JEWELRY STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

A jewelry storage device for organizing and storing jewelry in a discreet manner comprising a base portion, a lid portion, and a means to hold two or more rigid, jewelry-retaining surfaces therein. The jewelry-retaining surfaces may include a plurality of features such as tabs with snap button closures, apertures, elastic bands, cut-outs, pockets and other means of securing jewelry which may be configured in various combinations to allow for the efficient storage and display of various jewelry items in an organized and secure manner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional patent application does not claim the benefit of any prior U.S. provisional patent applications.

BACKGROUND—PRIOR ART

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:

U.S. Patents

	Patent Number	Kind Code	Issue Date	Patentee
	4,287,986	1981 Sep. 8	Beck
	4,324,446	1982 Apr. 13	LeSage
	4,720,012	1988 Jan. 19	Dufour
	4,848,585	1989 Jul. 18	Snyder
	5,020,673	1991 Jun. 4	Adams

U.S. Patents

	Patent Number	Kind Code	Issue Date	Patentee
	5,069,332		1991 Dec. 3	Williams et al.
	6,959,806	B2	2005 Nov. 1	Barker
	9,635,917	B2	2017 May 2	Whitley et al.
	9,873,283	B1	2018 Jan. 23	Banov

Standard jewelry boxes, cases, and travel portfolios or the like, typically comprise a multitude of preset compartments or jewelry-retaining features and do not provide adaptable jewelry storage that allows a user to add and/or remove sections designated for particular jewelry items so that it more efficiently serves the storage needs of the user. Said jewelry boxes, cases, and travel portfolios or the like also provide minimal, if any, protection, or barriers, from one jewelry item to the next. Consequently, the jewelry items stored become more difficult to view and/or access as each item is stored in common spaces, thereby mixing in with a multitude of other items additionally risking entanglement and damage. Moreover, standard jewelry boxes are either bulky or irregular in shape making it unideal for transport from one location to the next as well as more space-consuming or difficult to place in the home in a discreet manner. Currently, other jewelry storage devices in a similar book-like format as the present invention are intended solely for earrings and/or delicate or non-bulky necklaces thereby heavily limiting the storage options for its user, more particularly by preventing the storage of larger statement necklaces.

Accordingly, there is a particular need for an adaptable and discreet jewelry storage device that provides the user with the ability to store a wide variety of jewelry items based on their specific needs including but not limited to delicate necklaces, statement or bulky necklaces, stud earrings, statement earrings, rings, bracelets and watches in an organized, efficient and safe manner while still allowing the user to easily view and access all items in said device.

SUMMARY

The present invention seeks to provide a jewelry storage device resembling the likeness of a book, binder, portfolio, or the like in which it may allow the jewelry stored therein to be effectively organized and secured as well as easily visible and accessible by means of a multitude of jewelry-retaining surfaces. The jewelry storage device may be broadly described as comprising a base portion, a lid portion, and a means to removably attach a plurality of inflexible planar surfaces therein in which said surfaces may contain any combination of jewelry-retaining features including, but not limited to, elastic bands, tabs with button closures, apertures for earrings, pockets, detachable padded bands and cut-outs. The rigid, planar, jewelry-retaining surfaces will herein be referred to as the “pages” of the jewelry storage device and may be offered in a variety of combinations of jewelry-retaining features in which different combinations may be designated for a more specific range of jewelry items thus allowing the user to tailor the jewelry storage device to accommodate only the jewelry items they deem necessary for their personal use. Furthermore, the inclusion and versatility of the removably attached pages may provide the ability for the jewelry storage device to continue to be adapted at a later time if the jewelry storage needs of the user are to change.

In one embodiment, the base portion may include a plurality of rectangular panels attached to the peripheral sides thereof. The lid portion may comprise a single rectangular panel attached to the base portion by means of a spinal portion. The rectangular panels attached to the base portion may include a plurality of magnetic components throughout the top edges, which may be aligned with a plurality of magnetic components that may be included along the outer edges of the lid portion allowing the jewelry storage device to be magnetically bound in a closed configuration and respectively easily pulled apart to an open configuration for quick access to the jewelry therein. The means of holding a plurality of pages may comprise a binder ring mechanism permanently affixed to the base portion to allow said surfaces to be neatly stacked and remain unmoved upon the opening of the jewelry storage device.

In another embodiment, both the base portion and the lid portion attached by means of a spinal portion may include a plurality of rectangular panels attached to the peripheral sides respectively thereof. The rectangular panels opposite the side of the spinal portion may incorporate a permanently affixed mechanism on its outer surfaces such as a two-part lock, or tabs incorporating Velcro-like members to retain the jewelry storage device in a closed configuration when not in use. The means of holding a plurality of pages therein may be incorporated along the spinal portion and may comprise a binder ring mechanism or a multitude of rows of buttons spaced along the linear axis of the spinal portion or a multitude of zipper fasteners spaced in parallel respect to one another, in which either of the latter options may incorporate their respective counterparts on the leftmost edges of each jewelry-retaining surface.

In yet another embodiment, the rectangular panels may be replaced with fabric members that may incorporate a zipper throughout the length of the edges of said fabric members to allow the jewelry storage device to be selectively zipped or unzipped in a closed or open configuration respectively.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a jewelry storage device that allows its users to easily interchange the jewelry-retaining components therein so that said storage device can be tailored to the users' specific storage needs which may or may not include the need to store larger statement necklaces or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry storage device with the means of holding a multitude of rigid, planar pages therein with a plurality of jewelry-retaining features that allow for jewelry to be stored in a lay-flat position and simultaneously secured in place to prevent significant shifting or entangling of any jewelry items while the jewelry storage device is being handled, stored or transported.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry storage device that is both compact and discreet as well as versatile in the manner that it may be stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and various inventive concepts described herein, reference is now made to a description along with accompanying figures. It is to be noted that the figures described are representative of a specific embodiment and shall be interpreted as illustrated and not in a limiting sense. It will be appreciated that modifications and substitutions may be made by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s) without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure and that any additional embodiments fall within the scope of the embodiment described herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the jewelry storage device in a closed configuration.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view from the front of the jewelry storage device in FIG. 1 in a closed configuration with a page removably attached to a binder ring mechanism therein as well as magnetic components incorporated within the side panels of the base portion as well as the lid portion to effectively retain said device in a closed configuration.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view from the bottom of the jewelry storage device in FIG. 1 in a closed configuration with a plurality of pages removably attached to a binder ring mechanism therein.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the jewelry storage device in FIG. 1 in a closed configuration.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the jewelry storage device in FIG. 1 in a partially open configuration with the rectangular panels flexibly attached to the base portion folded outwardly and a plurality of pages included therein.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the jewelry storage device in FIG. 1 in a fully open configuration with the rectangular panels flexibly attached to the base portion folded outwardly and no pages included therein.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustration of a page configured to retain earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry items in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustration of a page configured to retain a plurality of necklaces in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustration of another embodiment of a page configured to retain a plurality of necklaces in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a front view illustration of another embodiment of a page configured to retain earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry items in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a front view illustration of a page configured to retain watches, bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry items in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following embodiments discussed in detail below are merely representative and should not be interpreted as the limit nor scope of the present invention. The jewelry storage device may comprise a variety of colors, designs, and features in addition to or in lieu of those described below to suit user and manufacturing preference.

In the description which follows, specifications will make reference to the figures listed above using the same numerals as is included on the drawings.

The present invention may provide an assortment of interchangeable pages 7 that may be encompassed in a jewelry storage device FIG. 1 that may resemble both the outer physicality of a standard hard-cover book as well as the functionality of a book and/or binder or the like in the sense that the pages 7 may be flipped through in order to view and access the jewelry stored therein.

The jewelry storage device in the illustrated embodiment may comprise a lid portion 1 and a base portion 2 which may be connected by means of a spinal portion 4. Said portions 1, 2 and 4 may be constructed of a sturdy base material such as, but not limited to, binder's board or heavy paperboard or a rigid plastic sheeting material, and then fully covered in a soft fabric such as velvet or suede or another material typical to the art such as buckram or other cloth or leather. It is to be understood that other suitable materials or combination of materials may be used in constructing and/or covering the aforementioned portions without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

The base portion 2 may include a plurality of rectangular panels 3a-3c as seen in FIGS. 1, 3-6 flexibly attached to the peripheral sides thereof to allow the device FIG. 1 to be fully enclosed while in a closed configuration as seen in FIGS. 1-4. Inclusion of magnetic components 6 as seen in FIG. 2 along the edges of said panels 3a-3c as well as the outer edges of the lid portion 1 may act as a means to retain the jewelry storage device FIG. 1 in a closed configuration and then may respectively be pulled apart into an open configuration. The rectangular panels 3a-3c may also act as a barrier against dust thereby prolonging the life and quality of the jewelry stored within the device FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the rectangular panels 3a-3c may be folded outwardly while the device FIG. 1 is an open configuration as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 to allow easier access to any pages 7 stored therein. However, it is to be understood that the ability to outwardly extend said panels 3a-3c is not required to maintain the integrity nor inventive concept of the present invention and shall be interpreted as illustrated and not in a limiting sense. The rectangular panels 3a-3c may be flexibly attached to the outermost edges of the base portion 2 to create an exterior appearing flush around all sides while in a closed configuration or may be affixed slightly inward of the inner surface of the base portion 2 thereby creating a lip around the peripheral edges of the base portion 2 and lid portion 1 to further elaborate on the aesthetic reference to the outer physicality of a hard-cover book. These panels 3a-3c may be constructed of a sturdy base material such as, but not limited to, binder's board or heavy paperboard or a rigid plastic sheeting material, and then fully covered in a soft fabric such as velvet or suede or another material typical to the art such as buckram or other cloth or leather. The sturdy nature of the materials used to construct all external portions 1-4 of the jewelry storage device FIG. 1 in conjunction with the connecting mechanisms such as the magnetic components 6 that allow the device FIG. 1 to be retained in a closed configuration provide the ability of said device FIG. 1 to be stored in a vertical or horizontal manner when not in use.

The pages 7 may be constructed of a base material such as, but not limited to, binder's board, heavy paperboard, plastic sheeting, or another material with the same rigidity but reduced thickness in comparison to the external components 1-4 of the device FIG. 1, and then fully covered in a soft fabric such as, but not limited to, velvet, suede, or leather.

A binder ring mechanism 5 may be permanently affixed to the leftmost inner surface of the base portion 2 as seen in FIGS. 2, 3 AND 6 to provide the means of holding pages within the jewelry storage device FIG. 1. The mechanism 5 may range from 1″-4″ in height and will ultimately dictate the maximum number of pages 7 that may be stored within said device FIG. 1. The described mechanism 5 in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is a 3-ring, D-ring binder mechanism 5 in which the flat end of the D-ring will be configured on the right hand side of the mechanism 5 in order to allow the pages to stack exactly aligned on top of one another as seen in FIG. 3. The binder mechanism 5 will further provide the means to remove, add, or swap additional pages 7 to the jewelry storage device FIG. 1 thereby addressing the need for a device that can be adapted to fit more or less of a particular category of jewelry or other item. Additionally, the placement of the mechanism 5 on the leftmost edge of the inner surface of the base portion 2 will allow the mechanism 5 and removably attached pages 7 to be unmoved when the jewelry storage device FIG. 1 moves from a closed configuration to an open configuration and vice versa. However, it is to be noted that other embodiments may comprise substitutions of the 3-ring, D-ring binder mechanism 5 as well as it's placement and may still fall within the scope of the embodiment described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 7-11, each page 7a-7e will comprise a front surface and back surface, a plurality of apertures 8 to allow said binder ring mechanism 5 to be looped through thereby removably attaching said pages 7a-7e within the device FIG. 1, and various combinations of jewelry-retaining features such as, but not limited to, elastic bands 12, 19, tabs 9, 15, 20 with button closures 10, pockets 17, apertures for earrings 13, and cut-outs 16, depending on what category or categories of jewelry the page is intended for. It is to be noted that the following pages described herein shall be interpreted as illustrative to the embodiment being described and not in a limiting sense. It should be appreciated that other combinations of said features may be configured together and still fall within the scope of the embodiment described herein.

Referring to FIG. 7, the illustrated page 7a comprises a plurality of apertures 13 made in a concise pattern throughout a plurality of tabs 9 in which earring posts or hooks may be inserted in and through and additionally earring backs, if necessary, may be attached from behind said tabs 9 to secure earrings in place. One or more elastic bands 12 approximately 1 cm thick as measured from the top edge to the bottom edge may be incorporated and run horizontally across the page 7a underneath the tabs 9 containing the apertures 13 in which the user will have the ability to further secure larger earrings to the surface of the page 7a by sliding the earrings underneath said elastic 12. The elastic bands 12 may additionally feature a seam 14 in one or more locations throughout the length of the band thereby permanently affixing said bands 12 in the respective locations to provide an even more secure fit for any excess portions of earrings that may be stored underneath.

Referring to FIG. 8, the illustrated page 7b comprises a multitude of tabs 15 with snap button closures 10 in which the clasp end of the necklace(s) may be looped through and hung. A plurality of elastic bands 14 approximately 1 cm thick as measured from the top edge to the bottom edge may be incorporated and run horizontally across the page 7b at various longitudinal points to provide a means of securely restraining necklaces at various lengths to the page 7b. Said elastic bands 12 may incorporate seams 14 at various points along the length of each band 12 thereby permanently affixing the bands 12 to the surface in the respective locations allowing the necklaces to be effectively separated preventing possible entanglement and damage.

Referring to FIG. 9, the illustrated page 7c comprises a plurality of cut-outs 16 along the top edge wherein either side of the chains or straps of a necklace or necklaces, more particularly, larger statement or bulky necklaces, may be able to fit into said cut-outs 16 so that the foremost section of the necklace(s) will be displayed on the front surface of the page 7c. Any remaining chain, clasp, and/or backing of the necklace will hang along the back surface and be further retained by means of a pocket 17 with a button snap closure 10 thereby creating a protective barrier between said remaining chains, clasps or backings and any jewelry that may be stored on a following page 7. Said pocket 17 may be constructed of a soft fabric, generally in accord with the same material covering the pages 7 but may be constructed of any other suitable material or fabric without affecting the overall concept of the invention. A plurality of elastic bands 12 approximately 1 cm wide as measured from the top edge to the bottom edge in combination with flat inverted metal tabs or hooks 18 will run horizontally across the page 7c at various longitudinal points to provide a means of securing necklaces in a lay-flat position against the front surface and thereby preventing entanglement, unfavorable compression in any direction, and possible damage to the necklaces.

Referring to FIG. 10, the illustrated page 7d may comprise any combination of tabs 9 that will run horizontally across the page 7d. The tabs 9 may be permanently affixed at its center points by means of a seam 14 and incorporate a snap button closure 10 or the like on either end to allow the user to unsnap the tab 9 and slide a multitude of rings and/or bracelets onto the tab 9 to be stored and easily viewable. Additionally, one or more elastic bands 12 may be configured underneath one of more of the tabs 9 thereby providing additional means to secure any loose-hanging bracelets to the surface of the page 7d. Furthermore, the bottom portion of the page 7d may comprise a pocket feature 17 to retain other rings, bracelets, or other jewelry items that may be irregular in shape and/or unable to be retained using the aforementioned tabs 9.

Referring to FIG. 11, the illustrated page 7e may comprise a plurality of wider elastic bands 19 in conjunction with wider tabs 20 with button closures 10. The tabs 20 may be permanently affixed to the page 7e at its center point by means of a seam 14 and additionally incorporate snap buttons 10 on either end thereby allowing the tab 20 to be unsnapped into an open configuration so that one or more watches may be looped through said tab 20. The addition of the wider elastic bands 19 running horizontally underneath each tab 20 will provide a means to secure the watch(es) to the surface of the page 7e.

Each page 7a-7e described in detail above can be added or removed from the jewelry storage device to better suit the storage needs of the user. Accordingly, the user may adapt the jewelry storage device to comprise only means for organizing and displaying larger statement necklaces if that is their desire. In the same respect, the jewelry storage device FIG. 1 may be adapted to comprise only means of storing and displaying any other specific category of jewelry item, or any combination of categories of jewelry items, if that is the desire of the user.

A travel version of the present invention (not pictured) may comprise the same composition of the base portion 2, the lid portion 1, the spinal portion 4, the rigid pages 7, and binder ring mechanism 5, in addition to other features, but may replace the rectangular panels 3a-3c with fabric members attached to the peripheral edges of the lid portion 1 and base portion 2 and furthermore incorporate a zipper fastener in lieu of any magnetic components 6 thereby creating a more secure enclosure of the jewelry storage device for purpose of travel.

While the invention has been described with respect to illustrated embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved in its broader aspects. Accordingly, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrated and not in limiting sense.

Claims

1. A jewelry storage device for organizing, storing, and displaying jewelry in a discreet manner comprising: 1. a base portion having a plurality of rectangular panels attached to the peripheral edges thereof and extending outwardly therefrom, and defining a compartment therebetween,2. a lid portion connected to said back portion by means of a spinal portion,3. a means of retaining said device in a closed configuration,4. an engageable means of holding rigid, planar, jewelry-retaining surfaces therein5. a plurality of removably attached rigid, planar, jewelry-retaining surfaces that consist of varying combinations of tabs with button closures, elastic bands, apertures, pockets and cut-outs.

2. The jewelry storage device of claim 1 wherein said rectangular panels are flexibly attached to said base portion and can be folded outwardly to provide easier access to said jewelry-retaining surfaces stored therein.

3. The jewelry storage device of claim 1 wherein said means of retaining said device in a closed configuration is a plurality of magnetic components spaced along the outermost edges of said rectangular panels and said lid portion, respectively.

4. The jewelry storage device of claim 1 wherein said means of retaining said device in a closed configuration is a two-part locking mechanism with each counterpart permanently affixed to the outer surfaces of said rectangular panels and said lid portion.

5. The jewelry storage device of claim 1 wherein said means of retaining said device in a closed configuration is a tab comprising Velcro with each counterpart permanently affixed to the outer surfaces of said rectangular panels and said lid portion.

6. The jewelry storage device of claim 1 wherein said means of retaining said device in a closed configuration is a loop and button closure with each counterpart permanently affixed to the outer surfaces of said rectangular panels and said lid portion

7. A jewelry storage device for organizing, storing, and displaying jewelry in a discreet manner comprising: 1. a base portion comprising a single rigid panel and having a single fabric member attached along the peripheral edges thereof,2. a lid portion comprising a single rigid panel connected to said back portion by means of a spinal portion and having a single fabric member attached along the peripheral edges thereof,3. a fastener incorporated along the outer edges of said fabric members so that said device may be selectively zipped into a closed configuration or unzipped into an open configuration,4. an engageable means of holding rigid, planar, jewelry-retaining surfaces therein,5. a plurality of removably attached rigid, planar, jewelry-retaining surfaces that consist of varying combinations of tabs with button closures, elastic bands, apertures, pockets, and cut-outs.

8. The jewelry storage device of claim 1 or 7 wherein said engageable means of holding rigid, planar, jewelry-retaining surfaces is a binder ring mechanism.

9. The jewelry storage device of claim 1 or 7 wherein said engageable means of holding rigid, planar, jewelry-retaining surfaces is a plurality of rows of snap buttons spaced apart along a linear axis.

10. The jewelry storage device of claim 1 or 7 wherein said engageable means of holding rigid, planar, jewelry retaining surfaces is a plurality of zipper fasteners spaced in parallel relationship to one another.