EP0375565B1 - Anneau pouvant s'ouvrir et pourvu d'un élément de fermeture élastique de sûreté - Google Patents

Anneau pouvant s'ouvrir et pourvu d'un élément de fermeture élastique de sûreté Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0375565B1
EP0375565B1 EP19890403643 EP89403643A EP0375565B1 EP 0375565 B1 EP0375565 B1 EP 0375565B1 EP 19890403643 EP19890403643 EP 19890403643 EP 89403643 A EP89403643 A EP 89403643A EP 0375565 B1 EP0375565 B1 EP 0375565B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
clasp
segment
segments
spring
ring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19890403643
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0375565A3 (en
EP0375565A2 (fr
Inventor
Allan B. Creates
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Breque Jean
Original Assignee
Breque Jean
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB888830050A external-priority patent/GB8830050D0/en
Application filed by Breque Jean filed Critical Breque Jean
Priority to AT89403643T priority Critical patent/ATE97556T1/de
Publication of EP0375565A2 publication Critical patent/EP0375565A2/fr
Publication of EP0375565A3 publication Critical patent/EP0375565A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0375565B1 publication Critical patent/EP0375565B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
    • A44C9/00—Finger-rings
    • A44C9/0038—Finger-rings openable or able to be broken for safety reasons
    • A44C9/0046—Finger-rings openable or able to be broken for safety reasons comprising a hinge

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a finger ring and more particularly to a finger ring wherein the band can be opened to facilitate placing the ring on, and removing it from the finger.
  • U.S. Patent 2,971,354 is another example of a ring having segmented bands.
  • the type of locking device disclosed in this patent is not however safe and could inadvertently open up.
  • U.S. Patent 3,566,616 is an example of yet another ring having a separable connection in its band.
  • Another similar finger ring is known from document GB-A- 584 404.
  • the finger ring is made of two arcuate segments hinged together at one end of the segments and adapted to be locked with a clasp at the other end.
  • the clasp is hingedly mounted on one segment and adapted to hook onto a transversal rod fixed on the other segment.
  • a circumferential leaf spring fixed on the one segment adjacent the clasp, resiliently maintains the clasp in a composition projecting at the free end of the one segment.
  • Another similar leaf spring is positioned at the hinged end of the segments for resiliently maintaining the latter in a substantially circular relationship.
  • an object of this invention is to provide a finger ring having a segmented band so that a portion thereof may be pivoted outwardly from the remainder to permit lateral positioning of the band over the finger.
  • the ring may therefore be readily placed on and removed from the finger of a person without the necessity of sliding the ring over the length of the finger, the hinged ring being especially useful in the case of persons having enlarged knuckles where it is difficult to slip a ring over the knuckle portion of the finger.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a hinged ring having a secure latching means which guards against possible loss of the ring.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a hinged finger ring which comprises one or more spring means which further prevent the possible loss of the ring and which facilitates the operations associated with the introduction and the removal of the ring.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a hinged finger ring in accordance with the previous object which will conform to conventional forms of manufacturing, be of simple construction and easy to use as to provide a finger ring which will be economically feasable, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
  • the ring comprises a segmented annular band 10 adapted to surround a finger.
  • the band 10 is formed of a first arcuate segment 12 adapted to receive a setting, stone or other orusementation and a second arcuate segment 14 both segments being usually semi-circular.
  • the first arcuate segment 12 has substantially concave ends 16 and 18 while the second segment 14 has corresponding substantially convex ends 20 and 22 at its extremities.
  • the two segments 12 and 14 are hinged together at their respective ends 16 and 20 by a tongue 24 which projects from the concave end 16 of the first segment 12 and which is overlapped by a bifurcated structure 26 provided at the end part 20 of the segment 14.
  • the two segments 12 and 14 are secured together by a transversal pivot pin 28.
  • the second segment 14 can thus be swung outwardly from the first segment 12 as illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 7 allowing insertion of the ring around the finger.
  • the respective end parts 18 and 22 of the segments 12 and 14 are provided with a releasable locking system 30 for releasably keeping the band 10 in a closed position as illustrated in figures 1, 4 and 5.
  • the releasable locking system 30 comprises a clasp 32 which is overlapped by a bifurcated structure 34 extending circumferentially at the end 22 of the second segment 14.
  • a pivotal rod 36 pivotally secures the clasp 32 to the second segment 14.
  • the clasp 32 is provided with a substantially radial locking notch 38 in its inner surface 40 facing inside the annulus.
  • the locking notch 38 is slightly curved relative to a radius of the band 10 to facilitate its engagement and its retention of a locking rod 44.
  • the end part 18 of the first segment 12 is provided with a bifurcated structure 42 adapted to straddle the clasp 32 when the band 10 is in a closed position.
  • the locking rod 44 extends across the bifurcated structure 42.
  • the locking rod 44 is adapted to engage inside the curved notch 38 when the band 10 is in a closed position, thus preventing an unwanted opening of the band 10.
  • the first arcuate segment 12 has a substantially V-shaped radial notch 46 of figures 3, 6 and 9 on its outer surface 48 close to its end part 18.
  • a first surface 50 of the V-shaped notch 46 rides over the bifurcated structure 42 while a second surface 52 of the "V"-shaped notch 46 rides over the body of the first arcuate segment 12.
  • the outer surface 54 of the clasp 32 has a curvature which closely corresponds to the curvature of the outer surface 48 of the first segment 12 and to the curvature of an outer surface 56 of the second segment 14. Accordingly, when the band 10 is in a closed position with the bifurcated structure 42 straddling the clasp 32, the latter forms a substantially continuous curve with the segments as illustrated in figures 1, 5 and 8.
  • the inner surface 57 of a top part 59 of the clasp 32 has an arcuate shape which intercepts the outer surface 54 of the clasp 32 thus defining a relatively pointed prehension tip 58.
  • the shape of the top part 59 of the clasp 32 when seen in an elevational view such a figure 8 is commonly referred to as a bulletlike shape.
  • the user To release the locking system, the user must pivot the clasp 32 outwardly until the locking notch 38 is disengaged from the locking rod 44.
  • the user To pivot the clasp 32 outwardly, the user inserts a fingernail 11 (figure 9) or another relatively thin object in the prehension recess 60 and pulls on the tip 58 of the clasp 32.
  • an additional feature of the present invention resides in a circumferential leaf type spring 62 which biases the clasp 32 towards a relaxed spring position illustrated in figures 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8, whereby the outer surface 54 of the clasp 32 is colinear with the outer surfaces 48 and 56 of the segments 12 and 14.
  • the circumferential leaf type spring 62 is formed integral with the second segment 14 and consists of a strip of relatively resilient material which is positioned inside a corresponding recess 64 provided in an inner surface 66 of the second segment 14.
  • the spring 62 has an end surface 67 which is rigidly linked by welding or other suitable means to the second segment 14.
  • the clasp 32 is provided with an abutting end part 68 situated opposite the tip 58.
  • the abutting end part 68 pivots inwardly thus abutting against the other end, or free end 74 of the spring 62.
  • the spring 62 thus provides releasable resistance against an unvoluntary pivotment of the clasp 32 which would release the locking system.
  • the tip 58 of the clasp 32 is prevented from pivoting outwardly past an angle C of approximately 45 degrees by a slanted back wall 70 between the lateral walls of the bifurcated structure 42.
  • the abutting end surface 68 abuts against the inclined surface 71 of the slanted back wall 70.
  • the surfaces 68 and 71 are shown in their abutting position in figure 9 to clearly identify the end of the pivoting action of the clasp 32. In this position, the clasp 32 has a tendency of returning to its closed position due to the spring 62 which is under tension.
  • An abutting prong 72 extends radially and inwardly from the inner surface 57 of the clasp 32 at a relatively intermediate position between the tip 58 and the abutting end part 68.
  • the abutting prong 72 abuts against a free end part 74 of the spring 62 when the clasp 32 is in the spring relaxed position illustrated in figures 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8. Accordingly, the upper tip of the spring 62 adjacent the part 74 helps to firm up the position of the clasp 32 in its closed position.
  • a relatively small circumferential notch 76 is provided on the inner surface of the second segment 14 at the end part.
  • the notch 76 houses the abutting prong 72 when the band 10 is in a closed position.
  • the prong 72 therefore also acts to laterally stabilize the two segments 12 and 14.
  • Another feature of this invention is the case with which the ring can be mounted on a finger.
  • the locking rod 44 which spans across the bifurcated structure 42, abuts against the tip 58 of the clasp 32. Once pressure is exerted, the inner surface 57 of the top part 59 will slide on the locking rod 44 consequently pivoting the tip 58 outwardly and tensioning the spring 62 until the locking rod 44 reaches the curved locking notch 38 in which it will engage.
  • the concave shape of the end surfaces 16 and 18 and the convex shape of the end surfaces 20 and 22 have the safety feature of preventing loose skin around the finger from being squeezed during the closing operation of the ring.
  • the exterior surface 48 of the first segment 12 may be provided with a recess 86 (see figures 1, 3, 6 and 7) which is adapted to receive an ornamentation (not shown).
  • a second circumferential leaf type spring 78 (see figure 7) is provided on the inner surface of the second segment 14 adjacent the end part 20 of the segment 14.
  • the leaf spring 78 has a free end 80 and a fixed end 82.
  • the spring 78 is positioned inside a recess 84 and is rigidly welded at its fixed end 82 to the second segment 14.
  • the free end 80 of the spring 78 overrides the bifurcated structure 26.
  • the tongue 24 resilient abuts against the free end 80 of the spring 78.
  • the end of the tongue 24 facing the second spring 78 is made relatively flat and is oriented to lie flat on the surface of the second spring 78 so as to maintain both segments in a fixed open position.
  • the second spring 78 therefore provides an additional safety feature against an unwanted opening of the segment 10 which could result in the loss of the ring.
  • Figure 10 shows a clasp 80 having an inwardly projecting nose 82 adapted to be releasably pinched between a pair of transverse rods 84 and 86.
  • the clasp rotates about the axle 88.
  • the end of the clasp, adjacent the axle 88, has a flat face 90 adapted to abut against the spring 92.
  • the flat face 90 lies at about 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the clasp 80 which will remain open in a substantially perpendicular direction with the contour of the ring as shown in figure 11.
  • FIG. 12 Another embodiment for the locking system is illustrated in figure 12.
  • the clasp 94 pivots around the axle 96 to open and close. It is provided with a notch 98 which engages a transversal rod 100.
  • the end of the clasp adjacent the axle 96 has a face 102 which abuts against the spring 106 to maintain the clasp in its closed position.
  • face 104 abuts against the spring 106 and maintains the clasp in this latter position.
  • All the above-described embodiments of the clasps are resiliently controlled by leaf springs mounted along the inner periphery of the ring.
  • Each spring is fixed at one end to one of the segment and is free at the other end.
  • the free end of the spring is adjacent either the lockable end or the hingeable end.
  • the lockable end corresponds to the intersection of the segments 12 and 14 provided with the clasp.
  • the hingeable end corresponds to the intersection of the segments 12 and 14 which are hinged to one another.

Landscapes

  • Hooks, Suction Cups, And Attachment By Adhesive Means (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Bague (10) conformée de façon à procurer un anneau entourant un doigt, ladite bague comportant :
    - un premier et un deuxième segment courbe (12, 14), chacun desdits segments ayant une surface circonférentielle interne, une surface circonférentielle externe, une extrémité pouvant être articulée (16, 20) et une extrémité pouvant être bloquée (18, 22);
    - des moyens d'articulation de segment (24, 26, 28) destinés à relier de façon adjacente ladite extrémité pouvant être articulée desdits premier et deuxième segments en permettant audit premier segment et audit deuxième segment de pivoter l'un par rapport à l'autre entre une position permettant l'insertion latérale dudit doigt dans la bague et une position fermée dans laquelle les segments entourent le doigt, lesdits moyens d'articulation de segment comprenant une languette (24) dépassant de ladite extrémité pouvant être articulée de l'un desdits segments, une structure fourchue (26) s'étendant depuis ladite extrémité pouvant être articulée de l'autre segment, ladite structure fourchue (26) de ladite extrémité pouvant être articulée étant prévue pour enfourcher ladite languette (24), et un axe de pivotement transversal (28) reliant de façon articulée ladite languette (24) et ladite structure fourchue (26) desdits segments;
    - des moyens de blocage libérables (30) destinés à accrocher ensemble les extrémités pouvant être bloquées des premier et deuxième segments, lesdits moyens de blocage libérables comportant :
    - un fermoir (32) qui est monté de façon articulée et adjacente à l'extrémité pouvant être bloquée (22) du deuxième segment (14) et s'étendant longitudinalement depuis ladite extrémité pouvant être bloquée dudit deuxième segment, ledit fermoir (32) étant pourvu d'une encoche de blocage radiale (38) sur sa surface (40) dirigée vers l'intérieur dudit anneau, ledit fermoir ayant une partie d'extrémité de butée (68) à l'extrémité longitudinale la plus proche du deuxième segment et une pointe de saisie (58) à l'extrémité longitudinale opposée;
    - une structure fourchue (42) s'étendant depuis ladite extrémité pouvant être bloquée (18) dudit premier segment (12) et prévue pour enfourcher ledit fermoir (32);
    - lesdits moyens de blocage libérables comportant en outre un axe de blocage (44) s'étendant en travers de ladite structure fourchue (42), le fermoir (32) étant prévu pour pivoter par rapport au deuxième segment (14) entre une position de fermoir fermé où l'axe de blocage (44) est engagé dans ladite encoche de blocage radiale (38) afin de bloquer lesdits premier (12) et deuxième (14) segments dans une position fermée et une position de fermoir ouvert où ledit axe de blocage est dégagé de ladite encoche de blocage radiale (38), et
    - ladite bague comportant en outre un ressort à lame circonférentiel (78) positionné dans un renfoncement (84) dans ledit segment adjacent à ladite extrémité pouvant être articulée et recouvrant ladite structure fourchue (26) sur ledit segment, ledit ressort ayant une extrémité libre (80), une extrémité fixe (82), ladite extrémité fixe dudit ressort étant fixée rigidement sur l'autre segment et ladite extrémité libre dudit ressort étant prévue pour buter élastiquement contre ladite languette (24) qui dépasse de l'autre segment de façon à rappeler lesdits segments vers ladite position fermée lorsque lesdits segments sont dans une position intermédiaire entre ladite position ouverte et ladite position fermée.
  2. Bague selon la revendication 1, comportant en outre un autre ressort à lame circonférentiel (62) positionné dans un renfoncement (64) dans ladite surface circonférentielle interne (66) dudit deuxième segment (14), une extrémité (67) dudit ressort à lame (62) étant fixée sur ledit deuxième segment et l'autre extrémité (74) dudit ressort à lame butant élastiquement contre ledit deuxième segment de façon adjacente à ladite extrémité pouvant être bloquée du deuxième segment, ladite autre extrémité (74) dudit ressort à lame (62) butant contre ladite extrémité de butée (68) dudit fermoir (32) afin de maintenir ce dernier dans ladite position de fermoir fermée.
  3. Bague selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle ledit fermoir (32) comporte en outre une languette de butée (72) positionnée de façon adjacente à ladite partie d'extrémité de butée (68) dudit fermoir et s'étendant depuis une surface interne (57) du fermoir dirigée vers l'intérieur dudit anneau, ladite languette de butée (72) étant prévue pour buter contre ladite autre extrémité (74) dudit autre ressort à lame circonférentiel (62) et empêcher ladite pointe de saisie (58) dudit fermoir de pivoter vers l'intérieur au-delà de ladite position de fermoir fermé.
  4. Bague selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle une structure fourchue (34) s'étend depuis ladite extrémité pouvant être bloquée (22) dudit deuxième segment (14) et possède une face arrière inclinée (70), ladite partie d'extrémité de butée (68) dudit fermoir (32) étant prévue pour buter contre ladite face arrière inclinée (70) afin d'arrêter de manière positive ledit fermoir lorsque ledit fermoir pivote à l'écart de ladite position de fermoir fermé.
  5. Bague selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit premier segment (12) possède une encoche de saisie radiale sensiblement en forme de V (46) sur sa surface circonférentielle externe (48) adjacente à ladite extrémité pouvant être bloquée (18), l'emplacement périphérique de ladite encoche en forme de V correspondant à l'emplacement de la pointe de saisie (58) dudit fermoir (32), ladite pointe étant prévue pour être rétractée de ladite encoche.
  6. Bague selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ladite encoche de blocage radiale (38) est incurvée par rapport au rayon de l'anneau afin d'engager progressivement ledit axe de blocage (44).
  7. Bague selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ladite languette (24) a une surface d'extrémité relativement plate prévue pour s'étendre à plat sur ledit deuxième ressort (78) de façon à maintenir lesdits segments dans ladite position ouverte.
  8. Bague selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit fermoir (32) a une surface courbe externe (54) ayant une courbure correspondant sensiblement à la courbure desdites surfaces circonférentielles externes desdits premier et deuxième segments de telle sorte que, lorsque ledit fermoir est dans ladite position de fermoir avec ladite structure fourchue (42) dudit premier segment enfourchant ledit fermoir (32), ce dernier forme une courbe sensiblement continue avec lesdits premier et deuxième segments.
  9. Bague selon la revendication 8, dans laquelle ledit fermoir (32) a une surface courbe interne (57) entre ladite pointe de saisie (58) et ladite encoche (46), ladite surface courbe interne coupant ladite surface courbe externe (54) afin de définir une partie supérieure sensiblement en forme de balle (59) dudit fermoir (32).
EP19890403643 1988-12-23 1989-12-22 Anneau pouvant s'ouvrir et pourvu d'un élément de fermeture élastique de sûreté Expired - Lifetime EP0375565B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT89403643T ATE97556T1 (de) 1988-12-23 1989-12-22 Ring mit einem sicherheitsschnappverschlusselement, der geoeffnet werden kann.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888830050A GB8830050D0 (en) 1988-12-23 1988-12-23 Finger ring
GB8830050 1988-12-23
US07/438,239 US4991409A (en) 1988-12-23 1989-11-20 Openable ring with safety snap lock element
US438239 1995-05-09

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0375565A2 EP0375565A2 (fr) 1990-06-27
EP0375565A3 EP0375565A3 (en) 1990-10-31
EP0375565B1 true EP0375565B1 (fr) 1993-11-24

Family

ID=26294762

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890403643 Expired - Lifetime EP0375565B1 (fr) 1988-12-23 1989-12-22 Anneau pouvant s'ouvrir et pourvu d'un élément de fermeture élastique de sûreté

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0375565B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE68910951T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT245459Y1 (it) * 1998-07-20 2002-03-20 Pesavento S R L Monile, in particolare bracciale, con dispositivo di chiusura a mollamigliorato.
DK175003B1 (da) 1999-04-28 2004-04-19 Daniel Bentley Fingerring
US9066562B2 (en) 2012-10-15 2015-06-30 Hb Concepts, Llc Jewelry article
DE202013105591U1 (de) * 2013-12-09 2015-03-10 Julia E. Schultz Schmuckträger, insbesondere Ring

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE64192C (de) * F. KOVAROVIC i>nd W. KOVAROVIC in Prag Armbandverschlufs mit federndem Gelenkstiff
GB584404A (en) * 1944-10-06 1947-01-14 Jacob Neumann Improvements connected with finger rings
US4763490A (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-08-16 Bruner Mates A Openable ring with safety locking means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0375565A3 (en) 1990-10-31
EP0375565A2 (fr) 1990-06-27
DE68910951D1 (de) 1994-01-05
DE68910951T2 (de) 1994-03-17

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