EP2683267A1

EP2683267A1 - Artificial flower for storing retractable jewellery

Info

Publication number: EP2683267A1
Application number: EP12714739.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Naïk BARUT
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-07
Filing date: 2012-03-07
Publication date: 2014-01-15
Also published as: WO2012120205A1; FR2972335A1; FR2972335B1

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of jewellery, especially to devices for storing jewellery. The device according to the invention is a device (1) for storing valuable objects (10), especially jewellery, comprising a hollow storage means and a means (3) for manipulating said storage means. Said storage means (3) consists of two half-shells (4a, 4b), each one having at least one concave face with coincident edges, and said manipulation means consists of a means (12) for remotely controlling said elements (4a, 4b) in such a way that they spread apart from each other, providing access to the content of said storage means.

Description

ARTIFICIAL FLOWER WITH RETRACTABLE JEWELERY STORAGE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of jewelery and in particular jewelry storage devices.

The present invention relates more particularly to an artificial flower device with retractable jewelry storage.

Brief description of the prior art

In the field of jewelery, jewel cases and other small jewelry boxes are the most common means of storing valuables. They are of variable form but their function is always substantially the same.

Traditionally, these are cases whose opening is permitted by a hinge and in which the hollow space releases the volume to store the precious object or objects. Opening and closing are done directly on the housing manually. Handling can sometimes be difficult depending on the strength of the hinge. In addition, the use of this type of housing to offer the jewel it contains limits the effect of surprise to the extent that their association is obvious to users.

Also, solutions have been envisaged in the prior art to provide these storage devices opening means without direct handling of the housing while providing a detached visual indication of traditional jewelry objects.

Thus, the device shown in the patent BR9500859 (A) (SCHACHTR ADRIAN) is commercially available. It is an artificial flower, especially rose, whose corolla is a jewel box. Said box opens in a traditional way, manually. The only peculiarity of this device lies in the fact that it does not give the visual indication to be a jewelry box.

The same type of solution is provided in JP9095813 (A) (KASAHARA SE I) and JP9049110 (A) (KASAHARA SEDI). However, if the first represents a sunflower head and the other the corolla of a rose, neither of them includes any stem or hinge. The opening is done manually, but to avoid any difficulty in handling, it is simply a cover that removes to release the jewel that the box contains. In this case, we end up with a separable lid of the main box.

In order to simplify the opening and to maintain a visual indicator distinct from the jewelery, the patent GB629334 (A) (WILLIAM HERBERT MCCANDLISH) proposes a casket in the shape of corolla whose petals open by a mechanism of face. The manual unscrewing causes the opening of the petals which then reveal the precious object that the device contains. This device is the only answer to both the visual and manual problem. However, the mechanism required for its preparation involves a large number of parts which in addition to the cost of industrial manufacturing, may be causing premature wear in use.

The prior art therefore does not make it possible to satisfactorily solve the technical problem of visual indications made by jewelery boxes, of manipulation when opening and closing, and of enhancing the jewel once the case open.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing an artificial flower device whose corolla allows the storage of retractable jewelry, all being remote manipulable.

It is a storage device (1) valuable object (10) including jewelry consisting of a storage means (3) and a hollow handling means (3) of said storage means , said storage means (3) being constituted by two half-shells (4a, 4b) each comprising at least one concave face whose edges coincide with one another, said handling means consisting of a control means (12) to distance from the spacing of said elements (4a, 4b) one (4a) relative to the other (4b) giving access to the contents of said storage means.

Preferably, each of said half-shells (4a, 4b) is connected to a protection means (15) of said handling means (3) by articulation means (11a, 11b), one of the articulation means ( 11a) and the other (11b) reciprocally forming an axis of rotation of one of the half-shells (4a) and the other (4b).

Advantageously, said device comprises a support means (8) for said value object (10) retracted into the storage means (2), said support means (8) being fixed at the end of said control means (12), said control means (12) constituting means for moving along a linear axis of said support means (8).

According to one embodiment, said support means (8) comprises on its periphery a contact means (7) against transmission means (6) for the movement of said control means (12) to said half-shells (4). .

According to another embodiment, the distance between two opposite points of the other on the surface of said transmission means (6a, 6b) of each of half shells (4a, 4b) in a plane substantially orthogonal to said control means (12) is greater than the distance between two opposite points of the contacting means (7) on the part closest to said articulation means (11a, 11b) and lower on the part furthest from said articulation means (11a, 11b), the displacement of said support (8) from the part closest to the articulation means (11a, 11b) towards the opposite end of said storage means (2) thus generating the spacing of said half-shells one (4a) of the other (4b). comprises means for retaining the opening of said half-shells (9a, 9b).

According to a variant, said device comprises means for blocking the opening of said half-shells (16a, 16b).

According to a preferred embodiment, said handling means (3) consists of a substantially cylindrical protection means (15) comprising said control means (12), said control means (12) comprising at least one handling means (13) accessible from outside said cylinder constituted by the protective means (15) and sliding according to a passage means (14) dug in said protection means (15).

According to an advantageous embodiment, said device comprises retaining means in the closed position (5).

According to another variant embodiment, said articulation means (11a, 11b) comprise elastic return means in the contact position of said half-shells (4a, 4b).

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the height of the assembly of the device (1) according to the invention, the storage means (2) being in the closed position;

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the height of the assembly of the device (1) according to the invention, the storage means (2) being in the closed position;

3 shows a sectional view on the height of the assembly of the device (1) according to the invention, the storage means (2) being in the open position; Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the height of the assembly of the device (1) according to the invention, the storage means (2) being in the closed position;

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the height of the assembly of the device (1) according to the invention, the storage means (2) being in the open position;

FIG. 6 represents a sectional view of the assembly of the device (1) according to the invention, the storage means being in the closed position but in which the jewel (10) is a pendant whose upper part protrudes from the surface of the storage medium (2);

FIG. 7 represents a sectional view of the assembly of the device (1) according to the invention, the storage means being in the open position and in which the jewel (10) is a pendant, all of which leaves outside the storage medium (2);

- Figure 8 shows a jewel shaped pendant outside the device.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

In one of its embodiments, the device (1) according to the invention shown in the drawings comprises a storage means (2) consisting of two identical half-shells (4a, 4b). These are parts in a hard plastic type material, cardboard, light metal or wood for example substantially half-spherical and hollow. The two half-shells (4a, 4b) are positioned vis-à-vis so that they form a hollow sphere. In this case, the storage means (2) is in the closed position. Each half-sphere (4a, 4b) comprises on its edge in two opposite points to one another, notches. When said storage means (2) is closed, the two half-spheres (4a, 4b), the notches are located vis-à-vis. The notches located on the openable part of the box that constitutes the storage means (2) form a necessary hollow and sufficient to accommodate each a magnet (5a, 5b). Both magnets are positioned so that they attract when the case (2) is closed. Thus, they participate in maintaining the case in the closed position. In its position of use, said magnets (5a, 5b) are located in the high position. The magnets thus constitute holding means (5a, 5b) of the storage means in the closed position. They can be replaced by a system of hooks that fit together, metal elements that adapt to each other by pressure or textile elements that can cling to each other by example. But these notches (5a, 5b) can also be full. In this case, it is in its lower part that the box will include holding means.

The notches located on the lower part of the box (2) form an opening on the lower part of the box conforming to the substantially circular shape of the protection means (15) constituting the handling means (3). Said protection means is a substantially cylindrical hollow rod whose external appearance mimics that of a rose stem. It is made of plastic for example but can also be fabric, cardboard or any other material with sufficient physical properties of rigidity. Said rod (15) may in particular be closed at its base or include a foot constituting a means of maintaining it in position once placed on a substantially flat surface for example. This is only an alternative embodiment. It can also include false spines on the surface. One of these false spines may for example fulfill the function of the handling means (13) of the control means (13).

Each half-shell (4a, 4b) is connected to the rod (15) by a hinge means

(11a, 11b). It is an axis of rotation articulating each half-shell (4a, 4b) in rotary motion at its base. Each articulation means consists of mechanical elements nested along an axis of rotation and may also include a resilient return means in the closed position which therefore opposes the opening movement so that the box returns to the closed position naturally.

Inside the rod (15) flows transversely along the hollow rod (15) a rigid axis (12) capable of moving back and forth according to a degree of freedom. Said axis (12) constitutes the means of control of the opening device of the box (2). When pulled down the rod (15), the box is returned to the closed position and when pushed up, the box is returned to the open position. Said axis (12) is designed in a rigid material, metal, plastic or wood for example. It can be manipulated by an integral protrusion in its mass or ajute that exceeds the shell of the rod (15) via a slot (14) made in the latter on the part of its length that requires it. The protrusion thus constitutes a means of handling (13) the control means (12). It can be spine-shaped so that the external aesthetic does not distinguish it. It is also conceivable to integrate in the rod a rack-type device that would move it using a serrated wheel system accessible from outside the rod (15). Said wheel replacing the protrusion (13) can be manipulated by hand or controlled by a motorized system provided with a autonomous power supply and a receiver capable of analyzing an emitted external signal and thereby moving said remote wheel. The interest of such a device is to allow to open the case remotely and to make appear the precious object that includes creating a surprise effect for the one who sees the flower open.

Each half-shell (4a, 4b) comprises a complementary solid element (6a, 6b). Each of these elements can be added to the corresponding half-shell by gluing or any other fastening means or the combination of the two constituted by the half-shell and the element can be created in the mass of the same part. Once the half-shells in contact, the box (2) closed, the hollow space released inside the storage means (2) has a substantially conical shape whose base is wider than the top. The width of the top corresponds substantially to the distance between the two high notches of the storage means (2). But said space can be reduced to a minimum. The base, meanwhile, must be wider than the support (8) on which is placed the precious object stored in the box. The wall of the cone thus formed may be substantially concave or convex depending on the desired opening speed for the case. The support (8) of the jewel (10) is attached to the upper end of the rod (12). On its periphery, said support (8) comprises means for placing in contact with the walls forming the cone (6a, 6b). In the closed position, the support is at the base of the box (2) in the cone portion wider than the width of the support (8) and its contacting means (7). Thus, said support does not exert pressure on the half-shells (4a, 4b). When the rod (12) is moved upwards of the whole device (1), the support (8) rises inside the storage means (2) until its ends (7) come into contact with the surface of the elements forming the cone (6a, 6b). The pressure exerted on the rod (12) will thus be transmitted to the half-shells (4a, 4b) which will thus deviate. The support (8) can thus be pushed out of the box or substantially at its surface on the highest part, revealing the jewel that is deposited there.

In order to avoid a spacing of the box too important, one can use different possibilities, combined with each other or not. In one case, it is possible for example to connect said support (8) to the half-shells (4a, 4b) via ropes, threads or chains, of identical size and sufficient for the case to open leaving room to the jewel. It is also possible to arrange on the rod (15) at the base of the box a means for blocking the opening (16). Said locking means (16a, 16b) can be combined with the axes of rotation (11a, 11b). In this case, the means of blocking the opening of the half-shells can be integrated into the rotation mechanism itself. In another embodiment, the locking means (16a, 16b) are attached to the surface of the rod (15).

In addition, the jewel itself can respond to variants. It may be a flower-shaped pendant for which said support (8) is a receptacle adapted to the shape of the base of the jewel. Said pendant can also take up the characteristics of said device (1) and comprising a storage means for a smaller jewel that would be hidden there.

The shape of the storage means may have substantially the shape of a petal corolla. The entire device is thus camouflaged in the form of a flower, a rose for example. Said rose can be mixed with a set of real flowers or not. The surface of said storage means may also consist of fabric petals positioned so as to camouflage the vertical separation space between the two half-shells (4a, 4b). The outside of the storage medium is covered with a siding that can look like petals of flowers like the petals constituting the corolla of a rose. Special attention may be paid to the arrangement of false petals. Indeed, they can be positioned so that the junction between the two half-shells (4a, 4b) is not visible to the naked eye.

In a high-end application of the device, the case may have a rose corolla. The petals of said rose can be worked in a manner known to those skilled in the art of goldsmithery or jewelry. Said box would include the precious object sealed with the technique of gold leaf, one of the uses of which may be to hide the line of separation between the two half-shells constituting the box.

The non-substantial modifications which would clearly follow, for those skilled in the art, from the use or manufacture of the device according to the invention whose patent is here required without altering the original arrangements, would not be than simple technical equivalents and are also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1) Storage device (1) valuable object (10) and in particular jewelry characterized in that it is composed of a storage means (3) and a hollow handling means (3) of said means storage, said storage means (3) being constituted by two half-shells (4a, 4b) each comprising at least one concave face whose edges coincide with each other, said handling means consisting of a control means (12) ) away from the spacing of said elements (4a, 4b) one (4a) relative to the other (4b) giving access to the contents of said storage means, said storage device comprises a support means (8) said value object (10) retracted into the storage means (2), said support means (8) being attached to the end of said control means (12), said control means (12) constituting a means for setting in motion along a linear axis of said support means (8).

2) storage device according to claim 1 characterized in that each of said half-shells (4a, 4b) is connected to a means of protection (15) of said handling means (3) by hinge means (11a, 11b). ), one of the hinge means (11a) and the other (11b) reciprocally forming an axis of rotation of one of the half-shells (4a) and the other (4b).

3) Storage device according to claim 1 characterized in that said support means (8) comprises on its periphery means for contacting (7) against transmission means (6) of the movement of said control means (12) said half-shells (4).

4) Storage device according to claim 3 characterized in that the distance between two opposite points of the other on the surface of said transmission means (6a, 6b) of each of half-shells (4a, 4b) according to a plane substantially orthogonal to said control means (12) is greater than the distance between two opposite points of the contacting means (7) on the part closest to said articulation means (11a, 11b) and lower on the part the furthest from said articulation means (11a, 11b), the displacement of said support (8) from the part closest to the articulation means (11a, 11b) towards the opposite end of said storage means (2) generating and the spacing of said half-shells one (4a) of the other (4b).

5) Storage device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises means for retaining the opening of said half-shells (9a, 9b). 6) Storage device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises means for blocking the opening of said half-shells (16a, 16b).

7) Storage device according to claim 2 characterized in that said handling means (3) consists of a substantially cylindrical protection means (15) comprising said control means (12), said control means (12) comprising at least one handling means (13) accessible from outside said cylinder constituted by the protection means (15) and sliding according to a passage means (14) dug in said protection means (15).

8) Storage device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises retaining means in the closed position (5).

9) Storage device according to claim 2 characterized in that said joint means (11a, 11b) comprise resilient return means in the contact position of said half-shells (4a, 4b).