Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6170127
-
Patent Number
6,170,127
-
Date Filed
Friday, August 6, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 9, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 024 34
- 024 31
- 024 313
- 024 33
- 024 39
- 024 116 A
- 024 299
- 024 5731
- 063 4
- 362 104
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
Disclosed is a hanger ring connected to an ornament for hanging the ornament on a necklace string. The hanger ring comprises a lower member having a body of a ∪-shaped configuration, which has a first pin hole and a depression and possesses an eye portion secured to a lower end of the body for hooking the ornament, a release preventing projection extending upward from one side of an upper end of the body, and an ornamental knob portion defined at the other side of the upper end of the body; an upper member having a pair of side plates of a semi-elliptical configuration, which are formed with a pair of second pin holes, respectively, and define an inserting space therebetween for allowing the body of the lower member to be inserted into the inserting space, and a curved engaging portion of a ∩-shaped configuration, which has a free end brought into contact with a free end of the release preventing projection; a pin inserted through the first pin hole and the pair of second pin holes for rotatably coupling the upper member to the body of the lower member; and an elastic member received into the depression of the lower member for exerting elastic force to the upper member such that the upper member is returned to its original position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ornament hanging ring for a necklace, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an ornament hanging ring for a necklace, which is connected to an ornament to hang the ornament on a necklace string and is structured such that it can be directly attached to and detached from the necklace string.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the neck of the human body may be ornamented with a necklace which is hung around it, for the purpose of making clothes look better and achieving a certain aesthetic feeling. Such a necklace
10
comprises, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a necklace string
12
which has a predetermined length to be hung around the neck of the human body. Both ends of the necklace string
12
are formed with a pair of connecting members (not shown), respectively, which selectively connect or disconnect the ends of the necklace string
12
. The necklace
10
may include an ornament
14
such as a diamond, a pearl, etc. which is hung on the necklace string
12
as occasion demands, and a hanger ring
16
which is coupled to an upper end of the ornament
14
to enable the ornament
14
to be easily hung on the necklace string
12
.
Further, while it is possible for the hanger ring
16
used for hanging the ornament
14
on the necklace string
12
to be integrally coupled to the ornament
14
, it is the norm in most cases that, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a separate ring
14
a
is provided at the upper end of the ornament
14
to be hooked on the hanger ring
16
.
When it is required to hang the ornament
14
on the necklace string
12
in a state wherein the ornament
14
is hooked on the hanger ring
16
via the separate ring
14
a
, one end of the necklace string
12
is passed through the hanger ring
16
, the ornament
14
is moved to be positioned at a substantially middle portion of the necklace string
12
, and the pair of connecting members formed at both ends of the necklace string
12
are connected with each other after the necklace string
12
is placed around the neck of the human body, whereby wearing of the necklace
10
is completed.
However, the necklace
10
of the conventional art, in which the ornament
14
is hung on the necklace string
12
by the hanger ring
16
, suffers from defects in that since the necklace string
12
cannot be passed through the hanger ring
16
when a plurality of jewels such as pearls are threaded on the necklace string
12
, the ornament
14
cannot be hung on the necklace string
12
, and since one end of the necklace string
12
must be passed through the hanger ring
16
and the hanger ring
16
must be moved in its position even when the ornament
14
can be hung on the necklace string
12
, inconvenience is caused. Specifically, in the case that the necklace string
12
is worn around the neck of the human body, because the necklace string
12
can be placed around the neck of the human body and the pair of connecting members can be connected with each other only after the pair of connecting members of the necklace string
12
are disconnected from each other and the ornament
14
is threaded on the necklace string
12
via the hanger ring
16
, a great deal of effort and time is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ornament hanging ring for a necklace, which is structured such that it can be directly attached to and detached from a necklace string, whereby an ornament can be hung on the necklace string irrespective of a shape and a kind of the necklace string and an ornament replacement operation can be conveniently performed in a short time while the necklace string is worn around the neck of the human body.
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hanger ring connected to an ornament for hanging the ornament on a necklace string, the hanger ring comprising: a lower member having a body of a substantially ∪-shaped configuration, which is formed at an upper part with a curved portion, at a middle part with a first pin hole, and at one surface with an elastic member receiving depression, the body possessing an eye portion secured to a lower end of the body for hooking the ornament, a release preventing projection extending upward from one side of an upper end of the body, and an ornamental knob portion defined at the other side of the upper end of the body such that it is opposed to the release preventing projection, the ornamental knob portion having preselected width and contour for allowing ornaments to be attached thereto or formed thereon and extending upward by a predetermined length from the other side of the upper end for enabling a finger to come into contact therewith; an upper member having a pair of side plates of a semi-elliptical configuration, which are formed with a pair of second pin holes, respectively, and define an inserting space therebetween for allowing the body of the lower member to be inserted into the inserting space such that the upper member is rotatably coupled to the body of the lower member, and a curved engaging portion of a substantially ∩-shaped configuration, which is integrally formed with upper ends of the pair of side plates and has a free end brought into contact with a free end of the release preventing projection; a pin inserted through the first pin hole and the pair of second pin holes for rotatably coupling the upper member to the body of the lower member; and an elastic member received into the elastic member receiving depression of the lower member for exerting elastic force to the upper member such that the upper member is returned to its original position when rotated outward about the pin, the elastic member having one end fastened to the upper member and the other end fastened to the lower member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view illustrating an ornament hanging ring for a necklace of the conventional art;
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view illustrating an ornament hanging ring for a necklace in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3
is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein the ornament hanging ring for the necklace according to the present invention is used.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view illustrating an ornament hanging ring for a necklace in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3
is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein the ornament hanging ring for the necklace according to the present invention is used.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, an ornament hanging ring
100
of the present invention is connected to an ornament
14
for hanging the ornament
14
on a necklace string
12
. The ornament hanging ring
100
includes a lower member
110
which is coupled to the ornament
14
and is directly attached to and detached from the necklace string
12
, an upper member
120
which is rotatably coupled downward to the lower member
110
, a pin
130
for coupling the upper member
120
to the lower member
110
, and an elastic member
140
which is disposed to exert elastic force to the upper member
120
such that the upper member
120
is returned to its original position when rotated outward about the pin
130
.
The lower member
110
has a body
112
of a substantially ∪-shaped configuration. The body
112
of the lower member
110
is formed at an upper part thereof with a curved portion
112
a
, at a middle part thereof with a first pin hole
112
b
, and at one surface thereof with an elastic member receiving depression
112
c
. The body
112
possesses an eye portion
114
which is secured to a lower end of the body
112
for hooking the ornament
14
, a release preventing projection
116
which extends upward from one side of an upper end of the body
112
, and an ornamental knob portion
118
which is defined at the other side of the upper end of the body
112
such that it is opposed to the release preventing projection
116
. The ornamental knob portion
118
has preselected width and contour for allowing ornaments to be attached thereto or formed thereon and extends upward by a predetermined length from the other side of the upper end of the body
112
for enabling a finger to come into contact therewith.
The upper member
120
has a pair of side plates
124
of a semi-elliptical configuration. The pair of side plates
124
are formed with a pair of second pin holes
124
a
, respectively, and define an inserting space
122
therebetween for allowing the body
112
of the lower member
110
to be inserted into the inserting space
122
such that the upper member
120
is rotatably coupled to the body
112
of the lower member
110
. The upper member
120
further has a curved engaging portion
126
of a substantially ∩-shaped configuration. The curved engaging portion
126
is integrally formed with upper ends of the pair of side plates
124
and has a free end which is brought into contact with a free end of the release preventing projection
116
.
The pin
130
is inserted through the pair of second pin holes
124
a
of the upper member
120
and the first pin hole
112
b
of the lower member
110
.
The elastic member
140
is received in the elastic member receiving depression
112
c
of the lower member
110
.
On the other hand, when describing the construction of the lower member
110
in more detail, the eye portion
114
has one end which is secured to the lower end of the body
112
and the other end which is secured to a lower end of the ornamental knob portion
118
, thereby to define an opening
114
a
of a preselected shape. One end of the elastic member receiving depression
112
c
which is adjacent to the release preventing projection
116
, is formed with a fitting groove
112
d
into which one end of the elastic member
140
is inserted to be fastened therein. An upper end of the release preventing projection
116
is formed with an inclined surface
116
a
which is sloped downward and outward. A width, a height and a contour of the ornamental knob portion
118
are not limited to those which are specifically determined. Instead, the ornamental knob portion
118
is formed such that the upper member
120
rotatably coupled downward to the lower member
110
and positioned behind the lower member
110
is not seen from the front, in a state wherein the ornament hanging ring
100
including the ornament
14
is attached to the necklace string
12
, thereby to achieve a certain aesthetic feeling. The ornamental knob portion
118
can be modified in its contour, provided a finger can be easily inserted between the lower member
110
and the upper member
120
at front parts thereof to rotate the upper member
120
about the pin
130
. For example, the ornamental knob portion
118
can be modified in its contour in that a coupling structure for coupling separate auxiliary ornaments is attached to a front surface thereof.
In the above construction of the present invention, the free end of the curved engaging portion
126
of the upper member
120
is formed with an inclined surface
126
a
which is brought into surface contact with the inclined surface
116
a
of the release preventing projection
116
of the lower member
110
. The inclined surface
126
a
of the curved engaging portion
126
and the inclined surface
116
a
of the release preventing projection
116
are engaged with and disengaged from each other as the upper member
120
is rotated.
In the above construction of the present invention, the elastic member
140
comprises a torsion spring which has one end fitted into the fitting groove
112
d
of the lower member
110
to be fastened therein and the other end fastened against an inner surface of the upper member
120
adjacent an upper end of the inserting space
122
.
Hereinafter, operations of the ornament hanging ring
100
according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described in detail.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, if the ornament hanging ring
100
according to the present invention, having the ornament
14
hooked thereon is attached to the necklace string
12
, as the ornamental knob portion
118
of the lower member
110
is pulled by a finger or a finger is inserted downward between the ornamental knob portion
118
of the lower member
110
and the curved engaging portion
126
of the upper member
120
, the lower member
110
is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the pin
130
and the upper member
120
is rotated in a clockwise direction about the pin
130
, and the inclined surface
126
a
of the curved engaging portion
126
and the inclined surface
116
a
of the release preventing projection
116
which are in contact with each other are disengaged from each other, whereby an inner space which is maintained in a closed state is opened.
In this situation, the necklace string
12
is inserted into the inner space through a gap which is defined between a lower end of the curved engaging portion
126
and the upper end of the release preventing projection
116
. Then, by removing the finger which is inserted between the ornamental knob portion
118
of the lower member
110
and the curved engaging portion
126
of the upper member
120
, the upper member
120
is returned to its original position by elastic force of the embedded elastic member
140
and then, the inclined surface
126
a
of the curved engaging portion
126
and the inclined surface
116
a
of the release preventing projection
116
come into contact with each other, whereby the inner space which is maintained in an opened state is closed and the necklace string
12
is prevented from being released from the inner space.
In other words, in this way just described above, the ornament hanging ring
100
including the ornament
14
is mounted to the necklace string
12
without being released. On the contrary, if it is required to replace the ornament
14
with a new one for harmonizing the necklace with clothes or for creating a new fashion as clothes put on by a wearer are changed, a finger is inserted again downward between the ornamental knob portion
118
of the lower member
110
and the curved engaging portion
126
of the upper member
120
, thereby to disengage the curved engaging portion
126
and the release preventing portion
116
from each other, and then, by taking out the necklace string
12
from the ornament hanging ring
100
, a removing operation of the ornament
14
is completed.
In this state, since it is only required that the ornament hanging ring
100
on which a new ornament
14
is hooked, is attached again to the necklace string
12
in the way as described above, to create an expected fashion, due to the fact that it is not necessary to untie the necklace string
12
and thread the ornament hanging ring
100
on the necklace string
12
for replacing the ornament
14
of the necklace
100
with the new one, an ornament replacement operation can be conveniently performed in a short time.
As described above, by the ornament hanging ring for a necklace according to the present invention, advantages are provided in that since the ornament hanging ring coupled to an ornament is not threaded on and from one end of a necklace string, but hung on the necklace string regardless of a position along the necklace string, mounting of the ornament can be conveniently implemented in a short time, the ornament can be hung on the necklace string irrespective of a shape and a kind of the necklace string, and especially, the ornament can be easily attached to and detached from the necklace string while the necklace string is worn around the neck of the human body.
In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A hanger ring connected to an ornament for hanging the ornament on a necklace string, the hanger ring comprising:a lower member having a body of a substantially ∪-shaped configuration, which is formed at an upper part with a curved portion, at a middle part with a first pin hole, and at one surface with an elastic member receiving depression, the body possessing an eye portion secured to a lower end of the body for hooking the ornament, a release preventing projection extending upward from one side of an upper end of the body, and an ornamental knob portion defined at the other side of the upper end of the body such that it is opposed to the release preventing projection, the ornamental knob portion having preselected width and contour for allowing ornaments to be attached thereto or formed thereon and extending upward by a predetermined length from the other side of the upper end for enabling a finger to come into contact therewith; an upper member having a pair of side plates of a semi-elliptical configuration, which are formed with a pair of second pin holes, respectively, and define an inserting space therebetween for allowing the body of the lower member to be inserted into the inserting space such that the upper member is rotatably coupled to the body of the lower member, and a curved engaging portion of a substantially ∩-shaped configuration, which is integrally formed with upper ends of the pair of side plates and has a free end brought into contact with a free end of the release preventing projection; a pin inserted through the first pin hole and the pair of second pin holes for rotatably coupling the upper member to the body of the lower member; and an elastic member received into the elastic member receiving depression of the lower member for exerting elastic force to the upper member such that the upper member is returned to its original position when rotated outward about the pin, the elastic member having one end fastened to the upper member and the other end fastened to the lower member.
US Referenced Citations (7)