Wrapable Ring

Abstract

A variable length of a jewelry assembly includes one or more display links or sections for accepting and displaying a gemstone or another focal element. Some display links are enlarged relative to other portions. Some display links are contoured to match a curve of a digit such as a ring finger when the length is wound around the digit. A length can include coaxial elements connected to each other and are moveable in relation to each other. A length of the assembly is selected such that it fits securely around a digit of a particular user when wound an integer number of times. A size and a number of each link or length-building element are selectable to fit the assembly an integer number of times around a digit.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/417,114 filed on Nov. 3, 2016 titled “Wrap ring,” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure is generally related to wearable jewelry, and in particular to rings for digits.

Description of Related Art

Rings have been worn by people throughout most of recorded history. Rings are worn for fashion and as symbols of affiliation and relationships. Some types of rings accommodate a gem stone or other feature displayed in a mount fixed to a top portion of a ring. The body of a ring conventionally is a solid shank that is sized to a wearer's finger. Due to difficulties in resizing rings, rings are rarely adjusted for a size of a wearer's finger as the wearer ages. Further, a ring is often sized according to standard increments of sizes that do not often ideally match a size of a wearer's finger.

SUMMARY

According to an illustrative aspect, one, two, three, or more mountings are connected by flexible segments. The segments and mountings are wrapped around a digit such as a finger or a toe. Distal ends of the flexible assembly are reversibly connected together to form a comfortably and securely fitted flexible ring.

According to another illustrative aspect, a flexible length of jewelry includes one or more display links or display sections for accepting and displaying a gemstone or focal element. The display links may be enlarged relative to other portions of the flexible length of the jewelry. The display links may be contoured to match a curve of a digit such as a ring finger when the flexible length is wound around the digit.

According to another aspect, the flexible length includes coaxial ring elements connected to each other and moveable in relation to each other. A length of the jewelry is selected such that it fits when wound an integer number of times around a digit of a particular user. For an embodiment employing links of a chain, a size of links is chosen, or a number of links is chosen, or a combination of a size of links and a number of links is chosen so as to fit the jewelry an integer number of times around a digit, such as one, two, three, four, five, or more times when the jewelry is assembled and fit into place on the digit.

According to another aspect, the flexible length of jewelry for a multi-wind ring is sized so as to be optionally placeable around another portion of a body when re-configured and assembled into a single loop. That is, according to some embodiments, a sizing for a digit is based on a size of another portion of the body of a same user or of a portion of a body of another object, animal, or person. Accordingly, a digit may be selected after measuring and sizing the overall length based on a second sizing.

Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will be apparent after review of the entire disclosure including the drawings and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, figures and pictures accompanying this application illustrate various features that serve as an additional basis for understanding the disclosure. In this disclosure, reference may be made to these visual depictions. The use of the same reference symbol in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a top view of a first embodiment of a wrapable ring.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a top view of the wrapable ring of FIG. 1 assembled for placement on a digit (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a left side view of the wrapable ring shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a close up view of the connector first shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There are few if any mechanisms for easily and inexpensively resizing rings. Further, once a ring is worn for a prolonged or substantial period of time (e.g., multiple months, multiple years), it is often inconvenient or difficult to remove the ring for cleaning, maintenance, adjustment, resizing, and so forth. Yet further, for the vast majority of rings, it is difficult to adjust the appearance or components of the ring without substantial and specialized labor. What has been needed is a ring system for providing increased flexibility, adaptability, and ease of use with many of the same benefits of conventional rings.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of a wrapable ring as described herein. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a top view of the first embodiment. The wrapable ring includes one, two, three, or more primary elements. According to some embodiments, these primary elements are bigger than segments that connect these primary elements together, the segments wrapping around a digit of a user. These primary elements may be described variously as display links, display nodes, crowns, display features, or mountings 1A, 1B on which are mounted a respective gemstone 2. In FIG. 1, a first segment 8, a second segment 9, and a third segment 10 connect two display platforms 1. While two display platforms 1A, 1B are illustrated in FIG. 1, any number of primary elements may be linked together by any number of interconnecting segments. Each primary element may be connected to two or more interconnecting segments. According to some embodiments, a pair of segments connects each primary element to the whole jewelry assembly.

In FIG. 1, a single interconnecting segment 8, 9, 10 is assembled between primary elements or mountings 1A, 1B. A length of each of the interconnecting segments 8, 9, 10 is chosen for a particular digit of a particular wearer or user so that, when assembled, a whole number of wrappings is formed around the digit. The length of each segment 8, 9, 10 may be chosen based on one, two, three, or more features of the respective material or type of segment. For example, for a chain, each segment length may be chosen and designed based on selection of a size of chain link and selection of a number of links for each of the segments 8, 9, 10. While a single size of chain is shown, a different size, a different shape, and a different material may be selected for each of the segments 8, 9, 10.

A connector 4 is assembled to or forms part of a first end 6 of the wrapable ring. The connector 4 is configured to couple the first end 6 of the wrapable ring to a second end 7 of the wrapable ring. In FIG. 1, the connector 4 is a lobster-style clasp without a detente or lever for depressing a spring or other force-causing element that keeps the connector reversibly secured to the second end 7 of the wrapable ring. The connector 4 is designed to connect with the second end 7 and may take other forms than the form illustrated in FIG. 1. In this instance, a single round terminus ring is attached at the second end 7 for coupling with a working, mechanical end of wrapable ring—in this embodiment, the connector 4.

In the first embodiment in FIGS. 1-3, each of the primary elements 1A, 1B are teardrop shaped and are of a same general size, shape, and appearance. Each of the gemstones 2 may be a same gemstone. Such homogeneity is not required. Each of a plurality of mountings or primary elements 1A, 1B may be distinct and different one from another. For example, a first primary element may have a circular profile while a second mounting may have a rectangular or triangular profile. Similarly, each of the gemstones 2 (or other display feature or accessory) may be distinct and different one from another. For example, a first gemstone may be a clear diamond, and a second gemstone may be an opal. As another example, a first mounting may be of a first size, a first shape, and made of wood (and does not bear a gemstone); and a second mounting may be of a second size, a second shape, made of metal, and bearing a semi-precious gemstone.

Further, while each of the primary elements 1A, 1B are illustrated as larger in each of its dimensions than dimensions of the segments 8, 9, 10, such is not required. One or more of the dimensions of the primary elements 1A, 1B may be smaller than a particular dimension of the segments 8, 9, 10.

Preferably, a length of the second segment 9 is selected so as to offset the second mounting 1B from the first mounting 1A when the wrapable ring is assembled or wrapped onto a digit such as a ring finger of a wearer. Other arrangements are selectable when a length of the respective segments 8, 9, 10 are selected. For example, one such arrangement includes an offset between the first mounting 1A and the second mounting 1B that is sufficient such that an edge or a surface of the first mounting 1A does not contact an edge or a surface of the second mounting 1B when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit. As another example, the length of the second segment 9 is selected so as to place the second display platform 1B an offset distance from the first display platform 1A when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit. This arrangement allows the two display platforms 1A, 1B to not rub against each other when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit.

As another example, the length of the second segment is selected so as to place the second display platform 1B adjacent to the first display platform 1A when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit. As another example, the length of the second segment is selected to place both the first display platform 1A and the second display platform 1B on a same hemisphere of the digit when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit. As yet another example, the second segment 9 is made of links of a first material, each link having a same thickness dimension and a same length dimension. In this arrangement, the second segment 9 includes at least four, at least 5, or at least 6 links of the first material. In this arrangement, a length dimension of the links is uniform. The length dimension of the links is selected to place both the first display platform 1A and the second display platform 1B on a same hemisphere of the digit when the jewelry assembly is wound into the fitted position on the digit. As another example, the length of the second segment 9 is selected to place both the first display platform 1A and the second display platform 1B on a same hemisphere of the digit when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a top view of the wrapable ring of FIG. 1 assembled for placement on a digit of a wearer. In FIG. 2, the digit is not shown for sake of simplicity of illustration so that all portions of the jewelry assembly can be seen. Three wraps are shown. There is a first wrap 3a for wrapping around a first portion of a digit, a second wrap 3b for wrapping around a second portion of the digit, and a third wrap for wrapping around a third portion of the digit. Each of the wraps 3a, 3b, 3c may be placed around a same digit, or around another digit of a same hand or a same foot. While a single wrap for each segment 8, 9, 10 is illustrated, such is not required. For example, a length of a third segment 10 may be chosen so as to enable the third segment to wrap two or more times around a digit of a wearer.

The connector 4 facilitates easy disassembly of the wrapable ring for improved ease in maintenance, resizing and care of the wrapable ring. Maintenance may involve replacement of worn or damaged portions of the ring. For example, if a portion of the wrapable ring is scratched, only that portion (e.g., chain link, mounting, connector) needs to be repaired or replaced. Resizing is facilitated because the wrapable ring is easily disassembled, and a different length of segment 8, 9, 10 may be applied to the wrapable ring, and the wrapable ring may then be re-placed on the wearer. By way of example, an extra link may be placed in any one or more of the segments 8, 9, 10. As another example, one or more links of a different link length dimension is selected and is added to or put in a place of another link in the particular segment 8, 9, 10.

Yet further, while not fully illustrated in FIG. 2, terminuses of the segments 8, 9, 10 may be adapted for manual attachment to each of the mountings 1A, 1B. Likewise, each of the mountings 1A, 1B may be adapted to facilitate easy manual interchange of the mountings such that a wearer may own and select two mountings from a collection of different mountings that are designed to be coordinated with clothes, makeup, activities, and so forth. For example, when a wearer desires red gemstones to coordinate with red clothing, the wearer disassembles an assembled wrapable ring having white gemstones in the mountings, and then assembles the wrapable ring with mountings bearing red gemstones. The mountings bearing white gemstones would remain safely in a jewelry box until further change of the wrapable ring is desired.

In a similar way, different colored or different types of segments 8, 9, 10 can be exchanged in the wrapable ring. For example, a wearer could select from two or more segments for each of the corresponding segments 8, 9, 10, and then mix and match the various types of segments to create a particular variation of elements in the assembled wrapable ring. Many variations of disassembly and re-assembly are possible including having a wearer select different lengths of segments 8, 9, 10 and then to form a necklace from the parts of the first embodiment of the wrapable ring. As one example, a length of one or more of the segments 8, 9, 10 are selected so as (1) to have a first overall length for wrapping a whole number of times the jewelry assembly around the digit of the wearer, and (2) to have a second overall length for wearing the same elements of the jewelry assembly around another part of a body of the wearer. Continuing this example, a wearer effectively has a wrapable ring and a necklace, and can unwrap and re-wrap the segments depending on which location on the wearer's body the wearer prefers at any given time. This same scheme of selecting lengths can be repeated for selecting the sizes of the mountings 1A, 1B and the lengths of the segments 8, 9, 10 such that the wrapable ring can fit on either a first digit of a first circumference or a second digit of a second circumference—the wrapable ring wrapping a different number of passes around the respective two digits.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a left side view of the wrapable ring shown in FIG. 2. Each of the three wrappings 3a, 3b, 3c are visible. The terminal end of the wrapable ring is coupled with the connector 4. In FIG. 3, an underneath surface of each of the mountings is visible. In this embodiment, each of the two mountings is hollow and an internal cavity of the mountings is accessible from the underside. A bottom surface or contoured edge of the mountings is curved or formed to match an outer surface of a digit or other surface on which the mountings is intended to be applied. For example, in FIG. 2, the bottom edge of each of the mountings is curved to fit a surface of a finger or toe of a wearer. While each of the flexible segments 8, 9, 10 are illustrated in FIG. 2 as chains, such is not required. Each of the segments 8, 9, 10 may be formed from any material and may take a form where each of the segments 8, 9, 10 include a surface that closely matches a surface of a digit of a wearer. In such a variation, the segments 8, 9, 10 would appear and feel like a conventional curved shank of a ring.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a close up view of the connector 4 first shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, the connector 4 is a clasp that includes a body, a fastening loop at a first end, and a fixed arm extending downward and ending in a hooked end. The fastening loop at the first end is for accepting a terminal end of one of the segments 8, 10. In the connector 4, the second and movable arm extends from the clasp body and terminates at an inner edge of the hooked portion of the fixed arm thereby forming an enclosed loop. The movable arm 5 may be spring loaded so as to provide a biasing force to keep the clasp closed when engaged on a terminal end of the wrapable ring. The connector 4 facilitates when winding the jewelry assembly into a fitted position on the digit of the wearer.

The previous description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosed aspects. Various modifications to these aspects should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown and described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope possible consistent with the principles and novel features as claimed below.

Claims

1. A jewelry assembly comprising:

a first display platform having a first edge and a second edge, the first display platform sized for a digit, the first display platform having: a first receiver formed at a first location along the first edge, and a second receiver formed at a second location along the second edge;

a first segment of a first length coupled to the first receiver of the first display platform;

a second segment of a second length coupled to the second receiver of the first display platform; and

a connector coupled to the first segment and configured to secure the first segment to a receiver of the second segment.

2. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the first receiver of the first display platform is formed at a position offset left or right from a position directly opposite on the second edge of the first display platform.

3. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the first segment is formed of links of a first type of material connected in series one to another.

4. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein: the second segment is formed of a second type of material different from the first type of material.

the first segment is formed of a first type of material; and

5. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the first type of material or the second type of material is an organic based material.

6. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first segment is shaped to cross at least one portion of the second segment at a crossing, wherein a combined thickness of the first segment and the second segment at the crossing is 1.8 or less in thickness of a larger thickness of a thickness of the first segment and a thickness of the second segment.

7. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first segment includes at least a portion of its surface shaped to structurally engage with a portion of the second segment at a crossing of the first segment and the second segment.

8. The jewelry assembly of claim 7, wherein the portion of the first segment shaped to structurally engage the portion of the second segment includes a link made of a third type of material different from either the first type of material or the second type of material.

9. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a bottom surface of the first display platform is contoured to match an outer surface of the digit.

10. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first display platform is substantially planar on a top surface of the first display platform; and

the jewelry assembly further comprises: a translucent accessory affixed to the top surface of the first display platform.

11. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first display platform has a teardrop shaped outer profile;

the first receiver is formed at an intersection of the first edge and the second edge forming a point of the teardrop shaped outer profile.

12. A jewelry assembly comprising:

a first display platform having a first edge and a second edge, the first display platform sized for a digit, the first display platform having: a first receiver formed at a first location along the first edge, and a second receiver formed at a second location along a second edge;

a second display platform having a first edge and a second edge, the second display platform sized for the digit, the second display platform having: a first receiver formed at a first location along its first edge, and a second receiver formed at a second location along its second edge;

a first segment of a first length coupled at a proximal end to the first receiver of the first display platform;

a second segment of a second length coupled at a proximal end to the second receiver of the first display platform and coupled at a distal end to the first receiver of the second di splay platform; and

a third segment of a third length coupled at a proximal end to the second receiver of the second display platform and coupled at a distal end to the first segment.

13. The jewelry assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the third segment includes a connector at the distal end of the third segment, the connector coupling the distal end of the third segment to the first segment; and

the connector is a clasp having a hinged arm moveable from a closed position to an open position.

14. The jewelry assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the second length of the second segment is selected so as to place the second display platform an offset distance from the first display platform when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit.

15. The jewelry assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the second length of the second segment is selected so as to place the second display platform adjacent to the first display platform when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit.

16. The jewelry assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the second length of the second segment is selected to place both the first display platform and the second display platform on a same hemisphere of the digit when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit.

17. The jewelry assembly of claim 16, wherein:

the second segment is made of links of a first material, each link having a same thickness dimension and a same length dimension;

the second segment includes at least six links of the first material; and

wherein the length dimension of the links is selected to place both the first display platform and the second display platform on the same hemisphere of the digit when the jewelry assembly is wound into the fitted position on the digit.

18. The jewelry assembly of claim 12, wherein:

a thickness dimension of the first display platform is greater than a thickness dimension of any one of the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment.

19. The jewelry assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the first segment, the second segment, or the third segment is made of links of a first material, the links having a thickness dimension and a length dimension; and

a thickness dimension of any of the links is larger than a thickness dimension of the other segments.

20. The jewelry assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the second length of the second segment is selected to place both the first display platform and the second display platform on a same hemisphere of the digit when the jewelry assembly is wound into a fitted position on the digit; and

the first length and the third length are each chosen such that a distal end of the first segment and a distal end of the third segment substantially meet together when the jewelry assembly is wound into the fitted position on the digit, the jewelry assembly wrapping an integer number of times around the digit.