This application claims priority from Australian provisional patent application no. 2009904134, filed on 28 August 2009, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to articles which drive an action. The invention has particular application to articles which play tunes, including musical boxes. Ornamental articles.

Personal adornments comprise accessories and ornaments generally worn to enhance the beauty and/or to project a status of the wearer. Such adornments often symbolise love and commitment between people in a relationship.

Generally speaking, personal adornments are not functional, or have limited functionality, such as holding items of clothing together or keeping hair in place. It would be advantageous to afford such adornments a functional utility, particularly one which creates or enhances the beauty or a symbol of love or commitment associated with the adornment. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article having a mechanism arranged to drive an action, wherein the mechanism comprises an adornment which can be removed to be worn by a person.

The adornment may be one which rotates or translates, or both rotates and translates.

The mechanism may be manually operable, such as by way of a handle, or may be powered.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the article may comprise a musical box, the action comprises the playing of a tune. The article may include a plurality of tuned fingers or teeth, and the adornment a plurality of formations arranged to effect plucking of ones of the fingers/teeth, and thereby the playing of notes of the tune during operation of the mechanism.

In one embodiment of the invention, the adornment is adapted rotate about an axis and said formations are arranged annularly about the axis to effect plucking of ones of the fingers/teeth when the adornment is rotated. The formations may be arranged on a radially outwardly facing surface, radially inwardly facing surface and/or an axially facing surface of the adornment.

In another embodiment of the invention, the adornment, which may for example comprise a pendant, tie clip or hair pin, is adapted to translate along an axis and said formations are arranged parallel to the axis to effect plucking of ones of the fingers/teeth when the adornment translates.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the formations comprise protuberances or protrusions, such as nodules. In alternative embodiments, at least one surface of the adornment slidably contacts the fingers/teeth during operation of the mechanism, so as to bend them, and the formations comprise voids in the surface(s) arranged to receive the tips such that the teeth resile to produce notes of the tune. In further embodiments, the formations may comprise both said protuberances and said voids. The surface may be substantially continuous. Alternatively, the surface may be discontinuous. In one embodiment, the adornment may comprise a pendant and the surface may be a front or rear face of the pendant defined by a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from a central portion of the pendant to a peripheral portion of the pendant.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the action comprises movement. Alternatively, the action may comprise initiating/maintaining the illumination of a light. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanism comprises intermeshing gears and adornment comprises one of the gears.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanism comprises gears between which the adornment transfers drive. The adornment may take the form of a string, band, chain or belt which links the gears to transfer the drive therebetween; for example, the adornment could be a wristlet or wristband, or a flaccid bracelet or necklace. Alternatively, the adornment may comprise a gear which intermeshes with the gears, and may, for example, take the form of a ring, such as a scarf ring, finger ring or toe ring, or a rigid bracelet, or might comprise a worm screw. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanism comprises a wheel and the adornment is in the form of a string, band, chain or belt trained around the wheel to transfer drive in the mechanism; for example, the adornment could be a wristlet or wristband, or a flaccid bracelet or necklace. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the adornment is a ring. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the adornment is a pendant.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanism includes a further adornment which can be removed to be worn by a person. The two adornments may belong to two romantically involved people. The further adornment may comprises a plurality of formations arranged to effect plucking of ones of said fingers/teeth, and thereby the playing of notes of the tune during operation of the mechanism. In this way, each adornment may contribute part of the tune. The adornment and further adornment may interengage to transfer drive in the mechanism.

In one embodiment of the invention, the mechanism includes an additional further adornment which can be removed to be worn by a person.

In an article according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanism is configured such that the removal of at least one said adornment is precluded throughout, or between a start and an end of, the action.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided said adornment. In an embodiment of the invention, the mechanism includes a mount and the adornment is releasably mounted to the mount so as to be rotatable.

The present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a musical box according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of part of a mechanism for playing a tune in the musical box shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an exemplary ring defining part of the mechanism of the box shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of the mechanism of a musical box according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the mechanism of a musical box according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary pendant which may form part of the mechanism of the musical box of the second or third embodiment; Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of a locking arrangement incorporated into the musical box of the first, second and third embodiments;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a musical box according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a ring which forms part of the mechanism of the musical box according to the fourth embodiment;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a music box according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 11 is a cutaway disassembled view of the box of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a cutaway assembled view of the box of Figure 10; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the body of the box of Figure 10;

Figure 14 shows one side of a pendant forming part of the box of Figure 10; Figure 15 shows the other side of the pendant shown in Figure 14; Figure 16 is a side view of the pendant shown in Figure 14; Figure 17 shows a lid of the box of Figure 10;

Figure 18 is a top view of a music box according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, minus a lid/top cover plate thereof;

Figure 19 is a view of section D-D in Figure 18; Figure 20 is a rear end view of the box of Figure 18;

Figure 21 is a view of section C-C in Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a side view of the box of Figure 18;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a music box according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; Figure 24 is a perspective view of a music box according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 25 is a perspective view of a music box according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 26 is a perspective view of a music box according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 27 is a perspective view of a music box according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 28 is shows part of the tune-playing mechanism of a music box according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention. A musical box 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The musical box 1 will normally have a top cover or lid, which is omitted from Figure 1 for clarity. The musical box 1 comprises a body structure or box structure 3 having a front door 5 mounted by hinges 7 so as to be outwardly openable to provide access to the interior of the box structure 3. The body 3 may be formed from any of a number of suitable materials, including plastic and wood, such as, for example, blackwood or walnut.

The box 1 further includes a mechanism 30 for playing a tune. The mechanism 30 includes a shaft 32 rotatably supported inside the box structure 3 (when the door 5 is closed) by a bracket 34 (see Figure 2), the bracket 34 comprising spaced apart arms 36 each of which is formed with a half-bushing 38 and configured to receive a respective end fitting 40 into which a corresponding half-bushing 42 is formed, the arms 36 and fittings 40 being able to be fixed to each other by means of screws 44 to mount the shaft 32 rotatably in the bushings. The bushings may be lubricated bushings.

The shaft 32 is formed with a central wheel 50, which may be integrally formed with the shaft 32 or separately formed and keyed to the shaft 32, the wheel being milled to have a plurality of formations, in the form of radially outwardly extending projections 52, on its outer circumferential surface. The shaft 32 is further provided with a worm gear 54 adjacent the wheel 50, which also may be either integrally formed with the shaft 32 or separately formed and keyed to the shaft 32. The wheel 50 and worm gear 54 are received between the arms 36. The shaft 32 is further provided with mountings 60 which receive respective finger rings 70 (see Figure 1), each ring 70 being provided with a plurality of projections 72 arranged on its outer circumferential surface, the projections 72 having the same form as the projections 52. Each mounting 60 comprises a tapered locating formation 62, which may be integrally formed with the shaft 32 or instead separately formed and keyed onto the shaft 32, a helical thread 64 formed on the exterior of the shaft 32, and a circular nut 66 and associated washer 68 receivable over a respective end of the shaft 32, the nut 66 being threaded to engage the thread 64. Each ring 70 is receivable over the shaft 32 between the respective formation 62 and washer 68. Tightening of the nut 66 on the thread 64 brings the ring 70 into progressively tightening abutment with the conical surface 63 of the respective formation 62, which surface is accurately machined such that the cone defined thereby is concentric with the shaft 32, whereby the ring 70 is clamped between a flat face of washer 68 and the conical surface 63 such that the arrangement of projections 72 on each ring 70 is concentric with the axis of rotation of shaft 32. The mechanism 30 further includes three combs, namely a central comb 80 associated with wheel 50, and a pair of outer combs 81 each of which is associated with a respective ring 70. The comb 80 comprises a plurality of fingers or teeth 82 which when plucked produce different musical notes. Similarly, each comb 81 comprises a plurality of fingers or teeth 83 which when plucked also produce different musical notes. The combs 80 and 81 are fixed to the box structure 3. The fingers 82 and 83 project towards the outer circumferential surfaces of the wheel 50 and rings 70 respectively such that their free ends or tips are spaced a short distance therefrom, to be engageable with the protrusions 52, 72 and thus plucked by those protrusions when the shaft 32 is rotated, thereby producing a tune. As will be clear from Figures 1 and 2, the comb 80 comprises a relatively large number of fingers, as made possible by the relatively large axial length of the wheel 50, which correspondingly permits several concentric annular "tracks" of protrusions 52 to be formed on the circumferential surface of the wheel 50, the protrusions 52 in each track being arranged to pluck a respective tooth 82 to produce a respective note of the tune. The relatively large wheel 50 and comb 80 may thus contribute a relatively large component of the tune, whilst the rings 70, which may have a comparatively short axial length and thus, necessarily, fewer tracks of protrusions (in this embodiment two each), each contributes a musical component which differs from that of the other, to complete the tune.

Obviously, when the rings 70 are being mounted to the shaft 32, they must be rotationally orientated such that their musical components are synchronised with the musical component of the wheel 50. To this end, the mechanism 30 incorporates a locating means (not shown) to orientate the rings 70 in the correct position with respect to the wheel 50. The locating means may be a visual locating means which may, for example, comprise markings, which may be stamped, on both rings 70 and on the conical surfaces 63 with which the markings on the rings 70 are to be aligned. Alternatively, the locating means may be mechanical, and may include, for example, small keyways or grooves provided in the inner circumferential faces of the rings 70 and keys, provided in the shaft 32 or on the conical surfaces 63, which are receivable in the keyways.

The combs 80, 81 may be provided with dampers (not shown) to limit the duration of the notes played when the teeth 82, 83 are plucked. The mechanism 30 further includes (see Figure 2) a worm screw 90 and a crank handle 92 which is provided with a male threaded portion 93 receivable through the door 5 and also through a hole 94 provided through the front wall of the bracket 34 to engage a threaded bore 95 provided in an end of the screw gear 90, thus mounting the screw gear 90 between the arms 36 on the bracket 34 such that it meshes with worm gear 54. Rotation of the handle 92 drives the worm screw 90, which in turn drives the worm gear 54 and thus the shaft 32 to play the tune.

Because the shaft 32 is supported from the door 5, opening of the door 5 rotates the shaft 32 out of the box structure 3, thereby exposing its ends to enable mounting or removal of the rings 70. To keep the door 5 closed, and the shaft 32 thus in its operative position, the box 1 includes a locking means which in this embodiment comprises a pair of locking pins 100, each screwed through a respective side wall of the box structure 3, and mating grooves 104, formed into the ends of the shaft 32, into which tapered inner ends 102 of the pins 100 are received (see Figure 7). The grooves 104 extend radially, in alignment, from the centre of the shaft to the axial face of the shaft 32 where they form openings 105, into which the ends 102 are receivable when the shaft 32 is in one particular rotational orientation, shown in Figure 7, corresponding to the beginning of the tune ("the starting orientation"). The grooves 104 have a tapered cross-sectional profile which closely complements the profile of the tapered pin ends 102 so that the pins 102, which are precisely positioned, will be received into the grooves with minimal play. The radially inner ends 106 of the grooves 104 are rounded and are centred on the central rotational axis of the shaft, whereby each shaft end will locate against the pin end 102 when fully inserted into the groove 104 with little or no play, the pins 100 thus additionally serving as centring pins which provide for very precise positioning of the protrusions 52, 72 with respect to the fingers 82, 83. When the shaft 32 is in the starting orientation shown in Figure 7, the door 5 may be opened, in the direction shown by arrow 1 10, and closed, because the grooves 104 are orientated in direction 110. However, when the shaft 32 is in any other angular orientation, it is held in engagement with the pins 100 so that the door 5 cannot be opened. The box 1 may be designed such that, when the shaft 32 is in the starting orientation, the lid 5 will simply fall open to present the shaft 32. Alternatively, the box 1 may be configured such that the door 5 remains closed when the shaft 32 is in the orientation and must be manually opened, for example by unlocking a simple latching mechanism (not shown) which holds the door 5 to the box structure 3.

It will be appreciated that the box 1 may incorporate, instead of a mechanism (30) which is hand-driven, a spring motor-driven mechanism. In particular, the crank handle 92 may be replaced with a spring motor having a wind-up handle positioned on the outer face of the door 5. In this alternative, the mechanism may be configured such that the motor will disengage upon the shaft assuming its starting orientation when the remaining spring potential energy stored in the motor is insufficient to enable a further complete revolution of the shaft 32 and thus cycle of the tune, whereby the door 5 can be opened when playing stops.

Additionally, the gear ratio between the worm screw 90 and worm gear 54 may be set as 1 :X where X is an integer, so that the handle completes a set number (X) of revolutions for each revolution of the shaft 32 and thus cycle of the tune, and will always have the same angular orientation when the shaft is at the starting position. The protrusions on the rings 70 may take different forms, as illustrated in Figure 3. In particular, they may be provided, for example, as circular protrusions 72A, square protrusions 72B, rectangular protrusions 72C, and/or oval-shaped protrusions (not shown), according to the desired aesthetic characteristics of the ring 70. Indeed, they may each take any of a great number of forms but must be narrow enough to pluck a respective single comb tooth without contacting any of the other comb teeth. The length L of each protrusion 72 should be made sufficiently short (consistent with typical musical box brail patterns known in the art) to ensure that each cleanly plucks a respective tooth 83, which becomes bent and thus "primed" when engaged by a leading end 73 of the protrusion 72 and remains so until released from engagement with the protrusion 72 at trailing end 75, whereupon the plucking action is completed and the tooth 83 plays the note. Each leading end 73 is tapered to reduce the impact between that end and the tooth 82 when they come into contact, thus preventing any undesirable premature sound emission from the tooth. The trailing ends 75 are similarly tapered for aesthetic reasons.

The leading and trailing ends need not be tapered; they may, instead, comprise faces which are perpendicular to the direction in which the protrusions move, particularly given that the free ends of fingers or combs as used in musical boxes known in the art may themselves be tapered.

Only one track of protrusions 72 is shown in Figure 3 so as to improve clarity, though it will be appreciated that each ring 70 in the first embodiment is provided with two such tracks.

The rings 70 may be provided with circumferential rims which project radially outwardly, from each end of the ring 70, slightly further than do the protrusions, thus partially containing the protrusions to protect them from damage when the ring 70 is worn by a person.

In a variation on the first embodiment, the shaft 32 is instead provided with only a single mounting 60 and the box structure 3 provided with only one of the combs 81 (which is associated with the one mounting), so that only one ring 70 forms part of the tune-playing mechanism. In the following description of the second and third embodiments, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the first embodiment.

The musical box according to a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 4, which shows the cover 5' of that musical box and thus the details of an alternative tune-playing mechanism 30' thereof. The box structure for the second embodiment, which is not shown, is much the same as that of the first embodiment though incorporates a modified comb arrangement which will be discussed later.

The mechanism 30' of the second embodiment incorporates a pendant 70', as shown in Figure 6, instead of rings 70, and includes a large spur gear 150 rotatably mounted to the inner face of the door 5'. The gear 150 is provided with a central projecting hub 152 which can be pressed through a hole 77 provided through the centre of the pendant 70' to mount the pendant 70' to the gear 150. The hub 152 and hole 77 are provided with non-circular, complementary profiles such that the pendant 70' can be located on gear 150 in only one rotational orientation and will be rotationally locked with respect to the gear 150 when mounted to it. The radial face of the gear 150 and rear face 78 of the pendant 70' are flat and arranged to abut each other when the pendant 70' is mounted to the gear 150 such that the pendant is precisely mounted. The upper end of the hub 152 may be rounded and threaded to receive a locking screw or nut (not shown) to secure the pendant 70' to the gear 150.

The mechanism 30' further includes a small spur gear 160 which is also mounted to the inner face of door 5' and meshed with gear 150 to drive it. The gear 160 is fixedly connected to a crank handle 92 (which is the same as that in the first embodiment) through the door 5'. When the door 5' is closed, the front radial face 76 of the pendant 70' is brought closely adjacent the tips of the teeth 83' (ends of which are superimposed in Figure 6) of a comb which, when the front face 76 is so positioned, will be arranged in a line extending radially from the centre of the pendant 70' to the periphery of the pendant 70'. During rotation of the pendant 70' on the gear 150, the protrusions 72', which may, for example, have the same configuration as any of protrusions 72A, 72B and 72C in the first embodiment, are brought into engagement with the tips of the teeth 83' to pluck them and thus create the tune. Because the radial face 76 is wide in the direction along which the teeth 83' are arranged, a relatively large number of annular concentric tracks of protrusions, and correspondingly teeth 83', may be provided, so that a relatively elaborate tune is produced, without any need for the notes provided by the pendant 70' to be supplemented by another part of the mechanism (such as the wheel 50 and comb 80 in the first embodiment).

It will be clear from Figure 4 that, when the door 5' is opened, the pendant 70' can be easily pressed onto and removed from the hub 152 respectively to mount and remove the pendant 70' from the box. The box of this embodiment also employs bracket arms 36', which are instead formed separately and mounted at opposite ends of the inner face of the door 5', end fittings 40 which are fixed to the arms 36' to define bushings, and a shaft 32' mounted, at its respective ends, in the bushings. In this embodiment, however, the shaft 32' does not form part of the mechanism 30' for playing the tune. Rather, it is provided purely for the purposes of locking the door 5' in its closed position. To this end, provided on the shaft 32' is a worm gear 54' which meshes with a worm screw 90' which is fixed to and concentric with the gear 160 to be rotatable by means of the crank handle 92, the worm screw 90' and gear 54' corresponding to the worm screw 90 and gear 54 of the first embodiment. The shaft 32' is formed with the same end grooves 104 as the shaft 32 of the first embodiment, which operate with pins 100 in the sidewalls of the box structure in exactly the same manner as described for the first embodiment. Moreover, the gear ratio between the gear 54' and the gear 150 is such that, for each complete rotation of gear 54', gear 150 will rotate N times where N is an integer which is greater than or equal to one. Accordingly, when the shaft 32' is in the starting orientation, such that the grooves 104 and pins 100 can be disengaged and the door 5' thus open, the pendant 70' will have completed a set number of tune cycles (one or more). It will be appreciated that, when the shaft 32' is so orientated, the pendant 70' will be orientated on the gear 150 in an orientation corresponding to the starting position of the tune. It will be appreciated that in the second embodiment also, a spring motor as described for the first embodiment may drive the mechanism 30', in place of the handle 92. Moreover, the box of the second embodiment may be configured such that the door 5' simply falls open when the shaft 32' is in the starting orientation, or may employ a latching mechanism which must be disengaged to permit opening of the door 5', as discussed for the first embodiment. Furthermore, the comb in the second embodiment may be provided with a damper arrangement to limit the duration of the notes played when the teeth 83' are plucked.

Shown in Figure 5 is the door 5" of a musical box according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The musical box of this embodiment is identical to that of the second embodiment except that instead of comprising a single spur gear 150 for supporting and driving a pendant 70', it comprises a pair of spur gears 150A, 150B, each of which is provided with a hub 152A, 152B, to enable mounting of respective pendants, such as of the type shown in Figure 6, thereto (each, again, in only one possible rotational orientation on the respective gear), an idler gear 151 which transfers drive from gear 150A to 150B, and a pair of combs (not shown) each associated with a respective one of gears 150A and 150B. In this embodiment, the tune is thus generated by plucking of the fingers of two combs by protrusions on respective pendants, which may be owned by two romantically involved people, each pendant contributing a component of the tune which differs from that of the other. Of course, again, the mechanism will be configured such that when the gears 150A, 150B are rotationally orientated so as to orientate both mounted pendants in their positions corresponding to the start of the tune, the shaft 32' will assume its starting orientation, thus permitting opening and closing of the door 5".

It will be appreciated that in the third embodiment also, a spring motor as described for the first and second embodiments may drive the mechanism 30", in place of the handle 92. Moreover, the box of the third embodiment may be configured such that the door 5" simply falls open when the shaft 32' is in the starting orientation, or may employ a latching mechanism which must be disengaged to permit opening of the door 5", as discussed for the first and second embodiments. Moreover, the combs in the third embodiment may be provided with damper arrangements to limit the duration of the notes played when the teeth 83' are plucked. It will also be appreciated that in the second and third embodiments, the or each pendant could be replaced, for example, with an earring having a similar configuration.

A musical box 201 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 8. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the first embodiment, though will be preceded by the digit "2". In this embodiment, a shaft (generally corresponding to that in the first embodiment) is rotatably mounted in box structure 203, the shaft being provided with a wheel 250 which is similar to the wheel 50 of the first embodiment though has a greater axial length and is provided with a correspondingly greater number of annular tracks of protrusions 252. The box 201 also houses a comb (not shown) which is similar to comb 80 of the first embodiment though has more teeth, one for each track of protrusions 252. The shaft is further provided with a worm gear 254. In this embodiment, the shaft does not receive any personal adornments; the entire tune is defined by the protrusions 252 on the wheel 250.

The mechanism 230 further comprises a worm screw 290 which is rotatably supported from an upright plate 204 provided at a forward position in the box structure 203 to engage worm gear 254. In addition, the mechanism 230 comprises a pair of hubs 260 rotationally mounted to the front of the plate 204 at separate positions, and a pair of rings 270 which are able to be hand-pressed onto the hubs 260, the rings 270 being formed with external cogs 271 which intermesh when the rings 270 are mounted to the hubs 260. When the rings 270 are so mounted, one engages a gear 261 provided on the front of plate 204 at an input end of worm screw 290 and the other is engaged by a gear 265, also provided on the front of plate 204, which is provided with an internal thread 295 via which it is screwed onto thread 293 provided at the output end of crank handle 292, the output end 293 being received through the door 205 of the box 201. Thus, gear 265 will be mounted adjacent the inner face of door 205 and assume the position shown in Figure 8 when the door is closed. When the rings 270 are mounted and the door 205 is closed, turning of the handle 292 causes the gear 265 to rotate the gear defined by left-hand ring 270 and hub 260, which, in turn, rotates the gear defined by the right-hand ring 270 and hub 260. The latter gear transfers drive into gear 261 and thus into the shaft, via gears 290 and 254, to rotate the protrusions 252 and play the tune.

In this embodiment, the rings 270, each of which may be worn by a respective person in a romantically involved couple, form gears in the mechanism 230, instead of providing the protrusions which pluck the comb teeth. Unless both rings 270 are mounted, the mechanism 230 cannot operate and the tune cannot be played. The need for both rings 270 to play the tune may thus represent a union between the two romantically involved people, in the same way as does the need for both rings 70 in the first embodiment and both pendants in the third embodiment for the respective tunes to be complete.

The rings 270 and hubs 260 will be suitably configured to prevent the former from slipping on the latter. For example, slipping may be prevented simply by sufficiently tight frictional engagement between the rings 270 and hubs 260. Alternatively, the hubs 260 may be provided with respective keys (not shown) which engage key ways (not shown) provided in the rings 270. Alternatively, the hubs 260 may be mounted fixed to the plate

204 and provided with smooth outer circumferential surfaces which allow the rings 270 to slip on the hubs 260 and thus to rotate. Details of a musical box according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention are illustrated in Figures 10 to 17. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the first embodiment, though will be preceded by "3" or "30". In this embodiment, the box 301 comprises a generally cylindrical body or box structure 303 configured with a circular base 304 and an annular wall 306 extending upwardly from base 304. An opening 308 is formed through a lower front part of the wall 306, providing access to the interior of the body 303. A cover plate (not shown) is receivable against the lower front part, over the opening 308, and removably attachable to the body exterior, such as by screws. The base 301 is configured with an annular rim 310, which rests against the surface on which the box 301 is to be supported, and a section 312 which is raised with respect to the rim 310, so as to be spaced from the support surface, and defines a floor within the body 303. An opening 314 is formed through section 312, which facilitates release of a pendant 370 from the body 303, as will be described further later, and which may also permit a proportion of the tune sound to pass into a cavity 316 defined beneath the section 312 and radially inward of the rim 310 to contribute to the volume of the tune as heard outside the box 301.

The body 303 is open at its top end, and the box 301 further comprises a circular lid 318 receivable at the top end of the body 303 such that the interior of the body 303 is substantially closed. The lid 318 is described in further detail later.

The tune-playing mechanism 303 includes a comb 380 mounted in the interior of the body 303. The comb 380, in the same way as combs in previous embodiments, comprises a base 384 and a plurality of fingers or teeth 382. The body 303 is configured with a mounting section 320 which is integrally formed with section 312 and wall 306 and extends upwardly and radially inwardly, respectively, therefrom. The mounting section 320 occupies a lower rear section of the interior of the body 303 and comprises an upright face 322 against which the comb base 384 is held via screws 386, such that the comb 380 is mounted inside the body 303 with the fingers 382 extending upwardly. The mechanism 330 further comprises circular pendant 370, which is configured on one side thereof with an annular gear 371 and a flat radial face 376 having a plurality of protuberances or protrusions 372, which may, for example, have the same configuration as protrusion 72' in the second embodiment. The protrusions 372 are, in the same manner as protrusions 72', arranged in a plurality of annular concentric tracks on the face 376. The pendant 370 is provided with a lug 374 which extends radially outwardly from the periphery thereof to receive a chain, string or the like.

The face 322 is located such that the tips of the fingers 382 lie in a line which extends perpendicular to and radially outward from the axis of rotation of the pendant.

The periphery of the pendant 370 is configured with a tapered annular face 378 which is disposed on the same side as face 376 and extends around the periphery of the pendant 370.

A radially inwardly opening annular groove or channel 324 is formed through the inner face of wall 306. The wall 306 is further configured with a generally upwardly facing tapered annular face 326 adjacent the channel 324. The pendant 370 is loaded in the body 303 by dropping it, with the radial face facing down, through the open top of the body 303, such that a generally downwardly facing annular tapered face 378 formed around the periphery of the pendant 370 is received against the tapered face 326 (see Figure 12). To enable the lug 374 to be received in the channel 324, a cutout 328 (see Figure 13) extends upwardly from the channel 324 to the upper edge of the wall 306. The pendant 370 is rotationally orientated s uch that the lug 374 is aligned with the cutout 328 to allow insertion, this orientation being such that the teeth 382 are adjacent the protuberances 372 corresponding to the beginning notes of the tune, so that when operation of the mechanism commences, the tune will start at its beginning.

The mechanism further comprises a crank handle 392 which is mounted through wall 306 and a gear 329 disposed at an output end of the crank handle 392 which meshes with gear 371 of the pendant 370 when inserted.

Following insertion of the pendant 370, the lid 318 is fitted at the top end of the body 303, whereupon a generally downwardly facing annular surface 319 formed at a lower end of the lid 318 is received against a corresponding generally upwardly facing annular surface 379 extending around the periphery of the pendant 370 on the uppermost side thereof, which is opposite that on which the face 376 is formed. The mating surfaces 326, 378 and 319, 379, are machined so as to be smooth whereby sliding movement is permitted therebetween, such that the pendant 370 can rotate relative to the lid 318 and body 303 when driven, via engagement of gears 329 and 371, by turning of the handle 392. Advantageously, engagement between the faces 326 and 378 serves to locate the pendant 370 precisely with respect to the comb 380, whilst downward loads exerted by the face 319 against the face 379 help to maintain that engagement.

Once rotation of the handle 392 commences, the lug 374 begins tracking around the channel 324. Throughout a single rotation of the pendant 370 from its starting position, the lug 374 is guided within the channel 324 and may serve as a retainer which interlocks the pendant 370 and body 306, until the lug 374 is once again aligned with the cutout 328, whereupon the pendant 370 can be removed from the body 306 by removing the lid 318 and inverting the body 306 such that the pendant 370 drops out through the open body top. The interlocking between the pendant 370 and body 303 may prevent release of the former from the latter, whereby the comb 380 remains shielded and thus protected from damage. A finger or elongate object may be poked through opening 314 to push against the face 376 to assist removal, if necessary.

Each of the lid 318 and the body 303 is formed by machining and milling a suitable respective block of metal, such as brass. Details of a musical box according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention are illustrated in Figures 18 to 22. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the first embodiment, though will be preceded by "4" or "40".

In this embodiment, the box 401 also comprises a cylindrical body or box structure 403 but, unlike in the fifth embodiment, this body is arranged horizontally, rather than vertically, and is mounted on a stand, which defines base 404. The body 403 is open at each end, and is provided at its rear end with a cover plate 408 which is removably mounted to the body annular wall 406. The body 403 further comprises a central plate portion 409, which is integrally formed with the annular wall 406. In this embodiment, the tune-playing mechanism 403 comprises a crank handle 492, which is mounted through the wall 406, a worm screw 490 coupled to the output end of the handle 492, a worm gear 454 which meshes with the worm screw 490, a driveshaft 432, to which the gear 454 is fixedly mounted, and a pendant 470 removably coupled to a front end of the shaft 432 via receipt of a square-shaped hub 452, formed at that end, into a correspondingly shaped and sized central hub 477 in the front of pendant 470. A circular locating portion 433 is machined at a rear end of shaft 432 and closely received in a corresponding circular recess 435 formed in the cover plate 408, whereby the shaft rear end is rotatably supported by a plate 408. A middle portion of the shaft is closely received through a central passage 437 formed through plate portion 409 such that the central portion 437 is rotatably supported by the plate portion 409.

The worm screw 490 is retained axially by a plunger 441 which is held in a cavity 443 formed in the plate portion 409 and configured with a convergent or pointed outer end which is urged into a correspondingly configured circumferential detent 445 in the worm screw shaft by a spring (not shown) disposed in the cavity 443.

The worm screw shaft is also formed with a circumferentially arranged plurality of axially extending notches 447 and a resiliently flexible arm 449 supported from the plate portion 409 such that a free end thereof is receivable in each of the notches 447 to prevent any rotation of the worm screw shaft in the reverse direction, the notches 447 and arm 449 thus defining a ratchet mechanism.

The comb 480 is mounted to the plate portion 409 and extends forwardly therefrom such that the free ends of its fingers/teeth 482 are positioned to be engaged by the protuberances/protrusions 472 on the pendant 470, whereby the fingers/teeth 482 are plucked. The body annular wall 406, like that in the fifth embodiment, is formed with a radially inwardly opening circumferential groove or channel 424, into which a lug 474 on the pendant 470 is received, and a cutout (not shown) extending from the channel 424 to the (forward) end of the body 403, permitting passage of the lug 474 therethrough and thus mounting of the pendant 474 to the shaft 432 at a position corresponding to the starting point of the tune defined by the protuberances 472, consistent with the fifth embodiment. The lug 474 and channel 424 serve the same guiding and retaining function as their counterparts in the fifth embodiment, precluding release of the pendant 470 when it is not orientated in its starting position and thus protecting the comb 480. The box 401 further comprises a front cover plate 418 which is configured with an external thread receivable in a corresponding internal thread formed at the front end of the body 403 whereby the plate 418 is removably mountable to that end. The body 403, pendant 470 and front cover plate 418 are configured with tapered mating faces 426, 478, 479 and 419, corresponding to faces 326, 378, 379 and 319, respectively, in the fifth embodiment. The cover plate 418 may further comprise a central projecting portion 421 having a pointed tip which engages the centre of the face of the pendant 470 which is opposite to the radial face 476 on which the protuberances 472 are formed, to provide support to the pendant 470 at its centre.

The box 401 may further comprise a nameplate 423, which may be located, for example, on the base 404. An opening 414 is formed through wall 406, the opening 404 providing access to the interior of the body 403, either side of the plate portion 409. A finger or elongate object can be poked through the opening, on the forward side of plate portion 409, to facilitate dislodgement of the pendant 470, in a manner as described for the fifth embodiment, and allows for removal, via a screwdriver, of screws which mount the comb 480. The box 401 further includes a lid (not shown) removably receivable by the wall 406 to cover/occupy the opening 404.

A musical box according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 23. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the first embodiment, though will be preceded by "5" or "50".

The musical box 501 of the seventh embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except with respect to the configuration of the body 503 and the shaft- mounting bracket 534 and end fitting 540 details, with respect to the central comb (80) and central wheel (50). which are omitted from the seventh embodiment, and with respect to the rings 570 and (outer) combs 581, which are formed with a greater number of tracks of protuberances 552 and corresponding teeth 583 respectively.

In the present embodiment, the body 503 is cylindrical, instead of being rectangular box- shaped, and is supported on a stand, or pair of stands, one either end, defining the base 504. The door 505, because it defines part of the cylindrical form of the body 503 (when closed), is curved, instead of being straight.

Owing to the comparatively large number of tracks on the rings 570, the tune defined thereby can be relatively elaborate, notwithstanding the absence of a central wheel (50). Since, owing to the absence of that wheel, the cross section of the shaft can remain constant between the rotating formations 562, the bracket 534 which rotatably mounts the shaft 532 to the door 505, comprises a single, generally oblong-shaped, portion 536 and corresponding single, generally oblong-shaped, end fitting 540, which, when secured to one another via screws 544, define a bushing which rotatably holds the shaft 532. The mechanism 530 in the present embodiment comprises locating means as described for the first embodiment. The combs 581, like the combs 81 in the first embodiment, may be provided with dampers (not shown) to limit the duration of the notes played when the teeth 583 are plucked.

The box 501 further includes a locking means, having a similar configuration to and the same functionality as that in the first embodiment, the locking means comprising locking pins 5100, each screwed through a respective side wall of the body 503 and mating grooves 5104, formed into the ends of the shaft 532, into which tapered inner ends 5102 of the pins 5100 are received.

A musical box according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 24. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the first embodiment, though will be preceded by "6" or "60".

The musical box 601 of the eighth embodiment comprises a tune-playing mechanism 630 which incorporates a similar arrangement of components to the mechanism 230 of the fourth embodiment. The mechanism 630 comprises a pair of hubs 660 fixedly mounted, at separate positions, to the front of an upright plate 604 provided at a forward position in the body 603, and a pair of finger rings 670 which are able to be hand-pressed onto the hubs 660, the rings 670 being formed with external cogs 671 which intermesh when the rings 670 are mounted to the hubs 660. When the rings 670 are so mounted, one of them engages a gear 661 provided on the front of plate 604 at an input to the remainder of the mechanisms 630 (not shown) arranged in the body 603 behind the plate 604 (which may comprise an arrangement similar to that behind the plate 204 in the fourth embodiment), and the other is engaged by a gear 665, also provided on the front of plate 604 which is coupled to a crank handle 692. The body 603 includes a cover plate 605 which is removable to provide access to the hubs 660 and gears 661 and 665 and thus mounting and removal of the rings 671 , the cover plate 605 being adapted to be mounted via screws 667 received through holes 669 in the plate 605 and into threaded holes 687 formed in the hubs 660.

The cover plate 605 is formed with a cutout 689 which accommodates the output end of the crank handle 692.

The hubs 660 are provided with smooth outer circumferential surfaces which allow the rings 670 to slip on the hubs 660 and thus to rotate.

When the rings 670 are mounted, turning of the handle 692 causes the gears 665 to rotate the gear defined by the lower ring 670 on its hub 660, which, in turn, rotates the gear defined by the upper ring 670 on its hub 660. The latter gear transfers drive into gear 661 and thus the remainder of the mechanism 630 to play the tune.

In this embodiment, the rings 670, like those in the fourth embodiment, may belong to a romantically involved couple. Unless both rings 670 are mounted, the mechanism 630 cannot operate and the tune cannot be played. A musical box according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 25. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the eighth embodiment though will have the first digit "7" instead of "6". The box 701 of the ninth embodiment is similar to that of the eighth embodiment though comprises only a single hub 760 and ring 770 which meshes with gears 765 and 761, instead of a pair or hubs (660) holding intermeshing gears (670).

In the fourth, eighth and ninth embodiments, the doors may hold the rings on the hubs which receive them.

A musical box according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 26. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the fifth embodiment though will have the first digit "8" instead of "3". In the box 801 of the tenth embodiment, the tune-playing mechanism 830 includes a rectangular pendant 870 which is configured on one side thereof with a pair of parallel rack gears 871 disposed at opposite edges of the pendant 870, and a flat radial face 876 having a plurality of protuberances/protrusions 872 arranged in a plurality of linear tracks on the face 876 which extend parallel to the rack gears 871. In this embodiment, the pendant 870, unlike pendant 370 in the fifth embodiment, is passed through the body 803, to effect playing of the tune. To this end, the body 803 comprises a passage 804 extending therethrough and terminating at either end in a front opening 808 and rear opening (not shown) provided through the circumferential wall 806.

The mechanism 830 further comprises crank handle 892, a shaft 896, to which the output end of the handle 892 is coupled through wall 806, a pair of gears 829 fixedly mounted on shaft 896 arranged to mesh with rack gears 871, and comb 880. The shaft 896, gears 829 and comb 880 are contained by the body 803.

In this embodiment, the pendant 870 is fed into the passage 804 through the front opening 808 until the gears 871 engage the gears 829. The handle 892 is then turned to draw the pendant 870 through the passage 804, via the intermeshing of gears 829 and 871 , causing the protuberances 873 to pluck the teeth 882.

The shaft 896 is positioned adjacent to, and preferably slightly downstream of, the comb 880 so that the entirety of the pendant 870 is driven past the comb fingers 882 before disengagement of the gears 829 and 871, at which point the leading end of the pendant projects through the rear opening so as to be able to be grasped and withdrawn from the body 803.

A musical box according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 27. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the fifth embodiment though will have first digit "9" instead of "3".

The box 901 of this embodiment comprises a body 903 having a base 904 and a circumferential wall 906 integrally formed with and extending upwardly from the base 904. The body 903 is configured on either lateral side thereof with right-angled upper 910 and lower 911 wall sections which define cavities 912, and removable closures 913 receivable in openings 914 to the cavities 912, defined between the sections 910 and 911, to close the cavities 912.

The tune -playing mechanism 930 in this embodiment comprises crank handle 992, a rotatable shaft 997 received through a first upper wall section 910, a gear 998, which is coupled to the handle 992 via the shaft 997 and arranged on an exterior side of the wall 306, a rotatable shaft 999 ends of which extend though lower sections of the circumferential wall 906 at the opposite lateral sides of the body 303, respective gears 915 fixed to the ends of the shaft 999 exterior of the wall 906, a gear 916 arranged exterior the wall 906, a rotatable shaft 917, received through the wall 906 at an upper position, and a gear 929, coupled to the gear 916 via shaft 917.

The mechanism 930 further comprises a pair of wedding bands 921, one of which is received over gear 998 and the gear 915 therebelow, thereby coupling them, and the other of which is received over gear 916 and the (other) gear 915 therebelow, thereby coupling those gears. Obviously, the wedding bands 921, which would belong respectively to a husband and wife, are preferably taut when received over the gears and, to this end, may be resiliency stretchable. The wedding bands 921 may have, for example, smooth radially inner faces, in which case the gears with which they engage would similarly have smooth outer circumferential faces (thus perhaps being somewhat more akin to pulley wheels) and the engagement between the gears and bands would be frictional, or toothed radially inner faces, in which case the gears would similarly be toothed.

Shaft 997 may be able to float axially to move gear 998 laterally outwardly to facilitate fitting and removal of the wedding band 921 which it engages. Finally, the mechanism 930 comprises a pendant 970. The details of the pendant 970 and its interengagement with body 903 are identical to those in the fifth embodiment.

The box 901 further comprises a lid 918 which is configured and operable in the same manner as that in the fifth embodiment, though may be provided with a central projecting portion analogous to that described for the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, three components of the mechanism are formed by a personal adornment, i.e. the wedding bands 921 and pendant 970, the latter possibly belonging to a child of the married couple.

Shown in Figure 28 is part of the tune-playing mechanism of a music box according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention. In the description of this music box, the same reference numerals will be used for features corresponding to features of the ninth embodiment, though will have first digits "10" instead of the first digit "7". In this embodiment, the finger ring 1070 which intermeshes with both the gear 1065 coupled to the crank handle 1092 and the gear 1061 driven by that gear, is formed with cogs on its inner circumferential face, instead of it outer circumferential face as is the case in the ninth embodiment, the ring 1070 thus defining a ring gear coupling the gears 1065 and 1061.

The combs in any of the eighth to twelfth embodiments, may like any of the combs in first to seventh embodiments, be provided with dampers (not shown) to limit the duration of the notes played when their teeth are plucked. Moreover, any of the described embodiments (not only the sixth) may incorporate a ratchet mechanism to prevent reverse movement of or backlash in the tune-playing mechanism.

In each of the embodiments, the mechanism may be configured with a ratio which is such that the handle completes an integer number of revolutions between the beginning and end of the action/tune or one cycle thereof so that it will always have the same angular orientation at the beginning/end of the action/cycle. A ratio of between 20 and 30 to 1 may be optimal.

Embodiments are also possible which comprise pendants configured on both sides to pluck comb teeth, and the article may comprise comb teeth disposed on both sides of the pendant or be one in which the comb teeth are disposed on only one side of the pendant and in which the pendant can be orientated the other way around. In those embodiments in which the pendants are configured on only one side to pluck comb teeth, that side may be one which is ordinarily hidden when the pendant is worn, with an opposite (visible) side possibly being configured with a decorative face. In other embodiments (not shown), adornments may be provided with formations which, instead of projecting from a surface to pluck comb teeth, are instead voids in the surface; for example, the voids may afford the surface a filigree configuration. In such embodiments, the or each surface is arranged to contact tips of the comb teeth during rotation so as to bend each tooth, and the voids are arranged to receive the tips such that the teeth resile to produce notes of the tune. It will be appreciated that embodiments are possible in which the formations comprise both protrusions and voids. It will also be appreciated that the surface need not be continuous; for example, in one embodiment, the adornment may comprises a pendant and the surface may be a front or rear face of the pendant defined by a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from the centre portion of the pendant to a peripheral portion of the pendant.

Also possible are other embodiments (additional to the eleventh embodiment) in which three components of the mechanism are formed by a personal adornment - two belonging to a romantically involved couple and the third belonging to a child of that couple - any or all of which may either be provided with the tune-playing formations or instead be configured to transfer drive through the mechanism.

Also possible are embodiments in which at least one earring (for example), instead of a pendant, is configured as a gear to transfer drive in the mechanism, with protrusions being provided on the same or a different component in the mechanism.

In another embodiment of the invention, the box is an ornamental box or itself an adornment, which may or may not play a tune, and at least one component of the mechanism, instead of driving the playing of the tune, drives a different action; for example, the mechanism may drive a change in configuration of the box, such as opening and/or closing of the box. The box in such an embodiment may be formed according to a particular appealing motif. In one specific embodiment, the box may be egg-shaped, and may be an adornment, such as a piece of jewellery, which opens out, for example like a locket. The box may further contain a musical disk.

Moreover, the mechanism in any of the embodiments described which incorporates crank handle may be modified to incorporate a motor, in place of the handle, such as, a spring motor having a wind-up handle.

It will be appreciated that the mechanism in embodiments of the invention can include any of a wide range of possible adornments, including, for example, pendants, finger/toe rings, scarf rings, wristbands, wristlets, earrings, brooches, necklaces, hairpins, cufflinks and tie clips - any of which might or might not be provided in the form of jewellery and/or be formed from precious metals, such as gold, platinum and/or silver.

It will also be appreciated that the invention may be embodied not only in a tune-playing article, such as a musical box, but also one which drives another action, such as movement; e.g. a box which is opened or closed by the mechanism or an ornament or statue comprising a figurine, such as a ballerina, which is moved/rotated by the mechanism. The article may, alternatively, be one in which the mechanism comprises a dynamo and the action comprises the dynamo initiating and maintaining illumination of a light.

The invention may be embodied not only in ornamental items but also, for example, toys.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, features of one described embodiment may be combined or with or substituted for features in another. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.