ACCESSORIES WITH PROTRUSIONS ALLOWING FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF WASHERS OR SIMILAR CHARMS WITH CENTER HOLES

Abstract

A band permits washers or charms with center holes to be easily snapped on and exchanged, allowing them to be worn and used for adornment and decoration. The bands can be made out of a mold or can have the protrusions attached in a later stage of the production process. The band can be decorated by the washers or charms and can be held in place by the knob-like protrusions that fit through the center hole in the charm or washer. The charm or washer should fit tightly enough to not slip off easily, and not move around. The protrusion can have a cap-like design that is larger than the stem/post which can keep the charm or washer from falling off. The cap cannot be too big, however, as to cover the design of the charm or washer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/913,243, filed Dec. 6, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to customizable jewelry and customizable accessories and, more particularly, to accessories or jewelry having protrusions that allow for the attachment of washers or similar charms having centered holes.

Washers and other similar charms can be used to decorate jewelry and other accessory items, but they do not easily attach to these items. No current accessory allows for easy popping on and off of washers or charms with center holes.

As can be seen, there is a need for accessory items and jewelry that allows for connection and removal of washers and charms with center holes as well as providing a front face of the charm or washer to be facing outward at all times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an ornamentation and attachment system comprises a washer or charm having a central hole; an item to be decorated having at least one post base operable to fit into the central hole; and a retention mechanism operable to prevent inadvertent removal of the washer or charm from the post base.

In another aspect of the present invention, an ornamentation and attachment system comprises a washer or charm having a central hole; an elongated band having a plurality of post bases disposed along a length of the band and operable to fit into the central hole; and a retention mechanism, associated with each of the post bases, operable to prevent inadvertent removal of the washer or charm from the post base.

In a further aspect of the present invention, an ornamentation and attachment system comprises a washer or charm having a central hole; an elongated band having a plurality of post bases disposed along a length of the band and operable to fit into the central hole; one or more band holes disposed at one end of the band; and a retention mechanism, associated with each of the post bases, operable to prevent inadvertent removal of the washer or charm from the post base, wherein the plurality of post bases and the band holes are disposed linearly along the band.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a band having posts for attaching washers or charms with center holes, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the band of FIG. 1 in a straight, unlooped configuration;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mobile electronic device case accessory having posts for attaching washers or charms with center holes, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an extender usable with the band of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the extender of FIG. 7 with the band of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a top view illustrating two of the bands of FIG. 1 linked together to form a pivoting configuration;

FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating two of the bands of FIG. 1 linked in a straight, non-pivoting configuration;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the band of FIG. 1, illustrating a configuration where the band is folded upon itself;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the band of FIG. 11, fully folded and linked onto itself;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the band of FIG. 12, where the loop that is formed may be used to hold objects, such as keys; and

FIG. 14 is a top view of a game board usable for holding the washers or charms, playing games thereupon, or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a proper base for washers or charms with center holes to be easily snapped on and exchanged, allowing them to be worn and used for adornment and decoration. The accessories can be made out of a mold or can have the protrusions attached in a later stage of the production process. The accessory can be decorated by the washers or charms and can be held in place by the knob-like protrusions that fit through the center hole in the charm or washer. The charm or washer should fit tightly enough to not slip off easily, and not move around. The protrusion can have a cap-like design that is larger than the stem/post which can keep the charm or washer from falling off. The cap cannot be too big, however, as to cover the design of the charm or washer.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a band 10 can include a plurality of mushroom post tops 12 attached to the band 10 via post bases 14. In some embodiments, the mushroom post tops 12 and post bases 14 can be disposed along some or all of the band 10 and may be equally or unequally spaced apart.

In some embodiments, band holes 16 can be disposed in one end of the band 10 to allow the band to form a loop, as shown in FIG. 1. While two band holes 16 are shown, one or more band holes 16 may be disposed on one end of the band 10.

A washer or charm 18 with a center hole 20 can be press fitted over the mushroom post top 12 and be supported by the post bases 14. The washer or charm 18 can be removed by using an appropriate amount of force to pull the washer or charm 18 over the mushroom post top 12 and off from the post base 14. This permits the band 10 to display various designs, depending on the selected washers or charms 18 placed thereupon.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an extension 28 can include a band hole 16 and at least one mushroom post top 12 and post base 14. The band hole 16 of the extension 28 can fit onto a mushroom post top 12 and post base 14 of the band 10 to extend the length thereof. The extension 28 can be formed in various lengths and multiple extensions can be added to the band as needed. In some embodiments, the extension 28 can be used to interchange washers or charms 18 on the band without having to remove them from their post base 14. In other words, a user can have multiple extensions 28 and simply add or exchange extensions 28 to change the design and the washer or charm 18.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, two of the bands 10 may be linked together by securing the band hole 16 of one band 10 over the post tops 12 of another band 10. As shown in FIG. 9, a pivoting connection may be formed by joining one of the band holes 16 of one band 10 with one of the post tops 12 of the other band 10. As shown in FIG. 10, a non-pivoting connection may be formed by joining two (or more, if present and desired) of the band holes 16 of one band 10 with two (or more, if present and desired) of the post tops 12 of the other band 10. This allows a user to build bracelets, necklaces, belts and other such accessories with the band 10.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 11 through 13, the band 10 may be looped on itself to form a loop 32 by connecting the band holes 16 with post tops 12 of the same band 10. The size of the loop 32 may be adjusted, as desired, by choosing the appropriate post tops 12. An object, such as a key ring 34, may be disposed in the loop 32 prior to closing the loop, there by securing the object within the loop 32.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, instead of a mushroom post top 12, a flat post top 22 can be used. Similar to the embodiment described above, the flat post top 22 can be disposed at the end of the post base 14 to provide a retention mechanism to secure the washer or charm 18 on the post base 14.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the attachment and ornamentation system of the present invention can be used on various other items in addition to the band 10. For example, a case 24 for a mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone 26, can include one or more post bases 14 and retention mechanisms (such as the flat post tops 22 or the mushroom post tops 12). This design can allow a user to interchange various washers or charms 18 onto the case 24 to suits ones aesthetic desire.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, a perforation 30 or other similar band shortening location, can be disposed in the band 10 to allow a user to easily reduce its overall length. This can allow a single band 10 to be wearable by an adult, teen, or child, for example, by simply separating the band at the desired perforation 30. While FIG. 9 shows the perforation 30 on the front of the band, in some embodiments, the perforation 30 may be visible only on a back side of the band.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a game board 38 may be formed by extending a plurality of post tops 12 from a substantially flat board surface 36. The post tops 12 can take various configurations, as described above. The game board 38 may be used for playing various games as well as for securely storing the washers or charms 18. When playing a game on the game board 38, the game pieces (the washers or charms 18) do not fall off, making the game board 38 convenient for travel and the like. The game board 38 can be made in various sizes and can have various dimensions. Typically the post tops 12 are spaced apart to permit the washers or charms 18 to be placed thereupon without overlapping an adjacent one of the washers or charms 18. The game board 38 may include markings, such as a dashed line 40, to show various board sizes for playing games. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the game board 38 can include markings for a 3×3 board (for playing games, such as tic-tac-toe), for a 8×8 board (for playing games, such as chess or checkers), for a 9×9 board (for playing games, such as Go), and the like.

While the Figures show the attachment and ornamentation system of the present invention used on phone cases and bands, other items can be decorated in a similar manner and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An ornamentation and attachment system comprising:

a washer or charm having a central hole;

an item to be decorated having at least one post base operable to fit into the central hole; and

a retention mechanism operable to prevent inadvertent removal of the washer or charm from the post base.

2. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 1, wherein the retention mechanism includes a post top having a diameter larger than that of the post base.

3. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 1, wherein the item to be decorated is a band.

4. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 3, wherein the band includes a plurality of retention mechanisms disposed in a line along a length of the band.

5. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 4, further comprising one or more band holes disposed at one end of the band.

6. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 1, wherein the retention mechanism includes a plurality of the retention mechanisms disposed along a length of the item to be decorated.

7. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 1, wherein the item to be decorated is a game board having a plurality of the retention mechanisms disposed thereupon in a predetermined pattern.

8. An ornamentation and attachment system comprising:

a washer or charm having a central hole;

an elongated band having a plurality of post bases disposed along a length of the band and operable to fit into the central hole; and

a retention mechanism, associated with each of the post bases, operable to prevent inadvertent removal of the washer or charm from the post base.

9. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 8, wherein the retention mechanism include a post top having a diameter larger than that of the post base.

10. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 8, further comprising one or more band holes disposed at one end of the band.

11. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of post bases and the band holes are disposed linearly along the band.

12. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 8, wherein the retention mechanism includes a plurality of the retention mechanisms equally spaced apart along a length of the band.

13. An ornamentation and attachment system comprising:

a washer or charm having a central hole;

an elongated band having a plurality of post bases disposed along a length of the band and operable to fit into the central hole;

one or more band holes disposed at one end of the band; and

a retention mechanism, associated with each of the post bases, operable to prevent inadvertent removal of the washer or charm from the post base, wherein

the plurality of post bases and the band holes are disposed linearly along the band.

14. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 13, wherein the retention mechanism include a post top having a diameter larger than that of the post base.

15. The ornamentation and attachment system of claim 13, wherein the retention mechanism includes a plurality of the retention mechanisms equally spaced apart along a length of the band.