US2961855A

US2961855A - Adjustable finger ring

Info

Publication number: US2961855A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1960-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1977-11-29

Description

Nov. 29, 1960 B. NEWMAN ADJUSTABLE FINGER RING Filed Sept. 24, 1958 INVENTOR. Bar/78y New/72 am ATTORNEYS.

ADJUSTABLE FINGER RING Newman, Brookline, Mass, assignor of one-half l to W. Irving Wolf, Pawtucket, RI.

L Filed Sept. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 763,107 zciaims. (c1. 63-15.65)

Thisinventionrelates to a finger ring which is adjustable as to size.

I am aware that prior to the present invention, efiorts have been made to produce rings of adjustable character in which a shank of arcuate form is rotatively moved to cause more or less of it to be extended within a ring top to thereby decrease the effective size of the finger-receiv ing opening through the ring. However, these devices usually required locking means of the pawl and ratchet character, or cams, pivoted levers and other positive locking elements intended to securely hold the shank in any set position of adjustment. I have found that such arrangements are unsatisfactory because they not only detract from the appearance of the ring but the pivoted or movable parts are relatively small and often break off when manipulated, and when the ring was fitted upon a relatively large finger, toothed or serrated parts of the shank employed as locking elements were exposed and rendered visible, thus greatly impairing the appearance of the ring. Moreover, with rings of said character, the adjustment was usually effected by removing the ring from the finger, and adjusting it repeatedly while off the finger, and trying it on after each adjustment until a suitable fit was secured.

The present invention contemplates an arrangement whereby the shank is adjusted relative to the head or top of the ring by mere manual pressure imposed upon the ring and top. The portions of the shank which are engaged by the top or head of the ring are smooth and uninterrupted by projections or indentations so that regardless of the extent of projection of these parts of the shank out of the head or top of the ring, the smooth and uniform appearance of the shank is always the same and the adjustable nature of the ring is not apparent from even a very close inspection of the ring. The improved adjustable features incorporated in the ring impose no serious limitations as to design on the ring so that the number of designs which can be incorporated are almost limitless.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the improved ring is adjustable while in place upon the finger. That is to say, the shank can be drawn out of the head or top of the ring to an extent necessary to enable the ring to very freely slide over the knuckle and then, after the ring has been placed on the finger, the ring can be squeezed slightly between the fingers of the other hand until the same fits snugly but comfortably around the finger which it encircles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arrangement so that the shank may be limited in its movement in and out of the head so that detachment of the parts cannot occur.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arrangement so that the adjustment to finger size may be very easily and readily performed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will 2,961,855 Patented Nov. 29, 1960 V 2 be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig, 1 is a side elevation of the ring partly in section and in contracted position;

i Fig. 2 is an end or edge view in contracted position; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the shank expanded in its relation to thehead; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a ring shank which is generally U-shaped with its leg portions which extend from the arc connecting them generally in straight lines parallel to each other while the head consists of an ornamental top with sleeves which extend downwardly therefrom which are provided with means so as to frictionally receive the legs of the shank and permit them to slide in and out with reference to the sleeves of the head. The friction of the guides is such as to retain the shank in adjusted position.

With reference to the drawings, the shank is designated generally 10 and comprises a U-shaped strip of metal having a curved or arcuate mid portion 11 with arms 12 which extend from this mid portion in generally straight lines and parallel to each other. The ends of these arms are turned inwardly as at 14 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The head is designated generally 15 and comprises an ornamental top 16 which may be provided with a gem as at 17 or a signet surface or other ornamentation, while depending from this head there are hollow sleeves 18 which provide pockets 19 into which the straight legs 12 of the shank extend. The sleeves are generally straight at their outer ends and curved or arcuate between the straight portion and the head to cooperate with the arc of the U-bend of the shank for encirclement of the finger. To slidably guide and friction the legs 12 in these sleeves 18 I provide the sleeve recess of a size larger than the outer diameter of the shank leg 12 and pack or provide a lining of a soft resilient material such as neoprene 25 to frictionally receive and grip a leg 12 of the shank.

The ends of this shank are provided with abutments 20 provided by heading the ends of the shank as at 21. The ends of the sleeve are slit as at 22 and wings 23 on either side are folded in sufliciently to be engaged by abutments 20 and limit the withdrawal of the shank from the sleeves. By this arrangement the shank may be moved inwardly along the sleeves 18 to the position shown in Fig. l where its ends engage the inward curvature of the sleeves or outwardly away from the head until the flanges 14 engage the upper ends of the abutment 22 which will limit this outward movement. In any intermediate position the friction grip resilient lining will hold the legs in the intermediate adjusted posit-ion.

As is well-known, a human finger is not round, and accordingly the adjustment of the two component parts of the ring serves to fit the finger very well. A further feature is the fact that by an adjustable ring of this character the ring may be expanded when placed on the finger and then by forcing the two parts together the ring may be clamped on the finger to hold the ornamental part on the back of the finger where it is desired.

By making the sleeves large as indicated at 18 with the shank extending into these sleeves the entire head has the appearance of an ornamental shape and thus the appearance of a two-piece ring does not occur, the whole looking as if it were one piece while still it is adjustable.

It will be understood, of course, that the invention is so susceptible of various changes and modifications other than those hereinbefore set forth without departing from the general principle of the invention and it is accordingly intended to claim the invention broadly as well as specifieallyas indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A finger ring having atop provided with a pair of substantially parallel dependent sleeve portions, a shank of substantially U-shape having a pair of substantially parallel legs of substantially uniform diameter withheads at their free ends, said legs being telescopically fitted within the sleeves, a non metallic elasticresilient lining fixedly mounted within the sleeves contracted around and frictionally engaging the legs of the shank to maintain the same in any selected position therein, said lining being wholly contained within the sleeves and operative against portions of the legs within the sleeve, the continuity of said legs being uninterrupted by undulations or-projections throughout portions outside of said sleeves in any position of adjustment, said sleeves having non resilient abutments at their ends remote from the top to engage said heads and limit the outward movement of the legs.

2. A finger ring as in claim 1 wherein the means within the sleeves is a non-metallic resilient lining of neoprene.

5 References Cited in the file of this patent