Article of jewelry

Abstract

An article of jewelry comprising a bracelet having a single framed compartment or a plurality of framed compartments for releasably receiving a photograph or some similar medium with indicia thereon. Each framed compartment is formed of a rear plate for protecting the back of the photograph and four sidewalls integrally formed therewith. Openings are formed in two of the opposing sidewalls to receive a thin resilient cord or the like employed to connect the framed compartments in a series or a single framed compartment to various other objects. A separate opening is formed within the rear plate to receive an implement to facilitate the removal of the photograph. Spacer members are provided to keep the series of framed compartment equally separated from the next and ensure the bracelet's overall flexibility.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of jewelry and, more particularly to an improved bracelet or other article of jewelry for displaying and interchanging individual or a series of photographs.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Articles of jewelry for displaying photographs or some other kind of object bearing indicia for wearing on a person's wrist or elsewhere on the body are well known in the prior art.

[0005] Included among these prior art references are the articles of jewelry shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,319,201 granted Oct. 21, 1919 to Boldizsar; U.S. Pat. No. 2,145,071 granted Jan. 24, 1939 to Cave; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,852 granted Jan. 21, 1992 to Cox.

[0006] Cox discloses a bracelet with a rigid band containing individual compartments with removable windows for displaying photographs.

[0007] Boldizsar discloses an item of jewelry that includes linked compartments for receiving photographs or the like, and a rear plate formed with an upwardly extending bezel to secure the photograph. A cover is employed as a frame and requires more than a simple manipulation to remove.

[0008] Cave discloses articles of jewelry comprised of rings, brooches, pendants and bracelets, among others, that display photographs beneath precious, non-precious or artificial stones of supreme clarity and transparency.

[0009] Neither the aforesaid references nor anything else known in the prior art discloses the improvements of the present invention directed to a bracelet or some other item of jewelry with components that are connected to enable the enhancement of its aesthetic features and the individual or multiple photographs displayed therein to be secured and easily removed and replaced, but without the major deficiencies of any of its precursors in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides an article of jewelry comprising a bracelet having a plurality of framed compartments for releasably receiving a photograph or some similar medium with indicia thereon. The framed compartments are formed of an integral rear plate for protecting the back of the photograph and four sidewalls integrally formed therewith. Openings are formed in two of the opposing sidewalls to receive a thin resilient cord or the like employed to connect the framed compartments in a series. A separate opening is formed within the integral rear plate to receive an implement to facilitate the removal of the photograph. Spacer members are provided to keep each framed compartment equally separated from the next and ensure the bracelet's overall flexibility.

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved article of jewelry.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of jewelry that enables the enhancement of the aesthetic features of the article.

[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of jewelry that enables the photographs displayed in its framed components to be secured and easily removed and replaced.

[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of jewelry with an enhanced flexibility.

[0015] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of jewelry that is easy and cost effective to manufacture.

[0016] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of jewelry with a single framed component.

[0017] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of jewelry with a framed component in combination with assorted other aesthetically pleasing objects.

[0018] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of jewelry with a transparent film for protecting the front surface of the photograph and assist in securing the photograph within the framed component.

[0019] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following specifications when considered in light of the attached drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved article of jewelry according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a single framed compartment demonstrating the means for removing a photograph according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view of a single framed compartment containing a photograph according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 3B is an enlarged sectional view of a single framed compartment displaying an implement pushing through the opening in the rear plate to remove the photograph according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3C is an enlarged sectional view of a single framed compartment with the photograph shown removed according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention depicting an article of jewelry 10. Article of jewelry 10 consists of bracelet 12, which is comprised of a plurality of framed compartments 14 for releasably receiving a photograph 16 or some similar medium with indicia 18 thereon. Compartment 14 includes a rear plate 20 with an opening 22 therein and upwardly extending sidewalls 24, 25, 27 and 29 along each side 26 of framed compartment 14 integrally formed therewith. Rear plate 20 may also include assorted other openings (not shown) of various shapes and sizes to reduce costs of materials and contribute to the article's aesthetic appeal.

[0026] Openings 28 and 30 are formed within opposing sidewalls 24 and 25 for receiving a cord or wire 32 for connecting multiple compartments 14 in a series. Spacer elements 34, which are secured as a component of bracelet 12 by threading wire 32 through individual openings 36, are provided to separate each of the compartments 14 from the next and enhance the overall flexibility of bracelet 12. Brackets 38 are provided to retain the corners 40 of photograph 16 securely within each compartment 14. Also used to retain photograph 16 within each compartment 14 are pieces of transparent film (not shown) of the same shape and size as photograph 16.

[0027] In a typical application of the present invention, photograph 16 is placed inside compartment 14 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3A in cross section. To remove the photograph, a narrow implement 42 is employed to pierce opening 22 and engage photograph 16 pushing it sufficiently forward to separate it from compartment 14, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3B and 3C.

[0028] Compartment 14 may be fabricated of any suitable material such as a metal alloy or a resilient synthetic composition. Embellishments, such as a sculpted, embossed or engraved treatments, may be applied to any desired surface of the framed compartment to enhance its aesthetic appeal.

[0029] Spacer elements 34 are comprised of any suitably attractive object, though preferably beads of various sizes, shapes and colors.

[0030] Wire 32, which is preferably elastic or stretchable, can be comprised of either a natural or synthetic fiber sufficiently thin and resilient enough to easily thread the openings 28 and 30 in the sidewalls 24 and 25 and openings 36 in spacer elements 34 and secure all the bracelet 12 components.

[0031] Photograph 16 or any other item with indicia thereon is typically comprised of a paper material, though any size appropriate plastic, metal or natural element would also be suitable.

[0032] Implement 42 may be a small, slender metal or resilient synthetic poker or pin or even the point of a pencil or pen appropriately sized to fit through opening 22, engage photograph 16 and push it forward deforming it to enable the photograph 16 (and the thin transparent film, if used) to slip from compartment 14 and separate from it.

[0033] Alternate embodiments (not shown) of the present invention include a single compartment 14 fashioned into a ring to be worn on a finger or in combination with a chain, and a single compartment 14 in combination with one or more fanciful or ornamental objects of various sizes, shapes, colors and material compositions.

[0034] While the invention will be described in connection with a certain preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that particular embodiment. Rather, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article of jewelry comprising:

a bracelet having a plurality of framed compartments for releasably receiving a photograph or a similar medium with indicia thereon, said framed compartments being formed of a plate protecting the back of the photograph and upwardly extending sidewalls along the perimeter of said plate and formed integrally therewith;

a first opening and a second opening formed within opposing sidewalls of each of said compartments;

means to connect said compartments to form the bracelet;

a spacer member to separate each of said compartments from the other and enhance said bracelet's flexibility; and,

means formed within the integral plate to receive an implement to facilitate the release of the photograph.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said framed compartments includes a means formed within each corner of said compartment to help secure the photograph.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said opposing side walls of each of said framed compartments comprises at least two openings for receiving said means to connect a series of said framed compartments to form a generally circular shaped article of jewelry.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said means to connect said framed compartments comprises a strand of thin cord or the like.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said strand of thin cord is comprised of a synthetic material.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the material comprising said strand of thin cord is elastic.

7. The invention of claim 4 wherein said strand of thin cord is comprised of a natural material.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said spacer member is comprised of an ornamental bead.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means formed within the integral plate to receive an implement to facilitate the release of the photograph comprises a small opening.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said implement is sized and shaped to allow it to be easily inserted into the opening and push said photograph sufficiently enabling it to completely separate from said framed compartment.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said framed compartments contains ornamental indicia or sculpture around its perimeter portion and along each of said sidewalls.

12. The invention of claim 8 wherein said ornamental bead varies in size, shape and color.

13. The invention of claim 8 wherein each of said ornamental beads contains an opening therethrough to receive said strand of thin cord.

14. The invention of claim 1 comprising a film material for covering and securing said photograph within said compartment.

15. An article of jewelry comprising:

a framed compartment for releasably receiving a photograph or a similar medium with indicia thereon, said framed compartment being formed of a plate protecting the back of the photograph and upwardly extending sidewalls along the perimeter of said plate and formed integrally therewith;

a first opening and a second opening formed within opposing sidewalls of each of said compartments;

means to connect said framed compartment to other objects to form a bracelet; and,

means formed within the plate to receive an implement to facilitate the release of the photograph.

16. An article of jewelry comprising:

a framed compartment for releasably receiving a photograph or a similar medium with indicia thereon, said framed compartment being formed of a plate protecting the back of the photograph and upwardly extending sidewalls along the perimeter of said plate and formed integrally therewith;

means to connect said compartment to other objects to form a ring, pin, necklace or pendant; and,

means formed within the plate to receive an implement to facilitate the release of the photograph.

17. The invention of claim 1 wherein said plate is formed integrally with said framed compartment.

18. The invention of claim 1 wherein said framed compartment is comprised of metal.

19. The invention of claim 1 wherein said framed compartment is comprised of a synthetic material.