RING SYSTEM INCLUDING A REMOVABLE OUTER RING

Abstract

A ring system may include a band; a stationary arm coupled to the band, the stationary am including a first annular end; and a pivotable arm pivotably coupled to the band, the pivotable arm including a second annular end, the pivtotable arm being transitionable between an open position and a closed position relative to the stationary arm, wherein the first and second annular ends form an annulus when the pivotable arm is in the closed position, the annulus being configured to releasably secure a portion of a tiffany setting ring therein.

Claims

1. A ring system, comprising: a band; a stationary arm coupled to the band, the stationary am including a first annular end; and a pivotable arm pivotably coupled to the band, the pivotable arm including a second annular end, the pivtotable arm being transitionable between an open position and a closed position relative to the stationary arm, wherein the first and second annular ends form an annulus when the pivotable arm is in the closed position, the annulus being configured to releasably secure a portion of a tiffany setting ring therein.

2. The ring system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of side stones coupled to at least one of the pivotable arm and the stationary arm.

3. The ring system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable arm includes a protrusion and the band includes a groove that is configured to releasably receive the protrusion.

4. The ring system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable arm is magnetically coupled to at least one of the band and the stationary arm.

5. The ring system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable arm is pivotably connected to the band via a hinge that extends from the band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring system including a stationary arm and a pivotable arm in accordance with the present disclosure shown in a first condition;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ring system of FIG. 1 shown in a second condition;

[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the pivotable arm of the ring system as shown in FIG. 2; and

[0013] FIGS. 4-6 illustrate coupling a tiffany-setting ring to the ring system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. The word couple and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through intermediate elements or devices. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional (up/down, etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner. It will also be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elements may be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appended claims without requirements of the written description being required thereto.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a ring system 100 includes a band 102 that is coupled to a fixed arm 104a and a pivotable arm 104b. The fixed arm 104a may be fixedly secured to the band 102 such that it is in a fixed positioned relative to an upper surface of the band 102. The pivotable arm 104b may be pivotably secured to the band 102 via a hinge element 105 that extends outwardly from an upper surface of the band 102. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pivotable arm 104b may be secured within the hinge element 105 and a pin P may pivotably secure the pivotable arm 104b to the hinge element 105. Each of the anus 104a, 104b may include ends 106a, 106, respectively, that form a generally annular shape in which a gemstone S (FIG. 4) of a ring R (FIG. 4) may be positioned. The arms 104a, 104b may include side stones G that accentuate the aesthetic appeal of the ring system 100 when the ring R is coupled thereto. For example, side stones G may be coupled to the ends 106a, 106 of respective ones of the arms 106a, 106b to provide an optical impression that the gemstone S of the ring R is of a greater carat size.

[0016] The pivotable arm 104b is pivtotable in a direction along and against that indicated by arrow X. When then pivotable arm 104b is rotated about pivot point p in the direction indicated by arrow X, the ring system 100 is transitioned to an unlocked condition in which a ring R may be coupled to the ring system 100. In particular, with the arm 104b in an unlocked, upright position as shown in FIG. 4, the ring R may be placed under the stationary arm 104a with the annular end 106a of the arm member 104a placed partially around the stone S of the ring $. Thereafter, the pivotable arm 104b may be pivoted in a direction against the arrow X to lock the annular ends 106a, 106b of respective arm members 104a, 104b around the stone S of the ring R, thereby locking the ring system 100 to the ring R, as shown in FIG. 6. The stone S may have a generally tapered shape with the narrower end of the stone S closer to the surface of the ring R such that when the arm members 104a, 104b are in a closed condition, the interaction of the wider end of the stone S and the annular opening defined by the ends 106a, 106b of the arm members 104a, 104b prevent disengagement of the ring R from the ring system 100.

[0017] When in the locked condition, the arm members 104a, 104b may lie relatively flush against an outer surface of at least one of the band 102 and the ring R. A portion of the arm members 104a, 104b may be configured to overlay the ring R when in the locked condition, thereby providing a visual impression of a single ring. The band 102 and the ring R may be positioned flush and adjacent one another.

[0018] The pivotable arm 104b may be releasably lockable to the band via a locking mechanism that may include, for example, a finger or protrusion 107a that extends from the arm member 104b that is configured to engage a groove 107b that may be formed in a surface of the band 102 in an interference or friction fit. Additionally, or alternatively, the pivotable arm 104b may magnetically couple to at least one of the band 102 or the stationary arm 104a.

GLOSSARY OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0019] 100: Ring system

[0020] 102: Band

[0021] 104a: Fixed arm

[0022] 104b: Pivotable arm

[0023] 105: Hinge

[0024] 105a: First hinge connector

[0025] 105b: Second hinge connector

[0026] 106a: First arm end

[0027] 106b: Second arm end

[0028] 107a: Finger or protrusion on the pivotable arm 104b

[0029] 107b: Groove on the band 102 that receives the finger 107a

[0030] G: Side stone(s) on the fixed arm 104a and/or the pivotable arm 104b

[0031] R: Ring

[0032] S: Center Gemstone of the ring R

[0033] Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments of the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

[0034] Those of skill in the art will additionally recognize that the proposed invention may be used as a neck/chest strap or single shoulder strap by adjustably supporting and connecting only two opposed sides of the support system (between the collar and one arm opening). In this manner, the adjustable feature is still operative, but the user has enhanced options for convenience and securement.

[0035] Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.