Patent Application
20130305783
This invention relates broadly to jewelry, and, more particularly, to rings and bracelets having surfaces for setting of stones or displaying graphic elements.
Jewelry is a very popular women's accessory, particularly finger rings and bracelets. One particular item of jewelry that has evolved over time is the finger ring. Finger rings exist in many different sizes and shapes. Some rings are simple bands while others use elaborate designs. Usually, a ring has an annular body with a central finger opening formed axially therethrough. The annular body has an inner cylindrical surface that contacts a user's finger when worn. Exterior surface of a conventional finger ring may have a top or “crown” portion supported by band-like shanks that flare toward the crown. The crown portions can be plain or provided with designs. The crown portions may also be set with precious or semi-precious stones, or inlaid with other materials. When a ring is worn on a finger, a crown portion is generally exposed for view on the back side of the user's hand.
The wide variety of gemstones, the cut of the gemstones and settings alone have led to an almost infinite number of ring designs. Some of the stone mounts provide for stone setting clusters with one prominent stone in the center and two or more secondary stones surrounding the center stone.
Other conventional rings use linear displays, such as for instance the so-called “eternity bands,” where the stones are mounted about the entire circumference of the ring band. The stones can be channel mounted, prong-mounted, use shared prongs, etc. Regardless of the types of settings used, conventional rings usually utilize single color stones mounted in one or two rows about the ring band.
When the user wishes to match her accessories to a particular outfit, the user usually selects the rings, bracelets, earrings, etc. using specific color jewelry to accent her outfit. If the user changes the color of her outfit she may use jewelry with different color schemes. In such cases, the user prefers to have multiple sets of jewelry. One set may have blue color stones, another—red, still another—yellow, etc. Considering the cost of jewelry made of noble metals and enhanced with precious or semi-precious stones, one can appreciate that it would be beneficial to have a jewelry item capable of displaying more than one type of stone.
The present invention contemplates provision of a jewelry item, such as a ring or bracelet that has multiple displays or settings for stones or multiple surfaces for displaying graphic works.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a jewelry item, such as a ring or a bracelet that has more than one display surface.
It is another object of the invention to provide a jewelry ring that has multiple display surfaces.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of a jewelry ring that has a hollow body with opposing center portions oriented in a spaced apart co-axial opposed relation to each other. A center axis extends through the center portions, and a plurality of flared portions extend radially symmetrically between the two center portions. In one aspect of the invention, each of the flared portions extends at 120 degrees in relation to an adjoining flared portion. The ring or bracelet has three finger (arm) openings and three separate display surfaces formed by peripheral edges of the flared portions.
By rotating the ring 120 degrees, the user can orient the desired display surface to be visible on the back of the hand or wrist of the user. The display surfaces can be decorated with stones of different color thus providing a variety of color options for the user.
Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein
Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the jewelry ring or ring according to this invention. The ring 10 comprises a hollow body 12 having a center axis A-A passing through a first center portion 14 and a second center portion 16. The center portions 14 and 16 are in spaced apart co-axial opposed relation to each other and are formed as mirror images of each other. Each of the center portions 14 and 16 comprises outwardly convex plates. The ring 10 has a protrusion-free inner surface 18 and an outer surface 20. The ring 10 has a plurality of flared portions extending radially symmetrically from the center portions 14 and 16, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
A first flared portion 22 extends integrally and continuously between the first center portion 14 and the second center portion 16. The first flared portion 22 has a varying width, which is wide adjacent the first center portion 14 and the second center portion 16 and narrower toward a middle part 28, which is located midway between first center portion 14 and the second center portion 16. The first flared portion 22 is outwardly convex.
The second flared portion 24 is identical to the first flared portion 22 in size and configuration, except that it has an imaginary axis, which is oriented at 120 degrees to an imaginary axis of the first flared portion. Similarly to the first flared portion 22, the second flared portion 24 extends integrally and continuously between the first center portion 14 and the second center portion 16. The second flared portion 24 has a narrow middle part 30, which flares out toward first center portion 14 and the second center portion 16. The second flared portion 24 is unitary and continuously formed with the first flared portion 22.
The first flared portion 22 and the second flared portion 24 share a continuous peripheral edge 32, which forms a first display surface for stone mounting or engraving. The edge 32 has an arcuate configuration and a flat mounting surface, which can be used for stone mounting, engraving, etc. In the exemplary embodiment shown in detail in
The third flared portion 26 is identical in size and configuration to the first flared portion 22 and the second flared portion 24 and has an imaginary axis oriented at 120 degrees to imaginary axes of the first flared portion 22 and the second flared portion 24. Similarly to the first flared portion 22 and the second flared portion 24, the third flared portion 26 extends integrally and continuously between the first center portion 14 and the second center portion 16. The third flared portion 26 has a narrow middle part 40, which flares out toward first center portion 14 and the second center portion 16. The third flared portion 24 is unitary and continuously formed with the first flared portion 22 and the second flared portion 24.
The first flared portion 22 and the third flared portion 26 share a continuous peripheral edge 42, which forms a second display surface for stone mounting or engraving. The edge 42 has an arcuate configuration and a flat mounting surface, which can be used for stone mounting, engraving, etc. In the exemplary embodiment shown in detail in
The second flared portion 24 and the third flared portion 26 share a continuous peripheral edge 46, which forms a third display surface for stone mounting or engraving. The edge 46 has an arcuate configuration and a flat mounting surface, which can be used for stone mounting, engraving, etc. In the exemplary embodiment shown in detail in
As can be seen in the drawings, the ring 10 forms three openings, through which a user's finger can be inserted: the first opening 50 is formed within the borders formed by the first peripheral edge 32; the second opening 52 is formed by the borders defined by the second peripheral edge 42, and the third opening 54 is formed by the border defined by the third peripheral edge 46. Depending on the orientation of the ring body 12 in relation to the central axis A-A, the user can select which of the stones are displayed on the back of the user's hand.
When a user wishes the blue sapphires to be displayed on her finger 56, the user inserts the finger through the opening 52 formed by the peripheral edge 42, as shown in
The stones 34, 44 and 48 can be channel mounted, prong-mounted, or mounted using any other conventional technique, including linear mounting. The ring can be formed from a noble metal, metallic material, alloy, plastic, composite or any other suitable material. The stones can be natural stones or simulation stones, glass, crystal, etc. The stones in display settings may include different color stones to match different color clothing, birth stones, etc., or a metal “stone” with a motif.
Similarly, the peripheral edges 32, 42, and 46 can be used for other types of decorative designs, inlays, etc. When worn, the flared portions 22, 24, and 26 generally encircle a majority of the finger depending on the type of display surface facing upward, with the display surface extending across the top of the finger that corresponds to the back of the hand. It is envisioned that the same structure can be used for bracelets and other jewelry items to be worn by a user. A bracelet can be slipped over the user's hand and worn on a wrist in a manner similar to the one described above.
Many changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
