Lighted bead necklace

A light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising:

• a plurality of ornamental beads adapted for being strung onto a thread, including ornamental beads having light sources therein and ornamental beads not having light sources therein;
• an elongate thread which receives the beads in sequence and having distal ends connected together at distal ends to define a looped article of wearing apparel;
• means for generating an electrical signal for illuminating the light sources in the beads,
• whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace;
• and
• a pendent of ornamental appearance attached to the thread in the sequence of beads, wherein the means for generating an electrical signal is disposed within the pendent.

An elongate thread bundle, for joining together in a sequence of thread bundles to form a light emitting necklace with at least one of the thread bundles attached at one respective end to a controller having a source of electrical power for powering a light source, comprising:

• an elongate tether member having distal ends with securing members disposed thereon whereby the tether is engagable at the distal ends to portions of a necklace;
• at least one pair of electrically conductive members having distal ends for connecting a light source to a source of electrical power;
• and
• a jacket for enclosing the tether member and the conductive members, the distal ends of the pair of conductive members extending outwardly of opposing ends of the jacket for connecting in sequence to the light source and to another thread bundle, for assembling a necklace.

A light emitting necklace, comprising:

• at least two threaded bead assemblies joined together to define a necklace, each bead assembly comprising:
• an elongate thread bundle having a tether and at least two signal members for communicating electrical signals, and at least one of the signal members defining a common member;
• at least one bead that defines opposing slots whereby the bead is strung onto the thread bundle;
• and
• at least one light source adapted for attaching to the thread bundle at one end thereof by engaging a respective distal end of the tether and connecting the light source to the common member and to a selected one of the signal members, the remaining signal members and common member for being connected to mating signal members and common member in an adjacent thread bundle;
• and
• signal means for generating electrical signals for illuminating each of said light sources in a sequence,
• whereby the signal members connect to the signal means for communicating electrical signals to the light sources.

A method of assembling a light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising the steps of:

• (a) electrically connecting together at least two threaded bead assemblies, each bead assembly comprising:
• an elongate thread bundle having a tether and at least two signal members for communicating electrical signals, and at least one of the signal members defining a common member;
• at least one bead that defines opposing slots whereby the bead is strung onto the thread bundle;
• and
• at least one light source adapted for attaching to the thread bundle at one end thereof by engaging a respective distal end of the tether and connecting the light source to the common member and to a selected one of the signal members, the remaining signal members and common member at the one end for being connected to mating signal members and common member in an adjacent thread bundle, the common member and signal members connected to a electrical signal source;
• and
• (b) generating electrical signals by the signal source for illuminating each of said light sources in a sequence,
• whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace.

A light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising:

• a plurality of ornamental beads adapted for being strung onto a thread, including ornamental beads having light sources therein and ornamental beads not having light sources therein, wherein there is at least one ornamental bead not having a light source therein between all adjacent ornamental beads having light sources therein;
• an elongate thread which receives the beads in sequence and having distal ends connected together at distal ends to define a looped article of wearing apparel;
• means for generating an electrical signal for illuminating the light sources in the beads,
• whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace, wherein
• the ornamental beads having light sources therein are larger than the ornamental beads not having light sources therein.

A light-emitting beaded necklace for ornamental decoration, comprising:

• a plurality of ornamental beads adapted for being strung onto a thread, including ornamental beads having light sources therein and ornamental beads not having light sources therein;
• an elongate thread which receives the beads in sequence and having distal ends connected together at distal ends to define a looped article of wearing apparel;
• means for generating an electrical signal for illuminating the light sources in the beads,
• whereby the light sources, being caused to illuminate, provide a lighted ornamental effect for the beaded necklace;
• and
• a container attached to the thread in the sequence of beads, wherein the means for generating an electrical signal and a power supply arc disposed within the container.