US20180199680A1

US20180199680A1 - Interchangeable Jewelry System

Info

Publication number: US20180199680A1
Application number: US15/406,466
Authority: US
Inventors: Cathy Barouch; Lara Korhammer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-01-13
Filing date: 2017-01-13
Publication date: 2018-07-19

Abstract

An interchangeable jewelry system is provided. An article of jewelry such as a bracelet, earring, ring, anklet, toe ring or necklace, among others, may each comprise at least one end terminating in a threaded post configured to securely, yet removably, receive a bauble or charm by way of a threaded female portion integrated thereon. A variety of baubles, charms, and even articles of jewelry may be provided so that each charm or bauble may be optionally and alternatively secured to any of the possible articles of jewelry as desired.

Description

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

Not applicable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT RE. FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK NOTICES

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights and trade dress rights whatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to fashionable accessories and, more particularly, to systems configured to enable interchanging elements of certain articles of jewelry with others.

BACKGROUND

Wearing jewelry is one popular way that consumers have found to visibly express their individuality. Developments in communications technology and, in particular, social media have even, in some respects, placed greater emphasis on personal appearance and in turn influence quick changes to trends and offerings in the ready-to-wear market. However, continuously purchasing new accessories to update or alter their look can be expensive for consumers. Indeed, purchasing a plurality of different accessories to coordinate with different outfits alone, trends notwithstanding, may itself be a daunting and expensive endeavor.
Some suggestions to alter or personalize jewelry and accessories have been proposed. For instance, charm bracelets known in the art, may be configured to slidably receive variously formed beads and/or charms according to a wearer's tastes and interests. U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,571 to Nevatia et al. similarly discloses a jewelry configured to slidably mount decorative elements thereto. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,721 to Messier discloses a decorative accessory configured to removably attach a variety of charms and jewelry to shoes and articles of clothing, and even other accessories. U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,503 to Golove teaches a ring having a removable setting configured to receive one or more chains carrying a variety of differently shaped charms. Many consumers, however, find that inevitable movement of hanging or sliding charms along a jewelry or accessory to be bothersome and distracting. Others still perceive charm-type or interchangeable jewelry as having less value than others.
Thus, there remains a need for fashionable and interchangeable jewelry, and systems and kits for the same.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to one or more articles of jewelry configured to optionally and alternatively receive any of a variety of interchangeable baubles, charms, beads, or other aesthetic or decorative trinkets in a manner that enables a wearer to selectively alter the appearance of such articles.
For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described. It is to be understood that not all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages without achieving all advantages as may be taught or suggested.
In accordance with one embodiment, the interchangeable jewelry system may comprise at least one article of jewelry, and at least one element that is optionally removably securable to the article of jewelry. More particularly, the article of jewelry may be a bracelet, earring, ring, necklace or other article of jewelry.
The at least one optionally removably securable element may be a decorative charm or bauble. Such charm or bauble may be configured to define a three-dimensional shape and may further define a female threaded portion penetrating at least a portion of the decorative charm or bauble. The at least one optionally removably securable element will be hereinafter referred to simply as a “bauble” for the sake of brevity, however, it should be understood that many decorative items may be made configured to be optionally removably securable to the article of jewelry in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Such baubles may take innumerable three dimensional forms, such as for example only and not limitation, spheres, squares, stars, horseshoes, hearts, octahedrons, icosahedrons, and other geometric or irregular shapes as may be desired. Similarly, the baubles may comprise a variety of materials and combinations of materials such as plated, filled, or pure silver, gold, platinum, and titanium, alloyed metals, resin, glass and even plastic. The baubles may even comprise additional embellishments such as etchings, and/or embedded or otherwise secured gemstones, crystals, and others. Thus, one skilled in the art will understand that the particular appearance and material defining any of the baubles is not dispositive.
In some embodiments, each of the at least one articles of jewelry comprises at least one end terminating in a threaded post configured to mateably receive the decorative bauble. Thus, a bauble may be mateably and threadably secured to the threaded post of any of the at least one articles of jewelry such that the threaded post may be maintained within the threaded female portion defined by the three-dimensional body of the bauble. As one illustrative example, a bauble may be threadably secured to a threaded post comprising an end of a bracelet. Of course, it is contemplated that the interchangeable nature of parts ensures that the same bauble may instead be threadably secured to a threaded post comprising an end of a different bracelet, a necklace, an earring, or even a ring configured according to the disclosure. Likewise, a variety of different baubles may be optionally and alternatively secured to the threaded post comprising an end of just one of the at least one articles of jewelry. That is, a decorative bauble may be removed from a threaded post comprising an end of a bracelet to be replaced with a different decorative bauble. Thus, it may be seen that the interchangeable jewelry system is and may be altered by a wearer as desired.
Although the elements are described as threadably mateable, it is contemplated that other means for securing a decorative bauble to an article of jewelry may be employed. For instance, respective male and female portions of an article of jewelry and decorative bauble may be formed as mateable, snap-fit pieces that may be forcibly joined and separated.
One or more of the above-disclosed embodiments, in addition to certain alternatives, are provided in further detail below with reference to the attached figures. The disclosed subject matter is not, however, limited to any particular embodiment disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of some exemplary, assembled elements comprising the interchangeable jewelry system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the interchangeable jewelry system of FIG. 1 being disassembled.

FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of an interchangeable jewelry system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows yet another exemplary embodiment of an interchangeable jewelry system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The disclosed embodiments may be better understood by referring to the figures in the attached drawings, as provided below. The attached figures are provided as non-limiting examples for providing an enabling description of the method and system claimed. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting of its scope. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without some of the details included in order to provide a thorough enabling description of such embodiments. Well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
With reference to FIG. 1 one embodiment of an article of jewelry in accordance with the invention is an at least semirigid cuff 10 which may be variously sized in terms of length and width to accommodate a wearer's neck, wrist, or finger. Of course, the size may even vary to accommodate differently sized wearer's in general as well. The cuff 10 may comprise a first and second end 12 a, 12 b, A first and a second bauble 14 a, 14 b may be disposed respectively on the first and second ends 12 a, 12 b.
Turning to FIG. 2, it may be seen that at least the second bauble 14 b may be removed from the second end 12 b to reveal that the second end 12 b terminates in a threaded post 16. More particularly, the second bauble 14 b may define a three-dimensional body, such as the generally spherical globe shown, further defining a threaded female portion 18 configured to at least partially penetrate the three-dimensional body. The width of the threaded post 16 and threaded female portion 18 may be complementary so that each element may become securely, yet removably, threadably engaged with the other.
In some embodiments, removing a bauble may enable someone to thread or slide additional charms, beads, or baubles onto the length of cuff to further personalize the article of jewelry. Replacing a bauble on the end of such cuff may retain the additional charms, beads, or baubles along the cuff.
In some embodiments, the first bauble 14 a may be similarly removable from the first end 12 a of the cuff 10 to reveal another threaded post. However, it is also contemplated that one or more baubles may be permanently secured to the cuff. This may be desirable, for example, if the first bauble 14 a comprises some indicia of branding that a seller might desire to be permanently displayed on an article of jewelry.
With reference to FIG. 3, the one or more articles of jewelry may take additional or alternative forms without departing from the invention. For instance, one embodiment of a necklace 20 is shown. The necklace may comprise a chain 22 or cord securable around the neck of a wearer by way of any desirable clasp 24. In addition, the necklace may comprise an end 26 terminating in a threaded post 28 operative to threadably mate with a bauble, such as the second bauble 14 b as described above. Additionally, it may be seen that a nonlimiting variety of desirably shaped baubles may be threadably secured to the necklace instead. For instance, a three dimensional heart 32, horseshoe 34, and star 36 are each shown to define a threaded female portion 18 operative to threadbly mate with the threaded post 28 of the necklace 20. Such variously formed baubles may comprise embellishments, such as the crystals 38 embedded on the second bauble 14 b, though the appearance of the baubles, including texture, color, and arrangement of any embellishments if at all, will not limit the invention. Thus, any bauble may optionally and alternatively replace another on the end 26 of the necklace 28. Indeed, it is even contemplated that a variety of baubles may be threadably secured to another article of jewelry such as the cuff described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 above. Thus the system may be fully interchangeable.
Another alternative form for the article of jewelry may be seen in FIG. 4, though such article operates according to the same principles described above. An earring 40, here shaped like a hoop or cuff, may be provided which may be threadably received through a pierced portion of a wearer's ear 42. Other embodiments are of course contemplated. As one nonlimiting example, the earring may comprise a post including a downward facing end defining the threaded post operative to threadably mate with any desirable bauble. Of course, any baubles applicable to an earring in accordance with the invention may be similarly secured and interchanged with others, and even applied to additional articles of jewelry, as described above.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claim(s).
The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the interchangeable jewelry system with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the interchangeable jewelry system to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed system, method and apparatus. The above description of embodiments of the interchangeable jewelry system is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.
While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the method, system, and apparatus are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
While certain aspects of the method and system disclosed are presented below in particular claim forms, various aspects of the method, system, and apparatus are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the interchangeable jewelry method.

Claims

1. An interchangeable jewelry system, comprising:

at least one article of jewelry, the at least one article of jewelry having at least one end terminating in a threaded post; and

a plurality of selectable one-piece baubles, each bauble defined by a three-dimensional body, the body further comprising a single threaded female portion configured to partially penetrate the body, wherein the threaded female portion is configured to threadedly receive the threaded post of the at least one article of jewelry.

2. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the at least one article of jewelry is selected from the group consisting of a bracelet, necklace, ring, earring, toe ring, anklet, and cuff.

3. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 1, wherein the at least one article of jewelry is formed as an at least semirigid cuff having a first end and a second end.

4. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 3, wherein at least the first end terminates in the threaded post.

5. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 3, wherein the semirigid cuff is sized to receive a wrist.

6. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 3, wherein the semirigid cuff is sized to receive a finger.

7. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 3, wherein the semirigid cuff is sized to receive a toe.

8. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 3, wherein the semirigid cuff is sized to be threadable through a pierced ear hole.

9. The interchangeable jewelry system of claim 3, wherein the semirigid cuff is configured to be clipable to an ear lobe.

10. A kit comprising:

at least one selectable one-piece bauble defined by a three-dimensional body having a single threaded female portion configured to partially penetrate the body, wherein the threaded female portion is configured to threadedly receive the threaded post of the at least one article of jewelry.

11. An article of jewelry, comprising:

an at least semirigid cuff having a first end and a second end, at least one end terminating in a threaded post, wherein the threaded post is configured to threadedly mate with one of a plurality of selectable one-piece baubles, each bauble defined by a three-dimensional body defining a single threaded female portion partially penetrating the body, wherein the threaded female portion is configured to threadedly receive the threaded post.