Patent Application
20180249792
None.
Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.
Not Applicable
This invention relates to rigid bracelets worn on the wrist, in general, and to bangle bracelets made from metal to complement a desired style, color, plating and memorialization, in particular.
As will be appreciated, most bangles or bangle bracelets are in the form of a continuous or substantially continuous loop having at least two releasably coupled, rigid arcuate sections that can be selectively opened to permit the person wearing it to place the bangle on or remove it from the wrist. As will also be appreciated, two manners exist to open or close these bracelets—1) a hinge at one intersection of the rigid arcuate sections permits the bangle to be selectively moved from an open position to a closed position, and vice versa, with a closing or locking mechanism typically provided at the opposing intersection of the rigid arcuate sections to releasably retain the bangle in closed position about the wrist of the person wearing it; and 2) a dimensioning of the two arcuate sections to allow one to slide and fit into the other to be clasped thereby, or to be released therefrom.
Several of the first hinge mechanism closure types, however, are more cumbersome than others in permitting the closing or locking mechanism to be operated with one hand—frequently requiring the assistance of a helper so to do. (This typically results when an older or aged person is trying to join or separate the rigid sections together or apart, for example). While the second type of closure is more easily one to complete the task, on the one hand it provides less of a secure clasp when closed—but on the other hand, is generally sized so that while it may be a comfortable fit for an adult to wear the bracelet, it becomes too large to be worn by a young child. This is often of concern where the bangle bracelet is passed down over time from a parent or grandparent to an offspring to wear.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved bangle bracelet that provides an ease for removal, as well as an ease for adjusting its securement about a wrist for its wearing.
It is an object of the present invention, also, to provide such an improved bangle bracelet that can be removed from or emplaced about the wrist using preferably only two digits of the hand, the thumb and either the second or third finger.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a convenient locking arrangement for a rigid bangle bracelet of a type to be not only adjustable, but flexible and of a construction to accept various types of color plating depending upon user preference; and
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide this type of improved bangle bracelet to accept memorialization of a variety of types of alphanumeric characters in the nature of wordings and quotes in contrasting enamels to effectuate not only an adjustable, flexible bracelet, but one which can truly be referred to as a “memory bracelet”.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bangle bracelet comprises a substantially rounded loop of a single-section rolled band configuration. Specifically, the band when unrolled comprises a flexible, resilient metal having a post extending downwardly from an underside of the band adjacent a first end of the band; and two or more linearly spaced keyholes at an adjacent, second opposite end of the band. In accordance with the invention, each keyhole is sized to receive and grasp the post when inserted thereinto.
Preferably constructed from a molded fabrication process, the band is characterized by a flexible, resilient metalization in affording a releasability of the post from a keyhole by an applied squeeze force via the thumb of a wearer's hand on the first end of the band, and via a finger of the hand on the second, opposite end of the band. In accommodating this, each keyhole extends from the underside of the flexible, resilient metal band through to a topside thereof—with the keyhole having a narrower portion facing toward the second, opposite end of the band than a wider portion facing toward the first end of the band.
In alternative constructions, the band may be composed of a flexible, resilient sterling silver, or a flexible, resilient brass. In the latter instance, the flexible resilient brass is overlain by one of a rose-gold plating, a yellow-gold plating, and a rhodium plating—modifiable where desired by etching with an alphanumeric characterization to provide appropriate memorialization in making the band one of memory. With three linearly spaced keyholes to receive and grasp the post, a bangle bracelet can be constructed of a width substantially 4/3 times its height, with a thickness of 4 mm-7 mm, so that the bracelet can be adjusted, for an adult wearing or for that of a younger individual. In either event, the construction of the bracelet allow for it to be easily adjusted in wearing to a comfortable feel by a simple grasp and release action by means of the thumb and the second or third finger of the wearer's hand.
These and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The band of the bangle bracelet 10 is shown as 12 in the views of
In preferred embodiments, the band 12 is composed of a flexible, resilient sterling silver, a flexible, resilient brass, or a flexible, resilient brass overlain by one of a rose-gold plating, a yellow-gold plating, and a rhodium plating. As shown in
In such respect,
An easy and convenient manner of adjusting the size of the bangle bracelet, and then releasing it from being worn is thus easily effected, by the adjustability feature of the invention.
While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefor, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the invention.
