Napkin ring with flexible interchangeable decoration

Abstract

Napkin rings are used to hold a napkin when setting a dining table. An attachment mechanism encircles a napkin ring to attach decorations to a ring body. The complete encirclement allows for freedom to place one or more of a plurality of ornaments at any position or angle, and on any plane of the ring. This allows for endless decoration configurations. The embedded nature of the attachment material within the ring allows use without any decoration. In the preferred embodiment, the ring is composed in whole or in part of ferric material, and an assortment of decorative accessories which each include magnets which can be magnetically attached to the napkin ring, and in which the decorative accessories follow a specific theme such as a holiday occasion or other specific event. The complete encirclement of the attachment material allows for many different ornaments to be attached at the same time.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Provisional Application No. 61/213,019 filed on Apr. 28, 2009, inventor Kimberly M. Read, entitled “Napkin Ring with Flexible Interchangeable Decoration.” The entire disclosure of this provisional patent application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a napkin ring with an interchangeable ornamentation. More particularly, this invention is directed to a napkin ring with an interchangeable ornamentation that can be placed anywhere around said ring to account for flexibility of ornamentation placement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Napkin rings are used to display and contain a napkin when setting a table. Such napkin rings can be adorned with ornaments which complement a table event or room decor.

There is a need for a napkin ring to provide flexibility of design and decor without the need to obtain and store multiple napkin rings.

Napkin rings for holding napkins are known in the art. One type of napkin ring is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,779 to Dreger. In this patent, a napkin ring with interchangeable ornaments is provided, wherein the napkin ring has a magnetic material embedded in a top end of the ring, and having holes for receiving prongs from an ornament.

It is, however, a problem in the art to provide a napkin ring and selectable collections of ornaments, wherein the selectable collections of ornaments each have a theme. Such themes can include birthdays, retirement, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, New Year, Christmas, religious holidays, and other occasions or decorations as well.

It is also a problem in the art to provide a napkin ring for receiving ornaments, wherein a plurality of ornaments can be placed at user-selected locations on the napkin ring.

It is a further problem in the art to provide a napkin ring construction wherein the napkin ring is composed of a magnetizable material or magnetically responsive material, and receives a decorative accessory having a magnetic element incorporated therein or attached thereto.

It is another problem in the art to provide a ferromagnetic ring and an assortment of decorative accessories which can be magnetically attached to the napkin ring, in which the decorative accessories follow a specific theme such as a holiday occasion or other specific event.

It is another problem in the art to provide an alternative napkin ring construction wherein the napkin ring has an outer decorative portion and an inner, slideable magnetic portion.

It is accordingly a problem in the prior art to provide a design for a napkin ring with the flexibility to use interchangeable ornamentation which will fully encompass the napkin ring thereby making the napkin ring flexible to many different ornament configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing, it is seen that it is a problem in the art to provide a device meeting the above requirements. According to the present invention, a device and process are provided which meets the aforementioned requirements and needs in the prior art.

More particularly, the invention relates to a napkin ring and selectable collections of ornaments, wherein the selectable collections of ornaments each have a theme. Such themes can include birthdays, retirement, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, New Year, Christmas, religious holidays, and other occasions as well.

Further, the napkin ring of the present invention has a magnetic portion for receiving ornaments, wherein a plurality of ornaments can be placed at user-selected locations on the napkin ring. Alternatively, the ornaments can carry the magnetic portion, while the ring body includes a metallic portion capable of attracting magnets.

The napkin ring of the present invention includes an alternative construction wherein the napkin ring has an outer decorative portion and an inner, slideable magnetic portion.

Specifically, the device according to the present invention provides a napkin ring with a removable ornamentation which allows for the maximum amount of flexibility of attachment to said napkin ring thereby allowing multiple configurations or ornamentation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a group of decorations having embedded magnets.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a napkin ring holding a napkin, according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the napkin ring of FIG. 2, showing the embedded magnetic material encircling the ring.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the napkin ring of FIG. 2, with a magnetic substance embedded around the napkin ring.

FIG. 5 is the top view of the napkin ring of FIG. 2, illustrating the magnetic substance encircling the ring inside the napkin ring.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a decoration for the napkin ring showing an embedded magnet, suitable for use in the grouping of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of different groupings of decorations usable in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment using a plastic flexible material for the decorations against a ferrous metallic material for the napkin ring, wherein the plastic flexible material of the decoration itself is magnetic.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the napkin ring of FIG. 2, having an outer ring and a slideable inner ring.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side elevational view of the napkin ring of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 9, showing two positions of the slideable inner ring.

FIG. 11 is a top elevational view of a napkin ring similar in shape and composition to that of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the napkin ring of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of an exemplary ornament for use with the napkin ring of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a grouping 90 which includes decorations 10, 14, 18 having respective embedded magnets 12, 16, and 20. The decorations 10, 14, and 18 are exemplary and can be composed of plastic, ceramic, metal, wood, or other type of materials or combination of materials. It is contemplated that the present invention will be used with a variety of different groupings of decorations to mark holidays or specific events, and each different grouping may include up to a dozen or more of different decorations. The magnets 12, 16, and 20 for the decorations can be attached by gluing, welding, dovetailing, or embedding in the respective decorations. The magnetic material can be magnetized iron, or magnetic plastic material.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a napkin ring 100 for holding a napkin 106. In this preferred embodiment, the napkin ring 100 has a cylindrical ferrous body 104 and two beaded ends 102, 102. It is contemplated that the beaded ends 102, 102 can be of different shape and texture.

Further, the ends 102, 102 can be smooth instead of beaded; reduced or enlarged in size relative to the body 104; and all such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.

In other embodiments, the napkin ring 100 can alternatively be composed of any of: a solid magnetic material; a solid ferrous non-magnetized material which is attracted to magnets; a non-ferrous material having an internal band of magnetic material; and a non-ferrous material having an internal band of a solid ferrous non-magnetized material which is attracted to magnets. Additionally, any other magnetic or magnetizeable material can be used which would be known to anyone having skill in the magnetic materials arts.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-5, a magnetic material forming a band 105 is incorporated coaxially within the body 104′ of the napkin ring 100′. Some examples of the ornamentations which can be attached to the body 104 are as shown in FIG. 1. The magnets 12, 16, and 20 of FIG. 1 which are attached to the decorations facilitate magnetic attachment to the napkin ring 100′. The ornamentations may be any size or shape suitable for use with a napkin ring, and preferably mark a specific occasion, holiday, or event.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative napkin ring 100′ different from that of FIG. 2, showing in dashed outline the upper and lower bounds of an embedded magnetic material band 105 inside the body 104′ in the napkin ring 100′.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the napkin ring 100′ of FIG. 3, with a magnetic substance 105 embedded around the interior of the napkin ring 100′. Here, the napkin ring 100′ can be composed of any one of a plastic material, a ceramic material, a wood or cellulose material, and a non-ferric metal; or any composite material formed of these materials.

FIG. 5 is the top view of the napkin ring 100′ of FIG. 3, illustrating the magnetic substance 105 encircling the interior of the napkin ring 100′.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a decoration 120 for the napkin ring 100 of FIG. 2, showing an embedded magnet 124, suitable for use in the grouping 90 of FIG. 1. The shape of the decoration 120 can differ from that shown, and all such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a collection 400 of different groupings 402, 404, and 406 of decorations usable with the napkin ring 100 of FIG. 2. The grouping 402 is a Thanksgiving collection of ornaments related to a Thanksgiving theme. The grouping 404 is a Christmas collection of ornaments related to a Christmas theme. The grouping 406 indicates other types of collections, such as for specific holidays or events, including birthdays, anniversaries, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and other known holidays and events. The collection 400 and groupings 402, 404, and 406 shown in FIG. 7 are merely exemplary.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a napkin ring 200 using a plastic flexible material 210 for the decorations, which are attracted to a ferrous metallic material 220 forming the body of the napkin ring 200. Here, the plastic flexible material 210 forming the decoration itself is magnetic; such flexible magnetic materials would be known to anyone having skill in the magnet arts.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of an alternative embodiment 500 of the napkin ring of FIG. 2, the ring 500 having an outer ring 520 and a slideable inner ring 510, which is slideable along a longitudinal axis of the outer ring 520. This permits great flexibility in design and use of the outer ring 520; in this arrangement, the slideable inner ring 510 is manually slideable to any desired position along the length of the outer ring 520 where it is frictionally retained in place. Here, the outer ring 520 is non-magnetic, while the slideable inner ring 510 is magnetic. The slideable inner ring 510 is capable of magnetically attracting decorations through the material composing the outer ring 520. The napkin ring 500 can be composed of any one of a plastic material, a ceramic material, a wood or cellulose material, and a non-ferric metal; or any composite material formed of these materials.

Alternatively in FIG. 9, the inner ring 510 can be a ferric material, while the decorations themselves carry magnets sufficiently strong to be attracted to the inner ring 510.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side elevational view of another embodiment 600 of the napkin ring, wherein the napkin ring 600 includes an outer ring 610 and a smaller inner ring 620 shown in two positions in dashed outline. The inner ring 620 is composed of magnetic material as in the embodiment of FIG. 9, while the outer ring 610 is composed of non-magnetic material similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 9. The two positions “A” and “B” shown for the slideable inner ring 620 are merely illustrative; with the inner ring 620 being moveable to any selected location along the interior of the outer ring 610. This permits great flexibility in design, composition, and weight for the outer ring 610. It also enables a much lower weight than would otherwise be possible, since magnetic materials are relatively heavy. This figure also shows by an arrow “D” the two directions in which the slideable inner ring 620 moves. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, upper stop members 630, 630 are provided at the top of the outer ring 610, and lower stop members 630, 630 are provided at the bottom of the outer ring 610, to retain the inner ring 620 and keep it from falling out. The stop members 630 can be simple projections, or can be ring-shaped and have an outer diameter which fits against the interior of the outer ring 610.

FIG. 11 is a top elevational view of a napkin ring 700 similar in shape and composition to that of FIG. 2. The napkin ring 700 has a cylindrical body 720 having a top edge 710 and an inner surface 730.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the napkin ring 700 of FIG. 11, showing the body 720 and the inner surface 730 in dashed outline, and additionally showing a bottom edge 750. The top edge 710 and the bottom edge 750 are relatively enlarged with respect to the body 720, and have a rounded outer periphery and flat end portions.

FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of an exemplary ornament 800 for use with the napkin ring 700 of FIG. 11. The ornament 800 has a flower shape and a central recess which has a cylindrical or circular magnet 810 secured thereto.

The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A circular napkin ring, comprising:

a ring-shaped member with a central hole into which a napkin can be inserted;

said ring-shaped member being composed of a ferrous material which encircles the entire central hole of the ring-shaped member; and

at least one detachable ornament which includes a magnetically attractable material to enable securement to the ring-shaped member.

2. A napkin ring in combination with a set of decorations, comprising:

a napkin ring having a ring-shaped body with a central hole into which a napkin can be inserted; said napkin ring including a magnetically responsive material which can attract a magnet; and

a set of decorative accessories which each include respective magnets which are magnetically attracted to ring-shaped body of the napkin ring.

3. A napkin ring as claimed in claim 2, wherein said set of decorative accessories follows a specific theme marking a specific occasion or event.

4. A napkin ring as claimed in claim 3, wherein the specific occasion or event includes birthdays, anniversaries, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Mother's day, or other known holidays.