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US006615520B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,615,520 B2
Landers, Jr. et al. (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 9,2003
(54) LIGHTED ARTICLE WITH BRIGHTLY
ILLUMINATED INDICIA AND METHOD OF
FABRICATING SAME
(75) Inventors: Elorian C. Landers, Jr., Sugarland, TX (US); Stephen L. Landers, Surfside Beach, TX (US); Eric R. Sotelo,
Houston, TX (US)
(73) Assignee: Geewhiz.com, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/842,701
(22) Filed: Apr. 27, 2001
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2002/0157292 Al Oct. 31, 2002
(51) Int. CI.7 A44C 3/00; G09F 13/18;
G09F 13/04; G09F 3/00
(52) U.S. CI 40/546; 40/564; 40/1.5;
40/334
(58) Field of Search 40/546, 124.02,
40/442, 541, 542, 564, 582, 1.5, 330, 334,
627, 634
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,968,584 A * 7/1976 Kingston 40/546
4,903,172 A * 2/1990 Schoniger et al 40/546
5,433,024 A * 7/1995 Lerner 40/546
5,755,506 A * 5/1998 Ray et al 40/1.5
5,950,340 A * 9/1999 Woo 40/564
6,299,372 Bl * 10/2001 Wang 40/334
6,341,440 Bl * 1/2002 Lee 40/541
6,357,890 Bl * 3/2002 Parsons et al 362/116
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—S. Joseph Morano
Assistant Examiner—-Jason R. Bellinger
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—McGinn & Gibb, PLLC
(57) ABSTRACT
A lighted article has a base with a receptacle and a display panel having indicia inscribed thereon and at least one orifice. The display panel is inserted into the receptacle and a lighting element having a light source protruding up from the receptacle is inserted into the orifice for illuminating the indicia on the display panel. The lighted article brightly illuminates the indicia without illuminating other parts of the display panel.
27 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
