Illuminated table tent

Abstract

An illuminated table tent comprises a transparent shell with an elongate light source, adapted to direct light radially through surfaces of the transparent shell, maintained within the interior of the shell. A menu or other semitransparent or translucent document is interposed between the light source and insider surface of the transparent shell. A pressure switch is biased in an extended position from a bottom surface of the table tent base to turn the lights on when the weight of the table tent is lifted from the switch, and closes to turn the light source off when the table tent rests on the supporting surface and the switch is in a retracted position flush with the bottom surface of the table tent base. The table tent back-lights the menu for viewing only when the table tent is picked up and passed around, or turned over to form an always-on lantern; otherwise, the table tent is automatically maintained in an off position to save on battery power.

1 . An illuminated table tent comprising:
 a transparent cylindrical shell configured to retain a semitransparent or translucent document against an inside surface of the cylindrical shell, said cylindrical shell having an axis passing up through a center of the cylindrical shell;   a base coupled to a bottom of the transparent cylindrical shell and adapted to rest on a supporting surface;   a power source mounted within the base;   a light source, coupled to the power source, within an interior of the cylindrical shell and configured to direct light radially from within the cylindrical shell through exterior surfaces of the cylindrical shell so that the document retained against the transparent cylindrical shell is back-lit; and   a switch mounted within the base and configured to activate when the illuminated table tent is lifted from contact with the supporting surface to activate the light source so that the light source is turned on, otherwise interrupting the connection between the light source and the power source so that the light source is turned off.   
   
   
       2 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a pressure switch having an extended position that activates the light source and a retracted position that deactivates the light source, the pressure source being biased in an extended position so that a weight of the table tent resting on the supporting surface maintains the biased pressure switch in the retracted position but lifting the table tent from contact with the supporting surface allows the biased pressure switch to move to its extended position where the light source is activated. 
   
   
       3 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 2 , wherein the light source includes:
 one or more lights mounted within a top surface of the base, and configured to shine upward along the axis of the cylindrical shell through an elongate refractor; and   the elongate refractor being disposed within the transparent cylindrical shell along a substantial length of the axis thereof and configured to diffuse light, shining from the lights through a long axis of the refractor, in an radial direction along a length of the refractor so that the document retained against the transparent cylindrical shell is back-lit by the light source shining through the refractor.   
   
   
       4 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 1 , wherein the light source includes:
 one or more lights mounted within a top surface of the base, and configured to shine upward along the axis of the cylindrical shell through an elongate refractor; and   the elongate refractor being disposed within the transparent cylindrical shell along a substantial length of the axis thereof and configured to diffuse light, shining from the lights through a long axis of the refractor, in an radial direction along a length of the refractor so that the document retained against the transparent cylindrical shell is back-lit by the light source shining through the refractor.   
   
   
       5 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 4 , further including a cylindrical diffuser interposed between the elongate refractor and the semitransparent or translucent document. 
   
   
       6 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 1 , further including an inwardly extending ledge at a bottom of the cylindrical transparent shell on which the semitransparent or translucent document is supported. 
   
   
       7 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 1  wherein the table tent and document are sized so that a height H M  of the transparent cylindrical shell is approximately equal to a height H D  of the document and a circumference at the inside surface of the cylindrical shell is approximately equal to a width of the document. 
   
   
       8 . An illuminated table tent comprising:
 a transparent display;   a base coupled to a bottom of the transparent display;   a light source spaced from the transparent display;   a semitransparent or translucent document interposed between the transparent display and light source; and   a pressure switch coupled to the light source to deactivate the light source when the illuminated table tent rests on a supporting surface, otherwise activating the light source so that the document is illuminated for viewing through the transparent display.   
   
   
       9 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 8 , wherein the transparent display is a cylindrical shell, the document being curled up against an insider surface of the cylindrical shell so that the document is retained thereby, and the light source passes up through a long axis of the cylindrical shell. 
   
   
       10 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 9 , wherein the table tent and document are sized so that a height H M  of the transparent cylindrical shell is approximately equal to a height H D  of the document and a circumference at the inside surface of the cylindrical shell is approximately equal to a width of the document. 
   
   
       11 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 8 , wherein the transparent display is a geometric form including one selected from a group consisting of a box, cone, or pyramid, with one or more documents being retained against one or more inside surfaces of the geometric form. 
   
   
       12 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 8 , wherein the light source includes:
 one or more lights mounted within a top surface of the base, and configured to shine upward along an axis of the transparent display through an elongate refractor; and   the elongate refractor being disposed within the transparent display along a substantial length of the axis thereof and configured to diffuse light, shining from the lights through a long axis of the refractor, in a radial direction along a length of the refractor so that the document retained against the transparent cylindrical shell is back-lit by the light source shining through the refractor.   
   
   
       13 . The illuminated table tent of  claim 12 , further including a diffuser interposed between the elongate refractor and the semitransparent or translucent document.