Kit for manufacturing costume jewelry

Abstract

A kit for easy use by children in designing jewelry that includes erasers. The kit allows for the manufacture of bracelets and other articles of jewelry combining different types of ornaments with erasers. To make a bracelet using the kit, the ornaments, erasers and elongated cord materials are removed from their packaging means. The elongated cord is of sufficient length to hold several ornaments and erasers. The elongated cord is threaded through the ornaments and erasers in any configuration the user desires. The ends of the elongated cord are then tied or glued together to form a loop. The loop can then be used as a bracelet, necklace or any other type of jewelry.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to the field of costume jewelry and in particular to a new and useful kit for making jewelry intended primarily, though not exclusively, for children. The kit includes the materials necessary to manufacture costume jewelry where some of the materials included in the jewelry pieces can be used as erasers.

2. Background

Children often utilize writing utensils. They use pencils on a regular basis for drawing and writing at school, at home, and many other places. As a result, children are often in need of erasers. Usually, however, erasers are not readily available. Although some pencils have an eraser on one end, the erasers usually wear out quickly and long before the pencil does. Children can also utilize erasers that are sold separately. These types of erasers are easily misplaced and normally unavailable when children need them.

Costume jewelry having different ornaments threaded on a string are often used by children. Girls, in particular, like to design their own jewelry. The jewelry designed in this manner is often used as “friendship jewelry” and traded among children. Costume jewelry is simple to make using ornaments having holes pre-drilled through them for easy threading on a string. While the ornaments and string can be purchased separately or as kits, currently available kits do not include ornaments constructed from materials that can be used as erasers.

Kits for crafting jewelry are well-known in the art. Some kits provide metal frames with bead ornaments and yarn to be used in decorating pre-formed metal frames. Other kits provide beads and string to manufacture bracelets and necklaces. These kits utilize different types of materials. Some use plastic or wooden beads, others include scented beads. The beads are threaded through strings and looped to form bracelets or necklaces. Although bracelets containing erasers are known to be in use, kits for use by children in designing their own jewelry that includes erasers are not available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a kit for easy use by children in designing jewelry that includes erasers. The kit allows for the manufacture of bracelets and other articles of jewelry combining different types of ornaments with erasers. To make a bracelet using the kit, the ornaments, erasers and elongated cord materials are removed from their packaging means. The elongated cord material is of sufficient length to hold several ornaments and erasers. The elongated cord is threaded through the ornaments and erasers in any configuration the user desires. The ends of the elongated cord are then tied or glued together to form a loop. The loop can then be used as a bracelet or a necklace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are considered in more detail, in relation to the following description of embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a kit as described in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bracelet made from the parts contained in the kit shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to build and use an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the invention, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention comprising a kit for manufacturing jewelry, indicated generally as 100, and the elements that form part of the kit 100. A packaging means 101 can be constructed of a variety of materials and it may be constructed in multiple configurations. One of such configurations is a box with a plurality of compartments, such as 104, 109, and 115. Another configuration includes a single bag with a plurality of separate compartments. Yet another embodiment includes separate bags for each component. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the packaging means 101 consists of a box with a bottom 102 and a top 119. The top 119 and bottom 102 could be connected in a variety of ways such as a single hinge 121, multiple hinges or other means that allow the box to be closed. In another embodiment of the invention the top 119 and bottom 102 are disconnected, with the top 119 configured to fit on top of the bottom 102. In some embodiments, the packaging means 101 may include a latch to keep the top 119 closed to the bottom 102. In further embodiments, the packaging means 101 may include a carrying handle.

The bottom 102 is divided into a plurality of compartments 104, 109, 115. One compartment 109 contains an elongated pliable cord 112. Such cord 112 may comprise string, nylon, wire, or other flexible material. In some embodiments, the cord may comprise a stretchable or elastic material.

A second compartment 115 contains ornamental pieces or ornaments 118. The ornamental pieces 118 may be made in different shapes and sizes and constructed from a variety of materials. The shapes may include geometrical shapes such as cubes, spheres, pyramids, beads and other shapes. The ornamental pieces can be in different colors. They may have engraved figures on their surface, such as letters, animals, and other depictions. These pieces can be constructed from a variety of materials that include plastics, wood, or other synthetic or natural materials. Each ornamental piece 118 should have a channel formed completely through the piece. The diameter of the channel should be sufficient to allow the elongated pliable cord 112 to be threaded through it.

A third compartment 104 contains ornamental pieces or ornaments 106 constructed from materials that allow the ornamental pieces 106 to be used as erasers. The shapes may include geometrical shapes such as cubes, spheres, pyramids, beads and other shapes. As above, the erasable ornamental pieces 106 can be in different colors. They may have engraved figures on their surface, such as letters, animals, and other depictions. Each ornamental piece 106 should have a channel formed completely through the piece. The diameter of the channel should be sufficient to allow the elongated pliable cord 112 to be threaded through it.

Additionally, the packaging means 101 could contain a set of instructions 117 describing how to use the kit 100 and showing different configurations in which the materials can be used to make desired jewelry. Another embodiment of the present invention could include a joining compound packaged in one of the three compartments or in its own compartment.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in which the materials shown in FIG. 1 are used to form a piece of jewelry, such as a bracelet 201. The piece of jewelry can be a bracelet, a necklace, earrings, hair ornaments, and the like. The cord 112 is cut to a desired length, if necessary, and then threaded through pre-drilled holes in the ornamental pieces 106 and 118. At least one of the ornamental pieces 106 constructed from eraser materials should be included as desired by the person utilizing the kit. The number and variety of ornamental pieces 106 and 118 is determined by the user. The ends of the cord 112 are tied in a knot 203 or joined together by a joining compound forming the jewelry piece, such as bracelet 201. The person that utilizes the kit 100 can then wear the individually designed article of jewelry and utilize the erasers as needed.

The invention has been described with references to a preferred embodiment. While specific values, relationships, materials and steps have been set forth for purposes of describing concepts of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the basic concepts and operating principles of the invention as broadly described. It should be recognized that, in the light of the above teachings, those skilled in the art can modify those specifics without departing from the invention taught herein.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with such underlying concept. It is intended to include all such modifications, alternatives and other embodiments insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein. Consequently, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A kit for manufacturing jewelry, comprising

an elongated cord,

a plurality of ornaments constructed from materials that are not used as erasers,

a plurality of ornaments constructed from materials that are used as erasers.

2. The kit of claim 1, further comprising

a packaging means for storing the elongated cord, the ornaments constructed from materials that are not used as erasers, the ornaments constructed from materials that are used as erasers, and other materials.

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the packaging means is a bag

4. The kit of claim 1, further comprising

instructions for using the elongated cord, the ornaments from materials that are not used as erasers and the ornaments constructed from materials used as erasers, to construct jewelry.

5. The kit of claim 3, wherein jewelry comprises a bracelet.

6. The kit of claim 3, wherein jewelry comprises a necklace.

7. The kit of claim 3, wherein jewelry comprises earrings.

8. The kit of claim 3, wherein jewelry comprises hair ornaments.

9. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a joining compound.

10. The kit of claim 1, wherein the elongated cord is selected from the group consisting of nylon, string, metal, and other malleable materials.

11. A method for making jewelry, comprising

providing an elongated cord, ornaments made of materials not to be used as erasers, ornaments made of eraser materials,

threading the elongated cord through the ornaments made from eraser materials and the ornamental materials not to be used as erasers,

joining one end of the elongated cord to a second end of the cord to form a loop.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the ends of the elongated cord are joined using a joining compound.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the ends of the elongated cord are joined using a knot.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the ends of the loop is utilized as jewelry.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the jewelry is a bracelet.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the jewelry is a necklace.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the jewelry is an earring.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the jewelry is a hair piece.