WO1999012442A1

WO1999012442A1 - Combination ring and bracelet assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1999012442A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/017112
Authority: WO
Inventors: Orlanda Olsen
Original assignee: Orlanda Olsen
Priority date: 1997-09-11
Filing date: 1997-09-11
Publication date: 1999-03-18
Also published as: AU4591997A

Abstract

A ring and bracelet combination (10) comprising a mounting assembly (20), a combination ring and bracelet shank assembly (40), comprising multiple shank elements (42) pivotally connected to each other, attached at one end to the mounting assembly (20), a clasp assembly comprising a bendable clip element (62), an opening (68) in the mounting assembly (20) for receipt of a substantial portion of the clip assembly (62), and an arm assembly (74) rotatable about the mounting assembly (20) and having open and closed positions. The arm assembly (74) and a portion of the clip assembly (62) together secure the substantial portion of the clip assembly (62) within the opening (68) of the mounting assembly (20) when the arm assembly (74) is in its second position. Each of the shank elements (42) defines an opening therethrough which is sized to receive the finger of a wearer. Each of the shank elements (42) is of substantially the same shape and is hingedly connected to a shank element immediately adjacent to it.

Description

COMBINATION RING AND BRACELET ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the jewelry field, and more particularly, to a ring and bracelet combination assembly.

Jewelry, and certainly rings and bracelets, are old in the art. It is known that rings can have many different mounting configurations or gems and/or other precious items, such as gold balls, etc. The shank of these rings are also known to take many different forms. Similarly, bracelets are old in the art and are known to take many different shapes.

It is even old in the art for bracelets to have securing mechanisms to hold one end of the bracelet to the other end so as to avoid having the bracelet come off the wearer of the bracelet .

In fact, ring and bracelet combinations as described herein are themselves somewhat old in the art, and the inventor of the subject invention has heretofore sold such ring and bracelet combination jewelry pieces throughout the United States. It is also understood that at least part, but not all, of the clasp mechanism of the subject invention is somewhat old in the jewelry art. However, it is not old, nor obvious in light of the art, for the subject combination ring and bracelet assembly to have the clasp mechanism described herein. It would therefore be desirable to provide a ring and bracelet combination utilizing the clasp assembly of the subject invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, an improved ring and bracelet combination, having an improved clasp assembly is provided. The ring and bracelet combination comprises an ornamentation mounting assembly, a combination ring and bracelet shank assembly attached at one end to the ornamentation mounting assembly, wherein the combination ring and bracelet shank assembly comprises a plurality of shank elements which are pivotally connected to each other, and a clasp assembly comprising a selectively bendable clip element, an opening in the mounting assembly for receipt therein of a substantial portion of the clip element, and an arm assembly which is rotatable about a point on the mounting assembly and which has a first open position and a second closed position. The arm assembly and a portion of the clip assembly interact and combine together to secure the substantial portion of the clip assembly within the opening of the mounting assembly when the arm assembly is in its second closed position.

Each of the plurality of shank elements defines an opening therethrough, which opening is sized to receive therethrough the finger of a wearer of the ring. Each of the plurality of the shank elements have substantially the same shape as the other shank elements and is hingedly connected to the shank element immediately adjacent to it.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved ring and bracelet combination assembly.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved ring and bracelet combination having a specific clasp assembly.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved ring and bracelet combination wherein the clasp assembly secures the bracelet configuration in two ways.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description.

The invention accordingly comprises assemblies possessing the features, properties, and the relations of components which will be exemplified and hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ring and bracelet combination having the ring structure;

Figure 2a is a side elevational view of the ring of the combination of Figure 1;

Figure 2b is a side elevational view of the ring of Figure 2a being transformed into a bracelet;

Figure 2c is a further figure showing the transformation of the ring of Figure 2a into a bracelet;

Figure 2d is a side elevational view of a bracelet transformed from the ring of Figure 2a;

Figure 3a is a perspective view of the clasp assembly;

Figure 3b is an exploded perspective view of the movement of the elements of the clasp assembly;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through Figure 3a, and showing the clasp assembly; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bracelet structure of the ring and bracelet combination of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to the figures, a ring and bracelet combination made in accordance with the invention and generally designated at 10 is shown. Ring and bracelet combination assembly 10 has a mounting assembly or ornamentation mounting assembly 20, a combination ring and bracelet shank assembly 40 and a clasp assembly 60.

As seen in Figure 1, ornamentation mounting assembly 20 has a number of different stones 22 mounted therein. It is to be understood that the invention anticipates having any type of stone or precious jewelry item able to be mounted within ornamentation mounting assembly 20, and further that the shape of ornamentation mounting assembly 20 can take any form, depending upon the types of stones and mounting desired.

Continuing now with Figures 2a - 2d, it is seen that the combination ring and bracelet shank assembly 40 comprises eight different shank elements, which shank elements are pivotally connected to each other at their respective ends. Two of the particular shank elements, elements 42 and 44 (see Figures 2b - 2d) are connected at one of their respective ends, not to another shank element, but to either ornamentation mounting assembly 20, or clip element 62 (see Figure 4) .

Directing attention now to Figure 5, the shank elements of combination ring and bracelet shank assembly 40 are hingedly connected to each other at their respective ends . The manner of these hinged connections between shank elements of the invention is old in the art .

As seen in Figure 1, when in the ring configuration, the opening defined within each of the shank elements are aligned to create a channel type structure having an axis running therethrough which when taken together create the full shank for the ring and bracelet combination 10 when it is in its ring configuration. A wearer's finger is anticipated to be able to fit within the channel type opening created by shank elements as shown in Figure 1, so that the ring can be worn upon the wearer's finger.

Taking the shank element openings a step further, it is seen in Figure 5 that when the combination ring and bracelet assembly 10 is in its bracelet configuration, the shank elements become the band of the bracelet and the openings are merely decorative.

Returning again to Figures 2b and 2c, the manner of folding out the ring of Figure 2a to the bracelet of Figure 2d is shown. In particular, the shank elements of the ring are allowed to pivot about each of the hinged connection points so that instead of abutting against each other in the ring configuration of Figure 2a, the shank elements are touching only at their respective ends until they are all in such an assembly so as to create the bracelet of Figure 2d.

In order for the bracelet to fit around or onto a user's wrist, a clasp assembly 60 is being used. Clasp assembly 60 comprises clip element 62, opening 68 in ornamentation mounting assembly 20, and arm assembly 74.

As is best seen in Figures 3a, 3b, and 4, clip element 62 of clasp assembly 60 has a pressure member 70. Member 70 protrudes from opening 68 of ornamentation mounting assembly 20 when clip element 62 is substantially fully inserted within opening 68 of ornamentation mounting assembly 20, as is best seen in Figures 3a, 3b and 4.

As seen in Figure 3b, when pressure is asserted onto member 70 of clip element 62, clip element 62 is selectively insertable and removable in the plane of arrow 80 from opening 68 of ornamentation mounting assembly 20. In particular, as seen in Figure 4, clip element 62 has an upper plate 64 and a lower plate 66, connected by a curved plate 65. In practice, curved plate

65 creates tension between plates 64 and 66 causing plates 64 and

66 to separate. When pressure is applied by the finger of a user to member 70, curved plate 65 is caused to be bent thereby decreasing the distance between plates 64 and 66, and allowing for insertion and/or removal of clip element 62 from opening 68. To further allow for insertion and removal of clip element 62 from opening 68, clasp assembly 60 has arm assembly 74. As seen best in Figures 3b and 4, when clip element 62 is not within opening 68, arm assembly 74 is in a first open position. However, when clip element 62 is within opening 68, as seen in Figure 4, arm assembly 74 is in its second closed position.

Arm assembly 74 has a locking member 76 and a pin 78 (see Figure 4) . As also seen in Figure 4, pin 78 protrudes from along arm assembly 74 in such a position so as to correspond to an opening through bottom plate 66 of clip element 62, so that when clip element 62 is fully inserted within opening 68 and arm assembly 74 is in its second closed position, pin 78 protrudes through the opening (not shown) in bottom plate 66. The interaction and combination of the opening in plate 66 and pin 78 of arm assembly 74 creates a more secure clasping together so that the bracelet structure stays securely around a wearer's arm. Clip element 62 is also held within opening 68 by the force of curved plate 65 pushing plate 66 and plate 64 against opposite ends of opening 68 (see Figure 4) .

Continuing with the description of the structure, arm assembly 74 is more securely held in place by use of locking member 76 at the end thereof, which locking member 76 clips to a side 24 of ornamentation mounting assembly 20.

In further description, it is seen that shank element 44 is attached to lower plate 66 of clip element 62 of clasp assembly 60 (see Figure 4) .

It is also seen that since not all of clip element 62 sits within opening 68 of ornamentation mounting assembly 20, only a substantial portion of clip element 62 is received within opening 68.

Finally, its seen that on assembly 74 pivots around side 26 of ornamentation mounting assembly 20 by a standard hinge arrangement 72.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the proceeding description, are efficiently obtained, and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without the departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A combination ring and bracelet assembly, comprising: an ornamentation mounting assembly; a combination ring and bracelet shank assembly attached to said ornamentation mounting assembly, and comprising a plurality of shank elements pivotally connected to each other, wherein each of said shank elements has a substantially centrally located opening for the receipt therethrough of the finger of a wearer of the ring configuration of said combination ring and bracelet assembly, said shank elements being axially aligned through the centers of said openings when said combination is in said ring configuration, and said shank elements being longitudinally aligned when said combination is in the bracelet configuration of said combination; and a clasp assembly, comprising: a selectively bendable clip element; an opening in said mounting assembly for receipt therein of a substantial portion of said clip element; and an arm assembly rotatable about said mounting assembly, said arm assembly having a first open position and a second closed position, wherein said arm assembly and a portion of said clip assembly interact and combine together when said arm assembly is in said second closed position to secure said substantial portion of said clip assembly within said opening of said mounting assembly.

2. A combination ring and bracelet assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said clip element of said clasp assembly is attached at an end thereof not received within said opening of said mounting assembly to one of said plurality of shank elements .

3. A combination ring and bracelet assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said portion of said clip assembly received within said opening of said mounting assembly has an upper plate and a lower plate, said lower plate having an opening therethrough.

4. A combination ring and bracelet assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said arm assembly of said clasp assembly has a pin extending therefrom and adapted to be selectively received within said opening of said lower plate of said arm assembly when said arm assembly is in said second closed position.

5. A combination ring and bracelet assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of shank elements comprise eight substantially identical shank elements, hingedly connected to each other.

6. A combination ring and bracelet assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein each shank element is substantially identical in size and appearance to every other shank element .

7. A combination ring and bracelet assembly, comprising: an ornamentation mounting assembly; a combination ring and bracelet shank assembly attached to said ornamentation mounting assembly, having a plurality of shank elements pivotally connected to each other and adapted to orient into a shank assembly for the ring configuration of said combination ring and bracelet assembly and orient into a band assembly for the bracelet configuration of said combination ring and bracelet assembly; and a clasp assembly, comprising: a selectively bendable clip element having a plate member which defines a hole; an opening in said mounting assembly for receipt therein of a substantial portion of said clip element; and a rotatable arm assembly having a pin protruding therefrom, said pin aligned with, and insertable into said hole of said clip element when said arm assembly is in a closed position.