Abstract:
A display case that includes a base for supporting an item that is being displayed; a cover engaged with the base, with the base forming an interior compartment for the item and having respective opened and closed positions relative to the base; a light source disposed in the interior compartment, supported at an internal surface of said cover and, when illuminated, casting a light beam on the item to highlight the item; and a sensor associated with at least one of the base and cover and for activating the light source. The sensor may include a motion detector, a light detector, a touch sensor or a proximity sensor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to a display case, and particularly a jewelry display case. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a novel way of displaying a jewelry item that is disposed in the case or jewelry box by means of illuminating the jewelry item. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a novel jewelry display case or box in which a sensing arrangement is used to control the illumination. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There presently exist jewelry boxes that contain a light source. The light source is typically activated when the jewelry box is opened. Examples are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,937,320; 5,329,433 and 7,325,940. Typically a mechanical switch of some type is used. This may be, for example, a switch at the hinge that closes when the jewelry box is opened to activate the light source. One problem associated with these prior art devices is that the light source may stay on for an indefinite period of time draining the battery that activates the light source. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel jewelry product, particularly a jewelry box in which the jewelry item that is contained in the jewelry box is selectively illuminated by means of a sensory signal from a user. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel jewelry box or case in which the jewelry item that is contained in the jewelry box is selectively illuminated by using such means as a motion detector, an ambient light sensor, a touch sensor or a proximity sensor. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel jewelry box or case in which the sensory signal is facilitated by simple and inexpensive means that can be readily attached with the jewelry box or case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To accomplish the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention there is provided a jewelry display case that includes a base for supporting an item that is being displayed; a cover engaged with the base, with the base forming an interior compartment for the item and having respective opened and closed positions relative to the base; a light source disposed in the interior compartment, supported at an internal surface of said cover and, when illuminated, casts a light beam on the item to highlight the item; and a sensory sensor associated with at least one of the base and cover and for activating the light source. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the following features apply: 
     the sensor comprises a motion detector responsive to a motion of the user for activating the light source; 
     the motion detector is disposed within the compartment formed by the base and cover, and the motion detector is activated upon mere opening of the cover to, in turn, activate the light source; 
     the sensor includes an ambient light detector for interrupting energy to the light source in the closed position of the cover; 
     the sensor includes an ambient light detector that is disposed within the compartment formed by the base and cover, said ambient light detector controlling the light source to interrupt activation of the light source in the closed position of the cover and to activate the light source in the open position of the cover. 
     the ambient light detector has a variable control to control the level of excitation of the ambient light detector so that the ambient light detector causes illumination of the light source even at low levels of ambient light when the cover is open; 
     the sensor comprises one of a touch sensor and a proximity sensor; 
     the touch sensor is disposed within the base and cover; 
     the sensor comprises a touch sensor disposed external to the base and cover; 
     the proximity sensor is disposed within the base and cover; 
     the sensor comprises a proximity sensor disposed external to the base and cover; 
     the motion detector is coupled in series with the ambient light detector and furthermore in series with the light source; 
     further including a battery for powering the light source and also disposed in series with the motion detector and the ambient light detector; 
     the light source comprises an LED; 
     the item is a piece of jewelry and the base and cover are constructed in the form of a clam shell or rocket box construction; 
     including a controller for controlling the duration of time that the light source is illuminated; and 
     the controller comprises a mono-stable device that sets a predetermined time interval with the light source controlled to interrupt after the duration of the time interval. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosure. In the drawings depicting the present invention, all dimensions are to scale. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a jewelry box or case shown open to illustrate the light source and sensor; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the same jewelry box or case of  FIG. 1  in a closed position and a motioning action or touch action for illuminating the internal light source; 
         FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram illustrating the light source, battery and sensor of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary view of the circuit of  FIG. 3  illustrating the sensor as a motion detector; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary view of the circuit of  FIG. 3  illustrating an ambient light detector; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary view that illustrates a partial series circuit including the battery, motion detector, ambient light detector, an LED light source and a controller for controlling the light source; 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary view of the circuit of  FIG. 3  illustrating the sensor as a touch sensor; and 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary view of the circuit of  FIG. 3  illustrating the sensor as a proximity sensor. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 and 2  that both illustrate a display case  10  that is basically comprised of a base  12  and a cover  14 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate one version of the display case. However, the display case can be provided in many different forms including, but not limited to, a clamshell construction or a rocket box construction. 
     The perspective view of  FIG. 1  illustrates the display case in an open position. On the base  12 , there may be provided a display area  13  for containing an item such as the illustrated jewelry item  15 .  FIG. 1  also illustrates on an internal surface of the cover  14  the light source  20  which may be in the form of one or more LED&#39;s. Also associated with the cover  14  is the sensor  24 . As indicated, the light source is disposed in the interior compartment formed between the cover and base, is supported at an internal surface of the cover, and when illuminated, casts a light beam  17  on the jewelry item  15  so as to highlight the jewelry item. 
     Reference to  FIG. 2  also illustrates the base  12  and the cover  14  in a closed position. There may be associated with either the cover or the base what is referred to herein as a touch zone  30 . In the particular embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  this “touch zone” is disposed at the cover  14 . In one embodiment the sensor  24  of  FIG. 1  may instead be disposed at the area  30  of  FIG. 2 . For example, the sensor may be in the form of a touch, proximity or motion detector so that the user simply has to take some motion or touching adjacent to the area  13  in order to control the light source; particularly to activate the light source once the motion or touching occurs. 
     Reference may now be made to the circuit diagram of  FIG. 3 . This depicts the manner in which the sensor  24  and the light source  20  are arranged in a series circuit with the battery  30 . The battery  30  may be provided at any location within the display case  10 . The battery  30  may be provided in the base  12  along with the wiring that interconnects the battery with the sensor  24  and the light source  20  in the series circuit illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The sensor  24  is for sensing a sensory condition or, in one embodiment, is in the form of an ambient light detector. A first embodiment of the sensor  24  is illustrated in the fragmentary circuit illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The sensor is in the form of a motion detector  34  that would also be connected in a series circuit between the battery and the light source. The motion detector  34  may be of conventional design that initiates a control signal for essentially bridging the connection between the battery  30  and the light source  20 . 
       FIG. 5  also illustrates an alternate embodiment in which the sensor is in the form of an ambient light detector  36 . Refer also to the fragmentary circuit diagram of  FIG. 6  that includes both a motion detector  34  and the ambient light detector  36  in a series circuit diagram that also includes a controller  38 . The controller  38  may be in the form of a monostable device that allows the light source to be illuminated but only for a set predetermined period of time. This monostable device operates so that it essentially provides a “pulse” of a certain duration. It is only during that pulse duration that the light source is illuminated. After the pulse duration is over, the pulse ends and thus the illumination of the light source ends. This control prevents the light source from staying on for an indefinite period of time. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 6  this is a condition wherein both a motion ( 34 ) is sensed as well as ambient light ( 25 ). This can occur when the display case is open. As a matter of fact, the mere opening of the display case provides sufficient motion so that both the detector  34 , as well as the detector  36 , are activated. In that instance the light source  20  can be operated from the battery  30 . The controller  38  provides the aforementioned delay period. As indicated previously, this can be in the form of a monostable vibrator type of device that essentially pulses the light source or LED to its illuminated state but only for a predetermined period of time as set by the monostable controller  38 . 
     The use of a controller  38  can also be provided in association with either the motion detector or the light detector. For example, the user may provide some movement, when the display case is open, that is detected and in turn causes the light source to illuminate. There may be situations in which it is not desired to have the light source be continuously illuminated and with the use of the controller  38 , one can control the duration of illumination of the light source. This controller  38  may be used separately with either the motion detector  34  or the ambient light detector  36 . 
     Thus, as mentioned previously, the motion detector may be provided either on the outside of the case or inside the case  10 . It is preferred that these detectors be placed within the internal case compartment defined between the base  12  and cover  14 ; particularly the ambient light detector. If both the motion detector and the light detector are within the internal jewelry case compartment, when the user opens the case  10  there may well be enough motion to excite both the motion detector and the light detector. Because the internal compartment is completely dark when the case is closed; once the case is opened virtually any level of light will activate the ambient light detector and the mere opening of the case will most likely also activate the motion detector. Thus, in another embodiment of the invention either detector  34  or  36  may be used without requiring the use of both detectors. For the light detector  36  this device responds to detecting an adjustable amount of light to, in turn, activate the light source  20 . The light detector  36  may be of conventional design that initiates a control signal for essentially bridging the connection between the battery  30  and the light source  20 . 
     Reference is also now made to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . These figures describe further embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 7  illustrates a touch sensor  40  that can be in the circuit of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a proximity sensor  42  that can be in the circuit of  FIG. 3 . The touch sensor  40  may be disposed within the display case inner compartment or at an external surface such as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In either case it is preferred to also use the controller of  FIG. 6  so that the illumination of the jewelry item is limited to a set predetermined of time. In a sense the proximity sensor of  FIG. 8  may be considered as substantially the same as the motion detector  34  of  FIG. 4 . The proximity sensor  42  may also be disposed within the display case inner compartment or at an external surface such as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In either case it is preferred to also use the controller of  FIG. 6  so that the illumination of the jewelry item is limited to a set predetermined of time. 
     As previously mentioned,  FIG. 7  shows a fragmentary view of the circuit of  FIG. 3  illustrating the sensor as a touch sensor  FIG. 8  illustrates a fragmentary view of the circuit of  FIG. 3  illustrating the sensor as a proximity sensor. In still another embodiment of the present invention, either of these sensors illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  can also be replaced by a sound sensor or transducer. In that way, the highlighting of the item can be based upon the detection of a sound. 
     Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. For example, the concepts of the present invention can be applied to virtually any type of display case that displays any item whether a jewelry item or not.