BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to jewelry rings and, more particularly, to a jewelry wire/rope ring that includes interchangeable alphabets.
2. Description of Related Art
The jewelry articles are well-known such as jewelry rings or chains that include multiple intertwined gold or silver strands forming wire or rope structures. For example, U.S. Pub. No. 2003/0074881 discloses a jewelry rope chain comprising a series of tightly intertwining helical strands. The prior art jewelry articles that are configured to be mounted with alphabets and/or numerals are also well-known. For example, U.S. Pub. No. 2002/0144514 proposes an article of manufacture showing the use of a plurality of the character elements placed in abutting relation along particular sections of the chain component to allow the formation of the character elements in a desired and aesthetically attractive sequence. However, these character elements are normally permanently connected to these articles and have configuarational limitations to be interchanged with other alphabets. A user/wearer may appreciate a jewelry article that has an arrangement adapted to be positioned/replaced with a plurality of alphabets per his/her desire.
The annular jewelry articles including decorative elements that are replaceable to/from the item of jewelry having an annular segment are widely seen in the prior art. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/0010161 teaches an item of jewelry that uses simple means such that it is easy to exchange one decorative element with another on an item of jewelry having an annular segment. The item of jewelry can have one or several decorative elements that can be easily interchanged as and when desired. These elements are normally connected to the jewelry articles through externally attached locking mechanisms. However, these locking mechanisms are likely to undergo physical deterioration with the course of time. Additionally, these locking means reduce aesthetic effect of the jewelry articles as well. A jewelry article is needed that includes an interchangeable dual function element that facilitates a locking arrangement for the article in addition to functioning as a decorative element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A jewelry wire/rope ring is described that comprises a band member and an interchangeable member. The band member defines an insertion post, a stopping post and a plurality of helical elements. The insertion post defines a proximal end of the band member. The stopping post defines a distal end of the band member. The helical elements define a helical rope structure that is adapted to facilitate a user to diametrically flex or stretch the helical elements in a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction to clasp a finger of a user.
The interchangeable member includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a back surface that together define a channel section that circumvolves in a counter clockwise direction along the helical elements to be positioned on the band member to define a locking position of the ring. The channel section circumvolves in a clockwise direction along the helical elements for being removed from the band member to define an unlocked position of ring. The channel section includes a guiding member adapted to guide the helical elements through the channel section. The front surface of the channel section defines a plurality of indentations adapted to receive a plurality of diamonds for creating an aesthetically enhanced illusion. This advantageously allows the interchangeable member to be represented as a crown of the ring.
The channel section has a width three times the diameter of the helical element adapted to limit the channel section to occupy only three helical elements on one occasion. The insertion post of the band member is adapted to facilitate insertion of the helical element through the channel section in a comfortable manner that passes three times through the channel section and partially locks over the band member which defines a primary locking position of the ring. The stopping post has a diameter greater than the width of the channel section adapted to prevent the rotational movement of the interchangeable member along the helical elements which defines a secondary locking position of the ring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above mentioned and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views where:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a ring constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the ring of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a band member in an unlocking position of the ring of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an interchangeable member in the unlocking position of the ring of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a back perspective view of the interchangeable member in the unlocking position of the ring of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1 showing that the interchangeable member and the band member are in a first position while attaining a primary locking position;
FIG. 7 is a front view of the ring of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 a perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1 showing that the interchangeable member and the band member are in a second position while attaining the primary locking position;
FIG. 9 is a front view of the ring of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1 showing that the interchangeable member and the band member are in a third position after attaining the primary locking position;
FIG. 11 is a front view of the ring of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 is a front view of the ring of FIG. 1 in a secondary locking position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a jewelry article 10 is shown that includes a band member 12 and an interchangeable member 14 that are bilaterally positioned along a central vertical axis-X. The article 10 in this one preferred embodiment is a finger ring, however, it is understood that article 10 can be any jewelry article in other alternative embodiments such as, for example, an earring, a necklace, a bracelet or an anklet. The band member 12 is made of multiple segments of gold/silver 16 that are intertwined together to form a plurality of helical rope elements. In this one preferred embodiment, the band 12 and interchangeable member 14 are preferably made of same material, however, it is understood that the band member 12 and interchangeable member 14 can be made of different materials in other alternative embodiments. In this one embodiment, ring 10 includes a single interchangeable member 14, however, it is understood that the quantity of interchangeable member 14 may vary per intended use of ring 10. Interchangeable member 14 defines a head/crown portion of ring 10. Ring member 12 defines a body/band portion of ring 10.
The band 12 has an inner rim portion 18 and an outer rim portion 20 that preferably have a common center defined along the axis-X. The inner rim portion 18 and outer rim portion 20 define a thickness 22 that is substantially identical throughout the circumference of band 12. However, it is understood here that thickness 22 of band 12 may substantially vary per the intended application of ring 10. The inner rim portion 18 defines a central opening 24 adapted to receive a finger of a wearer/user.
Referring to FIG. 3, band 12 is shown in an unlocking position of ring 10. In this one preferred embodiment, band 12 includes a first helical element 26, a second helical element 28, a third helical element 30 and a fourth helical element 32 that together facilitate a helical rope structure to band 12. It is understood however that the number of helical elements 26, 28, 30 and 32 may vary in other alternative embodiments of ring 10. The helical rope structure facilitates the user to diametrically flex or stretch helical elements 26, 28, 30 and 32 in a clockwise or counter clockwise directions around the central axis-X, respectively indicated by arrows ‘A’ and ‘B’, to clasp a finger of the user. This facilitates the ring 10 to be worn on any finger of the user. This also facilitates the ring 10 to be worn by any user having the finger of any size. The first helical element 26 includes an insertion post 34 that defines a proximal end of band 12. The insertion post 34 has a configuration adapted to facilitate insertion of alphabet 14 on to band 12. The fourth helical element 32 includes a stopping post 36 that defines a distal end of band 12. The stopping post 36 has a configuration adapted to prevent alphabet 14 from being removed from the distal end of the band 12.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, interchangeable member 14 is shown in an unlocking position of ring 10. Interchangeable member 14 has a front surface 38, a back surface 40, a top surface 42 and a bottom surface 44. The front surface 38 is substantially flat and has a shape of an alphabet. In this one preferred embodiment, front surface 38 has a shape of the alphabet ‘Z’, however, it is understood that front surface 38 can be of any alpha numeral shape in other alternative embodiments such as, for example, A-Z and/or 0-9. It is also understood that front surface 38 can be of any geometrical shape in other alternative embodiments such as, for example, a square, a rectangle, a triangle and a circle. It is also understood that the front surface 38 can be of any shape such as a human, an animal, a bird, a reptile, or an insect in other alternative embodiments. The back surface 40 is substantially flat and preferably has a rectangular configuration. The top and bottom surfaces 42, 44 preferably trapezoidally extend between the front and bottom surfaces 38, 40. The surfaces 38, 40, 42 and 44 define a channel section 46. The channel section 46 defines a guiding member 48 adapted to guide the helical elements 26, 28, 30 and 32 through channel section 46. The channel section 46 has a width 50 that is three times the diameter of any of the helical elements 26, 28, 30 and 32. The channel section 46 has a height 52 that is substantially equal to the diameter of any of the helical elements 26, 28, 30 and 32. Front surface 38 in this one embodiment defines a plurality of indentations 50 that is adapted to receive a plurality of diamonds to create an aesthetically enhanced illusion of alphabet 14.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, band 12 and interchangeable member 14 are in a first position while positioning the interchangeable member 14 over first helical element 26. In this position, channel section 46 is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow ‘C’ such that guiding member 48 allows insertion post 34 to comfortably pass through channel section 46 on a first occasion. Interchangeable member 14 circumvolves around axis-X along the helical element 26 on a first occasion in a counter clock wise direction indicated by an arrow ‘D’ such that insertion post 34 completes first complete rotation around axis-X and gets aligned to enter through channel section 46 on a second occasion.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, band 12 and interchangeable member 14 are in a second position adapted while positioning interchangeable member 14 over the second helical element 28 in addition to first element 26. In this position, channel section 46 of interchangeable member 14 moves in a direction indicated by an arrow ‘E’ such that guiding member 48 allows insertion post 34 to comfortably pass through channel section 46 on the second occasion. Interchangeable member 14 circumvolves on a second occasion around axis-X along the helical element 28 in a counter clock wise direction indicated by an arrow ‘F’ such that insertion post 34 completes second complete rotation around axis-X and gets aligned to enter through channel section 46 on a third occasion.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, band 12 and interchangeable member 14 are in a third position adapted while positioning of the interchangeable member 14 over helical element 30 in addition to elements 26, 28. In this position, channel section 46 of interchangeable member 14 moves in a direction indicated by an arrow ‘G’ such that guiding member 48 allows insertion post 34 to comfortably pass through channel section 46 on the third occasion. In this position, interchangeable member 14 circumvolves on a third occasion around axis-X along the helical element 30 in a counter clock wise direction indicated by an arrow ‘H’ such that insertion post 34 completes third complete rotation around axis-X and passes over the interchangeable member 14 as the width of the channel section 46 limits the channel section 46 to occupy only three helical elements on one occasion. This facilitates interchangeable member 14 to accommodate three helical elements 26, 28, 30 and get partially locked over band member 12 to define a primary locking position of ring 10. However, is understood here the interchangeable member 14 is movable between helical elements 30, 32 in the primary locking position.
As shown in FIG. 12, interchangeable member 14 in this one preferred embodiment circumvolves in a counter clockwise direction along helical element 32 indicated by an arrow ‘I’ to define an ultimate locking position of ring 10. In this position, stopping post 36 prevents rotational movement of interchangeable member 14 along the helical element 32 as stopping post 36 has a diameter that is substantially greater than the width of the channel section 46. This defines a secondary locking position of the ring 10.
Referring to FIGS. 1-12, interchangeable member 14 in operation is adapted to circumvolve in a counter clockwise direction along helical elements 26-32 for being rotatably positioned on the band 12 thereby defining a locking position of the ring 10. However, it is understood that helical elements 26-32 in other alternative embodiments can be moved through channel section 46 in a clockwise direction to achieve the locking position of ring 10. Interchangeable member 14 in operation is adapted to circumvolve in a clockwise direction along helical elements 26-32 for being rotatably removed from band 12 thereby defining an unlocking position of ring 10. However, it is understood that helical elements 26-32 in other alternative embodiments can be moved through channel section 46 in a counterclockwise direction to achieve unlocking position of ring 10.
In operation, helical elements 26-32 are adapted to attain a stationary position and interchangeable member 14 is adapted to be manually moved along helical elements 26-32 to facilitate locking/unlocking. However, it is understood that interchangeable member 14 may attain a stationary position and helical elements 26-32 can be manually moved through the channel section 46 to facilitate locking/unlocking in other alternative embodiments.
Patent Application
20110061425
