Chemiluminescent light source

Abstract

A glow stick carrier comprising one or more openable containers for carrying at least one substance.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a casing; a cavity; a first solution disposed within said casing; a breakable ampoule disposed inside of said casing in contact with said first solution, said breakable ampoule comprising a second solution; a substance container comprising dimensions such that at least a portion of said substance container fits within said cavity; a cap; said substance container configured to be openable and closable via said cap; and wherein said casing is configured to be manipulated without itself breaking while said breakable ampoule disposed inside of said casing is configured to be broken by such manipulation, and wherein said breakable ampoule is configured to release said first solution into said second solution upon breaking.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a third solution disposed within said substance container; a second breakable ampoule disposed within said substance container in contact with said third solution; and a fourth solution disposed within said second breakable ampoule; and wherein said substance container is configured to be manipulated without itself breaking while said second breakable ampoule disposed therein is configured to be broken by such manipulation and wherein said second breakable ampoule is configured to release said third solution into said fourth solution upon breaking.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said third solution comprises a chemiluminescent reagent.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fourth solution comprises a chemiluminescent reagent capable of producing luminescence when mixed with said third solution.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and said second solutions react to produce light of a first wavelength and wherein said third and said fourth solutions react to produce light of a wavelength that is different from said first wavelength.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first solution comprises a chemiluminescent reagent.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second solution comprises a chemiluminescent reagent capable of producing luminescence when mixed with said first solution.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substance container protrudes from said cavity.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substance container is attachable to said cavity.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said substance container comprises a threaded portion that screws into said cavity.

11. An apparatus comprising: a casing; a cavity; a first solution disposed within said casing; a breakable ampoule disposed inside of said casing in contact with said first solution, said breakable ampoule comprising a second solution; a liquid container comprising dimensions such that at least a portion of said liquid container fits within said cavity; a cap; and said liquid container configured to be openable and closable via said cap; and wherein said casing is configured to be manipulated without itself breaking while said breakable ampoule disposed inside of said casing is configured to be broken by such manipulation, and wherein said breakable ampoule is configured to release said first solution into said second solution upon breaking.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising: a third solution disposed within said liquid container; a second breakable ampoule disposed within said liquid container in contact with said third solution; and a fourth solution disposed within said second breakable ampoule; and wherein said liquid container is configured to be manipulated without itself breaking while said second breakable ampoule disposed therein is configured to be broken by such manipulation and wherein said second breakable ampoule is configured to release said third solution into said fourth solution upon breaking.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first solution comprises a chemiluminescent reagent.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second solution comprises a chemiluminescent reagent capable of producing luminescence when mixed with said first solution.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said liquid container protrudes from said cavity.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said liquid container is attachable to said cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematic of an off-the-shelf glow stick;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention comprising a flexible, hose-like container wrapped around a glow stick;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) As used throughout this application, the term phosphors means substances that radiate visible light when they are energized, for example, calcium sulfide with strontium sulfide with bismuth as an activator to yield blue light or strontium sulfide to obtain red light.

(11) As used throughout this application, the term substance can include any solid, liquid, gas, or combination thereof. In one embodiment, the term substance can optionally include but is not limited to a substance which can be for an opportune usefor example, candy for a child's party, or liquor or lube for adults at a night club.

(12) As used throughout this application, the term carrier means one or more containers for carrying any substance or object, whether solid, liquid, gaseous, combinations thereof, and the like.

(13) As used throughout this application, the term finishes refers to the outer or inner surface texture or appearance produced by a treatment, coating, or color printing.

(14) As used throughout this application, the term glow stick refers to a self-contained, short-term light-source, preferably made from a translucent plastic tube comprising isolated substances that, when combined, make light through chemiluminescence, or light sources that can substitute these sources, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED) integrated with a container for a solid, liquid, gas, or combinations thereof.

(15) As used throughout this application, the term attachment means any means of attaching, disposing, coupling, or affixing a container to a glow stick, including but not limited to, gluing, snapping, hanging, taping, stapling, tying, etc.

(16) Referring to FIG. 1, a common glow stick is shown generally comprising cylindrical housing 10, comprising chemoluminescent reagent holding area 12, which is filled with first reagent 14. Second reagent 16 is contained in fragile ampoule 18, which resides also in chemoluminescent reagent holding area 12. Rupture of fragile ampoule 18 through some sort of manipulation, e.g., bending cylindrical housing 10, causes the two reagents to mix and produce chemiluminescence. Some commercially available glow sticks are manufactured as a single piece injection molded body that comprises a projection at one end providing coupling means, e.g., a hook, to hang the glow stick from a lanyard or the like. However, many glow sticks comprise caps 20 and 22 at their ends, wherein cap 22 comprises said projections. In FIG. 1, cap 22 comprises a projection defining eye 24, and hook 27 for hanging.

(17) Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, glow stick 28 has disposed around it flexible hose-like container 30. Container 30 can, in some embodiments, comprise one or more caps 32. Container 30 can be manufactured of flexible materials such as, but not limited, to plastic and in diverse colors. In a preferred embodiment, container 30 is translucent and/or transparent. In a different embodiment, container 30 is made from a combination of different materials in diverse patterns. Some of these materials can diffract or conduct light, like optic fiber, to create visual effects as the light emitted from glow stick 28 passes through container 30. In one embodiment of the present invention, flexible container 30 wraps around glow stick 28. Container 30 is secured to glow stick 28 in any manner, including via entrapment of ends of flexible container 30 at or near the bottom and top ends of glow stick 28, for example, with a modification on caps 34 and 36 to allow the ends of container 30 to, for example, snap on, or be tucked under caps 34 and 36. Other means to secure the ends of container 30 to the ends of glow stick 28, include but are not limited to, snapping mechanisms, glue, rubber bands, etc.

(18) Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, in a different embodiment of the invention, glow stick 42 is surrounded by one or more carrier tubes 44. Carrier tubes 44 may be molded into one piece or can be attached to one another by conventional means such as glue, tape, etc., or be held in place, for example, with one or more tube holders 51 (see FIG. 5), which preferably comprise a plurality of snapping projections 49, preferably adapted to hold each carrier tube 44 and allow them to be snapped on and off. Preferably, glow stick 42 is slipped into and out of a group of carrier tubes 44. Optionally, each one of carriers 44 is taken apart from the group one at a time as desired. In one embodiment of the invention, tube holders 51 are molded on the glow stick caps. Other means of holding carrier tubes 44 together and dispose them on glow stick 42 include but are not limited to glue, rubber bands, etc. In one embodiment, a group of one or more carrier tubes 44 are attachable to glow stick 42 itself. In one embodiment, a group of one or more carrier tubes 44 spins around glow stick 42 with, for example, bearings.

(19) Carrier tubes 44 are preferably sized and optimized to carry diverse items, for example, cigarettes and/or other tobacco products. Preferably, the shape, size, and properties of carrier tubes 44, and their arrangement around glow stick 42 depend on context and the use for the apparatus. For instance, glow sticks for an emergency kit may have a carrier associated with them comprising first aid supplies. In a different embodiment, a glow stick to be used at a children's birthday party may have candy, party favors such as small toys, and/or a soapy solution to make bubbles with a carrier tube cap adapted with a bubble blower, etc. Carrier tubes that hold liquids or gases are adapted for such purposes with, for example, gaskets, appropriate thickness, etc. Carrier tubes 44 can be adapted to carry many different things, e.g., but not limited to, drugs and pharmaceuticals where the local laws permit them, tools, flowers, jewelry, survival supplies, food, cosmetics, bullets, drinks, espionage equipment, electronics, seeds, money, other carriers, etc.

(20) Preferably, carrier tubes 44 comprise one or more caps 48 or other means to make them openable/closable. Alternatively, carrier tubes 44 are one-time use, disposable containers. Preferably, one cap of glow stick 42 comprises projection 50, defining eye 52 to preferably accommodate lanyard 54 so that users can hang the apparatus around their necks. In a preferred embodiment, carrier tubes 44 are at least partially transparent. In a different embodiment, a light element, for example an LED light source, replaces glow stick 42.

(21) Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, according to one embodiment of the present invention, glow stick 60 comprises casing 62, made for example of plastic commodity resins such as PVC, PE, PS, Nylon, Rubber, Silicon, or Vinyl (but not limited thereto). Casing 62 comprises, chemoluminescent reagent holding area 64, which comprises first solution 66, for example, phenyl oxalate and fluorescent dye, and breakable ampoule 68 inside of it. Breakable ampoule 68 is filled with second solution 70, for example, a hydrogen peroxide solution, for chemiluminescence. When breakable ampoule 68 is broken through some type of manipulation, e.g., squeezing or bending casing 62, second solution 70 is released and mixes with first solution 66, reacting to produce chemiluminescence. Glow stick 60 also preferably comprises cavity 72 which can be, in one embodiment, cylindrical in shape. Cavity 72 can accommodate container 74 of a shape that fits in it for a substance such as, but not limited to, liquor, paint, candy, antibiotic ointment, hand sanitizer, intimate lubricant (lube), etc.

(22) In a different embodiment container 74 can contain third solution 76, for example a solution comprising a phosphor, preferably of a different wavelength to create different fluorescent colors inside container 74, and breakable ampoule 77 comprising fourth solution 75, for example a hydrogen peroxide solution for chemiluminescence when ampoule 77 is broken and the solutions are mixed. In one embodiment, container 74 protrudes form the cavity 72, for example, for visual effects. Optionally, container 74 comprises means to attach to cavity 72. For example container 74 can comprise threaded portion 78 that threads to cavity 72 to remain in place. Optionally, container 74 comprises one or more caps 79 or other means to make it openable/closable, and/or means to dispense its contents, for example, a squeeze dispenser for lotions, hand sanitizers, candy, etc.

(23) Also disclosed are methods of distributing substances along with a glow stick. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a glow stick with a cavity that can accommodate a container for the substance, placing the container for the substance in the cavity, and distributing the combined product.

(24) In a different embodiment, the method comprises providing an ordinary glow stick, disposing a container of a substance on the glow stick, and distributing the combined product.

(25) Also disclosed are methods of distributing substances in a container comprising an LED light comprising manufacturing a container with an LED light integrated or detachable, filling up the container with the substance or product, and distributing the resulting combined product.

(26) Also disclosed is a method of promoting products and services comprising affixing advertisements to a glow stick combined with a container of a substance or a solution comprising a phosphor of a different wavelength than the glow stick to create different fluorescent colors around or inside a glow stick, or a container for a substance comprising an LED light, and distributing it.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(27) The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

Example 1

(28) A glow stick comprising a plastic casing was filled with phenyl oxalate and fluorescent dye. A glass vial containing a hydrogen peroxide solution for a chemiluminescent reaction when broken was placed inside the plastic casing. The glow stick had a cylindrical cavity in its middle where a lube container was placed to be sold as a single unit for use at night clubs.

Example 2

(29) A flexible hose-like container was filled with liquid candy, wrapped around a glow stick, and secured at the top and bottom of the glow stick with modified caps that could accommodate the ends of the flexible hose-like container. The combined product was marketed as a single unit for use during Halloween night.

Example 3

(30) A container comprising six capped, openable, long test tube-like containers was disposed on a glow stick to form a glow stick carrier apparatus. The six containers were secured to the glow stick through modified glow stick caps that had snapping projections to hold each tube. The tubes could be detached individually. The tubes were labeled with promotion text and filled with liquor to be promoted. The apparatus was marketed as a single unit.

(31) The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples.

(32) Note that in the specification and claims, about or approximately means within twenty percent (20%) of the numerical amount cited.

(33) Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.