JEWELRY ARTICLE WITH EXTENDER

Abstract

A jewelry article is disclosed. The jewelry article includes a main segment configured to loop around a body part and having a first and second end. A ring with a center opening is attached to the second end of the main segment. An extender has a first and second end, wherein the first end of the main segment is attached to the second end of the extender and the first end of the extender passes through and extends beyond the center opening of the ring, providing a variable circumference loop. The jewelry article further includes a fastener attached to the first end of the extender, wherein the fastener is larger than the opening of the ring and cannot pass therethrough, and the fastener is configured for removeable connection to the extender or the ring. Methods of securing the jewelry article around a body part are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A jewelry article for positioning circumferentially around a body part, wherein the article comprises: a main segment configured to loop at least partially around the body part and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a ring attached to the second end of the main segment, said ring defining a center opening; an extender for the main segment, configured to loop at least partially around the body part and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the main segment is attached to the second end of the extender and the first end of the extender passes through the center opening of the ring and extends beyond the ring, thereby providing a variable circumference loop defined by the distance between the ring and the location on the extender at which the extender passes through the opening of the ring; and a fastener attached to the first end of the extender; wherein the ring and the fastener are configured so that the fastener is larger than the opening of the ring such that it cannot pass through the ring opening, and the fastener is configured for removeable connection of the fastener to the extender or the ring.

2. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the main segment includes a plurality of precious or semi-precious stones.

3. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the main segment is a bracelet or necklace.

4. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the main segment is a wrist band for a watch or other wrist device.

5. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the main segment is a metal band.

6. The jewelry article of claim 5, wherein the metal band comprises a precious metal.

7. The jewelry article of claim 6, wherein the precious metal is gold or silver.

8. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the main segment comprises a plurality of metal wire links connected to form a chain.

9. The jewelry article of claim 8, wherein the metal wire links comprise a precious metal.

10. The jewelry article of claim 9, wherein the precious metal is gold or silver.

11. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the extender comprises a plurality of metal wire links connected to form a chain.

12. The jewelry article of claim 11, wherein the metal wire links comprise a precious metal.

13. The jewelry article of claim 12, wherein the precious metal is gold or silver.

14. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the main segment and extender comprise connected metal wire chain links identical in size and composition.

15. The jewelry article of claim 8, configured as a wrist bracelet, ankle bracelet, necklace or belly chain.

16. A jewelry article for positioning circumferentially around a body part, wherein the article comprises: a main segment configured to loop around a body part and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; an extender for the main segment, configured to loop around the body part and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the main segment is attached to the second end of the extender; a fastener attached to the first end of the extender; and a ring attached to the second end of the main segment, said ring defining a center opening; wherein the extender and the fastener are configured to pass through the center opening of the ring, and the extender is configured for removeable connection of the fastener to the extender or the ring.

17. A method of securing a jewelry article around a body part, comprising the steps of: a. positioning the circumferential loop of the jewelry article of claim 1 around a body part for which it is configured; b. pulling the extender and the fastener of the jewelry article to draw more of the extender through the ring and shorten the loop circumference to a desired degree of snugness; c. doubling back the extender and fastener in the direction of the ring; and d. removably connecting the fastener to an opening on the extender closer to the ring or to the ring itself, to which the fastener is configured to removably attach.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the body part is a wrist, ankle, neck or waist.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the main segment and extender comprise connected metal wire chain links.

20. A method of securing a jewelry article around a body part, comprising the steps of: a. positioning the jewelry article of claim 16 around a body part for which it is configured; b. passing the extender and the fastener of the jewelry article through the ring on the end of the main segment at the opposite end of the jewelry article; c. pulling the extender and the fastener of the jewelry article to draw more of the extender through the ring to shorten the loop circumference to a desired degree of snugness; d. doubling back the extender and fastener in the direction of the ring; and e. removably connecting the fastener to an opening on the extender closer to the ring, or to the ring itself, to which the fastener is configured to removably attach.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top view of a jewelry article secured by a ring on one end and a fastener on the opposite end configured to attach thereto in example embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view of a jewelry article secured by a ring on one end and a fastener on the opposite end configured to attach thereto in example embodiments.

[0013] FIGS. 3A and 3B include top views of a jewelry article secured by a ring on one end and a fastener on the opposite end configured to attach thereto in example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

[0015] A jewelry article that is a variable circumference loop secured by a fastener configured to attach to the body of the article, and methods for using the jewelry article are provided. The jewelry article and the methods are distinct from conventional jewelry article and methods by which they are secured.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a top view of a variable circumference jewelry article according to one embodiment of the present invention. It includes an extender 10, a fastener 10a, a main segment 20, and a ring 20a. The main segment 20 has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The fastener 10a is connected to the first end of extender 10. The second end of extender 10 is connected to the first end of the main segment 20. The ring 20a is connected to the second end of the main segment 20. The fastener 10a and the extender 10 pass through the center opening of ring 20a to define the variable circumferential loop depicted in FIG. 1. While not drawn to scale, the fastener 10a and ring 20a are configured so that the fastener cannot pass through the ring opening, requiring the fastener 10a to be attached to the first end of extender 10 after it is passed through the center opening of the ring.

[0017] The extender 10 may be configured for the removable connection of the fastener 10a to the extender 10 or the ring 20a. In one embodiment, the extender 10 may be made of inorganic materials such as metal. The metal may be a precious metal such as gold or silver. In another embodiment, the extender 10 may be made of bands of natural or synthetic rubber or natural fiber cord. In another embodiment, the main segment 20 may include multiple precious or semi-precious stones. In another embodiment, the main segment 20 may include multiple colored stones 21. In another embodiment, the main segment 20 may be a bracelet, a necklace, a wrist band for a watch or other wrist devices, or a metal band that may be a precious metal such as gold or silver.

[0018] In another embodiment, the main segment 20 includes multiple metal wire links connected to form a chain wherein the metal may be a precious metal such as gold or silver. The chain may serve as a wrist bracelet, ankle bracelet, necklace, or belly chain. In another embodiment, the main segment 20 may include at least a colored stone 21 and a pearl 22. In another embodiment, the main segment 20 may include multiple metal balls 23. In another embodiment, the main segment 20 may include a metal bar 24 that may be a precious metal such as gold or silver. In another embodiment, the extender 10 may include multiple metal wire links connected to form a chain. The metal may be a precious metal such as gold or silver.

[0019] The length of the extender 10 may range from about 3 to about 6 inches, and the length of the main segment 20 may range from about 3 to about 13 inches. In one preferred embodiment, the length of the extender 10 is 6 inches, and the length of the main segment 20 is 3 inches. In another preferred embodiment, the length of the extender 10 is 3 inches, and the length of the main segment 20 is 9 inches.

[0020] In one embodiment, a wearer may position the variable circumferential loop of the jewelry article of FIG. 1 around his or her body part for which it is configured. The body part may be a wrist, ankle or neck. The wearer then pulls on the extender 10 and the fastener 10a to draw more of the extender 10 through the center of the ring 20a to shorten the loop circumference to a desired degree of snugness that may be within a spectrum of being loose or tight. The wearer may double back the fastener 10a in the direction of the ring 20a and connect the fastener 10a to either an opening on the extender 10 near the ring 20a, or to the ring 20a itself, as a locking mechanism. The fastener 10a may be removable after the connection as an unlocking mechanism.

[0021] In another embodiment, the fastener 10a is dimensioned to pass through the ring 20a A wearer may pass the extender 10 and the fastener 10a of the jewelry article through the ring 20a on the end of the main segment 20 at the opposite end of the jewelry article and double back the fastener 10a in the direction of the ring 20a and connect the fastener 10a to either an opening on the extender 10 near the ring 20a, or to the ring 20a itself. In either of these embodiments and others, the wearer may unlock the jewelry article by disconnecting the fastener 10a after the connection.

[0022] FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B depict alternate embodiments of jewelry articles according to the present invention, in which the fastener 10a and the ring 20a are configured so that the fastener can pass through the ring opening. As shown, a wearer positions the jewelry article over their body part, passes the extender 10 and the fastener 10a through the ring opening, and pulls the extender 10 and the fastener 10a to adjust the length of the circumference of the jewelry article for the body part of the wearer. The wearer then uses the fastener 10a to hook to the extender 10 or the ring 20a, to maintain the position of the jewelry article.

[0023] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.