WO2005084477A1

WO2005084477A1 - Sound activated light-illuminated ornament

Info

Publication number: WO2005084477A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/000388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vidit Nagory
Original assignee: Vidit Nagory
Priority date: 2004-02-03
Filing date: 2004-02-17
Publication date: 2005-09-15

Abstract

The present invention relates to bead necklaces having sound activated illuminated beads for ornamental decoration of persons especially at festivals and more particularly, the present invention relates to a sound activated bead necklace which lights embedded lights inside the beads that glow in sync with the sound like music, speech playing at that time.

Description

SOUND ACTIVATED LIGHT-ILLUMINATED ORNAMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to sound activated light-illuminated ornament. More particularly, the present invention relates to bead necklaces having sound activated illuminated beads for ornamental decoration of persons especially at festivals. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a sound activated bead necldace which has lights embedded inside the beads that glow in sync with sound like music, speech playing at that time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ornamental decorations are often used at public events, festivals, parties, parades, and the like, to enliven the activities and enjoyments of the attendees. Among these well-known events are Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve events, Christmas parades, and other such celebratory public and private events. The ornamental decorations include signage, flags, hats, stylized costumes, and special jewelry and apparel decorations including buttons and necklaces. The manufacture and sales of such special articles and decorations has become a significant business. Attendees often purchase these special articles and decorations from stores, shops, and street vendors.

One type of such ornamental decoration is beaded necklaces. These necklaces typically use brightly colored, faceted beads strung onto an elongate cord for wearing around the neck. For example, many persons appearing on floats and in the streets during Mardi Gras parades wear such beaded necklaces, and often, persons on floats throw additional necklaces to persons observing the parades. Persons attending such events often use as one measure of evaluating their enjoyments based on the number of different necklaces "won" or received during the parade. The beaded necklaces also typically include enlarged, stylized pendents that celebrate the particular sponsors of the floats or generally relate with text and/or graphics to the events. Other similar beaded necklaces for festival participants are available from stores and street vendors.

To promote the excitement and enjoyment of the attendees, the beads are highly stylized and often reflect ambient lights such as from the floats, street lights, and shops along the parade route. The beads often are unitary articles with faceted faces and are made of brightly colored or shiny plastics. The beads have opposing openings through which a cord extends, whereby the beads are strung together on the cord to form the necklace. To provide ornamental lighting effects, elongate plastic tubes containing light-generating chemicals have been used. The tubes form closed loops by engaging short connectors on the opposing ends so that the light-emitting loops may be worn around the neck or in the hair of attendees. Heretofore however, additional lighting has not been used directly in the beaded necklaces.

Accordingly there is a need in the art for providing improved bead necklaces having light sources for ornamental decoration of festival attendees. It is to such that the present invention is directed.

A reference may be made to US Patent No. 6,578,971 which describes an illuminated bead necklace for wearing in such festival seasons. The major disadvantage of the aforesaid US Patent is that the illumination of the lights embedded in the beads is independent of the music being played outside. The beads glow in a automatic way and their glow is not connected to the music being played.

The necklace in accordance with the aforesaid US Patent comprises of two chains joined together by an electrical signal generating circuit and a power source. The necklace comprises of two independent strings one connected on a right side of the signal generating means and the other connected on a left side of the signal generating means. Each of these strings has 7 beads with lights embedded inside them and 2 to 3 beads without lights inside them are sandwiched between two alternative light embedded beads.

There is a common positive wire for each string, which is connected to the positive of each of the 7 LED's embedded inside the beads. This common positive wire of the left string is connected to the positive wire of the power source. The positive wire of the power source is also connected to the left string of the signal generating means. The connection is such that a connection between the positive of the battery and the positive of the power supply for each of the 7 LED's on the string and also forms a connection between the positive the positive input of the circuit and the battery. There is also a ground wire running from the battery source up to the circuit that connects the circuit to the ground of the power source. This ground wire can be placed wither in the left string or the right string.

Then for each LED on both the strings there is a wire running down to the circuit. It should be noted that the wires from the first LED in both the left and the right string connect together and then to the circuit, so that the first LED in both the strings glow together. Similarly, the wires from the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and the seventh LED on each string connect together and then to the circuit. It is envisaged that by providing a necklace which glow in sync with the music being played outside, the number of beads being sold can be increased. Also, such sound activated bead necklace can be worn to discos and other places of enjoyment.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide a sound activated light-illuminated ornament.

Another object of the present invention is to provide sound activated light illuminated bead necklace which has lights embedded inside the beads and which glow in sync with the sound like music, speech playing at that time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the need in the art by providing a sound activated light- emitting ornament.

More particularly, the present invention meets the need in the art by providing a sound activated light-illuminated ornament, comprising one or more light sources embedded inside or disposed on a face_. of an ornamental device, one or more ornamental devices having light source therein and optionally one or more ornamental devices not having light source therein being strung onto an attaching means to define an ornament and for attaching the ornamental devices to a person or an article of clothing; a means for generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music being played around for illuminating the light sources in the ornamental device. The sound activated light-emitting ornament of the present invention can be configured as a chain, a necklace, a bracelet, a ring, a waist gear, a clothing pin, a hair pin, a belly light, a head wear, a belly chain or an ankle wear.

The present invention also provides a sound activated light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration comprising a plurality of ornamental beads that each define opposed slots. At least one light source is enclosed within the beads. An elongate thread extends through the opposed slots provided in the beads in sequence. The thread has distal ends that connect together to define a looped article of wearing apparel such as a chain, a necklace, a bracelet, a ring, a waist gear, a clothing pin, a hair pin, a belly light, a head wear, a belly chain or an ankle wear. The ornament essentially includes means for generating an electrical signal which is in sync with the sound or music being played around for illuminating the light source in one of the beads, in order to provide a sound activated lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a sound activated light-emitting necklace that has at least two-threaded bead assemblies joined together to define a necklace. Each bead assembly comprises 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 two beads are received on the bead assembly. The bead assembly has 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 being connected to mating signal members and common member in an adjacent thread bundle. The necklace essentially includes means for generating electrical signals which is in sync with the sound or music being played around for illuminating each of said light sources in a sequence.

Objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention and claims in view of the appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a beaded necklace with illuminative beads according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the circuit connection between in the illuminated bead necklace using a LM3915N IC chip.

FIG. 3 (a) shows a first part of the circuit connection between in the illuminated bead necklace using a LM324 IC chip.

FIG. 3 (b) shows a second part of the circuit connection between in the illuminated bead necklace using a LM324 IC chip. Figures 4 (a) to (e) shows the procedure for making one string of the chain. Figure 5 shows bead specification of the chain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order to meet the main object of the present invention, there is provided a sound activated light-emitting ornament comprising: one or more light sources embedded inside or disposed on a face of an ornamental device, one or more ornamental devices having light source therein and optionally one or more ornamental devices not having light source therein being strung onto an attaching means to' define an ornament and for attaching the ornamental devices to a person or an article of clothing; a means for generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music being played around for illuminating the light sources in the ornamental device, whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate in synch with ,the sound or music being played around, provide a sound activated lighted ornamental effect to the ornament.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ornament is configured as a chain, a necklace, a bracelet, a ring, a waist gear, a clothing pin, a hair pin, a belly light, a head wear, a belly chain or an ankle wear.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the ornament is configured as a necklace having a pendent, a bracelet, a belt, a .clothing pin, a hair pin, a head wear, a belly wear or an ankle wear. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ornamental device is a transparent or translucent container.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the container has opposed slots for receiving the attaching means.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the container has one or more light sources of same color or of different colors. In a further more embodiment of the present invention, the container has two or more ■ light sources of different colors.

In one more embodiment of the present invention, the light source is an LED. In one another embodiment of the present invention, the ornamental devices having light sources therein are larger than the ornamental devices not having light sources therein.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there are at least three ornamental devices not having light sources therein between all adjacent ornamental devices having light sources therein.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the means for generating an electrical signal comprises: a source of electrical power; a circuit comprising a sound detecting means for capturing the sound or music and generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music; a pair of electrical conductive members connected between the source of electrical power, the circuit and the light sources. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the circuit for generating the electrical signal comprises of a microphone for capturing the sound or music, a signal amplifier for amplifying the signal being generated by the microphone, a RC component used as an envelope detector for charging a capacitor using the envelope signal and a comparator component for selectively providing electrical signals to the LED's. In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sound activated 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 optionally ornamental beads not having light sources therein, wherein one or more ornamental bead not having a light source therein is sandwiched between two 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; a means for generating an electrical signal which is in sync with the sound or music being played around for illuminating the light sources in the beads, whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate in synch with the sound or music being played around, provide a sound activated lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sound activated light-emitting beaded necklace further comprises a pendent of ornamental appearance attached to the thread in the sequence of beads.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the beads each have opposed slots for receiving the attaching means.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ornamental beads having light sources therein are larger than the ornamental beads not having light sources therein.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, there are at least three ornamental beads not having light sources therein between all adjacent ornamental beads having light sources therein.

In one more embodiment of the present invention, the means for generating an electrical signal comprises: a source of electrical power; a circuit comprising a microphone for capturing the sound or music and generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music; a pair of electrical conductive members connected between the source of electrical power, the circuit and the light sources.

In one another embodiment of the present invention, the circuit for generating the electrical signal comprises of a microphone for capturing the sound or music, a signal amplifier for amplifying the signal being generated by the microphone, a RC component used as an envelope detector for charging a capacitor using the envelope signal and a comparator component for selectively providing electrical signals to the LED's.

The present invention more preferably provides a sound activated 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 which is in sync with the sound or music being played around for illuminating the light sources in the beads, whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate in sync with the sound or music being played around, provide a sound activated 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 the electrical signal is disposed within the pendent.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the means for generating an electrical signal comprises: a sound detecting means for detecting the sound or music and generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music; an amplifier for amplifying the signal generated by the sound detecting means; a combination circuit means connected to the output of the amplifier for controlling the time period of glow of the light emitting device, and a comparator network receiving signal from the combination circuit means and connected to the light emitting device.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the overall view of the light-emitting necklace in accordance with the present invention. The necldace includes a plurality of light-emitting beads and conventional non-illuminative beads. The illuminated and non-illuminated are threaded or strung onto a cord that includes electrical signal members for communicating electrical current to actuate the light-emitting beads. A pendent connects by a tri-bead to the necklace. The pendent defines a slot for receiving a portion of the tri-bead and through which the cord passes into the pendent. In a preferred embodiment, the pendent includes a circuit board comprising a microphone and a circuit for analyzing the sound picked up by the microphone for selectively activating the light-emitting beads. The circuit board can also comprise an additional light source which emits light outwardly of a front face of the pendent. In the illustrated embodiment, the circuit board 22 connects to a pair of the cords and more particularly, to electrical members and a tether in the cord. The pendent may selectively include a text and ornamental graphics on the front face or a side wall of the pendent reflective of a celebratory event, for example, Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve, or other festival or celebration. The pendent 16 can be of any shape such as circular disk, a rectangle, a sphere etc.

A battery compartment selectively receives batteries for providing electrical power to the circuit board and for the light-emitting beads. A pair of wires connect between the battery compartment and the circuit board for communicating electrical current to the circuit board. A button extends through an opening defined in the battery compartment and bears against a switch on the circuit board. It is appreciated that other switching mechanisms may be gainfully used in accordance with the present invention.

The circuit of the present invention comprises of a microphone that takes in the sound and generates a signal. This signal is then amplified using an amplifier. The amplified signal is then used to light up the LED's. After the microphone signal is amplified a RC combination is used as an envelope detector. The envelope detector uses the signal and charges a capacitor. The RC combination gives a time constant so that the effect of the sound such as a drum beat is evident for a longer period of time and is not ephemeral. In simple words, if this RC circuit is not used the LED's will light up really fast and then turn off fast. But with this RC combination, the LED's light up fast but take a longer time to turn off so that the effect of the sound beat is more prominent and noticeable.

After the RC combination the signal goes to a comparator network that drives the LED's. In this comparator network higher the voltage (more the sound) the more LED's are switched on. So that when sound music is being played in the background, the LED's seem to glow with the music.

The procedure for making connection for one side of the bead chain (a string) as shown in figure 4 (a) is described here below.

Step (a): Take 8 LED's and solder a long wire to the ground pin of each LED as illustrated in Figure 4 (b).

Step (b): Take one long naked wire and (i) solder it to the long pin (also called as + pin) of the LED as illustrated in Figure 4 (c) and (ii) Take the second LED and solder the live wire to the + pin of the second LED as illustrated in Figure 4 (d).

Step (c): Repeat the same procedure to make the entire chain with 7 LED's. Cut all the big + pins of the LED's and the chain is formed as shown in figure 4 (e).

The chain thus obtained has a bead specification as shown in figure 5.

It is thus seen that an apparatus and method of connecting illuminative beads to beaded necklaces is provided, which illuminative beads contain light sources activated selectively by a controller. While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, the principles and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed because these are regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Moreover, modifications, variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the following claims.

Claims

Claim:

1. A sound activated light-emitting ornament comprising: (a) one or more light sources embedded inside or disposed on a face of an ornamental device, (b) one or more ornamental devices having light source therein and optionally one or more ornamental devices not having light source therein being strung onto an attaching means to define an ornament and for attaching the ornamental devices to a person or an article of clothing; (c) a means for generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music being played around for illuminating the light sources in the ornamental device, whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate in synch with the sound or music being played around, provide a sound activated lighted ornamental effect to the ornament.

2. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ornament is configured as a chain, a necklace, a bracelet, a ring, a waist gear, a clothing pin, a hair pin, a belly light, a head wear, a belly chain or an ankle wear.

3. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ornament is configured as a necklace having a pendent, a bracelet, a belt, a clothing pin, a hair pin, a head wear, a belly wear or an ankle wear.

4. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ornamental device is a transparent or translucent container.

5. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container has opposed slots for receiving the attachmg means.

6. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container has one or more light sources of same color or of different colors.

7. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container has two or more light sources of different colors.

8. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED.

9. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ornamental devices having light sources therein are larger than the ornamental devices not having light sources therein.

10. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are at least three ornamental devices not having light sources therein between all adjacent ornamental devices having light sources therein.

11. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for generating an electrical signal comprises: a source of electrical power; a circuit comprising a sound detecting means for capturing the sound or music and generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music; a pair of electrical conductive members connected between the source of electrical power, the circuit and the light sources.

12. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 13, wherein the circuit for generating the electrical signal comprises of a microphone for capturing the sound or music, a signal amplifier for amplifying the signal being generated by the microphone, a RC component used as an envelope detector for charging a capacitor using the envelope signal and a comparator component for selectively providing electrical signals to the LED's.

13. A sound activated light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising: (a) a plurality of ornamental beads adapted for being strung onto a thread, including ornamental beads having light sources therein and optionally ornamental beads not having light sources therein, wherein one or more ornamental bead not having a light source therein is sandwiched between two adjacent ornamental beads having light sources therein; (b) 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; (c) a means for generating an electrical signal which is in sync with the sound or music being played around for illuminating the light sources in the beads, whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate in synch with the sound or music being played around, provide a sound activated lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace.

14. The sound activated light-emitting necklace as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a pendent of ornamental appearance attached to the thread in the sequence of beads.

15. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 13, wherein the beads each have opposed slots for receiving the attaching means.

16. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ornamental beads having light sources therein are larger than the ornamental beads not having light sources therein.

17. The sound activated light-emitting ornament as claimed in claim 13, wherein there are at least three ornamental beads not having light sources therein between all adjacent ornamental beads having light sources therein.

18. The sound activated light-emitting beaded necklace as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for generating an electrical signal comprises: a source of electrical power; a circuit comprising a microphone for capturing the sound or music and generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music; a pair of electrical conductive members connected between the source of electrical power, the circuit and the light sources.

19. The light-emitting necklace as claimed in claim 18, wherein the circuit for generating the electrical signal comprises of a microphone for capturing the sound or music, a signal amplifier for amplifying the signal being generated by the microphone, a RC component used as an envelope detector for charging a capacitor using the envelope signal and a comparator component for selectively providing electrical signals to the LED's.

20. A sound activated 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 which is in sync with the sound or music being played around for illuminating the light sources in the beads, whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate in sync with the sound or music being played around, provide a sound activated 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 the, electrical signal is disposed within the pendent.

21. The light emitting necklace as claimed in claim 20, wherein the means for generating an electrical signal comprises: (a) a sound detecting means for detecting the sound or music and generating an electrical signal which is in synch with the sound or music; (b) an amplifier for amplifying the signal generated by the sound detecting means; (c) a combination circuit means connected to the output of the amplifier for controlling the time period of glow of the light emitting device, and (d) a comparator network receiving signal from the combination circuit means and connected to the light emitting device.