Illuminated jewelry

• US 5,504,664 A
• Filed: 01/11/1995
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan L. Kaye
• Original Assignee: Jonathan L. Kaye
• Inventors: Ostema, Loren D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US08/371,157
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 362/104, 362/103, 362/105, 362/106, 362/800, 362/194, 429/98, 429/99
• US Class Current: 362/104
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 closely mate with the distal portion of the stem therewithin through the use of an intermediate semi-rigid plastic tube secured within the stem cavity. The intermediate tube frictionally acts upon the stem to hold the stem at any desired depth into the tube. 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. A carbon-impregnated conductive rubber contact pad extends between one end of the battery and the stem to provide a controlled resistive restraint upon electrical power drain from the battery to the LED for extended battery life.

Claims

1. In Illuminated jewelry including 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 being 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, the improvement comprising:

a conductive elastomeric contact pad extending between one terminal of said battery and said stem for resistive restraint upon electrical current drawn from said battery to said LED to extend the useful life of said battery.

2. In a battery-powered device including a battery housing defining a compartment for receiving and holding a battery therein and an electrical battery power-absorbing member which converts electrical current drawn from said battery for use, said battery housing also including a first and second electrical contact for electrical interconnection between each terminal of said battery and said battery-power absorbing member, the improvement comprising:

a conductive elastomeric contact pad extending between one terminal of said battery and said battery power-absorbing member for resisting restraint upon electrical current drawn from said battery to said battery power-absorbing member to extend the useful life of said battery.