Abstract:
A temperature indicating earring assembly comprises a main earring member, a first optional earring member, and a second optional earring member. The main earring member is selectively engaged with one of the first optional earring member and the second optional earring member, providing an aesthetic decoration as well as the relax-reminding function.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a temperature indicating earring assembly.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,766 to Chin issued on Sep. 29, 1998 discloses a finger temperature indicating ring for wearing around a finger to measure and indicate the finger surface temperature of the wearer. The ring was designed to replace large biofeedback machines for monitoring finger temperature so that a patient or general user can realize if he or she was really relaxed or not, with the help of the ring. In short, when the body surface temperature is increased, which means vasodilatation and more parasympathetic tone, one is more relaxed. In addition to fingers, the auricle of the ear is also an ideal structure to monitor body surface temperature because its anatomy is even simpler and there is less interference from other histological tissues.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a temperature indicating earring assembly that can be worn on an ear of a patient or general user to monitor the surface temperature over ear auricle to remind the wearer to relax. The temperature indicating earring assembly includes a main earring member, a first optional earring member, and a second optional earring member. The main earring member is selectively engaged with one of the first optional earring member and the second optional earring member, providing an aesthetic decoration as well as the relax-reminding function.  
           [0006]    Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a temperature indicating earring assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a combination type of the temperature indicating earring assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating another combination type of the temperature indicating earring assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0010]    Referring to FIG. 1, a temperature indicating ring assembly in accordance with the present invention generally includes a main earring member  3 , a first optional earring member  1 , and a second optional earring member  2 .  
         [0011]    The main earring member  3  includes a compartment  30  for receiving a circuit board  32 . A first contact  31 A and a second contact  31 B are mounted to the main earring member  3 . Two receiver elements  321  are mounted on the circuited board  32 . One of the receiver elements  321  includes a first end connected to the first contact  31 A and a second end connected to an integrated circuit  322  on the circuit board  32 . The other receiver element  321  includes a first end connected to the second contact  31 B and a second end connected to the integrated circuit  322 . Of course, the receiver elements  321  can be incorporated into the integrated circuit  322 , and the contacts  31 A and  31 B can be directly connected to the integrated circuit  322 .  
         [0012]    A plate  34  may be mounted in the compartment  30  of the main earring member  3  and includes at least one selection button  341 . At least one feedback element  323  is mounted to the plate  34 , which will be described later. A cover  33  is mounted to enclose the compartment  30  for covering the plate  34  and the circuit board  32 . At least one through-hole  331  is defied in the cover  33 , allowing the feedback element  323  to extend therethrough to a position beyond the cover  35 . The feedback element  323  can be a buzzer or emitter.  
         [0013]    The first optional earring member  1  is substantially C-shaped so as to be attached to a back of an ear of a wearer. A groove  11  is defined in a side of the first optional earring member  1  and extends along a length of the first optional earring member  1 . A conductive wire  12  is received in the groove  11  and includes a contact  121  exposed outside the first optional earring member  1 , and at least one temperature detecting element  13  (e.g., a thermistor) is attached to the conductive wire  12 .  
         [0014]    The second optional earring member  2  includes an arcuate body  20  (preferably J-shaped) and at least one temperature detecting element  21  mounted on an end thereof. A contact  23  is provided on the other end of the arcuate body  20  and connected to the temperature detecting element  21  by a conductive wire  22 .  
         [0015]    In use, the main earring member  3  may be used together with either the first optional earring member  1  (FIG. 2) or the second optional earring member  2  (FIG. 3).  
         [0016]    When the main earring member  3  is used with the first optional earring member  1 , as illustrated in FIG. 2, the C-shaped first optional earring member  1  extends along a back of an ear of a wearer. An upper end of the C-shaped first optional earring member  1  extends to a front of the ear, and a lower end of the C-shaped first optional earring member  1  hooks around a lower portion of a lobe of the ear of the wearer. The main earring member  3  is located to a front side of the lobe of the ear of the wearer with the first contact  31 A of the first optional earring member  2  being connected to the contact  121  on the upper end of the C-shaped first optional earring member  1 . The heat detecting element  13  is in contact with the skin of the back of the ear of the wearer. Thus, the temperature of the ear is detected by the heat-detecting element  13  and conducted to the conductive wire  12 . It is noted that resistance of the conductive wire  12  varies in response to its temperature. Thus, the resistance value according to the temperature of the ear of the wearer is transmitted to the integrated circuit  322  through the contact  121 , the first contact  31 A, and an associated one of the receiver element  321 . The integrated circuit  322  performs an operation based on the resistance value from the conductive wire  12 . The feedback element  323  is activated to inform the user when the detected resistance value is determined to be outside a pre-determined normal range stored in the integrated circuit  322  after the operation.  
         [0017]    When the main earring member  3  is used with the second optional earring member  2 , as illustrated in FIG. 3, the contact  23  of the J-shaped second optional earring member  2  and is connected to the second contact  31 B of the main earring member  3 . In this embodiment, the contact  23  of the J-shaped optional earring member  2  is a male contact and the second contact  31 B is a female contact. The main earring member  3  is attached to the front side of the lobe of the ear of the wearer. And the temperature detecting element  21  of the second optional earring member  2  is attached to a rear side of the lobe of the ear of the wearer. Thus, the main earring member  3  and the second optional earring member  2  look like an earring, and a female wearer may prefer this option. The main earring member  3  and the second optional earring member  2  are so configured that a clamping force is exerted on the lobe of the ear of the wearer when the main earring member  3  and the second optional earring member  2  are attached to the lobe of the ear of the wearer, thereby preventing falling of the main earring member  3  and the second optional earring member  2 . The heat detecting element  21  is in contact with the skin of the lobe of the ear of the wearer. Thus, the temperature of the ear is detected by the heat-detecting element  21  and conducted to the conductive wire  22 . It is noted that resistance of the conductive wire  22  varies in response to its temperature. Thus, the resistance value according to the temperature of the ear of the wearer is transmitted to the integrated circuit  322  through the contact  23 , the second contact  31 B, and an associated one of the receiver element  321 . The integrated circuit  322  performs an operation based on the resistance value from the conductive wire  22 . The feedback element  323  is activated to inform the user when the detected resistance value is determined to be outside a pre-determined normal range stored in the integrated circuit  322  after the operation.  
         [0018]    The user will be reminded by several options including low-volume buzzing by a buzzer and/or slight vibration by a vibration motor. Thus, the user may perceive the buzzing and/or vibration and take necessary steps to relax to avoid any discomfort caused by physical and mental tension. Of course, a signal may be emitted by an infrared or radio emitter so as to be received by a receiver, e.g., a receiver owned by a doctor who is in charge of a patient who suffers from psychiatric illness and thus wears the temperature indicating earring. Thus, the doctor may take necessary steps whenever the patient is in an emergent condition. Of course, the integrated circuit  322  may include a so-called “bluetooth” module incorporated therein, and the receiver can be a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, or a receiver device connected to or incorporated in a computer. A battery (not shown) may be mounted to the circuit board  32  for supply power to the integrated circuit  322  and the feedback element  323 . The selection buttons  341  are provided to select the options of reminding as well as emitting of the information of the detected temperature. The cover  33  includes two through-holes  332  through which the selection buttons  341  extend.  
         [0019]    According to the above description, it is appreciated that the temperature indicating earring assembly in accordance with the present invention may remind the user to relax and provide decoration. Low-volume buzzing of the buzzer adjacent to the ear may avoid embarrassment and interference to people adjacent to the user. Of more importance, adverse affect to the detection resulting from the ambient temperature can be minimized.  
         [0020]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.