BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a decorative and functional accessory that is suitable for being coupled with a wearable device, in particular a wearable device of electronic type, such as an earphone or headset device.

PRIOR ART

The use of earphone devices or headphones, without or with wires is known for telephone communication and/or owing to which it is possible to listen to sound sources generated by devices to which the earphone devices and headphones are connected. These objects have become an integral part of the daily life of many people, are amply used during free time, at work and in many contexts, for example during driving of vehicles so as to be able to guide safely, without distractions.

In the last few years, different models of earphone have been available on the market that exploit a type of wireless communication for transmitting/receiving audio signals to/from the source device, such as a Smartphone.

The earphone devices can be rested on the auricle or inserted inside the hollow of the ear, i.e. directly in the entrance of the ear canal.

Unfortunately, the earphone of both wireless and wired type, may interact/interfere with decorative objects placed on the auricle, such as earrings, pendants, jewels pierced in the skin in general, which have a more or less bulky shape.

If on the one hand adopting an earphone of wireless type has meant greater ease of use for the user owing to the absence of electric connecting cables, on the other hand, the need to have to house the wireless transceiving electronic componentry has led to a slight increase in the overall dimensions of the component to be applied to the auricle. Consequently, the greater projection of the casing of the earphone outwards, and in particular downward, from the auricle, entails greater superimposition on the earrings/pendants worn by the user. The interaction between earphones and such decorative objects, in particular when the user is moving, may initially cause discomfort and inconvenience to the user; subsequently the earphones and the decorative objects (e.g. pendants, earrings) may be spoilt by the continuous mutual wear.

Further, in the presence of earrings placed on the auricle, positioning the earphone inside the hollow of the ear can be difficult. For the same reason, maintaining it in position during use may be equally unstable; above all in the case of movement of the user, the risk of disengagement from the use position is even more frequent.

The simultaneous presence of earphones and earrings/pendants thus very often leads to inconvenience or a sensation of impracticability and discomfort for the wearer. In other words, the earphones and the earrings/pendants interfere with one another, adversely affecting the functionality thereof and/or causing possible damage to one another.

In the light of what has been set out above, it is deemed that room for improvement exists and that it is possible to successfully remedying the limits and drawbacks/problems that have just been discussed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION.

One object of the invention is to improve the simultaneous wearability of decorative accessories, such as earrings/pendants and earphone electronic devices.

Another object is to improve the ease of use of the aforesaid products.

Another object is to provide a technical solution that simultaneously ensures correct positioning of the wearable device, such as an earphone, inside the auricle, without having to forgo care of the aesthetic and decorative appearance of the person.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solution that is able to mitigate, or anyway exploit positively the greater outer overall dimensions that the wireless earphone devices have of necessity.

Another object is to provide a solution that in addition to preserving the perfect functionality of the earphone device, is also a solution that is able to provide the user with great variety and choice from the aesthetic point of view in a versatile, convenient and rapid manner.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above has been made possible by a decorative and functional accessory according to what is defined in claim 1.

More precisely, according to the invention, a decorative and functional accessory is provided that is suitable for being coupled with a wearable device. This accessory comprises a coupling body provided with means for connecting to a casing of said wearable device and at least one ornamental element connected to said one coupling body. Owing to the accessory according to the invention, all the drawbacks disclosed above are overcome.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the decorative and functional accessory will be clear from the claims, from the description that follows, and from the attached drawings that illustrate one embodiment by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned view of the decorative and functional accessory according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the decorative and functional accessory according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a view like that in Figure 1 of the decorative and functional accessory, according to the invention, coupled with a wearable accessory, in particular an electronic earphone;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the decorative and functional accessory, coupled with the electronic earphone, according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to enclosed Figures 1-4, a decorative and functional accessory 1 is shown suitable for being coupled with a wearable device 2. In particular, in a non-limiting manner, the wearable device 2 comprises an electronic earphone 2.

The decorative and functional accessory 1 comprises a coupling body 3, which is provided with means 4 for connecting to a casing 5 of the wearable device 2, and at least one ornamental element 6 connected to the coupling body 3.

The connecting means 4 is designed to ensure a stable and durable connection between the wearable device 2, in this case the electronic earphone 2, and the coupling body 3, in order to avoid a possible detachment of the decorative and functional accessory 1 from the electronic earphone 2 and maintain the latter in the desired and correct position, regardless of the more or less brusque movements of the user.

This connecting means 4 can be configured in a different manner according to specific needs and shaped in a desired manner provide that they ensure the effect disclosed above in a continuous manner during use of the decorative and functional accessory 1.

In one embodiment, the connecting means 4 is configured for operating according to a principle of mechanical interference. In particular, the connecting means 4 comprises a housing cavity 4 obtained in the coupling body 3, intended to receive part of the wearable device, precisely part of the casing 5 of the electronic earphone 2.

In this case the housing cavity 4 has a cross section shaped in function of the geometric configuration of the casing 5. The casing 5 remains firmly constrained inside the housing cavity 4 owing to the mechanical interference that is mutually established. In the embodiment provided by way of example in Figures 1-2, the coupling body 3 has an almost cylindrical and tubular shape, that extends along a longitudinal axis X. The housing cavity 4 is blind and open at one end 8 of the substantially cylindrical element 3.

More precisely, as visible in Figures 3-4, the casing 5 of the electronic earphone 2, in this case of wireless type, is provided with an oblong portion having a cylindrical section. During the connecting step, this oblong portion is insertable - through the end 8 - inside the housing cavity 4 of the coupling body 3 along the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The reciprocal stable positioning of this oblong portion in the housing cavity 4 is ensured by the coupling by mechanical interference already disclosed.

In another embodiment, the connecting means can comprise a thread obtained in the housing cavity 4, suitable for engaging with a respective further thread provided on the end portion of the casing 5 of the electronic earphone 2.

In another embodiment, the connecting means can comprise a magnetic element suitable for ensuring magnetically the connection of the coupling body 3 to the casing 5 of the electronic earphone 2, provided this casing 5 is metal or has a metal insert.

In a further embodiment, the connecting means can comprise a gluing element or an adhesive element for fixing the coupling body 3 the surface of the casing 5.

In another embodiment, the connecting means is based on the use of a coupling body 3 made of an elastically deformable material, provided with a housing cavity 4, so as to permit easy connection to the casing 5 of the wearable accessory 2 by inserting said casing 5 inside the housing cavity 4.

The coupling body 3 can be made of a material chosen from a group comprising: metal material, plastics material, plastics clad with precious metal etc.

In all cases, the conformation of the coupling body 3 can be chosen suitable in function of the geometric configuration of the wearable accessory 2 intended for coupling with the decorative and functional accessory 1.

To the coupling body 3 an ornamental element 6 is connected, which contributes or provides the aesthetic appearance of the decorative and functional accessory. The ornamental element 6 can comprise a jewel with or without one or more precious stones, a costume jewellery product or other decorative compositions.

In one embodiment, which is provided purely by way of non-limiting example, the ornamental element 6, shown in schematic way in the attached Figures, has a drop-shape. Naturally, further different geometric shapes and dimensions are possible for the ornamental element 6.

The ornamental element 6 can be connected to the coupling body 3 by a connecting element 7, such as a filiform element or a chain element 7 or can be directly mounted in the coupling body 3.

In the schematized embodiment provided by way of non-limiting example in the attached Figures, the connecting element 7 comprises a pair of mutually concatenated annular elements, one of which is fixed to the coupling body 3 whilst the other is fixed to the ornamental element 6.

In the first case, the ornamental element 6 with the filiform element or the chain element 7 define a pendant, as shown in the embodiment of Figs 1-4.

In one embodiment that is not shown, the ornamental element 6 is separated from the coupling body 3 and different possible connecting means can be connected thereto, such as a mechanical or magnetic hook. In this configuration, the user is free to choose the ornamental element 6 with which to adorn the decorative and functional accessory 1.

The user can have a vast variety of possible ornamental elements 6 to be chosen and combined with the coupling body 3, to modify the aesthetic aspect of the decorative and functional accessory 1 at the discretion and according to the tastes of the user.

In this manner, the particularly versatile decorative and functional accessory 1 enables the user to be able to be equipped with just one coupling body 3 so as to automatically make up the decorative and functional accessory 1 with one or more ornamental elements 6.

The decorative and functional accessory 1 can further comprise one or more electronic/electric units configured for emitting an acoustic and/or optical light signal, for decorative and functional purposes. In one possible embodiment, one or more electronic/electric units are provided with an acoustic emitter for reproducing for example a beep. Alternatively or in combination with the aforesaid embodiment, the one or more electronic/electric units comprise one or more light sources, for example, one or more LEDs {Light Emitting Diodes). The aforesaid acoustic signals and/or luminous optical signal can be emitted by the one or more electronic/electric units to provide the user with help in searching for and locating the decorative and functional accessory 1 in the event of loss of the latter.

The electronic/electric units are positioned in one or more housing seats obtained in the coupling body 3 and/or in the ornamental element 6.

These electronic/electric units also comprise a transceiver module of wireless type, such as Bluetooth or another protocol for interconnection with another electronic device such as a Smartphone.

The acoustic and luminous signals can be activated at the discretion of the user by an external electronic device such as a Smartphone. Owing to the decorative and functional accessory 1 according to the invention, the user can fully exploit the functionality of the earphone device 2 without having to forego the aesthetic aspect linked to wearing for example earrings and pendants.

Owing to the decorative and functional accessory 1 the aesthetic effect of the earphone device 2 is also improved, even exploiting the protruding oblong portion as a support zone for the decorative and functional accessory 1.

When the decorative and functional accessory is properly inserted it ensures correct positioning of the earphone device 2 inside the auricle.

Various elements can be replaced by further technically equivalents elements without thereby falling outside the scope of the invention. It is possible to configure and dimension the decorative and functional accessory 1 in a desired manner according to the particular application for which it is intended. Lastly, the materials used to construct the decorative and functional accessory 1 can be chosen according to needs provided that they are suitable for the use for which they are intended.