Mood-enhancing illumination apparatus

Abstract

An illumination apparatus includes a housing having an outer perimeter and at least one opening having a periphery. The illumination apparatus also includes at least one light source and at least one light-altering device. The light source is adjacent one of the periphery and the outer perimeter. The light-altering device is adjacent the other one of the periphery and the outer perimeter, for receiving and altering light from the light source. The illumination apparatus can be positioned relative to another component such that at least a portion of the another component is within the opening.

1 . An illumination apparatus comprising a housing including an outer perimeter and at least one opening having a periphery, at least one light source adjacent one of the periphery and the outer perimeter, and at least one light-altering device adjacent the other one of said periphery and said outer perimeter, for receiving and altering light from the light source.  
     
     
         2 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light-altering device includes a surface having a plurality of facets.  
     
     
         3 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light-altering device alters the light by at least one of refracting, reflecting, diffracting, and dispersing.  
     
     
         4 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes positioned along at least a portion of the housing's outer perimeter, and wherein the light-altering device is positioned along at least a portion of the opening's periphery.  
     
     
         5 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes positioned along at least a portion of the opening's periphery, and wherein the light-altering device is positioned along at least a portion of the housing's outer perimeter.  
     
     
         6 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode positioned adjacent the opening's periphery, and at least one other light-emitting diode positioned adjacent the housing's outer perimeter, and wherein the light-altering device includes a first light-altering device positioned along at least a portion of the opening's periphery, and a second light-altering device positioned along at least a portion of the housing's outer perimeter.  
     
     
         7 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter of the housing is generally circular, and wherein the periphery of the opening is generally circular.  
     
     
         8 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter of the housing is generally rectangular, and wherein the periphery of the opening is generally rectangular.  
     
     
         9 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light-altering device includes indicia configured to receive light from the light source such that the light produces a representation of the indicia onto an external surface adjacent the illumination apparatus.  
     
     
         10 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially fluid-tight and the light source is positioned within the housing such that the illumination apparatus is usable underwater.  
     
     
         11 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an internal faceted surface, and wherein the light-altering device comprises the internal faceted surface of the housing.  
     
     
         12 . An illumination apparatus comprising a housing configured in a generally annular shape having a central opening, at least one light source, and at least one light-altering device including a surface having a plurality of facets positioned relative to the housing and the light source for receiving and altering light from the light source.  
     
     
         13 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode positioned adjacent one of a periphery of the opening and an outer perimeter of the housing, and wherein the at least one light-altering device includes at least one faceted surface adjacent the other one of said periphery and said outer perimeter.  
     
     
         14 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein an outer perimeter of the housing is generally circular, and wherein a periphery of the opening is generally circular.  
     
     
         15 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein an outer perimeter of the housing is generally rectangular, and wherein a periphery of the opening is generally rectangular.  
     
     
         16 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the light-altering device includes indicia configured to receive light from the light source such that the light produces a representation of the indicia onto an external surface adjacent the illumination apparatus.  
     
     
         17 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the housing is substantially fluid-tight and the light source is positioned within the housing such that the illumination apparatus is usable underwater.  
     
     
         18 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the housing includes an internal faceted surface, and wherein the light-altering device comprises the internal faceted surface of the housing.  
     
     
         19 . A method of using an illumination apparatus having a housing including at least one opening, at least one light source, and at least one light-altering device positioned relative to the housing and the light source for receiving and altering light from the light source, the method comprising positioning the illumination apparatus relative to another component such that at least a portion of the another component is within the opening.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning the illumination apparatus includes positioning the illumination apparatus against a lip of a recessed lighting fixture, and substantially aligning the opening with an opening defined by the lip.