An apparatus including a decoration suspended in a fluid with restricted freedom of movement

Abstract

A decorative wearable system comprising at least one decorative element mechanically and movably suspended in a liquid by mechanical fixation elements, the liquid sharing a substantially similar refractive index with at least one of the mechanical fixation elements.

Description

Cross - reference to related applications

[0001] This invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 828,672, filed on April 3, 2019, and International Patent Application PCT / IB2019 / 058379, filed on October 2, 2019, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety and relied upon, and the entire content thereof is understood to contribute to the solution of the technical problems underlying the invention and is considered to include features that are particularly important among the features referred to in this document. Copyright and legal notice

[0002] Some of the materials disclosed in this patent document are subject to copyright protection. The applicant has no objection to facsimile reproduction by any person with respect to the patent document disclosed as a patent record in the Patent and Trademark Office, but in all other cases reserves all copyrights. Also, the patents or articles of third parties described in this application should not be considered as an admission that the present invention has no right to precede such materials on the grounds of prior art.

Background Art

[0003] The present invention relates to wearable ornaments such as jewelry.

[0004] Most ornaments have a semi - permanent shape and decoration.

[0005] There is a need for new ways to make ornaments more lively by being able to change their appearance.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0006] A system and method / apparatus are provided for creating means for creating lively and vivid decorations at a glance for personal ornaments. The system is a decorative and wearable device that includes at least one decorative element suspended mechanically and movably in a fluid by mechanical fixing elements. The fluid shares approximately the same refractive index as at least one of the mechanical fixing or movable elements.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to animate, tilt, or move the ornament.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that changes its appearance when animated, tilted, or moved.

[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fixed but partially tiltable or movable attachment to an object that is invisible, and the resulting attractive effect.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The accompanying drawings illustrate different embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention.

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[0011] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the elements shown in the drawings are disclosed for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, in order to better understand various embodiments of the present invention, the dimensions of some elements in the drawings may be emphasized relative to other elements. Further, the terms "first", "second", and the like used herein are used to distinguish similar elements in particular and do not necessarily indicate a sequential or chronological order. Also, terms such as "front", "back", "plane", "bottom", and the like in the specification and / or claims are used for convenience purposes and do not necessarily comprehensively represent a limited relative position. Those skilled in the art should understand that such terms may be replaced under appropriate circumstances, for example, in other orientations in which the various embodiments disclosed in the present application can be clearly illustrated or described. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0012] The following description is illustrative in nature and describes the best mode of the invention known to the inventors at the time of filing of the present application, and does not limit the scope of the invention in any way. As a result, the arrangement and / or function of all elements in the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present application can be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0013] The system according to the present invention includes at least one decorative element that is mechanically and movably suspended in a fluid by a mechanically fixed element, and the fluid shares substantially the same refractive index as at least one of the mechanically fixed or movable elements.

[0014] Next, referring to FIGS. 1A through 1E, system 100 includes one or more floating decorative elements 102, and the freedom of movement or tilting of the floating elements is restricted. The floating decorative element 102 may include a movable post or standoff 104 (either machined from a bulk material to be mechanically maintained in place or individually assembled into a recess 106). Movement is restricted, for example, to a certain angle in all planar directions by the geometry of the ends 110 of the recess 106 (such as within a loose dovetail interconnect that allows sufficient permeability for movement). The post 104 may have a larger upper portion 112, which may be coated with gold 114 so as to obtain a pyrite or glitter effect from light reflection when juxtaposed with, for example, other such floating decorative elements 102. Also, the post 104 may be coated with other metals described herein. Also, a protective layer (not disclosed but covering the surface so as to be isolated) may be adapted to avoid reaction between the post and the surrounding fluid 116. Combinations of different types of layers are possible. Also, individual precious metal parts or decorations may be arranged on the post 104 or its upper portion 112.

[0015] Referring particularly to FIGS. 1B and 1E, the tilting of the floating decorative element 102 can be enhanced or facilitated by features of the geometry under the post 104 (such as inclined surfaces 120, 120', 120'', etc.). Additionally, alternatively, a combination of post / recess shapes is used or combined to predetermine the tilting direction.

[0016] Referring particularly to FIG. 1E, the floating decorative element 102 may be held between a bottom plate 130 and a top plate 132. The bottom plate 130 and the top plate 132 are advantageously made of a material having a refractive index similar to that of the surrounding fluid 116 so as to be substantially invisible to the wearer.

[0017] The materials of the columns and the supports are made of a glass material in which a refractive index matching liquid can be found.

[0018] Referring next to FIG. 2, the system 200 of the glass chain mesh 202 is machined from a bulk glass material in which a refractive index matching liquid 206 can be found. The glass chain mesh 202 includes links 222 connecting to knots 224 and a frame 212. The frame bridge 214 defines the boundary of a clock face 216 with a needle or another indicator such as temperature.

[0019] The mesh 202 is suspended within a frame made of the same bulk material. By configuring the mesh links 222 in this way, the mesh interlocking knots 224 can move limitedly on a plane. The knot 224 may be configured to include a larger surface, which may be coated or other things may be attached. Decorative elements 204 may be attached to the links and knots to form an image.

[0020] Referring next to FIGS. 3A - 3B, in the system 300, the decorative moving part 302 is guided by a channel 312. The substrate 310 is made of a transmissive material, and the channel 312 may be etched, for example, with a laser. In an alternative process for creating the channel 312 in the substrate 310, chemical etching, spark-assisted chemical etching, mechanical etching, injection molding, hot embossing, or any combination of these processes may be used. The decorative moving part 302 may be composed of a support 304 made of any material slidable in the channel 312. Any precious metal element 306 may be attached to the support 304.

[0021] The fluid 326 fills the cavity 314 that matches the refractive index of the substrate 310, rendering the channel 312 invisible. For example, the crystal 316 closes the cavity 314 and is made of a transmissive material. Also, the fluid 326 may be a liquid and may act as a lubricant on the system. The liquid may be transparent or colored.

[0022] Gravity is the operating principle. However, gravity can be replaced with any other operating principle that produces accelerating and decelerating forces.

[0023] The geometry of their sliding paths, consisting of the moving part 302 and the channel 312, is selected so that the system does not become immobile at a certain position.

[0024] The support 304 of the decorative moving part 302 can be circular so that the moving part can rotate within the channel 312, resulting in a change in the orientation of the precious metal element 306. On the other hand, the shape of the support 304 can be designed to limit the rotation of the decorative moving part 302.

[0025] Referring next to FIGS. 4A through 4B, in the system 400, the decorative moving part 402 rotates and is guided about the post 412. The substrate 410 is made of a transmissive material, and the post 412 may be etched, for example, with a laser. In an alternative process for creating the post 412 in the substrate 410, chemical etching, spark-assisted chemical etching, mechanical etching, injection molding, hot embossing, or any combination of these processes may be used. The decorative moving part 402 can be composed of the support 404, and any precious metal element 406 may be attached. The support 404 may be made of the same transmissive material. The support 404 may be hidden by the precious metal element 406.

[0026] The fluid 426 fills the cavity 414 that matches the refractive index of the transmissive material, rendering the post 412 and the support 404 invisible. Also, the fluid 426 may be a liquid and may act as a lubricant on the system. The liquid 426 may be transparent or colored.

[0027] Gravity is the operating principle. However, gravity can be replaced by any other accelerating and decelerating forces.

[0028] The geometry of the rotating part is selected so that the system does not stop moving at a certain position. The support 404 of the rotating part may be an etched structure of the substrate 410 to limit its movement.

[0029] As shown by the nose 416 in FIG. 4A, if the rotating part has a larger mass on the side opposite to the axis of rotation defined by the pillar 412, it can create a counterintuitive movement.

[0030] Next, referring to FIGS. 5A to 5E, in the system 500, the solid decorative element 502 is fixed to the fine fiber 506 and surrounded by the fluid 510. The fiber 506 has the same refractive index as the surrounding fluid 510 and is invisible. The fluid may be a liquid. The fluid may be transparent or colored. The twisting of the fiber 506 causes the solid decorative element 502 to be slightly twisted around the fiber, giving a movement effect.

[0031] In one embodiment, the flow 512 of the fluid 510 is caused by the contraction of the first flexible chamber 514. The fluid 510 displaced by the contraction of the first flexible chamber 514 fills the second flexible chamber 516. When the pressure in the first flexible chamber 514 is released, the fiber 506 returns to its original state and a flow in the opposite direction occurs. The first flexible chamber 514 can be actuated manually or by a mechanical system 520. Of course, the positioning of the flexible chambers 514 and 516 disclosed herein is an example, and different arrangements may be made.

[0032] Next, referring to FIGS. 6A through 6E, system 600 includes a chamber having one or more fibers 606, the fibers being attached to the sidewalls of the chamber, spaced apart from each other or at a predetermined interval, and all of them being surrounded by fluid 610. The fibers 606 have the same refractive index as the fluid 610 so as to be invisible. The fluid may be transparent or colored. The movable solid decorative element 602 can move along the fibers 606, is guided by holes 620, and is connected to the fibers 606 through them. Optionally, several stop elements 622 made to have a refractive index similar to that of the fluid are fixed at specific locations of the fibers 606, and the displacement of the movable decorative element 602 along the fibers 606 is restricted. Depending on the orientation of the device and the position of the stop elements, the movable decorative element 602 is arranged in a predetermined shape. For example, when the device is vertical, it is horizontal, and when the device is upside down, it is randomly arranged. In one embodiment, the one or more movable decorative elements 602 may consist of precious metal elements 630, or the precious metal elements may be attached to one or more movable elements. The movable decorative element 602 may be guided by two fibers to ensure a defined orientation.

[0033] Next, referring to FIGS. 7A - 7B, and FIGS. 8A, 8B, system 700 is integratable into a wearable ornament and includes a decorative element 702. The system may move in one or more directions actuated by gravity, the movement of a user wearing the ornament, an external force, a user who actuates the movement of the ambient fluid 726, or a mechanical transmission that moves the guide element 706, and the mechanical transmission may be activated by the user or a timepiece system, and the timepiece system may be of electric or mechanical power and may be electronically controlled. The decorative element 702 is attached to the guide element 706 by an attachment 704. The attachment 704 may be completely rigid, thereby allowing a certain degree of freedom of movement (flexure in one or more directions). The guide element 706 may have the same refractive index as the ambient fluid 726 so as to be invisible. The guide element 706 is attached to a support 722 by a guide feature 724, and the support is attached, for example, to a decorative image background. The support 722 may have the same refractive index as the ambient fluid 726 so as to be invisible. The ambient fluid 726 may be a liquid. The ambient fluid 726 may be transparent or colored. The guide feature 724 for the guide element 706 creates one or more free movement directions. The decorative element 702 may be moved by gravity, the movement of the ambient fluid 726, a mechanical action on the guide element 706, or any combination thereof optionally.

[0034] FIGS. 7A - 7B show an example of a limited free linear movement of the decorative element 702 relative to the support 724. FIGS. 8A - 8B show an example of a limited free rotational movement of the decorative element 702 relative to the support 724.

[0035] Next, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the decorative element 802 is guided by the channel 804 and moved by a transmission element 806 that transmits the movement generated by the user with the pulley 820, the slider 822, and any other suitable mechanism (not disclosed herein). Also, the movement may be generated by a timepiece system instead of being generated by the user, and the timepiece system may be of electric or mechanical power and may be electronically controlled. By guiding the decorative element 802 within the channel 804, when the system 800 moves against gravity or the system 800 is accelerated in any direction by its wearer, a certain degree of freedom in multiple directions is created, and a more lively behavior can be imparted to the decorative element 802. The portion of the transmission mechanism present in the visible region of the jewelry 810 may be made of a material having a refractive index similar to that of the surrounding fluid so as to be invisible. For example, the transmission element 806 may advantageously be made of glass fiber. The surrounding fluid may be a liquid. The surrounding fluid may be transparent or colored. The portion of the transmission mechanism present in the invisible region of the jewelry 812 may be made of any material suitable for its function.

[0036] The system may be configured to provide a "lively" impression to a given image, i.e., not only do the parts move randomly while the image remains the same, but also different predetermined images may be generated depending on the different orientations of the system or the positions of the movable elements actuated by the activation of the animation. FIGS. 11A and 11B show an example where the orientation of the mouth changes the image.

[0037] Next, referring to FIGS. 12A - 12C, the decorative element 1202 may be a fiber or a thread to which a weight 1204 is attached. The thread 1202 may be attached to one or both ends inside the fluid capsule 1200. The material of the weight 1204 may be selected to have a refractive index equivalent to that of one or more fluids 1206 contained in the capsule 1200 so as to be essentially invisible to the wearer. The influence of gravity on the weight 1204 is combined with the physical properties of one or more fluids 1206, such as viscosity and specific gravity, and the movement of the thread 1202 and the weight 1204 is caused by the movement of the wearer. If the specific gravity of the fluid 1206 surrounding the weight 1204 is greater than that of the weight, the weight tends to float. Conversely, the weight tends to sink. In this way, the thread 1202 gives the impression of a biological or animated decorative structure. For example, to represent the leaves or flowers of a plant, the limbs of a living being, or simply as an additional shaped or unshaped decorative element, decorative elements visible to others can be added to the thread.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 13A - 13B, the decorative element may be a fixed image 1302 that the wearer views through an optical lens 1304 of regular or irregular shape. The optical lens 1304 has a certain degree of freedom of movement allowed by its shape in combination with the internal shape of the fluid capsule 1300. The movement of the wearer, in which the influence of gravity on the mass of the optical lens 1304 is combined with the physical properties (such as viscosity and specific gravity) of one or more surrounding fluids 1306, generates the movement of the optical lens with respect to the fixed image 1302. Such movement creates an illusion like animation for the fixed image 1302.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 14A - 14C, the decorative element is a fixed image 1402 that the wearer views through a decorated transparent plate 1404, and such decoration may be a regular pattern such as grids 1412, 1414. The decorated transparent plate 1404 has a certain degree of freedom of movement allowed by its shape in combination with the internal shape of the fluid capsule 1400. The movement of the wearer, combined with the effect of gravity on the mass of the decorated transparent plate 1404, is further combined with the physical properties (such as viscosity and specific gravity) of one or more surrounding fluids 1406 to generate the movement of the optical lens relative to the fixed image 1402. Such movement creates an illusion like animation on the fixed image 1402. When carefully selected, the pattern of the fixed image 1402 and the decorated transparent plate 1404 can generate a moiré effect. A moiré pattern or moiré fringe is a large-scale interference pattern that may occur when an opaque grid pattern with transparent gaps is overlaid on another similar pattern. For moiré interference fringes to appear, the two patterns need to not be exactly the same, but be offset, rotated, or have a slightly different pitch. Moiré patterns appear in various scenarios. In printing, the pattern of printed dots interferes with the image. In televisions and digital photos, the pattern of the photographed object may interfere with the shape of the light sensor, sometimes generating unwanted artifacts. It can also be intentionally created. At the micrometer scale, it is used to amplify the effect of very small movements.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 15A - 15B, the decorative element may be a combination of moving elements 1502 that freely move within a cavity 1510 delimited by one or more transparent flexible films 1504 within a fluid capsule 1500. By separating the fluid capsule 1500 into the cavity 1510, free collision / free movement of the moving elements 1502 becomes possible. The flexible film 1504 has high flexibility and may have one or more holes or openings to allow circulation of the fluid 1506 between the cavities 1510. The flexible film may be attached only at limited locations within the fluid capsule to increase the degree of freedom of movement. The refractive index of the film 1504 may be selected to be close to the refractive index of the surrounding fluid 1506. Visible components may be attached to the film, or decorations may be printed on the film such that the film appears to be alive as it moves.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 16A - 16C, the decorative element 1602 may be made of a chain of multi - jointed elements 1610 with restricted degrees of freedom of movement. One end of the chain 1602 may be attached to a fluid capsule 1600 and the other end may be free to move. Some of the multi - jointed elements 1610 may be made of a material having the same refractive index as the surrounding fluid 1606 so as to be substantially invisible, and some of the other multi - jointed elements 1610 may optionally be formed of decorative elements made of rare materials. The joints 1612 between the elements 1610 may allow for restricted or full degrees of freedom of movement. If the joints 1612 restrict the degree of freedom of movement to a plane, some of the chains 1602 may be installed laterally along each other, and some layers of the chains 1602 may be installed in front of each other to create a 3D landscape.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 17A - 17C, the decorative element 1702 may be formed in any of the forms described above, and the fluid capsule 1700 may include at least one movable element 1704 that can move freely and operates by a combination of its own density relative to the density of the fluid 1706 and the orientation of the capsule 1700 relative to gravity. Some of the at least one movable element 1704 may share a refractive index substantially similar to that of the fluid 1706 contained in the capsule 1700 so as not to be visible to an observer. The movement of the movable element 1704 may result in a collision with the decorative element 1702, increasing the movement of the movable element and thereby increasing the animation effect. The decorative element 1702 may include a protrusion 1710 to facilitate the occurrence of a collision with the movable element 1704. The protrusion 1710 may share a refractive index substantially similar to that of the fluid 1706 contained in the capsule 1700 so as not to be visible to an observer.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 18, the decorative element 1802 is formed of at least one rigid or flexible element as described above and may be attached to the fluid capsule 1800 via a joint 1804 that operates by a combination of its own weight and the orientation of the capsule 1800 relative to gravity. Some of the at least one rigid or flexible element 1802 and the joint 1804 may share a refractive index substantially similar to that of the fluid 1806 contained in the capsule 1800 so as not to be visible to an observer.

[0044] The decorative elements form one or more images together. It should be understood that throughout this application, the images may be figurative and non - figurative representations. The decorative elements may be of various dimensions and shapes, may be made of polymers, metals, precious metals, may be crystals, diamonds, encapsulated fluids or gels, or may be any suitable decorative element depending on the purpose of creating one or more images.

[0045] Fluid capsules 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800 are made up of a bottom plate, side walls, and a permeable window, such a window being formed of sapphire, glass, plastic, or other suitable transparent material, and being filled with one or more fluids 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806, such fluids having selected viscosities, refractive indices, and specific gravities in order to interact with decorative moving elements and variably affect the degree of visibility to the user. The bottom plates of fluid capsules 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800 may be formed of a transparent material so that a wearer can see through the fluid capsule an element disposed beneath the fluid capsule.

[0046] Some moving elements may be hidden in an invisible part of the system and appear when the animation is activated.

[0047] Some moving elements may hide from each other at any position of the system and the hidden moving elements suddenly appear when the animation is activated.

[0048] Some elements may change color when they overlap each other, for example, when a translucent yellow part overlaps a translucent blue part, green appears.

[0049] It should be understood that the specific embodiments disclosed and described in this application are representative and optimal aspects of the present invention and are by no means intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0050] As an advantage, the present system and method / apparatus create a vivid and lively decoration for personal adornments.

[0051] As another advantage, the present invention imparts movement to adornments.

[0052] As another advantage, the present invention changes its appearance when it moves.

[0053] As yet another advantage, the present invention provides an invisible and partially movable fixation to an object, thereby providing an attractive effect.

[0054] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention can be embodied as a system, apparatus, or method.

[0055] In addition, the system of the present application is intended for the use, sale, and / or distribution of all articles, services, or information having the same functions as the present application.

[0056] The specification and drawings of the present application are to be understood as illustrative rather than restrictive, and all improvements described in the present application are intended to be included within the scope of the invention claimed in the present application. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims (claims already existing, or claims corrected or added later, or things legally equivalent thereto), rather than by the mere examples described above. All steps described in the claims of any method or process are executable in any order unless otherwise specified, and are not limited to the specific order described in the claims. Further, the elements and / or components described in the claims of the apparatus can also be assembled or operationally configured with various substitutions that produce substantially the same results as the present application. Generally, the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations described in the claims.

[0057] The benefits, advantages, and solutions described in the present application should not be considered as essential, important, or indispensable features or elements of all claims.

[0058] As used in this application, the terms "consisting of", "composed of", and other similar expressions are used to represent a non-exclusive list of elements, and the devices, processes, methods, articles, or configurations of the present invention composed of such list of elements do not include only the recited elements, but may also include other elements described herein. Also, expressions such as "including", "comprising", or "essentially including" are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to only the recited elements unless otherwise specified. Combinations and / or improvements of the above-described elements, materials, or structures used in the practice of the present invention can be modified or adapted to other designs by those skilled in the art without departing from the general principles of the present invention.

[0059] The patents and articles cited above are incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure, unless otherwise noted.

[0060] The present invention can be summarized as having the following set of features. 1. A system (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800) including at least one decorative element (102, 204, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1302, 1304, 1402, 1404, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1704, 1802) mechanically and movably suspended in a fluid (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) by mechanical fixing elements, wherein a combination of (a) the density of the decorative element, (b) the density of the fluid, (c) the viscosity of the fluid, and / or (d) a change in the orientation of the system with respect to gravity causes movement of the at least one decorative element. 2. The at least one decorative element (102, 204, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1302, 1304, 1402, 14040, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1704, 1802) includes at least one floating element, and by locally changing the density of the floating element, the movement is emphasized. When the density of the floating element is less than the density of the fluid, the floating element tends to float and tilt the decorative element upward. When the density of the floating element is greater than the density of the fluid, the floating element tends to sink and tilt the decorative element downward. A system of feature set 1. 3. The at least one floating element shares a refractive index equivalent to that of the fluid so as to be invisible to an observer. A system of feature set 2. 4. The at least one decorative element is a flexible thread. A system of any one of feature sets 1 to 3. 5. The at least one decorative element is a connected chain (202, 1602). A system of any one of feature sets 1 to 3. 6. The at least one decorative element is a rigid body, and the mechanical fixing element is a joint (1610, 1804). A system of any one of feature sets 1 to 3. 7. A system of the feature set including a moving element that freely moves and operates by a combination of its own density with respect to the density of the fluid and the change in the orientation of the system with respect to gravity. 8. The moving element increases the animation effect by colliding with the at least one decorative element. A system of feature set 7. 9. At least one of the moving elements shares a refractive index equivalent to that of the fluid so as to be invisible to an observer. A system of feature set 8. 10. At least one of the decorative elements has at least one protrusion (1710) so as to easily cause a collision with at least one of the moving elements. A system of feature set 9. 11. The system is a wristwatch having a casing sealed with a crystal, and the fluid is enclosed in the casing visible to the wearer through the crystal. A system of feature set 1. 12. The decorative element (102, 204, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1302, 1304, 1402, 1404, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1704, 1802) is selected from a group of decorative elements consisting of a fiber with one or both ends attached within a fluid capsule, a weighted thread selected to have a refractive index equivalent to that of one or more fluids (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) contained within the fluid capsule so as to be essentially invisible to the wearer, a fixed image viewed by the wearer through an optical lens of regular or irregular shape, a fixed image viewed by the wearer through a decorated transparent plate, and the decorative element is optionally a combination of a regular pattern such as a lattice, a movable element freely moving within a cavity delimited by one or more transparent flexible films within the fluid capsule, and a chain of multi-articulated elements with restricted degrees of freedom of movement, of the system of the feature set. 13. The system of the feature set in which the influence of gravity on weight, combined with the physical properties of one or more fluids and the movement of the wearer, generates movement of the fiber or thread. 14. The system of the feature set in which the physical property of one or more fluids is viscosity or specific gravity. 15. When the specific gravity of the fluid (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) surrounding the weight is greater than the specific gravity of the weight, the weight tends to float, and in the opposite case, the weight tends to sink, of the system of the feature set that gives an impression of a biological or animated decorative structure to the thread. 16. Decorative elements (114, 204, 306, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1204, 1304, 1404) visible to others are added to the thread, for example, to represent the leaves or flowers of a plant, the limbs of a living being, or simply as additional figurative or non-figurative decorative elements, of the system of the feature set. 17. The optical lenses connected to systems 1300 and 1400 have a certain degree of freedom of movement allowed by the combination of their shape and the internal shape of the fluid capsule, and the influence of gravity on the mass of the optical lenses combined with the wearer's movement and the physical properties of one or more surrounding fluids (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) create movement of the optical lens (1304) relative to the fixed image, thereby creating an animation-like illusion on the fixed image, a system of feature set 3. 18. The physical properties of one or more of the said fluids (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) are viscosity or specific gravity, a system of the said feature set. 19. A system of feature set 12 comprising grids (1412, 1414), the grids (1412, 1414) optically interfering with the pattern of the fixed image, and the decorated transparent plate generating a moiré effect. 20. A method consisting of animating ornaments such as personal wearable devices, watches, jewelry, leather goods, apparel, accessories, etc. using the system of feature set 1. 21. The system of the said feature set including the thermal compensation system disclosed in PCT application number PCT / IB2015 / 000448. 22. The system of the said feature set including the electromechanical special effect elements and power generation system disclosed in PCT application number PCT / IB2016 / 000249. 23. The systems and / or methods described in the specification, dependent feature sets, abstract (incorporated herein by reference), and / or drawings.

[0061] Other features and embodiments of the present invention are described in the appended claims.

[0062] The materials used for the implementation of the present invention are selected to be suitable and compliant with the operating temperature range of the present invention. Such materials are, for example, metals, polymers or glasses, especially sapphire glass. Similarly, in the case of the structures used for the implementation of the present invention, such structures as bellows, chips, or true membranes, for example, are selected to be suitable and compliant with the operating temperature range of the present invention.

[0063] The system of the present application may include a thermal compensation system, which includes a mechanism adapted to the thermal expansion and / or contraction of a liquid, avoiding the generation of an unacceptable high pressure that may cause leakage of the liquid outside the system in case of a temperature rise, and also avoiding the generation of unattractive bubbles in the liquid in case of a low temperature. Such thermal compensation may be partially or entirely invisible to the wearer. Such a system is disclosed in PCT Application No. PCT / IB2015 / 000448, "Systems and Methods for Absorption / Expansion / Contraction / Movement of Liquids in Transparent Cavities", filed on April 7, 2015 by the same applicant, the content of which is incorporated by reference and relied upon.

[0064] Furthermore, the present invention may accommodate and use a small portable device powered by a user to operate a power-consuming element, which is preferably wearable, utilizes mechanical energy storage, and incorporates a small special effect element that is activated upon request for a limited time for backlighting, illumination, and other special effect purposes without the need for a battery or other electrochemical storage device. The device includes a manual spring-loading mechanism, a spiral spring, a manual trigger mechanism, a transmission for increasing the rotational speed, a small generator, and at least one power-consuming element such as a transmitter or a light source, preferably a light-emitting diode. Such a device is disclosed in PCT Application No. PCT / IB2016 / 000249, "Small Lighting Devices, Systems, and Methods of Use Thereof", filed on March 7, 2016 by the same applicant, the content of which is incorporated by reference and relied upon.

[0065] Furthermore, it is to be considered that the present invention is composed of all possible combinations of all the features described in this specification, the appended claims and / or the drawings, which are considered to have novelty, inventiveness and industrial applicability.

[0066] The copyright is held by the applicant or its assignee, and no implied license is granted to use the invention as defined in the remaining claims with respect to an express license to a third party of the rights defined in one or more claims. Furthermore, no express or implied license is granted to create derivative works based on this specification, including this attachment and all computer programs included in this application, to the general public or to third parties.

[0067] Additional features and functionalities of the present invention are described in the appended claims and / or the abstract. Those claims and / or the abstract are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into this specification and considered to be part of the filed application.

[0068] In the embodiments of the invention described above, various changes and improvements can be made. Although specific specific embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed and described, extensive changes, improvements and substitutions are contemplated in the above embodiments. The above description includes many specific matters, but is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one or other preferred embodiments. In some cases, some features of the present invention are used without using the corresponding other features. Therefore, the above description should be construed broadly and understood only as an exemplification, and the spirit and scope of the present invention should be limited only by the claims finally issued in this application.

Claims

**Claim 1** A fluid animation capsule (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800) used for decoration in any of personal wearable devices, watches, jewelry, leather products, apparel, and accessories, animating these, and including at least one decorative element (102, 204, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1302, 1304, 1402, 1404, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1704, 1802) mechanically and movably suspended in a liquid (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) by mechanical fixing elements. The fluid animation capsule is filled with one or more liquids, and the liquid is selected to interact with the at least one decorative element such that elements that change or limit the movement of the decorative element are essentially made invisible. A combination of at least any one of (a) the density of the decorative element, (b) the density of the liquid, (c) the viscosity of the liquid, and (d) a change in the orientation of the fluid animation capsule with respect to gravity generates the animation or movement of the at least one decorative element. The fluid animation capsule is characterized by this. **Claim 2** The at least one decorative element (102, 204, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1302, 1304, 1402, 14040, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1704, 1802) includes at least one floating element. By locally changing the density of the floating element, the movement is emphasized. When the density of the floating element is smaller than the density of the liquid, the floating element tends to float and tilt the decorative element upward. When the density of the floating element is larger than the density of the liquid, the floating element tends to sink and tilt the decorative element downward. The fluid animation capsule according to Claim 1. **Claim 3** The at least one floating element shares a refractive index equivalent to that of the liquid so as to be invisible to an observer. The fluid animation capsule according to Claim 2. **Claim 4** The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one decorative element is a flexible thread.

5. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one decorative element is a connected chain (202, 1602).

6. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one decorative element is a rigid body and the mechanical fixing element is a joint (1610, 1804).

7. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a moving element that moves freely and operates by a combination of its own density with respect to the density of the liquid and a change in the orientation of the fluid animation capsule with respect to gravity.

8. The fluid animation capsule according to claim 7, wherein the moving element increases the animation effect by colliding with the at least one decorative element.

9. The fluid animation capsule according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the moving elements shares a refractive index equivalent to that of the liquid so as to be invisible to an observer.

10. The fluid animation capsule according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the decorative elements has at least one protrusion (1710) so as to facilitate the occurrence of a collision with at least one of the moving elements.

11. The portable fluid animation capsule is a wristwatch having a casing sealed with a crystal, and the liquid is enclosed in the casing visible to the wearer through the crystal.

12. The decorative elements (102, 204, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1302, 1304, 1402, 1404, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1704, 1802) are selected from a group of decorative elements consisting of fibers with one or both ends attached within a fluid capsule, a weighted thread selected to have a refractive index equivalent to that of one or more liquids (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) contained within the fluid capsule so as to be essentially invisible to the wearer, a fixed image viewed by the wearer through an optical lens of regular or irregular shape, and a fixed image viewed by the wearer through a decorated transparent plate. Optionally, the decorative element is a combination of a regular pattern such as a grid, a movable element that freely moves within a cavity delimited by one or more transparent flexible films within the fluid capsule, and a chain of multi-jointed elements with restricted degrees of freedom of movement. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the influence of gravity on weight, combined with the physical properties of one or more liquids and the movement of the wearer, generates the movement of the fiber or thread.

14. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the physical properties of the one or more liquids are viscosity or specific gravity.

15. When the specific gravity of the liquid (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) surrounding the weight is greater than the specific gravity of the weight, the weight tends to float; in the opposite case, the weight tends to sink, giving the thread an impression of a living being or an animated decorative structure. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. Decorative elements visible to others (114, 204, 306, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1204, 1304, 1404) are added to the thread to represent the leaves and flowers of plants, the limbs of living beings, or simply as additional figurative or non-figurative decorative elements. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. The optical lenses connected to the portable fluid animation capsules 1300, 1400 have a certain degree of freedom of movement allowed by the combination of their shape and the internal shape of the fluid capsule, and the influence of gravity on the mass of the optical lens combined with the wearer's movement and the physical properties of one or more surrounding liquids (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) create movement of the optical lens (1304) relative to the fixed image, thereby creating an animation-like illusion in the fixed image. The fluid animation capsule according to claim 3.

18. The physical property of one or more of the liquids (116, 206, 326, 426, 510, 610, 726, 826, 1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1706, 1806) is viscosity or specific gravity. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. Comprising a grid (1412, 1414), the grid (1412, 1414) optically interferes with the pattern of the fixed image, and the decorated transparent plate generates a moiré effect. The fluid animation capsule according to claim 12.

20. A method comprising animating ornaments such as personal wearable devices, watches, jewelry, leather goods, apparel, accessories, etc. using the fluid animation capsule of claim 1.

21. Further comprising a thermal compensation system, the fluid animation capsule includes a mechanism for adapting to thermal expansion and / or contraction of the liquid, avoiding the generation of unacceptable high pressures that can cause leakage of the liquid out of the fluid animation capsule in the case of a temperature increase, and the generation of unattractive air bubbles within the liquid in the case of low temperature. The fluid animation capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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