of the housing 4. Also shown in Figure 8 is how the viewing face 12 is formed as a clear protective panel which abuts against the image panel 6. Further shown in Figure 8 is a sealing gasket 30 positioned between the illustrated parts.

Figures 7 and 9 shown how the inner compartment 22 with its strip of light emitting diodes 24 is positioned to direct light against the image panel 6 and through cut outs 32. The cut outs 32 enable the festive seasonal image to be seen through the viewing face 12 formed by the illustrated viewing panel. The inner compartment 22 acts as a shield to prevent unwanted light travelling around the inside of the housing 4 and detracting from the quality of the viewed festive seasonal image 8. The cut outs 32 within the shielded area formed by the inner compartment 22 provide isolated illumination allowing light to pass through and illuminate the artwork in the form of the festive seasonable image 8. Depending upon the actual type of light emitted by the light emitting diodes 24 and/or 26, the festive seasonal image 8 can be animated or not animated.

Figure 7 shows how the inside of the housing 4 has a space 34 for receiving component parts of the decorative unit 20. Figure 7 also shows cut outs 36 on the image panel 6. These cut outs 36 are outside of the shielded area provided by the inner compartment 22. They allow for steady illumination in the on state of the lighting means 10. The space 34 allows light from the light emitting diodes 26 to light up internal parts of the housing 4.

Figure 2 shows the festive seasonal image 8 in the form of a nativity festive seasonal image 8. The illustrated nativity festive seasonal image 8 shown in Figure 2 is a manger scene with three wise men presenting gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Alternative nativity festive seasonal images that may be employed are, for example, Mary and Joseph and a donkey, sheep in a field with an angel in the sky, and wisemen on camels being led by a star.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the decorative unit 2 can be made of any suitable and appropriate size. Typically, the decorative unit 2 will be of a large size sufficient to enable it to be easily viewed from inside and/or outside of a house. The required seasonal image may initially be formed by stencilling or other means. If animation of the festive seasonal image is required, then this may be enhanced by blocking off particular areas inside the housing 4, this being in addition to having the lighting means flashing on and off. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. The invention also extends to the individual components mentioned and/or shown above, taken singly or in any combination.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A decorative unit for providing an illuminated festive seasonal image, which decorative unit comprises: (i) a housing; (ii) an image panel which is positioned in the housing and which contains a festive seasonable image; (iii) lighting means which is positioned in the housing and which is for illuminating the festive seasonal image from behind; and (iv) a viewing face which is on an opposite side of the image panel to the lighting means, and wherein: (v) the festive seasonal image is viewed through the viewing face; (vi) the festive seasonal image is defined by cut outs in the image panel; and (vii) the lighting means provides even illumination of the festive seasonal image.
2. A decorative unit according to claim 1 in which the lighting means is a plurality of light emitting diodes.
3. A decorative unit according to claim 1 or claim 2 and including current interrupter means for causing the lighting means to flash on and off and thereby cause the festive seasonable image to appear to be animated when the festive seasonal image is viewed through the viewing face.
4. A decorative unit according to claim 3 in which the animation is movement.
5. A decorative unit according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lighting means provides a single colour.
6. A decorative unit according to any one of claims 1 -4 in which the lighting means provides a plurality of colours.
7. A decorative unit according to any one of the preceding claims in which the housing comprises at least one inner compartment for enabling different parts of the housing to receive different parts of the lighting means and thereby illuminate different parts of the festive seasonable image.
8. A decorative unit according to claim 6 and claim 7 in which the different parts of the lighting means provide the different colours.
9. A decorative unit according to any one of the preceding claims and including sealing means for sealing component parts of the decorative unit
10. A decorative unit according to any one of the preceding claims in which the housing is formed in a plurality of parts, and in which the housing comprises a rear housing part and a front housing part.
11. A decorative unit according to any one of the preceding claims in which the festive seasonal image is Mary and Joseph and a donkey, sheep in a field with an angle in the sky, three wise men on camels being led by a star, or a manger scene with three wise men presenting gold, frankincense and myrrh.
12. A decorative unit according to any one of the preceding claims in which there is one festive seasonal image per decorative unit.
13. A decorative set comprising a plurality of the decorative units according to any one of the preceding claims.
14. A decorating set according to claim 13 in which the decorative set comprises four of the decorative units.