Illuminated rope
View Patent ↗Numerous embodiments of an illuminated rope include various principles of illuminating translucent objects and wrapping or enclosing the objects with a translucent rope or the like to create attractive illuminated displays. Some embodiments comprise one or more flexible or rigid strands or lengths of radially emitting solid fiberoptic material which is lighted at one or both ends, with a sleeve or wrap of translucent rope or the like surrounding the fiberoptic material. Other embodiments comprise flexible or rigid hollow translucent tubes containing a string of lights therein, with translucent rope material surrounding the hollow illuminated tube. A series of illumination and control modules allows the color output of the devices to be varied as desired, and a series of modular connectors enables two, three, or more of the illuminated ropes to be connected together. Further embodiments comprise hollow, translucent, internally lighted three-dimensional shells or sculptures wrapped with translucent rope.
1. An illuminated rope comprising:
at least one translucent fiber optic core;
at least one light source selectively emitting light through said at least one translucent fiber optic core;
said at least one translucent fiber optic core emitting the light received from said at least one light source radially therefrom; and
at least one externally disposed elongate component of translucent rope surrounding and enclosing said at least one translucent fiber optic core, diffusing light emitted therefrom and having a continuously and uniformly lighted appearance when said at least one light source is activated
said translucent fiber optic core comprises at least one elongate strand of fiber optic material having a first end and a second end opposite said first end; and
said at least one strand of fiber optic material is selected from the group consisting of flexible and rigid strands of fiber optic material; and
said at least one light source is disposed at a corresponding said end of said at least one translucent fiber optic core.
2. The illuminated rope according to claim 1 , wherein said translucent rope is a stranded fiber selected from the group consisting of a braided rope having a hollow core with said translucent fiber optic core disposed within said hollow core of said braided rope, and solid twisted rope spirally wrapped about said translucent fiber optic core.
3. The illuminated rope according to claim 2 , further including at least one pattern woven into said braided rope.
4. The illuminated rope according to claim 1 , wherein:
said at least one translucent fiber optic core has a solid acrylic core.
5. The illuminated rope according to claim 1 , further including:
at least one portable modular adapter for removably connecting at least one said end of said translucent fiber optic core thereto, said portable modular adapter having components selected from the group consisting of a light source for said translucent fiber optic core, an electrical power unit for said light source, and a color illumination adjustment device for adjusting the illumination color of said translucent fiber optic core.
6. The illuminated rope according to claim 5 , wherein:
said portable modular adapter further includes at least one receptacle selected from the group consisting of bayonet, pin and socket, and plug and socket connection receptacles; and
each said end of said translucent fiber optic core further includes a fitting compatible with and designed to mate with said at least one receptacle of said portable modular adapter.
7. The illuminated rope according to claim 4 , further including:
a wall outlet plate having a configuration for removably receiving at least one said end of said translucent fiber optic core; and
a light disposed within said wall outlet plate, for selectively illuminating said at least one end of said translucent fiber optic core when installed therein.
8. The illuminated rope according to claim 7 , wherein:
said wall outlet plate further includes at least one connection receptacle selected from the group consisting of bayonet, pin and socket, and plug and socket connection receptacles; and
each said end of said translucent fiber optic core further includes a fitting compatible with said connection receptacle of said wall outlet plate.
9. The illuminated rope according to claim 4 , further including an elongate bending element disposed within said translucent stranded fiber component enclosing said translucent fiber optic core, for selectively bending and setting to hold said translucent fiber optic core and said translucent stranded fiber component to form a pattern as desired.
10. The illuminated rope according to claim 1 , further including at least one connector for removably connecting at least a first end and a second end of at least one said translucent fiber optic core to a second translucent fiber optic core.
11. The illuminated rope according to claim 10 , wherein:
said at least one connector further includes a plurality of translucent fiber optic core end receptacles therein;
said translucent fiber optic core end receptacles of said at least one connector are selected from the group consisting of bayonet, pin and socket, and plug and socket connection receptacles; and
each said end of said at least one translucent fiber optic core further includes a fitting compatible with said translucent fiber optic core end receptacles of said at least one connector.
12. The illuminated rope according to claim 1 , further including a translucent tubular overlay disposed externally about and surrounding said translucent rope.
13. The illuminated rope according to claim 12 , wherein said translucent fiber optic core comprises a hollow, three-dimensional sculpture.
14. The illuminated rope according to claim 1 , further including:
a support structure, said at least one light source being installed about said support structure; and
wherein said translucent fiber optic core comprises a plurality of translucent shell portions installed about and substantially surrounding said light source and said support structure; and
wherein said translucent rope is installed upon and surrounds said translucent fiber optic core.
15. The illuminated rope according to claim 1 , wherein:
said translucent fiber optic core comprises a freestanding, hollow, three-dimensional sculpture;
said light source comprises at least one light installed within said sculpture; and
said translucent rope is installed upon and surrounds said translucent fiber optic core.
16. An illuminated rope comprising:
at least one translucent fiber optic core;
at least one light source selectively emitting light through said at least one translucent fiber optic core;
said at least one translucent fiber optic core emitting the light received from said at least one light source radially therefrom; and
at least one externally disposed elongate component of translucent rope surrounding and enclosing said at least one translucent fiber optic core, diffusing light emitted therefrom and having a lighted appearance when said at least one light source is activated
said translucent fiber optic core comprises at least one elongate strand of fiber optic material having a first end and a second end opposite said first end; and
said at least one strand of fiber optic material is selected from the group consisting of flexible and rigid strands of fiber optic material; and
said at least one translucent fiber optic core comprises a hollow tube; and
said at least one light source comprises a plurality of spaced apart lights disposed internally within said hollow tube.
17. An illuminated rope and connector therefor, comprising in combination:
at least one elongate fiber optic strand having a first end and a second end opposite said first end;
a translucent stranded fiber consisting of rope, cord or twine constructed of a material other than fiber optic;
at least one light source selectively emitting light through said at least one fiber optic strand;
said at least one fiber optic strand emitting the light received from said at least one light source radially therefrom;
said translucent stranded fiber surrounding and enclosing said at least one fiber optic strand, diffusing light emitted therefrom and having a continuously and evenly lighted appearance when said at least one light source is activated;
a connector body having at least two illuminated rope end connector sockets, said sockets communicating with one another and forming at least one light passage through said connector body; and
wherein each said end of said at least one fiber optic strand is configured for connecting with a corresponding one of said connector sockets of said connector body.
18. The illuminated rope according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a connector for connecting an end of said illuminated rope with a second illuminated rope, comprising:
an illuminated rope connector body having at least two illuminated rope end connector sockets therein, wherein said connector sockets communicate with one another and form at least one light passage through said connector body.
19. The illuminated rope connector according to claim 18 , wherein:
said at least two connector sockets are selected from the group consisting of two, three, and four sockets; and
said connector sockets include illuminated rope end fittings selected from the group consisting of bayonet, pin and socket, and plug and socket end fittings.