Patent Application
20170055647
Technical Field
The present disclosure generally to jewelry, and more particularly to a ring system that includes a ring that is configured to be detachably coupled to another ring.
Description of the Related Art
A ring is a round band, which is usually fabricated from metal, and that is worn as ornamental jewelry. Rings are commonly worn to celebrate or commemorate various occasions, such as, for example, an engagement or a marriage. Traditionally, an engagement ring is a ring worn by a person to indicate that she is engaged to be married.
One popular setting for an engagement ring is known as a Tiffany setting. The Tiffany setting includes a set of prongs that hold a gemstone and attach it to a plain band ring. Usually, the gemstone, typically a diamond, is the only stone on the band. Due to their rarity, large stones are typically more expensive than many stones that equal the same carat weight. Consequently, some engagement bands include a larger diamond set in the middle and smaller diamonds on the side. Conventionally, unless the band or the stones are changed, there is no way to change the total number of carats of the gemstones used once the ring is made.
There is a continuing need to provide a cost effective solution to upgrading an engagement ring.
Disclosed herein is a ring system including an outer band that is configured to be coupled to a ring band (e.g., a ring having a Tiffany setting) that when coupled thereto may create a visual impression of a single ring. The outer band may include a plurality of gemstones secured thereto.
A ring system may include an outer band including a first ring and a second ring, the second ring including a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion being pivotable relative to the lower portion. The outer band may be configured to receive a ring band between the first and second rings, and the outer band may be transitionable between an open condition in which the upper portion is angled relative to the lower portion of the second ring and a closed position in which the upper portion is and the lower portion form a closed annulus. The first and the second rings may each include an arcuate end and form an annular opening when in the closed position, the annular opening being configured to be securely positioned about a stone of a tiffany setting ring. The upper portion may be biased toward the closed position, for example, via a spring member. Also or instead of a spring, a magnet may secure the upper portion in the closed position. The first and second rings may be spaced apart and held together by a connecting rod such that a space between the first and second rings is dimensioned to receive a ring band therebetween. The connecting rod may include a groove formed therein that is configured to accommodated the ring band.
A kit may include the above described system as well as a ring band that is configured to be received and releasably coupled by the ring system.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. The word ‘couple’ and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through intermediate elements or devices. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional (up/down, etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner. It will also be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elements may be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appended claims without requirements of the written description being required thereto.
Referring to
The outer band 204 is configured to transition between a first or open state (as shown, for example, in
A method of operating the ring system 200 is described with reference to
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments of the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.
Those of skill in the art will additionally recognize that the proposed invention may be used as a neck/chest strap or single shoulder strap by adjustably supporting and connecting only two opposed sides of the support system (between the collar and one arm opening). In this manner, the adjustable feature is still operative, but the user has enhanced options for convenience and securement.
Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The present application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/838,583 filed Aug. 28, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14838583 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Child | 14927790 | US |
