Portable object having a fastening band illuminated by a super thin lighting element

• US 5,746,501 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tseng L.U. Chien
• Original Assignee: Tseng L.U. Chien
• Inventors: Chien, Tseng Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/766,805
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/103, 362/104, 362/108, 362/23, 362/253, 362/806, 2/170, 2/905, 40/542, 40/544, 40/633, 368/239, 368/240, 368/281, 368/282, 368/285
• US Class Current: 362/103
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/006 with light-emitting or ornamental devices
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/00 Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps settings for holding gems or the like A44C17/02; devices for putting-on or pulling-off bracelets A47G25/901
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0053 Flexible straps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A portable object having a display and a fastening band includes, on the fastening band, a super thin lighting element. The portable object could, for example, be a wrist watch, heart monitor, or compass, and could be permanently or removably attached to the band. A power pack for the super thin lighting element is provided either in the object itself, with the super thin lighting element having centrally located contacts, or in a buckling member to thereby allow the band to be removed from the object.

Claims

1. In an arrangement made up of a portable object having a display, said display including means for displaying a variable message;

an adjustable band having two ends and adapted to be worn around a body part of a wearer;

means for mounting said object on said band; and

means for adjustably fastening the band around the body part of the wearer by fastening the two ends to each other, the improvement comprising;

at least one super thin lighting element on said band, said super thin lighting element being in addition to said means for displaying a variable message; and

means for mounting the super thin lighting element on said band.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting the object on the band comprises means for permanently mounting said object on the band.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting the object on the band comprises means for removably mounting said object on the band.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is a compass.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is a watch.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is a heart monitor.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object displays a physical parameter.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the super thin lighting element is made up of a plurality of segments having at least two terminals.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said terminals are located at a center of the super thin lighting element, wherein the band is arranged to pass through the object, and wherein a power supply for the lighting element is located in the object such that when the object is positioned over said terminals, an electrical connection is established between said terminals and the lighting element.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said terminals are located at an end of the super thin lighting element.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for adjustably fastening the band around a body part of the wearer comprises a buckle attached to one of said ends of the band, said buckle including a main body fitted with a tongue, said tongue being arranged to engage one a plurality of openings in the strap when the other of said two ends has been fitted through the buckle, wherein said super thin lighting element includes U-shaped indentations to permit passage of said tongue, and which are aligned with said openings in said band.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for fastening the band around a body part of the wearer comprises a buckle attached to one of said ends of the band, said buckle including a main body fitted with a tongue, said tongue being arranged to engage one a plurality of openings in the strap when the other of said two ends has been fitted through the buckle, wherein said super thin lighting element includes openings aligned with and larger than said openings in the band to permit easy insertion of said tongue.

13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein said openings have a variety of shapes.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for fastening the band around a body part of the wearer comprises a buckle attached to one of said ends of the band, said buckle including a main body fitted with a tongue, said tongue being arranged to engage one a plurality of openings in the strap when the other of said two ends has been fitted through the buckle.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for fastening the band around a body part of the wearer includes an adjustable bracket and VELCRO™

hook and loop fastener for fastening the band on a wearer.

16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for fastening the band around a body part of the wearer includes a bracket and a buckle for fastening the band on a wearer.

17. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is removable and has at least one slot through which the band is passed.

18. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is at least partially transparent to permit light to pass from the super thin lighting element to pass through the object.

19. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the super thin lighting element has a plurality of multi-colored segments.

20. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting the super thin lighting element on the band comprises means for fixedly attaching the lighting element to a surface of the band.

21. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting the super thin lighting element on the band comprises means for removably attaching the lighting element to a surface of the band.

22. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the super thin lighting element is sealed within an envelope attached to the band.

23. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the super thin lighting element is sealed between multiple layers of the band, a portion of at least one of which is transparent.

24. An arrangement as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one transparent layer has magnification properties.

25. An arrangement as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one transparent layer has an opening through which the super thin lighting element is visible.

26. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the super thin lighting element has printing thereon.

27. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the super thin lighting element extends along the length of the band.

28. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the band includes means for directing the light emitted therefrom.

29. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the super thin lighting element is made up of segments having a variety of shapes.

30. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is a non-electric display.

31. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is an electrical device.

32. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the band is made of a rigid material.