US2412379A - Decorative illuminated device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1946. A. ABRAMsoN DECORATIVE ILLUMINATEQ DEVICE Filed June 9, 1945 INVENTOR. v Flbr h m Hbramsm Patented Dec. 10, 1946 naconarrvn ILLUMINATED DEVICE Abraham Abramson, New York, N. Y., assignor to Raylite Electric Corp., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York I I Application June 9, 1945, serial No..5as,569

This invention relates to improvements in illuminated devices, and more particularly. is directed to devices of the character described which'provides continuous unbroken streams of flowing vapor in a body of transparent liquid embodied in the operation and construction of illuminated ornamental and decorative display devices such as for Christmas tree lighting, signs and the like.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve devices of the character described in which a simplified construction of few and easily assembled parts are required, which shall be economical to manufacture especially in quantity production, which shall be positive and reliable in operation requiring a minimum of external heat supply, and which shall be practical and efficlent to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features 7 Claims. '(01. 240-10) device IIlconstructed to embody the invention I forming a Christmas tree lighting ornament may be made in appearance to simulate in outline, form, shape and size-that of a candle. j

In one form of the invention, shown in detail in Fig.2. the tube bottom end I Ia may be moded mally required for the liquid I2.

Christmas tree lighting outfit constructed to embody the invention. r i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view of the integral vapor current generating means as shown in Fig. 1, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views to Fig. 2 showing two modified constructions of vapor current genor otherwise formed toprovide spacedflrecesses No on the interior side thereof, The tube body II contains a readilyvolatilizable liquid I2. such as ether or wood alcohol but preferably a translucent liquid which has a like relatively normal low boiling point but which is non-inflammable. The liquid I2 maybeplaced in the tube bod II through the top end IIb thereof before fusing the latter for hermetically sealing the-liquid I2 therein at a level short'of said top end IIb so as to leave a space I3 therein as shown in Fig. 1. The space I3 above theliquid I2 in the tube body I I may be evacuated before said tube top end I I b is sealed to permit lowering the boili g oint nor- S aid space I 3 constitutes a condensing and heat dissipating means for the device I0.

The recesses IIc formed in said lower bottom end Ila, each rovides a focal point to s rve as a source orbeginning for the generation of a continuous current. that is. an unbroken stream I4 of vapor extending upwardly through the liquid column I2 on the application of i1luminat 7 ing heat as for example by an incandescent elec- In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the invention is shown vapor extending as waving bands through a liquid with the Improved ornamental illuminated device III having the lower bottom end He of the tube sleeve holder or connector ll made of fiber, glass,

plastic or any other non-combustible material;

.The lower end lid of the sleeve holder I1 fits snugly over the lamp bulb I5a and the upper end I") fits snugly over the lower bottom tube body end I I l SQ that said holder IIprovides a relatively He is thus disposed directly over the source of f heat and light which in this instance is the glowing lamp filament lib.

In practising the invention, assuming the socket IS in position on a Christmas tree (not shown) or arranged for other decorative display purposes and connected in an electric circuit power supply (not shown) for lighting the lamp I5, heat and light radiated from the lamp fi18,-

ment I 5b herein referred to asradiant illumi nated heating, is effective to cause the generation of vapor currents with each of the recesses Ho as a focal point when the heat from. said lamp filament b is maintained to a sufficient degree to generate vapor at a rate to make the flow thereof continuous in an unbroken stream' or streams through'the liquid column. The portion IIc of the sleeve holder II between .the lamp bulb I51: and the tube body end Ila serves as a' conduit to confine the heat conducting medium therein for producing the aforesaid degree of heat with a 1 minimum heat producing source.

Light beams from lamp filament I5'b are'pro jected longitudinally the length of, each of said flowing current I4 which forms a waving illu minated band as seen from the exterior of the tube body I land shown inFig. 1. As each of the recesses IIc cause a separate flowing current I4, those currents together appear to either interlace, entwine or emerge into fluttering ribbons thereby forming contrasting attractive activated lighting eflects in the liquid column. j

The lighting of bulb I5 also illuminates the side wall of the transparent tube body II to the top end Hb thereof and imparts the appearance suggestive of allghted candle.

It has been found that the construction, shape, size, depth and spacing of the recesses Il c are effective to control the cross sectional shape, contour and general fluttering path of the flowing, stream or streams of the continuous unbroken currents l4 whereby a relatively large range of composite illuminating activatedstreamer effects are made available. 7

The column of volatile liquid I2 within .the .tube body II which is preferably under, less than atmospheric pressure because of the evacuated space I3 above the level of the liquid I2, has an external illuminating radiant heat applied, as by l means of a suitable heat source, such as the glow-i ing filament Nb of lamp I5, which acts to focus. the effect thereof on the portion of, the liquid at the tube bottom end I la at each of the recesses a vapor streaming current from each of said re- 1 seen to sparkle in a waving or fluttering ribbon stream suggesting in activity rapid dancing movements. Within a wide range of heat supplied such movements can bemade to appear more or less active as desired. Each of the various recesses Ilc generates an individual current I4, as; above described which may be located so as to interlace, entwine or merge thereby forming in- I2 condense and disappear.

. 4 tricately contrasting and attractive lighting effects.

The vapor forming currents Ilonreachingthe space I3 after passing through the liquid column vapors return to the liquid in body II for replenishing the same to continue the cycle of operations above described as long .as said illuminating radiant heat from lamp filament lBb applied. a

In Fig. 3 a modified detailed construction of the-invention is shown in which there is provided bottom end 2Ia of a tube body 2|. Hereinstead of providingrec'esses '1 I0 as in bottom tube end fIIa shown in Figs. 1 and 2, spaced protuberances Zlc of the same or irregular formation are in tegral molded or formed to project up from the interior walls of said bottom tube end 2 Ia. Each of said protuberance 2Ic serves as a focal point or generating source of a continuous stream of unbroken current 24 similar in all respects to the continuous flow of currents I4. in the device In as described above; 1 g. 4 still another 2 Icin tube end'2l as shown in Fig.3, the interior side of bottom tube "wall'tlcis-resurfaced'by etching, sandblasting, molding or otherwise'to rents I4 and 24 described above.

While in the above described manner of operation a continuous unbroken stream current of fiowingvapor is produced in the liquid body, the

novel construction may-alsobe utilized for producing'a flow of bubbles in a-stream by applying lnsufi'iclent heat to form said continuous'stream;

current from the various focal points.

It is to be understood'that the modified con-j structi'ons shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be =as-q sembled in holders 'II and'supportingly mounted on incandescent lamp I5 in the same manner as have been described for device Ill. The manner of operation described for device I0 above is equally applicable to said modified forms in pigac tising the invention. 7

. It is therefore seen that there is improved device in which the objects of the in:

. vention are achieved and which are well adapted tomeet all conditions of practical use.

As various possible'embodiments may be made in the aboveinventionl for use for different pur{ poses, and as various changes, might be madein the embodiments above set forth, it is understood that all the'abovematters here set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as'illustrative andnot in alimiting'sense.

Thus having described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire toflsecure by- Letters Patent:

I. A device of f the character described com prising -a sealed transparent bo'dy,a volatile liquid partially filling'said body, the unfilled portion of said body being under reduced atmospheric"; pressure, means incorporated in the interior wall of said body immersed in the liquid to provide'a focal point serving as a source for generating an unbroken current ofvapor for passing through the liquid toprodu'ce an activated light vcifect.v and a heating and illuminating means of sufii;

The condensed;

modified detailed con-1. struction embodying the invention is shown in the form of bottom end '3I 'of a tube body 3| which instead of providing recesses I Icas intube' end I la shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or a protuberance provided I cient heating capacity to produce said generated vapor current light eiIect positioned adjacent said first mentioned means.

2. A device of the character described comprising a sealed transparent body, a volatile liquid partially filling said bo means incorporated in the interior wall of said body immersed in the liquid to provide a focal point serving as a source for generating an unbroken current of vapor for passing through the liquid to produce an activated light effect, and a heating and illuminating means of sufllcient heating capacity to produce said generated vapor current light effect, positioned adjacent said first mentioned means.

3. The device defined in claim 2 in which said first mentioned means includes a plurality of auas'lc 7. The device defined in claim 2 in which said last mentioned means comprises an incandescent lamp, and which includes a supporting holder for coupling the lamp to said transparent body, said holder confining the radiant heat passing from the incandescent lamp to concentrate on said focal point.

ABRAHAM ABRAMSON.

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