Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a jewellery item, such as a bangle or pendant.

Background

Jewellery relates to decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes.

Humans have made and worn jewellery for many thousands of years. Recent developments include illuminated jewellery. For example, GB2383939 describes an illuminated jewellery item, whereby a light source is provided to together with a light diffusing element to illuminate a plurality of jewels.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an item of jewellery (a jewellery item) comprising a generally tubular body having a longitudinal axis therethrough, the tubular body comprising a display that extends around the longitudinal axis.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising the jewellery item of the first aspect; and a charging dock configured to receive the jewellery item.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for customising a jewellery item to co-ordinate with a garment, the method comprising electronically storing an image of a garment or part thereof; optionally modifying the image; and displaying the image on the jewellery item of the first aspect. It will be understood that the display extends all the way around the axis, for example a 360° display. An ornamental design may be shown on the display (usually only temporarily) to provide a beautiful jewellery item. The ornamental design may be selected to co-ordinate with a garment. For example, a garment could be sold together with an image to be uploaded to the jewellery item. In the context of the present invention the term garment includes clothing, footwear and accessories (e.g. a handbag).

The jewellery item may be envisaged as a bangle with an integrated OLED screen wrapped around the outer circumference, wherein the screen is programmable, allowing the user to display different patterns, textures and images depending on the occasion.

Tubular body

The tubular body is typically formed of several components. For example, a magnifying optical plastic cover and a base comprising a polished steel bracelet. The following comments apply to the overall shape and size of the tubular body.

The tubular body defines a bore therethrough, i.e. the bore is empty space defined by an inner surface of the tubular body.

The tubular body has a longitudinal axis. This is an imaginary line that passes through the bore. If the tubular body is perfectly cylindrical, then the longitudinal axis is parallel with the side of the cylinder.

The tubular body has a height (e.g. a mean height) measured parallel to the longitudinal axis and a diameter measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis and the height can be considered to lie in the same plane, and this plane may bisect the tubular body.

The diameter (e.g. a mean diameter, an inner diameter and/or an outer diameter) is typically greater than the height. The diameter (e.g. the outer diameter) may be at least twice the height. For example, the diameter (e.g. the outer diameter) may be 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 times greater than the height. The diameter (e.g. the outer diameter) may be no more than 20, 15, 10, 8 or 5 times greater than the height.

The height (e.g. the mean height) of the tubular body may be 10 cm or less, 8 cm or less, 5 cm or less, 3 cm or less, 2 cm or less or 1 cm or less and/or the height (e.g. the mean height) of the tubular body may be 0.5 cm or more, 1 cm or more, 2 cm or more, 3 cm or more, 4 cm or more or 5 cm or more. In an embodiment where the jewellery item is a bangle, the height may be 1 to 5 cm. In an embodiment where the jewellery item is pendant, the height may be 0.5 to 2 cm.

The tubular body has an inner diameter (the shortest distance across the bore from one side of the tubular body to the other, passing through centre of the bore) and an outer diameter (the greatest distance across the bore from one side of the tubular body to the other, passing through centre of the bore). The mean diameter is the mean distance across the bore, passing through the centre.

The diameter (e.g. the inner, outer or mean diameter) of the tubular body may be 20 cm or less, 15 cm or less, 12 cm or less or 10 cm or less, 5 cm or less or 3 cm or less; and/or the diameter may be 0.5 cm or more, 1 cm or more, 2 cm or more, 3 cm or more, 5cm or more, 8 cm or more or 10 cm or more.

Where the jewellery item is a bangle, the tubular body may be worn around the wrist. As such, the inner diameter should be selected accordingly. For example, the inner diameter of the tubular body may be 15 cm or less, 12 cm or less or 10 cm or less; and/or the inner diameter of the tubular body may be 5cm or more, 8 cm or more or 10 cm or more. In one such embodiment, the inner diameter is from 8 to 15 cm.

Where the jewellery item is a pendant, the tubular body may be suspended from a necklace/chain and worn around neck. A length of material (e.g. leather) may be threaded through the tubular body, i.e. through the bore. The inner diameter of the tubular body may be 2 cm or less, 1 cm or less, or 0.5 cm or less; and/or the inner diameter of the tubular body may be 0.2 cm or more, 0.5cm or more, or 1 cm or more.

The tubular body may be described with reference to its cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The tubular body may have a substantially uniform cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. By substantially uniform we mean that the cross-section has the same shape is each plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The size of the cross-section may change while remaining substantially uniform, e.g. the tubular body could taper inwards or outwards.

The (substantially uniform) cross-section may be a circle (as shown in the examples). The (substantially uniform) cross-section may be an oval or a polygon (regular or irregular). Polygons include a triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, and octagon.

A regular polygon is a polygon that is equiangular (all angles are equal) and equilateral (all sides have the same length). Regular polygons include an equilateral triangle, a square, a regular pentagon, a regular hexagon, a regular heptagon and a regular octagon.

It will be understood that any vertices may be rounded to avoid sharp edges, e.g. for safety reasons. For example, the jewellery item may have a cross-section that is a Reuleaux triangle: a shape formed from the intersection of three circular disks, each having its centre on the boundary of the other two. Its boundary is a curve of constant width. This may be useful to ensure the bangle stays on the wrist.

The tubular body can be viewed a ring (which may be non-circular) and may be described with reference to a ring section. Both the ring section and the longitudinal axis lie in the same plane, which may bisect the tubular body. The tubular body may have a substantially uniform ring-section, i.e. substantially the same ring section in any plane shared with the longitudinal axis. If so, the longitudinal axis can be described as an axis of revolution.

For example, the tubular body could be a solid torus (like a doughnut), which has a circular ring section. The ring section could be oval. The ring section could be a polygon, such as a rectangular ring section. The bangle shown in the example has a ring section that is approximately D shaped, i.e. an enclosed 2 dimensional shape formed from a straight line and an arcuate line. The tubular body may be described as rigid, rather than flexible, i.e. the tubular body does not change shape during normal wear of the jewellery item. The jewellery item cannot be made flat, like a charm bracelet or a slap bracelet.

It will be understood that the jewellery item is not a slap bracelet / snap band i.e. a bracelet consisting of layered, flexible stainless steel bistable spring bands sealed within a fabric, silicone, or plastic cover. This type of jewellery does not comprise a tubular body as defined in the present invention.

The tubular body may be seamless. Alternatively, the tubular body may comprise a clasp to allow the tubular body to be separated temporarily, e.g. to place a bangle on the wrist and subsequently fasten it.

The tubular body can be viewed as a rigid housing for the display, and optionally for further components (e.g. a battery, gyro, receiver, and/or printed circuit board (PCB)).

The tubular body may be formed from a cover and a base, as discussed in more detail below.

Cover

The jewellery item may comprise a cover for the display. The cover typically constitutes an external part of the tubular body. The cover must be capable of transmitting light from the display and may refract and/or magnify the display. As such, the cover may be transparent or translucent and may be described as a lens.

The cover may extend around the longitudinal axis. The cover may be described as rigid.

The cover may comprise glass or thermoplastics, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene, polycarbonate and polystyrene (e.g. High Impact HIPS). The cover may be a magnifying optical plastic cover. The cover may be curved. In some embodiments the cover (e.g. lens) comprises an arcuate form extending away from the display screen to form a D sectional shape and/or being otherwise thicker centrally.

Base

The jewellery may comprise a base to support the display and optional cover. The base may be opaque.

The base may be formed from metal or metal alloy, including precious metals; ceramics and/or plastics.

Suitable metal/metal alloys include steel (e.g. stainless steel), copper, gold, platinum, palladium, titanium, silver and tungsten.

Suitable plastics include thermoplastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters (e.g. PBT, PET), and polyaryletheretherketone (PEEK (RTM)).

The base may be formed from more than one material. For example the base may be formed from two or more layers; an external layer, which is visible to the wearer and an internal layer located (“sandwiched”) between the external layer and the display. In one such embodiment the internal layer is a plastics layer and the external layer is selected from metal or metal alloy; or ceramics.

The base may comprise a surface that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, e.g. the base may be generally cylindrical, as shown in the bangle example. Where the jewellery item is a bangle, the base may be viewed as a bracelet.

The base (e.g. bracelet) may constitute an inner part of the tubular body (closer to the longitudinal axis) and the cover may constitute an outer part of the tubular body (further from the longitudinal axis). The base may comprise a surface that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, e.g. the base may be generally annular, as shown in the pendant example.

Display

The display may be described as an electronic visual display.

The display may comprise a light emitting diode (LED) display, such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, such as an active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display.

The display may comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD), such as a light-emitting diode (LED) backlit LCD or thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD. The display may comprise a plasma (PDP) display or a quantum dot LED (QLED) display.

The inventor submits that an OLED display (especially an AMOLED display) is preferable to an LCD display since an OLED emits light itself, whereas an LCD display requires backlighting. As such an OLED provides vibrant colours and hits high bars in saturation, which is beneficial for a jewellery item. A back-lit LCD will provide a clean white light.

The display may comprise carbon/graphite. Carbon/graphite screen printing paste is fast drying and suitable for screen printed working electrodes; it is a carbon containing ink that can be used in the formation of working and counter electrodes.

The display may be unitary, i.e. formed from a single piece. Alternatively, the display may be formed from more than one piece, such as two, three, four, five or six pieces. In either case, the display extends around the longitudinal axis.

The display may be parallel to the longitudinal axis, e.g. the display may be cylindrical, as shown in the bangle example. In this case, a flexible OLED curves in one direction about the longitudinal axis, but has an appearance of being curved in two directions by use of a curved cover. The display may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, e.g. the display may be an annulus, as shown in the pendant example. An annulus is a region bounded by two concentric circles.

It will be appreciated that the display does not need to be a touch screen display. The invention relates to an item of jewellery; as such, it is not being used to browse the internet. Similarly, the jewellery item may not comprise a microphone and/or a speaker

Nonetheless, a touch screen function could be useful for part or all of the display, in order to browse files stored locally, or otherwise adjust the display.

In some embodiments, the jewellery item comprises a capacitive touchscreen panel: an insulator, such as glass, coated with a transparent conductor, such as indium tin oxide (ITO). Since the human body is also an electrical conductor, touching the surface of the screen results in a distortion of the screen's electrostatic field, measurable as a change in capacitance.

Battery

The jewellery item typically comprises a battery, e.g. a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium polymer (LiPo) battery, to power the display. The battery may be recharged by means of a charging dock (a.k.a a docking station).

The jewellery item may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) and/or LiPo battery and/or magnetic pogo charging pins and this equipment may be stored within the tubular body.

Receiver

The tubular body may comprise a receiver to receive images for display. The receiver may be a radio-communication signal receiver(s), e.g. Bluetooth®, WiFi or other radio communication signals such as BTLE, RFID, Bluetooth (RTM), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or ZigBee. For example, in some embodiments a wireless receiver within or on the tubular body may allow for data transfer and/or remote control of the display.

In other embodiments a local control means may be comprised in one or more buttons. Such buttons may be hidden from view when the jewellery is being worm, e.g. on an inner part of a bangle.

In embodiments, the jewellery item may comprise one or more transceivers, i.e. to both transmit and receive data. The transceiver may be a radio-communication signal receiver. This may be useful to allow one item of jewellery to sync with another jewellery item in the same vicinity. For example, a wearer may have a bangle and a pendant, and wish to copy a pattern from one to the other.

Alternatively, the jewellery item may comprise a receiver, but no transceiver.

The jewellery item may be operable from an independently provided item of electronic equipment, such as a smartphone, but is not intended to function as a smartphone.

In embodiments, the jewellery item may not comprise one or more transceivers, i.e. to both transmit and receive. The jewellery item may be operable from an independently provided item of electronic equipment, such as a smartphone, but is not intended to function as a smartphone.

In some embodiments the jewellery item allows a user to upload a photo or image that they want to display, and a software or firmware application may then automatically edit this image to ensure that it is the correct size and tileable for display on the device.

The user interface may be located in a discreet position, ensuring a seamless outer appearance or face. The interface may be reduced to a single on/off button and a Bluetooth (RTM) connection button, with most of the control achieved through an accompanying smartphone application. In some embodiments the jewellery item may comprise a movement sensor (e.g. gyro) that changes a moving image shown on the display when the wearer moves. For example, this could give the impression that a bangle is filled with liquid.

Charging dock

The jewellery item may be charged by means of a charging dock. The dock is configured to receive the jewellery item and to transfer electrical energy to it. In addition, the charging dock may also transfer images to be shown on the display.

The charging dock may comprise a wired or wireless interface to transfer electrical energy and optionally data. The location of the interface may be chosen so that it is hidden by the jewellery item in use. In this way the charging dock can act as a display stand for the jewellery item.

The charging dock may comprise a wireless interface to transfer the electrical energy and optional data to the jewellery item. The wireless interface may comprise an inductive charging interface. The wireless interface may also or alternatively comprise a shortwave radio, infrared or intermachine operability interface such as Bluetooth (RTM).

The charging dock may comprise a wired interface, such as universal serial bus (USB) interface or socket.

The charging dock may receive the jewellery item by means of a projection which passes through the tubular body, i.e. which projects into the bore. The projection may be sized and shaped to mate with the tubular body. As such, the projection makes physical contact with the jewellery item.

The charging dock may be equipped with a bespoke piece of software or firmware.

The dock may comprise a wired electrical connection to a mains electrical source.

In some embodiments the jewellery item and the charging dock may be arranged with a connection mechanism. Such connection mechanism may comprise a physical connection mechanism, for example wherein the connection mechanism may comprise a further step after the jewellery has been placed on the dock, which connection may enable operation of a further connection or interface, such as a data interface for example.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a bangle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, showing a top view and a perspective view;

Figures 2 and 3 show isometric views of a bangle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 4 and 5 show exploded isometric views of the embodiment shown in Figure 2; Figure 6 shows an isometric view of the bangle if figure 2 charging in a charging dock;

Figures 7 and 8 show isometric views of the charging dock shown in Figure 6;

Figures 9 and 10 show a pendant in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 11 shows the bangle of figure 2 and pendant of figure 9 with a range of images being displayed.

Referring to figure 1 there is shown a schematic diagram of a bangle 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 1A is a top view and figure IB is a perspective view. The bangle comprises a tubular body 12 having a longitudinal axis (labelled Z) therethrough

The tubular body has a height h measured parallel to the longitudinal axis Z. The tubular body has an inner diameter (di) and an outer diameter (d ₀ ), di being closer to the longitudinal axis than d ₀ . Both di and d ₀ are greater than the height.

With reference to figures 2 to 5 there is shown the bangle 10 alone (without a charging dock). The bangle comprises the tubular body 12, which has a substantially uniform cross-section measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z; the cross-section changes in size (from di to d ₀ ) but remains circular. The external surface of the tubular body 12 is formed from a rigid optical plastic cover 14 and a rigid base 16. Together, the cover and the base 14, 16 constitute a housing for a display 18, and other components.

The display 18 comprises a flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED), which is in the form of a cylinder in the bangle. Referring to figure 4, it can be seen than the cylindrical OLED is parallel with and extends around the longitudinal axis Z.

The cover 14 is a lens formed in transparent thermoplastics, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polyethylene. The lens 14 is curved outwards, away from the longitudinal axis. As such, the lens is arranged to refract light from the display 18. The lens can be unitary (a single continuous piece) or in two or more components as shown.

The base 16 comprises an internal layer of rigid opaque thermoplastics 20, and an external (skin contacting) layer 22 of stainless steel. The internal and external layers can be unitary (each a single continuous piece) or in two or more components as shown.

A rechargeable battery 24 (e.g. a LiPo battery) is located within the tubular body, with a PCB and charging circuit 26 to engage a charging dock (described later). The controls for the display are located in a discreet position, next to the wrist in use. The controls comprise an actuation control 28 (on / off), and indicator LEDs 30 (light emitting diodes) and a magnetic charging pin socket 32, wherein the socket is for use with the dock.

With reference to Figure 6 there is shown a kit 40 comprising a charging dock 42 for the bangle 10.

Figure 7 and figure 8 show the charging dock 42 without the bangle 10. The dock 42 comprises an upstanding central column 44 (a projection) that is shaped and sized to be received within the tubular body, and which has a connector 46 on its outer surface. As such, the bangle is placed over the column 44 so that the magnetic charging pin 32 docks into the connectors 46. The column 44 flares outward to a base 48. The enlarged portion ensures a preferred interlock between the bangle and the dock. In this case a ferromagnetic connection between the pins 32 and connectors 46 forms an interlock, and thereby charge the battery. The dock comprises an LED indicator 50 that pulses amber during charging and green once fully charged.

The charging dock base 48 comprises a wire 52 and plug 54, both of which sit in a channel 56.

Referring to figure 9 there is shown a pendant 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 9A is front view and figures 9B and 9C are perspective views.

The pendent 60 is suspended from a cord 62 and comprises a tubular body 64 having a longitudinal axis (labelled Z) therethrough. The longitudinal axis can be viewed as an axis of revolution since the ring section is uniform.

The tubular body 64 has a height h measured parallel to the longitudinal axis a. The tubular body 64 has an inner diameter (di) and an outer diameter (d ₀ ), which are measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The outer diameter (d ₀ ) is greater than the height.

The tubular body 64 has a substantially uniform cross-section measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z; the cross-section is circular.

The external surface of the tubular body 64 is formed from a rigid optical plastic cover 66, a steel trim 68 and a rigid plastic rear 70, which together constitute a housing for a display, and other components. The display is an annulus of OLED, which is behind the cover. It will be understood that the annular OLED is perpendicular to and extends around the longitudinal axis.

Referring to figure 10 there is shown the pendant 60 being charged in a charging dock 72 (top and perspective views). The charging dock 72 has similarities with the charging dock shown in relation to the bangle. However the charging dock 72 is sized and shaped to receive the pendant 60. As such, the pendant is placed over a projection 74 which matches the inner diameter of the pendant.

Figure 11 illustrates various images for to be shown on the display of a bangle (figure 11 A) and a pendant (figure 1 IB). The image may be selected to co-ordinate with a specific garment (e.g. clothing such as a dress or shirt) or accessory (e.g. a hand-bag).