Illuminating insert for a carrier for articles such as jack-o-lanterns and the like

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to carriers for articles such as Halloween treats and the safety issues relating to trick or treating.

#2. Description of Related Art

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the detailed description below, serve to explain the invention in greater detail.

#FIG. 1. is an isometric view of the illuminating means with the lift actuated electrical switch in conjoint use with the carrying handle.

#FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the illuminating means with an additional flashing means and a lift actuated electrical switch in conjoint use with the carrying handle.

#The following description is provided to enable anyone skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best mode of the invention. Modifications to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

#In FIG. 1, a plurality of light emitting diodes or incandescent lamps 1, inserted into screw type or bayonet sockets 2, are wired in a circuit with one or more dry cell batteries 3 secured in a suitable holding means, and mounted on the underside of a truncated cone or spheroid shaped base of rigid or semi-rigid, and preferably, translucent or transparent plastic 4 to which one end of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic handle 5 is mounted on the upper side of the base and the other end of the handle is inserted through an opening in the base, said handle end having an electrical conducting material or contact 6 attached to and around the free end of the handle and to which the wire forming one side of the electrical circuit is attached. The truncation of the cone or spheroid has two protrusions on the upper surface which protrude beyond the edge of and into the opening of the shaped hollow plastic shell in which the base is to be inserted and secured. These protrusions are directly opposite of each other and are of sufficient size and area to allow mounting of the fixed end of the handle on one protrusion and provide an opening of sufficient size on the other protrusion to allow the free end of the handle to be inserted and slide without binding. The free end of the handle should be of such length to protrude through such opening and extend below the underside of the base a sufficient distance to allow the electrical circuit to be broken when there is no lifting of the handle. Between the underside of the base and the end of the free end of the handle on which the electrical conducting material or contact is attached is a circular shaped metal contact 7 fastened to the underside of the base and having an opening through which the handle is inserted. This metal contact 7 is attached to one end of the electrical wire forming the other end of the circuit to which the contact end of the handle is attached. The opening in the circular portion of this metal contact should be of sufficient size to allow the free end of the handle to slide within it without binding when the shaped hollow plastic shell, into which the illuminating means has been inserted and secured, is lifted by the handle, yet should have an inside diameter which is smaller than the outside diameter of the electrical conducting material or contact 6 attached to the free end of the handle to prevent the free end of the handle from passing through the inside diameter of metal contact 7. When the base has been secured to the inside wall of the shaped hollow plastic shell and the shell is lifted by the handle, the weight of the shell causes the electrical contacts 6 and 7 to touch completing the electrical circuit and powering the light emitting diodes or incandescent lamps thereby illuminating the inside walls of the shell.

#FIG. 2 shows the addition of a flashing means 8 to the illuminating means shown in FIG. 1 in series with the electrical circuit which causes the light emitting diodes or incandescent lamps 1 to flash intermittently when the electrical circuit is completed by lifting the handle 5. Such flashing means are well known to those skilled in the art and usually are either a bimetallic element or solid state electronic circuit.