Patent Application
20200390203
The present subject matter relates generally to jewelry articles that utilize magnetic components. More specifically, the present invention relates to jewelry items including segments that form a continuous shape having an overall seamless appearance while allowing for easy disassembly.
Rings are traditionally manufactured as a continuous ring of soft metal that fit over the user's knuckle. Once positioned over the knuckle, the rings remains in place snug against the base of the finger. However, the user may leave the ring on for an extended period of time, often up to years. During that time the wearer's finger may change shape, fluctuating in size with the seasons and/or growing with weight gain or pregnancy. In many cases the ring is not removable from the base of the finger or over the knuckle. In a worst-case scenario, the ring restricts blood flow into the extremity, leading to health issues. In order to remove the ring, it must be cut with a ring cutter or saw. Use of these tools often causes the ring to be irreparable.
Wearing a continuous, solid ring while participating in activities involving large forces can lead to injuries such as degloving. Degloving is most common in car accidents, when working with industrial equipment, or while playing sports. If the ring is caught and subjected to a strong force, the finger and limb of the user may be severely injured, leading to amputation or other health issues related to restricted blood flow to extremities.
The use of magnets in jewelry featuring interchangeable components is well known. In one example, the ring presented in FIGS. 14A and 14B of U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,508 are self-sizing using magnetic attraction. The ring includes a series of linkages that use sequential slots and pins to limit the expansion of the ring, and the magnetic attraction urges the linkages into the narrow-most position. The ring is expandable to fit over the wearer's knuckle, and returns to its resting position once in place at the base of the finger. This design does not allow for complete removal of the ring in the event that it cannot be moved over the knuckle.
Accordingly, there is a need for a ring comprised of easily separable components for disassembly, as described herein.
To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a ring comprised of separable components for easy disassembly.
By providing a ring that incudes segments attached to one another through a high strength magnet alone, the ring provides a smooth, seamless continuous surface while at the same time providing the ability for easy and immediate disassembly if needed.
In one embodiment, an item of jewelry includes a plurality of segments, each segment including an inner surface, an outer surface, and first and second opposing end surfaces. The first end surface of each segment includes a positively-aligned magnet, and the second end surface of each segment includes a negatively-aligned magnet. The plurality of segments form a continuous shape having a smooth appearance during use.
In some embodiments, adjacent segments are secured to one another through magnetic forces between the positively and negatively-aligned magnets alone. Each magnet may be comprised of a high strength magnet having a minimum pull strength of 0.4 lb, such as a neodymium-based magnetic compound and/or an iron nitride magnetic compound.
In some embodiments, each magnet is positioned on the respective end surface adjacent to the inner surface of the segment. In other embodiments, each magnet is positioned centrally within the respective end surface.
The continuous shape may comprise a loop or a portion of a bracelet. The continuous shape is one of elliptical and oval. In some embodiments, the segments of the plurality of segments vary in shape.
In the embodiment illustrated herein, the item is a ring. The item may also be one of a bracelet, a necklace, a watch band, a chain link, a sleeve, and a head band.
An object of the invention is to provide a solution to removing rings and other jewelry that is difficult to remove.
Another object of the invention is to provide a segmented item of jewelry that has a smooth and seamless overall appearance.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the segments 102A-102D have identical shapes and sizes. In another embodiment 200 shown in
Referring back to
In some embodiments, the magnet 104 is embedded within the metallic segment 102 and may be coplanar with or below the surrounding external surfaces. In the embodiment illustrated in
In another example embodiment of the ring 400 illustrated in
The inner base 414 of ring 400 may be comprised of a silicone or other durable, pliable material. Use of a pliable material provides a more comfortable ring to the wearer. The lightweight, flexible material also breaks under extreme pressure, so should the ring 400 become entangled in extreme forces and be forcibly removed from the wearer's finger, the inner band 414 breaks and the segments 402 separate as the magnetic strength is overcome, thereby avoiding ring avulsion or other serious injury.
In other embodiments, the first and second rims 418, 420 may be only slightly raised relative to the recessed surface 416. In still further embodiments, the width of the first and second rims 418, 420 may be slight compared to the width of the segments such that the overall appearance of the ring 400 is simply the metallic or non-pliable segments 402.
It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.
