Patent Publication Number: US-6334692-B1

Title: Decorative member having vibration actuating light

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a decorative member, and more particularly to a decorative member having a light device actuated by vibrations or shocks of the decorative member. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Typical decorative members may include one or more light devices provided therein and controlled by one or more switches. The light devices may be actuated only when the switches are actuated. However, once the light devices are actuated by the switches, the light devices may not be turned off until the switches are actuated again, such that electricity may be wasted. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional decorative members. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a decorative member having a light device that may be actuated or energized by the vibrations or the shocks of the decorative member for generating a twinkling light. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a decorative member comprising a housing including a chamber formed therein, a frame including a first end having a sleeve secured thereon, and including a second end, a first spring secured in the sleeve, a lid secured on the sleeve and spaced from the first spring for electrically contacting with the first spring when the first spring is vibrated, a light member including a first terminal electrically coupled to the first spring and including a second terminal electrically coupled to the frame, and at least one battery received in the second end of the frame and including a first electrode electrically coupled to the second end of the frame, and including a second electrode electrically coupled to the lid. The lid and the second electrode of the battery may be electrically coupled to the first terminal of the light member via the first spring, in order to generate a twinkling light when the first spring is intermittently contacted with the lid. 
     A non-conductive spacer is selectively engaged between the battery and the second end of the frame for de-energizing the light member. 
     A cover is further secured to the housing and includes a slot formed therein for receiving the spacer. A casing is engaged on the frame and includes a slit formed therein and aligned with the slot of the cover for receiving the spacer. 
     A conductive barrel is received in the sleeve and electrically coupled to the lid and spaced from the first spring for intermittently engaging with the first spring. A canopy is engaged on the light member. A second spring is engaged between the lid and the second electrode of the battery. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a decorative member in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a decorative member; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the decorative member; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the light device for the decorative member; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the other application of the decorative member; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view of the light device as shown in FIG. 5 for the decorative member; and 
     FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  and  10  are perspective views illustrating the application of the decorative member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a decorative member in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing  1  and a cover  2  secured together with an adhesive material, or the other fasteners, or by a welding process, etc. The housing  1  and the cover  2  each includes a hole  17  formed therein for attaching a key ring  16  or a circular wire member  28  (FIG.  9 ), or the like. The housing  1  includes a chamber  22  formed therein for receiving a light device therein. The cover  2  includes a slot  15  formed therein. The decorative member may be attached onto a clamping ring  19  (FIG.  7 ), or a watch belt  20  (FIG.  8 ), or a schoolbag  25  (FIG.  10 ), etc., with an adhesive material, a hook and loop device, or the other fasteners, or the like. 
     The light device includes a casing  7  received in the chamber  22  of the housing  1  and includes a bore  14  formed therein, and includes a slit  8  formed therein and aligned with the slot  15  of the cover  2 . A frame  6  is conductive. A con-conductive cap  27  and a non-conductive sleeve  5  are secured on one end of the frame  6 . A spring  12  is secured in the sleeve  5 . A light member  4 , such as a light emitting diode, a light crystal displayer, or the like, is secured on the one end of the frame  6  and has one terminal or one leg thereof electrically coupled to the spring  12 , and has the other terminal or the other leg electrically coupled to the frame  6 . A conductive barrel  26  is engaged in the sleeve  5  and a conductive lid  11  is secured to the barrel  26  and spaced from the spring  12 . A spring  18  is secured to the lid  11  and electrically coupled to the center electrode of one or more batteries  10 . The case electrode of the batteries  10  is electrically coupled to the frame  6 . 
     In operation, as shown in FIG. 4, when the decorative member, or when the housing  1  is vibrated or moved, the spring  12  may move or vibrate here and there and may electrically contact with the conductive barrel  26  or the conductive lid  11  intermittently in order to generate a twinkling light. A spacer  9  may be engaged through the slot  15  of the cover  2  and the slit  8  of the casing  7  and may be engaged into the batteries  10 , or may be engaged between the battery  10  and the frame  6  for separating the battery  10  from the frame  6 , such that the light member  4  will not be energized whether the spring  12  is contacted with the conductive barrel  26  or the conductive lid  11  or not. The light member  4  may be energized by intermittently contacting the spring  12  with the conductive barrel  26  or the conductive lid  11  when the spacer  9  is disengaged from the batteries  10  again. 
     The housing  1  is preferably made of transparent or semi-transparent material having various kinds of colors applied thereon for generating various kinds of colors of lights when the light member  4  is energized. Alternatively, the housing  1  may includes only a portion  23  aligned with the light member  4  and made of transparent or semi-transparent material having various kinds of colors applied thereon. A transparent or semi-transparent canopy  3  may further be provided and engaged onto the light member  4 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6, without the conductive barrel  26 , the spring  12  may be engaged with the conductive lid  11  intermittently in order to electrically couple the center electrode of the batteries  10  to the spring  12  intermittently and in order to generate a twinkling light. 
     Accordingly, the decorative member in accordance with the present invention includes a light device that may be actuated or energized by the vibrations or the shocks of the decorative member for generating a twinkling light. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.