Patent Application
20190166962
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Catherine Stephens
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The Breakable Ring (“invention”) pertains to a finger ring in the jewelry category equipped with links that allows the ring to break apart when a force is applied. This field comprises engagement rings, wedding bands, and all types of finger rings. This invention can release the finger when the ring is caught in a moving machinery or heavy object, which often results in ring avulsion or finger amputation.
It is known that there are existing finger rings that break when a significant load is applied. The high ultimate tensile strength of metals restrict their use in these products. Most breakable rings are made of polymers comprising plastics and rubbers. For example, SafeRingz is a company that sells silicone wedding rings. The company claims that their silicone rings break when a 20 pound force is applied. While it is known that the tensile strength of silicone is much lower than precious metals currently used in wedding bands like gold, silver, or platinum, most people prefer precious metal wedding rings because they are more durable and they can last generations. Wedding rings made of precious metals are also easily customized with gemstones and are easily engraved.
The invention pertains to a finger ring with link(s) that break when a force is applied. These links strategically placed to permit easy release of finger(s) when caught in moving machinery or heavy objects. These links serve as weakest links, which allow the ring to fail gracefully. The ring can be made of any polymer, precious metals, or any metal alloys. The key is the shaft made of a much weaker material with tensile strengths much less than that of the primary ring. When the shaft is subjected to tensile and shear forces, the shaft fails, allowing the disintegration of the ring members. Desirable materials to be used in the shaft construction can range from plastic to metals like tin or silver.
Depending on the cross-sectional area of the said shaft, the ring failure can occur with as little as one pound force to as much as fifty pound force. For the sake of relieving the finger from any pain, a force of less than ten pounds is desired. A ring may have one or more links, which also contributes to the amount of force required to break the shaft.
Different views of the invention are presented in the Drawings section of this application. These illustrations are non-limitative thereof, in which:
With reference to the drawings, one or more links are strategically placed around the ring to allow the invention to break apart when load is applied. These links can be placed at locations shown in
The shaft, denoted as 3 in
Because the failure mechanism depends on the low tensile and shear strengths of the shaft, the ring members denoted as 1 in
Another way to execute the invention is by combining materials of different strengths. For example, during the production of the ring, the ring members can be connected using silver or tin alloy solders or any weaker material. This will allow the ring to break apart without the interlocking members and shaft described above. The invention can be carried out not only in new rings, but also in existing rings. This can be done by cutting the ring in separate members and connecting them back using the variations of weak links described in this report.
Although the invention has been described above using specific design and processes, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the affixed claims.
