Patent Grant
7222980
1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to jewelry and other clothing accessories utilizing chemiluminescence for decorative lighting.
2. Background Art
This application is directed toward an improvement in typical jewelry or clothing accessory items by use of chemiluminescent materials to illuminate the accessory. Chemiluminescence has been known to exist in nature in organisms such as fireflies. Study of those naturally existing chemiluminescent organisms led to artificial chemiluminescence as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,362. U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,987 went a step further to describe a now familiar chemiluminescent device that is associated with large luminescent tubes and loops often sold at fairs and parades.
Other patents have incorporated the art of chemiluminescence in some form into jewelry items. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,910 discloses use of the chemiluminescent tube in the form of a closed loop designed for use as an article of jewelry, e.g. a necklace, bracelet, or ring. The patent further discloses use of an ornamental member for jewelry pieces which can be comprised of a light-transmitting material or opaque and preferably light-reflecting material used in combination with chemiluminescence, and further describes the ornamental member as comprising a flat smooth surface, a multi-faceted surface, a curved surface of any other configuration, design or representation. The '910 patent generally describes use of a chemiluminescent tube having chambers separated by a fold which, upon releasing the fold, allow mixing of chemicals achieving chemiluminescence of the tube or use of two separate holding chambers with direct placement of the chemicals within the item to achieve the luminescence. Finally, the '910 patent describes utilization of a replaceable chemiluminescent cartridge for insertion into a channel comprising a chamber for receipt of the cartridge formed in the rigid ornamental members. The '910 device uses chemiluminescent tubes as the sole ornamental portion of the jewelry or use of chemiluminescence for illuminating an ornamental article from within.
Additionally, prior art devices include a brooch as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,374,375 and earrings as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,968,357 and 3,814,926 that utilize traditional incandescent light for illumination of the jewelry items. The devices are illuminated by use of lighting fixtures encased entirely or partially within the jewelry item behind transparent materials. These devices have all the drawbacks of traditional incandescent lighting: requirement of a power source, bulk, garish lighting effects, and significant heat output. This makes them inconvenient, and in the case of heat output, sometimes dangerous for use in jewelry articles.
Prior art devices do not utilize chemiluminescent sticks for dramatic lighting techniques such as back lighting or disposing the chemiluminescent element as incorporated into the ornamental design, instead of merely lighting an ornamental element. The present invention overcomes the dangerous and inconvenient properties of prior art incandescent devices while utilizing chemiluminescence for new more dramatic jewelry lighting effects.
The present invention is an accessory, such as jewelry (including an earring, necklace, pendant, brooch, ring, tiara or bracelet) or other accessories such as a purse, satchel, backpack, scarf or umbrella.
The present invention is a lighted accessory having at least one decorative element comprising at least one holding element which has openings that directly display a chemiluminescent article, and a functional element having at least one attachment member for use in disposing the accessory on a wearer. Alternatively, instead of a holder with openings, the present invention may have an ornamental element.
The present invention may additionally comprise a reflective element made of metal, ceramic, or plastic which may have a finished surface that is hammered, ribbed, paneled, polished, or slightly reflective. This reflective element may have a shape that is circular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, polygonal or irregular, and may also have a planar or three-dimensional shaped configuration.
The holding element of the present invention may be partially opaque or translucent and may have a fixed translucent area.
The accessory may have a closing member for the holding element that may comprise a tapered holder, balls, beads, or covers. Further, it may have multiple holding elements.
The accessory may comprise an ornamental element that is opaque or translucent, including semi-precious stones. The ornamental element may be back-lit by the chemiluminescent article.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide lighted jewelry and accessories with dramatic lighting effect.
Another object of the present invention is to provide safe lighting effects for jewelry and accessories.
A primary advantage of the present invention is a safe, soft light effect for accessories.
Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:
a is a perspective view depicting an earring embodiment of the present invention with a reflective setting and an ornamental member allowing direct observation of the chemiluminescent stick;
b is a side view of an earring embodiment of the present invention depicting insertion of the chemiluminescent stick;
a is a perspective view of a pendant embodiment of the present invention with a reflective setting and a gem setting aperture;
b is a side view of a pendant embodiment of the present invention with a reflective setting and a gem setting aperture;
a is a pendant embodiment of the present invention with a reflective setting and ornamental silhouette having the chemiluminescent stick interposed between;
b is a side view of the pendant embodiment of the present invention with a reflective setting and an ornamental silhouette having the chemiluminescent stick interposed between; and
The present invention is an improvement of jewelry and other accessories (hereinafter referred to as “jewelry” or “accessories” or “accessory”) using chemiluminescence to give a decorative or safety lighting effect to the jewelry and other accessory articles. The luminous element is incorporated into the jewelry or accessory and is either directly visible as part of the decorative scheme, or is used to create a “back-lighting” effect.
As described in the background, chemiluminescent lighting devices are known, and have progressed to include very small chemiluminescent devices which can be activated by a simple bending or twisting action. Typical devices illuminate for approximately 2 to 8 hours, but it is conceivable that a device may illuminate longer. These comparatively small devices are manufacturable in many shapes, including the familiar sticks, as well as disks, spheres, or other polygonal shapes. Additionally, there are a multitude of potential colors, including but not limited to the familiar red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet colors.
Turning now to the figures,
Holding element 14 is configured for receipt of chemiluminescent element 20. Stick shape 22 of chemiluminescent element 20 is preferred in this embodiment. Holding element 14 preferably extends for the full length of chemiluminescent element 20 and at least partially surrounds chemiluminescent element 20, but alternate embodiments may comprise holding element 14 wherein the element extends only partially along the length of chemiluminescent element 20 or even beyond chemiluminescent element 20, especially in embodiments utilizing stick configuration 22 of chemiluminescent element 20. Preferably, holding element 14 comprises a configuration such as a twisted or coiled material leaving spaces 24 between twists 26 or coils 28 of the material, or a material utilizing cutouts 30 (See
Additionally, a preferred embodiment includes reflective setting 16 disposed behind holding element 14 which directs the chemiluminescent light toward an observer. Reflective setting 16 preferably comprises a metal, ceramic or plastic material, but may comprise any material suitable for jewelry use (i.e., not harmful for skin contact), which has an at least slightly reflective surface. Reflective surfaces may be highly polished or only slightly reflective depending on the desired effect. The surface, in addition to being at least somewhat reflective, may be textured (e.g. hammered, ribbed, paneled, etc.) or smooth. Reflective setting 16 may be of any shape or configuration (e.g. circular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, polygonal, irregular, etc. and flat or three-dimensional).
Earring 10, as depicted in
Holding element 14 is configured for receipt of chemiluminescent element 20. Stick shape 22 of chemiluminescent element 20 is depicted in this embodiment. However, holding element 14 may comprise different shapes for receipt of chemiluminescent element 20 in alternate embodiments, e.g. sphere-shaped, disc-shaped, or other polygonal shapes, etc. Holding element 14 preferably comprises either spaces 24 between twists 26 or coils 28 of the material comprising holding element 14, or cutouts 30 leaving apertures 32 within the material allowing direct observation of chemiluminescent element 20. Additionally, holding element 14 of all embodiments may additionally comprise closing mechanism 40. Closing mechanism 40 may utilize any simple mechanical device known in the art capable of safely containing chemiluminescent element 20 within holding element 14 while the jewelry item is being worn. For example, when holding element 14 is configured for receipt of stick configuration 22 of chemiluminescent element 20, the bottom of holding element 14 may be narrowed to serve as closing mechanism 40, preventing chemiluminescent element 20 from sliding through and falling out of holding element 14. Other embodiments may include other closing mechanisms 40, including but not limited to beads or balls 42 disposed within base 44 of holding element 14, or cover 46 disposed over end 48 of base 44.
In alternate embodiments, multiple holding elements 14 may be utilized for use of multiple chemiluminescent elements 20, or a single holding element 14 may have a sufficient volume to contain multiple chemiluminescent elements 20.
a and 3b depict a pendant embodiment of the present invention utilizing chemiluminescence for fixed, direct lighting of a translucent ornamental element. Pendant 50 comprises decorative element 12 comprising ornamental element 52 and reflective element 16, and functional element 18 comprising holding element 14 and bail 54.
As depicted in
As seen in
a and 4b depict a pendant embodiment of the present invention utilizing chemiluminescence for back-lighting an opaque ornamental element 52. Pendant 50 comprises decorative element 12 comprising ornamental element 52 and reflective element 16, and functional element 18 comprising holding element 14 and bail 54.
a and 5b depict a purse embodiment of the present invention utilizing direct visibility of the chemiluminescent device as a part of the ornamentation. Purse 64 comprises a decorative element 12 comprising holding element 14 and functional element 18.
Holding element 14 of the preferred embodiment comprises a tubular upper purse frame 66. A cylindrical frame utilizing a circular opening is depicted, however various shaped cylinders are envisioned (e.g., triangular, rectangular, elliptical, and polygonal). Purse frame 66 further comprises cutouts 30 leaving apertures 32 within the material allowing direct observation of chemiluminescent element 20. Purse 64 further comprises functional elements 18 including a clasp disposed within purse frame 66 and the purse body 68 attached to a lower surface 70 of purse frame 66. Further embodiments would include use of other decorative or functional frame locations of purses or other accessories (e.g., backpacks, satchels, scarf, shoe clips, umbrella handles, and the like).
Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/992,131, entitled “Chemiluminescent Jewelry and Accessories”, to Fred James Pinciaro, filed on Nov. 15, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,614, which claims the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/249,404, entitled “Lighted Jewelry,” filed on Nov. 15, 2000, and the specifications and claims thereof are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2303988 | Christensen | Dec 1942 | A |
| 2374375 | O'Donneli | Apr 1945 | A |
| 2405384 | White | Aug 1946 | A |
| 3576987 | Ridgefield et al. | May 1971 | A |
| 3597362 | Bollyky et al. | Aug 1971 | A |
| 3624384 | Ledingham et al. | Nov 1971 | A |
| 3762092 | Berca et al. | Oct 1973 | A |
| 3804307 | Johnston | Apr 1974 | A |
| 3814926 | Frasca | Jun 1974 | A |
| 3968357 | Hamilton | Jul 1976 | A |
| 3986144 | Russo | Oct 1976 | A |
| 4012629 | Simmos | Mar 1977 | A |
| 4061910 | Rosenfeld | Dec 1977 | A |
| 4093973 | Vaagenes | Jun 1978 | A |
| 4280171 | Huang | Jul 1981 | A |
| 4294299 | Dorsen et al. | Oct 1981 | A |
| 4313843 | Bollyky et al. | Feb 1982 | A |
| 4914748 | Schlotter, IV et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
| 5007924 | Jekel | Apr 1991 | A |
| 5018053 | Belknap et al. | May 1991 | A |
| 5117338 | McCrary | May 1992 | A |
| 5122306 | VanMoer et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5158349 | Holland et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
| 5177812 | DeMars | Jan 1993 | A |
| 5222797 | Holland | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5232635 | VanMoer et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5323300 | McCrary | Jun 1994 | A |
| 5323492 | DeMars | Jun 1994 | A |
| 5636421 | Brams | Jun 1997 | A |
| 5653524 | Gray | Aug 1997 | A |
| 5690412 | Sheldon | Nov 1997 | A |
| 5758945 | Lima | Jun 1998 | A |
| 6102555 | Mizoguchi | Aug 2000 | A |
| 6299441 | Novak | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6340235 | Bryan | Jan 2002 | B1 |
| 6431724 | Tedham et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6659617 | Michael | Dec 2003 | B1 |
| 6691533 | Feuer | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6860614 | Pinciaro | Mar 2005 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2594328 | Feb 1986 | FR |
| WO 0004790 | Feb 2000 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60249404 | Nov 2000 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09992131 | Nov 2001 | US |
| Child | 11059271 | US |
