Article of jewelry having a replaceable ornamental element

Abstract

An article of jewelry having a replaceable ornamental element has in combination a frame (2) provided with a central recess (3), an ornamental element (4) adapted to be received in the central recess (3), a first magnet (5) fixed to the bottom (6) of the ornamental element (4), and a second magnet (7) fixed inside the central recess (3) for removably assure the ornamental element (4) therein.

Claims

1. An article of jewelry comprising: a replaceable ornamental element, the ornamental element (4) having a front face and an opposite rear face, the rear face defining a bottom (6) of the ornamental element (4), the ornamental element (4) further including a first perimeter groove (8) having a first face extending inwards from an outside perimeter of the ornamental element (4) and a second face extending forward from the bottom (6) of the ornamental element (4) towards the front face of the ornamental element (4), the first perimeter groove (8) being open towards the bottom (6) of the ornamental element (4) and open towards the outside perimeter of the ornamental element (4); a first magnet (5) fixed to the first perimeter groove (8), the first magnet (5) having a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, an inner face, and an outer face opposite the inner face, the front face of the first magnet (5) being against the first face of the first perimeter groove (8) and facing the front face of the ornamental element (4), the inner face of the first magnet (5) being against the second face of the first perimeter groove (8); a frame (2; 13) provided with i) a central recess (3) located at a frontmost part of the frame, the central recess (3) having an first inner perimeter defining a first opening at the frontmost part of the frame, ii) a through opening (11) that extends from a rear part of the frame to the central recess (3), the through opening (11) having a second inner perimeter defining a second opening located rearward of the first opening, the second inner perimeter being located radially within the first inner perimeter, an area of the first opening being greater than an area of the second opening, and iii) a second perimeter groove (10) located in the central recess (3), the second perimeter groove (10) having an outside side wall, an inside side wall, a bottom wall extending between the outside side wall and inside side wall, the second perimeter groove (10) being open towards the first opening at the frontmost part of the frame, the inside side wall being located radially between a) the first inner perimeter of the central recess (3) defining the first opening at the frontmost part of the frame and b) the second inner perimeter of the through opening (11) defining the second opening located rearward of the first opening; and a second magnet (7) fixed inside the second perimeter groove (10) located in the central recess (3), the second magnet (7) having a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, an inner face, and an outer face opposite the inner face, the rear face of the second magnet (7) being against the bottom wall of the second perimeter groove (10) and facing the rear part of the frame, the inner face of the second magnet (7) being against the inside side wall of the second perimeter groove (10), the outer face of the second magnet (7) being against the outside side wall of the second perimeter groove (10), wherein the ornamental element (4) is removably attached to the frame (2; 13) by the rear face of the first magnet (5) being magnetically attached to the front face of the second magnet (7) with the first magnet (5) being located within the central recess (3) of the frame, the front face of the ornamental element (4) extending forward of the frontmost part of the frame, wherein the through opening (11) and the first opening at the frontmost part of the frame (2; 13) permits an introduction of a hand finger being able to allow the decorative element (4) to be removed from the frame (2; 13).

2. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the decorative element is a gemstone.

3. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said first and second magnets (5, 7) have a circular configuration.

4. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said first and second magnets have a heart-shaped configuration.

5. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said first and second magnets have an oval configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be described by an illustrative but not limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of an article of jewelry having a replaceable ornamental element according to the present invention in the form of a ring;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded longitudinally sectioned perspective view of the ring in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of an article of jewelry having a replaceable ornamental element according to the present invention in the form of a circular pendant;

(5) FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the pendant in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective view of the pendant in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pendant in FIG. 3 while the ornamental element is removed from its frame;

(8) FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of a heart-shaped pendant; and

(9) FIG. 8 is an assembled perspective view of an oval pendant.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(10) First reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which there is shown a ring 1 according to the present invention in an assembled and in an exploded sectional perspective view, respectively. The ring 1 is a first embodiment of an article of jewelry having a replaceable ornamental element according to the present invention. The ring 1 comprises a frame 2 provided with a central recess 3. An ornamental element 4, for example a gemstone, is adapted to be received in the central recess 3 of the frame 2. A first magnet 5 is fixed to the bottom 6 of the ornamental element 4, and a second magnet 7 is fixed within the central recess 3 for removably assure the ornamental element 4 therein.

(11) According to the present invention, the bottom 6 of the ornamental element 4 has a first peripheral groove 8 acting as a seat for the first magnet 5 that is shaped correspondingly to the first perimeter groove 8 to be fixed to the bottom 6 of the ornamental element 4. In the shown embodiment the first perimeter groove 8 has a circular shape, consequently also the first magnet 5 has the same circular ring configuration.

(12) The central recess 3 in the frame 2 has inside a perimeter projection 9 in which a second perimeter groove 10 functioning as a seat for the second magnet 7 is formed. The second magnet 7 is shaped like the first magnet 5, to be fixed to the recess central 3 of the frame 2.

(13) The magnets 5 and 7 are fixed in their seats by suitable means such as an adhesive.

(14) A through aperture 11 extends through the central recess 3 of the frame 2. The through aperture 11 has such a dimension that a hand finger can be introduced in it. The finger exerts a pressure on the bottom 6 of the ornamental element 4 for overcoming a mutual attraction force exerted by the two magnets. As will be shown below the removal of the ornamental element from the frame is thus obtained. On the contrary, it will be sufficient to approach the frame to another ornamental element so that the latter is captured and automatically positioned with its bottom in the central recess.

(15) With reference to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is shown a pendant 12 according to the present invention in FIGS. 3 to 6 in an assembled perspective view, exploded view, sectional perspective view and operative view, respectively. In the figures, same or like parts are denoted with the same numbers. The pendant 12 comprises a frame 13 provided with a central recess 3. An ornamental element 4, for example a gemstone, is adapted to be received in the central recess 3 in the frame 13. A first magnet 5 is fixed to the bottom 6 of the ornamental element 4, and a second magnet 7 is fixed within the central recess 3 in the frame 13 for removably assuring the ornamental element 4.

(16) According to the present invention, the bottom 6 of the ornamental element 4 has a first perimeter groove 8 acting as a seat for the first magnet 5 that is shaped correspondingly to the first perimeter groove 8 to be fixed to the bottom 6 of the ornamental element 4. In the embodiment shown the first perimeter groove 8 has a circular shape, consequently also the first magnet 5 has the same circular ring configuration.

(17) The central recess 3 in the frame 13 has inside a perimeter projection 9 in which a second perimeter groove 10 acting as a seat for the second magnet 7 is formed. The second magnet 7 is shaped like the first magnet 5, to be fixed to the central recess 3 of the frame 13.

(18) The magnets 5 and 7 are fixed in their seats by suitable means such as an adhesive.

(19) A through aperture 11 extends through the central recess 3 of the frame 13. The through aperture 11 has such a dimension that a hand finger can be introduced in it, as shown in FIG. 6 that is a perspective view of the pendant in FIG. 3, while the ornamental element is removed from its frame. The finger exerts a pressure on the bottom 6 of the ornamental element 4 for overcoming a mutual attraction force exerted by the two magnets. As will be shown below the removal of the ornamental element from the frame is thus obtained. On the contrary, it will be sufficient to approach the frame to another ornamental element so that the latter is captured and automatically positioned with its bottom in the central recess.

(20) It is known that a similar but lower effect can be obtained when the attractive force is exerted by a single magnet on a ring of paramagnetic material. So, for example, a magnet can be fixed on the ornamental element while an element of iron or other material with magnetic permeability having the same shape of the magnet can be fixed on the frame.

(21) The frame 13 has a semi-ring 14 in which a mesh ring 15 of a chain or the like (not shown) is inserted.

(22) Referring to the perspective view in FIG. 7, there is shown a stylized heart-shaped pendant 16. Perimeter grooves and magnets have the same shape.

(23) Referring to the perspective view in FIG. 8, there is shown an oval pendant 17. Even in this case, the perimeter grooves and the magnets have such a form.

(24) It is understood that the objects of the present invention have been achieved. In particular, the gemstone or the like is easily replaceable without requiring the use of a tool, but is not susceptible to be accidentally detached from its frame.