ARTICLE OF JEWELRY

Abstract

An article of jewelry with an outer band having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The outer band including a first material. An interior lining is attached to and extends from the second surface of the outer band, the interior lining including a second material.

Claims

1. An article of jewelry comprising: an outer band having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the outer band including a first material; and an interior lining attached to and extending from the second surface of the outer band, the interior lining including a second material.

2. The article of jewelry of claim 1, wherein the interior lining extends towards a center of the article of jewelry forming an outer boundary of an opening.

3. The article of jewelry of claim 1, wherein the interior lining includes one or more brushes.

4. The article of jewelry of claim 3, wherein the one or more brushes extend from a first end attached to the outer band to a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is unattached.

5. The article of jewelry of claim 4, wherein the one or more brushes have a depth of 0.5 inches.

6. The article of jewelry of claim 3, wherein the one or more brushes have an individual bristle diameter between 5 and 15 mm.

7. The article of jewelry of claim 3, wherein the one or more brushes have an individual bristle diameter between 20 and 40 mm.

8. An article of jewelry comprising: an outer band having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; and an interior lining attached to and extending from the second surface of the outer band, the interior lining including one or more projections extending from a first end attached to the second surface of the outer band to a second end.

9. The article of jewelry of claim 8, wherein an opening is disposed between respective projections of the one or more projections.

10. The article of jewelry of claim 9, wherein the opening is substantially triangular in shape.

11. The article of jewelry of claim 9, wherein the opening tapers from a first end disposed adjacent to the outer band to a second end disposed opposite the first end.

12. The article of jewelry of claim 8, wherein the one or more projections have a depth extending from the outer band, wherein the depth ranges from 0.03 mm to about 0.2 mm

13. The article of jewelry of claim 8, wherein the one or more projections are a brush, and wherein the one or more projections have an individual bristle diameter less than 0.07 mm.

14. The article of jewelry of claim 8, wherein the one or more projections are a brush, and wherein the one or more projections have an individual bristle diameter greater than 0.1 mm.

15. An article of jewelry comprising: an outer band having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; and a plurality of projections extending from a first end attached to the second surface of the outer band to a second end, wherein each of the plurality of projections tapers from the second end to the first end forming a gap between adjacent projections of the plurality of projections.

16. The article of jewelry of claim 15, wherein the article of jewelry transitions between a first configuration and a second configuration.

17. The article of jewelry of claim 15, wherein the article of jewelry comprises a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere.

18. The article of jewelry of claim 15, wherein the outer band includes a closure mechanism.

19. The article of jewelry of claim 18, wherein the closure mechanism includes a clasp configured to engage with a hook.

20. The article of jewelry of claim 15, wherein the plurality of projections are formed of a synthetic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrated only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of an article of jewelry;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a front view of the article of jewelry of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the article of jewelry of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative article of jewelry;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a top view of the alternative article of jewelry of FIG. 4;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative article of jewelry;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the alternative article of jewelry of FIG. 6 in an alternate configuration.

[0016] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific recitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the modes for carrying out the present teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0018] A, an, the, at least one, and one or more are used interchangeably to indicate that at least one of the items is present. A plurality of such items may be present unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. All numerical values of parameters (e.g., of quantities or conditions) in this specification, unless otherwise indicated expressly or clearly in view of the context, including the appended claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about whether or not about actually appears before the numerical value. About indicates that the stated numerical value allows some slight imprecision (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If the imprecision provided by about is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then about as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring and using such parameters. In addition, a disclosure of a range is to be understood as specifically disclosing all values and further divided ranges within the range. All references referred to are incorporated herein in their entirety.

[0019] The terms comprising, including, and having are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, or components. Orders of steps, processes, and operations may be altered when possible, and additional or alternative steps may be employed. As used in this specification, the term or includes any one and all combinations of the associated listed items. The term any of is understood to include any possible combination of referenced items, including any one of the referenced items. The term any of is understood to include any possible combination of referenced claims of the appended claims, including any one of the referenced claims.

[0020] Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as above, below, upward, downward, top, bottom, etc., are used descriptively relative to the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

[0021] In the discussion that follows, terms about, approximately, substantially, and the like, when used in describing a numerical value, denote a variation of +/10% of that value, unless specified otherwise.

[0022] Additionally, the articles of jewelry are discussed with the standard of orientation being when worn by a user of the articles of jewelry.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an article of jewelry 100. The article of jewelry 100 may generally resemble a donut or a bagel. In other examples, the article of jewelry 100 may be rectangular, hexagonal, or any other suitable shape as desired to provide a desired therapeutic benefit. The article of jewelry 100 may include an outer band 102 and an interior lining 104. The outer band 102 and the interior lining 104 may surround an opening 106 of the article of jewelry 100. The outer band 102 may generally have a circular shape. The outer band 102 may include a first (exterior) surface 102a and a second (interior) surface 102b disposed opposite the exterior surface 102a. The interior lining 104 may be disposed along the interior surface 102b of the outer band 102. The interior lining 104 may extend from the interior surface 102b toward the opening 106, such that the interior lining 104 circumferentially encloses the opening 106. As will be described in greater detail below, the interior lining 104 may be comprised of a suitable material for providing a desired therapeutic benefit, and the interior lining 104 may extend toward the opening 106 a desired amount so as to provide the desired therapeutic benefit. The therapeutic benefit may be provided based on the touch, haptic, and/or tactile (generally referred to as haptic herein) feedback provided based on the contact between the article of jewelry 100 and a body part of a person wearing the article of jewelry 100. The haptic feedback may be provided based on the arrangement of components, connections, and material properties of the article of jewelry 100 as described herein.

[0024] The outer band 102 may be comprised of a first material. The first material may be, for example, steel, aluminum, plastic, or the like. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer band may include a first peripheral edge 202a and a second peripheral edge 202b. The outer band 102 may have a width 102w extending from the first peripheral edge 202a to the second peripheral edge 202b. In some examples, the width 102w may range between about 30 mm and about 150 mm. In some examples, the width 102w may range between about 35 mm and about 125 mm. In some examples, the width 102w may range between about 48 mm and 113 mm. The outer band 102 may have a first (outer) circumference measured around an outer periphery of the outer band 102. In an example, the outer circumference of the outer band 102 may range between about 2 inches and about 26 inches. In some examples, the outer circumference of the outer band 102 may range between about 4 inches and about 20 inches. In some examples, the outer circumference of the outer band 102 may range between about 6 inches and 13 inches. The outer band 102 may have a second (inner) circumference measured around an interior of the outer band 102. In an example, the inner circumference of the outer band 102 may range between about 1 inch and about 20 inches. In some examples, the inner circumference of the outer band 102 may range between about 4 inches and about 16 inches. In some examples, the inner circumference of the outer band 102 may be about 9 inches.

[0025] Referring back to FIG. 1, the interior lining 104 may be comprised of a second material different from the first material. The second material may be, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) synthetic fiber, horse hair, weasel hair, nylon (Polyamide) 6/6.6, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled blends, synthetic goat hair, fur, or the like. The second material of the interior lining 104 may be a material with a desired individual bristle diameter. For example, the second material may be comprised of a material with a bristle diameter ranging between about 0.01 mm to about 0.5 mm. In some examples, the second material may be comprised of a material with a bristle diameter ranging between about 0.03 mm and about 0.2 mm. In some examples, bristle diameters less than 0.07 mm result in a softer, more flexible interior lining 104 while bristle diameters grater than 0.1 mm result in a stiffer, more resistant interior lining 104. In some examples, the second material may be comprised of a material with a desired fiber tensile strength. In some examples, the fiber tensile strength may be between about 100 MPa and 500 MPa. In some examples, the fiber tensile strength may be between about 200 MPa and 400 MPa. In some examples, the desired fiber tensile strength may be based on the individual bristle shape and averagely dense, crimped bristles may provide a desired balance between resiliency and softness. In some examples, the second material may be comprised of a material with a desired filament shape (i.e., round, crimped, wavy, cylindrical, ovular, elliptical, tapered with a conical cross-section, trilobal, multi-lobal, hollow-core, flat, ribbon, grooved, split-end, textured, cross-crimped, or the like), a desired heat treatment (i.e., thermally shaped bristles or mechanically stretched bristles), and/or a desired fiber density (i.e., more densely packed fiber or less densely packed fibers).

[0026] The interior lining 104 may extend from a first end 104a toward a second end 104b. The first end 104a may be attached to interior portions of the outer band 102 via adhesion, soldering, or any other suitable means for attaching portions of the article of jewelry 100 together. In some examples, the interior lining 104 is adhered to the outer band 102 using an epoxy resin with high strength, heat-resistant, and skin-safe bonding. In other examples, the interior lining 104 may be adhered using impact adhesive that is multipurpose and high-strength. In other examples, the interior lining 104 may be joined to the outer band 102 using tension mechanisms such as internal grooves, tapered sockets, threaded or snap-fit features, and/or embedded compression sleeves/spring locks. Such tension mechanisms may physically and visibly modify the surface area that connects the interior lining 104 and outer band 102. However, the brushes of interior lining 104 may have a combined density which prevents visibility of this surface area through the interior lining 104. Accordingly, the visible modifications caused by the tension mechanisms may not modify the overall external visual appearance of the article of jewelry 100.

[0027] The second end 104b of the interior lining 104 may form an outer boundary for the opening 106. The interior lining 104 may include a depth 104D extending from the first end 104a to the second end 104b. In some examples, the depth 104D may range between about 1.5 mm and about 65 mm. In some examples, the depth 104D may range between about 3 mm and about 50 mm. In some examples, the depth 104D may range between about 5 mm and about 40 mm. In some examples, a shorter depth 104D (i.e., between about 5-15 mm) may result in a and more controlled touch sensation while a longer depth 104D (i.e., between about 20-40 mm) may result in a more flexible and sweeping touch sensation.

[0028] The circumference of the opening 106 may vary based on the desired depth 104D of the interior lining 104. In an example, the circumference of the opening 106 may measure between about 40 mm to about 200 mm. In an example, the opening 106 has a circumference ranging between about 140 mm and about 185 mm. In some examples, the interior lining 104 may be comprised of at least one brush. In some other examples, the interior lining 104 may be comprised of a plurality of brushes.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the depth 104D of the interior lining 104 may vary as the interior lining 104 includes bristles having varying lengths. For example, the interior lining 104 may have bristles where a first set of bristles are longer than a second set of bristles. In some examples where the interior lining 104 is comprised of a plurality of brushes, every other brush may be longer than immediately adjacent brushes. In examples where the interior lining 104 is comprised of a plurality of brushes, the longer brushes may be randomly placed to give a varied sensation to a wearer. In some examples, the interior lining 104 may extend toward the opening 106 in a pattern. In some examples, the interior lining 104 may form concentric circles with the opening 106. In some examples, the interior lining 104 may be positioned such that the opening 106 is triangularly shaped. In some examples, the interior lining 104 may be positioned such that the opening 106 is substantially shaped like a horizontal or vertical line.

[0030] In some examples, the interior lining 104 may be coated. For example, the interior lining 104 may be coated to modify the texture, grip, friction, and/or shedding performance of the interior lining 104. In some examples, the interior lining 104 may be plasma treated to reduce flaking and enhance softness. In some examples, baking soda may be applied to increase surface roughness and increase drag. In some examples, a silicone or gel may be applied to the interior lining 104 to reduce friction. In other examples, polyurethane microspray or post-production softening may be used to coat the interior lining 104 to improve comfort and/or reduce flaking of the interior lining 104.

[0031] The article of jewelry 100 may be sized or shaped as desired to provide a desired therapeutic benefit based on haptic feedback. For example, the article of jewelry 100 may provide a calming sensation to a user of the article of jewelry. The interior lining 104 may have a desired depth such that the interior lining 104 surrounds an arm of a user of the article of jewelry 100 to brush against the skin of the user with a desired degree of firmness.

[0032] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an article of jewelry 400. The article of jewelry 400 may generally resemble a donut or a bagel. The article of jewelry 400 may include an outer band 402 and an interior lining 404. The outer band 402 may be substantially similar to outer band 102. The outer band 402 and the interior lining 404 may surround an opening 407 of the article of jewelry 400. The outer band 402 may generally have a circular shape. The outer band 402 may include a first (exterior) surface 402a and a second (interior) surface 402b. The interior lining 404 may be disposed along the interior surface 402b of the outer band 402. The interior lining 404 may extend from the interior surface 402b toward the opening 407, such that the interior lining 404 circumferentially encloses the opening 407. As will be described in greater detail below, the interior lining 404 may be comprised of a suitable material for providing a desired therapeutic benefit, and the interior lining 404 may extend toward the opening 407 a desired amount so as to provide the desired therapeutic benefit.

[0033] The outer band 402 may be comprised of a first material. The first material may be, for example, steel, aluminum, or the like. The outer band may include a first peripheral edge 502a and a second peripheral edge 502b. The outer band 402 may have a width 402w extending from the first peripheral edge 502a to the second peripheral edge 502b. In some examples, the width 402w may range between about 30 mm and about 150 mm. In some examples, the width 402w may range between about 35 mm and about 125 mm. In some examples, the width 402w may range between about 48 mm and 113 mm. The outer band 402 may have a first (outer) circumference measured around an outer periphery of the outer band 402. In an example, the outer circumference of the outer band 402 may range between about 2 inches and about 26 inches. In some examples, the outer circumference of the outer band 402 may range between about 4 inches and about 20 inches. In some examples, the outer circumference of the outer band 402 may range between about 6 inches and 13 inches. The outer band 402 may have a second (inner) circumference measured around an interior of the outer band 402. In an example, the inner circumference of the outer band 402 may range between about 1 inch and about 20 inches. In some examples, the inner circumference of the outer band 402 may range between about 4 inches and about 16 inches. In some examples, the inner circumference of the outer band 402 may be about 9 inches.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 4, the interior lining 404 may include one or more projections 406. The one or more projections 406 of the interior lining 404 may be comprised of a second material different from the first material. The second material may be, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) synthetic fiber, horse hair, weasel hair, or the like. The second material of the interior lining 104 may be a material with a desired individual bristle diameter. For example, the second material may be comprised of a material with a bristle diameter ranging between about 0.01 mm to about 0.5 mm. In some examples, the second material may be comprised of a material with a bristle diameter ranging between about. 0.03 mm and about 0.2 mm. In some examples, bristle diameters less than 0.07 mm result in a softer, more flexible interior lining 104 while bristle diameters greater than 0.1 mm result in a stiffer, more resistant interior lining 104. In some examples, the second material may be comprised of a material with a desired filament shape (i.e., round, crimped, wavy, or the like), a desired heat treatment (i.e., thermally shaped bristles or mechanically stretched bristles), and/or a desired fiber density (i.e., more densely packed fiber or less densely packed fibers).

[0035] The one or more projections 406 may extend from a first end 404a toward a second end 404b disposed opposite the first end 404a. The first end may be attached to interior portions of the outer band 402 via adhesion, soldering, or any other suitable means for attaching portions of the article of jewelry 400 together. The second end 404b of the one or more projections 406 may form an outer boundary for the opening 407. The one or more projections 406 may include a depth 404D extending from the first end 404a to the second end 404b. In some examples, the depth 404D may range between about. 1 inches and about 16 inches. In some examples, the depth 404D may range between about 1 inch and about 12 inches. In some examples, the depth 404D may be about 8 inches.

[0036] In an example, the one or more projections 406 may include a plurality of projections 406. The one or more projections 406 may gradually taper from the second end 404b to the first end 404a. In such an example, the one or more projections 406 may be circumferentially disposed around an inner portion of the outer band 402 such that adjacent ones of the one or more projections 406 have a gap 408 there between. The gap 408 may be substantially triangular in shape. The gap 408 may have a greatest width between adjacent projections 406 nearest the interior surface 102b. The gap 408 may have a smallest width between adjacent projections 406 nearest the second end 404b of adjacent projections 406. The gap 408 may have a greatest width of about 28 mm tapering to a smallest width of about 0.01 mm. The gap 408 may have a greatest width of about 20 mm tapering to a smallest width of about 0.5 mm. The gap 408 may have a greatest width of about 16 mm tapering to a smallest width of about 1 mm. In some examples, the gap 408 may be circular, rectangular, ovular, or any other shape as produced by the space between adjacent ones of the one or more projections 406.

[0037] In some examples, the interior lining 404 may be coated. For example, the interior lining 404 may be coated to modify the texture, grip, friction, and/or shedding performance of the interior lining 404. In some examples, the interior lining 404 may be plasma treated too reduce flaking and enhance softness. In some examples, baking soda may be applied to increase surface roughness and increase drag. In some examples, a silicone or gel may be applied to the interior lining 404 to reduce friction. In other examples, polyurethane microspray or post-production softening may be used to coat the interior lining 404 to improve comfort and/or reduce flaking of the interior lining 404.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, an article of jewelry 600 is shown. The article of jewelry 600 may generally resemble a donut or a bagel. In other examples, the article of jewelry 600 may be rectangular, hexagonal, or any other suitable shape as desired to provide a desired therapeutic benefit. The article of jewelry 600 may be substantially similar to article of jewelry 100, except as indicated below.

[0039] The article of jewelry includes an outer band 602. The article of jewelry 600 may include a closure mechanism 608 disposed on the outer band 602. The article of jewelry may include a first partition 610a and a second partition 610b. The respective partitions 610a and 610b may be portions of the outer band 602 which are configured to move apart from other portions of the outer band 602. The respective partitions 610a and 610b divide the outer band 602 into two hemispheres, 602a and 602b. For example, when opening the outer band 602 a first hemisphere 602a may be pulled apart from a second hemisphere 602b.

[0040] The closure mechanism 608 may include a clasp 608a and a hook 608b. The article of jewelry 600 may be configured to be transitioned between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration may be a closed configuration of the article of jewelry 600. The second configuration may be an open configuration of the article of jewelry 600. In the first configuration, the clasp 608a engages the hook 608b. In the second configuration, the clasp 608a is disengaged from the hook 608b. The article of jewelry 600 may pivot about a pivot point 612. In other examples, the closure mechanism 608 may be a hook and loop fastener or any other suitable mechanism for allowing the article of jewelry 600 to open and close.

[0041] The articles of jewelry 100 and 400 may be sized or shaped as desired to provide a desired therapeutic benefit based on haptic feedback. For example, the articles of jewelry 100 and 400 may provide a calming sensation to a user of the article of jewelry. As another example, the articles of jewelry 100 and 400 may reduce stress, assist with dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and assist with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The one or more projections 406 may have a desired depth such that the interior lining 404 surrounds an arm of a user of the article of jewelry 400 to brush against the skin of the user with a desired degree of firmness. The interior lining 104 may similarly surround an arm of a user of the article of jewelry 100 to brush against the skin of the user with a desired degree of firmness.

[0042] The description of the disclosure provided herein is intended to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles disclosed herein may be applied to other variations of the disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, the article of jewelry may be scaled up or down to fit the user. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the applicable legal principles.