This invention relates to an article of jewelry, particularly a bracelet, ring, or necklace.
So-called open bracelets are known, generally having an open circle or spiral shape. Typically, said bracelets are made of relatively elastic material, and are generally temporarily expanded or deformed to allow such objects to be worn.
An object of this invention is to provide a novel solution for being able to wear open bracelets or similar articles of jewelry. Another object of the invention is to provide a solution for being able to adapt the configuration of an article of jewelry to suit the taste and/or “mood” of the user.
Thus, the subject matter of the invention is an article of jewelry, comprising
A further subject matter of the invention is an article of jewelry, comprising an elongated rigid body having a free end and an ornamental element arranged at said free end, said ornamental element being fixed to the free end via a bayonet coupling.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims, which are to be understood as an integral part of this description.
Features and advantages of the shutter according to the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, wherein:
In the illustrated example, the elongated rigid body 1, and thus the body portions 3 and 5, are tubular or in bar form. Each of said body portions 3, 5 may be made in one single piece or, as in the illustrated example, may be formed from multiple pieces assembled together.
Referring specifically to
The article of jewelry further comprises a latching device 10 arranged at or near the hinge 7. The latching device 10 is configured to releasably lock the body portions 3 and 5 in the closed position.
With reference in particular to
For this purpose, the lever 11 is elastically stressed, for example by means of a spring not shown, whereby the first end 11a of the lever 11 is stressed toward the inside of the space between the prongs of the fork 5a. The lever 11 thus comprises a second end 11c provided with a protrusion 11d extending beyond the outer surface of the second body portion 5 and configured to be manually operated by the user. Manual operation of the lever 11 allows the second body portion 5 to disengage from the first body portion 3, to allow them to rotate mutually. Due to the arrangement described above, both the hinge 7 and the latching device 10 are very compact and unobtrusive, and therefore only minimally alter the overall profile of the article of jewelry.
Since the article of jewelry has an open, circle, or spiral structure, the body portions 3, 5 have respective free ends, indicated by 3b and 5b in the figures. In the illustrated example, the free end 5b has a removable and interchangeable ornamental element 20. The ornamental element 20 is attached to the free end 5b of the second body portion 5 by a bayonet coupling 21.
In particular, the aforesaid free end 5b comprises a male portion 22 projecting axially from said free end 5b and provided with a laterally projecting guide pin 22a. In the illustrated example, the male portion 22 is made in a separate piece mounted on an intermediate piece 23, which is in turn mounted on the main portion of the second body portion 5. However, this arrangement is not essential to the purposes of the invention. The ornamental element 20 comprises a female portion 24 provided with a seat configured to receive the male portion 22 and having an L-shaped groove 24a configured to receive the guide pin 22a. Operable elastic means are therefore provided to keep the male portion 22 locked in the female portion 24 in the latched configuration shown in
Due to the arrangement described above, the ornamental element 20 may be removed and replaced with other, differently shaped ornamental elements. Therefore, users may adapt the configuration of the article of jewelry according to their tastes or mood.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2021/059030 | 10/1/2021 | WO |