Lighted bead necklace

• US 6,296,364 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Big Easy Blends, LLC
• Original Assignee: Big Easy Blends, LLC
• Inventors: Relf, Jeffery T., Jackson, Leslie, Day, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US09/437,048
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 302/103, 302/104, 302/184, 302/227, 302/249, 302/252, 302/800, 302/806
• 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

A light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration having a plurality of ornamental beads that each define opposed slots for receiving the beads on an elongate thread. At least one light source is enclosed within one of the beads. The elongate thread extends through the opposed slots of the beads in sequence and distal ends connect together to define a looped article of wearing apparel. The necklace has pendent with a circuit for generating an electrical signal for illuminating the light source to provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace. A method of assembling a light-emitting beaded necklace is disclosed.

Claims

1. A light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising:

a plurality of ornamental beads adapted for being strung onto a thread, including ornamental beads having light sources therein and ornamental beads not having light sources therein, wherein there is at least one ornamental bead not having a light source therein between all adjacent ornamental beads having light sources therein;

an elongate thread which receives the beads in sequence and having distal ends connected together at distal ends to define a looped article of wearing apparel;

means for generating an electrical signal for illuminating the light sources in the beads,

whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace.

2. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pendent of ornamental appearance attached to the thread in the sequence of beads.

3. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 1, wherein the beads each have opposed slots for receiving the thread.

4. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 1, wherein the ornamental beads having light sources therein are larger than the ornamental beads not having light sources therein.

5. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 1, wherein there are at least three ornamental beads not having light sources therein between all adjacent ornamental beads having light sources therein.

6. A light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising:

a plurality of ornamental beads adapted for being strung onto a thread, including ornamental beads having light sources therein and ornamental beads not having light sources therein;

an elongate thread which receives the beads in sequence and having distal ends connected together at distal ends to define a looped article of wearing apparel;

means for generating an electrical signal for illuminating the light sources in the beads,

whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace; and

a pendent of ornamental appearance attached to the thread in the sequence of beads, wherein the means for generating an electrical signal is disposed within the pendent.

7. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 6, wherein the means for generating an electrical signal comprises:

a source of electrical power;

a pair of electrical conductive members connected between the source of electrical power and the light sources.

8. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 7, further comprising means for activating the light sources in a pattern of flashing on and off.

9. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 8,

wherein the means for activating activates the light sources in at least one sequential pattern of flashing on and off.

10. An elongate thread bundle, for joining together in a sequence of thread bundles to form a light emitting necklace with at least one of the thread bundles attached at one respective end to a controller having a source of electrical power for powering a light source, comprising:

an elongate tether member having distal ends with securing members disposed thereon whereby the tether is engagable at the distal ends to portions of a necklace;

at least one pair of electrically conductive members having distal ends for connecting a light source to a source of electrical power; and

a jacket for enclosing the tether member and the conductive members, the distal ends of the pair of conductive members extending outwardly of opposing ends of the jacket for connecting in sequence to the light source and to another thread bundle, for assembling a necklace.

11. The thread bundle as recited in claim 10, wherein the light source is held within a bead that communicates light therefrom, the beads being attached to the tether and enclosing electrical connections of the conductive members and the light source.

12. A light emitting necklace, comprising:

at least two threaded bead assemblies joined together to define a necklace, each bead assembly comprising;

an elongate thread bundle having a tether and at least two signal members for communicating electrical signals, and at least one of the signal members defining a common member;

at least one bead that defines opposing slots whereby the bead is strung onto the thread bundle; and

at least one light source adapted for attaching to the thread bundle at one end thereof by engaging a respective distal end of the tether and connecting the light source to the common member and to a selected one of the signal members, the remaining signal members and common member for being connected to mating signal members and common member in an adjacent thread bundle; and

signal means for generating electrical signals for illuminating each of said light sources in a sequence,

whereby the signal members connect to the signal means for communicating electrical signals to the light sources.

13. A method of assembling a light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising the steps of:

(a) electrically connecting together at least two threaded bead assemblies, each bead assembly comprising;

an elongate thread bundle having a tether and at least two signal members for communicating electrical signals, and at least one of the signal members defining a common member;

at least one bead that defines opposing slots whereby the bead is strung onto the thread bundle; and

at least one light source adapted for attaching to the thread bundle at one end thereof by engaging a respective distal end of the tether and connecting the light source to the common member and to a selected one of the signal members, the remaining signal members and common member at the one end for being connected to mating signal members and common member in an adjacent thread bundle, the common member and signal members connected to a electrical signal source; and

(b) generating electrical signals by the signal source for illuminating each of said light sources in a sequence,

whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of enclosing the light source in a light-transmissive bead attached to one end of the threaded bead assembly, whereby the electrical connections arc enclosed within the light-transmissive bead.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of forming a stop at respective distal ends of the tether by securing a distal end portion of the tether to a plate.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of securing the tether to a light-transmissive bead that encloses the light source by engaging the stop to a slotted plate in the light-transmissive bead.

17. A light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising:

a plurality of ornamental beads adapted for being strung onto a thread, including ornamental beads having light sources therein and ornamental beads not having light sources therein, wherein there is at least one ornamental bead not having a light source therein between all adjacent ornamental beads having light sources therein;

an elongate thread which receives the beads in sequence and having distal ends connected together at distal ends to define a looped article of wearing apparel;

means for generating an electrical signal for illuminating the light sources in the beads,

whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace, wherein

the ornamental beads having light sources therein are larger than the ornamental beads not having light sources therein.

18. A light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising:

a plurality of ornamental beads adapted for being strung onto a thread, including ornamental beads having light sources therein and ornamental beads not having light sources therein;

an elongate thread which receives the beads in sequence and having distal ends connected together at distal ends to define a looped article of wearing apparel;

means for generating an electrical signal for illuminating the light sources in the beads,

whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace; and

a container attached to the thread in the sequence of beads, wherein the means for generating an electrical signal and a power supply arc disposed within the container.

19. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 18, wherein the ornamental beads having light sources therein are larger than the ornamental beads not having light sources therein.

20. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 18, wherein there are at least three ornamental beads not having light sources therein between all adjacent ornamental beads having light sources therein.

21. The light-emitting necklace as recited in claim 18, wherein the container comprises a pendent.