Patent Application
20180352913
This patent specification relates to the field of jewelry devices which may be secured around portions of the body. More specifically, this patent specification relates to devices for securing bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry adornments to a body.
Jewelry is commonly worn around various portions of the body, such as the neck, wrists, and ankles, and is often worn during activities that require movement of the body. For this reason and due to the cost of jewelry, the jewelry must be able to be securely fastened to the body so as to prevent loss. However, the jewelry must also be configured to be readily unfastened from the body so that the wearer is able to remove the jewelry without undue frustration.
While there exists a wide variety of different types of securement devices for use in connection with various jewelry items, such as necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and other similar types of jewelry, most of these devices have complex assemblies. For example, some securement devices include a clasp or hook type elements which must be inserted through relatively small apertures. These devices can be difficult to operate for those with poor eye sight, arthritis in the hands, or who are unfamiliar with the devices. Other securement devices operate by way of small springs and clasps which are not only complicated to manufacture but are also easily broken by most users. Still other devices are relatively easy to operate, such as simple hook and ring combinations, but offer very little security and securement.
Therefore a need exists for a novel devices for securing bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry adornments to a body. There is also a need for novel jewelry securement devices which are not overtly difficult for users to operate. A further need exists, for novel jewelry securement devices which are not complicated to manufacture and not easily broken by most users. Finally, a need exists for novel jewelry securement devices which easy to operate and which securely fasten to the body.
A jewelry securement device is provided which is able to be secured to and around portions of the body of a user. In some embodiments, the device may include a band having a first end and a second end. A female retainer may be coupled to the first end, and an aperture may be disposed in the female retainer. A male retainer may be coupled to the second end of the band. Portions of the male retainer may be inserted into the aperture of the female retainer to position the first end and second end proximate to each other.
In further embodiments, the device may include a band made of a resilient material having a first end and a second end. A female retainer may be coupled to the first end, and an aperture may be disposed in the female retainer. A male retainer may be coupled to the second end of the band. The band may be movable between a closed position, in which portions of the male retainer are inserted into the aperture of the female retainer and in which the male retainer is unable to be moved laterally relative to the female retainer, and an open position in which portions of the male retainer are separated from the aperture of the female retainer and in which the male retainer is able to be moved laterally relative to the female retainer. The resilient material of the band may resist movement of the device into the closed position to maintain the device in the closed position once so moved.
Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “rear”, “front”, “side”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
Although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, the first element may be designated as the second element, and the second element may be likewise designated as the first element without departing from the scope of the invention.
As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. Additionally, as used in this application, the term “substantially” means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein.
New jewelry devices which may be secured around portions of the body are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
The present invention will now be described by example and through referencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternative embodiments.
The device 100 may comprise one or more bands 11 which may be shaped or configured to be positioned around portions of the body of a user. The band 11 may be shaped or configured to form any closed shape when the band 11 is in the closed position 71, such as a circle, oval, ellipse, crescent, curvilinear triangle, quatrefoil, parallelogram, square, rectangle, trapezoid, trapezium, triangle, kite, rhombus, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, or any other shape, including combinations of shapes, such as may be found in Euclidean geometry. In preferred embodiments, the band 11 may comprise an annular shape or ring shape which may be substantially circular shaped.
Generally, the band 11 may be worn around a portion of the body of a user or wearer of the device 100 so that when the band 11 is in the closed position 71 around a portion of the body, the band 11 may form a closed shaped that remains secured around the portion of the body. In addition to shapes, the band 11 may be configured in a plurality of sizes which may be defined by the distance between two opposing points on the band 11 when the band 11 is in the closed position 71. In preferred embodiments, the band 11 may form an annular shape having a diameter between 4 centimeters and 60 centimeters when the band is in the closed position 71. For example, the band 11 may form an annular shape having a diameter between 4 centimeters and 8 centimeters while in the closed position 71 so that the band 11 may encircle a person's wrist or ankle. As another example, the band 11 may form an annular shape having a diameter between 15 centimeters and 30 centimeters while in the closed position 71 so that the band 11 may encircle a person's neck or waist.
The band 11 may be made from or comprise a resilient material which is flexible to allow deformation and resilient so as to return to its original shape after deformation. In some embodiments, a resilient material may comprise natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC), low density polyethylene (LDPE), Polyoxymethylene (POM), Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), metals and metal alloys such as steel, stainless steel, copper, gold, cadmium, silver, platinum, aluminum, nickel, iron alloys, titanium, shape-memory alloys such as copper-aluminium-nickel, nickel-titanium (NiTi), other alloys created by alloying zinc, copper, gold and iron, Fe—Mn—Si, Cu—Zn—Al, Cu—Al—Ni, or any other material which is flexible to allow deformation and resilient so as to return to its original shape after deformation. In preferred embodiments, the band 11 may be made from or comprise one or more metals including steel, copper, gold, silver, platinum, aluminum, nickel, iron, titanium, and zinc. In further preferred embodiments, the band 11 may be a metal alloy comprising gold and cadmium. For example, Au—Cd 46.5/50 at. % Cd. In still further preferred embodiments, the band 11 may be a metal alloy comprising gold, cadmium, and optionally any other suitable metal.
In preferred embodiments, the band 11 may be made from or comprise a resilient material having a natural shape that the band 11 returns to when not subjected to deformation stresses. The natural shape of the band 11 may be an open version of the closed shape that the band 11 is configured to form when the band 11 is in the closed position 71 so that the band 11 must be deformed to be moved into the closed position 71. Therefore, the resilient material of the band 11 may return the band 11 to the open position 72, in which the band 11 is the open shape of the closed shape that the band 11 is configured to form when the band 11 is in the closed position 71, when the female retainer 21 and male retainer 31 are not in contact with each other. For example, the band 11 may comprise an annular shape when in the closed position 71, and a generally C-shape when in the open position 72 which the generally C-shape open position 72 being the natural shape that the resilient material of the band 11 returns to when not subjected to deformation stresses.
In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more fixtures which may be coupled to the band 11 at any location. A fixture 14 may be configured in any size and shape while forming a surface to which one or more decorative objects 16 such as gemstones 17, rhinestones, charms, and the like may be coupled. Preferably, a fixture 14 may enable generally inflexible objects to be coupled to the band 11. In some embodiments, a fixture 14 may comprise a tab 15 which may be wrapped around or otherwise coupled to the band 11. In alternative embodiments, a fixture 14 may be coupled to the band by being integrally formed with the band 11.
The device 100 may comprise one or more female retainers 21. A female retainer 21 may be coupled to or proximate to an end of the band 11, such as the first end 12. Each female retainer 21 may comprise one or more apertures 22 which may be disposed in the female retainer 21. Each aperture 22 may comprise or be formed by a female surface 23. A female surface 23 may be configured in any shape and size. Preferably, a female surface 23 may be shaped or sized slightly larger than portions of the male retainer 31 so that the portions of the male retainer 31 may be inserted and nested within the aperture 22. The female retainer 21 may also comprise one or more female mounting surfaces 24 to which one or more decorative objects 16 such as gemstones 17, rhinestones, charms, and the like may be coupled.
The device 100 may comprise one or more male retainers 31. A male retainer 31 may be coupled to or proximate to an end of the band 11, such as the second end 13, that preferably is opposite the female retainer 21. Each male retainer 31 may comprise one or more male surfaces 32 of which all or portions may be inserted into and in contact with an aperture 22 of a female retainer 21. A male surface 32 may be configured in any shape and size. Preferably, a male surface 32 may be shaped or sized slightly smaller than portions of the one or more female surfaces 23 forming the aperture 22 so that male surfaces 32 of the male retainer 31 may be inserted and nested within the aperture 22. The male retainer 31 may also comprise one or more male mounting surfaces 33 to which one or more decorative objects 16 such as gemstones 17, rhinestones, charms, and the like may be coupled.
Generally, portions of a male retainer 31 may be inserted into the aperture 22 of a female retainer 21 to maintain or to secure two ends, such as the first end 12 and second end 13, of the band 11 together or in proximity thereby maintaining or securing the device 100 in the closed position 71. In further embodiments, the male surfaces 32 and female surfaces 23 may be configured in any shape or size with the male surfaces 32 forming a shape that is smaller than the shape formed by the female surfaces 23 so that the all or portions of the male surfaces 32 may be inserted into the aperture 22 formed by the female surfaces 23. For example, a male surface 32 may comprise a relatively smaller five point star shape which may be inserted into a relatively larger pentagon shaped female surface 23
In preferred embodiments, one or more male surfaces 32 and female surfaces 23 forming the aperture 22 may be complementary in shape. For example, a male surfaces 32 may form a generally cylindrical shape and the female surfaces 23 forming the aperture 22 may also form a generally cylindrical shape so that the male surfaces 32 may contact or be brought in close proximity to the female surfaces 23 when the male surfaces 32 of the male retainer 31 are inserted into the aperture 22. As another example, a male surfaces 32 may form a generally heart shape and the female surfaces 23 forming the aperture 22 may also form a generally heart shape so that the male surfaces 32 may contact or be brought in close proximity to the female surfaces 23 when the male surfaces 32 of the male retainer 31 are inserted into the aperture 22. The male surfaces 32 and female surfaces 23 may be configured in any complementary shape or shapes, including, circles, ovals, ellipses, crescents, curvilinear triangles, quatrefoils, parallelograms, squares, rectangles, trapezoids, trapeziums, triangles, kites, rhombi, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, nonagons, decagons, or any other shapes, including combinations of shapes.
In preferred embodiments, the male surfaces 32 and female surfaces 23 may be configured in any shape or size with the male surfaces 32 forming a shape that is complementary to and smaller than the shape formed by the female surfaces 23 so that the all or portions of the male surfaces 32 may be inserted into the aperture 22 formed by the female surfaces 23. In further embodiments, the female surfaces 23 may form a shape that is approximately 0.05% to 10% larger than the complementary shape formed by the male surfaces 32. For example, the female surfaces 23 may form a square shape that is approximately 0.05% to 10% larger than the complementary square shape formed by the male surfaces 32.
In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more lower limiter surfaces 41 which may contact one or more upper limiter surfaces 42 when the device 100 is in the closed position 71 to limit the amount of the male surfaces 32 that may be inserted into the aperture 22 formed by the female surfaces 23. In further embodiments, a lower limiter surface 41 may contact an upper limiter surface 42 when portions of the male surfaces 32 of the male retainer 31 are inserted into an aperture 22 of the female retainer 31 to limit the insertion of the portions of the male retainer 21 into the aperture of the female retainer 31. As perhaps best shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the male retainer 31 may be required to be positioned below the aperture 22 of the female retainer 21 before portions of the male retainer 31 may be inserted into the aperture 22 of the female retainer 21 so that once in the closed position 71, the movement of the male retainer 31 and its respective second end 13 may be limited to movement substantially in one direction, such as down, on the z-axis. In alternative embodiments, the male retainer 31 may be required to be positioned above the aperture 22 of the female retainer 21 before portions of the male retainer 31 may be inserted into the aperture 22 of the female retainer 21 so that once in the closed position 71, the movement of the male retainer 31 and its respective second end 13 may be limited to movement substantially in one direction, such as up, on the z-axis.
While some materials have been provided, in other embodiments, the elements that comprise the device 100 such as the band 11, female retainer 21, male retainer 31, optional fixtures 14, and/or any other element discussed herein may be made from or comprise durable materials such as aluminum, steel, other metals and metal alloys, wood, hard rubbers, hard plastics, fiber reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, resins, polymers or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. Additionally, one or more elements may be made from or comprise durable and slightly flexible materials such as soft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. In some embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or connected together with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, or any other suitable joining method. In other embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or removably connected by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as hook and loop type or Velcro® fasteners, magnetic type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, sealable tongue and groove fasteners, snap fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, a push-to-lock type connection method, a turn-to-lock type connection method, a slide-to-lock type connection method or any other suitable temporary connection method as one reasonably skilled in the art could envision to serve the same function. In further embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled by being one of connected to and integrally formed with another element of the device 100.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
