Illuminated jewelry

• US 5,253,149 A
• Filed: 01/21/1993
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan L. Kaye, Loren D. Ostema
• Original Assignee: Jonathan L. Kaye, Loren D. Ostema
• Inventors: Ostema, Loren D., Kaye, Jonathan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US08/007,110
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103, 362/104, 362/800, 362/226, 24/705, 63/1.1, 63/12
• US Class Current: 362/104
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Illuminated jewelry connectable to a wearer as an earring, a clothes pendant or the like includes a light-emitting diode (LED) connected onto an enlarged flat base member at one end of an elongated stem. A miniature battery housing also includes a stem cavity positioned immediately adjacent and generally coextensive with the battery compartment to supportively receive and releasably retain the distal portion of the stem therewithin. The stem and housing are structured so that an electrical circuit is completed between the battery and the LED through the stem when the stem is fully inserted to the bottom of the stem cavity. In this configuration, a gap between the enlarged base member and the housing generally equal to the thickness of the wearer'"'"'s earlobe or article of clothing is defined. A transparent lens over the LED may be provided to enhance decorative illumination. The stem preferably has two detented positions within the stem cavity, the first a partially inserted position wherein the device may be held for wearing and storage without LED illumination and a second fully inserted position when the LED is illuminated.

Claims

1. Illuminated jewelry comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) connected at an end of an elongated slender stem;

said stem defined by an electrically conductive central inner shaft and an electrically conductive outer shaft, said inner an outer shafts electrically isolated one from another;

said inner shaft coextensive with said stem and defining a distal end thereof, an opposite end of said inner shaft connected to a terminal of said LED;

said outer shaft extending along said stem from a second terminal of said LED toward but not to said inner shaft distal end;

a miniature battery housing defining a compartment for receiving and holding a miniature battery therein;

said battery housing including an elongated stem cavity positioned immediately adjacent, parallel to, and generally coextensive with said compartment, said stem cavity sized to supportively receive and closely mate around a distal portion of said stem therein, said stem being in electrical contact with a battery held within said compartment when fully inserted into said stem cavity;

said stem being longer than the length of said stem cavity whereby, when said stem is fully within said cavity, a gap is defined between said LED and said battery housing generally equal to the thickness of a wearer'"'"'s earlobe or article of clothing.

2. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a transparent contoured lens connected to said stem and positioned and shaped to enclose said LED.

3. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a first detent means between said stem and said stem cavity for releasably maintaining said stem fully inserted into said cavity.

4. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a second detent means between said stem and said stem cavity for releasably maintaining a partially inserted relative position between said stem and said stem cavity whereby said stem is supported within said stem cavity during use or storage, yet electrically isolated from said battery.

5. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said LED is a microchip LED;

an electrical circuit between a positive terminal of said battery includes a microchip resistor.

6. Illuminated jewelry comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) connected at one end of an elongated slender shaft;

said stem including two electrically conductive portions electrically isolated one from another, each said electrically conductive portion in electrical communication with a terminal of said LED;

a molded miniature battery housing structured for holding at least one miniature disc-shaped battery therewithin and having a stem cavity positioned immediately adjacent and perpendicular to a plane defined by said battery;

said stem cavity supportively receiving said stem inserted therein, said housing including electrical conduit means between a terminal of said battery and one said conductive portion of said stem whereby said LED is energized when said stem is inserted fully into said stem cavity, and further comprising a first detent means between said stem and said stem cavity for releasably maintaining said stem fully inserted into said cavity and a second detent means between said stem and said stem cavity for releasably maintaining a partially inserted relative position between said stem and said stem cavity whereby said stem is supported within said stem cavity during use or storage, yet electrically isolated from said battery.

7. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

a transparent contoured lens connected to said stem and positioned and shaped to enclose said LED.

8. Illuminated jewelry comprising:

a light emitting diode connected onto a flat base member formed at an enlarged disc-shaped end of an elongated, cylindrical slender stem;

said base member defined by a generally coplaner first and second base portion each electrically isolated one from another;

said stem defined by an electrically conductive central inner shaft and an electrically conductive outer shaft which surrounds said inner shaft along a portion thereof, said inner and outer shafts electrically isolated one from another;

said inner shaft coextensive with said stem and defining a generally pointed distal end thereof, an opposite end of said inner shaft extending to and integral with said first base portion;

said outer shaft extending along said stem from and integral with said second base portion toward but not to said inner shaft distal end;

a miniature battery housing defining a compartment for receiving and holding a miniature battery therein and also defining an elongated stem cavity generally coextensive with said housing having an open end and a bottom and positioned immediately adjacent and parallel to said compartment sized to receive and closely mate around a distal portion of said stem;

said stem being in electrical contact with said battery when said stem is fully inserted into said stem cavity and said distal end is against said bottom;

said stem being longer than the length of said stem cavity whereby, when said stem is fully within said stem cavity, a gap is formed between said base member and said battery housing along said stem generally equal to the thickness of a wearer'"'"'s earlobe or article of clothing.

9. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

a transparent contoured lens connected to said stem and positioned and shaped to enclose said LED.

10. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a first detent means between said stem and said stem cavity for releasably maintaining said stem fully inserted into said cavity.

11. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

a second detent means between said stem and said stem cavity for releasably maintaining a partially inserted relative position between said stem and said stem cavity whereby said stem is supported within said stem cavity during use or storage, yet electrically isolated from said battery.

12. Illuminated jewelry as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said LED is a microchip LED;

an electrical circuit between a positive terminal of said battery includes a microchip resistor.