초록 ▼

A lighted item generally includes a light-conducting or light-transmission portion integrally defining one or more indicia and a light-transmissive portion. The lighted item also includes at least one light source positioned to emit light into the light-conducting portion, which, in turn conducts or

A lighted item generally includes a light-conducting or light-transmission portion integrally defining one or more indicia and a light-transmissive portion. The lighted item also includes at least one light source positioned to emit light into the light-conducting portion, which, in turn conducts or transmits light to the indicia for highlighting the indicia. Light is also conducted or transmitted through the light-conducting portion to the light-transmissive portion for highlighting an element, such as an edible or confection, that is in engaged to the light-conducting portion.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A lighted item comprising a light-conducting portion including one or more indicia having at least one side edge portion, a light-transmissive portion, an edible engaged to the light-transmissive portion, and at least one light source positioned to emit light into the light-cond

What is claimed: 1. A lighted item comprising a light-conducting portion including one or more indicia having at least one side edge portion, a light-transmissive portion, an edible engaged to the light-transmissive portion, and at least one light source positioned to emit light into the light-conducting portion such that the light-conducting portion conducts light emitted by the light source to the at least one side edge portion of the indicia thereby highlighting the indicia and such that the light-conducting portion conducts light emitted by the light source through the light-transmissive portion thereby highlighting said edible, whereby light emitted by the light source is channeled within a material thickness of the light-conducting portion generally at the at least one edge portion of the indicia, and the light-conducting portion having means for inhibiting light from inadvertently escaping out of the light-conducting portion thereby increasing the amount of available light that highlights the indicia, wherein the one or more indicia are integrally formed at a sufficient depth into the light-conducting portion for altering light emitted by the light source into the light-conducting portion. 2. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein the one or more indicia are integrally formed into the light-conducting portion at an acute angle relative to a direction at which light emitted by the light source is transmitted through the light-conducting portion. 3. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein the edible includes one or more indicia highlighted by light emitted by the light source and passing through the light-transmissive portion into the edible. 4. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein the edible is reactive to ultraviolet light, and the light source includes an electric light source that emits ultraviolet light for highlighting the edible. 5. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein the lighted item produces colored light having a color corresponding to a flavor of the edible. 6. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein the lighted item includes a holding device coupled to the edible, the holding device including at least one sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the at least one sidewall including the one or more indicia and the light-conducting portion, wherein the light source is disposed within the holding device to emit light into the at least one sidewall, whereby light emitted by the light source is channeled generally between the inner and outer surfaces of the at least one sidewall generally at the at least one edge portion of the one or more indicia for highlighting the indicia, and wherein the holding device defines a power source receptacle configured to receive at least one power source and electrically connect the power source to the light source. 7. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed within the light-conducting portion, and wherein the light-conducting portion defines a power source receptacle configured to receive at least one power source and to electrically connect the power source to the light source. 8. The lighted item of claim 7, wherein the light-conducting portion includes at least one flexible portion coupled to a switching device such that movement of the flexible portion switchably connects the light source to the power source. 9. The lighted item of claim 1, further comprising electrical terminals external to the lighted item for switchably connecting the light source to a power source when a user's body electrically connects the terminals to one another. 10. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein said means for inhibiting light comprises a substantially opaque portion of the light-conducting portion. 11. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein said means for inhibiting light comprises a reflective portion of the light-conducting portion. 12. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein said means for inhibiting light comprises a faceted portion of the light-conducting portion. 13. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein said means for inhibiting light comprises a portion of the light-conducting portion configured to conduct at least some of the light through the interior of the light-conducting portion by successive internal reflections. 14. The lighted item of claim 1, wherein the lighted item includes at least one graphic element, and the indicia are positioned to accentuate at least a portion of the graphic element when the indicia are highlighted by light emitted by the light source. 15. A lighted item comprising a light-conducting portion including one or more indicia having at least one side edge portion, an element engaged to the light-conducting portion, a light-transmissive portion, and at least one light source positioned to emit light into the light-conducting portion such that the light-conducting portion conducts light emitted by the light source to the at least one side edge portion of the indicia thereby highlighting the indicia and such that the light-conducting portion conducts light emitted by the light source through the light-transmissive portion thereby highlighting said element, whereby light emitted by the light source is channeled within a material thickness of the light-conducting portion generally at the at least one edge portion of the indicia, and the light-conducting portion having means for inhibiting light from inadvertently escaping out of the light-conducting portion thereby increasing the amount of available light that highlights the indicia, wherein the indicia are responsive to black light, and the light source includes an electric light source that produces black light for highlighting the indicia. 16. The lighted item of claim 15, wherein said means for inhibiting light comprises a substantially opaque portion of the light-conducting portion. 17. The lighted item of claim 15, wherein said means for inhibiting light comprises a reflective portion of the light-conducting portion. 18. The lighted item of claim 15, wherein said means for inhibiting light comprises a faceted portion of the light-conducting portion. 19. The lighted item of claim 15, wherein said means for inhibiting light comprises a portion of the light-conducting portion configured to conduct at least some of the light through the interior of the light-conducting portion by successive internal reflections. 20. A lighted item comprising a light-transmissive element, at least one light source positioned to emit light through the light-transmissive element, one or more indicia etched into the light-transmissive element to receive light emitted by the light source via the light-transmissive element and to alter the light for highlighting the indicia the indicia being etched at a sufficient depth into the light-transmissive element such that the light is captured by one or more edges of the indicia, and an edible coupled to the light-transmissive element to receive light emitted by the light source via the light-transmissive element for highlighting the edible, wherein the indicia are etched into the light-transmissive element at an acute angle relative to a direction at which light emitted by the light source is being transmitted through the light-transmissive element. 21. The lighted item of claim 20, wherein the indicia are etched into the light-transmissive element at an acute angle of about forty-five degrees relative to the direction of travel of the light.