Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING BUILT-IN LIGHT SOURCE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support structure for
an object that has a built-in light source.
Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, certain objects have been illuminated with
light cast from above or oblique to the object, so as to show
them to be beautiful, and then to produce some stage effect.
In this lighting, light is projected not only onto the object
itself but also on the periphery thereof so that the object
and the periphery, in combination or as a whole, define an
area having the object as the center of attention and
offering a beautiful atmosphere, which thus serves the
purpose.
However, projecting light from above or obliquely in
order to show the object to be beautiful can be
disadvantageous because of the illumination of not only the
object itself but also the periphery. That is, it has been
impossible to show the inherent glittering quality of objects
themselves.
This is particularly true when light is projected
downward or obliquely onto an object such as a cocktail glass
filled with a cocktail and placed on a bar counter, or a
jewel placed on a display surface. Because the light cast
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downward or obliquely onto the glass or jewel ls diffused,
the inherent glittering quality of the object cannot be
shown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a
support structure having a light source at a position
directly below an object, such as a cocktail glass or jewel,
placed on a support, so that light ls projected directly
upward onto the object without being diffused into the
periphery. The projected light is concentrated on the object
such as a cocktail glass or jewel, thereby making it possible
to show the inherent glittering quality of the jewel or the
glass and the cocktail contained therein.
In order to achieve this object, according to the
present invention, a switch is provided at a fixed position
in a support for an-object; a recess is formed in the upper
portion of the support on which the object is to be placed; a
light source is provided at the bottom of the recess;
electrical wires are provided to connect the switch with the
light source; a convex lens is provided at an upper position
of the recess; and a transparent flat member is disposed
above the convex lens at the same height as the upper surface
of the support.
The effect achieved is even better if the support is a
bar counter or table; the convex lens has a diameter of 1.6
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cm; the light source is a miniature bulb; and/or the
transparent flat member is a sheet of glass.
When an object such as a jewel or a cocktail glass
containing a cocktail is placed on the support, and light is
projected directly upward from below, the convex lens
prevents the light from diffusing, allowing the light to be
cast only onto the jewel or the glass and the cocktail,
thereby showing the inherent glittering quality and beauty of
the object.
In order to achieve even better effects, the convex lens
should have a diameter of 1.6 cm because lenses of a greater
diameter fail to concentrate the light; and miniature bulbs
should be used as the light source. The use of a bar counter
or a table also assures a better effect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a view of a support structure having a built-
in light source according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the support
structure on which an object is to be placed; and
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, also showing objects
placed on the support of the support structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the drawings. In the illustrated
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embodiment, the support structure has a support 4 for objects
which consists of a bar counter. However, the support of the
support structure according to the present invention may be
any support for an object or objects, and a table for
supporting jewels or tableware is a suitable example. The
object or objects to be placed on the support may be any
light-transmitting object(s), and suitable examples include,
not only cocktail glasses and jewels, but also decorative
objects made of glass and glasses for containing juice, etc.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, switches 5 are provided at
fixed positions in the support 4, and are turned on when
light is to be projected, and are turned off when not needed.
Recesses are provided in the upper portion of the support 4,
or the counter, on which the objects, such as cocktail
glasses, are to be placed. In the illustrated embodiment,
these recesses are on that side of the counter where people
may be seated enjoying their drinks, that is, on the opposite
side of the switches 5. A miniature bulb 2, serving as the
light source, is provided at the bottom of each of the
recesses. Each of the switches 5 is connected with the
miniature bulb 2 by electrical wires 7, and the wires 7 are
passed through cavities 8 in the support 4, as shown in Figs.
1 and 2. A convex lens 1 is provided at an upper position of
each of the recesses. When the support 4 is a bar counter, a
proper diameter of the lens 1 is 1.6 cm in order to prevent
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diffusion of the light projected from the bulb 2. Further, a
transparent flat member 3 is disposed above each of the
recesses at the same height as the upper surface of the
support 4. The transparent flat member 3 is preferably a
sheet of glass. Objects, such as cocktail glasses 6, are
placed on the support 4 as shown in Fig. 3.
By virtue of the above-described construction of the
support structure according to the present invention, it is
possible to project light directly upward onto an object,
such as a cocktail glass or jewel, from a position directly
below it, and to concentrate the light only on the object.
As a result, if the object is a glass or jewel, it can be
more effectively shown to be beautiful by allowing the object
to glitter to an extent which has not conventionally been
possible. Even the foam in a glass of beer will glisten when
illuminated in this manner. Thus, light projected upward
onto such an object from a position directly below it,
concentrated on it, and transmitted through it allows the
inherent glittering quality of the object, such as a
container and its liquid contents, to be shown.
