US20030070572A1

US20030070572A1 - Fireworks holder with remote control firing

Info

Publication number: US20030070572A1
Application number: US09/977,153
Authority: US
Inventors: Hua Ken Tang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-12
Filing date: 2001-10-12
Publication date: 2003-04-17

Abstract

A fireworks holding device for holding fireworks in an upward direction for safely igniting the fireworks and for safely holding the fireworks so that they are fired in an upward direction. The fireworks holding device has a base, vertical supports connected to the base and horizontal supports connected to the vertical supports for contacting and holding or guiding the fireworks. The fireworks can be set off by remote control using a signal sent by a transmitter for transmitting a coded signal for setting off a selected firework. A receiver receives the signal and sends a current to an electronic match for igniting the fuse of the selected firework. The fireworks are therefore safely held and remotely ignited for increased safety of fireworks displays.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to holding fireworks used for a display and safely firing them by remote control.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently consumer fireworks are ignited by matches, incense, small propane torches, cigarette lighters, cigarette or other hand held devices. Further, these fireworks are generally not secured by any device to control the direction of firing during the firing process. This type of traditional firing and displaying procedure would occasionally cause the fireworks to fall over, change direction, or point in undesirable directions. Further hand held ignition of fuses is inherently dangerous due to the handling of fire and due to problems with fuses which may be too short or bum too fast. Under either condition, the operator and audience may not have sufficient time to leave the danger zone and avoid accidents when fireworks start shooting in an uncontrolled manner. The current firing and displaying practices are unsafe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fireworks holder with remote control firing system safely holds the fireworks and allows firing from a remote and safe location. The fireworks are first placed in a holder for securely holding the fireworks for firing in a controlled direction and for electronically connecting a remote controlled fuse lighting device. Firing of the fireworks employs a digital programmable remote control, a decoder, a dispatch junction box, an electric firing cable, and electric match. Through the digital and programmable remote control a coded signal is transmitted towards a receiving decoder. After decoding, the decoder generates an electrical current that runs through a dispatch junction box, individual electric cable and electric match for igniting the fireworks.

The electric match is made of a tungsten wire covered by an igniting explosive. The electric match is connected to the fuse of fireworks. The fireworks are secured by a fireworks holder. When an electrical current reaches the electric match through the electric firing cable, the tungsten wire generates heat causing the explosive to explode and ignites the fuse of the fireworks. The fireworks holder holds the fireworks upright to prevent it from falling during the firing and display of the fireworks. This remote control firing and securing system can remotely control the firing of secured fireworks from a safe distance, elevating the level of safety and fun in fireworks firing and display. The coded signal may be transmitted by wire or wirelessly such as infrared, laser, radio wave and ultrasonic signals.

The fireworks holder has a base portion, vertical support rods, and adjustable arms for engaging the fireworks adjustably attached to the vertical support rods or a horizontal support connected to the vertical support rods. The base portion can be a base plate or base legs. Rings on the vertical support rods or the horizontal supports can be used alone or in combination with holes in the base plates for holding rockets or roman candles.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to increase safety while using fireworks.

It is an object of the invention to provide a stand for holding fireworks safely while they are being ignited.

It is an object of the invention to hold fireworks so that they go off in a controlled direction.

It is an object of the invention to hold fireworks with an adjustable holder for any size fireworks.

It is an object of the invention to remotely ignite fireworks in a safe manner.

It is an object of the invention to remotely control the order in which fireworks are set off.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of the remote control system. [0015]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electric match. [0016]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of first embodiment of a fireworks holding stand. [0017]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of second embodiment of a fireworks holding stand. [0018]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a fireworks holding stand. [0019]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a fireworks holding stand. [0020]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a fireworks holding stand.[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention uses holding devices that secure fireworks in an upright position and creates a simple and safe to operate remote control firing system that can be safely distanced from the fireworks display area. [0022]
The fireworks remote control firing and securing system [0023] 10 (shown in FIG. 1) consists of a digital programmable remote control 111, a decoder 112, electronic firing cables 114 connecting the decoder 112 to a dispatch junction box 113, and wires 121 connecting the dispatch junction box 113 to, electric matches 115 which light fuses 116 on the fireworks 118 held in fireworks holders 117.
The digital programmable [0024] remote control 111 generates and sends a coded signal 120 to a receiving decoder 112. After decoding, the decoder 112 sends an electrical current that runs through electronic firing cables 114 a dispatch junction box 113, individual wires 121 connect to electric matches 115 which ignites fuse 116. The electric match 115 is made of a tungsten wire 26 covered by igniting explosive 27. The electric match 115 is connected to the fuse 116 of fireworks 118. The fireworks 118 are secured in an upright position by a fireworks holder 117.
The above described [0025] remote control 111, receiving decoder 112 and dispatch junction box 113 are powered by direct electrical current. The coded signal 120 may be transmitted from the remote control 111 by wire or a wireless mode such as radio waves, infrared waves, lasers or ultrasonic waves.
The [0026] remote control 111 has a digital memory and is programmable. The coded signal 120 can be transmitted to the receiving decoder 112 which may also be programmed. The programmed decoder 112 has a controller for sending signals to the correct fireworks 118, 119 to be set off depending on the coded signal 120 received. After decoding, the decoder 112 generates an electrical current, which is dispatched to a junction box 113, which in turn dispatches current to the appropriate electric match 115 for igniting the fireworks of choice. The programmed decoder can also be connected to a hi-fi system for sending signals so that fireworks display synchronized with music.
As shown in FIG. 1 there are three [0027] dispatch junction boxes 113 but any number may be used. Further each junction box may be connected to any number of electric matches 115 for setting off any number of fuses for any number of fireworks.
As shown in FIG. 2, the [0028] electric match 115 is made of a tungsten wire 26 covered by igniting explosive 27. The electric match 115 is connected to the fuse 116 of fireworks 118. When an electrical current reaches the electric match 115 through wire 121, the tungsten wire 26 generates heat causing the explosive 27 to explode and ignites the fuse 116 of fireworks.
The [0029] electric match 115 is designed for ease of use by plugging in the plastic insulator 23 into the ignition cap 28 to connect up the system. Electrical current is transmitted through wire 121 into the tubular copper conductor 22 enclosed by a female plastic insulator 23. When the male plug in connection 20 is plugged in to the female plastic insulator 23, the electrical current then passes through copper wire conductor 24 in the male plug in connection 20 housed in the ignition cap 28. The copper wire conductor 24 is enclosed by plastic insulator 25. The tungsten wire 26 is covered by a small amount of explosive 27. The tungsten wire 26 generates heat causing the explosive 27 to explode within the ignition cap 28. The minute explosion ignites the fuse 116 of the fireworks 118 which is held in fireworks holders 117.
FIGS. [0030] 3-7 show different embodiments of fireworks holders. Each embodiment has a base, vertical support rods and holding arms attached to the vertical rods for engaging and holding the fireworks in an upright position. Each of the embodiments shows different means for adjusting for the size and type of fireworks used. Optionally rings attached to the fireworks holder can be used for holding rockets or roman candles in an upright position. The ring may be attached to the vertical rod and in line with a cavity at the base.
The fireworks holder is simple and easy to use, elevating the level of safety in fireworks firing and display. [0031]
As shown in FIG. 3, the [0032] fireworks 118 can be secured in an upright position by a pair semicircular holding arms 33. The base 31 supports a vertical support rod 32. The vertical support rod 32 has at least a pair of semicircular holding arms 33 attached to it. The pair of holding arms can enclose and hold the fireworks in an upright position using the vertical support rod 32 as a support. The arms 33 can be stabilized by tightening a wing nut 34 or other nut locating near the top of the vertical support rod 32. The vertical support rod 32 would preferably be a threaded rod having tube or pipe sections 37 over it. The arms 33, are connected to some of the tube or pipe sections 37, others are used as spacers. The vertical support rings 35 on some of the tube or pipe sections 37 on the vertical support rod 32 are vertically in line with the cavity 36 locating at the base 31. When using the fireworks holder, the fireworks are placed at the center of the base 31. The holding arms 33 can then enclose the fireworks 118 by encircling them. The pair of holding arms 33 can adjust to the width of fireworks 118 being used by means of rotating the pipe or tube sections 37 on vertical rod 32. The arms 33 can also adjust their height in accordance with the heights of the fireworks by sliding up and down the vertical support rod 32 with the use of appropriate spacer tubes or pipes 37. When the fireworks 118 are secured by the arms 33 in an upright position, the arms 33 can be stabilized by tightening the nut 34 near the top of the vertical support rod 32. The vertical support rod 32 can support small pipe or tube sections 37 with vertical support rings 35 attached which can be vertically in line with the cavity 36 located at the base 31. Long shaped Fireworks such as rockets and roman candles 119 can be secured in an upright position by inserting the fireworks vertically into the vertical support ring 35 and cavity 36.
As shown in FIG. 4 the [0033] fireworks 118 can be secured in an upright position by three horizontal holding arms 43 with end bearing plates 44. The base 41 is equipped with three vertical support rods 42. Each vertical support rod 42 has one pair of horizontal holding arms 43 attached to it. The three pair of horizontal holding arms 43 can enclose and hold the fireworks 118 in an upright position using the vertical support rods 42 as support. The arms 43 are adjusted and stabilized by tightening nuts 47 located on either side of the vertical support rods 42. Vertical rings 45 attached to the vertical support rods 42 are in line with the cavity 46 located at the base 41 to hold rockets or roman candles 119 in an upright position for firing.
As shown in FIG. 5 the fireworks can be secured in an upright position by three horizontal holding [0034] arms 53 with end bearing plates 54. The base 51 is equipped with three vertical support rods 52 and a support ring 57 that can adjustably slide up and down on rods 52. The support ring 57 can be adjustable to any level by turning nuts 58 on either side of the support ring 57. The support ring 57 has three horizontal holding arms 53. The horizontal holding arms 53 can enclose and hold the fireworks 118 in an upright position using the support ring 57 as a support. The horizontal arms 53 are adjustably held in place by tightening the nuts 59 on either side of support ring 57. Vertical rings 53 attached to the support ring 57 are vertically in line with cavities 56 located at the base 51 to hold roman candles or rockets 119 in a vertical position for firing.
As shown in FIG. 6 the [0035] fireworks 118 can be secured in an upright position by six horizontal holding arms 63 with end bearing plates 64. Each horizontal holding arm 63 is adjustably attached to a support ring 67. The support rings 67 are attached to vertical support rods 62, which rest on feet 61 for engaging the ground. The feet 61 may have angle adjusting connectors 66, to adjust the angle of the feet 61 relative to the vertical support rods 62. In the embodiment shown there are three vertical support rods 62 and two support rings 67 that can be attached at various locations on rods 62 to adjust the support rings 67 and horizontal holding arms 63 relative to the fireworks 118 to be held. The support ring 67 can be stabilized at a selected level by tightening the bolts and nuts 68 extending through different apertures 168 in the vertical support rods 62. Each support ring 67 has three horizontal holding arms 63. The horizontal holding arms 63 can enclose and hold the fireworks 118 in an upright position using the support ring 67 as support. The horizontal holding arms 63 are adjustably held in position by tightening nuts 69 on the horizontal holding arms 63 on either side of support ring 67. The vertical rings 65 in this embodiment are attached to the support ring 67 such that the vertical rings are vertically in line with each other for holding rockets or roman candles in an upright position for firing.
As shown in FIG. 7, the [0036] fireworks 118 can be secured in an upright position between horizontal supports 73 and horizontal rods 74 held in place by vertical supports 72 resting on feet 71. The feet 71 are equipped with angle adjusting connectors 78, adjustably connecting the feet 71 to vertical supports 72. The fireworks 118 are held by adjusting the length of the horizontal rods 74 extending between vertical supports 72 by turning wing nuts 75. The distance between the horizontal rods 74 are adjustable by attaching the vertical supports 72 to the horizontal supports 73 by bolts 76 through selected apertures 79 in the horizontal supports 73. Similarly the height of the horizontal supports are adjustable by selecting apertures 80 in vertical supports 72 and inserting bolts 76 therethrough to secure the horizontal supports 73 to the vertical supports 72.
Vertical rings [0037] 77 attached to the horizontal supports 73 are vertically in line with each other to hold roman candles or rockets 119 in an upright position.
In the embodiment of FIG. 7 the horizontal supports [0038] 73 and the horizontal rods 74 both contact the sides of the fireworks 118 to be held and constitute the holding arms described in the claims.
Although the adjustment of the length of the holding [0039] arms 43, 53 and 63 have been shown by use of nuts 47, 59 and 69 respectively any means for adjustably holding the arms at a specified length adjustable for the size of the fireworks used is within the scope of the invention. Similarly the support rings 57 and 67 in FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively can be adjustably attached to the vertical rods 52 and 62 by any means and still be within the scope of the invention.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and [0040] 6 have three vertical supports however any number of vertical supports may be used. Similarly any number of holding arms may be used on each vertical support. Similarly the number of support rings may be changed and the rings need not be circular, they may be any shape to surround the fireworks.
Once the [0041] fireworks 118, rockets or roman candles 119 are secured in the fireworks holders in the various locations as shown in FIG. 1 the electric matches 115 are plugged in and the fuses 116 inserted into the electric matches 115 so that they can light the fuses to the fireworks 118 or roman candles or rockets 119. The wires 121 from the electric matches 115 are checked to make sure they are properly connected at the junction box 113 and then the electronic firing cables 114 are checked to make sure they are properly connecting the junction boxes 113 to the decoder. After a final safety check, insert battery into the remote control 111 and connect a power source for direct current electricity (not shown) to the decoder for distribution to the various electric matches 115.
As shown in FIG. 1 [0042] remote control 111 can transmit different coded signals 120 towards a receiving decoder 112. After decoding, the decoder 112 sends an electrical current that runs through a dispatch junction box 113 that in turn dispatches the electrical current through the individual wire 121 to the individual electric matches 115 for igniting the fuses 116 of the desired fireworks 118 or rockets 119. The remote control allows the user to set off fireworks, rockets, roman candles and the like from a safe distance. The fireworks are ignited and held in an upright position for safely fireing the fireworks, rockets or other pyrotechnics in an upward direction.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.[0043]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks comprising,

a base portion for contacting the ground,

a vertical support connected to and supported by the base portion,

an adjustable holding arm, the adjustable holding arm being horizontally adjustably attached to the vertical support for adjusting to the width of the fireworks to being held and for contacting and holding upright a container having fireworks therein, and the adjustable holding arm being vertically adjustably connected to the vertical support to adjust for the height of the fireworks to be held in place.

2. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 1 further comprising,

a ring attached to the side of the vertical support for holding a pyrotechnic device placed within the ring in an upright position.

3. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 2 further comprising,

an aperture in the base portion vertically aligned with the ring for further engaging and holding the pyrotechnic device placed within the ring.

4. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 1 further comprising,

a support ring vertically adjustably attached to the vertical supports and having the adjustable holding arm longitudinally adjustably attached to the support ring.

5. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 4 further comprising,

a ring attached to the side of the support ring for holding a pyrotechnic device placed within the ring in an upright position.

6. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 5 further comprising,

7. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 1 further wherein,

the adjustable holding arms are semicircular and pivotally attached to the vertical support, each semicircular holding arm surrounding and holding in place a portion of the fireworks to be held.

8. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 7 further comprising,

9. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 8 further comprising,

10. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 1 wherein,

the base portion is a flat solid base for supporting each vertical support and the fireworks to be held.

11. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 1 wherein,

the base portion is a foot attached to the vertical support.

12. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 1 further comprising,

a programmable remote control for sending a coded electronic signal to a receiving decoder, for receiving the coded electronic signal, decoding the signal, selecting a firework to be ignited and sending that firework a current,

an electric match for receiving the current and lighting a fuse connected to the fireworks.

13. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 12 wherein,

the electric match has a tungsten wire covered by an explosive material which ignites on heating by the tungsten wire having a current passing therethrough, such that the electric match lights the fuse of the fireworks.

14. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 2 further comprising,

15. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 14 wherein,

16. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 4 further comprising,

17. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 16 wherein,

18. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 5 further comprising,

19. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 18 wherein,

20. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 7 further comprising,

21. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 20 wherein,

22. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 8 further comprising,

23. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 22 wherein,

24. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 10 further comprising,

25. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 24 wherein,

26. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 10 further comprising,

27. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 26 wherein,

28. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 11 further comprising,

29. A fireworks holder for safely igniting and holding fireworks as in claim 28 wherein,