Flash assembly for clothing-supported jewelry

• US 4,076,976 A
• Filed: 11/26/1976
• Issued: 02/28/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Russell S. Fenton
• Original Assignee: Russell S. Fenton
• Inventors: Fenton, Russell S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gellner, M. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/745,366
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 240/6.4 W, 240/6.4 R, 63/20
• US Class Current: 362/104
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery

Abstract

An assembly for causing a piece of jewelry to emit a flashing light in which a miniature circuit board has a pair of sockets presenting spaced pin-receiving openings. Cooperating with the openings is a jewelry mounting plate having a light-emitting diode mounted on the face thereof and having a pair of sharp stiff pins of small diameter connected to the diode and spaced to coincide with the socket openings. Mounted upon the circuit board is a module in the form of an integrated oscillator circuit having its input connected to a battery and its output connected to the sockets. The sockets provide frictional retention of the pins so that upon entry of the pins into the sockets, with a layer of clothing in between, the circuit board and mounting plate are mutually captive, with the pins completing a circuit between the light-emitting diode and the output of the oscillator for periodic flashing. The piece of jewelry is mounted upon the mounting plate integrated with the light-emitting diode. Preferably the circuit board is enclosed within a small, conforming plastic box, with the front of the box having clearance openings for the pins. A switch having an arm extending through the edge of the box is preferably provided for disconnecting the battery during periods of non-use.

Claims

1. A flash assembly for clothing-supported jewelry comprising, in combination, a miniature circuit board having front and back surfaces, a pair of sockets arranged in parallel relation on the back surface and presenting spaced pin-receiving openings at the front surface, a jewelry mounting plate made of a flat piece of insulating material of a size substantially smaller than the circuit board and having a light-emitting diode projecting forwardly from the face thereof, the mounting plate having a pair of sharp, stiff pins of small diameter connected to the light-emitting diode, the pins being parallel to one another and spaced to coincide with the socket openings, the pins being in penetrating relation to the mounting plate and supported thereon cantilever fashion, a circuit module and battery on the back surface of the circuit board, the circuit module comprising an oscillator circuit having its input connected to the battery and its output connected to the sockets, a housing for the circuit board in the form of a flat box of plastic having a mated front and back closely fitted to the circuit board, the front of the box having clearance openings registering with the socket openings, the back of the box serving as a stop in the path of movement of the pins to preclude scratching of the user by the points of the pins, the sockets providing frictional retention for the pins so that upon entry of the pins into the sockets with a layer of clothing in between the housed circuit board and mounting plate are mutually captive and the light-emitting diode is electrically connected to the output of the oscillator for periodic flashing, the face of the mounting plate having sufficient surface to support a piece of jewelry in integrated relation with the light-emitting diode.

2. A flash assembly for clothing-supported jewelry comprising, in combination, a miniature circuit board, a pair of sockets arranged in parallel relation on the board and presenting spaced pin-receiving openings, a jewelry mounting plate made of a flat piece of insulating material of a size substantially smaller than the circuit board and having a light-emitting diode projecting forwardly from the face thereof, the mounting plate having a pair of sharp, stiff pins of small diameter connected to the light-emitting diode, the pins being parallel to one another and spaced to coincide with the socket openings, the pins being in penetrating relation to the mounting plate and supported thereon cantilever fashion, a circuit module and battery on the circuit board, the circuit module comprising an oscillator circuit having its input connected to the battery and its output connected to the sockets, a housing for the circuit board having a front and back closely fitted to the circuit board, the front of the housing having clearance openings registering with the socket openings, stop means to limit movement of the pins to preclude scratching of the user by the points of the pins, the sockets providing frictional retention for the pins so that upon entry of the pins into the sockets with a layer of clothing in between the housed circuit board and mounting plate are mutually captive and the light-emitting diode is electrically connected to the output of the oscillator for periodic flashing, the face of the mounting plate having sufficient surface for supporting a piece of jewelry in integrated relation with the light-emitting diode.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which the circuit board has a switch connected to the battery and in which the switch has an operator which is extended for convenient manipulation through the housing.

4. A flash assembly for clothing-supported jewelry comprising, in combination, a flat supporting member, a pair of sockets arranged in parallel relation perpendicular to the plane of the supporting member and presenting spaced pin-receiving openings, a jewelry mounting plate made of insulating material of a size substantially smaller than the supporting member and having a light-emitting diode seated on the mounting plate and projecting forwardly from the face thereof, the mounting plate having a pair of sharp, stiff pins of small diameter connected to the light-emitting diode, the pins being parallel to one another and spaced to coincide with the socket openings, the pins being secured to the mounting plate cantilever fashion, a circuit module and battery on the supporting member, the circuit module comprising an oscillator circuit having its input connected to the battery and its output connected to the sockets, the sockets providing frictional retention for the pins so that upon entry of the pins into the sockets with a layer of clothing in between, with the supporting member, sockets, circuit module and battery all hidden behind the layer of clothing, the supporting member and mounting plate are mutually captive and the light-emitting diode is electrically connected to the oscillator for periodic flashing, the face of the mounting plate having sufficient surface to support a piece of jewelry in integrated relation with the light-emitting diode.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the sockets are offset upwardly in one direction from the center of the circuit board and the battery is offset in the opposite direction so that the circuit board hangs pendulously from the pins.