Patent Application
20200268116
The present disclosure relates generally to toe rings and other articles of jewelry, and more particularly, to children's toe rings that present only soft engaging surfaces, so as to prevent or mitigate injury and discomfort.
Toe rings are a popular type of jewelry that have long been used to beautify the foot of the wearer. Children, in particular, often don toe rings upon the index, middle, or fourth toe; however, adults may wear them as well. Conventional toe rings, like other jewelry, typically feature a rigid, often metal (e.g., gold, silver, etc.) band or shank that engages a receiving section of the middle or proximal phalanx bone of the toe. The shank may be open or continuous, so as to at least partially encircle the bone. Typically, the toe ring also includes a setting or head that sits upon the band/shank. The setting or head also presents a rigid, hard, and inflexible (e.g., metallic, plastic, etc.) structure that is bonded (e.g., soldered, etc.) to the shank, wherein the bonding material also becomes hard; and finally, at least one gem stone may be inserted within the setting/head. The size of the band or shank is such that the ring will fit snuggly around the receiving section of the toe (e.g., generally between 0.5 and 1.5 cm in diameter). Due to the cost and hardness of the material, the head is not typically expansive and typically does not present a planar configuration overlying one or more toes.
Asides from beautification, toe rings have other associated benefits. For example, toe rings have been indicated to be worn to regulate the menstrual cycle, and thus increase the chances of conception, as it is believed in some cultures that a slight pressure on the second toe ensures a healthy uterus. Some cultures also say that the pressure felt on the second toe helps ease pain associated with child birth.
In addition to the beautification and therapeutic compression that these stylish accoutrements bring, they present various concerns that are not well known. Every year, for example, hundreds of people suffer serious injury to, and even detachment of a toe, due in part to snagging their metallic toe ring. Further, the metal band may spur or flatten, due to prolonged use, and the weight of the wearer, which may cause the band to form a sharp edge that may prick or cut the sensitive toe skin of the wearer. When the band diameter is too small, the inflexible band may be painful to place or remove passed the distal ends of the phalanx bones or knuckles, which typically present a larger diameter than the receiving section 110 of the bone. Where the band diameter is too large, a gap may result once the ring is positioned, which may snag or pinch the wearer's skin. Children, especially, may not possess the dexterity necessary to avoid such injuries.
There accordingly remains a need in the art for a new and improved article of jewelry, such as, a beautifying and stylish toe ring that prevents or mitigates injury and/or discomfort.
The present invention discloses an article of jewelry, such as a ring, or toe ring, that addresses the above-mentioned concerns. More particularly, the inventive article comprises a soft, compressible, and flexible band, and a soft, compressible, and flexible head that is coupled to the band. In a preferred embodiment, at least one bead may be further coupled to a planner head opposite the band, so as to be spaced from the wearer. As a result, the inventive article of jewelry presents only soft engaging surfaces with the phalange, when donned by a wearer. Thus, the invention is useful for reducing the potential for injury and discomfort caused by conventional toe rings. That is to say, the invention provides a flexible toe ring, that gives when snagged, that will not develop sharp spurs, and that facilitates placement and removal. In elastic configurations, the invention is further useful for applying a slight pressure to the toe, which may produce physiological benefits to the wearer. In a preferred embodiment, it is appreciated that an expansive planner configuration of the head and the soft engaging surfaces of the ring enable the inventive toe ring to be placed at or near anomalous growths (e.g. corns, scars, calluses, etc.) of the toe, so as to overlay and hide said growths, without discomfort.
The above described and other features, including the use of crochet and knitting to construct the toe ring, are exemplified by the following figures and detailed description.
Referring now to the figures, which are exemplary embodiments and wherein like elements are numbered alike:
Disclosed herein and shown in
As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, and the like do not denote any order or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another; and the terms “the”, “a”, and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Directional descriptors used herein are with reference to the toe ring. Furthermore, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints and independently combinable.
As shown in
The article of jewelry 10 may be constructed by knitting, and more preferably crochet. For example, a 2.5 or 2.75 mm crochet hook, 8M Embroidery thread floss (2 skies of different colors (A and B)), or Cascade Yarns fixation (98.3% Cotton/1.7% Spandex) may be employed. More preferably, the an elastic band 12 is further incorporated into the band so as to provide additional stretch-ability, and compressive therapeutic effect. The ring band 12 may be formed by crocheting a chain in color A, wherein row 1 is a half, double crochet in second chain from hook and in each chain across, for 10 half, double crochet. Using color B, the flower member 16 may be constructed using a chain 4 slip stitch to first chain to form a ring, for chain 3. For round 1, three double crochet inside band chain 3 and slip stitch to band, chain 3. Then 3 double crochet inside band, chain 3 and slip stitch to band, and repeat two more times. Fasten off leaving long enough tail to sew flower to band. The flower member 16 may be attached to the band at the seam (the seam made when sewing the band together). Finally, all ends are weaved in, and the excess is cut off. The preferred crocheting process is summarized as follows:
Alternatively, a bead 18 may be added by sewing or gluing the bead to the member 16, preferably in the middle of the flower, opposite the band 12 (
As shown in
While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. For example, it is appreciated that other forms of knitting, stitching, or otherwise constructing the flexible band and planar member may be utilized. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
