WO2020046296A1

WO2020046296A1 - Accessory for projecting a personalized image and method of using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2020046296A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/048613
Authority: WO
Inventors: Victor Manuel PAZOS; Jacob Mark PAZOS; Scott Hwachol SHIN
Original assignee: Peek-A-Pic, Llc
Priority date: 2018-08-29
Filing date: 2018-08-29
Publication date: 2020-03-05

Abstract

A personal accessory, such as a piece of jewelry, adapted to project a personalized image from the accessory onto an external surface is provided. The piece of jewelry may be a pendant, a ring, a bracelet, or similar type of jewelry. A method of projecting the image from the accessory is also provided. A light source is utilized to direct light through an image plane containing the personalized image and through a lens to project the image onto any desired external surface, such as a wall, for viewing the personalized image.

Description

ACCESSORY FOR PROJECTING A PERSONALIZED IMAGE

AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure refers generally to a personal accessory for projecting a personalized image onto an external surface and a method of using a personal accessory for projecting a personalized image.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Some personal accessories, such a piece of jewelry, that have viewable images inside the accessory are popular and well known. For instance, the Stanhope Jewelry Company produces various types of pendants and charms that have images that may be viewed through a small peephole in the pendant or charm. The pendant or charm typically has one of numerous stock images that may be selected based on individual appeal to a purchaser. However, in these types of accessories the image is only viewable by holding the accessory very close to one’s eyes to look through the peephole. Thus, the image is viewable only by one person at a time.

[0003] Some attempts have been made to produce an accessory that has an image therein that may be projected onto a surface. However, there are limitations in such accessories. For instance, some projecting accessories only project a relatively small image and not one that has been significantly magnified, while those that may produce a magnified image suffer from images having poor clarity or poor image quality generally. Other similar accessories may be excessively bulky in size to house multiple lens elements and larger lenses to help with the image quality of the projected image.

[0004] Accordingly, a need exists in the art for an improved personal accessory that projects a personalized image that is significantly magnified and of good quality in a compact form that is not bulky.

SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure provides a personal accessory for projecting a personalized image onto an external surface and a method of using a personal accessory for projecting a personalized image. Preferred embodiments of the invention are reflected in the dependent claims. The claimed invention can be better understood in view of the embodiments described and illustrated in the present disclosure, viz. in the present specification and drawings. In general, the present disclosure reflects preferred embodiments of the invention. The attentive reader will note, however, that some aspects of the disclosed embodiments extend beyond the scope of the claims. To the respect that the disclosed embodiments indeed extend beyond the scope of the claims, the disclosed embodiments are to be considered supplementary background information and do not constitute definitions of the invention per se.

[0006] In accordance with the present disclosure, a personal accessory for projecting a personalized image onto an external surface and a method of using a personal accessory for projecting a personalized image are provided. The personal accessory has a lens unit disposed therein and secured thereto for projecting the personalized image from the personal accessory onto any surface external to the accessory. The lens unit comprises an aspheric lens element fixedly secured to an upper end of a housing, a transparent support element fixedly secured to a lower end of the housing and spaced apart from the lens element, and a film affixed to the support element, wherein the film has an image disposed thereon. The lens element has two aspheric surfaces, which include an outer surface and a bottom surface. The outer surface of the lens element defines an exterior surface of the personal accessory. When rays of light are directed sequentially through the support element and through the lens element, the image affixed to the support element is projected onto any surface external to the personal accessory toward which the lens element is directed.

The lens element is adapted to project a magnified real image originating from the image on the film. The lens element may be optimized to reduce or eliminate spherical aberration and to produce a desired image magnification.

[0007] To project the image onto an external surface, a light source is required to produce a beam of light directed through the image plane and through the lens element. A light source, such as an LED light (light-emitting diode) may be installed within the personal accessory on an opposite side of the transparent support element from the lens element. The light source provides light at any time a user desires to project the image affixed to the film contained within the accessory onto an external surface. The light source may have a battery for power and an activation switch for turning the light on and off, as desired. Alternatively, the transparent support element may be accessible from a back side of the personal accessory, and an external light source, such as a flash light or mobile phone light, that is separate from the personal accessory may be used as the light source by directing light from the external light source through the support element with the image affixed thereto and through the lens element.

[0008] The personal accessory may be a personal item that a user may wear as an accessory or any other small personal item that a user may easily carry on his or her person. For instance, the personal accessory may be a piece of jewelry, such as a pendant, ring, bracelet, earring, or charm, or another personal item such as a key chain, a pair of glasses, or any small novelty item. Each individual personal accessory may have a personalized image provided by the user. Thus, the user may provide a personalized image in the form of a digital image file, and a manufacturer of the personal accessory may miniaturize the image, produce a film having the miniaturized image disposed thereon, and affix the film to the transparent support element when manufacturing the personal accessory. The lens unit preferably includes only a single lens element. By utilizing a single lens element having two aspheric surfaces, the size of the lens unit of the present personal accessory may be reduced while still producing a projected image of good clarity and overall quality. This allows the lens unit to be installed within even a small personal accessory, such as a ring, that can produce a large projected image of high quality. [0009] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a lens unit embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of a lens unit embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of a lens element and housing embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a lens element embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a piece of jewelry having a lens unit installed therein embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a piece of jewelry having a lens unit installed therein embodying features of the present disclosure, wherein the piece of jewelry is being used to project an image disposed within the lens unit onto a surface. Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a piece of jewelry having a lens unit installed therein embodying features of the present disclosure, wherein the piece of jewelry is being used to project an image disposed within the lens unit onto a surface.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a piece of jewelry before having a lens unit installed therein embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a piece of jewelry having a lens unit installed therein embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a piece of jewelry having a lens unit installed therein embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a personal accessory having a lens unit installed therein embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12A shows an elevational view of a lens element embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12B shows an elevational view of a lens element embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12C shows an elevational view of a lens element embodying features of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12D shows an elevational view of a lens element embodying features of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features, including method steps, of the invention as claimed. In the present disclosure, many features are described as being optional, e.g. through the use of the verb“may” or the use of parentheses. For the sake of brevity and legibility, the present disclosure does not explicitly recite each and every permutation that may be obtained by choosing from the set of optional features. However, the present disclosure is to be interpreted as explicitly disclosing all such permutations. For example, a system described as having three optional features may be embodied in seven different ways, namely with just one of the three possible features, with any two of the three possible features, or with all three of the three possible features. It is to be understood that the disclosure in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features.

For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with/or in the context of other particular aspects or embodiments, and generally in the invention as claimed.

[0011] The term“comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, a system“comprising” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C, but also one or more other components.

[0012] Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

[0013] In accordance with the present disclosure, a personal accessory 12 for projecting a personalized image 28 onto an external surface 46 is provided. In addition, a method of using a personal accessory 12 for projecting a personalized image 28 and a method of manufacturing a personal accessory 12 for projecting a personalized image 28 are provided. As used herein, reference number“12” refers generally to a personal accessory, and reference numbers“12a”,“12b”, and“12c” refer to specific examples of personal accessories shown in the drawings. As used herein, the term“personal accessory” refers to any personal item that a user may wear on his or her person as an accessory or any other small personal item that a user may easily carry on his or her person. For instance, the personal accessory 12 may be a piece of jewelry. Particular examples of jewelry may include a pendant 12a, a ring 12b, a bracelet, a necklace, an earring, or a charm, which may form part of a bracelet or necklace. The personal accessory 12 may also include any other small personal item, such as a key chain, a pair of glasses, or a small novelty item such as the novelty item 12c shown in Fig. 11.

[0014] The personal accessory 12 has a lens unit 14 disposed therein for projecting the personalized image 28 from the personal accessory 12 onto any surface 46 external to the accessory 12. The image 28 may be a personalized image that is unique to each individual user having a unique personal accessory 12. For instance, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the image 28 may be a graduation photograph or similar type of keepsake photograph that is personal to a user. The external surface 46 may be a surface formed by an existing wall, a table, or another generally flat surface suitable for displaying the image 28 with minimal surface distortion. Thus, a user may display his or her personalized image 28 on any available nearby surface 46 to allow others, such as family and friends, to view the personalized image 28.

[0015] Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a lens unit 14 that may be utilized with the personal accessory 12 to project the image 28. Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an illustrative lens unit 14. The lens unit 14 comprises a housing 18, an aspheric lens element 16, a transparent or semitransparent support element 24, and a film 26 having an image 28 on the film 26 that may be projected onto an external surface 46. The housing 18 preferably has a cylindrical shape with a hollow center, as shown in Figs.

1 and 3. The housing 18 has opposing open ends at an upper end 40 and at a lower end 41, as shown in Fig. 3. The lens element 16 is fixedly secured to the upper end 40 of the housing 18 so that the lens element 16 does not move within the housing 18. The transparent support element 24 is fixedly secured to the lower end 41 of the housing 18 so that the support element 24 does not move within the housing 18. The lens element 16 and support element 24 are spaced apart from each other, as shown in Fig. 1. The lens unit 14 is secured to the personal accessory 12 in a fixed position so that the lens unit 14 cannot be easily removed without the use of a tool.

[0016] The image 28 to be projected from the lens unit 14 of the personal accessory 12 is disposed on a film 26 that is affixed to the transparent support element 24, as shown in Fig. 1. The film 26 is preferably affixed to a side of the support element 24 adjacent to the lens element 16. The film 26 is affixed to the support element 24 such that the film 26 remains in a fixed position. The surface of the support element 24 to which the film 26 is affixed is a flat surface so that the affixed film 26 defines an image plane through which light 48 may pass to project the image 28 onto an external surface 46. The lens element 16 has two aspheric surfaces, which include an outer surface 17 and a bottom surface 54. The lens element 16 has positive optical power to properly project the image 28 from the accessory onto an external surface 46. Both surfaces 17 and 54 of the lens element 16 are preferably convex, as shown in Fig. 1. Alternatively, one surface may be concave or planar.

The outer surface 17 of the lens element 16 defines an exterior surface of the personal accessory 12, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9. The lens element 16 may have a beveled section 20 for aesthetic purposes to enhance decorative aspects of the personal accessory 12, as shown in Figs. 1-2, 5, and 9, particularly when the accessory is a piece of jewelry, such as a pendant 12a or a ring 12b. When used in jewelry, or as desired otherwise, the exteriorly facing lens element 16 may be designed to mimic the look of a gemstone as closely as possible so that the piece of jewelry looks as much as possible like a standard jewelry piece that does not have a lens unit 14 installed therein.

[0017] When rays 48 of light are directed sequentially through the image plane defined by the film 26 affixed to the transparent support element 24 and through the aspheric lens element 16 of the lens unit 14, the image 28 may be directed onto any surface 46 external to the personal accessory 12 by pointing the accessory, including the lens element 16, toward a desired display surface 46. To do so, a light source 30 is positioned on an opposite side of the transparent support element 24 from the lens element 16. The light source 30 is then activated to direct light 48 through the image plane and through the lens element 16. The lens element 16 is adapted to project a magnified real image 28 originating from the image on the film 26 onto the external surface 46. The lens unit 14 preferably includes only a single lens element 16, as shown in Fig. 1, rather than an assembly or arrangement of multiple lens elements for projecting the image. By utilizing only a single lens element 16 having two aspheric surfaces 17 and 54, the size of the lens unit 14 of the personal accessory 12 may be reduced while still producing a projected image 28 of good clarity and overall quality. This allows the lens unit 14 to be installed within even a small personal accessory 12, such as a ring 12b, that can produce a large projected image 28 of high quality.

[0018] The single aspheric lens element 16 of the lens unit 14 may be optimized to reduce or eliminate spherical aberration and to produce a desired image

magnification based on a desired lens unit 14 size, which may be varied depending on the personal accessory in which the lens unit 14 is installed. Thus, the dimensions of the lens element 16, the image film 26, and the housing 18 may be adjusted to produce a desired image projection. In one illustrative example, the film 26 with the image thereon (and the interior of the housing 18) has a diameter of 2.9 millimeters (mm); the lens unit 14 has a back focal length 52 of 1.938196 mm; and the lens element 16 has the following prescription:

Surface Radius Thickness Conic

Outer Surface 17 3.263566 3.6622 -0.7257343

Bottom Surface 54 -3.022522 1.938196 -8.504739

The outer surface 17 (and the exterior of the housing 18) may have a diameter of 5.6 mm, and the bottom surface 54 may have a diameter of 2.9 mm. It should be understood by one skilled in the art that the dimensions and lens prescription described above are illustrative and that the dimensions and prescription described herein may be varied for different personal accessories and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure. These illustrative dimensions for components of the lens unit 14 and the lens prescription may produce a high quality projected image 28 from the personal accessory 12. These illustrative dimensions of the lens unit 14 and the lens prescription may also produce an image magnification in the range of 25-100 times the size of the image on the film 26, and preferably an image magnification of about 70-80 times the size of the image on the film 26.

[0019] To project the image 28 onto an external surface 46, the light source 30 produces a beam of light directed through the image plane and through the lens element 16. Fig. 5 shows an illustrative personal accessory 12, which is a pendant 12a hanging from a necklace, which may be worn around a user’s neck. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a cross-sectional view of the pendant 12, with the lens unit 14 installed therein, being used with a light source 30 to project an illustrative personalized image 28 of a graduation photo onto an external surface 46. As shown in Fig. 7, the light source 30 may be installed within the housing 18 (or within the personal accessory 12 outside the interior of the housing 18) on an opposite side of the transparent support element 24 from the lens element 16. The light source 30 may be used to provide light at any time a user desires to project the image affixed to the film 26 onto an external surface 46 for viewing. The light source is preferably an LED light 30 and is secured in a fixed position within the housing 18 and disposed adjacent to the opposite side of the support element 24 from the film 26 and the lens element 16. The light source 30 may have a battery 32 for power and an activation switch 34 for turning the light on and off, as desired. The activation switch may be a button 34 disposed on a back side 58 of the pendant 12a, or may be any other type of switch suitable for activating and deactivating the light source 30. A rear support structure 38 may enclose and provide support for the light 30 and battery 32 within the housing

18 and provide support for the button 34 on an exterior of the rear support structure 38 on the back side 58 of the pendant 12a.

[0020] The light source 30 may optionally have a high and a low light setting, in which the high setting is used to project the image 28 onto an external surface 46 and the low setting is used to provide minimal backlighting for direct viewing of the image disposed on the film 26 by looking into the interior of the lens unit 14 by looking through the lens element 16.

[0021] Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 6, the transparent support element 24 may be accessible from the back side 58 of the pendant 12a, and a light source 30 that is external to the personal accessory 12 may be utilized. Any suitable external light source may be used, such as a flashlight or mobile phone light. As shown in Fig. 6, a small flashlight or pen light 30 may be used. The pen light 30 is pointed at the transparent support element 24 and into the interior of the housing 18 of the lens unit 14, which directs light from the pen light 30 through the support element 24 with the image affixed thereto and through the lens element 16. The image 28 is then projected onto an external surface 46 by light from the external light source 30.

[0022] In another illustrative example, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the personal accessory 12 may be a ring 12b. Fig. 9 shows an example ring, which may be a graduation ring 12b, with a lens unit 14 installed therein, and Fig. 10 shows a cross- sectional view of the ring 12b. The lens unit 14 is installed on a top side of the ring 12b so that it is visible when worn by a user. The ring 12b has a band 56 having an underside opposite the lens unit 14. The ring 12b has an activation switch 34 disposed on the underside of the band 56 to minimize visibility of the activation switch 34 when worn by a user. The light source 30 is operatively connected to the activation switch 34 by wiring 36 disposed within the band of the ring 12b, as shown in Fig. 10. An interior passageway may be formed within the band 56 to

accommodate the wiring 36. This configuration of the wiring 36 and the activation switch 34 keeps the interior surface of the band 56 free of these components and thus prevents these components from interfering with a user putting the ring 12b on or removing the ring from his or her finger. Alternatively, the band 56 may have a recessed groove formed in the interior surface and extending around the band from the lens unit 14 to the activation switch 34, and the wiring 36 may be disposed within the recessed groove.

[0023] Other illustrative examples of a personal accessory 12 may include any small novelty item. As shown in Fig. 11, an example of such a novelty item may include a small toy dog 12c. Further, the lens element 16 may have an optional decorative frame 50, as shown in Fig. 4, to match a desired decorative design of an accessory 12 for aesthetic purposes. The decorative frame 50 may come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as the four example decorative frames 50 shown in Figs. 12A-12D surrounding the lens element 16 of the lens unit 14.

[0024] A method of manufacturing a personal accessory 12 adapted to project an image 28 onto an external surface 46 is also provided. First, a film 26 having an image thereon is provided. Each individual personal accessory 12 manufactured may have a personalized image provided by a user. Thus, the user may provide a personalized image in the form of a digital image file, and a manufacturer of the personal accessory may miniaturize the image and produce a film 26 having the miniaturized image disposed thereon. Next, the film 26 with the image is affixed to a transparent support element 24. An aspheric lens element 16 is provided. The lens element 16 has a prescription optimized to reduce or eliminate spherical aberration and to produce a desired image magnification. A housing 18 is provided having open ends at an upper end 40 and at a lower end 41. The open ends of the housing 18 are sized to receive the lens element 16 into the upper end 40 and to receive the support element 24 with the film 26 affixed thereto into the lower end 41. The lens element 16 is fixedly secured to the upper end 40 of the housing 18, and the support element 24 is fixedly secured to the lower end 41 of the housing 18 to form a lens unit 14. These components of the lens unit 14, including the housing 18, a portion 22 of the lens element 16 to be received by the housing 18, and the support element 24, may all be sized so that the components may be fixedly secured to each other utilizing a press, or interference, fit that does not utilize any type of glue or adhesive. Alternatively, a sealant may be utilized to form a hermetically sealed interior of the housing 18 in which the interior is defined by a continuous interior wall of the housing 18, the bottom surface 54 of the lens element 16, and the surface of the support element 24 to which the film 26 is affixed.

[0025] Next, a personal accessory 12 is provided for use with the lens unit 14. Any suitable manufacturing process may be utilized to produce the personal accessory, depending on the type of accessory provided. For instance, typical jewelry manufacturing processes may be utilized to produce a piece of jewelry that is modified for use with a lens unit 14 as described herein. As shown in Fig. 8, the personal accessory 12 may have a cavity 42 therein that is sized to receive the lens unit 14 into the cavity 42. The lens unit 14 may then be installed in a fixed position within the cavity 42 of the personal accessory 12 so that the outer surface 17 of the lens element 16 defines an exterior surface of the personal accessory 12. To install the lens unit 14, the unit may be inserted directly into the cavity 42. The cavity 42 and the housing 18 of the lens unit 14 may be sized so that the housing 18 may be fixedly secured within the cavity 42 utilizing a press, or interference, fit or, alternatively, a glue or adhesive may be utilized to secure the housing 18 to the personal accessory 12 by gluing an exterior surface of the housing 18 to an interior surface of the cavity 42. As shown in Fig. 8, the personal accessory 12 may have a circular lip 44 positioned around a bottom end of the cavity 42 to provide added support for the housing 18 of the lens unit 14. The lip 44 may also be seen in Figs. 6 and 7. A light source 30 operatively connected to a power source 32 and to an activation switch 34 is then installed in a fixed position on an opposite side of the transparent support element 24 from the lens element 16, which completes the manufacturing process. When the light source 30 is activated via the activation switch 34, the lens element 16 will then project a magnified real image originating from the image disposed on the film 26 onto a surface 46 external to the personal accessory 12. [0026] It is understood that versions of the invention may come in different forms and embodiments. Additionally, it is understood that one of skill in the art would appreciate these various forms and embodiments as falling within the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.

[0027] What is claimed is:

1.) A method of projecting an image from a personal accessory onto an external surface, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a personal accessory having a lens unit disposed therein, wherein the lens unit comprises an aspheric lens element fixedly secured to an upper end of a housing, a transparent support element fixedly secured to a lower end of the housing and spaced apart from the lens element, a film affixed to the support element, wherein the film has an image disposed thereon, wherein an outer surface of the lens element defines an exterior surface of the personal accessory;

providing a light source on an opposite side of the transparent support element from the lens element; and

projecting the image affixed to the transparent support element onto a surface external to the personal accessory by causing a beam of light from the light source to be directed sequentially through the support element and through the lens element, wherein the lens element is adapted to project a magnified real image originating from the image on the film affixed to the support element onto the surface external to the personal accessory. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a light source comprises installing a light source within the housing or within the personal accessory, wherein the light source has an activation switch and is installed in a fixed position on the opposite side of the transparent support element from the lens element.

The method of claim 2, wherein the light source is an LED light.

A method of manufacturing a personal accessory adapted to project an image from the accessory onto an external surface, said method comprising the steps of: providing a film having an image disposed thereon;

affixing the film to a transparent support element;

providing an aspheric lens element;

providing a housing having open ends at an upper end and at a lower end, wherein the housing is sized to receive the lens element into the upper end and to receive the support element into the lower end;

fixedly securing the lens element to the upper end of the housing and the support element to the lower end of the housing to form a lens unit;

providing a personal accessory having a cavity defined by the personal accessory and sized to receive the lens unit therein;

installing the lens unit in a fixed position within the cavity of the personal

accessory, wherein an outer surface of the lens element defines an exterior surface of the accessory when the lens unit is installed;

providing a light source operatively connected to a power source and to an

activation switch; and installing the light source in a fixed position on an opposite side of the transparent support element from the lens element,

wherein the lens element is adapted to project a magnified real image originating from the image on the film affixed to the support element onto a surface external to the personal accessory when the light source is activated. The method of claim 4, wherein the light source is an LED light.

A personal accessory comprising:

a lens unit disposed within the personal accessory, wherein the lens unit

comprises an aspheric lens element fixedly secured to an upper end of a housing, a transparent support element fixedly secured to a lower end of the housing and spaced apart from the lens element, a film affixed to the support element, wherein the film has an image disposed thereon, wherein an outer surface of the lens element defines an exterior surface of the personal accessory;

a light source having an activation switch, wherein the light source is disposed in a fixed position on an opposite side of the transparent support element from the lens element;

wherein the lens element is adapted to project a magnified real image originating from the image on the film affixed to the support element onto a surface external to the personal accessory when the light source is activated. The personal accessory of claim 6, wherein the light source is an LED light. The personal accessory of any of claims 6-7, wherein the personal accessory is a ring. The personal accessory of claim 8, wherein the ring has a band having an underside opposite the lens unit, wherein the activation switch is disposed on the underside of the band.

The personal accessory of claim 9, wherein the light source is operatively connected to the activation switch by wiring disposed within the band of the ring.

The personal accessory of any of claims 6-7, wherein the personal accessory is a pendant.

The personal accessory of claim 11, wherein the activation switch is disposed on a back side of the pendant.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

projecting the image affixed to the transparent support element onto a surface external to the personal accessory by causing a beam of light from the light source to be directed sequentially through the support element and through the lens element, wherein the lens element is adapted to project a magnified real image originating from the image on the film affixed to the support element onto the surface external to the personal accessory.

2.) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a light source comprises installing a light source within the housing or within the personal accessory, wherein the light source has an activation switch and is installed in a fixed position on the opposite side of the transparent support element from the lens element.

The method of claim 2, wherein the light source is an LED light.

affixing the film to a transparent support element;

providing an aspheric lens element;

installing the lens unit in a fixed position within the cavity of the personal

providing a light source operatively connected to a power source and to an

activation switch; and

installing the light source in a fixed position on an opposite side of the transparent support element from the lens element,

wherein the lens element is adapted to project a magnified real image originating from the image on the film affixed to the support element onto a surface external to the personal accessory when the light source is activated.

5.) The method of claim 4, wherein the light source is an LED light.

6.) A personal accessory comprising:

a lens unit disposed within the personal accessory, wherein the lens unit

7.) The personal accessory of claim 6, wherein the light source is an LED light.

8.) The personal accessory of claim 6, wherein the personal accessory is a ring.

9.) The personal accessory of claim 8, wherein the ring has a band having an

underside opposite the lens unit, wherein the activation switch is disposed on the underside of the band.

10.) The personal accessory of claim 9, wherein the light source is operatively connected to the activation switch by wiring disposed within the band of the ring.

11.) The personal accessory of claim 6, wherein the personal accessory is a pendant.

12.) The personal accessory of claim 11, wherein the activation switch is

disposed on a back side of the pendant.