Magnetically interchangeable jewelry with planar surfaces and recessed magnet

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for magnetically interchangeable jewelry that use planar surfaces and recessed magnets so that planar metallic disks (or other shapes) can be used as interchangeable ornamental features for the magnetically interchangeable jewelry. The interchangeable elements formed of a magnetically attractive material are releasably affixed to a base containing a recessed magnet (e.g., neodymium). The base is substantially flat other than an ornamental design and the ornamental elements rely on the strength of the magnet to firmly hold them in place rather than being recessed into the base or snapped into place. Other shapes could also be used for the interchangeable elements, if desired. The magnetically interchangeable jewelry can take a variety of forms including rings, bracelets, earrings, lanyards, multiple pendants on one necklace and/or other jewelry embodiments.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the following co-pending provisional application: Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/197,098, filed on Oct. 23, 2008, and entitled “MAGNETICALLY INTERCHANGEABLE JEWELRY WITH PLANAR SURFACES AND RECESSED MAGNET,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to magnetically interchangeable jewelry.

BACKGROUND

While playing a round of golf, a golfer will typically remove his or her golf ball from the putting green while the opposing golfer putts. Some type of marker, generally, small and flat, is placed on the spot where the golf ball was removed to indicate where the golfer should replace his or her ball prior to putting. Some golf ball markers are formed of a magnetic material and attached to the brim of a golfer's hat by means of a magnetic hat clip or to a magnetic divot tool. Magnetic golf ball markers have also been attached to earring backings, as well.

Magnetically interchangeable jewelry has previously existed. One prior solution provides a magnet coupled to a necklace or chain on top of which is placed an ornamental piece having a metal surface that is attracted to the magnet. Another solution provides an ornamental piece that fits inside of a recess within a housing and a magnet is located within the recess of the housing.

Prior jewelry solutions, however, have not recognized the advantage of using a flat disk, such as golf ball marker style magnetic disks, to form the ornamental piece of an interchangeable jewelry solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods are disclosed for magnetically interchangeable jewelry that use planar surfaces and recessed magnets so that planar metallic disks (or other shapes) can be used as interchangeable ornamental features for the magnetically interchangeable jewelry. The interchangeable disks formed of a magnetically attractive material are releasably affixed to a base containing a recessed magnet (e.g., neodymium). The base is substantially flat other than an ornamental design and the disks rely on the strength of the magnet to firmly hold them in place rather than being recessed into the base or snapped into place. Other shapes could also be used for the interchangeable elements, if desired. Other features and variations can be implemented, if desired, and related systems and methods can be utilized, as well.

In one embodiment, a pendant for securing interchangeable magnetically attractive circular golf ball markers to a necklace is disclosed herein. The necklace includes a pendant with a recessed magnet (e.g., neodymium) and interchangeable golf ball markers formed of a magnetic material for the purpose of ornamental jewelry rather than golf ball markers. Rather than being recessed into the pendant or snapped into place, the golf ball markers lay flat on the pendant for the purpose of easily and quickly interchanging them, for example, by children and other persons.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is noted that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for a necklace including a pendant having a base with a recessed magnet and an interchangeable ornamental disk.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a base with a recessed magnet and an interchangeable ornamental disk removed from the base and magnet.

FIG. 3 is side view of the base and recessed magnet with an interchangeable ornamental disk affixed in place by the magnet.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views of an embodiment having a different shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods are disclosed for magnetically interchangeable jewelry that use planar surfaces and recessed magnets so that ornamental elements, such as ornamental disks, can be used as interchangeable ornamental features for the magnetically interchangeable jewelry.

In one embodiment, the magnetically interchangeable jewelry described herein use a decorative golf ball marker as an ornamental element that is magnetically coupled to a base with recessed magnet. The bottom planar surface of the golf ball marker engages the upper planar surfaces of the base and the magnet. This jewelry assembly thereby provides an attractive and easily interchangeable jewelry system that can be used by young children and adults.

Several objects and advantages of the present solution include: (1) providing a method for forming a pendant necklace whereby the ornamental design can be changed by affixing interchangeable golf ball markers; and (2) providing a method for forming a pendant necklace whereby the interchangeable pieces lie flat rather than being recessed or snapped into place to provide ease of use by children and other persons. In addition to pendant necklaces, other jewelry can also be made to use the interchangeable elements described herein.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for an embodiment 100 including a necklace 102 including a pendant having a base 104 with a recessed magnet 110 and an interchangeable ornamental element or cover 106. The pendant also includes a connection ring 108 through which the necklace 108 can be inserted. It is noted that for FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the ornamental cover 106 is in the form or a disk.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the base 104 with the recessed magnet 110 where the interchangeable ornamental disk 106 has been removed from the base 104 and magnet 110.

FIG. 3 is side view of the base 104 and recessed magnet 110 with the interchangeable ornamental disk 106 affixed in place by the magnet 110. The arrow 302 represents the intended viewing direction for the jewelry. The surfaces of disk 106, base 104 and magnet 110 can each be made ornamental, as desired. For example, the base 104 can be provided with an ornamental feature, such as a petal design, that faces the viewing direction 302. Similarly, the magnet 110 can also have an ornamental feature facing the viewing direction. However, the magnet 110 can also be left a consistent color. The interchangeable disk 106 can have any of a wide range of ornamental designs. And it is expected that users of the jewelry described herein would acquire numerous different versions of interchangeable disk 106 so that the user could readily change the jewelry piece, as desired.

One significant advantage of the embodiments described herein is that the magnet 110 is recessed into base 104 so as to create a surface 304 that is substantially flat. While surface 304 could have slight variations due to ornamental features placed on base 104 and/or magnet 110, these variations are preferably very slight. By providing this substantially flat surface 204, the disk 106 can also have a flat surface 306 that engages with the flat surface 304. These substantially flat surfaces allows for easy attachment of the disk 106.

Another significant advantage of the embodiments described herein is that the diameter of the disk 106 is made smaller than the diameter of the base 104. As shown in FIG. 3, the edge 310 of the base 104 extends further out than does the edge 312 of the disk 106. For example, the base 104 can have a diameter of 25 mm and the disk 106 can have a diameter of 19 mm (e.g., about the width of a standard golf ball marker). The difference 314 in these widths provides an easier mechanism for a user's finger to engage the side of the disk 106 thereby allowing the disk 106 to be easily pushed or urged off of the base 104 and magnet 110. Other sizes could also be used, while still taking advantage of the base 104 being wider than the disk 106.

It is further noted that the magnet 110 can in turn be configured so that the edge 320 for the magnet 110 is offset towards the middle of the base 104 from the edge 312 of the disk 106. This difference 322 further provides for disk 106 to be more easily removed from the base 104 and magnet 110 while still providing a sufficiently magnet to secure the disk 106 in place. For example, in the example above where the base 104 has a diameter of 25 mm and the disk 106 has a diameter of 19 mm, the magnet can have a diameter of 12.5 mm. Other sizes could also be used, while still taking advantage of the base 104 being wider than the disk 106 and the disk 106 being wider than the magnet 110.

The disk 106 can also take a variety of shapes as desire. In other words, any desired ornamental element or cover can be used for disk 106. As such, the base 104, the recessed magnet 110 and the ornamental cover 106 can be different shapes while still maintaining the relationship that the edge of the base extends past the edge of the ornamental cover 106 and while still maintaining the planar relationship of the top surface of the base 104 and recessed magnet 110 with the bottom surface of the ornamental cover 106.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for an example embodiment having a different shape from the circular shape depicted with respect to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In particular, as shown, the base 104 and the ornamental cover 106 are relatively square in shape. And the edges of the base 104 still extend past the edges of the ornamental cover 106. As depicted, the magnet 110 is still circular in shape. However, it is understood that the magnet 110 could also be configured in a different shape, if desired. It is further noted that the ornamental element or cover 106 and the base 104 can be different shapes, if desired.

The interchangeable jewelry techniques described herein could be used to form a wide variety of jewelry embodiments. For example, rings, bracelets, earrings, lanyards, multiple pendants on one necklace and/or other jewelry embodiments could be formed using a base with a recessed magnet and an ornamental element or cover where the connecting surfaces are substantially planar and where the edges of the base extend beyond the edges of the ornamental cover. In one configuration, the edges of the base can be made to extend beyond the edges of the cover by at least 5 mm or more in all directions when the cover is centered on the base. In other configurations, the edges of the base can be made to extend beyond the edges of the cover by at least 2 mm, 3 mm, and/or 4 mm or more in all directions when the cover is centered on the base. Other variations could also be implemented, as desired.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. It will be recognized, therefore, that the present invention is not limited by these example arrangements. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Various changes may be made in the implementations and architectures. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic jewelry assembly, comprising:

a base;

a recess formed within the base;

a magnet positioned within the recess, the magnet and the base forming a first planar surface; and

an ornamental element with a second planar surface, the ornamental element being magnetically coupled to the magnet such that the second planar surface of the ornamental element is engaged with the first planar surface.

2. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the base has a width along the first planar surface that is greater than the width of the ornamental element along the second planar surface.

3. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 2, wherein the magnet has a width along the first planar surface that is smaller than the width of the ornamental element along the second planar surface.

4. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 3, wherein the base and the ornamental element are different shapes.

5. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 3, wherein the base and the ornamental element are similar shapes.

6. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 5, wherein the ornamental element is a disk and wherein the base has a circular outer edge.

7. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 6, wherein the base extends 2 mm or more past an outer edge of the disk when the disk is centered on the base.

8. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 6, wherein the base extends 5 mm or more past an outer edge of the disk when the disk is centered on the base.

9. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 3, wherein the base comprises ornamental features.

10. The magnetic jewelry assembly of claim 3, wherein the base is configured to be a pendant for a necklace.

11. A method for assembling magnetically interchangeable jewelry, comprising:

providing a base having a magnet positioned within a recess within the base, the base and magnet forming a first planar surface;

providing an ornamental element with a second planar surface; and

engaging the second planar surface of the ornamental element with the first planar surface so that the ornamental element is magnetically coupled to the magnet.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a base having a width along the first planar surface that is greater than a width of the ornamental element along the second planar surface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a magnet having a width along the first planar surface that is smaller than a width of the ornamental element along the second planar surface.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a base and an ornamental element having different shapes.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a base and an ornamental element having similar shapes.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a circular base and a disk as the ornamental element.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the base extends 2 mm or more past an outer edge of the disk when the disk is centered on the base.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the base extends 5 mm or more past an outer edge of the disk when the disk is centered on the base.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a base having ornamental features.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a base configured to be a pendant for a necklace and coupling the base to a necklace.