Ornamental bead and radio combination

Abstract

A combination necklace and radio includes a cord in a loop configuration, preferably including ornamental beads strung on the cord. An ornament is engaged in the loop configuration, and a radio assembly is supported in the ornament. An audio wire is preferably embedded within the cord and disembedded at an opposite end of the necklace. The audio wire is appropriately connected to earphones such as individual ear buds or the like. The radio controls are integrated with the ornament.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 29/176,075, filed Feb. 19, 2003, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] (NOT APPLICABLE)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a novelty item and, more particularly, to a wearable necklace formed using a string of ornamental beads in combination with an ornament containing a radio assembly.

[0004] Beaded necklaces, for example of the type used as throws during Mardi Gras celebrations and the like have become a desirable novelty item. Beaded necklaces come in all different sizes, shapes and colors and may include lighted elements or other special effects or a themed ornament attached to the beaded necklace. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. D420,931, U.S. Patent No. D412,680, U.S. Patent No. D411,967, U.S. Patent No. D410,866, U.S. Patent No. D398,879, U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,981 and others.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention combines a wearable necklace, which may or may not include an assembly of decorative beads, including an ornament that supports a radio assembly. The combination necklace and radio enables the user to wear a decorative necklace while also listening to a radio integrated in an ornament coupled with the necklace.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a necklace and radio combination includes a cord in a loop configuration, an ornament engaged in the loop configuration, and a radio assembly supported in the ornament, where the radio assembly includes a radio tuner and an audio output. Earphones may be coupled with the audio output, and an audio wire connects the earphones to the audio output, where the audio wire is embedded in the cord. The earphones preferably include individual left and right ear buds connected to individual ends of the audio wire. In this context, with the ornament disposed at a bottom of the loop configuration, the audio wire is disembedded from the cord near a top of the loop configuration, and the individual ends of the audio wire are formed of suitable lengths that enable the individual left and right ear buds to reach a wearer's left and right ears, respectively.

[0007] The radio assembly preferably includes at least one control disc for one of setting a receiving frequency of the radio tuner, powering on the radio tuner, and adjusting a volume output of the radio tuner, wherein at least a portion of the control disc is disposed outside of the ornament.

[0008] In one arrangement, a plurality of ornamental beads are strung on the cord. The ornament may be a miniature football helmet. In this context, the control disc may be rotatably disposed in a slot in the football helmet ornament such that at least a portion of the control disc is disposed outside of the helmet.

[0009] In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a combination beaded necklace and radio includes a cord in a loop configuration, a plurality of ornamental beads strung on the cord, an ornament engaged in the loop configuration and disposed between adjacent ones of the ornamental beads, and a radio assembly supported in the ornament.

[0010] In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of assembling a combination beaded necklace and radio includes the steps of stringing a cord in a loop configuration with a plurality of ornamental beads; engaging an ornament in the loop configuration between adjacent ones of the ornamental beads; and affixing a radio assembly including a radio tuner and an audio output in the ornament.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the necklace and radio combination of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, the combination necklace and radio 10 generally includes a cord 12 formed in a loop configuration, and an ornament 14 engaged in the loop configuration as shown. The ornament 14 may include a hook or other suitable securing means for engaging the ornament 14 to the cord 12. A radio assembly 16 is supported generally within the ornament 14 and includes a radio tuner 18 and an audio output 20. The radio tuner 18 and audio output 20 can be of any known construction sized and configured to fit generally within the ornament 14. The radio tuner 18 is preferably an AM/FM tuner. The structure and operation of the radio tuner 18 and audio output 20 are well known, and details thereof will not be further described.

[0013] A suitable audio wire 22 is preferably embedded in the cord 12. Earphones preferably including left and right ear buds 24 may be coupled with the audio output 20 via the audio wire 22.

[0014] The necklace preferably includes a plurality of ornamental beads 13 strung on the cord 12. In this context, the audio wire 22 embedded in the cord 12 is consequently also disposed within the ornamental beads 13. As shown in FIG. 1, with the ornament 14 disposed at a bottom of the loop configuration, the audio wire 22 is preferably disembedded from the cord 12 near a top of the loop configuration, as shown at 26, in an area spaced from the radio assembly 16 and between adjacent ones of the ornamental beads 13.

[0015] Individual ends 28, 30 of the audio wire directly connected to respective ear buds 24 are formed of suitable lengths that enable the individual left and right ear buds 24 to reach a wearer's left and right ears, respectively. That is, since the audio wire is disembedded near but spaced from a top of the loop configuration, the audio wire 22 will invariably be closer to one of the wearer's ears. In this manner, the ear bud 24 for the closer ear has its individual end 28 formed in a shorter length than the individual end 30 for the user's other ear. In FIG. 1, the length difference between the individual ends of the audio wire 28, 30 is exaggerated for clarity.

[0016] The radio assembly 16 preferably additionally includes at least one control disk 32 for either setting a receiving frequency of the radio tuner 18, powering on the radio tuner 18, and/or adjusting a volume output of the radio tuner 18. At least a portion of the control disk 32 is disposed outside of the ornament 14. In a preferred arrangement, a first control disk is exposed on one side of the ornament 14 for setting the receiving frequency of the radio tuner 18, and a second control disk (not shown) is exposed on an opposite side of the ornament 14 for both powering on and off the radio tuner 18 and adjusting a volume output.

[0017] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ornament 14 is a miniature football helmet, and the control disk(s) 32 is rotatably disposed in a slot 34 in the football helmet ornament 14 such that at least a portion of the control disk 32 is disposed outside of the helmet. Preferably, the radio assembly 16 also includes a switch 36 for selecting between FM and AM frequencies.

[0018] With the combination necklace and radio of the present invention, a fun novelty item is provided including an ornamental necklace with a potentially themed ornament that houses a radio assembly, enabling the wearer to listen to the radio while wearing the necklace. By incorporating the radio controls with the ornament and embedding the audio wire in the necklace cord, the radio assembly is concealed and does not detract in any way from the appearance of the necklace or ornament.

[0019] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In combination a necklace and a radio, the combination comprising:

a cord in a loop configuration;

an ornament engaged in the loop configuration; and

a radio assembly supported in the ornament, the radio assembly including a radio tuner and an audio output.

2. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising earphones coupled with the audio output.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein an audio wire connects the earphones to the audio output, the audio wire being embedded in the cord.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein the earphones comprise individual left and right ear buds connected to individual ends of the audio wire.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein with the ornament disposed at a bottom of the loop configuration, the audio wire is disembedded from the cord near a top of the loop configuration, and wherein the individual ends of the audio wire are formed of suitable lengths that enable the individual left and right ear buds to reach a wearer's left and right ears, respectively.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the radio assembly comprises at least one control disc for one of setting a receiving frequency of the radio tuner, powering on the radio tuner, and adjusting a volume output of the radio tuner, at least a portion of the control disc being disposed outside of the ornament.

7. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ornamental beads strung on the cord.

8. The combination according to claim 7, further comprising an audio wire connected to the audio output, the audio wire being disposed within the ornamental beads and embedded in the cord.

9. The combination according to claim 8, wherein the audio wire is disembedded from the cord in an area spaced from the radio assembly and between adjacent ones of the ornamental beads.

10. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the ornament is a miniature football helmet.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the radio assembly comprises at least one control disc for one of setting a receiving frequency of the radio tuner, powering on the radio tuner, and adjusting a volume output of the radio tuner, the control disc being rotatably disposed in a slot in the football helmet ornament such that at least a portion of the control disc is disposed outside of the helmet.

12. A combination beaded necklace and radio comprising:

a cord in a loop configuration;

a plurality of ornamental beads strung on the cord;

an ornament engaged in the loop configuration and disposed between adjacent ones of the ornamental beads; and

a radio assembly supported in the ornament, the radio assembly including a radio tuner and an audio output.

13. The combination according to claim 12, further comprising an audio wire connected to the audio output, the audio wire being disposed within the ornamental beads and embedded in the cord.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the audio wire is disembedded from the cord in an area spaced from the radio assembly and between adjacent ones of the ornamental beads.

15. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the ornament is a miniature football helmet.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein the radio assembly comprises at least one control disc for one of setting a receiving frequency of the radio tuner, powering on the radio tuner, and adjusting a volume output of the radio tuner, the control disc being rotatably disposed in a slot in the football helmet ornament such that at least a portion of the control disc is disposed outside of the helmet.

17. A method of assembling a combination beaded necklace and radio, the method comprising:

stringing a cord in a loop configuration with a plurality of ornamental beads;

engaging an ornament in the loop configuration between adjacent ones of the ornamental beads; and

affixing a radio assembly including a radio tuner and an audio output in the ornament.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising connecting an audio wire to the audio output, and embedding the audio wire in the cord.