EP2476335B1 - Modular jewellery - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a modular jewel, in particular a ring, comprising a substantially annular central body and first and second substantially annular lateral bodies and having respective diameters greater than the diameter of the central body. At least one of the lateral bodies can be assembled to the central body removably to allow the introduction and removal of at least one decorative element of substantially annular shape and intended to cover the central body.

State of the art

Jewelry of this type has already been disclosed in the past, as for example in the patent application WO 2005/102094 A1 . This application describes a ring with three parts. Two main parts each have a support portion of generally cylindrical shape and a locking lateral portion defined by an annular extra thickness at one end of the support portion. The two support portions have respective diameters slightly different from one another, so that they can be nested one inside the other, being secured by clipping, to define an annular groove between the portions. locking side. This annular groove can accommodate a decorative element of generally annular shape, before casing of the main parts. The decorative element can easily be replaced by the wearer of the ring to change the appearance of the latter.

However, it should be noted that the mechanical connection mode used in this ring is difficult to implement because it involves elastic deformations that must be adjusted to allow easy separation of the two main parts while ensuring a good fit of the casing . In addition, depending on the materials used, a good resistance in time to the elastic properties is difficult to ensure and can lead to untimely separation of the main parts.

Alternative solutions have also been described, which implement a bayonet type of connection mode, imposing less mechanical stress on the components of the ring. Utility models DE 20 2008 013 898 U1 and DE 20 2008 009 307 U1 provide similar examples in which a lateral portion carries at least one projecting finger intended to cooperate with a groove in a central portion of the ring.

So, the ring described in the utility model DE 20 2008 013 898 U1 comprises first locking means intended to ensure the retention of the removable lateral body on the central body in a first degree of freedom, that is to say in the axial direction of the ring, and define between the lateral and central portions; a relative position assembled. This ring also comprises second locking means for ensuring the retention of the removable lateral body on the central body in the assembled position, according to a second degree of freedom. These second locking means here comprise an elastic blade arranged at the bottom of each groove to define an obstacle for the corresponding finger, in order to hold it at the bottom of the groove and prevent relative rotation between the lateral body and the central body.

Thanks to these characteristics, a relative relative movement is necessary to separate the removable lateral body from the central body and not a simple axial movement as in the case of the prior art cited above, which excludes almost any risk of inadvertent disconnection.

However, the fingers making it possible to ensure the locking of the parts of the ring between them have a certain fragility, given their reduced number as well as their dimensions and the nature of the mechanical stresses they may undergo, in particular along transverse directions. Thus, for example, one can imagine that a user can force by assembling the ring, which could lead to a deformation of the fingers, or even their break. In addition, dismantling - repeated reassembly lead to a weakening of the fingers due to the radial component of the force they undergo when crossing the elastic blade arranged at the bottom of the corresponding groove.

Disclosure of the invention

A main object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of modular jewelry known from the prior art, by proposing such a jewel providing both good stability when its elements are assembled to each other, easy manipulation to change its appearance and, having a good behavior in time.

For this purpose, the present invention relates more particularly to a modular jewel of the type mentioned above, comprising
first locking means, intended to ensure the retention of the removable lateral body on the central body in a first degree of freedom and to define between them an assembled relative position, the first locking means comprising at least one groove, formed in a first element among the central body and the removable lateral body, and a protruding member formed on the second of these elements and arranged to cooperate with the groove so as to ensure axial retention between the central body and the lateral body,
second locking means intended to ensure the retention of the removable lateral body on the central body in the assembled position, according to a second degree of freedom,
the jewel being characterized in that the protruding member has substantially the shape of a ring portion, being defined by the arrangement of a thread on a portion of the outer periphery of a recess provided on an edge the second element intended to cooperate with the first element, and
in that the second locking means comprise at least one tooth, formed in a first element among the central body and the removable lateral body, and a notch formed on the other of these elements and arranged to cooperate with the tooth in such a way as to ensure rotational retention between the central body and the lateral body.

Thanks to these features, the modular jewel according to the invention has an increased security at its assembly due to the implementation of complementary locking means, each of which has a very simple actuation mode.

In addition, the fact that the projecting member has substantially the shape of a ring portion gives it increased strength with reference to the fingers of the prior art mentioned above.

Indeed, not only the projecting member is not likely to be damaged or deformed if a user forces in assembling the jewel, since its dimension is important in the direction of the stress that it can undergo in this case, but in addition, the surface of the protruding member cooperating with the wall of the groove in the assembled position is greater than in the case of a finger, ensuring greater strength of the assembly according to the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment, the groove may present, from an edge of the central body, a first portion, open on an edge of the central body and, arranged in communication with a second portion in a direction transverse to the axial direction of the central body, preferably perpendicular.

Advantageously, it can be provided that the groove is formed in the central body which, in principle, may be larger than the removable lateral body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the projecting member has a portion defining a tooth intended to cooperate with a notch formed in a wall of the groove, preferably in its bottom, when the two bodies are in their assembled position.

Alternatively, it may be provided that the second locking means comprise a ball or cylinder pawl arranged to cooperate with a suitable recess, one being located on one of the elements of the central body and the removable lateral body, and the other being located on the other of these elements.

According to a further alternative, it can be provided that the second locking means are magnetic.

Furthermore, it can be advantageously provided that the second lateral body is also removably assembled to the central body, further increasing the modular nature of the jewel according to the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention consists in producing a ring meeting the characteristics set out above.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective simplifiée d'une bague assemblée, selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en perspective éclatée et simplifiée illustrant différents éléments susceptibles d'entrer dans la composition d'une bague du type de celle de la figure 1, et
• la figure 3 représente une vue de face simplifiée d'un élément constitutif d'un bijou modulaire selon un mode de réalisation préféré de la présente invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

• the figure 1 represents a simplified perspective view of an assembled ring, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• the figure 2 represents an exploded and simplified perspective view illustrating various elements likely to enter into the composition of a ring of the type of that of the figure 1 , and
• the figure 3 represents a simplified front view of a constituent element of a modular jewel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Mode (s) of realization of the invention

The figure 1 represents a simplified perspective view of an assembled ring 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The ring 1 comprises a central body 2, ring-shaped, on either side of which are mounted side bodies 3, 4, removably. The lateral bodies are also annular in shape and have a diameter greater than that of the central body so as to define an annular groove whose bottom is defined by the periphery of the central body and the side walls by the lateral bodies.

Two similar decorative elements 6 are engaged on the central body 2, between the lateral bodies 3, 4. These decorative elements are annular and have the same diameter as the lateral bodies, by way of nonlimiting illustration.

According to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two lateral bodies 3, 4 are assembled to the central body 2 so as to be easily separated therefrom, to allow the nature of the decorative elements to be modified, the latter contributing greatly to the appearance of the ring 1.

The construction details for defining the properties of the jewel according to the present invention, in terms of modularity, emerge from the figure 2 , which represents an exploded and simplified perspective view illustrating various elements likely to enter into the composition of a ring of the type of that of the figure 1 .

The constituents illustrated comprise the central body 2, the lateral bodies 3, 4, the decorative elements 6, as well as additional decorative elements 8 and 9 which can be placed on the central body 2 as an alternative to the decorative elements 6.

All the decorative elements have an inner diameter both greater than the outer diameter of the central body 2, to cover it, and less than the outer diameter of the lateral bodies, so that they can ensure the maintenance of the decorative elements between them.

The various decorative elements may have different colors or may be made of different materials, including different metals, or even be a first material covered with a second covering material, such as a metal covered with leather for example.

It should be noted in particular that the width of the decorative elements does not necessarily have a predefined value. For example, it appears from the figure 2 that the additional decorative elements 8 and 9 each have a width twice that of the decorative elements 6. Thus, depending on the width of the retained decorative elements, it will be possible to have one, two or more on the central body 2, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

First mechanical locking means are provided to ensure the retention of each of the removable lateral bodies on the central body, according to a first degree of freedom.

These mechanical locking means comprise, on the one hand, a groove 10 formed on each side of the central body 2, intended to cooperate with a projecting member provided on each of the lateral bodies 3,4.

According to the preferred embodiment as illustrated on the figure 2 the groove 10 comprises a first portion 11 arranged in communication with a second portion 12 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the central body, that is to say with respect to its axis of symmetry.

The first portion 11 is open on the edge of the central body 2 while the second portion 12 is closed and has a width less than that of the first portion, to the extent that a projecting portion 14, located in the extension of the first portion , separates it from the edge of the central body.

On the other hand, the first locking means also comprise a projecting member 16 formed on each lateral body 3, 4 and arranged to cooperate with the corresponding groove 10. More specifically, each lateral body comprises a recess 17, on its edge intended to cooperate with the central body, having a thread 16 on a portion of its outer periphery. The net is dimensioned such that it can be inserted into the first portion 11 of the groove 10 in a relative movement between a lateral body and the central body which is oriented in the axial direction of the latter, until that these two elements are arranged in abutment against each other. This stop may be defined for example when the central body reaches the bottom of the recess 17 or alternatively or complementary, when the thread 16 abuts against the bottom of the first groove 11.

In this position, a relative rotational movement between the lateral and central bodies, here in the direction of clockwise rotation by way of nonlimiting illustration, makes it possible to pass the net 16 of the first portion 11 of the groove 10 towards its second portion 12 to provide relative mechanical locking between said two bodies in the axial direction in an assembled relative position.

To avoid inadvertent disengagement between the two bodies, when they are in this assembled relative position, the present invention provides for the implementation of second locking means, to avoid a relative involuntary rotation between the central body and each body. lateral. The second locking means can be made in several alternative forms without departing from the scope of the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment, illustrated schematically on the figure 3 , it is expected that the thread 16 has a portion defining a tooth 30, intended to cooperate with a notch (not shown), formed in a wall of the groove 10, when the two bodies are in their assembled position.

This notch can be formed in any of the walls of the groove 10, but preferably in its bottom for reasons of simplicity of machining of the jewel. Thus, the tooth 30 preferably extends in the general plane of the net 16, as shown in FIG. figure 3 , while it must extend in a direction transverse to this general plane if the notch is formed in a side wall of the groove.

A small localized elastic deformation is used to lock the bodies in their assembled position. The low intensity of the force required here ensures a good behavior over time of the modular jewel according to the invention.

Thus, to be able to disengage the removable lateral body from the central body, it is necessary to rotate them relative to each other by overcoming the force applied by the tooth 30 in the corresponding notch. Such a mechanism therefore provides an increased level of security against inadvertent disconnections compared to devices known in the prior art.

Those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the shape of the projecting member, its tooth and the groove according to its needs, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Alternatively, the second locking means may comprise a ball or cylinder pawl (not shown), housed in one of the bodies central or lateral removable and whose ball or cylinder cooperates with a recess arranged in the other body in the relative position assembled. Preferably, the pawl is housed in the central body, more bulky than the removable lateral body, while the recess is formed in the lateral body.

As in the preferred embodiment, to be able to disengage the removable lateral body from the central body, it is necessary to rotate them relative to each other by overcoming the force applied by the ball or the cylinder of the ratchet in the recess.

As a further alternative, permanent magnets (not visible in the figures) may be provided, on the one hand, in the central body and, on the other hand, in each of the lateral bodies in such a way that they are arranged facing the each other in the assembled relative position, presenting to each other opposite magnetic polarities giving rise to a magnetic force of mutual attraction.

These permanent magnets can be made in any known way adapted to the implementation of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof. The person skilled in the art may in particular provide to have magnets in the various bodies in the form of inserts or to apply a heat or magnetic treatment to the different bodies to give them at least locally the magnetic properties required, provided that the choice of their material allows it.

Alternatively or additionally, provision may be made for the lateral and central bodies to comprise magnets arranged in such a way that they are situated opposite one another in a relative position between these two bodies close to the assembled relative position and, in mutually presenting identical magnetic polarities. Thanks to such a measure, a magnetic repulsion force must be overcome, not only, to dispose the lateral and central bodies in their assembled relative position but, especially, to release them.

It will be noted that, in accordance with the present preferred embodiment of the invention, all the elements which have just been described are doubled by being substantially diametrically opposed, namely the groove 10, the recess 17, the projecting member 16 and the teeth 30, ratchet devices or magnets. Such a measure makes it possible to improve the quality of the coupling between the central body and each of the lateral bodies.

It should also be noted that it is possible to provide that the widths of the decorative elements are adjusted in such a way that, when the ring is assembled with one or the decorative elements placed on the central body, mechanical contact is provided between the or the decorative elements and the lateral bodies, thus limiting the risks of untimely rotations between each lateral body and the central body, by friction.

The foregoing description attempts to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular features which have just been described, for example the forms specifically illustrated and described for the lateral and central bodies, for the grooves, recesses, protruding members, teeth and notches. Similarly, the tooth 30 may be provided elsewhere than on the projecting member 16, without departing from the scope of the invention, the notch being then formed at a suitable location.

The person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to his own needs, and use a modular piece of jewelery that only partly reflects the features set forth herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention. . Of course, the present invention is not limited to a ring and may be implemented in any other form of jewel compatible with the invention such as a bracelet.

Claims (7)

1. Modular piece of jewellery, in particular a ring (1), comprising a substantially annular central body (2) and first and second substantially annular lateral bodies (3, 4) having respective diameters which are greater than the diameter of the said central body, at least one of the said lateral bodies being able to be assembled on the said central body in a removable manner in order to allow the fitting and the removal of at least one decorative element (6, 8, 9) of substantially annular shape intended to cover the said central body,
   the piece of jewellery comprising
   first locking means (10, 11, 12, 14, 16) intended to removably retain the said lateral body (3, 4) on the said central body (2) with a first degree of freedom and to define between them an assembled relative position, the said first locking means comprising at least one groove (10) formed in a first element chosen from the said central body (2) and the said removable lateral body (3, 4), and a projecting member (16) formed on the second of the said elements and designed to cooperate with the said groove so as to provide axial retention between the said central body and the said lateral body, and also
   second locking means (30) intended to retain the said removable lateral body on the said central body in the said assembled position with a second degree of freedom.
   characterized in that the said projecting member (16) has substantially the shape of a ring portion, being defined by the arrangement of a fillet on a part of the external periphery of a recess (17) formed on an edge of the said second element intended to cooperate with the said first element, and
   in that the said second locking means comprise at least one tooth (30) formed in a first element chosen from the said central body (2) and the said removable lateral body (3, 4), and a notch formed on the other of the said elements and designed to cooperate with the said tooth so as to ensure that the said central body and the said lateral body are retained in terms of rotation.
2. Modular piece of jewellery according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said groove (10) is formed in the said central body (2).
3. Modular piece of jewellery according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said groove (10) has a first portion (11) which is open on an edge of the said central body (2) and arranged in communication with a second portion (12) in a direction which is transverse, preferably perpendicular, with respect to the axial direction of the said central body.
4. Modular piece of jewellery according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said second locking means comprise a ball catch or cylinder catch designed to cooperate with a suitable recess, one being situated on one of the elements chosen from the said central body and the said removable lateral body, and the other being situated on the other of these elements.
5. Modular piece of jewellery according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said second locking means are magnetic.
6. Modular piece of jewellery according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other lateral body (3, 4) is also assembled on the said central body (2) in a removable manner.
7. Modular piece of jewellery according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said decorative element or elements (6, 8, 9) has or have a ring shape.

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