EP1396204A2

EP1396204A2 - Means for the adjustment of rings or other articles of jewelry

Info

Publication number: EP1396204A2
Application number: EP03015697A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Rancan
Original assignee: Rancan Alessandro & Figli SNC
Current assignee: Rancan Alessandro & Figli SNC
Priority date: 2002-09-03
Filing date: 2003-07-21
Publication date: 2004-03-10
Also published as: US20040040342A1; EP1396204A3; ITVR20020085A1

Abstract

The present solution permits to carry out rings according to an only size typology since such rings are then adapted to the personal requirements of the customers, there being no need of cutting and soldering an annular portion. Basically, the said means is represented by a coupling head (2) which may be provided with seats for the setting of stones (3) according to the most suitable uses and conformations for the customers and market. The coupling head (2) is provided with at least an inner seat (4) for the insertion of the real ring body (5). The ring is open at least to a certain extent and therefore, it shows two free ends (6, 7). One of the two free ends (6, 7) and more precisely the ring end (7) is fixed to the initial part of the said seat (4) while the other ring end (6) remains free and is displaceable along the seat itself to permit an adjustment of the ring according to the wished size.

Description

The present invention proposes means for an adjustment of the circumference of rings, which permits to utilize the same typology of rings without the need of producing rings of different sizes.
The present solution permits to carry out rings according to an only size typology since such rings are then adapted to the personal requirements of the clients.
In fact, when a ring is purchased by a customer it is possible to adjust the ring circumference by utilizing suitable pin callipers in order to bring the ring to the necessary circumference. Hence, the ring cutting and soldering operations are no more necessary and these laborious phases are avoided.
As is known, the field of gold and silver articles of jewelry and costume jewelry offers a wide variety of rings to satisfy the different aesthetic tastes of the clients.
However, the sizes of such rings are standard sizes and therefore, these rings may be worn only by standard fingers, which represents a first problem for the known art. In addition, it is necessary to produce different series of rings for the main finger sizes.
A second problem consists in that there are intermediate finger sizes between two standard finger sizes and therefore, it is necessary for a jeweller's shop to be equipped with the necessary tools for the adjustment of rings so that they may be fit to the personal fingers of the customers.
As said, it is necessary to be in possession of cutting tools for the cutting of a ring portion so that it may be adjusted as well as soldering equipments for the subsequent soldering of the same ring in the point where the portion has been removed or added.
Naturally, there are many difficulties and a cost is involved to be in possession of the necessary tools. In addition, time is required for the jeweller to adjust and bring each ring to the required size.
The aim of the invention is to conceive and carry out an adjusting system which eliminates all the above indicated drawbacks and in particular, this system avoids the cutting and soldering operations needed to bring the rings to the specific size of the fingers on which the rings are to be put on.
In the present system it is sufficient to utilize pin callipers or the like to bring a ring to the required dimension.
All the above indicated aims and advantages are reached through the present invention which relates to means to adjust the circumference of rings, which permits to utilize rings of the same type and there is no need to carry out them in different sizes, characterized in that the said means is represented by a coupling head which may be provided with seats for the setting of stones and at least an inner seat for the insertion of the real ring body which is open at least to a certain extent and that at least one of the two free ends is fixed to the initial part of the said seat while the other ring end remains free and is displaceable along the seat itself to permit an adjustment of the ring according to the wished size.
Further features and details of the invention will be better understood from the following specification which is given as a non-limiting example of the invention on the hand of the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a ring according to the invention on the whole in partial vertical section;
Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the same in a first adjusting phase; and
Fig. 3 represents the ring of Fig. 2 but in a different adjusting phase, its opening being wider than the opening of Fig. 2.

With reference to the accompanying drawing, number 1 denotes a ring according to the present invention. The ring 1 is provided with means which permit an adjustment of its circumference so that it is possible to utilize the same kind of ring and it is no more necessary to carry out them in different sizes or to adjust them through cutting and soldering.
Basically, the said means is represented by a coupling head 2 which may be provided with seats for the setting of stones 3 according to the most suitable uses and conformations for the customers and market. The coupling head 2 is provided with at least an inner seat 4 for the insertion of the real ring body 5.The ring is open at least to a certain extent and therefore, it shows two free ends 6, 7. One of the two free ends 6, 7 and more precisely the ring end 7 is fixed to the initial part of the said seat 4 while the other ring end 6 remains free and is displaceable along the seat itself to permit an adjustment of the ring according to the wished size.
In order to bring the ring to the wished size it is sufficient to utilize pin callipers or whatever suitable tool which is to be inserted in the ring so that the callipers or tool force the ring to open to the wished size.
Obviously, the ring material and the method of realizing the ring must give the ring a certain flexibility without a possibility of return unless an effort of the same intensity is done. In this way, the ring is allowed the necessary stability when it is worn.
According to the preferred embodiment, the annular part 5 is carried out as a hollow pipe while the coupling head 2 is carried out through precision casting. However, it is evident that whatever constructive method may be utilized within the scope of the invention.
As can be seen, the so-described solution avoids the known cutting and soldering phases which were necessary to bring the ring to the specific dimension of the finger concerned.
In addition, this new solution permits that the production of rings be limited to one conformation or at most, two conformations whereas the intermediate sizes are obtained by adjusting the ring as described. A technician of this field may make some modifications and variants, in particular as regards the conformation of the head 2, and obtain solutions which are to be considered as included in the scope of protection of the invention which is defined in its features in the following claims.

Claims

Means for the adjustment of the circumference of rings which permits to utilize rings of the same type without producing them in different sizes, characterized in that the said means is represented by a coupling head (2) which may be provided with seats for the setting of stones (3) and has at least an inner seat (4) for the insertion of the ring which is open at least to a certain extent and that at least one (7) of the two free ends (6, 7) of the ring is fixed to the initial part of the said seat (4) while the other ring end (6) remains free and is displaceable along the seat itself to permit an adjustment of the ring according to the wished size.
Means for the adjustment of the circumference of rings as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the said means is represented by a coupling head (2) which may be provided with seats for the setting of stones (3) according to the most suitable uses and conformations, the coupling head (2) being provided with at least an inner seat (4) for the insertion of the real ring body (5) open at least to a certain extent.
Means for the adjustment of the circumference of rings as claimed in the foregoing claims, characterized in that the ring is open at least to a certain extent and shows two free ends (6, 7).
Means for the adjustment of the circumference of rings as claimed in the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least one (7) of the two free ends (6, 7) of the ring is fixed to the initial part of the said seat (4) while the other ring end (6) remains free and is displaceable along the seat itself to permit an adjustment of the ring according to the wished size.
Means for the adjustment of the circumference of rings as claimed in the foregoing claims, characterized in that in order to bring the ring to the wished size it is sufficient to utilize pin callipers or whatever suitable tool which is to be inserted in the ring so that the callipers or tool forces the ring to open and reach the wished size.
Means for the adjustment of the circumference of rings as claimed in the foregoing claims, characterized in that the ring material and the method of realizing the ring give the ring a certain flexibility, a return being not possible unless an effort of the same intensity is done so that the ring is allowed the necessary stability when it is worn.