Title: Static electricity discharge ring

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. A static electricity discharge ring for discharging static electricity from a human body comprising:

a. a first substantially ring-shaped electrically conductive member having an inside surface adapted to abut the human body, said inside surface providing a reduction in the shock perceptible to a human body during discharge of static electricity accumulated in the human body by reducing the amount of static electricity discharging through a unit area of skin;

b. a second substantially ring-shaped electrically conductive member spaced from said first member; and

c. discharge indication means electrically interconnected between said first member and said second member for providing an indication of the discharge of static electricity accumulated in the human body when said second member is grounded, said static electricity traversing a path from the human body through said first member, then through said discharge means, then through said second member to ground.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inside surface is of sufficient area to eliminate the shock perceptible to a human body during discharge of static electricity therefrom.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means disposed on portions of the exterior of said second ring-shaped member for preventing a short-circuit between said first and second ring-shaped members through the body of a wearer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising electrical insulating means disposed in annular relationship between said first and second ring-shaped members for providing electrical insulation therebetween.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second ring-shaped member has an opening therein exposing said insulating means, said discharge indicator means being disposed in said opening such that said discharge indicator means is rigidly held in place between said second ring-shaped member and said insulating means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising electrical interconnection means extending through said insulating means from said opening to electrically interconnect with said first ring-shaped member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means disposed between said first member and said second member for electrically insulating said first member from said second member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for rigidly affixing said discharge indicator means to said second member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second ring-shaped member is substantially oval-shaped with a plane defined by said oval-shaped member being substantially parallel to a plane defined by said first ring-shaped member, thereby facilitating the grounding of said second ring-shaped member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a housing rigidly affixed to said first ring-shaped member and encircling said discharge indicator means and said second ring-shaped member for ensuring the physical integrity of the same.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said discharge indication means includes visual discharge indication means providing a visual indication of said discharge.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means disposed adjacent said visual discharge indicator means for providing a visual indication of said discharge exhibiting a specific coloration.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said visual discharge indicator means includes a gaseous discharge tube.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said discharge tube includes a neon discharge tube.

15. A static electricity discharge ring for discharging static electricity from a human body comprising:

a. a substantially ring-shaped electrically-insulating member having an inside diameter surface and an outside diameter surface;

b. a first electrically-conductive member disposed in abutting relationship to said inside diameter surface, said first member being adapted to abut the human body for providing a reduction in the shock perceptible to a human body during discharge of static electricity accumulated in the human body;

c. a second electrically-conductive member disposed in abutting relationship to said outside diameter surface; and

d. discharge indication means electrically interconected between said first member and said second member for providing an indication of the discharge of static electricity accumulated in the human body when said second member is grounded, said static electricity traversing a path from the human body through said first member, then through said discharge means, then through said second member to ground.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second electrically-conductive member is ring-shaped.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said electrically-insulating member contains an opening therein within which said discharge indicator means is disposed.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said second member is disposed adjacent the circumference of said opening.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said discharge indicator means includes visual discharge indicator means providing a visual indication of said discharge.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means disposed adjacent said discharge indicator means for providing a visual indication exhibiting a specific coloration.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said visual discharge means includes a gaseous discharge tube.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said discharge tube includes a neon discharge tube.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first electrically conductive member contains sufficient area abutting the human body to eliminate the shock perceptible to a human body during discharge of static electricity therefrom.

Other info:

Inventors: Hollis, Wanda L. (Ventura, CA, US)
Hollis, Darrell E. (Ventura, CA, US)

Application Number: 763034
Filing Date: 1977-01-27
Publication_date: 1978-08-01
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 361/220
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3745412

Jul, 1973

Ruff

361/220.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Moose, Jr., Harry E.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Hollis; Darrell E.