US2199434A - Decorative device - Google Patents

Description

y 1940. J. c. KOONZ DECORATIVE DEVICE Filed March 30, 1938 Patented May 7, 1940 DECORATIVE DEVICE John C. Koonz, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to The Glolite Corporation, tion of Illinois Application March 30,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to decorative devices and more particularly to a novel and at-. tractive star for decorating Christmas trees, doors, windows or other parts of a building at Christmas time or whenever such a decoration is desired.

The novel device, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a central part or core portion, pref- 1 erably of metal, in which a light is located, and

point sections made of transparent glass or the like having the edges bevelled and ground, etched, sanded, sandblasted or painted, or having the narrow bands adjacent to the edges and on the plane surface of the glass ground, etched, sanded, sandblasted, painted or otherwise treated, so as to intercept and glow from the light enamating from the core or central part which illuminates the interior of the points only very faintly. Preferably a designis formed or cut in the front of the core section, the interior of which is lined with a colored material such as' Cellophane, to transmit a colored light through the cut-out section. This results in a double design, namely, a back lighted center portion and edge lighted 1; points.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a very simple and inexpensive decoration, but one which is very effective due to its unique construction. By bevelling and making the edges of the points so as to intercept the transmitted light and provide edge lighting, they create the impression of a decoration of large diameter or dimensions with a relatively small amount of material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel decorative or ornamental star having a back lighted center portion and edge lighted points giving a highly effective decorative design.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention,

55 In the drawing:

Waukegan, 111., a corpora- 1938, Serial No. 198.859 (01. 240-) Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the novel device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in rear elevation of the central back portion.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the 5 irregular line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of the mounting for the light bulb.

In the drawing of the disclosed embodiment of my invention, the decorative device is shown in 19 the form or shape of a star comprising front and back core sections 1 and 2 and glass points 3. The core sections are preferably formed of metal stampings of a suitable thickness, while the points may be of ordinary transparent glass. The edges 4 are shown as bevelled on the back side and these bevelled edges are ground, etched, sanded, sandblasted, painted or otherwise treated to intercept and reflect the light from the electric lamp or bulb 5 in the core portion of the star, 20 the remaining area of the points being only faintly, if at all, illuminated thereby. This provides edge lighting since the light which passes edgewise through the glass from the light source is ordinarily not visible, but dueto the presence of ground, etched, sanded or painted surfaces, the light is reflected and made visible.

The front stamping I is pressed outwardly from the fiat edges 6 of its periphery to form a point or apex 1 having cut-out portions 8-taking the shape of a star. Just behind these cut-out portions is shown a sheet of colored transparent material 9 to color the light transmitted throughthis cut-out portion. But if it is desired to make the back-lighted star of the same color as the 36 edge lighted star, the transparent material 9 is dispensed with and any desired color of bulb may be employed. The front stamping i is shown as five sided and the adjoining edges are bent or folded to provide fiaps or tabs ill at each end 40 thereof.

The back section or stamping 2 is also depressed to receive a light bulb or other light source, and is provided with a central opening to permit insertion of the bulb 5 and socket ll therethrough and into the chamber A between the stampings I and 2,

In order to mount the light source and socket in the section 2, the invention comprehends a mounting l2 having an annular flange l3 which conformably seats over and grips the socket H, andspring gripping fingers l4 so bent or formed as to be readily collapsed or depressed for insertion and then spring back to tensionally grip the wall of the section immediately adjacent the center and edge light in a forcing a relatively sharp 2 v spring and therebyv retain the assembly in adjusted position. Thus the socket can be readily forced into its normaloperative position, and also can be removed or. replaced when desired. This removal can be quickly accomiished by instrument between the exterior of the section 2 and the doubled flange of'the mounting. It is, of course, to be understood that other types of mountings. or fasteners may be employed to retain the bulb and/or socket in assembly.

The backstamping is disclosed as of the same the front stamping but the have their ends cut away so that when the two stampings are placed on each other in their assembled relation, the tabs I0 may be bent over to hold the two members I and 2 together in fixed position. Inactual practice the glass points are inserted before the tabs are turned over and are locked against outward movement by the tabs. Indentations or lugs l6 are pressed or stamped in the back 2 to align the points, prevent further inward movement thereof and help retain them in assembled relation.

In case it is desired to have the front of the core glow, the inner points be pressed slightly outwardly (see dotted lines in Fig. 3) and a substance l8, such as ground glass, glued or adhered to the outer face of the stamping I. may be polished, silvered or otherwise prepared to reflect light from the bulb ont'o the'outer face and cause this outer face to glow and give any desired color efiect.

It is obvious that many color combinations may be had with this device. The bulb may be of desired color and the color of the core and the design thereon may be made any desiredcontour and color. Merely changing the bulb or the insertion of suitable light transmitting material the desired color effects to the manner as previously set forth. Also the edges of the star may be varied by adding'ground glass of varying colors to the bevelled edges to give the effect of an iced surface. Or the Cellophane or light transmitting material may beextended to the edge of the point so that the light reflected to the edges thereof will be the terial. Eyelets or other attaching means i9 may also be projected from or formed on the back stamping. 2 and through which a wire or strin maybe drawn. for hanging the decoration.

Although I have disclosed one form of cpmbined centerand edge lighting, comprehends that words, pictures, letters or numbersmay be ground. etched, sand blasted or printed on one or more of the points to give novel lighting effects. I j

Having thus disclosed the invention, I clairx'il:-

l. A decorative device comprising ahousing for -jections having tape ll of the design may The inner face of the points ll through the points,

color of the transmitting mathe invention aieasss receiving a light source,

red edges and plane surfaces attached to the housing in such manner that light rays from said light source edgewise through the projections, and means at the edges only of said projections for intercepting the transmitted light rays and causing said light forwardly to cause the edges comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being provided with flat edges adapted to engage one of the sides of each flat projection adjacent the edge of the base of the same on one face thereof, said section further having tabs turned over said tapered edges and lying adjacent the opposite face of each projection and locking in fixedposition each of said projections.

2. A decorative device comprising a star having a housing for receiving alight source, transparent flat projections having a base with tapering sides formingpointsof the star and having plane surfaces attached to the housing in such manner that light rays from said light source pass edgewise through the projections, and means at the edges only of, said projections for intercepting the tr nsmitted light rays and causing said light rays to be.projected forwardly to cause the edges to glow, said. housing comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections being provided with flat edges adapted to engage one. side of each projection adjacent the base thereof,

-. said section further having tabs turned-over said tapering sides and lying adjacent the opposite face of each projectionand locking in fixed position eachof said projections. I

3. A decorative device comprising a star, a hollow housing for, receiving a light source. a design'formed in the front of said housing and having portions exte ding outwardly therefrom, transparent points of said star having plane surfaces and having a base with tapered sides attached to said hollow core in such manner that light rays from. said light source pass edgewise each point havin beveled edges extending at an angle to said plane surface for intercepting the transmitted light raysand causing said light rays to be projected'forwardly to cause only the edges to glow, saidhousing com-- prising aplurality of sections, one of. said sections being provided with flat edges adapted. to'

nt flat pro- I

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