US3624384A - Illuminated earring - Google Patents

Abstract

An illuminated earring having a housing secured to an earring support, which housing encloses and electrically connects a battery and light bulb and supports a removable light transmissive enclosure having selective configurations that encloses and is illuminated by the light bulb.

Description

United States Patent Inventors Gordon R. Ledingham; [56] References Cited Norman L. Ledingham, both of 2486 Valle UNITED STATES PATENTS N $;g Lamla 9237 1,900,494 8/1959 Cheng 240/1066 251:; Nov 29 1968 3,383,503 /l968 Montgomery.. 240/6.4 X Patented Nov- 30,1971 3,384,740 5/1968 Wood 240/64 Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard L. Moses ILLUMINATED EARRING AllorneyCarl R. Brown 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 240/264?) ABSTRACT: An illuminated earring having a housing secured Cl F21 33 0 to an earring support, which housing encloses and electrically g t. ..24 v 4 /60 connects a battery and light bulb and Supports a removable le 0 rch light transmissive enclosure having selective configurations 5 that encloses and is illuminated by the light bulb.

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NORMA L. LEDINGHAM GORDON R. LEDINGHAM ATTORNEY ILLUMINATED EARRING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are several known earring ornaments that employ light bulbs in their structure. These earrings normally display the bare light bulb as a part of the ornament. This makes the lighted portion of the ornament small and limits the configuration of the earring to a particularly shaped light bulb. Thus these known illuminated earring ornaments are plain and, understandably, have not experienced commercial acceptance. So it is advantageous to have an illuminated earring in which a large portion of the earring structure is illuminated and which illuminated structure can be removed and interchanged with other illuminatable structures having different configurations and colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an embodiment of this invention, an earring housing holds a small battery in electrical contact with a light bulb. The housing generally comprises a tubular shell that is secured to an earring support for supporting the earring structure on the ear of a person. Attached to the housing structure is a particularly configuration and colored light-transmissive enclosure that is illuminated by the light bulb. In one embodiment of this invention, the housing has a switch means for turning the light bulb on and off from outside the housing structure. In another embodiment, the housing structure is positioned within a second tubular shell that supports the light-transmissive enclosure. In all the embodiments, the tubular housing may be selectively opened to remove the battery and interchange the light bulb, and the light-transmissive enclosure may be selectively changed to provide a different configuration and color to the overall earring ornament.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved illuminated caning.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved illuminated earring in which the configuration of the illuminated portion of the earring ornament may be selectively changed without requiring any change to the remainder of the earring structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved illuminated earring that may be selectively turned on and turned off without having to disassemble the structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved illuminated earring structure that is capable of using several different types of light bulbs.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and upon an inspection of the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a crosssectional view of an embodiment of the illuminated earring of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of the earring structure illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of an illuminated earring of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of an illuminated earring of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an earring structure comprises acylindrical housing 12 with a threadedend 30 and anupper cap 14. Apin 18 secures aneyelet 16 to thecap 14. A known earlobeclamp comprising bail 20 andear contact portions 22 and 24 with screw means 26, attaches theearring structure 10 to a person's earlobe. Abattery 32 with a paper orinsulating cover 34 fits into thetubular shell 12. The lower end ofbattery 32 rests uponswitch contact 46 that in turn rests upon theconductor button 58 of thelight bulb 60. Thelight bulb 60, of known construction, is positioned in a circular opening in thelower wall 64 of thetubular portion 12.Circumferential shoulder 56 retains thelight bulb 60 in position. The electrical connection of thelight bulb 60 across thebattery 32 is accomplished byspring contact 36, throughcap 14,tubular housing 12 that is made of electrically conductive metal, through the metal portion of thelight bulb 52 and 56, throughwire 62, throughelectrode button 58,conductor portion 44 ofswitch 46, and to the other contact of thebattery 32. Aswitch contact 46, that may be made of plastic or other suitable material, has aconductor portion 44 that provides electrical contact betweenelectrode 58 and the end of thebattery 32. By pulling onend 50,switch contact 46 slides through theopening 54 and theconductor portion 44 is moved from between the respective electrodes and is replaced by the insulating material. Ridge 48 limits movement of theswitch contact 46 through the opening 54.

A light-transmissive enclosure 28 has a threaded opening at one end that coacts withthreads 30 to secure theenclosure 28 to thehousing 12. It should be understood that the lighttransmissive enclosure 28 may have any desired shape or color and it is a part of this invention that eachearring structure 10 has multiple light-transmissive enclosures 28 so that the omamentation of the illuminated earring can be selectively varied.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of anilluminated earring 68 having a closedend housing 70 that coacts with amated end 72 that is slidably joined atconnection 74. Thehousing 70 andend 72 are separable to insert thebulb 98 into the opening in the bottom ofend 72 and to insert thebattery 76 into the tubular shell. Thebattery 76 has the known insulating cover 84. It should be understood thathousing 70 andend 72 are constructed of electrically conductive metal. Thus aspring member 78, of conductive metal, contacts the upper surface 86 ofbattery 76 and closes a circuit throughhousing 70,end 72, throughconductor portions 94 and 96 oflamp 98, through wire and through the button contact at 88 to the other side of thebattery 76. Thespring 78 thus functions both as an electrical contact and as a spring for biasing thebattery 76 against the end of thelight bulb 98. The light-transmissive enclosure 90 has anopening 92 with the correct size to provide a friction fit against theouter surface 94 of thelamp 98. Thus the light-transmissive enclosure 90 can be selectively changed in the manner previously described by merely sliding oneenclosure 90 off thelight bulb 98 and sliding anotherenclosure 90 thereon in replacement.Ring 80 andpin 82 secure thehousing 70 to a known earring support structure.

Referring to FIG. 3, the illuminatedearring structure 102 comprises a closed end,tubular housing 104 that is made of plastic or other suitable insulating material and has an electrical conductor 118 embedded therein. Electrical conductor 118 is connected at one end to a spring electrical contact through a connector 116 and at the other end to aring conductor 134 that fits against the inner circumference of thehousing 104. Anenclosure 106 of light transmissive material, has a threaded end that coacts with the threadedend 136 of thehousing 104. The enclosure has acircumferential shoulder 140 that projects inwardly to support aninsulated disk 138. Disk 138 has arim conductor 132 that makes electrical contact with the inner surface ofring contact 134. A socket for receivinglamp 150 comprises a pair ofsplit rings 126 and 128. Thelamp 150 hasconductor wires 144 and 146 that bend over and fit between the outer housing of the lamp and thesplit conductor rings 126 and 128. Line completes the circuit betweenring plate 132 andconductor plate 128 andline 124 closes the electrical circuit betweencontact point 120 andring plate 126.Shoulder 148 onlamp 150 fits against the outer surface of the socket. Thus tightening the light-transmittingenclosure 106 forces shoulder againstring 138 that presses the battery 112 against spring contact 110 assuring electrical contact of the light bulb across battery 112. Bail 108 secures theearring structure 102 to theearring support 20. It is to be noted that the entire housing structure in this modified embodiment of the invention is made of insulating material. Further, the connections between the respective parts provide a smooth overall outer surface. Also no light is transmitted above theilluminating enclosure 106.

Referring to FIG. 4, a first housing comprisessideplates 168 and 170 that are shaped at to provide a threaded contact to the threadedend 184 of alight bulb 186. Thearms 168 and 170 are joined together by aplate 172 having a downwardly projecting center portion that contacts theupper surface 176 of abattery 174. Thehousing 168 hasupper fingers 173 that fit into acircumferential groove 155 in asecond housing 154. This allows thehousing 168 to be selectively snapped into and out of theretainer ring 155 and to additionally bend thebar 172 to a slightly bowed shape to exert spring force againstbattery surface 176 that in turn moves the other end of thebattery 174 against theelectrical contact button 178 oflamp 186. Thesecond housing 154 has anopening 158 therein through which aneyelet 164 having a threadedend 166 projects to thread into the respective upper andlower plates 162. The illuminatedenclosure portion 152 has a beveled open end that coacts with an oppositely beveled end of thesecond housing 154 to provide a snap connection of the illuminatedenclosure portion 152 to thesecond housing 154. It may be understood thathousing 154 andenclosure 152 can be constructed of plastic or other suitable materials and their ornamentation and color may be selectively varied. Further in this embodiment, it is possible to change the entire outer earring surface by merely removingframe 168 from the inner cavity of thesecond housing 154 and removing theearring eyelet 164 by unscrewing threadedend 166 from theplates 162 and 163. Thus in this embodiment, the entire configuration of the illuminated earring may be selectively changed.

From the foregoing description it is evident that we have provided a new and improved illuminated earring that has a flexible and interchangeable structure that particularly lends itself to the selective use and illumination of many earring configurations and colors.

Having described our invention, we now claim.

1. An illuminated earring comprising,

a source of electrical power,

an electrical light bulb that is energized by said source of electrical power,

an earring housing to be supported from the ear of a person,

a light-transmitting enclosure for enclosing said light bulb and that is illuminated by said light bulb,

means for securing said light-transmitting enclosure to said housing in a manner that said enclosure is easily and quickly removed,

said source of electrical power and said light bulb are supported by said housing,

said housing is a tubular shell with an opening in the bottom wall for receiving and holding said light bulb,

said enclosure is substantially larger than said light bulb,

said source of electrical power is a battery that is positionable in said housing and whose lower end is resiliently biased into electrical engagement with said light bulb by a spring electrical contact that bears against the upper end of said battery,

and said housing includes an electrical conductor means for electrically connecting said electrical contact to said bulb,

said enclosure has an opening in the upper end that is aligned against said opening in the bottom wall of said housing,

said enclosure has an inwardly projecting circumferential shoulder adjacent said opening in said enclosure, and

a disk having an electrical socket for receiving said light bulb is held between said circumferential shoulder and the lower end of said battery.

2. An illuminated earing as claimed in claim 1 in which,

said housing comprises a frame that holds said light bulb in an electrical circuit across said battery,

a second housing comprising a tubular shell that is open at one end and has earring connecting means at the other end,

said second housing has an inwardly projecting shoulder adjacent said opening, and

said housing has outwardly projecting fingers at its upper end that fit over said shoulder holding said housing in said second housing. 3. An illuminate earring as claimed in claim 1 in which,

said light-transmitting enclosure is substantially larger than said light bulb and has an open end that is removably secured to said open end of said second housing.

4. An illuminated earring comprising,

a source of electrical power,

an electrical light bulb that is energized by said source of electrical power,

an earring housing to be supported from the ear of a person,

a light-transmitting enclosure for enclosing said light bulb and that is illuminated by said light bulb,

means for securing said light-transmitting enclosure to said housing in a manner that said enclosure is easily and quickly removed,

said source of electrical power and said light bulb are supported by said housing,

said housing is a tubular shell with an opening in the bottom wall for receiving and holding said light bulb,

said enclosure is substantially larger than said light bulb,

said source of electrical power is a battery that is positionable in said housing and whose lower end is resiliently biased into electrical engagement with said light bulb by a spring electrical contact that bears against the upper end of said battery,

said housing includes an electrical conductor means for electrical connecting said electrical contact to said bulb,

l i 4 i i

Claims (4)

1. An illuminated earring comprising, a source of electrical power, an electrical light bulb that is energized by said source of electrical power, an earring housing to be supported from the ear of a person, a light-transmitting enclosure for enclosing said light bulb and that is illuminated by said light bulb, means for securing said light-transmitting enclosure to said housing in a manner that said enclosure is easily and quickly removed, said source of electrical power and said light bulb are supported by said housing, said housing is a tubular shell with an opening in the bottom wall for receiving and holding said light bulb, said enclosure is substantially larger than said light bulb, said source of electrical power is a battery that is positionable in said housing and whose lower end is resiliently biased into electrical engagement with said light bulb by a spring electrical contact that bears against the upper end of said battery, and said housing includes an electrical conductor means for electrically connecting said electrical contact to said bulb, said enclosure has an opening in the upper end that is aligned against said opening in the bottom wall of said housing, said enclosure has an inwardly projecting circumferential shoulder adjacent said opening in said enclosure, and a disk having an electrical socket for receiving said light bulb is held between said circumferential shoulder and the lower end of said battery.

2. An illuminated earing as claimed in claim 1 in which, said housing comprises a frame that holds said light bulb in an electrical circuit across said battery, a second housing comprising a tubular shell that is open at one end and has earring connecting means at the other end, said second housing has an inwardly projecting shoulder adjacent said opening, and said housing has outwardly projecting fingers at its upper end that fit over said shoulder holding said housing in said second housing.

3. An illuminated earring as claimed in claim 1 in which, said light-transmitting enclosure is substantially larger than said light bulb and has an open end that is removably secured to said open end of said second housing.

4. An illuminated earring comprising, a source of electrical power, an electrical light bulb that is energized by said source of electrical power, an earring housing to be supported from the ear of a person, a light-transmitting enclosure for enclosing said light bulb and that is illuminated by said light bulb, means for securing said light-transmitting enclosure to said housing in a manner that said enclosure is easily and quickly removed, said source of electrical power and said light bulb are supported by said housing, said housing is a tubular shell with an opening in the bottom wall for receiving and holding said light bulb, said enclosure is substantially larger than said light bulb, said source of electrical power is a battery that is positionable in said housing and whose lower end is resiliently biased into electrical engagement with said light bulb by a spring electrical contact that bears against the upper end of said battery, said housing includes an electrical conductor means for electrical connecting said electrical contact to said bulb.

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