Patent Grant
9326571
The present invention relates to a jewelry and particularly to jewelry with mobile and changeable decorative elements to change the look of the jewelry.
Wearing jewelry to enhance appearance of various parts of the body is a concept that predates recorded history. Jewelry designs generally include some kind of gemstone or decorative construction attached in a mounting. Large variety of jewelry is typically fashioned in such a way that they form a single static unit, such that it provides the jewelry wearer with one look for every item purchased.
Jewelry with different and fresh looks and appeal is often the wish of the wearer of jewelry. The desired variety can be achieved by owning a number of jewelry items, for example, several different rings, and periodically changing the ring being worn. The disadvantage of this approach is that the user is obligated to invest in a series of jewelry items which, for the most part, lie idly in the jewelry box and are only occasionally worn.
An alternative approach is to vary the appearance of a jewelry item by detachably connecting to the jewelry item an ornamental member which alters the appearance of the overall item.
The replaceability of decorative or ornamental elements in jewelry articles such as rings, pendants, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and broaches is already known where precious stone or ornamental member can be fitted through some links or magnetic mechanism, such that the wearer can detach and re-fit different ornamental elements.
A number of concepts for attaching a decorative or ornamental element to jewelry are available. In most instances, such arrangements deploy means where the ornamental element is attached and detached in apparent and direct manner whereby it is highly probable that the appearance gets impaired or whereby the detachment can happen inadvertently.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,823,415 of Caroline, discloses a piece of jewelry with mobile elements. The piece of jewelry is toroidal in shape having an annular, enclosed space closed upon itself of which the outer wall and/or inner wall are at least partly transparent. The enclosed space holds the decorative elements freely moving inside of it. The lower ring has holes, while the upper ring has threaded holes. The holes of the lower ring are aligned with threads of the upper ring, while each of the channels of studs are aligned with a hole and threaded hole. Screw hold the two rings and toward the edges of the outer wall and inner wall. While the design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,823,415 has some element of dynamism in looks due to mobility, it does not offer variety in appearance as such.
EP patent no 1314372 to Philip, discloses a bracelet having a strap with one or more jewels moving in the piece of jewelry. A portion of the bracelet is divided longitudinally into two parts, wherein the guide is formed by the guide slots, which are arranged in mutually facing surfaces of the part and the support part guide members are arranged, which project into the guide slots. The strap comprises means for changing jewels. While the disclosure does offer variation in appearance, the arrangement of opening, changing and assembling is fairly extensive and needing care and skill, which is not “jewelry-like” and discouraging to wearers.
EP patent no 0613344 to Albrecht, discloses a piece of jewelry having an annularly closed bracelet with two or more ring-shaped frame longitudinal members which are in the direction of the axis of the ring axially disposed adjacent one another and at an axial distance from one another. The longitudinal frames are connected to each other with traverse webs. The decorative elements provided glide over the longitudinal frame. However, the piece of jewelry disclosed does not allow the personalization of the jewelry to match the attire of the user as it has no provision for changing the decorative elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,262 to Carl discloses an item of jewelry which includes an elongated mounting base in the form of a straight, curved or angled bar, or the like, of polygonal cross-sectional configuration having one or a plurality of gems longitudinally slidably mounted thereon with each gem including a gem mount having a hollow passageway inter-fitting with the bar to provide sliding movement. The patent discloses that assembly and dis-assembly of the mount needs use of a pliers or an equivalent tool, and this implies that the changeability is not intended to be achievable by the wearer. Also, opening and closing the mount few time shall cause permanent deformation and shall eventually cause mechanical fracture at the edge of the split sleeve of the mount
U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,757 to Joseph discloses an article of jewelry with a moveable mounting. The tracks are placed parallel for receiving a sliding gem mounting which move within the tracks of the bracelet. The track and gem both have construction that allows the mobility of the gem. The article of jewelry in this prior art allows mobility of the gems but the construction is complex. The user has to make sure that the construction of the gem fits exactly with the internal construction of tracks. The article of jewelry does not allow the user option of addability and changeability of the elements according to one's wish for matching the attire and the occasion.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,488,415 and 5,165,257 disclose jewelry with modularity and changeability however there is no dynamism or mobility feature.
International application, Publication Number WO2014/032075A1 discloses a jewelry assembly with sliding pendants, having two/three chain rails on which separate interchangeable link charms are slid and held in place. The charms have open tubular loops. The key construction of the clasp is passed through the opening of the tubular loops to be able to assemble the charms on the rails. The construction apparently has mobility; however changeability is with high skill, therefore not meant for the wearer. The opening of the tubular loops is towards the body of the wearer and is likely to cause bruises, when charms move or even when stationery.
It is understood from the foregoing that achieving elegant mobility and easy changeability in a jewelry remains a challenge.
To achieve changeability feature, in particular by wearer, there needs to some non permanent and mechanical arrangement, which is intuitive and simple, allowing the user to himself change the overall appearance of the jewelry. Changeability arrangement, however, is either complex or mars the aesthetics and appearance of the jewelry and results in compromise on basic aspect of the jewelry. Also, such jewelry has less perceived “value”.
Our invention addresses and solves these problems.
The objective of the invention is to derive variety of looks from jewelry by adding a decorative element in the jewelry.
Another objective of the invention is to derive variety of looks from jewelry by adding multiple decorative elements in the jewelry.
Another objective of the invention is to provide elegant mobility to the elements in jewelry.
Another objective of the invention is to conceal the construction and arrangement of replacement and addition of decorative elements.
Another objective of the invention is to provide to the wearer an easy arrangement of changeability and addability of the decorative element.
Another objective of the invention is to ensure abundant security of the replaceable elements against inadvertent falling off.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an economical piece of jewelry by less use of precious metal.
The present invention discloses jewelry wherein one or more decorative elements can be added and or changed, by the wearer, and the decorative elements in the jewelry are mobile. The mechanical arrangement to replace the decorative elements is secure, such that the decorative element cannot dislodge inadvertently and at the same time the mechanical arrangement is self concealing.
The jewelry has a frame, comprising of a main frame and a secondary frame that are connected to each other by a plurality of connectors placed perpendicular to the main frame and the secondary frame. These connectors are placed onto a rear side of the main frame, so that they do not impair the aesthetics of the jewelry.
The main frame has an elongated portion, a curved portion and a lock system, forming a closed loop structure. The main frame and the secondary frame form a track onto which plurality of decorative elements is mounted and allowing the plurality of decorative element to oscillate freely in the frame. The main frame exhibits the decorative element while the secondary frame provides additional firmness and richness to the jewelry. The jewelry while having larger outlook and volume coverage has large empty space and is therefore perceivably economical with respect to jewelry of comparable overall size.
The lock system is a part of the main frame. The lock system has an arm having a curved shape, where a first end of the arm is attached to the elongated portion of the main frame through a pivot joint while a second end of the arm has a groove region. The groove region is optionally provided with a depression zone, termed groove. The groove accommodates a projection zone, termed ledge, which is optionally present on the ledge region on the other elongated portion of the main frame. Groove regions and ledge regions are individually each slightly less than half sections of the profile of the main frame, such that, the profile looks joint-less, once ledge region and groove region overlap in closed configuration.
An open configuration is obtained by turning the arm of the lock system away along the pivot joint so as to undo the overlap between the grove region and the ledge region, thus separating the connection formed earlier between the ledge and the groove. The turning away movement of the arm is obtained due to the pivot joint. The open configuration allows the user to insert or remove the plurality of elements into/from the main frame.
A closed configuration is obtained by turning the arm so as to overlap the ledge region and groove region along the pivot joint allowing the connection between the ledge and the groove. The closed configuration traps the inserted element in the main frame.
A leaf spring is placed internally in the arm of the lock system allowing the arm to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration and vice versa. The leaf spring toggles the arm between the open configuration and closed configuration.
A flip-over lock is present near the lock system and attached to the secondary frame at the rear side of the main frame through a hinge joint. The lock system cannot open once secured with the flip-over safety lock thus further protecting the decorative elements in the main frame. The flip-over safety lock hides joints and overlapping regions thus improving aesthetical value
The plurality of decorative elements has a compatible channel configuration such that the elements can be easily mounted and un-mounted from the main frame. The main frame has a round cross-section compatible with corresponding channel configuration of the decorative element, such that the decorative element can be easily inserted, removed and is free to oscillate.
Preferred embodiment of our invention of a jewelry (100), changeable and addable with a plurality of decorative element (90) will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms and expressions which have been used here are merely for description and not for limitation.
In the preferred embodiment according to the
Referring to
The main frame (10) and secondary frame (20), as shown in
As illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
The arm (41) has a tendency to stayput either in close configuration (60) or in open configuration (50) depending on position of fulcrum end (451) of leaf spring (45) on pip (51).
Referring to
Since the toggle point (52) is significantly away from the close configuration (60), leaf spring (45) primarily secures the decorative element (90) against inadvertent disengagement of ledge region (47) and groove region (48).
According to
As shown in
To bring the arm (41) in open configuration (50), whether to remove and replace or to add the decorative elements (90), mutual disengagement as represented in
Importantly, the width (76) of the flip-over safety lock (70) is dimensioned such as to completely hide the groove region (48), the ledge region (47), the pivot joint (42), behind the width (76) of the flip-over safety lock (70) when the lock system is in close configuration (60) and projections and depressions (72, 73) are mutually engaged, and that is, when the jewelry (100) is ready to wear. Further, hinge joint (71) as well as projections and depressions (72, 73) have virtually NIL or minimal visibility from front, that is, as the jewelry appears, as in
Further, a construction termed as dummy (80), as shown in
The decorative element (90) is made of precious metal, hollow or solid, with or without precious stones, pearls, etc. The size of the decorative elements (90) may vary depending upon the shape, size and the function of the jewelry (100).
In a preferred embodiment, according to
According to
The jewelry, while forming a closed loop structure can have a circular closed loop (102), or a non-circular closed loop (103), or a partially circular closed loop or a partially non-circular closed loop, including but not limited to a heart shape, square or rectangle shape and the shape used for description here does not limit the invention in any way.
In another embodiment, referring to
The leaf spring (45) can either be provided internally in the arm (41) or in the rear of the arm (41) in a concealed manner. In another embodiment, the leaf spring (45) may be absent. Consequently, arm (41) does not toggle and can be brought in close configuration (60) and open configuration (50) manually.
As a variation, the ledge (43) can be present on the arm (41) of the lock system (40) while the groove (44) is on the elongated portion (11A) opposite to the pivot joint (42) of the arm (41).
In another embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment as shown in
The groove region (48) and the ledge region (47) can also be in same plane as shown in
The connectors can also be placed angularly and in multiple ways by which they either are concealed from primary appearance or add aesthetical value.
The jewelry can also be without flip-over lock (70).
Thus, it is clear that a large number of embodiments are possible around this invention of a jewelry with flip-over safety lock and or leaf spring redundantly locking the opening and closing arrangement so as to secure the mobile decorative elements, while concealing the mechanical arrangement; and therefore preferred embodiment disclosed above and few embodiments and variation mentioned should not be misconstrued to limit the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 835/MUM/2014 | Mar 2014 | IN | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5983669 | Karmeli | Nov 1999 | A |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 9200711 | Apr 1992 | DE |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150257497 A1 | Sep 2015 | US |
