Decorative display and ornament therefor
AssigneeM. H. Segan Limited Partnership
InventorsMarc H. Segan, Michael Newsome
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A display, such as a Christmas display, comprises a plurality of ornaments (14), each including a striker (18), a pair of bells (26, 27) disposed in spaced relation from the striker (18) and a means (46) responsive to an electrical signal from a control unit (12) for moving the striker into contact with one or the other of the bells (26, 27), at least some of the bells on the ornaments having different frequencies such that sequentially striking the bells (26, 27) plays a tune, such as a Christmas carol. The ornaments are preferably distributed about a Christmas tree, though alternatively they may be placed on a flat surface.
Claims17
An ornament for inclusion in a display comprising:
- a striker movable in first and second directions, first and second tone generating means for generating corresponding first and second tones when struck, said first tone being different from said second tone, said striker being disposed between said first and second tone generating means, and moving means responsive to an electrical signal for moving said striker from a rest position to strike either of said first and second tone generating means, said striker striking said first tone generating means when moved in said first direction and said striker striking said second tone generating means when moved in said second direction, and said striker coming to rest in said rest position after striking one of said first and second tone generating means.
A display comprising:
- a plurality of ornaments, each including a striker, first and second tone generating means for respectively generating first and second tones when struck, said striker being disposed between said first and second tone generating means, and moving means responsive to an electrical signal for moving said striker from a first, rest position to either of two second positions for striking said first tone generating means in one of said second positions and said second tone generating means in the other of said second positions, said striker coming to rest in said rest position after striking one of said first and second tone generating means, at least some of said first tone generating means on said plurality of ornaments having different frequencies from said respective second tone generating means for accommodating playing of a tune by sequentially striking said first and second tone generating means;
- a control unit including means for sequentially generating electrical signals for transmission to said moving means for moving said striker in each of said plurality of ornaments to said second positions for striking said respective first and second tone generating means in a predetermined sequence for playing said tune;
- and
- transmitting means for transmitting said electrical signals from said control unit to said moving means for moving said striker in each of said plurality of ornaments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.