GB2253129A

GB2253129A - Illuminated jewellery

Info

Publication number: GB2253129A
Application number: GB9104164A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Ernest Sheed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-27
Filing date: 1991-02-27
Publication date: 1992-09-02
Also published as: GB9104164D0

Abstract

An item of jewellery, such as, an earring (1) including light emitting means (11) in the form of a miniature light bulb or LED. Such means may be provided with power in the form of a miniature battery (8) or a solar cell, with optional switching means (2, 3 and 4) for switching the light emitting means (11) on and off. In one embodiment of earring (1), the light emitting means (11) may be programmed to operate randomly or in a predetermined sequence. <IMAGE>

Description

ITEM OF JEWELLERY DESCRIPTION This invention relates to an item of jewellery and is especially, but not exclusively, related to earrings.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an item of jewellery, such as, an earring, including light emitting means.

Such means may comprise a miniature electric light bulb, a light emitting semiconducting device, such as, a light emitting diode (LED) or any combination thereof. Power for the light emitting means may be of any suitable form, such as, a miniature battery or solar cell, and the components of the light emitting means may be incorporated into the main body of, say, an earring. Alternatively, the light emitting means may be incorporated into a bracelet, necklace, necklet or like item of jewellery.

Switch means may be provided for switching the light emitting means on and off. Also, said means may be programmed, by means of, say, a micro chip, to switch on and off at random or in any given sequence.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of an item of jewellery in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic side view of a pendant-type earring.

Referring to the drawing, a pendant-type earring, designated generally at 1, comprising a stud 2 and associated wire 3 upon which is received a normal retainer 4, the stud, wire and retainer all being made of an electrically-conductive material, such as, silver or gold.

Attached to the stud/wire 2, 3 and to the retainer 4 are respective conductors 5, 6 which act as hangers for the main body 7 of the earring 1.

The conductor 6 is connected to one terminal 9 of a miniature battery 8, whilst the other conductor 5 is connected to the other terminal 10 of the battery 8 via a miniature light bulb 11.

The body 7 of the earring 1 is cast from a transparent or semi-transparent plastics material, such as, polyurethane resin, in which the miniature battery 8, bulb 11 and lower portions of the conductors 5, 6 are embedded.

The stud 2, wire 3 and retainer 4 constitute switch means for the battery 8 and bulb 11, in that when they are assembled together upon the ear of a wearer, the corresponding electric circuit is in its ON condition. When the earring 1 is removed from the ear of a wearer, the retainer 4 is removed from the wire 3, such that the associated circuit is in its OFF condition.

It is to be appreciated that the miniature battery 8 can be replaced by any suitably miniaturised electric power source and that the miniature bulb 11 can be replaced by, say, an LED or other suitably miniaturised miniaturised light emitting device.

Further, the switch means, constituted in the preferred embodiment described above by the stud 2, wire 3 and retainer 4, may also be replaced by any other suitable switch device. For instance, the main body 7 of the earring one may be in two-part form, such that, when the two parts are connected together, the associated circuit is in its ON condition and, when not in use, the two parts are separated, such that the circuit is in its OFF condition. Alternatively, a miniaturised, manually-operable switch may be included in the circuit.

Moreover, the light emitting means may be powered by solar energy, in which case, solar panels for converting light into electrical energy may be associated with the item of jewellery and may be used independently of or in conjunction with another power source, such as a battery. If the former, then the battery may be omitted.

It is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to an earring but may be incorporated in any item of jewellery, such as, a bracelet, necklace or brooch and that the light emitting means may comprise a plurality of light emitting sources and may be programmed to operate randomly or in a predetermined sequence.

Claims

1. An item of jewellery including light emitting means.

2. An item of jewellery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a miniature light bulb, a light emitting semiconducting device or a combination thereof.

3. An item of jewellery of claimed in claim 2, wherein the light emitting semiconducting device is a light emitting diode.

4. An item of jewellery as claimed in any preceding claim including power for said light emitting means.

5. An item of jewellery as claimed in claim 4, wherein said power is in the form of a miniature battery or solar cell.

6. An item of jewellery as claimed in any preceding claim including switch means for switching said light emitting means on and off.

7. An item of jewellery as claimed in claim 6, wherein said light emitting means is programmed to switch on and off at random or in a given sequence.

8. An item of jewellery as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light emitting means is programmed by a micro chip.

9. An item of jewellery as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the components of said light emitting means are incorporated into a main body of the item.

10. An item of jewellery as claimed in any prceding claim in the form of an earring.

A1. An item of jewellery as claimed in claim 10 hwerein the stud, wire and retainer of the earring constitute switch means for a battery for powering said light emitting means.

12. An item of jewellery as claimed in claim 10, wherein the main body of the earring is in two-part form, such that, when the two parts are connected together, the associated circuit is in its ON condition and, when separated, the associated circuit is in its OFF condition.

13. An item of jewellery as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main body thereof is cast from a transparent or semi-transparent plastics material, with the components of said light emitting means being embedded therein.

14. An earring substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.