ITEM OF JEWELLERY TO WEAR ON THE FINGER, COMPRISING A SLIDING LINK

Abstract

The invention relates to an item of jewelery (10) to wear on the finger (D), comprising: a first ring (20; 30) to be placed over the finger (D); a second ring (40) to be placed over the same finger (D); and a sliding link (50) connecting the first ring (20; 30) and the second ring (40) together.

Claims

1. An item of jewelry to wear on the finger comprising: a first ring to wear on the finger, a second ring to wear on the same finger, a sliding link connecting the first ring and the second ring together, the sliding link comprising a slide and a slider, the slider sliding in the slide, the first ring being secured on the slide, and the second ring being secured to the slider.

2. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, the sliding link connecting the first ring and the second ring together via the underside of the finger.

3. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, the greatest length L.sub.max of the sliding link at its maximum extension being between 20 mm and 50 mm and the smallest length L.sub.min of the sliding link at its minimum extension being between 10 mm and 40 mm.

4. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, the first ring being secured at one extremity of the slide, and the second ring being secured to the free extremity of the slider.

5. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, the sliding link being duplicated by an articulation configured in order to permit the wearer to bend the finger when the item of jewelry is being worn.

6. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 5, the slider exhibiting a first part and a second part connected together by an articulation.

7. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 6, the first part being inserted into the slide, and the second part carrying the second ring.

8. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, comprising a third ring connected to the first ring and to the second ring by the sliding link.

9. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, comprising a fourth ring connected to the first ring and to the second ring by the sliding link in proximity to the articulation.

10. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, each of the rings comprising an open band to wear on the finger, the opening of the band of the rings being situated on the upper side of said rings.

11. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, the angular width of each of the openings of the bands of the rings being between 25 and 130.

12. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 1, each ring comprising a decorative element.

13. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 12, the mounts being cantilevered on the rings.

14. The item of jewelry as claimed in claim 7, the bands of the rings and/or the sliding link comprising additional decorative elements distributed on at least one part of their surface.

Description

[0041] The invention may be more readily appreciated from a perusal of the following detailed description of non-restrictive illustrative embodiments thereof, and from an examination of the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 depicts in perspective a first example of an item of jewelry according to the invention,

[0043] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view from the side of the item of jewelry in FIG. 1,

[0044] FIG. 3 depicts a view from the front of the item of jewelry in FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0045] FIG. 4 depicts a view from below of the item of jewelry in FIGS. 1 to 3, the link being at its maximum extension,

[0046] FIG. 5 depicts a view from below of the item of jewelry in FIGS. 1 to 4, the link being at its minimum extension,

[0047] FIG. 6 depicts the item of jewelry in FIGS. 1 to 5 folded at its articulation,

[0048] FIG. 7 is a view of the underside of the item of jewelry in FIGS. 1 to 6 being worn on an extended finger,

[0049] FIG. 8 depicts the item of jewelry on the finger in FIG. 7, the finger being bent,

[0050] FIG. 9 depicts a view from below of a variant of the item of jewelry being worn on an extended finger, and

[0051] FIG. 10 depicts the item of jewelry in FIG. 7 on the bent finger.

[0052] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 is an item of jewelry 10 to wear on the finger comprising three rings 20, 30 and 40 connected together by a sliding link 50.

[0053] In the example in question, the rings 20, 30 and 40 each respectively comprise a single respective open band 21, 31 and 41. In a variant, not illustrated here, the rings comprise multiple bands.

[0054] The band 21 carries at one extremity 22 a decorative element 23 which is composed of a stone set in a mount 24, for example, as illustrated. Likewise, the band 31 and the band 41, respectively at one extremity 32, 33, carry a decorative element 33 and 43 composed of a stone set in a mount 34, 44. Each mount 24, 34 and/or 44 may be made from the same material as the band 21, 31 and/or 41 and may be soldered to the latter. It permits the rigid support of the decorative element on the band, in particular by means of prongs.

[0055] The other extremities 25, 35 and 45 of the respective bands 21, 31 and 41 are free. The extremities 22 and 25 of the band 21 between them define an opening 26. The same is true of the extremities 32 and 35, which define an opening 36, and the extremities 42 and 45, which define an opening 46.

[0056] Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the angular width of the opening 26 of the ring 20 is substantially equal to the angular width of the opening 36 of the ring 30 and greater than the angular width of the opening 46 of the ring 40.

[0057] The angular width a of the openings 26 and 36, measured from the center of the bands 21 and 31, is preferably between 90 and 135, preferably between 100 and 130, being for example 105. The angular width a of the opening 46, measured from the center of the band 41, is preferably between 25 and 90, preferably between 25 and 65, being for example 30. In the example in question, the angular widths of the openings 26 and 46 are different, although this may be otherwise. The angular widths preferably lie between 25 and 135.

[0058] The angular width of the arc, which extends on the band 21 from the center of the junction 51 of the sliding link 50 with the band 21 as far as the extremity 22, is preferably between 100 and 170, and the angular width of the arc extending between the junction point 51 and the free extremity 25 is preferably smaller than or equal to the angle and is preferably between 100 and 170.

[0059] This is preferably also the case for the rings 30 and 40 for the arcs extending respectively from the centers of the junctions 52 and 53 of the sliding link 50 with the bands 31 and 41 as far as the extremities 32 and 35 and 42 and 45.

[0060] For the rings 20 and 30, one has for example =120, =135 and for the ring 40 one has for example =165, =165.

[0061] The rings 20 and 30 may be of the same internal diameter, said internal diameter of the rings 20 and 30 being different from the internal diameter of the ring 40. The rings 20 and 30 intended to be placed on the first phalanx of the finger are in particular larger than the ring 40 intended to be placed on the second phalanx of the finger. The internal diameter of the rings 20, 30 and 40 is between 10 mm and 25 mm.

[0062] In the illustrated example, the sliding link is constituted by a slider 54 sliding freely on an axis X in a slide 55. The slide 55 comprises two parallel bars 55a and 55a, of which the spacing is slightly greater than that of the slider 54.

[0063] A bridge 55b connects the bars 55a directly below the ring 30 in order to define an opening 55c for guiding the slider 54. The latter is prevented from becoming disengaged from the opening by an abutment 59 formed at its extremity.

[0064] The slider 54 is of non-circular section, as is the opening 55c, as can be seen in FIG. 2, which prevents rotation of the slider 54 about its axis.

[0065] The slide 55 connects the rings 20 and 30, which are each secured via their face 28,38 with respect to the bands 21,31, rigidly at one extremity of the slide 55. The distance between the rings 20 and 30 is thus fixed. The length K of the slide is preferably between 5 mm and 30 mm, and preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm, for example being substantially equal to 16 mm. The ring 40 is secured to the free extremity 57 of the slider 54. Thus, the distance between the rings 20 and 30 and the ring 40 may vary.

[0066] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slider 54 may slide in the slide 55 from a position of maximum extension L.sub.max to a position of minimum extension L.sub.min, the length of the sliding link being measured between the free extremity 56 of the slide 55 and the free extremity 57 of the slider 54. Preferably, the minimum length L.sub.min is between 10 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 30 mm, and the maximum length L.sub.max is between 10 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 30 mm. In the example illustrated here, the minimum length L.sub.min is substantially equal to 23 mm, and the maximum length L.sub.max is substantially equal to 32 mm.

[0067] The slide 55 may comprise an abutment 58, against which the slider 54 comes into contact when the length of the sliding link 50 is at its minimum.

[0068] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, the item of jewelry 10 may be articulated. The slider 54 comprises two parts 54a and 54b connected together by an articulation 59. The part 54a is inserted into the slide 55 and is displaced in the latter, and the part 54b is connected to the ring 40. The articulation 59 makes it possible to fold the underside of the ring 40 towards the underside of the rings 20 and 30 by rotation about an axis Y perpendicular to the axis of sliding X.

[0069] The abutment 58 is positioned in such a way that, when the extension of the sliding link is minimal, that is to say when the part 54a comes into contact with the abutment 58, the articulation 59 remains outside the slide 55, as can be seen in FIG. 5.

[0070] When the item of jewelry 10 is being worn on the finger D, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rings 20 and 30 are positioned on a first phalanx P1, and the ring 40 is positioned on a second phalanx P2. The articulation 59 moves into position beneath the junction J between the two phalanges P1 and P2 wearing the item of jewelry 10, in such a way that the item of jewelry 10 is able to bend with the finger D that is wearing it.

[0071] In the example illustrated here, the mounts 24 and 34 are mounted in opposition when the item of jewelry is viewed from above, that is to say that the mount 24 carried by the ring 20 is situated on the left side, for example, whereas the mount 34 carried by the ring 30 is situated on the right side, and the mounts 34 and 44 may be situated on the same side of the bands 31 and 41. The situation may be otherwise, however, without going beyond the scope of the invention.

[0072] The bands 21, 31 and 41, the sliding link 50 and/or the mounts 24, 34 and 44 are preferably made of the same material, in particular a metal.

[0073] The decorative element 23, 33 and 43 that is present on each ring 20, 30 and 40 is preferably disposed in such a way as to permit the fitting and the removal of the ring 20, 30 or 40 by introducing the latter onto the finger D from the side, and not by sliding it over the tip of the finger D.

[0074] The decorative element 23, 33 and 43 that is present on each ring 20, 30 and 40 is preferably cantilevered on the ring 20, 30 or 40.

[0075] The presence of the relatively short sliding link 50 permits the rings 20, 30 and 40 to be held together.

[0076] The rings 20, 30 and 40 may comprise additional decorative elements 27 that are present on the visible parts of the bands 21, 31 and 41 and of the sliding link 50, in particular the slider 54 and the slide 55.

[0077] These decorative elements 23, 33 and 43 and the additional decorative elements 27 may be semi-precious stones, pearls and/or precious stones, in particular a diamond, ruby, sapphire or emerald.

[0078] The item of jewelry 10 depicted in FIGS. 5 to 7 differs from that which is described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 in the fact that it comprises a supplementary ring 60 disposed on the part 54b of the slide in proximity to the articulation 59.

[0079] The invention is not limited to the examples described above.

[0080] In particular, the rings may be made with more than two bands.

[0081] In one variant, decorative elements are disposed at the two extremities of at least one of the bands, bordering on the opening of the latter. In this case, the decorative elements are of unequal sizes, for example.

[0082] In another variant, at least one of the decorative elements is a pearl.