Patent Publication Number: US-7222982-B2

Title: Illuminated article

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/817,989 filed on Apr. 5, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,614 and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/460,588, filed Apr. 4, 2003 and U.S. Design Application Ser. No. 29/194,532, filed Nov. 25, 2003. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable. 
   Appendix 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to illuminated articles and, more particularly, to an article having a transmutable lighting element with an integrated circuit and a decorative stone. 
   2. Related Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,578 to Westmoland discloses an article of jewelry having two plates which sandwich a battery between them and electrically connected to a lighting element. In some embodiments, the article includes a microchip to vary the illumination characteristics of the lighting element. Westmoland does not disclose the combination of a transmutable lighting element and a decorative stone. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,433 to Ohlund discloses an illuminated necklace having a plurality of electrically conductive beads, a power source, and an illuminated pendant. When a person wearing the necklace moves, the beads intermittently form an electrical circuit thereby causing the pendant to flash. Ohlund does not disclose a transmutable lighting element wherein the colors fade from one to the next. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,364 to Day et al. discloses a light-emitting beaded necklace having a plurality of selectively illuminated beads and a pendant. The beads and the pendant are connected to an integrated circuit which causes each item to be illuminated sequentially. Day also does not disclose a transmutable lighting element wherein the colors fade from one to the next nor the combination of a transmutable lighting element and a decorative stone. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,965 to Kamara discloses an article of jewelry having two plates which sandwich a battery between them and electrically connected to a lighting element. Kamara does not disclose the combination of a transmutable lighting element, a decorative stone and a two-part switch. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   It is in view of the above problems that the present invention was developed. The invention is an article of jewelry, such as a necklace, having a transmutable lighting element, such as a light emitting diode, with an electrical circuit, and a decorative stone. The decorative stone is impregnated with the transmutable lighting element. The lighting element contains an integrated circuit which controls its transmutable appearance. The lighting element is selectively connected to a power source by a two-part switch having magnetic elements to hold the two-parts together. 
   Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an article of jewelry having a decorative stone and a transmutable lighting element; 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates the article of jewelry in the form of a necklace; 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates the article of jewelry in the form of a choker; 
       FIG. 3   a  illustrates a two-part switch; 
       FIG. 3   b  illustrates each component of the two-part switch; 
       FIG. 4   a  illustrates a side view of the two-part switch; 
       FIG. 4   b  illustrates a side view of the two-part switch; 
       FIG. 5   a  illustrates a top view of the two-part switch; 
       FIG. 5   b  illustrates a bottom view of the two-part switch; 
       FIG. 6   a  illustrates contact elements of a first part of the switch; and 
       FIG. 6   b  illustrates contact elements of a second part of the switch. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like elements,  FIG. 1  illustrates an article of jewelry  10  having a decorative stone  8  impregnated with a transmutable lighting element  12  electrically connected to a power source (not shown). While the decorative stone  8  is depicted as being orb shaped, other shapes, such as star, heart, half-moon, or animal shapes, could equally be used. The decorative stone  8  includes a void  6  for receiving the transmutable lighting element  12 . Epoxy resin is used to fill the void  6  and hold the transmutable lighting element  12  in place. In the depicted embodiments, the decorative stone  8  is made of rose quartz. However, in some embodiments the decorative stone  8  comprises opaque plastic, rubber, crystal, or resin material. In the depicted embodiment, the transmutable lighting element  12  is electrically connected by a wire  14 . The wire  14  is made from stainless steel and is coated with nylon. The lighting element  12 , such as a light emitting diode (LED), contains an integrated circuit which controls its transmutable appearance. In the depicted embodiment, the lighting element  12  repetitively emits seven colors, one at a time with a fading transition between each color. The power source is a battery or solar powered electrical cell. For example, the power source may be two 3 Volt lithium batteries in series. 
     FIG. 2   a  shows the article of jewelry  10  as a necklace  20 . The wire  14  provides part of the necklace  20 . In some embodiments, the wire  14  is covered by a material. In the depicted embodiment, the wire  14  is covered by a plurality of beads  18 . In an alternative embodiment,  FIG. 2   b  shows the article of jewelry  10  incorporated into a choker  22 . In further alternative embodiments, the article of jewelry  10  is incorporated into a bracelet. In the depicted embodiment, the choker  22  includes a two-part switch  24  (best seen in  FIGS. 3A–6B ). The two-part switch  24  is electrically connected to the transmutable lighting element  12  through the use of the wire  14 . The two-part switch  24  selectively connects the lighting element  12  to the power source. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a – 6   b , it can be seen that the two-part switch  24  includes a first member  30  and a second member  32 . The first and second members  30 ,  32  have a complementary design such that they fit together. In the depicted embodiments, the complimentary design is arcuate; however, other shapes may be used. The second member  32  includes a receptacle  34 . The first member  30  includes a protrusion  36 . In the depicted embodiment, the protrusion is formed by two intersecting columns; however, other shapes may be used. The receptacle  34  and the protrusion  36  are complementary such that they fit together. Optionally, the first member may include a cavity  38 . The cavity  38  can be used to receive a label or sticker having a trademark. The two-part switch  24  is made of injection molded plastic and may include a compartment (not shown) to hold a battery. The receptacle  34  and the protrusion  36  each include contacts  40 A and  40 B. The contacts  40 A are “dead” contacts and the contacts  40 B are “live” contacts. The term “dead” is defined to mean electrically non-conductive, and the term “live” is defined to mean electrically conductive. This provides each member  30 ,  32  with one “live” contact  40  B and one “dead” contact  40 A. When the “live” contacts  40 B line up with one another, the switch is in an “on” position, and when a “dead” contact  40 A and a “live” contact  40 B are matched together, the switch is in an “off” position. 
   In the depicted embodiments, the contacts  40 A and  40 B are magnets. The magnets are used to hold the first member  30  and the second member  32  together. However, in other embodiments a snap-fit may be used to hold the first and second members  30 ,  32  together. In other words, the first member  30  and the second member  32  may “snap” together. In yet other embodiments, the first and second members  30 ,  32  each include magnetic inserts in addition to the contacts  40 A and  40  B. The magnetic inserts may be used to hold the first and second members  30 ,  32  together while the contacts  40 A and  40 B are used as the switching mechanism. 
   The article of jewelry  10  is assembled by first cutting and tumbling a rose quartz stone  8 . Next, a void to receive the transmutable lighting element  12  is created in the rose quartz stone  8 . For example, a flat bottom hole is drilled into the rose quartz stone  8  to provide the void. A wire hole is also drilled into the rose quart stone  8  such that wire  14  connected to the transmutable lighting element  12  may be placed therethrough. A transmutable lighting element  12  is mounted within the flat bottom hole of the rose quartz  8 . Next, wire  14  connected to the transmutable lighting element  12  are pulled through the wire hole of the rose quartz  8 . After installation of the transmutable lighting element  12 , opaque epoxy resin is poured into the flat bottom hole to secure the transmutable lighting element. Optionally, a decorative label can be placed over the epoxy resin. Finally, the wire  14  is connected to the two-part switch  24 . 
   In operation, the first and second members  30 ,  32  are in a first position such that a “dead” magnet and a “live” magnet are aligned. In this first position, the switch is in an “off” position. Thereafter, a user decouples the second member  32  from the first member  30 , rotates the second member  32  one hundred eighty degrees, and couples the second member  32  to the first member  30 , thereby achieving a second position. In this second position, the “live” and “dead” magnets are aligned such that the switch is in an “on” position. In the “on” position, the transmutable lighting element  12  sequentially emits a plurality of colors in a transitional manner. 
   The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
   As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. For example, while the decorative stone  10  is orb shaped other shapes are equally applicable. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.