RING WITH INTERCHANGEABLE GEM MECHANISM

Abstract

A ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism is engineered. The ring comprises a loop having two termini. It includes two shoulders, each shoulder resting on a terminus of the loop. It additionally includes a bezel resting on the shoulders that is configured to contain an open-worked chamber. The ring also includes a diadem that is configured to be housed in the open-worked chamber but is separable from the bezel. The ring further has a key that is configured to insert through a front of the bezel to lock the diadem in the open-worked chamber of the bezel.

Description

BACKGROUND

A ring is a round band, made typically of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry around the finger. In addition to metal, rings can be made from almost any material, such as plastic, stone, wood, bone, glass, or even gemstone. A ring may be set with a gem of some sort, which is often a precious or semi-precious gemstone, such as a diamond, a ruby, a sapphire, or an emerald, but it can also be almost any material. Once set, the gem is affixed to the ring and is not easily removable. It would be useful if there were technology that enables one ring to interchangeably house different gems.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

One aspect of the subject matter includes an apparatus form which recites a ring comprising a loop having two termini; two shoulders, each shoulder resting on a terminus of the loop; a bezel resting on the shoulders that is configured to contain an open-worked chamber; a diadem that is configured to be housed in the open-worked chamber; and a key that is configured to be inserted through a front of the bezel to lock the diadem in the open-worked chamber of the bezel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an assembled isometric perspective view from the top of an archetypical ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an assembled isometric perspective view from the bottom of an archetypical ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an assembled front plan view of an archetypical ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an assembled front plan view of an archetypical ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an assembled top plan view of an archetypical ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 6 is an assembled bottom plan view of an archetypical ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an assembled side view of an archetypical ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an assembled side view of an archetypical ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view from the top of an archetypical disassembled ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism;

FIG. 10 is an exploded isometric perspective view from the bottom of an archetypical disassembled ring with an interchangeable gem mechanism; and

FIGS. 11A-11C are partially-exploded isometric perspective views from the top of an archetypical ring with the an interchangeable gem mechanism being initially disassembled to being assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-11C illustrate a ring 100 with an interchangeable gem mechanism. One style of the ring 100 as illustrated by FIGS. 1-11C is to facilitate hereinafter discussion of the interchangeable gem mechanism. However, the ring 100 can suitably be any style in addition to the style depicted in FIGS. 1-11C. Suitable styles include aqig ring; birthstone ring; cameo ring; carving ring; championship ring; sports ring; Claddagh ring; class ring; cocktail ring; ecclesiastical ring; engagement ring; friendship ring; giadinetti ring; watch ring; midi ring; and so on. The ring 100 is engineered having a loop 102 connected to shoulders 102A, 102B.

A bezel 104 lies on top of the shoulders 102A, 102B of the ring 100. The bezel 104 of the ring 100 is a wider and thicker section that bridges the two termini of the loop 102, which suitably contains an open-worked chamber, usually with the top of the chamber defining a void. The ring 100 is normally worn to display the bezel 104 on the upper or outer side of the finger. The word “bezel” means the exclusion of a setting for a gem 108 but inclusion of the open-worked chamber into which a diadem 106 holds the gem 108 in place using a raised surrounding for the gem with sides encircling and overlapping the edges of the gem 108 and diadem phalanxes 106a-106d to fasten the corners of the gem 108, thus holding it in place. The bezel 104 is disassociated with the diadem 106, which is a band of metal to hold the gem 108 in its setting. Any suitable bezel can be used, such as swivel bezels (the bezel formed of a gem with a metal rod through it, so it can rotate) or box bezels (in which a box or cage forms the bezel, often sitting on the main ring hoop, and perhaps open at the top where there is a stone), as long as such a bezel includes an open-worked chamber into which a diadem 106 holding a gem 108 can be housed.

The bezel 104 includes a bezel rim 104A. The bezel 104, in two dimensions, from a top plan view, is suitably ellipsoid in shape in one embodiment. In another embodiment, which is illustrated, the bezel 104, in two dimensions, from a top plan view, is quadrilateral in shape. The bezel rim 104A in such an embodiment has four sides and four corners. Each of the sides has multiple recesses into which small gemstones can be set to provide further design of the ring 100. At each corner of the bezel rim 104A, in the inside, is a C-shaped abutting piece 104D-104G. Also in the inside of the bezel 104 below the bezel rim 104A, on the two sides orthogonal to the shoulders 102A, 102B, are bezel troughs 104H, 104I. Each of the bezel troughs 104H, 104I defines a void that is a convex polyhedron in shape. Suitable convex polyhedrons include a rectangular parallelepiped. The remaining sides of the bezel 104, in all embodiments, include a bezel front 104B and a bezel back 104C. The bezel front 104B defines a void that is substantially a convex polyhedron in shape. The bezel back 104C defines a void that is substantially a convex polyhedron in shape.

The diadem 106 is a piece of the interchangeable gem mechanism that is separable from the bezel 104. In one embodiment, the diadem 106, in a top plan view, in two dimensions, has an ellipsoid shape if the bezel 104, in a top plan view in two dimension, also has an ellipsoid shape. Suitably, such a correspondence of shapes facilitates insertion of the diadem 106 to be inserted into the bezel rim 104A of the bezel 104. In the illustrative embodiment, the diadem 106, in the two-dimensional top plan view, has a quadrilateral shape which includes four sides and four corners. At each corner, on the outside, is the diadem phalanx 106A-106D. Each of the diadem phalanxes 106A-106D is configured to have a distal end and a proximal end. Each distal end, when the diadem 106 is inserted into the open-worked chamber of the bezel 104, passes through a respective C-shaped abutting piece 104D-104G. In one embodiment, each distal end abuts against the top of either the bezel trough 104H or the bezel trough 104I so as to allow the diadem 106 to be housed inside the open-worked chamber of the bezel 104. In another embodiment, each distal end passes through a respective C-shaped abutting piece 104D-104G and comes to rest when an area of a horizontal, virtual slice of a diadem 106 is too large to allow the diadem 106 to continue to enter into the open-worked chamber of the bezel 104. In this embodiment, the diadem 106 has graduated areas, with the smallest area at the bottom of the diadem 106 and the largest area at the top of the diadem 106. Two of the sides of the diadem 106 include diadem sliders 106H, 106G. Each of the diadem sliders 106H, 106G defines a void that is a convex polyhedron in shape. Suitable convex polyhedrons include a rectangular parallelepiped. The remaining two sides of the diadem 106 include diadem bores 106E, 106F.

When the gem 108 is inserted into the diadem 106 and is secured by it, and the diadem 106 is then inserted into the bezel 104, the distal ends of the diadem phalanxes 106A-106D enter through the C-shaped abutting pieces 104D-104G to permit the diadem 106 to rest inside the bezel 104. Specifically, the diadem phalanx 106A suitably mates with the C-shaped abutting piece 104D; the diadem phalanx 106B suitably mates with the C-shaped abutting piece 104E; the diadem phalanx 106AC suitably mates with the C-shaped abutting piece 104F; and the diadem phalanx 106D suitably mates with the C-shaped abutting piece 104G. The bezel trough 104H longitudinally aligns in parallel with the diadem slider 106G. The bezel trough 104I longitudinally aligns in parallel with the diadem slider 106H. The bezel trough 104H together with the diadem slider 106G defines a void that is a convex polyhedron in shape. One suitable shape includes a quadrilateral-faced hexahedron. The bezel trough 104I together with the diadem slider 106H defines a void that is a convex polyhedron in shape. One suitable shape includes a quadrilateral-faced hexahedron. At the same time, the diadem bore 106E is coaxially aligned with the bezel front 104B.

Once the diadem 106 holding the gem 108 rests in the open-worked chamber of the bezel 104, the diadem 106 can be locked in the bezel 104. A male key 110A and its counterpart female key 110B are introduced. The male key 110A includes a bow 112 projecting from which are cuts 116A, 116B. The bow has an area substantially just less than equal to the void defined by the bezel front 104B so that the bow fits inside the void when the male key 110A enters the bezel 104 through the bezel front 104B. The cuts 116A, 116B are suitably convex polyhedrons, such as a rectangular hexahedron. At the end of the cuts 116A, 116B extend tips 118A, 118C, respectively. At the center of the inside of the bow 112 is a tip 118B. A female key 110B has a stern whose area is substantially just less than equal to the void defined by the bezel back 104C so that the stern fits inside the void defined by the bezel back 104 when the female key 110B enters the bezel 104 through the bezel back 104C. The female key 110B's stern's orifices 114A, 114B mate, respectively, with the tips 118A, 118B of the male key 110A when it is inserted into the bezel front 104B, causing the cuts 116A, 116B to longitudinally traverse through the quadrilateral-faced hexahedron-shaped voids created by the bezel troughs 104H, 104I together with the diadem sliders 106H, 106G. The male key 110A continues to enter through the bezel 104 until its tips 118A, 118C contact orifices 114A, 114B of the female key 110B's stern. A final push causes the tips 118A, 118C to lock into the orifices 114A, 114B and the tip 118B to enter through the diadem bore 106E.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A ring comprising:

a loop having two termini;

two shoulders, each shoulder resting on a terminus of the loop;

a bezel resting on the shoulders that is configured to contain an open-worked chamber;

a diadem that is configured to be housed in the open-worked chamber; and

a key that is configured to insert through a front of the bezel to lock the diadem in the open-worked chamber of the bezel.

2. The ring of claim 1, wherein the bezel, in two dimensions, from a top plan view, is ellipsoid in shape.

3. The ring of claim 1, wherein the bezel, in two dimensions, from a top plan view, is quadrilateral in shape.

4. The ring of claim 3, wherein the bezel includes a bezel rim having four sides and four corners, wherein at each corner of the bezel rim, in the inside, is a C-shaped abutting piece.

5. The ring of claim 4, wherein in the inside of the bezel, below the bezel rim, on the two sides orthogonal to the shoulders are two bezel troughs, each of the bezel troughs defining a void that is a convex polyhedron in shape.

6. The ring of claim 5, wherein each of the bezel troughs defines a void that is a rectangular parallelepiped.

7. The ring of claim 5, wherein the remaining sides of the bezel include a bezel front and a bezel back, the bezel front defining a void that is a convex polyhedron, the bezel back defining a void that is a convex polyhedron.

8. The ring of claim 2, wherein the diadem, in two dimensions, from a top plan view, is ellipsoid in shape.

9. The ring of claim 7, wherein the diadem, in two dimensions, from a top plan view, is quadrilateral in shape, having four sides and four corners, and at each corner, on the outside, is a diadem phalanx having a distal end and a proximal end.

10. The ring of claim 9, wherein each distal end, when the diadem is inserted into the open-worked chamber of the bezel, passes through a respective C-shaped abutting piece, each distal end abutting against the top of one of the bezel troughs so as to allow the diadem to be housed inside the open-worked chamber of the bezel.

11. The ring of claim 9, wherein the diadem has graduated areas, with the smallest area at the bottom of the diadem and the largest area at the top of the diadem, wherein each distal end, when the diadem is inserted into the open-worked chamber of the bezel, passes through a respective C-shaped abutting piece, coming to rest when an area of a horizontal slice of a diadem is too large to allow the diadem to continue to enter into the open-worked chamber of the bezel.

12. The ring of claim 11, wherein two of the sides of the diadem include two diadem sliders, each of the diadem sliders defining a void that is a convex polyhedron.

13. The ring of claim 12, wherein each of the diadem sliders defines a void that is a rectangular parallelepiped.

14. The ring of claim 12, wherein the remaining two sides of the diadem include two diadem bores.

15. The ring of claim 14, wherein when the diadem is inserted into the open-worked chamber of the bezel, each bezel trough longitudinally aligns in parallel with the respective diadem slider to define a void that is a convex polyhedron.

16. The ring of claim 15, wherein each bezel trough longitudinally aligns in parallel with the respective diadem slider, defining a void that is a quadrilateral-faced hexahedron.

17. The ring of claim 15, wherein the diadem bore is coaxially aligned with the bezel front.

18. The ring of claim 17, wherein the key includes a male key, the male key including a bow projecting from which are two cuts, the bow having an area substantially just less than equal to the void defined by the bezel front so that the bow fits inside the void when the male key enters the bezel through the bezel front, wherein at the center of the inside of the bow is a third tip.

19. The ring of claim 18, wherein the key includes a female key, the female key having a stern whose area is substantially just less than equal to the void defined by the bezel back so that the stern fits inside the void defined by the bezel back when the female key enters the bezel through the bezel back, the stern including two orifices which are configured to mate, respectively, with the tips of the cuts of the male key when it is inserted into the bezel front, causing the cuts to longitudinally traverse through the voids created by the bezel troughs together with the diadem sliders.

20. The ring of claim 19, wherein the cuts are convex polyhedrons.