INTERCHANGEABLE SETTING RING
An interchangeable jewelry system includes an interchangeable setting and a main body to selectively mount the interchangeable setting, the main body includes a band portion designed to be worn by a wearer, and a base portion to receive the interchangeable setting, the base portion includes a receiving platform to receive the coupler, an open cage extending from the platform to partially surround the interchangeable setting, and an openable cover movably coupled to the open cage to partially surround the ornamental item, wherein the openable cover moves between an open position and a closed position, the interchangeable setting is mounted to the main body when the openable cover is in the open position to dispose a main portion of the ornamental item above the open cage, and the openable cover partially surrounds the ornamental item in the closed position when the coupler is coupled to the main body.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interchangeable jewelry system, and more particularly, to a ring capable of receiving a plurality of interchangeable settings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most conventional jewelry items are formed by mounting a gemstone or other ornamental item to a ring, necklace, or similar item designed to be aesthetically pleasing. For example, a gold ring can be provided with a setting to hold a precious gem, such as a diamond, to create a jewelry item. The mounted gemstone, the ring, and any other components of the jewelry item are usually static. That is, the gemstone is permanently set to a mount, and the mount is permanently attached to the rest of the jewelry item. Accordingly, the aesthetic appearance of the jewelry item is limited to a single “look” since the gemstone is permanently mounted to the jewelry item. Thus, there is a need for a jewelry item capable of having a variety of possible aesthetic appearances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a ring capable of receiving a plurality of interchangeable settings.
The present invention also provides a self-stopping platform to prevent the over-coupling of the interchangeable setting.
The present invention also aligns the interchangeable setting in a desired alignment.
The present invention also provides an openable cover to secure the interchangeable setting.
The present invention also provides an interchangeable jewelry system allowing simple and quick interchange of a setting or ornamental item with a circular band member (ring) or other jewelry item, such as a necklace or brooch.
The present invention provides an interchangeable jewelry system where a set of different interchangeable settings having different appearances can be mounted on a jewelry item. Further, the set of interchangeable settings can be mounted on a plurality of compatible jewelry items.
Additional aspects and advantages of the present general invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general invention.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general invention may be achieved by providing an interchangeable jewelry system, including an interchangeable setting including an ornamental item and a coupler, and a main body to selectively mount the interchangeable setting. The main body includes a band portion designed to be worn by a wearer, and a base portion to receive the interchangeable setting. The base portion includes a receiving platform to receive the coupler, an open cage extending from the platform to partially surround the interchangeable setting, and an openable cover movably coupled to the open cage to partially surround the ornamental item, wherein the openable cover moves between an open position and a closed position. The interchangeable setting is mounted to the main body when the openable cover is in the open position to dispose a main portion of the ornamental item above the open cage, and the openable cover partially surrounds the ornamental item in the closed position when the coupler is coupled to the main body.
The receiving platform may include an inversion line along a central portion of the receiving platform to serve as a coupling stop for the interchangeable setting and to define two lateral sides of the platform, and a receiving end defined in a center of the receiving platform to receive the coupler. The coupler may include a contact ridge defined along a bottom surface of the coupler to interact with the inversion line.
The contact ridge may include a raised surface along a central portion of the bottom surface to interact with the receiving platform when disposing the setting on the receiving platform. Alternatively, the contact ridge may include a small projection, such as one or more metal balls, in addition to and on the raised surface.
The coupler may include a threaded stem and the receiving end may include a threaded bore, and a height of an upper surface of the lateral sides may gradually cooperatively increase to prevent over-tightening of the threaded stem into the threaded bore.
A length of the coupler may be such that the ornamental item is disposed at a predetermined height when coupled, and wherein at least one of the contact ridge on the bottom surface of the coupler and the inversion line on the platform may serve to align the interchangeable setting in a predetermined alignment when coupled.
The open cage may extend from the platform to a first frame, and the openable cover is coupled to the first frame.
The first frame may be square-shaped, and the openable cover may include an open frame shaped to correspond with the first frame.
The open frame may be dimensioned to minimize a space between the ornamental item and the open frame when the openable cover is in the closed position.
The ornamental item may not fully turn when the openable cover is in the closed position.
The predetermined height may dispose the ornamental item above the open cage, and the openable cover partly surrounds the ornamental item in the closed position.
The coupler may be directly coupled to the ornamental item.
The interchangeable setting may further include a setting to support the ornamental item, and the coupler may be connected to the setting.
The interchangeable jewelry system may include an interchangeable ring, and the band portion may be a ring band.
The band portion may be one of a necklace, a chain, a bracelet, and a band.
The interchangeable setting may include a plurality of compatible interchangeable settings, and any of the compatible interchangeable settings can be mounted on the main body.
The main body may include a plurality of compatible main bodies, and the interchangeable setting can be mounted on any of the compatible main bodies.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present general invention may also be achieved by providing an interchangeable ring, including an interchangeable setting, and a main ring body, wherein the interchangeable setting is selectively coupled to the main ring body, and the main ring body includes a platform to receive the interchangeable setting, a cage extending from the platform to define a first frame, and an openable cover hingedly coupled to the first frame to move from an open position to a closed position, wherein the interchangeable setting is mounted to the main body when the openable cover is in the open position, and the openable cover partially surrounds the ornamental item in the closed position.
The platform may include an inversion line defined along a central portion of the platform and dividing the platform into cooperating lateral sides, wherein a height of an upper surface of the lateral sides gradually cooperatively increases to prevent over-coupling of the interchangeable setting, and to set the interchangeable setting at a predetermined height and alignment.
The interchangeable setting may include a contact ridge defined on a bottom surface thereof to interact with the inversion line in the platform to align and lock the interchangeable setting on the platform.
The contact ridge may include a raised surface defined along a central portion of the bottom surface.
The contact ridge may include one or more projections defined on the bottom surface.
These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
As illustrated in
The ornamental item [21] may be fixedly coupled to the setting [22]. For example, as illustrated in
It will be understood that the ornamental item [21] may be a stone, gem, emblem, or any other ornamental item typically found on jewelry.
As illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
Under the current general inventive concept, the coupler [22a] is not limited to a threaded stem. Instead, the coupler [22a] may also comprise any structure to allow for the removable coupling of the interchangeable setting [20] to the ring body [10] or to other similarly compatible jewelry items. For example, the coupler [22a] may include other mechanical, chemical, or magnetic couplers that allow for the removable coupling of the interchangeable setting [20] and one or more pieces of compatible jewelry.
As described above, the interchangeable setting [20] can be removably coupled to a compatible jewelry item, such as the ring body [10]. As illustrated in
The hand portion [11] allows placement of the interchangeable setting ring [1] on a wearer's finger. In the embodiment illustrated in
The base portion [12] can be fixably or removably connected to the band portion [11]. The base portion [12] is designed to couple with the interchangeable setting [20].
As illustrated on
The platform [14] is connected to the band portion [11] and may form an upper part of the band portion [11]. The receiving end [13] may be formed in a center portion of the platform [14]. The receiving end [13] may be embodied as a threaded bore to releasably engage a threaded stem coupler [22a] of the interchangeable setting [20].
An upper surface of the platform [14] may also define an inversion line [17]. The inversion line [17] may include an indented area on the upper surface of the platform [14], and can serve to partition the surface of the platform [14] into two lateral sides [14a and 14b]. The inversion line [17] can act to prevent over-tightening of the interchangeable setting [20] when the threaded stem is screwed into the receiving end [13]. For example, stripping of the threaded stem coupler [22a] may occur if it is over-tightened when screwed into the receiving socket [13].
As illustrated in
Alternatively, the contact ridge [27] may be formed on the platform [14] to interact with an inversion line [17] defined on the bottom surface of the setting [20].
A plurality of ribs [15a] may extend upwards from the platform [14] to a first frame [15b] to define the open cage [15]. As illustrated in
An openable cover [16] can be coupled to the open cage [15]. The openable cover [16] may include a second frame [16b] corresponding to the first frame [15b]. For example, the first and second frames [15b and 16b] can be corresponding square-shaped frames, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the open position, a coupling and uncoupling of the interchangeable setting [20] to the ring body [10] is facilitated in various advantageous ways.
The openable cover [16] allows an interchangeable setting [20] with a larger ornamental item or stone [22] to be accommodated. For example,
If the openable cover [16] was instead a fixed feature of the open cage [15], the size of the trilliant cut gemstone would need to be reduced so that it could clear the sides of the second frame [16b] as the interchangeable setting [20] was screwed to the ring body [10]. Alternatively, a longer stem could be used to place the larger gemstone above the second frame [16b] when the interchangeable setting [20] is screwed into the ring body. However, this would require a deeper open cage [15] to accommodate the longer stem and a deeper receiving end [13] to allow enough rotations to secure the threaded stem. Still, because the gemstone would be set above the second frame [16b], the interchangeable setting [20] would be exposed to accidental uncoupling as described below. In contrast, the present invention uses an openable cover [16]. With the openable cover [16] in the open position, a larger sized stone can be mounted on the ring body [10]. As illustrated in
As described above, the coupler [22a] is coupled to the receiving end [13] in the platform [14]. When the coupler [22a] is embodied as a threaded stein coupler [22a], the interchangeable setting [20] is turned to screw the threaded stem coupler [22a] into a threaded receiving socket [13]. The interchangeable setting [20] is turned until it contacts the inversion line [17], and is thus prevented from over-turning. The inversion line [17] can be designed to set the interchangeable setting [20] at a desired height and alignment once it is stopped from turning.
Once the interchangeable setting [20] is coupled to the ring body [10], the openable cover [16] can be moved to the closed position. Because the ornamental item [22] does not need to clear the sides of the second frame [16b] while being coupled, the interchangeable setting ring [1] can accommodate a larger sized gemstone. Accordingly, the size of the gemstone can be as large as that which can be accommodated in the second frame [16b] without turning, and a clearance distance between the outer edges of the gemstone and the interior edges of the second frame [16b] can be minimized.
Additionally, the use of an openable cover [16] also allows for the open cage [15] to be fairly shallow and still allow a threaded stem coupler [22a] to turn 3-4 rotations to secure the interchangeable setting [20].
In the closed position, the open cage [15] and the open cover [16] partially surround the interchangeable setting [20] to protect the ornamental item [21] from contact and help prevent the accidental uncoupling of the interchangeable setting [20]. A length of the coupler [22a] can be predetermined to dispose a main portion [M] of the ornamental item [21] above the second frame [16b] while allowing the second frame [16b] to partially surround the interchangeable setting [20].
A top surface of the openable cover [16] can be fitted with a plurality of decorative elements. For example, as illustrated in
In other envisioned embodiments, the present invention may be easily adapted to other (non-ring) jewelry items. The present invention can be readily adapted to provide interchangeable settings for necklaces, watches, pins, earrings, and other related pieces of jewelry. Further, the interchangeable settings described herein can also be exchange between different types of compatible jewelry. For example, the same interchangeable setting may be mounted on a compatible ring or necklace.
Although a few embodiments of the present general invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An interchangeable jewelry system, comprising:
- an interchangeable setting comprising an ornamental item and a coupler; and
- a main body to selectively mount the interchangeable setting, the main body comprising: a hand portion designed to be worn by a wearer, and a base portion to receive the interchangeable setting, the base portion comprising a receiving platform to receive the coupler, an open cage extending from the platform to partially surround the interchangeable setting, and an openable cover movably coupled to the open cage to partially surround the ornamental item,
- wherein the openable cover moves between an open position and a closed position, the interchangeable setting is mounted to the main body when the openable cover is in the open position to dispose a main portion of the ornamental item above the open cage, and the openable cover partially surrounds the ornamental item in the closed position when the coupler is coupled to the main body.
2. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the receiving platform comprises:
- an inversion line defined along a central portion of the receiving platform to serve as a coupling stop for the interchangeable setting and to define two lateral sides of the platform; and
- a receiving end defined in a center of the receiving platform to receive the coupler,
- and wherein the coupler comprises a contact ridge defined along a bottom surface of the coupler to interact with the inversion line.
3. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 2, wherein the coupler comprises a threaded stem and the receiving end comprises a threaded bore, and wherein a height of an upper surface of the lateral sides gradually cooperatively increases to prevent over-tightening of the threaded stem into the threaded bore.
4. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 2, wherein a length of the coupler is such that the ornamental item is disposed at a predetermined height when coupled, and wherein at least one of the inversion line and the contact ridge serve to align the interchangeable setting in a predetermined alignment when coupled.
5. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the open cage extends from the platform to a first frame, and the openable cover is coupled to the first frame.
6. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 5, wherein the first frame is square-shaped, and the openable cover comprises an open frame shaped to correspond with the first frame.
7. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 6, wherein the open frame is dimensioned to minimize a space between the ornamental item and the open frame when the openable cover is in the closed position.
8. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 7, wherein the ornamental item cannot fully turn when the openable cover is in the closed position.
9. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 4, wherein the predetermined height disposes the ornamental item above the open cage, and the openable cover partly surrounds the ornamental item in the closed position.
10. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is directly coupled to the ornamental item.
11. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable setting further comprises a setting to support the ornamental item, and the coupler is connected to the setting.
12. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable jewelry system comprises an interchangeable ring, and the band portion is a ring band.
13. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the band portion is one of a necklace, a chain, a bracelet, and a band.
14. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the interchangeable setting comprises a plurality of compatible interchangeable settings, and any of the compatible interchangeable settings can be mounted on the main body.
15. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a plurality of compatible main bodies, and the interchangeable setting can be mounted on any of the compatible main bodies.
16. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 2, wherein the contact ridge comprises a raised surface defined on the bottom surface and one or more projections formed on the raised surface.
17. An interchangeable ring, comprising:
- an interchangeable setting; and
- a main ring body,
- wherein the interchangeable setting is selectively coupled to the main ring body, and the main ring body comprises: a platform to receive the interchangeable setting, a cage extending from the platform to define a first frame, and an openable cover hingedly coupled to the first frame to move from an open position to a closed position, wherein the interchangeable setting is mounted to the main body when the openable cover is in the open position, and the openable cover partially surrounds the ornamental item in the closed position.
18. The interchangeable ring of claim 17, wherein the platform comprises:
- an inversion line defined along a central portion of the platform and dividing the platform into cooperating lateral sides,
- wherein a height of an upper surface of the lateral sides gradually cooperatively increases to prevent over-coupling of the interchangeable setting, and to set the interchangeable setting at a predetermined height and alignment.
19. The interchangeable ring of claim 18, wherein the interchangeable setting comprises a contact ridge defined on a bottom surface thereof to interact with the inversion line in the platform to align and lock the interchangeable setting on the platform.
20. The interchangeable ring of claim 19, wherein the contact ridge is a raised surface defined along a central portion of the bottom surface.
21. The interchangeable ring of claim 20, wherein the contact ridge comprises one or more projections defined on the raised surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2010
Publication Date: Jul 28, 2011
Applicant: Lapidary Luxuries, LLC (West Palm Beach, FL)
Inventor: Pamela Moody (West Palm Beach, FL)
Application Number: 12/695,809
International Classification: A44C 17/02 (20060101); A44C 9/00 (20060101); A44C 5/00 (20060101);