SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is in the field of bracelets, and more particular in the field of bracelets having a plurality of links that may differ and be exchanged with other links.
There is a category of bracelets called “Italian charm bracelets”. These bracelets consist of a number of links that can be attachably detached together to permit wearers to customize the size and look of the bracelet by simply changing links. For example, the links can have certain colors, finishes and materials, and can have badges and dangling items attached thereto, can be inscribed, painted or enameled, can have images (e.g. photographic images) formed thereon, and can have a variety of different shapes.
Wearers of these jewelry pieces enjoy the ability to have bracelets formed that truly reflects their values. Indeed, by putting together certain separate links, different themes can be established, such as “I love Hawaii”, “I love Scrapbooking”, “American Pride”, etc.
So, far, however, there have not yet been made available sets of links having several parts that that together form a composite link set, which link sets can be themed and/or form composite images, such as an image of a girl, which composite image can optionally be changed by swapping out certain links for other certain links.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary charm bracelet having a plurality of links, with the bracelet having two links disconnected to show the bracelet in a lay flat condition.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of two adjacent, connected exemplary charm links in their closed positions.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of FIG. 2, but with one link having its sliding, spring loaded lock loop is moved to be capable of engaging an open end of the adjacent link.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of FIG. 3 with a spring means shown in phantom.
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of FIG. 3
FIG. 6 is a side view of the two adjacent, exemplary charm links after being connected together, after its sliding, spring loaded lock loop is engaged with a catch of an adjacent link.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing an exemplary set of links forming a first composite image of a girl, with a head portion, a torso portion and a leg portion.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view showing an exemplary set of links forming a second composite image of a girl, with the same head portion, but a different torso and a leg portion to be wearing a different outfit.
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a third exemplary set of links forming a third composite image of a girl, with the same head portion, but a different torso and a leg portion to be wearing yet a different outfit.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a fourth exemplary set of links forming a fourth composite image of a girl, with the same torso and a leg portions as in FIG. 9, but with a different head portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning to FIG. 1, there is shown a top plan view of an exemplary charm bracelet 10 having a plurality of links 12a, 12b, 12c, 12i, and 12j with bracelet 10 having two links 12a and 12j disconnected to show the bracelet in a lay flat condition. In an actual bracket, depending on the size of the links and total length need, a greater or lesser number of links can be used. As shown, some links 12a, 12b, etc., may be unadorned, while other links e.g. 12e , 12f and 12g may have designs elements 14a, 14b, 14c thereon which form a set 30.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of two adjacent and connected exemplary charm links 12a and 12b in their closed positions. Each link has a frame portion 16 with two side section 18 and 19 and a catch bar 20 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) and a sliding, spring loaded lock loop 22 which slideably fits between the two side sections 18 and 19. Spring loaded lock loop 22 is biased so as to move backwardly into frame portion 16, but can be pushed out of frame portion 16 so that the catch bar 20 of an adjacent link can be hooked by a gap 24 in the lock loop 22 of an adjacent (not shown.)
FIGS. 3-5 are views of two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of FIG. 2, but with link 12a having its sliding, spring loaded lock loop 22 pushed out of frame 16 to be capable of engaging catch bar 20 of the adjacent link 12b by passing catch bar 20 through gap 24 in the lock loop 22.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of FIG. 3, showing in phantom a biasing spring 28 that biases lock loop 22 to its closed position of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of FIG. 3, and shows a bottom portion 26 of frame portion 16. As can be seen, in its opened position, the gap 24 of lock loop 22 is available for engagement with a catch bar 20 of an adjacent link, but in its closed position, when released, lock loop will be biased back into its frame 16 such that gap 24 is not aligned to prevent disconnection with an attached link.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the two adjacent, exemplary charm links 12a and 12b after being connected together, after the sliding, spring loaded lock loop 22 of link 12b is engaged with catch bar 20 of an adjacent link 12a, but before the lock link 22 is retracted back into its frame portion 16.
The exemplary links can be easily and quickly connected and disconnected to each other to speed up assembly and disassembly and permit customization of the charm bracelets and allow a user to change the look of the bracelet by swapping in different links.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing an exemplary set 30 having three links 32, 34, and 36 that form a first composite image of a girl 38, with a head portion 32, a torso portion 34 and a leg portion 36. The images can comprise badge pieces attached to the top of lock loop 22, can be painted directly onto the lock loops 22, etched thereon, and/or be made present in other manners.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view showing a second exemplary set 40 of three links forming a second composite image of a girl 42, wherein the difference between the first and second composite image results from swamping out the torso portion 34 and the legs portion 36 with different links 44 and 46 to form a new composite image of the same girl (having same “head” 32), but “wearing” a different outfit, e.g. a crew sleeved and necked sweater, and jeans with appliques. The torso portion can be provided with an attachment loop 48, which loop can be used to attach accessory items, as best show in FIGS. 11A and 11B.
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a third exemplary set 50 of three links forming a third composite image of the same girl's head 32, wearing a different top, e.g., a work out top 54 and work out pants 56.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a fourth exemplary set 60 of three links forming a fourth composite image of a different girl 62, wherein a different girl is shown having a different head 64, but the same “outfit” (work out top 54 and work out pants 56 as in FIG. 7.
FIG. 11A is a top plan view of an exemplary accessory item in the form of a purse 70 that has a hook 72 and FIG. 11B is a top plan view of an exemplary accessory item in the form of a sports ball 74 with a hook 76. A wide variety of other accessories can be provided. The hooks 72 and 74 are adapted to engage with the loop 48 of a torso portion 44, as shown in FIG. 8. This feature permits a wearer of the jewelry of the invention to can change accessories as desired.
Although the composite image is shown in the figures as being a girl, the composite image can comprise any number of different subjects, such as boy, a pet. Also, the composite images can be packaged and sold with one or more heads (e.g. different hair, facial coloration, features, etc. see FIGS. 7 and 10) and multiple “outfits”, such as a short sleeve blouse and low rise jeans outfit (see FIG. 7), a casual sweat and jeans outfit (FIG. 8), a workout outfit (FIG. 9), school uniform, sports themes like soccer, tennis, softball, basketball water polo, hobbies, and any number of other themes (not shown.) The provision of links that are parts of sets, and which may be switched to and matched up create different looks, provides a user with the ability to truly personalize charm bracelets. Indeed, a user may selected a link set that complements or matches a user's outfit.
Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Patent Application
20050126222
