Decorative pendant or locket housing a reading lens

Abstract

A decorative pendant or locket, or jewelry piece, housing a reading lens is provided, including a first portion attached to a second portion arranged to form an interior cavity wherein the retractable reading lens is housed. The reading lens can be drawn or pulled out or pivotally rotated outwardly to extend to the extracted position to enable a wearer to read a menu or the like. During non-use, the reading lens is pushed back or pivotally rotated inward to become discretely housed within the interior cavity in the retracted position. Further, one embodiment of the jewelry article includes a light that is automatically turned on or activated when a reading lens is extracted from the device, thereby illuminating the subject matter to be read, facilitating the reading process.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a decorative pendant, locket, or jewelry piece housing a reading lens; and more particularly, to a jeweled pendant or locket having a first portion attached to a second portion and arranged to form an interior cavity having a reading lens housed therein that can be drawn out from the interior cavity to enable a wearer to read more clearly without straining his or her eyes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Reading can strain one's eyes, especially when the font size is small or there are background distractions. Examples include restaurant menus, price tags, newspaper and magazine articles and the like, which often cause one to strain their eyes to read. Lenses and magnifying glass devices are often utilized to assist reading these types of writings. However, there is a need in the art for a decorative jewelry piece that has a magnifying reading lens integrated therein, providing a low key device that can be readily worn on a person for convenient immediate use, should magnification of writing be required.

Various pendants and jewelry devices have been provided that have various functions integrated therein, such as cavities for housing one's medical history or personal information, and image locking jewelry devices. However, none of the jewelry heretofore disclosed and utilized provide a reading lens integrated therein. Examples include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,330 to Chioffe (jewelry having an air and water-tight cavity housing a small microfilm containing medical history); U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,798 to Pelosi (identification pendant containing personal identification and/or medical information); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,715,911 and 7,040,778 to Villarreal , et al. (image locking jewelry device designed to hide a customized image from view until the wearer reveals the image). These devices include lenses, but the lenses are not utilized to read various writings and are not retractable from the jewelry pieces. Instead, the lenses of these devices are fixedly mounted within the jewelry piece and function to magnify or show the information housed within the jewelry piece. These lenses do not function, and are not constructed, to read indicia on menus, magazines, etc., that are separate from indicia located within the jewelry piece itself.

Other jewelry pieces heretofore provided include illuminated jewelry pieces, but do not provide any type reading lens integrated therein. Examples of illuminated jewelry include: U.S. Patent No. 4,096,552 to Ben-Porat (electric jewels); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,253,149 and 5,504,664 to Ostema (illuminated jewelry). Although these jewelry pieces provide illumination, the jewelry pieces or devices do not provide a reading lens. Illumination of these jewelry pieces is for the effect of lighting up the jewelry itself, not to provide any type of reading light. These devices do not provide a jewelry device having a reading lens integrated therein that can be readily worn on a person for convenient immediate use, should magnification of writing be required.

Where reading lenses or magnifying lenses have been provided in association with jewelry, these devices heretofore disclosed and utilized are provided as jewelry repair kits, etching devices, and devices to assist one in clasping ones jewelry. For examples, U.S. Patent App. Publ. No. 20070187440 to Rosenbaum, et al. discloses a jewelry clasp fastening device with a magnifying lens on a foldable handle. These devices fail to provide a decorative jewelry piece that has a magnifying reading lens integrated therein that can be worn. Instead, these devices are utilized in conjunction with the jewelry piece in making the jewelry, maintaining it, and/or in donning it (clasping it onto the wearer). It would not be feasible for one to carry these devices with them to read indicia on magazines, menus, and the like. Thus, none of these devices provide a low key jewelry device having a reading lens integrated therein that can be readily worn on a person for convenient immediate use, should magnification of writing be required.

Reading lenses of various sorts have been provided integrated within credit card devices, but these are not jewelry pieces, and the lenses are not hidden and retractable for low profile use. For example: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,434,405 and 5,608,203 to Finkelstein, et al. disclose credit cards with a magnifying lens built therein; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,618 also to Finkelstein, discloses a wallet card with a magnifying lens and light. These types of credit card/wallet card devices do not provide a retractable reading lens, instead the lenses are merely built into the body of the cards. Further, these devices cannot be worn on the person in a decorative fashion, and immediately capable of being utilized to assist one in reading. Rather, these cards must be carried on the person, presumably in one's wallet or purse, causing one to carry yet another item in their wallet or purse that must be searched for and retrieved when needed for reading. Thus, these card devices fail to provide a low key device having a reading lens integrated therein that can be readily worn on a person for convenient immediate use, should magnification of writing be required.

Notwithstanding the efforts of prior art workers to provide decorative jewelry having useful functions, there remains a need in the art for a jeweled pendant or locket which can be worn as a necklace that includes a retractable reading lens integrated therein that can be drawn or pivoted outwardly to enable a wearer to read a menu or the like. Further, there is a need in the art to provide a jeweled pendant or locket, or jewelry article, that includes a light that is automatically turned on or activated when a reading lens is extracted from the device, thereby illuminating the subject matter to be read, facilitating the reading process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a decorative pendant or locket, or jewelry piece, housing a retractable reading lens therein. The jeweled pendant or locket is constructed having a first portion attached to a second portion arranged to form an interior cavity wherein the retractable reading lens is housed. The reading lens can be drawn or pulled out or pivotally rotated outwardly to extend to the extracted position to enable a wearer to read a menu or the like. During non-use, the reading lens is pushed back or pivotally rotated inward to become discretely housed within the interior cavity in the retracted position. Further, one embodiment of the jewelry article includes a light that is automatically turned on or activated when a reading lens is extracted from the device, thereby illuminating the subject matter to be read, facilitating the reading process.

The disclosed jewelry piece housing a reading lens therein comprises a first portion that is fixedly attached to a second portion in a manner arranged to form an interior cavity. The interior cavity is accessible through an elongated opening. The reading lens is housed within the interior cavity and is arranged in an extractable-retractable manner. In operation, the reading lens can be extracted from the interior cavity through the elongated opening to enable a wearer to read more clearly. When no longer needed for reading use, the reading lens can be retracted back into the interior cavity through the elongated opening. Preferably, the first portion includes a show surface representing a top of the jewelry piece and the show surface is decorative, such as embossed with jewels or the like. The jewelry piece is preferably a decorative pendant or locket. Further, the reading lens may further comprise an extraction protrusion for readily extracting the reading lens from the interior cavity through the elongated opening. This optional extraction protraction may be equipped with a finger groove. Optionally, the jewelry piece housing a reading lens comprises a light source for use in dimly lit environments. This optional light source is preferably integrated within a rim of the first and/or second portion located along the elongated opening of the interior cavity and is automatically turned on when the reading lens is extracted from the interior cavity and automatically turned off when the reading lens is retracted into the interior cavity. The reading lens is preferably a magnifying glass, or a prescription lens.

In a first embodiment, retraction-extraction of the reading lens is achieved by way of a track and rail configuration moving along the horizontal plane. Achievement of this function is provided wherein the first portion and the second portion each include first and second interior surfaces, respectively, and at least one of the first portion or second portion comprises an interior track running along at least a segment of the interior surface. Sequentially, the reading lens includes a railed edge matingly housed within the interior track so that the reading lens is extracted from the interior cavity through the elongated opening by pulling the reading lens in a forward motion and retracted back into the interior cavity through the elongated opening by pushing motion. The interior track preferably comprises a braking wall located at ends of the interior track and the railed edge of the reading lens preferably comprises a braking appendage appointed to engage with the braking wall for preventing the reading lens to be completely removed from the interior cavity through the elongated opening during extraction.

In a second embodiment, retraction-extraction of the reading lens is achieved by way of a pivoting motion along the horizontal plane. Achievement of this function is provided wherein the first portion and the second portion each include first and second interior surfaces, respectively, with a pivot bar extending adjacently therebetween. The reading lens is mounted on the pivot bar so that the reading lens is pivotally extracted from the interior cavity through the elongated opening by pulling the reading lens in a forward pivot motion and retracted into the interior cavity through the elongated opening by pushing pivot motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the jewelry piece housing a reading lens wherein retraction-extraction of the reading lens is achieved by way of a track and rail configuration moving along the horizontal plane, and the reading lens is in the retracted position housed within the jewelry piece;

FIG. 1b illustrates a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1a wherein the reading lens is in the extracted position appointed for use in assisting the wearer in reading;

FIG. 1c illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1b taken on the horizontal plane along X-X, showing the jewelry with the first portion removed therefrom and showing the inner workings of the jewelry piece with the reading lens in the extracted position;

FIG. 2a illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the jewelry piece housing a reading lens wherein retraction-extraction of the reading lens is achieved by way of a pivoting motion along the horizontal plane, and the reading lens is in the retracted position housed within the jewelry piece;

FIG. 2b illustrates a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 2a wherein the reading lens is in the extracted position appointed for use in assisting the wearer in reading; and

FIG. 2c illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2b taken on the horizontal plane along M-M, showing the jewelry with the first portion removed therefrom and showing the inner workings of the jewelry piece with the reading lens in the extracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A decorative pendant, locket, necklace or jewelry piece, housing a reading lens is provided by the present invention. The decorative pendant or or jewelry piece, housing a reading lens includes a first portion attached to a second portion arranged to form an interior cavity wherein the retractable reading lens is housed. The reading lens can be drawn or pulled out or pivotally rotated outwardly to extend to the extracted position to enable a wearer to read a menu or the like. During non-use, the reading lens is pushed back or pivotally rotated inward to become discretely housed within the interior cavity in the retracted position. Further, one embodiment of the jewelry article includes a light that is automatically turned on or activated when a reading lens is extracted from the device, thereby illuminating the subject matter to be read, facilitating the reading process.

FIGS. 1a-1c illustrate views of an embodiment of the jewelry piece housing a reading lens wherein retraction-extraction of the reading lens is achieved by way of a track and rail configuration moving along the horizontal plane. Specifically, FIG. 1a illustrates a top view wherein the reading lens is in the retracted position housed within the jewelry piece, shown generally at 10; FIG. 1b illustrates a top view wherein the reading lens is in the extracted position, generally shown at 50; and FIG. 1c illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1b taken on the horizontal plane along X-X, generally shown at 60. The jewelry piece housing a reading lens therein comprises a first portion 11 that is fixedly attached to a second portion 12 in a manner arranged to form an interior cavity 13. Interior cavity 13 is accessible through an elongated opening 14. A reading lens 20 is housed within interior cavity 13 and is arranged in an extractable-retractable manner. In operation, reading lens 20 can be extracted from the interior cavity through elongated opening 14 to enable a wearer to read more clearly. When no longer needed for reading use, reading lens 20 can be retracted back into interior cavity 13 through elongated opening 14.

Preferably, first portion 11 includes a show surface 16 representing a top of the jewelry piece 10 that is decorative, such as embossed with jewels or the like. Jewelry piece 10 is preferably a decorative pendant or locket with attachment means associated therewith for attachment to a chain or the like (herein shown as hook features 17). Reading lens 20 may further comprise an extraction protrusion 21 for readily extracting reading lens 20 from interior cavity 13 through elongated opening 14. This optional extraction protraction 21 may be equipped with a finger groove 22 or indent.

Each first portion 11 and said second portion 12 include first and second interior surfaces, respectively, best shown in FIG. 1c, wherein second interior surface of second portion 12 is shown at 12a. At least one of first portion 11 or second portion 12 comprises an interior track 23 running along at least a segment 24 of interior surface 12a. In turn, reading lens 20 includes a railed edge 25 housed within interior track 23 so that reading lens 20 is extracted from interior cavity 13 through elongated opening 14 by pulling reading lens 20 in a forward motion and retracted into interior cavity 13 through elongated opening 14 by pushing motion. Interior track 23 preferably comprises a braking wall 26 located at ends of interior track 23 and railed edge 25 of reading lens 20 comprises a braking appendage 26 appointed to engaged with braking wall 26 for preventing reading lens 20 from being completely removed from interior cavity 20 through elongated opening 14 during extraction. Reading lens 20 is preferably a magnifying glass, or a prescription lens.

Optionally, the jewelry piece 10 comprises a light source 18 for use in dimly lit environments. This optional light source 18 is preferably integrated within a rim 19 of the first and/or second portion, 11 and 12, herein shown in second portion 12. Rim 19 having light source 18 is preferably located along elongated opening 14 of interior cavity 13 and is automatically turned on when reading lens 20 is extracted from interior cavity 13 and automatically turned off when reading lens 20 is retracted into interior cavity 13. A power source, herein shown as a battery 34 (shown in FIG. 1c), delivers power to light source 18. Herein power source/battery 34 is activated by way of an on button (not shown) when light source 18 is not automatically triggered by extraction of reading lens 20. Herein, battery 34 is connected to a spring loaded member which activates power source/battery 34 to turn on/turn off light source 19.

FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate views of an embodiment of the jewelry piece housing a reading lens wherein retraction-extraction of the reading lens is achieved by way of a pivoting motion along the horizontal plane. Particularly, FIG. 2a illustrates a top view wherein the reading lens is in the retracted position housed within the jewelry piece, shown generally at 110; FIG. 2b illustrates a top view wherein the reading lens is in the extracted position, generally shown at 150; and FIG. 2c illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2b taken on the horizontal plane along M-M, generally shown at 160. The jewelry piece comprises a first portion 111 that is fixedly attached to a second portion 112 forming an interior cavity 113 accessible through an elongated opening 114. A reading lens 120 is housed within interior cavity 113 and is arranged in an extractable-retractable manner. In operation, reading lens 120 can be extracted from interior cavity 113 and retracted back into interior cavity 113 through elongated opening 114. Preferably, first portion 111 includes a show surface 116 and jewelry piece 110 is preferably a decorative pendant or locket with attachment means, herein shown as hook features 117.

Reading lens 120 may further comprise an extraction protrusion 121 for readily extraction from interior cavity 113. This optional extraction protraction 121 may be equipped with a finger groove 122 or indent. Optionally, the jewelry piece 110 comprises a light source 118 for use in dimly lit environments. This optional light source 118 is preferably integrated within a rim 119 of the first and/or second portion, 111 and 112, herein shown in second portion 112. Rim 119 having light source 118 is located along elongated opening 114 of interior cavity 113 and is automatically turned on when reading lens 120 is extracted and automatically turned off when reading lens 120 is retracted into interior cavity 113. A power source, herein shown as a battery 134, delivers power to light source 118. Herein power source/battery 134 is activated by way of an on button (not shown) when light source 118 is not automatically triggered by extraction of reading lens 120. Herein, battery 134 is connected to a spring loaded member which activates power source/battery 134 to turn on/turn off light source 119.

In this embodiment, reading lens 120 is extracted and retracted through pivotal rotation. First portion 111 and second portion 112 include first and second interior surfaces, respectively, best shown in FIG. 2c, wherein second interior surface of second portion 112 is shown at 112a. A pivot bar 132 extends adjacently between the first (not shown) and second interior surfaces 112a of first and second portions, 111 and 112. Reading lens 120 is mounted on pivot bar 132 so that reading lens 120 is pivotally extracted from interior cavity 113 through elongated opening 114 by pulling reading lens 120 in a forward pivot motion and retracted into interior cavity 113 through elongated opening 114 by pushing pivot motion. A back stop bracket 133 is preferably provided to prevent reading lens 120 from rotating in the backward direction.

Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

Claims

1. Ajewelry piece housing a reading lens, comprising:

a. a first portion attached to a second portion arranged to form an interior cavity having an elongated opening;

b. said reading lens being housed within said interior cavity, said reading lens being arranged in an extractable-retractable manner in said interior cavity so that said reading lens can be extracted from said interior cavity through said elongated opening to enable a wearer to read more clearly and said reading lens can be retracted back into said interior cavity through said elongated opening when not being utilized to read.

2. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 1, wherein said first portion includes a show surface representing a top of said jewelry piece and said show surface is decorative.

3. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 1, wherein said first portion and said second portion each include first and second interior surfaces, respectively, wherein at least one of said first portion or second portion comprises an interior track running along at least a segment of said interior surface, and wherein said reading lens includes a railed edge further housed within said interior track so that said reading lens is extracted from said interior cavity through said elongated opening by pulling said reading lens in a forward motion and retracted into said interior cavity through said elongated opening by pushing motion.

4. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 3, wherein said interior track comprises a braking wall located at ends of said interior track and said railed edge of said reading lens comprises a braking appendage appointed to engaged with said braking wall for preventing said reading lens to be completely removed from said interior cavity through said elongated opening during extraction.

5. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 3, wherein said reading lens further comprises an extraction protrusion for readily extracting said reading lens from said interior cavity through said elongated opening.

6. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 3 comprising a light source, said light source being integrated within a rim of said first or second portion located along said elongated opening of said interior cavity, said light source being automatically turned on when said reading lens is extracted from said interior cavity and automatically turned off when said reading lens if retracted into said interior cavity.

7. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 1, wherein said first and said second portions each include first and second interior surfaces, respectively, wherein a pivot bar extends adjacently between said first and second interior surfaces of said first and second portions and said reading lens is mounted on said pivot bar so that said reading lens is pivotally extracted from said interior cavity through said elongated opening by pulling said reading lens in a forward pivot motion and retracted into said interior cavity through said elongated opening by pushing pivot motion.

8. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 7, wherein said reading lens further comprise an extraction protrusion for readily extracting said reading lens from said interior cavity through said elongated opening.

9. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 7 comprising a light source, said light source being integrated within a rim of said first or second portion located along said elongated opening of said interior cavity, said light source being automatically turned on when said reading lens is extracted from said interior cavity and automatically turned off when said reading lens if retracted into said interior cavity.

10. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 1, wherein said jewelry piece is a decorative pendant or locket.

11. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 1, wherein said reading lens further comprises an extraction protrusion for readily extracting said reading lens from said interior cavity through said elongated opening.

12. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 11, wherein said extraction protraction comprises a finger groove.

13. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 1 comprising a light source.

14. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 13, wherein said light source is integrated within a rim of said first and/or second portion located along said elongated opening of said interior cavity and is automatically turned on when said reading lens is extracted from said interior cavity and automatically turned off when said reading lens is retracted into said interior cavity.

15. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 1, wherein said reading lens is a magnifying glass.

16. A jewelry piece housing a reading lens as recited by claim 1, wherein said reading lens is a prescription lens.