IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,402,698
Granted Patent B1
US 12,402,698 · App. 18/761,910 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Electronic necklace comprising a projector medallion and method of formation thereof

Inventors: Robert Vasquez (Gilbert, AZ); Yanbei Qin (Ningbo, CN)
A44C15/005A44C15/0015F21L4/02F21V5/006F21V23/001F21V23/005F21V23/06F21V33/0008F21V2200/40F21W2111/023F21W2121/06F21Y2103/10F21Y2113/20F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,402,698
App. No.
18/761,910
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

An electronic necklace comprising a projector medallion and associated methods of formation are described, and more particularly to an electronic necklace with one power source for powering a projector medallion and necklace bulbs and its associated methods of formation. In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a wire serving as a necklace strand with a projector medallion formed of a translucent material including a backside, a front side, an underside, and/or an interior. The necklace may include a power source in the form of a battery. The necklace may include a projector light and/or a medallion light within the interior of the projector medallion. The necklace may include a control chip within the interior of the projector medallion that may distribute power from the battery to the wire, the projector light, and/or the medallion light.

Claims (142)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a wire serving as a necklace strand;

a projector medallion formed of a translucent material comprising a backside, a front side, an underside, and an interior,

wherein the projector medallion is connected to the necklace strand;

a power source in the form of a battery within the interior of the projector medallion;

a projector light within the interior of the projector medallion;

a control chip within the interior of the projector medallion that controls power from the battery to the projector light;

an optical conduit within the interior of the projector medallion comprising an emblem lens and a refraction means designed to manipulate the light emanating from the projector light,

wherein the projector light is at least partially encased within the optical conduit to allow light to travel through a light canal within the optical conduit and pass through the emblem lens and the refraction means,

wherein the refraction means is at an end of the optical conduit and is adjacent to the underside of the projector medallion,

wherein the emblem lens is within the optical conduit and is positioned to receive light from the projector light,

an emblem integrated onto the emblem lens; and

an opening of the projector medallion cut into the projector medallion,

wherein the refraction means is adjacent to the opening,

wherein the optical conduit and the opening are substantially planar to one another, and

wherein the opening allows light to project from the projector light to an area exterior to the refraction means without being obstructed by the translucent material of the projector medallion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a medallion light within the interior of the projector medallion,

wherein the medallion light emits light through the translucent material of the projector medallion to the area exterior to the projector medallion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a wire connector designed for mechanically and electrically connecting the wire to the projector medallion via the control chip, thereby facilitating the transmission of power from the control chip to the wire while ensuring the wire's integration into the electrical system of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a projector light connector that provides both mechanical support and electrical connection for the projector light to the control chip, enabling power transfer from the control chip to the projector light and ensuring the projector light is securely positioned within the interior of the projector medallion.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a medallion light connector that provides both mechanical support and electrical connection for the medallion light to the control chip, enabling power transfer from the control chip to the medallion light and ensuring the medallion light is securely positioned within the interior of the projector medallion.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

a securing bracket attached to the optical conduit that at least partially secures the optical conduit within the interior of the projector medallion by at least partially affixing the optical conduit to the projector light connector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a proximal support, a medial support, and a distal support attached to a backside interior of the projector medallion to support the optical conduit at an oblique angle to the backside interior,

wherein the proximal support is shorter than the medial support,

wherein the medial support is shorter than the distal support,

wherein the medial support comprises a medial cutout to receive and support the optical conduit,

wherein the medial support is closer to the underside of the projector medallion than the proximal support,

wherein the distal support is closer to the underside of the projector medallion than the medial support and the proximal support, and

wherein the distal support comprises a distal cutout to receive and support the optical conduit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of necklace LEDs attached to the wire,

wherein the plurality of necklace LEDs receive power from the battery via the wire connector and the wire.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical conduit is polyhedral in shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical conduit is cylindrical in shape.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the light travels through the light canal, the light passes through the emblem lens and is at least partially obstructed by the emblem thereby creating a decorative projection to the area exterior to the projector medallion after passing through the refraction means.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a wire serving as a necklace strand;

a projector medallion formed of a translucent material comprising a backside, a front side, an underside, and an interior,

wherein the projector medallion is substantially connected to the wire;

a battery compartment within the interior of the medallion;

a battery serving as a power source within the battery compartment;

a control chip within the interior of the projector medallion that is electrically connected to the battery and controls power to a plurality of projector lights,

wherein the plurality of projector lights are positioned within the interior,

a plurality of projector light connectors that connect the plurality of projector lights to the control chip of the projector medallion and allows for power to move from the battery to the control chip and then to the plurality of projector lights,

wherein the plurality of projector light connectors support the plurality of projector lights within the interior;

a wire connector that connects the wire to the projector medallion via the control chip,

wherein the wire connector allows for power to move from the battery to the control chip and then to the wire;

a plurality of optical conduits within the interior, each of which comprising a light canal, an emblem lens, and a refraction means,

wherein each individual optical conduit houses at least one of the plurality projector lights,

an emblem integrated onto each emblem lens,

wherein when the light travels through the light canal of the plurality of optical conduits, the light passes through the emblem lens and is at least partially obstructed by the emblem creating a decorative projection at an area exterior to the projector medallion after passing through the refraction means;

a plurality of openings of the projector medallion on at least one of the front side of the projector medallion and the underside of the projector medallion,

wherein each individual refraction means is adjacent to at least one of the openings,

wherein each individual optical conduit of the plurality of optical conduits is substantially planar to one of the plurality of openings, and

wherein each of the plurality of openings allow light to project from the plurality of projector lights to the area exterior to the projector medallion without being obstructed by the translucent material of the projector medallion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a medallion light that is positioned within the interior and emits light through the translucent material of the projector medallion to the area exterior to the projector medallion,

wherein the medallion light is electrically connected to the battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a medallion light connector that connects the medallion light to the control chip of the projector medallion and allows for power to move from the battery to the control chip and then to the medallion light,

wherein the medallion light connector supports the medallion light within the interior.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of necklace LEDs that are attached to the wire,

wherein the plurality of necklace LEDs are electrically connected to the battery via the necklace strand.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a securing bracket attached to the plurality of optical conduits that at least partially secures the plurality of optical conduits within the interior by at least partially affixing the plurality of optical conduits to the plurality of projector light connectors.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of proximal supports, a plurality of medial supports, and a plurality of distal supports attached to a backside interior of the projector medallion to support the plurality of optical conduits at an angle oblique to the backside interior,

wherein the plurality of proximal supports are shorter than the plurality of medial supports and are closer to the battery compartment than the plurality of medial supports,

wherein the plurality of medial supports are shorter than the plurality of distal supports and are closer to the battery compartment than the plurality of distal supports,

wherein each of the plurality of medial supports comprise a medial cutout to receive and support at least one of the plurality of optical conduits,

wherein the plurality of distal supports are closer to the underside of the projector medallion than the plurality of medial supports and the plurality of proximal supports,

wherein the plurality of medial supports are closer to the underside of the projector medallion than the plurality of proximal supports, and

Wherein each of the plurality of distal supports comprise a distal cutout to receive and support at least one of the plurality of optical conduits.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of necklace LEDs attached to the wire,

wherein the necklace LEDs receive power from the battery via the control chip which then directs power to the wire connector which is electrically connected to the wire.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of necklace bulbs encasing the necklace LEDs, the necklace bulbs further comprising a bulb interior, the bulb interior further comprising an LED mount,

wherein the plurality of necklace bulbs are formed from the translucent material,

wherein one of the plurality of necklace LEDs is affixed within the bulb interior of one of the plurality of necklace bulbs via the LED mount, and

wherein the plurality of necklace LEDs project light through the necklace bulbs to the area exterior to the bulb.

20. A method comprising:

forming a necklace strand from a wire,

wherein the wire is capable of transmitting an electrical current;

attaching a projector medallion formed of a translucent material to the necklace strand,

wherein the projector medallion comprises a backside, a front side, an underside, and an interior,

wherein the backside comprises a backside interior that faces the interior of the projector medallion;

connecting a battery compartment to the backside interior within the interior;

placing a battery serving as a power source within the battery compartment,

wherein the battery is accessible through the backside;

electrically connecting a control chip to the battery,

wherein the control chip is within the interior of the projector medallion;

securing the control chip to a chip mount within the interior,

wherein the chip mount is attached to the backside interior and is adjacent to the battery compartment,

wherein the control chip controls power from the battery to a projector light, and

wherein the projector light is positioned within the interior of the medallion;

mounting the projector light to a projector light connector that connects the projector light to the control chip of the projector medallion and allows for power to move from the battery to the control chip and then to the projector light,

wherein the projector light connector supports the projector light within the interior;

bridging the wire to the control chip via a wire connector,

wherein the wire connector mounts the wire to the projector medallion at the control chip to form the necklace strand,

wherein the wire connector allows for power to move from the battery to the control chip and then to the wire;

placing an optical conduit within the interior,

wherein the optical conduit comprises a light canal, an emblem lens, and a refraction means,

wherein the optical conduit is at least one of polyhedral in shape and cylindrical in shape,

wherein the projector light is at least partially encased within the optical conduit,

wherein light from the projector light travels through the light canal of the optical conduit and passes through the emblem lens and the refraction means to an area exterior to the refraction means,

wherein the refraction means is at an end of the optical conduit and is adjacent to the underside of the projector medallion, and

wherein the emblem lens is within the optical conduit at an area less close to the end of the optical conduit than the refraction means;

attaching a proximal support, a medial support, and a distal support, to the backside interior of the projector medallion to support the optical conduit at an oblique angle to the backside interior,

wherein the proximal support is shorter than the medial support,

wherein the medial support is shorter than the distal support,

wherein the medial support comprises a medial cutout to receive and support the optical conduit,

wherein the medial support is closer to the underside of the projector medallion than the proximal support,

wherein the distal support is closer to the underside of the projector medallion than the medial support and the proximal support, and

wherein the distal support comprises a distal cutout to receive and support the optical conduit,

integrating an emblem onto the emblem lens,

wherein when the light travels through the light canal, the light passes through the emblem lens and is at least partially obstructed by the emblem creating a decorative projection at the area exterior to the projector medallion after passing through the refraction means;

cutting an opening into the projector medallion on at least one of the front side of the projector medallion and the underside of the projector medallion,

wherein the refraction means is adjacent to the opening,

wherein the optical conduit and the opening are substantially planar to one another,

wherein the opening of the projector medallion is a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of the end of optical conduit and the refraction means, and

wherein the opening allows light to project from the projector light to an area exterior to the projector medallion without being obstructed by the translucent material of the projector medallion.

21. The method of 20 further comprising:

attaching a securing bracket to the optical conduit that at least partially secures the optical conduit within the interior by at least partially affixing the optical conduit to the projector light connector.

22. The method of 21 further comprising:

attaching a plurality of necklace LEDs to the wire,

wherein the necklace LEDs receive power from the battery via the wire connector and the wire.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

encasing the necklace LEDs into the plurality of necklace bulbs, the necklace bulbs further comprising a bulb interior, the bulb interior further comprising an LED mount,

wherein the plurality of necklace bulbs are formed from the translucent material,

wherein one of the plurality of necklace LEDs is affixed within the bulb interior of one of the plurality of necklace bulbs via the LED mount, and

wherein the plurality of necklace LEDs project light through the necklace bulbs to the area exterior to the bulb.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

mounting a medallion light to a medallion light connector that connects the medallion light to the control chip of the projector medallion and allows for power to move from the battery to the control chip and then to the medallion light,

wherein the medallion light connector supports the medallion light within the interior.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2024
From: VASQUEZ, ROBERT; QIN, YANBEI
To: SHAWSHANK LEDZ INC.
Reel/Frame 068077/0443 →
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