Patent Application
20120234044
The present invention relates to the field of jewelry and more particularly to a modular system for creating a custom military service ring.
Personalized military rings are known in the art and typically have one or more customizable aspects with the level of customization varying for different manufacturers and for varying styles of rings. For example, some jewelers offer school-style U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and U.S. Coast Guard rings. After the individual selects the Military branch, he or she then selects a ring style (e.g., rectangle or oval). The individual then selects a side panel for each side of the ring. For example, if the individual selects the U.S. Army, side panel options include 1st Infantry, 82nd Airborne, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 18th MP Brigade. Other customizable aspects include stone color (e.g., birthstone), metal quality, wording around the stone, and inside engraving (e.g., name or initials). The school-style type military rings offered by these jewelers and many other manufactures are not desirable because they generally look gaudy and cheap.
Further, other ring designers offer U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Merchant Marine Classic Military Rings. The Classic Military Rings are solid metal and are designed to look cleaner and higher-end than the school-style military ring. The customization of these rings, however, is limited and the individual can select only a single insignia to be displayed. For example, for U.S. Army, the individual may select an insignia from the following types: traditional insignia (e.g., Army, Army National Guard, Army Vietnam, Army Reserve), historic insignia (e.g., Army Air Force, Women's Army Corps, Army Security Agency), special forces insignia (e.g., Army Ranger, Special Forces), badges/medals insignia (e.g., Drill Sergeant, Combat Medic, Parachutist), branch and command insignia (e.g., Cavalry, Army JAG Corps, Army Engineer, Military Police Corps), rank insignia (e.g., Army Staff Sergeant, Army Colonel), division./brigade/regiment combat team insignia (e.g., 1st Cavalry Division, 25th Infantry Division), or POW/MIA insignia. The only other customizable aspects of the ring are the metal choice and a diamond option. These rings are not desirable because they are capable of displaying only a single insignia.
Therefore, it is desirable to have military service ring having a plurality of customizable aspects and interchangeable insignia.
Further, it is desirable to have a military service ring that is commemorative.
Moreover, it is desirable to have a high-end customizable military service ring capable of displaying more than one insignia and/or pieces of information.
As used herein, the term “interchangeable circular insignia” means any symbol, picture, stamp, design, pin, or memorabilia which may be attached to a ring.
As used herein, the term “mounting hole” means any aperture, groove, slot or hole which a peg or knob may be inserted.
As used herein, the term “trough” means an indentation or recessed area below the surface.
As used herein, the term “word insignia” means any combination of letters and numbers which may be mounted on a ring.
The present invention is a modular ring apparatus and system for creating a custom military service ring. The modular apparatus and system is comprised of a ring having an inner wall and outer wall, wherein the outer wall has two troughs indented where military insignia may be mounted and interchanged. Further, the top of the modular ring has a circular mounting component comprised of three concentric circular mounting portions. An outside mounting porting may be used to mount word indicia indicating rank and theater, and the inner portion may be used to mount more military insignia. Both troughs and the center circular mounting portion have mounting holes, which allow military insignia to be connected and disconnected. Military insignia may be removed and interchanged to create a customizable military ring displaying an individual's service.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text to exemplary embodiments of a modular system for creating a custom military service ring, only some of which are described herein. It should be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are intended by describing these exemplary embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that alternate but functionally equivalent designs and placement may be used. The inclusion of additional elements may be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Specific elements disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements.
Moreover, the terms “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could perm permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.
In the embodiment shown, modular ring 100 has left trough 20, right trough 30 and an indicia receiving mounting portion comprised of outer circular mounting portion 40, middle circular portion 50 and center circular mounting portion 60. Mounting portions 40, 50 and 60 are raised concentric rings which form a mounting portion for receiving military insignia. In an exemplary embodiment, the three concentric rings may be different colors and have different insignia mounted to them. In other embodiments, the three concentric rings may also be different heights.
In the embodiment shown, left trough 20 and right trough 30 are indentations in outer wall 12 which allow military insignia to be placed into the indention. Troughs 20 and 30 are flush with outer wall 12 at the bottom most end and indent into ring body 10 closer to outer circular mounting portion 40. This allows for military insignia to be recessed into the sides of the ring. In the embodiment shown, troughs 20 and 30 are semi-square shaped.
Further, in the embodiment shown, modular ring 100 has left mounting hole 70, right mounting hole 80, and center mounting hole 90. Mounting holes are small apertures where military insignia ay be attached. For example, a small military insignia will have a knob or peg on the back which inserts into the mounting holes. Military insignia may be removed and interchanged to make a modular customized ring.
In the embodiment shown, the main mounting portion of unadorned modular ring 100 is comprised of outer circular mounting portion 40, middle circular portion 50 and center circular mounting portion 60. In the embodiment shown, outer circular mounting portion 40 and center circular mounting portion 60 may be the same color, and middle circular portion 50 may be of a different color to accent the outside and center sections. The entire main mounting portion is circular, but in other embodiments may be square, rectangular, triangular or any other geometric shape used in the art.
In the embodiment shown, left trough 20 has left mounting hole 70 which is an aperture in ring body 10 that allows military insignia to be mounted and displayed. Outer circular mounting portion 40 is raised about ring body 10. In the embodiment shown, ring body 10 is narrower at the bottom and wider at the top where the mounting portion is located. In other embodiment, ring body 10 may be one consistent width. In the embodiment shown, the walls of trough 20 are parallel to front side surface 13 and back side surface 14. In other embodiments, trough 20 may be entirely square or oval shaped.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, word insignia 120 is comprised of two concentric metal rings with words between them. Word insignia ring 120 may be mounted to outer circular mounting portion 40. Word insignia 120 may contain any identifying words, for example, the theater of operation (e.g., Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) and the dates of service appear in lettering on the top half of word insignia 120. The unit name may appears in lettering on the bottom half of word insignia 120. For example, the top half of word insignia 120 may read, from left to right; “2/67 VIETNAM 5/69” while the bottom half of word insignia 120 may read, from right to left, “716th COMBAT MP BN”. Word insignia 120 may be integrally mounted to outer circular mounting portion 40 by any means including but not limited to adhesives, soldering, welding and any other means known to those skilled in the art.
In the embodiment shown, unadorned modular ring 100 also includes interchangeable military insignia 130a, 130b, and 130c which may be any insignia with a small peg or knob that can mount to mounting holes 70, 80 or 90. Interchangeable circular insignia 130a-c may have pegs or knobs which may be soldered, glued, or connected using any other means known to one skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown, interchangeable circular insignia 130a-c are removably connected but may be connected permanently.
In an exemplary embodiment of the modular system, interchangeable circular insignia 130a-c depicting an image that represents a military specialty, unit, rank or rate, combat, service campaign, medal or award, or another image of significance would be available. Additionally, interchangeable circular insignia 130a-c may be any plurality of military insignia, for example, traditional U.S. Army insignia, modern U.S. Army insignia, U.S. Navy insignia, U.S. Marine Corps insignia, traditional U.S. Air Force insignia, modern U.S. Air Force insignia, and U.S. Coast Guard insignia.
In the embodiment shown, unadorned modular ring 100, interchangeable circular insignia 130a-b, and word insignia 120 may be comprised of gold, platinum, titanium, silver, brass, white gold, tungsten carbide, stainless steel or any other metal known to those skilled in the art. Interchangeable circular insignia 130a-b, and word insignia 120 may be minted, molded, or created using another process known in the art. Interchangeable circular insignia 130a-b, and word insignia 120 may be secured permanently to the top and sides of the ring or may be removable, allowing the insignia to be interchanged as desired.
In the embodiment shown, enter circular mounting portion 60 may be recessed and adapted to receive interchangeable circular insignia 130a. The dimensions of the circular insignia would correspond to the dimensions of center circular mounting portion 60 and when interchangeable circular insignia 130a is positioned in the recessed area, the top of interchangeable circular insignia 130a would be flush with the surface of middle circular portion 50 surrounding the recessed center circular mounting portion 60. In an alternate embodiment, the top of the interchangeable circular insignia 130a may be slightly raised over the middle circular portion 50 surrounding the recessed area. In other embodiments, both outer circular mounting portion 40 and center circular mounting portion 60 may be lower than middle circular portion 50, so that when word insignia 120 and interchangeable circular insignia 130a may be level across. In the embodiments shown, the upper portion of each of the side insignias is visible from the top of the ring when positioned.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/453,403 filed on Mar. 16, 2011 and by reference is hereby incorporated in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61453403 | Mar 2011 | US |
