BACKGROUND
This invention generally relates to jewelry and, in particular relates to finger rings.
A typical finger ring comprises a generally circular band, a setting attached to the band and a gemstone held by the setting. Gemstones exist in many different colors, such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, etc. The utility of such ornamental jewelry would be greatly enhanced if the color of the gemstone could be changed periodically and easily.
There is a need for an improved ring that would allow the color of the gemstone to be easily changed.
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is a ring capable of holding interchangeable gemstones of different colors. This has the advantage of allowing a ring wearer to select the gemstone color that matches the color of his/her attire. It also creates the illusion that the wearer owns a multitude of rings.
One aspect of the invention is a ring comprising a loop made of spring wire, the loop comprising first and second end portions that are movable relative to each when the loop is flexed; a first half-setting mounted to the first end portion; and a second half-setting mounted to the second end portion, the first and second half-settings being movable between open and closed positions during flexure of the loop, the first and second half-settings in the closed positions forming a setting capable of securely holding a gemstone and in the open positions being incapable of securely holding the same gemstone.
Another aspect of the invention is a ring comprising: a loop made of spring wire, the loop comprising first and second end portions that are movable relative to each when the loop is flexed; and a setting for a gemstone comprising first and second sets of prongs, the first prong set being mounted on the first end portion of the loop, and the second prong set being mounted on the second end portion of the loop, wherein the first and second sets of prongs have a first state when the loop is flexed due to application of pressure on both sides thereof to overcome resistance to bending of the spring wire and a second state when no pressure is applied to either side of the loop, the first and second sets of prongs being capable of securely holding a gemstone in the second state but not in the first state.
A further aspect of the invention is a kit comprising a ring and first and second gemstones, wherein the first and second gemstones have the same maximum width, and the ring comprises: a loop made of spring wire, the loop comprising first and second end portions that are movable relative to each when the loop is flexed; and a setting comprising first and second sets of prongs, the first prong set being mounted on the first end portion of the loop, and the second prong set being mounted on the second end portion of the loop, wherein the first and second sets of prongs have a first state when the loop is flexed due to application of pressure on both sides thereof to overcome resistance to bending of the spring wire and a second state when no pressure is applied to either side of the loop, the first and second sets of prongs being capable of securely holding either of the first and second gemstones in the second state but being incapable of securely holding either of the first and second gemstones in the first state.
Other aspects of the invention are disclosed and claimed below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a top view of a finger ring in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This finger ring has an easily removable large colored gemstone surrounded by smaller colorless gemstones.
FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a view of the finger ring shown in FIG. 1, the viewpoint being such that the setting is visible from below.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing another view of the finger ring of FIG. 1 with the large gemstone removed. In this view, separable halves of the setting (hereinafter “half-settings”) have been moved apart by a person holding the ring loop between his thumb and forefinger and then squeezing.
FIG. 4 is a drawing showing another view of the finger ring of FIG. 1 with the large gemstone removed and with the separable half-settings restored to their closed positions due to the spring bias of the loop when the loop is not being squeezed.
FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a view of a finger ring in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the end portions of a ring loop in accordance with a first alternative embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a drawing showing the end portions of a ring loop in accordance with a second alternative embodiment.
Reference will now be made to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings bear the same reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-4 are different views of a finger ring in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows a different embodiment. The difference between the two disclosed embodiments lies in the number of individual loops of spring wire that make up the ring loop. In the first embodiment, three loops of spring wire have been soldered together to form the ring loop 2 (the soldering is not shown in the drawings). In the other embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the ring loop 2′ consists of a single loop of spring wire. In other embodiments (not shown in the drawings), the number of loops of spring wire making up the ring loop can be different than one or three, e.g., two, four or more.
Although the embodiments disclosed herein are finger rings, the structure and principle of operation of the invention also has application in pendants and earrings.
As used herein, the word “spring” should be given its ordinary meaning as understood by persons skilled in the art of mechanics, such as “the quality of a material that will cause it to return quickly to its original position after being moved” [taken from Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992]. Therefore, the term “spring wire” refers to wire that has the foregoing property. In particular, when a loop of such spring wire is squeezed with sufficient force, the end portions of the loop move away from each other while the portions on opposite sides of the loop, where the forces are being applied, move toward each other; and when the compressive force is removed, the loop will spring back to its original state.
FIG. 1 shows a cluster ring comprising a loop 2 made of spring wire, and a pair of separable half-settings 4 and 6 which form a setting for a large gemstone 8 surrounded by a multiplicity of small gemstones 10. To simplify the drawings, the facets on the gemstones are not shown since they are not germane to this description of embodiments of the invention.
The half-settings 4 and 6 comprise respective sets of prongs 12a-12c and 14a-14c, which hold the large gemstone securely in place when the half-settings are in their respective closed positions. This state is referred to herein as “the setting is closed”. It should be appreciated, however, that the half-settings may be separated at opposite ends thereof by small gaps when the setting is closed. These gaps become larger when the ring loop is squeezed together. The setting is held in the closed position by the spring bias of the ring loop 2.
The half-settings further comprise multiple claws 16 which hold the small gemstones 10 securely in place in a well-known manner.
To separate the half-settings 4 and 6 so that the gemstone 8 will be released, the resistance to bending of the spring wire must be overcome. This is accomplished by applying sufficient compressive force or pressure on the sides of the ring, e.g., by squeezing the sides of the ring using a thumb and a forefinger, as shown in FIG. 3. As the half-settings separate, the distance between the opposing sets of prongs 12a-12c and 14a-14c increases, thereby releasing the large gemstone 8. This state is referred to herein as “the setting is open”. This operation should be performed while the ring is being held upside-down so that the large gemstone will simply drop out of the setting under the force of gravity.
FIG. 3 shows large gaps 22a and 22b separating the opposing ends of the half settings 4 and 6. When the setting is open, these gaps are enlarged as compared to the small gaps which can optionally be present when the setting is closed.
Referring back to FIG. 2, the ring loop 2 is made of three loops 2a-2c of spring wire soldered (not shown) together. The ring loop 2 is shaped to fit around a human finger. As seen in FIG. 2, the loop comprises first and second end portions 18 and 20 that are movable relative to each other when the loop 2 is flexed by squeezing its sides. The half-setting 6 is soldered to the first end portion 18; the half-setting 4 is soldered to the second end portion 20. The half-settings 4 and 6 are movable between open and closed positions during flexure of the loop 2. The half-settings in their closed positions form a closed setting capable of securely holding the large gemstone and in their open positions form an open setting which is incapable of securely holding the same gemstone. The half-settings 4 and 6 in their open positions are urged toward their closed positions by a spring bias of the loop 2 when the external force being exerted on the loop is released. The spring bias may be such that the opposing ends of the half-settings are in contact or are separated by a slight gap when the setting is closed. In the latter case, the spring is in its equilibrium state with no spring force being exerted until the ring loop is squeezed.
FIG. 4 shows the half-settings 4 and 6 with the large gemstone removed and no external force being applied to the ring loop 2. As seen in FIG. 4, the end portions (e.g., item 18) of the loop 2 (to which the half-settings are soldered) may extend beyond the half-settings. As used herein and in the claims, the term “end portion” of the loop includes the portion to which the half-setting is soldered and any terminal portion extending beyond the soldered portion.
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment having half-settings 4 and 6 identical to the half-settings previously described, with a cluster of small gemstones 10 held in place by claws 16. The small gemstones surround a large gemstone 8′ in a manner similar to what is depicted in FIG. 1. The only substantive difference between the rings depicted in FIGS. 2 and 5 is that the ring shown in FIG. 5 has a loop 2′ consisting of a single spring wire instead of three spring wires soldered together.
When the sides of the single spring wire of loop 2′ are squeezed together with sufficient force, the half-settings 4 and 6 will separate to release the gemstone 8′. After the gemstone 8′ has been released, a gemstone similar in size and shape but different in color may be installed. The fact that the ring loop 2′ is not a closed circular band and is made of spring wire makes it possible to open the gemstone setting at will. One ring (with the large gemstone removed) and two or more interchangeable large gemstones can be sold as a kit.
FIG. 6 shows the end portions of a ring loop in accordance with a first alternative embodiment. This ring loop is made of three loops 24, 26, 28 of spring wire soldered (not shown) together. The ring loop is shaped to fit around a human finger. As seen in FIG. 6, each loop comprises first and second end portions that are movable relative to each other when the loop is flexed by squeezing its sides. FIG. 6 shows the ring loop in an unflexed state. This ring loop can be flexed by squeezing the sides together until the mutually confronting ends of loops 24 and 28 and the mutually confronting ends of loops 26 and 28 abut each other. Loops 24 and 26 have the same length and form an arc of less than 360 degrees; center loop 28 is longer than either loop 24, 26 and forms an arc greater than 360 degrees, as a result of which the end portions of loop 28 are disposed side by side in unaligned relationship. One half-setting (not shown) is soldered to respective end portions of loops 24 and 28 at location 30, whereas the other half-setting (not shown) is soldered to respective end portions of loops 26 and 28 at location 32. The half-settings are movable between open and closed positions during flexure of the loop.
FIG. 7 shows the end portions of a ring loop in accordance with a second alternative embodiment. This ring loop is made of three loops 34, 36, 38 of spring wire soldered (not shown) together. The ring loop is shaped to fit around a human finger. As seen in FIG. 7, each loop comprises first and second aligned end portions that are movable relative to each other when the loop is flexed by squeezing its sides. FIG. 7 shows the ring loop in an unflexed state. This ring loop can be flexed by squeezing the sides together until the mutually confronting ends of loops 34, 36, 38 abut each other. Loops 34, 36, 38 have the same length and form an arc of less than 360 degrees. In the unflexed state, one end portion of loop 38 is disposed between respective end portions of loops 34 and 36, the latter end portions preventing the one end portion of loop 38 from moving laterally and vice versa. One half-setting (not shown) is soldered to respective end portions of loops 34 and 36 at locations 40 and 42 respectively, whereas the other half-setting (not shown) is soldered to an end portion of loop 38 at location 44. The half-settings are movable between open and closed positions during flexure of the loop.
The spring wire material used to form the ring loop may be any suitable metal alloy, such as silver alloy.
While the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention. In particular, the structure claimed hereinafter is not limited to use in finger rings, but can also be incorporated in pendants or earrings.
Patent Application
20130074547
