Jewelry ring holding necklace

Abstract

This invention is a two-part device for suspending a ring around a wearer's neck in the form of a pendant. The two-part device has a cover and an interior ring holding assembly where the interior ring holding assembly is suspended from a neck chain that also supports the cover. The device is structured so that the interior ring holding assembly may be readily removed from the cover and the ring thereby removed at will. Various configurations allow the ring to be either suspended with the stone down or suspended with the stone in an upward position. The device is intended to provide a secure means of transport and displaying a ring from a neck chain.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

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SEQUENCE LISTING

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for suspending a jewelry ring from a necklace in a secure fashion. The prior art includes the current practice of looping a necklace chain through a ring for the purpose of displaying a ring around the neck and concurrently providing a means to store a ring when it is inappropriate to wear it on the hands. It may be inappropriate to wear a ring in various occupations such as physicians and nurses wearing rubber gloves or in factory work wear a ring would be a safety hazard.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means to suspend a ring from a necklace using a device that provides security during transport and means of attachment to the necklace.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This invention is a two-part device that holds a ring securely while suspending it from a necklace so that the ring may be viewed while being worn around the wearer's neck. The device may be of several shapes including, but not limited to, triangular, round, hexagonal, tear drop, heart or square. The device is designed so that the neck chain provides a stopping means to secure to parts of the device in position thereby preventing loss of a ring inserted into the device while it is being worn. In addition a means of securing the two parts such as a clasp or magnetic device may be used to provide additional security for the ring. The design of the device allows it to be worn without the ring as a conventional piece of jewelry. The invention is useful because it provides security for valuable rings during transport and allows viewing of a ring with special social significance. Typical social significance may be graduating class, club membership, marital status or other similar purpose.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the primary cover 1 holding a ring 3 with the entire device suspended from a neck chain 2 that passes through a hole 4 that serves as a means to suspend the device.

FIG. 2 shows the two primary parts of the device that are the primary cover 1 and the interior ring holding assembly 5. In this view the neck chain 2 that is shown going through the primary cover 1 and then through a hole in the interior ring holding assembly 5 that fits into the primary cover. A channel 6 that serves as a means of holding the ring while suspended in the device is shown.

A magnet 8 serves as a secondary means of securing the two pieces together.

FIG. 3 shows a pendant shape 9 of the device for holding a ring 3 with the stone in the downward position. This device is also suspended from a neck chain 2.

FIG. 4 shows a hexagonal ring holder 10 for holding the ring 3 in a position with the stone facing downward. An alternate extension 11 that protrudes from the hexagonal device to pass the chain through which serves the same function as the hole 7 mounted in FIG. 2. A neck chain 2 is also shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention is a device for securely suspending a jewelry ring from a neck chain so that the ring may be displayed while being worn. For the purpose of this invention the term ring and jewelry ring are used to describe a ring designed to be worn on a finger such as a wedding ring, engagement ring, friendship ring or similar piece or combination of rings such as a wedding and engagement ring set. These pieces of jewelry may have significant social use to demonstrate marital status, school attended or other purposes as well as having economic value. Rings of this type may be inappropriate to wear in various occupations. In the case of high school rings used to signify the dating status of an individual the ring may be of the wrong size to comfortably and securely wear on a finger.

For the purpose of this invention necklace refers to any chain, cord, leather strap or similar device used to suspend a pendant around the neck.

The device consists of two primary components. The first component is a primary cover that may be of any convenient shape. The primary cover is hollow and has an opening on the bottom side. When the primary cover and the interior ring holding assembly are in the position used while being worn the necklace suspends the entire device from a hole in the secondary interior ring holding assembly. The opening in the top of the primary cover is sized so that the necklace can slip through and also it has sufficient space in combination with the hole in the interior ring holding assembly so that the two parts may be separated. The primary means of holding the cover over the interior ring holding assembly is gravity when the device is suspended on the chain. A secondary means of securing is the position of chain which when in the wearing position serves to inhibit the separation of the insert from the cover piece.

An additional means of securing the interior ring holding assembly to the cover piece such as magnet or a small extension of the cover piece that extends past the opening that can be moved with moderate pressure may further serve to hold the insert in place. Another means of securing may be a small protrusion or dimple in the cover piece that is positioned to engage a small compression in the insert thereby providing additional security. One or more of these means of securing may be used.

The interior ring holding assembly is configured so that is has a hole 7 for passing the necklace 2 through and a channel or similar structure for supporting the ring while the device is being worn

A person skilled in the art may include protrusions or other shapes within the interior ring holding assembly to hold the ring in the upright position and thereby assure that the stone will be visible if the cover and insert have a hole as shown in FIG. 1. In addition a person skilled in the art may use a soft material, felt, plastic or other substance to protect the ring from wear when it is displayed in this invention.

Having the ring in the upright position display of the stone as shown in FIG. 1 has the advantage of further protecting the stone from loss or becoming snagged.

Standard jewelry making methods and materials may be used. It is a preferred-embodiment of this invention to use materials that do not cause abrasion of the skin or allergic reactions.

In one preferred embodiment the insert may be constructed so that one side allows display of the ring when it is in position and by rotating the interior ring holding assembly 180 degrees about the necklace and inserting it into the cover a gem, emblem or other astatically pleasing item may be displayed through the hole in the cover that is also used to display stone in a ring.

This device is essentially a two-part pendant specifically designed for use as a necklace that allows display of a ring and holds the ring in a secure manner. The cover fits over the interior ring holding assembly and the interior ring holding assembly is designed so that the ring is securely suspended and may be seen while the pendant and necklace are being worn.

This device provides a secure mechanism for persons who cannot wear a ring while working or persons who wish to display a ring using the necklace rather than wearing it on a finger. The device provides a secure mechanism for this display and also allows the ring to be removed so that it may be worn conventionally on a finger. The device is a distinct advantage over simply hooks because it provides more security and it is an advantage over simply wrapping a chain through the ring or passing a chain through the ring because the ring will lay flat against the wearer and this device maybe configured so that the ring will not have excessive wear from contact with the chain. The device also provides a more appropriate background to display a ring of considerable value that is more appropriate to reflect the value of the ring and the wearer's taste as compared to wrapping the chain through the ring or using a simple less attractive clip or hooking device.

Claims

1. A two-part pendant for the personal transport of a ring comprising a cover piece and an interior ring holding assembly with a hole for suspending said interior ring holding assembly on a necklace,

said cover piece being hollow and having an open bottom that fits over said interior ring holding assembly,

said interior ring holding assembly having a means of holding the ring,

said cover piece fitting over said interior ring holding assembly providing a means to prevent the ring from falling off the means of holding the ring that is gravity holding the cover piece on the holding assembly while the pendent is being worn on the necklace,

a stopping means to prevent the ring from falling off the holding assembly that is the necklace passing through the hole in the holding assembly wherein the necklace prevents separation of the cover piece from the holding assembly when the pendent and necklace are worn.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means of holding the ring is a channel.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said channel has a soft surface.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said interior ring holding assembly will hold a ring with a stone in the upright position.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said interior ring holding assembly holds the ring with a stone in a downward position.

6. (canceled)