IES990807A2

IES990807A2 - A Fibre Optic Kit for Trees

Info

Publication number: IES990807A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Joseph O'connell; Alistair Tidey
Original assignee: Joseph O Connell
Priority date: 1999-09-28
Filing date: 1999-09-28
Publication date: 2001-04-04

Abstract

A fibre optic kit for trees is described. The kit that can be easily fitted to a tree, and is particularly intended for use with Christmas trees (12). The kit comprises a plurality of fibre optic filaments (3) which are used in conjunction with a light source (6). The kit can be adapted by the user so as to allow positioning of the fibre optic components (3) at specific locations on the tree. By positioning the filaments at predetermined positions on the branches (14) of the tree and furthermore locating the light receiving portions of the filaments at specific positions with regard to the light source (6) it is possible to effect patterns of different coloured light on a Christmas tree in a predetermined fashion. <Figure 5>

Description

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 •Jighting arrangements for such trees and the lighting arrangements available for 01 ^Bunting on artificial Christmas trees vary from fixed candles, to light bulbs to fibre Optic lighting. δ I 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 ofjjbeing 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 35 with which the specific colours at specific times.

IE990807 The disclosed fibre optic lighting arrangements for Christmas trees are complicated and need to be fitted within the Christmas tree during manufacture. There is therefore a need for 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. Furthermore, there is a need for a lighting arrangement that can be easily modified by the user so as to position the light components at specific positions on the tree. There is a further need for a lighting arrangement which will allow the user to create patterns of light on the Christmas tree.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a fibre optic kit that can be easily fitted to a tree, and in particular a Christmas tree. It is a further object of the present invention that such a fibre optic kit can be adapted by the user so as to allow positioning of the fibre optic components at specific locations on the tree. It is a further object of the present invention to allow the user to effect patterns of different coloured light on a Christmas tree in a predetermined fashion.

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 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 may have one light receiving end and one light emitting end, more preferably having two or more light emitting ends.

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

IE990807 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 can be independently removed or connected to said light source.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a fibre optic filament in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 shows an alternative fibre optic filament, Figure 3 shows a light box to be used with the fibre optic filaments of the present invention, Figure 4 is a section through the light box of Figure 3 Figure 5 shows a Christmas tree with the fibre optics of the present invention mounted thereon, Figure 6 shows a portion of the tree of Figure 5 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 a light emitting end 4, where light may be emitted from or transmitted out of, the fibre. As shown in Figure 2, it is possible to splice the central stem portion into two or more substrand filaments 5, each of which has a light emitting end 4.

IE990807 Figures 3 and 4 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 5 and 6 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 5, 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 IE990807 the tree and are then attached to the desired branch using the tie wraps illustrated in Figure 6.

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 5.

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

1. A fibre optic kit adapted to be used with a tree having a trunk and a plurality of branches, the kit comprising: 5 a) a plurality of fibre optic filaments b) means for attaching each of said plurality of fibre optic filaments to the branches and c) means for presenting each of said plurality of fibre optic filaments independently to a light source.

2. The kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein each fibre optic filament may have one light receiving end and one light emitting end, more preferably having two or more light emitting ends, 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 15 by the length of the filament.

3. The kit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the fibre optic filaments are attached to the outer portion of the branches and, travel from the light source to the branches on the exterior portion of the trunk.

4. The kit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for presenting each of the filaments independently to the light source comprises a connection means having a plurality of receiver portions, each receiver portion adapted to receive a single fibre optic filament.

5. A fibre optic kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6.