RESIZABLE RING
20170006978 ยท 2017-01-12
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
An adjustable ring is constructed from a first material to form at least a portion of a substantially circular shape. The first material includes two first C-shaped distal halves, and two second C-shaped proximate halves, and each of the halves arranged together to form a vertically bisected O-shape with a top portion removed defining a first arcuate void portion and a bottom portion removed defining a second arcuate void portion. The ring also includes a second material created to fit inside each of the two first and two second C-shaped halves of the first material to form a substantially circular shape defining an inner diameter for a given ring size. The second material includes at least one stress relief point and at least one size bar formed therewith. The second material is created to fit inside the first material using one or more of casting, co-casting, machining, forging, and stamping.
Claims
1-10 (canceled)
11. A resizable ring comprising: a first material created to form at least a portion of a substantially circular shape from a first C-shaped half, and a second C-shaped half, and each half arranged together to form a vertically bisected 0-shape with a top portion removed defining a first arcuate void portion and a bottom portion removed defining a second arcuate void portion the first material formed with an outer circumference; a second material, with at least one stress relief point, created inside each of the first arcuate void portion of the first material and a portion along the outer circumference of the first material, and second arcuate void portion of the first material defining at least one size bar.
12. The resizable ring of claim 11, wherein the second material created to fit inside each of the two first and two second C-shaped halves of the first material is created using any of casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
13. The resizable ring of claim 11, wherein the first material is a contemporary material defined as at least one of one carbide, ceramic, chrome cobalt, niobium, platifina, rhodium, steel, stainless steel, surgical stainless steel, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium, or a combination thereof, and the second material is a ductile metal defined as at least one of brass, bronzed, copper, gold, palladium, platinum, silver, steel, or a combination thereof.
14. The resizable ring of claim 11, where in the second material is created inside each of the first C-shaped half and the second C-shaped half of the first material casted to form a substantially circular shape.
15. The resizable ring of claim 11, wherein the first material and the second material when created inside form an inner diameter of a given ring size.
16. The resizable ring of claim 13, wherein the size bar is sized to fit within the second arcuate void portion of the first material.
17. The resizable ring of claim 14, further comprising at least one gem disposed on the second material and sized to fit within the first arcuate void portion of the first material.
18. The resizable ring of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of gem stones disposed on the second material and at least one gem stone sized to fit within the first arcuate void portion of the first material.
19. The resizable ring of claim 17, wherein the at least one stress relief point includes three stress relief points located at 90 degrees from the size bar, 180 degrees from the size bar, and 270 degrees from the size bar
20. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying figures wherein reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. The use of the dotted fill denotes a second type of material in those regions as compared with a first type of material in those region(s) that have no fill, in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and that the systems and methods described below can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present subject matter in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the concepts.
[0043] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.
Non-Limiting Definitions
[0044] The terms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0045] The term band or ring is used to mean a circular or spherical band typically worn on fingers and toes as an ornament or symbol of engagement, accomplishment, or authority. The band is typically made of precious metal and often set with one or more gems or gemstones.
[0046] The term co-casting or bi-metal casting is used to mean a casting one or more metals into a base metal. The base metal generally or often has higher melting points than the ductile metal used for accents. The base metal, typically a contemporary metal, is first cast but may also be machined, struck, molded, or otherwise created. Next the mold, usually made from wax, is added directly to the finished contemporary metal casting. The ductile metal is cast, or otherwise created and joined (that is machined, forged, stamped or had made) directly to the contemporary metal casting by co-casting, mechanical attachment, or otherwise affixing (pinning, gluing, swaging, setting or other). An example of co-casting metal is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/183,357 by Edward Rosenberg, field on Feb. 18, 2014, entitled Co-Casting Precious Metal to An Alternative Material and based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/766,096 by Edward Rosenberg, filed on Feb. 18, 2013, each of these patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference hereinto in their entirety.
[0047] The terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0048] The term contemporary material is used to mean a family of refractory or other hard metals, alloys or composites commonly known in the jewelry industry as alternative or contemporary including chrome cobalt, niobium, platifina, rhodium, stainless steel, surgical stainless steel, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, zirconium, alloys, or a combination thereof. Contemporary metal includes any other metals, alloys, plastics, and composites that are capable of acting as a base metal for co-casting and are highly compatible with the skin while highly durable.
[0049] The term created such as created to form or created inside means casting, co-casting, extruding forging, gluing, joining, machining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
[0050] The term ductile metal means materials that can be stretched, bent, deformed, hammered, soldered, welded or otherwise joined together or to itself. Examples of ductile metal or malleable materials include brass, bronze, copper, gold, palladium, platinum, silver, steel, alloys, or a combination thereof.
[0051] The term gem means precious or semiprecious stone that is usually cut and polished.
[0052] The term resizable means to alter either to enlarge or decrease the inside circumference of a band.
[0053] The term ring size is a measurement used to denote the inner circumference of a ring. There are various systems and scales used. The ISO scale defines ring size in terms of inner circumference of the ring measured in millimeters. In the United States the ring size is denoted by a numerical scale, with quarter and half sizes. For example, an increase of a full size is an increase of approximately 0.032 inches (0.8128 mm) in diameter.
[0054] The term sizing bar means a removable or sizable insert in a band. The size bar may be replaced or just cut and adjusted in size. In one example, there may be prefabricated size replaceable bars of a given size.
[0055] The term stress relief point or hinge means notch, groove, slit, designated bend area, such as a thinner area, or other void to enable the ring size to be enlarged or decreased when the size bar is altered. Through the use of a stress relief point the ductile material is allowed to help predetermine the area to deform into one of several ring sizes without cracking or snapping.
[0056] The term traditional metal is typically a ductile metal including brass, bronze, copper, gold, palladium, platinum, silver, steel, alloys, or a combination thereof.
Overview
[0057] The present invention enables anyone with basic jewelry skills and equipment, such as a torch and saw, to size rings larger and smaller without damaging or significantly altering the product. Unlike conventional rings the present invention eliminates the need for replacement or the use of specialized equipment and expertise specific to the materials or setting formats.
[0058] Among the advantages realized in accordance with the present invention are complete compatibility with present techniques for ornamenting rings (i.e., setting stones, polishing and the like), and ready replaceability of a size bar. The ring itself is exceptionally suited to the needs of the wearer, both aesthetically and functionally. It is possible to ornament the ring in a manner which virtually obscures the fact that the same is adjustable.
Dotted Fill Convention in Drawings
[0059] The use of dotted fill in regions of all the drawings denotes a contemporary material or the first material in the language of the claims. The region(s) of the drawings without a dotted fill denotes traditional metal of the second material in the language of the claims.
First Example of Resizable Ring
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[0062] The second material includes two stress relief points 158 around the mount 156 located at a 12 o'clock position for the gem 155. In this example the mount 156 is sized to fit inside the first arcuate void portion of the first material 102. The mount 156 may be fastened to the second material 152 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
[0063] Note the size bar 160 is sized to fit within the second arcuate void portion 112 of the first material 102 at the 6 o'clock position.
[0064] The second material 152 can be created to fit inside the space 108, 111 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Second Example of Resizable Ring
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[0067] The second material includes three stress relief points 454, 456, 458 at a 9 o'clock position, 12 o'clock position, and 3 o'clock position (90, 180, 270 degrees starting from the bottom). In this example the mounts 452 with gems 455 sized to fit inside the channel 408, 418, 428, 438 of the first material 402. The mount 456 may be fastened to the second material 452 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
[0068] Note the size bar 460 is sized to fit within the second arcuate void portion 412 of the first material 402 at the 6 o'clock position.
[0069] The second material 452 can be created to fit inside the channel 408, 418, 428, 438 and second arcuate void portion 412 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Third Example of Resizable Ring
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[0072] The second material includes three stress relief points 754, 756, 758 located at a 9 o'clock position, 12 o'clock position, and 3 o'clock position (90, 180, 270 degrees starting from the bottom). In this example the mounts 764, 766, 768 near the stress points 754, 756, 758. The mounts 764, 766, 768 hold firmly gems 755. The mounts 764, 766, 768 are sized to fit inside the first, third, and fourth arcuate void portions 710, 720, 722 of the first material 702. The mount 756 may be fastened to the second material 752 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
[0073] Note the size bar 760 is sized to fit within the second arcuate void portion 712 of the first material 702 at the 6 o'clock position.
[0074] The second material 752 can be created to fit inside the space 708, 718, 728, 738 and second arcuate void portion 712 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Fourth Example of Resizable Ring
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[0077] The second material 1052 can be created to fit inside the space 1008, 1011 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Fifth Example of Resizable Ring
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[0079] The second material 1352 can be created to fit inside the channels 1308, 1310, 1312, 1318 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Sixth Example of Resizable Ring
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[0081] The second material 1652 can be created to around the first material 1610 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Seventh Example of Resizable Ring
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[0083] Shown are two types of materials. The first material 1902 is a contemporary material. The second material 1952 is a traditional metal. The traditional metal has a gem 1955 attached to it. Turning to
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[0085] The second material includes three stress relief points 1954, 1956, 1958 located at a 9 o'clock position, 12 o'clock position, and 3 o'clock position (90, 180, 270 degrees starting from the bottom). In this example the decorative bars 1964, 1966, 1968 near the stress points 1954, 1956, 1958. The decorative bars 1964, 1966, 1968 are sized to fit inside the first, third, and fourth arcuate void portions 1910, 1920, 1922 of the first material 1902. The mount 1956 may be fastened to the second material 1952 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
[0086] Note that the size bar 1960 sized to fit within the second arcuate void portion 1912 of the first material 1902 at the 6 o'clock position.
[0087] The second material 1952 can be created to fit inside the space 1908, 1918, 1928, 1938 and second arcuate void portion 1912 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Eighth Example of Resizable Ring
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[0090] The second material includes a stress relief point 2258 near the mount 2256 located at a 12 o'clock position for the gem 2255. In this example the mount 2256 is sized to fit inside the first arcuate void portion of the first material 2202. The mount 2256 may be fastened to the second material 2252 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
[0091] Note that the size bar 2260 sized to fit within the second arcuate void portion 2212 of the first material 2202 at the 6 o'clock position.
[0092] The second material 2252 can be created to fit inside the space 2208, 2211 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Ninth Example of Resizable Ring
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[0095] The second material includes a stress relief point 2558 near the mount 2556 located at a 12 o'clock position for the gem 2558. In this example the mount 2556 is sized to fit inside the first arcuate void portion of the first material 2502. The mount 2556 may be fastened to the second material 2552 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
[0096] Note that the size bar 2560 sized to fit within the second arcuate void portion 2512 of the first material 2502 at the 6 o'clock position.
[0097] The second material 2552 can be created to fit inside the space 2508, 2511 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
Tenth Example of Resizable Ring
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[0099] The second material 2852 can be created to around the first material 2810 by casting, co-casting, machining, extruding forging, gluing, joining, riveting, stamping, welding, or a combination thereof.
NON-LIMITING EXAMPLES
[0100] The description of the present application has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, more than one contemporary or traditional metal can be used in any of the examples described herein. The examples or embodiment were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.