Illuminated jewellery

Abstract

An electronic article of jewellery comprising a plurality of jewels that can be illuminated uniformly using a single light source is described. The article of jewellery comprises a chamber with the plurality of jewels to be illuminated being provided in a wall of the chamber. An artificial light source such as a tri-colour LED module, is provided within the chamber along with a light diffusing element. The light source and the light diffusing element, are positioned such that light rays emitted from the light source are diffused by interaction with the light diffusing element, before reaching the plurality of jewels to be illuminated.

1 . An electronic article of jewellery having a plurality of jewels to be artificially illuminated, the electronic article of jewellery comprising: 
 a chamber having at least one wall and the plurality of jewels being provided in the at least one wall of the chamber;    a light source provided within the chamber, the light source being arranged to artificially illuminate the plurality of jewels; and    a light diffusing element provided within the chamber; wherein the light source and the light diffusing element are positioned such that light rays emitted from the light source are diffused by interaction with the light diffusing element before reaching the plurality of jewels to be illuminated.    
     
     
         2 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light source and the diffusing element are positioned relative to each other such that there is substantially no direct illumination of any one of the plurality of jewels and the appearance of discernible point source illumination of the jewel is prevented.  
     
     
         3 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a light path having a length extending from the light source via the diffusing element to the plurality of jewels, wherein the light source is positioned within the chamber so as to maximise the length of the light path.  
     
     
         4 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light source and the diffusing element are positioned relative to each other such that in use the plurality of jewels are illuminated substantially uniformly.  
     
     
         5 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall of the chamber is arranged to define an internal surface and the diffusing element comprises the internal surface of the wall of the chamber, the internal surface being arranged to reflect the light rays received from the light source in a non-uniform manner.  
     
     
         6 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one wall of the chamber defining the internal surface has a matte polished metallic appearance.  
     
     
         7 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the diffusing element comprises a screen of diffusion material, the screen of the diffusion material being arranged to refract light passing through the material in a non-uniform manner.  
     
     
         8 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the each of the plurality of jewels comprises a chamber-facing side for receiving the light rays from the diffusing element, the diffusing element comprising a diffusion material coating provided on the chamber-facing side of each of the plurality of jewels, the coating being arranged to refract and reflect the light rays incident on the coating in a non-uniform manner.  
     
     
         9 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a multicolour light source for emitting different coloured light rays, the multicoloured light source being arranged to be controllable to change the colour of the light ray being emitted.  
     
     
         10 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the multicolour light source comprises a light emitting diode package arranged to emit different coloured light rays.  
     
     
         11 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a microprocessor operatively connected to the light source, the microprocessor being arranged to control the light source to vary the illumination of the plurality of jewels.  
     
     
         12 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the light rays comprise a plurality of light pulses emitted from the light source and the microprocessor is arranged to control the light source to vary the intensity of the emitted light pulses, thereby varying the illumination of the plurality of jewels.  
     
     
         13 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the microprocessor is arranged to control the duration of the emitted light pulses to vary the illumination of the plurality of jewels.  
     
     
         14 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a memory operatively connected to the microprocessor and a digital program stored in the memory, wherein the digital program manipulates the microprocessor to control the light source to generate a predetermined sequence of light pulses for the illumination of the plurality of jewels.  
     
     
         15 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a hollow metal casing, the casing being arranged to define the chamber.  
     
     
         16 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the metal casing has formations arranged to enable the article of jewellery to be worn by a user.  
     
     
         17 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light diffusing element has light absorption characteristics, the absorption characteristics being substantially uniform to different wavelengths of light.  
     
     
         18 . An article of jewellery having a plurality of groups of jewels to be artificially illuminated and a corresponding plurality of chambers, each chamber comprising: 
 at least one chamber wall, one of the groups of jewels to be illuminated being provided in the at least one wall of the chamber;    a light source provided within the chamber, the light source being arranged to artificially illuminate the group of jewels; and    a light diffusing element provided within the chamber; wherein the light source and the light diffusing element are positioned such that light rays emitted from the light source are diffused by interaction with the light diffusing element before reaching the plurality of jewels to be illuminated.    
     
     
         19 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising at least one internal wall for separating the plurality of chambers, wherein the at least one internal wall acts as the light diffusing element having non-uniform and reflective characteristics.  
     
     
         20 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each of the light sources in each of the plurality of chambers is operable independently to generate a composite illumination effect in the plurality of groups of jewels.  
     
     
         21 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable power store for storing and supplying power to the light source and a power supply recharger for recharging the power store.  
     
     
         22 . A method of illuminating an article of jewellery having a plurality of jewels to be artificially illuminated, the article of jewellery comprising a chamber having at least one wall and the plurality of jewels being provided within the at least one wall of the chamber, a light source positioned within the chamber and a light diffusing element also provided within the chamber, the method comprising: 
 generating light rays for artificially illuminating the plurality of jewels, the light rays being generated from the light source; and    diffusing the light rays emitted from the light source by interaction with the light diffusing element before the light rays reach the plurality of jewels to be illuminated.    
     
     
         23 . A recharging connector for use in recharging an electronic article of jewellery having a rechargeable power store, the recharging connector comprising a connector part of the article of jewellery, the connector part comprising an assembly fastener of the article which has ferromagnetic characteristics; 
 a base connector part comprising a magnet and being mountable in a base for supporting the article of jewellery, the base connector part being adapted to mate with the connector part of the article of jewellery when the article of jewellery is operatively seated on the base,    wherein the attraction between the magnet of the base connector part and the ferromagnetic fastener of the article of jewellery provides a force for locating and maintaining the connector part of the article of jewellery in secure physical and electrical connection with the base connector part of the recharging connector.    
     
     
         24 . A connector as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the ferromagnetic fastener comprises an electrical contact of the recharging connector, the electrical contact being connectable to the rechargeable power store.  
     
     
         25 . A connector as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the ferromagnetic fastener comprises a contact of a humanly operable touch control switch for generating input signals to control the operation of the electronic article of jewellery.  
     
     
         26 . A connector as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the ferromagnetic fastener comprises an assembly screw of the article of jewellery.  
     
     
         27 . A connector as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the head of the screw comprises a nonstandard drive formation requiring a complementary shaped engagement tool for rotation thereof.  
     
     
         28 . A connector as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the non-standard drive formation is in the shape of a company identifier.  
     
     
         29 . A connector as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising an electrically conductive nut co-operable with the screw and connectable to the rechargeable power store of the article of jewellery.  
     
     
         30 . A connector as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the article of jewellery comprises an electrically conductive body arranged to act as another electrical contact of the connector part of the article of jewellery, the electronically conductive body being connectable to the rechargeable power store.  
     
     
         31 . A connector as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the ferromagnetic fastener comprises an electrically conducting material.  
     
     
         32 . A connector as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the ferromagnetic fastener comprises a substantially inert material.  
     
     
         33 . A connector as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the ferromagnetic fastener comprises a stainless steel.  
     
     
         34 . A connector as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the base connector part comprises an electrical spring contact terminal, the electrical spring contact terminal being co-operable with the connector part of the article of jewellery.  
     
     
         35 . A connector as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the electrical spring contact terminal is arranged to generate a spring force acting on the connector part of the article of jewellery, the magnet is arranged to generate a magnetic attractive force acting on the ferromagnetic fastener, and the spring force is less than the magnetic attractive force.  
     
     
         36 . A connector as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the base connector part comprises a moulded housing for retaining the magnet.  
     
     
         37 . A connector as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the housing forms an electrical contact of the base connector part.  
     
     
         38 . A connector as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the housing comprises a conductive plastics material.  
     
     
         39 . A connector as claimed in  claim 37  , wherein the housing comprises a plastics material having a conductive coating applied thereto.  
     
     
         40 . A connector as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the housing has a flanged portion and the connector further comprises a retaining element engageable with the housing, the housing being arranged to be retained in a wall of the base by means of the retaining element.  
     
     
         41 . A connector as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the retaining element provides an electrical coupling to the housing for supplying electrical current thereto.  
     
     
         42 . A connector as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the housing comprises male coupling formations provided thereon, the connector part comprises complimentary female coupling formations, and the male coupling formations are arranged in use to engage with the female coupling formations.  
     
     
         43 . A connector as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the base connector part is arranged to be secured within a jewellery box and to be connected to an electrical recharger for recharging the electronic article of jewellery also provided in the jewellery box.  
     
     
         44 . A combination of an article of jewellery, a storing and recharging unit and a connector as claimed in  claim 23 .  
     
     
         45 . A combination as recited in  claim 44 , wherein the article of jewellery comprises an electronic article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         46 . A portable recharging receptacle for recharging a portable article of jewellery, the receptacle comprising: 
 a battery;    a connector part for physically and electrically coupling the portable rechargeable article of jewellery to the receptacle in a secure manner; and    a recharger for recharging the portable article of jewellery, wherein the recharger is arranged to transfer electrical charge from the rechargeable battery to the article of jewellery via the connector part.    
     
     
         47 . A portable recharging receptacle as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the battery is rechargeable and the receptacle further comprises a charger for enabling charging of the rechargeable battery from an external non-portable power source, the charger being releasably connectable to the external non-portable power source.  
     
     
         48 . A portable recharging receptacle as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the portable receptacle is in the form of a jewellery box.  
     
     
         49 . A portable recharging receptacle as claimed in  claim 46 , further comprising a removably securable lid with a formation provided thereon, the formation being arranged to engage the article of jewellery when the same is located on the connector part.  
     
     
         50 . A combination of a portable recharging receptacle as claimed in  claim 46 , and an article of jewellery.  
     
     
         51 . A combination as claimed in  claim 50 , further comprising a connector as recited in  claim 23 .  
     
     
         52 . A combination as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the article of jewellery has a rechargeable power store, the battery in the portable charging receptacle having at least ten times the storage capacity of the rechargeable power store of the article of jewellery.  
     
     
         53 . An electronic article of jewellery having a two-part construction, the article comprising: 
 a presentation part comprising at least one jewel and a light source, the light source being arranged to artificially illuminate the at least one jewel;    a control part comprising a low-voltage power source and an electronic circuit, the control part being electrically connected to the presentation part for controlling operation of the light source;    wherein the presentation part and the control part are remotely located from each other in individual housings such that the dimensions of the presentation part are independent of the dimensions of the electronic circuit and power source.    
     
     
         54 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the control part further comprises a user-operable control switch, the switch being arranged to control the operation of the electronic circuit.  
     
     
         55 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the user-operable control switch comprises a touch switch having two terminals, the touch switch being operable by the placing of a user's finger thereon to provide an electrically conductive path between the two terminals of the switch.  
     
     
         56 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises a microprocessor coupled to the light source and the light source is arranged to emit a plurality of light pulses under control of the microprocessor, the microprocessor having access to a plurality of different stored illumination algorithms for controlling the duration and intensity of the light pulses emitted from the light source.  
     
     
         57 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 53 , further comprising a tube connecting the presentation part and the control part.  
     
     
         58 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the tube is arranged to connect the presentation part and the control part together to form a closed loop, such that the article of jewellery can be worn around a part of the user's body.  
     
     
         59 . An article of jewellery as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the tube is hingedly connected to one of the presentation part and the control part.  
     
     
         60 . A portable and personal item of commerce, such as a mobile telephone, a pair of glasses or an item of clothing, comprising: 
 a chamber having at least one wall and a plurality of jewels to be illuminated provided in the at least one wall of the chamber;    a light source provided within the chamber, the light source being arranged to artificially illuminate the plurality of jewels; and    a light diffusing element provided within the chamber; wherein the light source and the light diffusing element are positioned such that light rays emitted from the light source are diffused by interaction with the light diffusing element before reaching the plurality of jewels to be illuminated.    
     
     
         61 . An electronic article of jewellery having a plurality of jewels to be artificially illuminated, the electronic article of jewellery comprising: 
 a chamber having at least one wall and the plurality of jewels being provided in the at least one wall of the chamber;    a light source provided within the chamber, the light source being arranged to artificially illuminate the plurality of jewels; and    a light diffusing element provided within the chamber, the light source and the light diffusing element being positioned such that light rays emitted from the light source are diffused by interaction with the light diffusing element before reaching the plurality of jewels to be illuminated,    wherein the at least one wall of the chamber is arranged to define an internal surface and the diffusing element comprises the internal surface of the wall of the chamber, the internal surface being arranged to reflect the light rays received from the light source in a non-uniform manner.    
     
     
         62 . An electronic article of jewellery having a plurality of jewels to be artificially illuminated, the electronic article of jewellery comprising: 
 a chamber having at least one wall and the plurality of jewels being provided in the at least one wall of the chamber,    a light source provided within the chamber, the light source being arranged to artificially illuminate the plurality of jewels;    a light diffusing element provided within the chamber, the light diffusing element and the light source being positioned such that light rays emitted from the light source are diffused by interaction with the light diffusing element before reaching the plurality of jewels to be illuminated; and    a microprocessor operatively connected to the light source, the microprocessor being arranged to control the light source to vary the illumination of the plurality of jewels, wherein the light source is arranged to generate light rays that comprise a plurality of light pulses and the microprocessor is arranged to control the light source to vary the intensity and the duration of the emitted light pulses, thereby varying the illumination of the plurality of jewels.    
     
     
         63 . A recharging connector for use in recharging an electronic article of jewellery having a rechargeable power store, the recharging connector comprising a connector part of the article of jewellery, the connector part comprising an assembly fastener of the article which has ferromagnetic characteristics; 
 a base connector part comprising a magnet and being mountable in a base for supporting the article of jewellery, the base connector part being adapted to mate with the connector part of the article of jewellery when the article of jewellery is operatively seated on the base, the attraction between the magnet of the base connector part and the ferromagnetic fastener of the article of jewellery provides a force for locating and maintaining the connector part of the article of jewellery in secure physical and electrical connection with the base connector part of the recharging connector.    wherein the ferromagnetic fastener comprises an assembly screw of the article of jewellery and is an electrical contact of the recharging connector, the electrical contact being connected to the rechargeable power store.    
     
     
         64 . A portable recharging receptacle for recharging a portable article of jewellery, the receptacle comprising: 
 a battery;    a connector part for physically and electrically coupling the portable rechargeable article of jewellery to the receptacle in a secure manner; and    a recharger for recharging the portable article of jewellery, the recharger being arranged to transfer electrical charge from the rechargeable battery to the article of jewellery via the connector part,    wherein the portable receptacle is in the form of a jewellery box.