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Patent Abstract
A jewelry box including a pair of clamshell members joined by a
hinge, a jewelry holder in one clamshell member and a display device
in one clamshell member. The display device includes a LED light
source, a light diffuser positioned over the light source, and a
lighted display screen mounted over the light diffuser.
Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display box comprising: a first and second clamshell members;
a hinge connecting said clamshell members such that the members
are capable of openings and closing, said members defining a clamshell
volume therewithin; a jewelry holder, mounted in the first member;
a LED having an output beam mounted in said first clamshell member;
an optical light diffuser spaced apart from the LED, within the
first member positioned to intercept the output beam and limiting
light divergence therefrom; and a display screen lit by light from
the output beam.
2. The box of claim 1 wherein said LED is mounted on a circuit
board.
3. The box of claim 2 wherein said LED is surface mounted.
4. The box of claim 1 wherein said light diffusion device is a
Fresnel lens formed on a planar member.
5. The box of claim 4 wherein the planar member is glass.
6. The box of claim 4 wherein the planar member is a clear, self-supporting
polymer.
7. The box of claim 2 wherein the circuit board supports a battery
electrically connected to the LED.
8. The box of claim 1 wherein the display screen includes a mask
having clear and opaque portions.
9. The box of claim 8 wherein the mask displays a text message.
10. The box of claim 9 wherein the message in the mask is clear
lettering in an opaque field.
11. The box of claim 1 wherein the light diffusion device includes
a hologram.
12. The box of claim 1 wherein the display box includes a switch
activated by opening said box.
Patent Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a jewelry gift box.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Jewelry is commonly sold with an accompanying gift box to
allow for an attractive presentation of the jewelry. In addition
such a gift box prevents the jewelry from being tarnished. Such
a gift box is commonly of a clamshell design with the jewelry, such
as a ring, held by a support in the bottom section of the jewelry
box. These boxes may be kept for jewelry storage or are disposable.
Most commonly, the jewelry box has a top half and a bottom half
connected by a hinge. The hinge usually holds the top and bottom
half clamped shut, and upon opening provides a spring force, which
holds the jewelry box open.
[0003] A number of prior devices have been proposed to add features
to jewelry display boxes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,320 discloses
a box for holding a jewelry item. This box includes a small light
bulb in a top section of the jewelry box connected to a battery
in the bottom section of the box. The hinge joining the top and
bottom sections include a switch. The switch is activated by opening
the box, closing a circuit to bring power to the bulb. Light is
then directed by the bulb to the jewelry in the box.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,433 includes a high-intensity electric
lamp in the top of the section of a hinged jewelry box. A reflector
in the top section reflects additional light produced by the light
source onto jewelry contained within the box. As in the previous
device, a switch in the hinge allows closing a circuit, which connects
the light source to a battery source.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a jewelry
box with additional features that enhance the display of the jewelry
within the box and provides a message displayed when the box is
opened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The above objects have been achieved with a jewelry display
box including a first and second clamshell members joined by a hinge
to define an interior volume for holding a piece of jewelry. An
LED held by a holder in one of the clamshell members provides a
light source having a columnar output beam. An optical light diffuser
(such as a Fresnel lens and/or a holographic film) is mounted above
the light source such that light from the LED is intercepted by
the optical light diffuser. Above the optical light diffuser is
mounted a transparent viewing screen. Light from the LED is dispersed
by the light diffuser and then transmitted to the viewing screen.
[0007] The holder that holds the LED may be a circuit board, to
which the LED may be surface mounted. The circuit board may include
a battery electrically connected to the LED.
[0008] The Fresnel lens and other light diffusers may be formed
on a planar member, which may be glass or a transparent, self-supporting
polymer, or other frame.
[0009] The display screen may be a mask having clear and opaque
portions, which may display a graphic or text message (as by having
clear lettering in an opaque field or by contrasting lettering).
The jewelry box may be palm sized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top view of an open jewelry box of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the bottom section of the jewelry
box of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side cross section of the jewelry box of FIG.
2.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a electrical schematic of the electronic elements
of the device of FIGS. 1-3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] With respect to FIG. 1, the jewelry box of the present invention
includes a first clamshell member 2 and a second clamshell member
4 joined by a hinge 6. The hinge may be a leaf spring fabric hinge
or other similar device. A spring hinge would hold the first and
second member in an open position. When opposing force is applied
to the first and second members, the box would close while the hinge
spring would retain the members in a clamped shut position. A finger
grip 12 on first member 2 and a finger grip 14 on second member
4 aid in opening the box. Both first member 2 and second member
4 have a concave structure such that the members, joined by hinge
6, define an interior space of the jewelry box. The interior of
first member 2 and second member 4 may be lined in a fabric, such
as velvet, to enhance the aesthetic quality of the box.
[0015] Inside second (bottom) member 4, an area of the jewelry
box contains a holder for the jewelry. As pictured, ring supports
8a, 8b hold ring 10. Ring supports 8a, 8b may be fabric covered
resilient polymer, which may slightly deform to hold ring 10. This
jewelry holding area could alternatively have a flat surface having
one or more holes extending through the surface. This would allow
earrings to be secured through the holes, or a necklace, bracelet
or wrist watch to be inserted through the holes to display a gem
or pendant hung from the necklace. This flat surface could be a
plastic, cardboard or metal panel, preferably covered with velvet
or other material.
[0016] Also within one of the clamshell members 4 is the interchangeable
display screen 16. This display screen may display a text message
17, a graphic or some other visual to accompany the presentation
of the jewelry to a recipient and may be interchanged with other
display screens.
[0017] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate the workings of the lit display.
Within clamshell member 4, ring supports 8a and 8b are mounted,
such that each of ring supports 8a, 8b are sufficiently below the
open top of member 4 to allow for the height of a ring or other
piece of jewelry to be accommodated.
[0018] Also inserted into clamshell member 4 is a display device
that may display a message or image when the jewelry box is opened.
This device may be manufactured as a single, drop-in component that
would be inserted into the jewelry box. This would simplify the
manufacturing of this device. The component would be secured into
the jewelry box by adhesive, ultrasonic welding, clips, or other
attachment means. The display screen may be fixed part of this component
or may be an insertable, interchangeable part. An interchangeable
display screen could be secured by an attachment means.
[0019] The display device includes a circuit board 24 connected
to two side supports 20, 22. Connected onto circuit board 24 is
an light emitting diode (LED) 26, a resistor 27, a switch 29 and
a battery terminal 30.
[0020] The LED may be a commercially available blue LED (emitting
light having a 470 nm wavelength), which is a bright, long lived
light source. A wavelength filter may be used with a blue LED to
produce white light. The LED may be a surface mounted integrated
phosphor type or a phosphor filled silicone type, among others.
[0021] Battery 28 provides a power source to LED 26, with current
directed through resistor 27. A blue LED forward voltage is about
3.6 volts, so the battery source must supply at least this much
voltage to support the LED at its brightest service. Two 3 volt
energy cells connected in series could be adopted as the energy
cell. Alternately a single cell may be used which limits LED current
to a safe level. Another alternative is to use a switching or change
pump LED driver chip. These are commercially available, more energy
efficient and relatively inexpensive. This component can extend
useful battery life while allowing good illumination as the cell
progresses deep into its depletion cycle.
[0022] A switch 29 activates the LED 26 when the jewelry box is
opened a Hall effect switch having a magnet partner in the first
member 4 and a metal portion in the second member is closed. This
completes a normally open circuit, allowing electricity from the
battery 29 to flow to LED 26. A Hall effects switch provides a simple
switch having a very long life. Alternatively a magnetic reed switch
may be used. This switch is normally open when the jewelry box is
open. Shutting the box turns off this switch. Such normally open
switches are commercially available in many styles at relatively
low cost. A normally closed read switch could also be used.
[0023] Mounted on side supports 20, 22 are optical elements of
the inserted display device. Light from LED 26 impinges on light
diffuser 18. Light diffuser 18 may be a Fresnel lens or other diffusing
lens that diffuses the light from LED 26. The Fresnel lens may be
formed on a planar member, such as glass or a self supporting polymer.
Commercially available Fresnel lenses may be obtained having focal
lengths of 16 mm or 19 mm, with light diffused to a 1 inch by two
inch or 25 mm by 50 mm window respectively. Such lenses may be made
by two part injection molding, not stamped or engraved glass. The
lens is secured to side support 20, 22 and attached at the edges
of the lens. The lens is positioned at its focal distance from the
LED 26 light source.
[0024] An alternative light diffusion device would be a hologram
filter. A rear projection film hologram may be used to provide an
even illumination. A 25.times.95 degree light shaping diffuser hologram
could be used. The Hologram filter would be placed on the side supports
20, 22 to intercept light from the LED 26. A single holographic
film could act as a light diffuser and as the display screen for
display of a message.
[0025] Mounted above the light diffusion device is a display screen
16 lit by the light transmitted through the light diffuser. The
display screen may have a text or graphic image that is lit by light
from LED 26. The display screen may be made of two bonded planes,
one transparent and one opaque. A mask over the opaque lens could
create the outline of the text or graphic. The display screen may
be a thin laminated plastic sheet mounted over the light diffusion
optics on supports 20, 22.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows the electrical diagram of the elements of the
present system. Battery 40 is joined to the LED 48 by a pathway
including a first resistor 44 and a second resistor 42 connected
in parallel. When switch 46 is closed the circuit is completed and
power from battery 40 may flow to LED 48. |