Illuminating necklace

• US 7,393,113 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steve Damrau
• Original Assignee: Steve Damrau
• Inventors: Damrau, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US11/677,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20070297164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103, 362/104, 362/108, 362/184, 362/231, 362/237, 362/242, 362/249, 362/251, 362/252, 362/391, 362/806, 63/11.1, 63/12
• US Class Current: 362/104
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/005 Necklaces ornamental chains A44C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00

Abstract

An illuminated necklace. The necklace has a plurality of ornamental lamp fixtures, some of which include light emitting devices therein. The light emitting devices are switched on and off in excess of 100 times per minute. The ornamental lamp fixtures may be provided in the shape of shamrocks, hearts, pumpkins, a bulbous form, or other desired shapes. The light emitting device may emit light of the same or of a different color than the ornamental lamp fixture in which it is housed.

Claims

1. An illuminated necklace, comprising:

a plurality of ornamental lamp fixtures,

an elongated flexible support member, said elongated flexible support member adapted for attachment to at least some of said plurality of ornamental lamp fixtures;

at least some of said ornamental lamp fixtures further comprising a light emitting device;

at least some of said ornamental lamp fixtures not having a light emitting device, and wherein said at least some of said ornamental lamp fixtures not having a light emitting device further comprise an attachment base secured to said elongated flexible support member;

a battery housing, said battery housing comprising a positive battery contact and a negative battery contact and containing at least one battery;

a pair of flexible electrical conductors, said pair of flexible electrical conductors wrapped about said elongated flexible support member, said pair of flexible electrical conductors electrically attached to each of said light emitting devices, said pair of flexible electrical conductors arranged to supply power from said battery to said light emitting devices;

an electrical power switching circuit, said electrical power switching circuit intermittently providing a differential voltage between a first one and a second one of said flexible electrical conductors, thereby energizing and de-energizing said light emitting devices, so that a blinking illuminated necklace is provided.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said ornamental lamp fixtures comprises a fixture body, said bodies providing a visual impression of substantially identical size and shape.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of ornamental lamp fixtures are of the same color as a light emitting device located therein.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of ornamental lamp fixtures are of different color than a light emitting device located therein.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ornamental lamp fixtures comprise a transparent orange pumpkin shaped design.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said pumpkin shaped design further comprises a pumpkin face comprising a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ornamental lamp fixtures comprise a transparent green shamrock shaped design.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ornamental lamp fixtures comprise a transparent red heart shaped design.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ornamental lamp fixtures comprise a bulbous shaped design.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the color of one of said plurality of ornamental lamp fixtures is selected from one of the following:

(a) red or pink;

(b) brown;

(c) violet or purple;

(d) green;

(e) blue;

(I) gray or silver;

(g) orange;

(h) yellow or gold;

or

(I) black.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the color of light emitted from one of said light emitting devices is selected from one of the following:

(a) red or pink;

(b) violet or purple;

(c) green;

(d) blue;

(e) white;

(I) orange;

or

(g)yellow or gold.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible member comprises a thread.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of said light emitting devices blink in unison.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the rate of blinking is at least 100 times per minute.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rate of blinking is between about 130 times per minute and about 170 times per minute.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein between each ornamental lamp fixture having light emitting device therein, two or more ornamental lamp fixtures are provided not having a lamp therein.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising 6 or more light emitting devices, wherein said 6 or more light emitting devices of said ornamental lamp fixtures emit light simultaneously when electrically energized.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said battery housing further comprises an on-off switch.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of batteries is provided, and wherein said plurality of batteries is disposed in series fashion within said battery housing.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19, further comprising a flexible battery casing, said battery casing comprising a tubular member sized and shape for receiving in close mating engagement said plurality of batteries, said tubular member arranged so that first and second electrical contact surfaces of said batteries remain exposed outside of said tubular member, said flexible battery casing sized and shaped for securing said plurality of batteries within said battery housing.