Article of jewelry with interchangeable plaque

Abstract

A bracelet including a housing for supporting a removable plaque is disclosed. The housing is preferably connected at a first end and a second end to a strap. The housing may further include a base, and a pair of sidewalls which support the removable plaque in the engaged or secured position. The base may further support an element of an engagement member which secures the removable plaque to the base. In one embodiment, the engagement member includes a pair of magnets supported on an inner surface of the base and plaque, respectively, which are magnetically attracted to each other. The removable plaque preferably includes an inner surface which supports the magnet and an outer surface for receiving ornamentation, such as indicia thereon. The plaque may further include a pair of side walls which overlap the side walls of the housing in the engaged position.

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates generally to an article of jewelry having a removable plaque and, more specifically, to an identification-style bracelet having a removable and/or interchangeable plaque.

[0003] 2. Background of Related Art

[0004] Identification-style bracelets are well known in the art of jewelry. Such bracelets generally have a wrist band and include a plate or plaque for carrying identifying information or indicia, such as a person's name or initials, personal data and/or medical information. Identification bracelets have been used for both ornamentation and for providing information relating to an individual's medical condition. While generally appealing, user's may tire of the particular ornamentation of their identification bracelet.

[0005] Jewelry having elements which can vary the overall “look” of the article of jewelry are also known in the art. For example, an identification bracelet having a removable and interchangeable strap (12) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,067 to Prout. U.S. Pat. No. 2,749,634 to Billett et al. discloses an identification bracelet watch which has a detachable housing where indicia personal to the wearer may be attached and detached.

[0006] Accordingly, there is continued development in the art to develop jewelry having elements which can be removed and/or interchanged in order to vary the look of the article.

SUMMARY

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide an article of jewelry, for example an identification-style bracelet, having a removable and/or interchangeable plaque. According to one embodiment, the bracelet includes a housing for supporting the removable plaque, an engagement member for removably securing the plaque to the housing, and a wristband or strap for supporting the bracelet around the wrist of a wearer. The housing may preferably include a base, and a pair of sidewalls which support the removable plaque in the engaged or secured position. The base of the housing may also support the plaque, provide an attachment point for the strap, and provide support for an element of the engagement member. In one embodiment, the engagement member includes a pair of magnets, one supported on an inner surface of the base of the housing and the other supported on an inner surface of a faceplate of the plaque, which are magnetically attracted to each other. The removable plaque preferably includes an outer surface for receiving ornamentation, such as indicia thereon, and a pair of side walls which overlap the side walls of the housing in the engaged position. The magnetic attraction between the first magnet supported on the housing and the second magnet, supported on the plaque, prevents accidental disengagement of the plaque from the housing during use. When the wearer wishes to remove the plaque from engagement with the housing, he or she simply applies a force sufficient to break the magnetic bond between the first and second magnets and lifts the plaque off the housing. In alternate embodiments, the engagement member includes any two elements which engage each other to removably secure the plaque to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a first embodiment of an identification bracelet having a removable and/or interchangeable plaque;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the identification bracelet of FIG. 1 with multiple, interchangeable plaques;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a side, cross-sectional view of the identification bracelet taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the identification bracelet of FIG. 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of a second embodiment of an identification bracelet having a removable and/or interchangeable plaque;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the identification bracelet of FIG. 5;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the identification bracelet taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

[0016] FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view of the identification bracelet showing an alternate engagement member to that of FIG. 7;

[0017] FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of a third embodiment of an identification bracelet having a removable and/or interchangeable plaque;

[0018] FIG. 9 is an exploded side view, in partial cross-section, of the identification bracelet of FIG. 8; and

[0019] FIG. 10 is a side view, in partial cross-section, of the identification bracelet of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

[0020] An article of jewelry 10 having a removable plate or plaque 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-8. As used herein, the term “jewelry” refers to any type or style of jewelry which may be worn as either ornamentation or for a functional purpose, such as identification, by a user. In the description which follows the article of jewelry is described as a bracelet, however, this is not intended to limit the scope of the application since the removable plaque may find use with other types of jewelry, such as a necklace.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the article of jewelry 10 may be a bracelet, for example an identification bracelet, and includes a plaque assembly 11 having a housing 14 for supporting the removable plaque 12, a band or strap 16, and a fastener or clasp 18 for securing the strap around the wrist of a wearer. The housing 14 is preferably supported at a first and a second end 20, 22 between a first member 15 and a second member 17 of the strap 16. The strap 16 may be any conventional style strap or chain, and may be made of any suitable material such as leather, metal, fibre, plastic, etc. Likewise, the clasp 18 may be any conventional style and may be made of any suitable material. In the present embodiment, the strap is preferably made from a metal, for example stainless steel or silver, and includes a plurality of links 24, a link being attached to each of the first and second ends of the housing.

[0022] The housing may further include a base 26, and a pair of sidewalls 28, 30 supported on and extending from the base along a length, “l1”, thereof. The side walls preferably support the removable plaque in the engaged or secured position. The base may preferably provide attachment points for the strap, and may additionally provide support for an element of the engagement member 32 which removably secures the plaque to the base. In the present embodiment, the engagement member 32 includes a pair of magnets 34, 36 supported on an inner surface of the base of the housing and the plaque, respectively, the magnets being magnetically attracted to each other in order to removably secure the plaque to the housing.

[0023] The removable plaque 12 preferably includes an inner surface 38 which supports the magnet 36 and an outer surface 39 for receiving ornamentation, such as indicia 40 thereon. The plaque 12 further preferably includes a pair of side walls 42, 44 which are supported on and extend from a faceplate of the plaque, preferably along a length, “l2”, thereof. The sidewalls 42, 44 of the plaque preferably substantially overlap the side walls 28, 30 of the housing in the engaged position (FIG. 2) such that the plaque substantially covers the housing and appears to be a single, unitary member. The magnetic attraction between the first magnet 34 supported on the housing and the second magnet 36, supported on the plaque, prevents accidental disengagement of the plaque from the housing during use. When the wearer wishes to remove the plaque from engagement with the housing, he or she simply applies a force sufficient to break the magnetic bond between the first and second magnets 34, 36 and lifts the plaque off the housing. The plaque assembly 11 may have any suitable dimensions, as desired.

[0024] The engagement member 32 may be any of a variety of engagement members, other than a pair of magnets, and may be supported on the side walls instead of the inner surface of the housing and plaque, as would be known to those of skill in the art. For example, as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7a, the engagement member 132 may include a pair of indentations 146, 148 which matingly engage a pair of protrusion 150, 152. The indentations and protrusions are preferably supported on the sidewalls of the plaque and the housing. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the indentations are formed on the outer surface of each of the sidewalls 128, 130 of the housing 114, while the protrusions 150, 152 are formed on the inner surface of each of the sidewalls 142, 144 of the plaque. Alternatively, the indentations may be formed on the inner surface of the side walls of the plaque, and the protrusions may be formed on the outer surface of the side walls of the housing. As with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the sidewalls 142, 144 of the plaque preferably substantially overlap the side walls 128, 130 of the housing in the engaged position. The engagement of the protrusions with their corresponding indentations prevents accidental disengagement of the plaque from the housing during use. When the wearer wishes to remove the plaque from engagement with the housing, he or she simply applies a force sufficient to disengage the protrusions from the indentations and lifts the plaque off the housing. In a third, alternate embodiment (FIGS. 8-10), the engagement member 232 may be made of Velcro® material, with a hook element 254 being supported on the inner surface of either the housing or plaque, and a corresponding loop element 256 being supported on the inner surface of the other of either the housing or plaque, as is conventional. The engagement of the hook element with the loop element prevents accidental disengagement of the plaque from the housing during use. When the wearer wishes to remove the plaque from engagement with the housing, he or she simply applies a force sufficient to disengage the hook and loop elements, and lifts the plaque off the housing.

[0025] Use of the article of jewelry 10 with a removable plaque 12 will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] In use, the article of jewelry, such as identification bracelet 10, is initially in a non-secured position where the strap is fully extended and the clasp is unsecured. The housing 14 is supported by the strap 16 and the user chooses which plaque 12 he or she wishes to attach to the housing. The plaque is aligned with the housing and the housing is inserted within the plaque by placing the side walls 42, 44 of the plaque over the side walls 28, 30 of the housing and pushing the two together. The user applies a force to the plaque and/or the housing until the element of the engagement member supported by the housing engages the element of the engagement member supported on the plaque, and the plaque is secured to the housing. The engagement member may be any of a variety of known members which are used to removably secure two items together, as would be known to those of skill in the art. The clasp and strap may then be secured around the wrist of the user. In order to disengage and remove the plaque, the user simply applies a force sufficient to disengage the engagement element supported on the housing from the engagement element supported on the plaque, as described above.

[0027] It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiment disclosed herein. For example, the article of jewelry need not be a bracelet, the size, dimensions and geometric configuration of the article may be varied, and various types of materials may be utilized. In addition, the engagement member is not limited to those described above, and may be varied as would be known to those of skill in the art. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of a preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope, spirit and intent of the invention.

Claims

1. An article of jewelry comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end, a base and a pair of side walls supported by the base, the base further having an inner and an outer surface;

a plaque including a faceplate and a pair of side walls supported by the faceplate, the faceplate having an inner and an outer surface, the outer surface constructed and arranged to receive ornamentation thereon;

an engagement member including a first element and a second element, the first element being supported on the housing, and the second element being supported on the plaque; and

wherein in an engaged position the sidewalls of the plaque overlap the sidewalls of the housing and the first element and second element matingly engage in order to removably secure the plaque to the housing.

2. The article of jewelry of claim 1, wherein the first element is supported on the inner surface of the base and the second element is supported on the inner surface of the faceplate.

3. The article of jewelry of claim 2, wherein the first element is a magnet and the second element is a magnet, the first and second magnets being magnetically attracted to each other.

4. The article of jewelry of claim 2, wherein the engagement member comprises Velcro® material and includes a hook element and a corresponding loop element.

5. The article of jewelry of claim 1, wherein the first element is supported on the side walls of the housing and the second element is supported on the side walls of the plaque.

6. The article of jewelry of claim 5, wherein the first element is a pair of indentations formed on the outer surface of the sidewalls of the housing and the second element is a pair of protrusions supported on the inner surface of the side walls of the plaque.

7. The article of jewelry of claim 5, wherein the first element is a pair of protrusions formed on the outer surface of the sidewalls of the housing and the second element is a pair of indentations supported on the inner surface of the side walls of the plaque.

8. The article of jewelry of claim 1, further comprising a strap having a first member attached to the first end of the housing, and a second member attached to a second end of the housing.

9. The article of jewelry of claim 1, wherein the plaque substantially covers the housing in the engaged position.

10. An article of jewelry comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end, a base and a pair of side walls supported by the base, the base further having an inner and an outer surface;

a plaque including a faceplate and a pair of side walls supported by the faceplate, the faceplate having an inner and an outer surface, the outer surface constructed and arranged to receive ornamentation thereon;

an engagement member including a first magnet element and a second magnet element, the first magnet element being supported on the inner surface of the base, and the second magnet element being supported on the inner surface of the plaque; and

wherein in an engaged position the housing is inserted within the plaque such that the sidewalls of the plaque overlap the sidewalls of the housing, and the first element and second element magnetically engage in order to removably secure the plaque to the housing.

11. The article of jewelry of claim 10, wherein the plaque substantially covers the housing in the engaged position.

12. An article of jewelry comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end, a base and a pair of side walls supported by the base, the base further having an inner and an outer surface;

a plaque including a faceplate and a pair of side walls supported by the faceplate, the faceplate having an inner and an outer surface, the outer surface constructed and arranged to receive ornamentation thereon;

an engagement member including a first element and a second element, the first element being supported on the outer surface of the side walls of the housing, and the second element being supported on the inner surface of the side walls of the plaque; and

wherein in an engaged position the housing is inserted within the plaque such that the sidewalls of the plaque overlap the sidewalls of the housing, and the first element and second element matingly engage in order to removably secure the plaque to the housing.

13. The article of jewelry of claim 12, wherein the plaque substantially covers the housing in the engaged position.