GB2252166A

GB2252166A - Finger ring-size gauge

Info

Publication number: GB2252166A
Application number: GB9101693A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian John Harrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-25
Filing date: 1991-01-25
Publication date: 1992-07-29
Also published as: GB9101693D0

Abstract

A finger ring-size gauge takes the form of an adjustable band operable to tighten around a human finger. The band comprises an inextensible flexible strip (2), which is marked or markable with indicia to indicate ring sizes, and also engaging means in the form of a slide (3) operable to adjust the diameter of the band to fit the finger being measured. The slide (3) bears a reference mark (7a, 7b) to permit the ring size of the finger to be read from the indicia or marked on the strip (2). A lens may be attached to the slide (3) to assist reading the indicia. When the strip is marked at the required ring size, the gauge is then laid flat on a scale to read off a ring size. <IMAGE>

Description

FINGER RING-SIZE GAUGE The present invention relates to a gauge for determining ring sizes of the human finger.

When choosing a ring it is necessary for the intending wearer to determine the ring size of the finger on which the ring is to be worn, so that a satisfactory fit between ring and finger can be obtained. One way of determining the ring size of a finger is by use of a gauge comprising a series of rings of known ring size, wherein the finger is inserted into several rings in turn until a suitable fit is obtained by trial and error.

Determination of ring sizes poses particular problems where rings are chosen by mail-order. When a ring is ordered in this way the intending wearer does not have access to the specialist apparatus available, for example, in jewellers' shops.

One existing method for determining ring sizes for mail order purposes is to provide the intending wearer with a piece of paper printed with ring profiles of different sizes. The intending wearer takes a ring which he or she has already had fitted and places this over different profiles in turn until a suitable correspondence in sizes is found.

However, this method depends on the intending wearer already being in possession of at least one ring which is known to be a good fit, and this will not always be the case. Moreover, even where the intending wearer does own a ring which was properly fitted at the time it was obtained it is possible that this ring may have become worn and/or that the intending wearer's finger may subsequently have become swollen, so that the ring is not a perfect fit at the time it is measured.

US Patents Nos. 500130, 1277075, 1213607 and 3822476 each disclose ring gauges of a caliper type.

Unfortunately, however, such gauges are relatively complex and expensive to make, and so are not normally appropriate to home use.

The present invention seeks to provide a finger ringsize gauge suitable for measuring ring sizes de novo which can reasonably be provided for use in the user's own home.

According to the present invention there is provided a finger ring-size gauge in the form of an adjustable band comprising an inextensible flexible strip which is marked or markable with indicia to indicate ring sizes and engaging means fixedly securable to a first part of the strip and engageable with a second part to adjust the diameter of the band, said gauge being operable to releasably tighten around a human finger and being provided with a reference mark to indicate the ring size of the finger from said marked indicia or the position on the strip to be marked with said indicia.

Preferably, said engaging means is operable to releasably fasten the gauge around the finger.

It is also preferred that the reference mark is located on the engaging means. Alternatively, however, the mark might be provided at one end of the strip itself, for example as an edge of the strip.

Suitably, the strip is a resiliently coiled strip.

Preferably, the strip is manufactured from a resilient plastics material but it will be understood that other suitable materials such as resilient metals (eg stainless steel) might also be used. Alternatively, the strip might be formed from paper or card.

In a preferred embodiment, the engaging means is slidably engageable with the strip. Thus, the engaging means might take the form of a closed loop fixed to one end of the strip, the opposite end of the strip being slidably receivable within this loop. Alternatively, one of the strip and the engaging means might be provided with one or more holes and the other with one or more studs, the stud(s) being engageable with the hole(s) at set positions corresponding to commonly occurring ring sizes.

Preferably, the engaging means comprises an opening for receipt of a free end of the strip. Where the engaging means comprises an opening, it is particularly preferred that the free end of the strip is tapered. It will be understood that tapering facilitates receipt of the free end by the opening. Such tapering might take the form of a pointed end or a bull-nosed end, for example.

Usually, the opening will be a slot adapted to slidably receive the strip. In one embodiment there are a plurality of slots through which the strip may be threaded in turn when the gauge is in use.

In a preferred embodiment indicia are permanently marked on the strip and in this case it is especially preferable that the indicia so marked comprise relief indicia. It will be understood that this feature improves the contrast of the indicia against the strip and so makes the indicia easier to read. Suitably, the indicia are raised above the surface of the strip, but they could, of course, be formed as depressions in the strip instead.

Preferably, the indicia correspond to a scale of ring sizes, suitably the Wheatsheaf (or English) scale, the American scale, the Italian scale or the French scale.

In a preferred embodiment, the gauge is provided with means for magnifying the indicia in use to facilitate the reading thereof. Such means may suitably take the form of a lens which may be formed integrally with the engaging means, but it will be understood that the magnifying means could be formed separately, in which case it should be provided with means for engaging with the ring gauge in use. Preferably, the lens is formed from a nylon material, but it will be understood that other transparent materials, such as glass, could also be used.

In a further embodiment, successive indicia are provided on opposite sides of the strip, to reduce overcrowding of the strip and so make reading of the scale easier.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for measuring ring sizes of the human finger by use of a gauge as defined above, said method comprising the steps of locating the gauge around the finger to be measured and then tightening the gauge around the finger such that the ring size of the finger can be determined either from the alignment of the reference mark with the indicia, or by marking the gauge at a point indicated by the reference mark and subsequently measuring the distance marked with a separate ring-size scale.

In yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided the combination of a ring-size gauge as defined above which is markable to record ring sizes, together with a ring-size scale for subsequently measuring a distance marked on the gauge in units of ring size.

Various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the ring gauge of the present invention in an extended state, as though laid out on a surface; Figure 2 shows a side view of the ring gauge of Figure 1 in its natural, resiliently coiled state; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the ring gauge of Figures 1 and 2 in an in-use state; Figure 4 shows a plan view of a modification of the ring gauge of Figures 1 to 3 in an in-use state; Figure 5 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the ring gauge; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a cross-section through one end of the gauge of Figures 5 and 6; ; Figure 8 shows a plan view of a further embodiment in which alternate indicia are printed on opposite faces of the gauge; Figure 9 shows the opposite face of the gauge of Figure 8; Figure 10 shows details of a section of a further embodiment in which a lens is provided to facilitate reading of the gauge; Figure 11 shows a plan view of the section shown in Figure 10; and Figure 12 shows a plan view of a further embodiment wherein the gauge is not provided with permanent indicia.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a gauge, generally indicated at 1, is provided for determining ring sizes of the human finger. The gauge 1 takes the form of an adjustable band comprising an inextensible flexible strip 2 and engaging means in the form of a slide 3 which is slidably engageable with the strip 2. The strip 2 is formed from a resilient plastics material and is resiliently coiled as shown in Figure 2.

In the present embodiment, the gauge is formed as a one-piece plastics moulding and the slide 3 is formed integrally with one end 2a of the strip 2. The opposite end 2b of the strip is a free end which is tapered to end in a point. The strip 2 is provided with markings in the form of letters A to Z and numbers 1 to 4 corresponding to units of the Wheatsheaf ring-size scale. In the present embodiment these letters are relief markings and are embossed on the strip 2 to provide a slightly raised surface. The letters are coloured black to provide greater contrast with the strip itself which is coloured white.

It will be understood, of course, that different ring-size scales could readily be marked on the strip and this would almost certainly be necessary if the gauge were to be used in countries where different ring-size scales (such as the American, Italian or French scales) are used.

Where, as in the present embodiment, the gauge is formed in one-piece as a plastics moulding, the ring-size scale is suitably impressed by use of a suitably marked template which is placed in the mould prior to use. Such a template may readily be replaced by other templates, marked according to alternative scales, where necessary.

The slide 3 is provided with three openings in the form of slots 4, 5 and 6. Each slot extends in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strip 2 and each slot is just large enough to permit the free end 2b of the strip to be threaded through it.

The first slot 4 is formed at the proximal end of the slide, ie close to the junction of the slide with the strip 2. The second and third slots 5, 6 are located parallel to the first slot towards the distal end of the slide so that the distance between the first and second slots is considerably less than the distance between the second and third slots. The latter distance corresponds to approximately one unit on the Wheatsheaf ring-size scale and defines a "window" for reading the scale marked on the strip. Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the gauge wherein the "window" corresponds to approximately one unit of the Wheatsheaf scale, whilst Figure 4 shows a minor variation in which the "window" corresponds to approximately 2/3 units.

A reference mark in the form of a pair of indicator arrows 7a and 7b is provided on the slide to further assist in reading the scale. The arrows are set apart by a distance equivalent to the width of the strip 2 and are located centrally between the slots 5 and 6.

In use of the gauge, the free end 2b of the strip is threaded through slot 6 from the underside (ie the side corresponding to the unmarked face of the strip 2) of the slide 3. The strip is then further threaded through slots 5 and 6 in turn to releasably fasten the gauge in a coiled state, for example the state shown in Figure 3. The coiling is adjusted if necessary to form a suitable aperture size and the gauge is then passed around the finger to be measured.

The free end of the strip is pulled gently to close the aperture until it closely follows the contours of the finger and so corresponds to the ring size of the finger.

Care should be taken to ensure that the section of strip isolated between the slots 5 and 6 is held substantially flat against the upper face of the slide 3.

The ring size of the finger may be identified by reading off the scale marked on the strip against the indicator arrows 7a, 7b on the slide. Once the ring size has been determined, the gauge will be loosened and removed from the finger for future use.

Figures 5 to 7 show an alternative embodiment having a strip 9 which is generally as described above but has a slide 10 which is generally cuboid, having a distal face 10a provided with a tongue 11, and a single opening in the form of a transverse slot 11.

The slot 11 is adapted to slidably receive the free end of the strip, with the tongue 12 providing a guide to assist the user in locating the strip in the slot. Once located, the strip is held in a coiled configuration by the slide 10 and may be passed around and subsequently closed around the finger to be measured as before.

The ring size of the finger may then be identified by reading off the indicia marked on the strip against the distal face 10a of the slide, as indicated by a reference mark 13 on the upper face of the slide.

Figures 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment wherein the reversible nature of the gauge of Figures 1 to 4 is exploited. A strip 14 is marked according to a ringsize scale as before, but successive indicia are provided on opposite faces 14a, 14b of the strip, so reducing overcrowding of the strip with indicia and making the indicia easier to read.

In operation, the gauge may be coiled around the finger with both faces 14a, 14b of the strip outermost in turn, the ring size being read in whichever configuration is most appropriate (ie usually in whichever configuration gives the closest correspondence to a marked indicium).

Figures 10 and 11 show detail from a further embodiment in which magnifying means are provided in the form of a lens 15 to assist in reading the indicia. In the present embodiment, the lens is formed from transparent nylon, but it will be understood that other transparent materials, such as glass, might also be used.

The lens is located over the slide, and is marked with indicator arrows 16a, 16b for alignment with indicia marked on a strip 17. In the embodiment shown, the lens is formed integrally with the slide, but it will be understood that the lens could be formed separately, in which case it would be provided with means for engaging with the slide as necessary in use. For example, the lens might be constructed to be clipped into the slide as and when required.

Figure 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the ring gauge in which permanent indicia are not provided. The gauge comprises a strip 18 and a slide 19 operating as before. The strip is formed from a markable material and in operation the gauge is tightened around the finger as previously described. In contrast to the previously described gauges, however, the user then marks the strip at the location corresponding to the indicator arrows 20a, 20b. Marking may be effected by use of a pen or a pencil or by cutting the strip across the whole or a part of its width. In the embodiment shown, the gauge is formed in one piece from paper or card, so that the strip can readily be marked with ink or graphite or cut as required.

Once the gauge has been marked in this way it is removed from the finger and placed flat on a separate ring-size scale. The ring size corresponding to the distance marked on the gauge may then be determined accordingly in ring-size units. Suitably, the ring-size scale may be marked on a separate sheet of paper provided with the gauge, or alternatively the scale could be printed on the page of, for example, a mail order catalogue from which a ring is to be ordered with reference to ring-size units.

It will be understood that numerous modifications can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. For example, the slide might be formed separately from the strip and in this case the slide would be provided with means for engaging with both ends of the strip.

Claims

1. A finger ring-size gauge in the form of an adjustable band comprising an inextensible flexible strip marked or markable with indicia to indicate ring sizes and engaging means fixedly securable to a first part of the strip and engageable with a second part to adjust the diameter of the band, said gauge being operable to releasably tighten around a human finger and being provided with a reference mark to indicate the ring size of the finger from said marked indicia or the position on the strip to be marked with said indicia.

2. A gauge as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said engaging means is operable to releasably fasten the gauge around the finger.

3. A gauge as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said strip is a resiliently coiled strip.

4. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engaging means is slidably engageable with said strip.

5. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said engaging means comprises an opening for receipt of a free end of said strip.

6. A gauge as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said opening is a slot adapted to slidably receive the strip.

7. A gauge as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said engaging means comprises a plurality of slots through which the strip may be threaded in turn.

8. A gauge as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein said free end of the strip is tapered.

9. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein indicia are permanently marked on said strip.

10. A gauge as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said indicia comprise relief markings.

11. A gauge as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein said strip is marked according to a scale of ring-sizes.

12. A gauge as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11 comprising means for magnifying the indicia to facilitate reading thereof.

13. A gauge as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12 wherein successive indicia are provided on opposite faces of the strip.

14. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said engaging means is formed integrally with said strip.

15. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said strip is formed from a plastics material.

16. A gauge as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 14, which is formed from paper or card.

17. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reference mark is located on the engaging means.

18. A gauge for determining ring sizes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4, 5 to 7, 8 and 9, 10 and 11, or 12 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method for measuring ring sizes of the human finger by use of a gauge as claimed in Claim 1, said method comprising the steps of locating the gauge around the finger to be measured and tightening the gauge around said finger so that either the ring size of the finger-can be determined from the alignment of the reference mark with indicia already marked on the strip or the strip marked at the point indicated by the reference mark and the distance to said point measured with a separate ring-size scale.

20. A method as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the gauge is as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 18.

21. The combination of a ring-size gauge as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 and 14 to 17 which is markable to record ring-sizes and a ring-size scale against which distances so marked on the gauge may be measured in ring size units.