US1079489A - Expansible finger-ring. - Google Patents

Description

L. M. HIGHAM.

BXPANSIBLE FINGER RING.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.9,1911.

1,079,489, Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

'WITNESSES INVENTOR LIA/0L fl M HIE/114M /6W2MW ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON, n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINDLEY M. HIGHAIVI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

EXPANSIBLE FINGER-RING.

Application filed December 9, 1911.

To (121 whom it may concern Be it known that I, LINDLiLY M. HIGHAM,

a citizen of the United States, and resident l when drawn on and off the finger, but also because they are adapted to fit fingers which differ considerably in size. A further advantage of rings of the specified type is that when they have passed the knuckle they are,

if properly constructed, adapted to have frie- 1 tional engagement with the flesh of the finger so that there is no tendency for the ring to slip upon the finger and thus bring the stones or other ornan'ientation with which the head of the ring may be provided on the lower side of the hand where they cannot be seen.

The object of my invention is to provide a ring of the character specified which is capable of automatically changing in size as it is put on or off the finger instead of requiring the use of tools or the manipulation of catches.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a ring in which the parts enabling it to be expanded are concealed by or inclosed within the body of the ring itself so that the ring does not differ in appearance from a ring of conventional design and so that, further, said parts are protected from disarrangement or damage.

My invention resides in the novel features of construction provided and will be better understood from the drawings accompanying which are hereby made a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are all enlarged views, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a ring embodying a preferred form of my invention, the full lines indicating the normal condition of the ring while the dotted construction represents the ring when partly expanded; Fig. 2 is a central section, part elevation, taken in the plane of the ring, that is, along the line 22 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 represents an edge elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the hollow head sections of the shank; Fig. 5 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25 1 913.

Serial No. 664,777.

a perspective view of one of the curved drawbars with its retaining lug removed; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the base sections of the shank.

In the drawings, the ring comprises a head 1, which may be of any in'ef-erred design, provided with opposite meridian slots in each of which a head section 2 is inserted and pivotally supported at 3 so as to have a certain amount of play in the plane of the ring about said pivot the extent of said play being limited by lugs 4 attached to said head sections and embraced by wider transverse slots 5 formed in the head.

Each head section 2 is hollowed out tubularly so as to receive a draw-bar 6 comprising a square sectioned lower link 7 pivoted at 8 to a curved rod 9 at the outer end of which is fixed the retaining lug 10 against which rests one end of a preferably slightly compressed, spiral spring 11 the lower end of said spring resting upon an internal shoulder 12. The lower end of each link 7 is inserted into the hollow upper end of a base section 13 in which it is pivotally held at 14C and the lower end of each base section 13 is itself pivoted at 15 to a connecting portion 16 covering about 120 of arc.

Normally the springs 11 tend to hold the ring in the condition shown in Figs. 1 to 3, that is, with the upper end of each base section 13 abutting against the lower end. of the compounding head section 2. \Vhen, however, it is attempted to pass the ring over a knuckle larger than its internal diameter or when it is attempted to fit the ring upon a finger larger than the ring, the sections 13 and 2 separate from one another to a greater or less extent against the resistance of springs 11 which are compressed as the draw-bar 6 is drawn out. At the same time the sections 13 and 2 nove upon their respective pivots 13 and 15 so as to permit the draw-bars to slide freely in the head sections 2 without binding. The dotted construction, Fig. 1, indicates the condition of the ring when it is thus drawn out.

If my improved ring as manufactured is suitably proportioned it will, when in place upon the finger, grip the flesh with gentle pressure and retain its position with stone or other ornamentation uppermost and will not slip so as to permit said ornamentation to turn inwardly. The gaps between the head and base sections need not be great and will, in any case, be practically invisi ble since they will be substantially covered by the adjacent fingers. The ring will therefore appear like the conventional ring and that it is not such can only become known on close inspection.

The relative dimensions and proportions of the various sections and working parts of my improved ring can be varied to suit individual requirements and various styles of rings without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. in expansible finger ring comprising a head, oppositely disposed tubular head sections pivotally attached to said head, a pair of base sections each normally abutting against one of said head sections and each pivotally attached to a connecting section, a draw-bar inclosed and concealed within each abutting base and head section and attached to one of said sections, and a spring engaging the other section and the draw-bar so as to resist separation of the normally abutting sections.

2. An expansible finger ring comprising a head, oppositely disposed hollow head sections attached to said head so as to have play in the plane of the ring with respect thereto and provided with lug and slot, means to limit the extent of said play, a pair of base sections normally abutting against said head sections and pivotally attached to a connecting section, a draw-bar attached to each base section extending into each hollow head section, and a spring surrounding said draw-bar engaged with one end of said draw-bar and with an internal shoulder whereby separation of the normally abutting sections is resisted.

3. An expansible finger ring comprising a head, a pair of sections on each side of said head to one only of which a draw-bar is attached, said draw-bar extending into the other section, each pair being pivotally joined at one end to said head so as to have play in the plane of the ring and at the other end pivotally joined to a connecting piece, and a spring engaged with said drawbar and with the section to which said drawbar is not attached.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LINDLEY M. HIGHAM. IVitnesses E. H. Henson, CHARLES F. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

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