WO2013180754A1

WO2013180754A1 - System and method for jewelry monograms

Info

Publication number: WO2013180754A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/070769
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enrico Margaritelli
Original assignee: Crown International Properties
Priority date: 2012-06-01
Filing date: 2012-12-20
Publication date: 2013-12-05

Abstract

A jewelry assembly comprising an upper case cover having at least one indentation on a side surface having at least one protrusion on an inside surface; a removable insert having at least one notch on an outside surface; wherein the removable insert is releasably securable to the indentation by aligning the at least one notch to the at least one protrusion and applying a pressure to the removable insert; and wherein the removable insert is releasable from the indentation by applying an upward pressure at the removable insert.

Description

System and Method For Jewelry Monograms

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/654,362, filed June 1, 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for easily applying and changing monograms or other designs such as inlaid designs on jewelry such as watches, brooches, and bracelets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of watch manufacturers have designed watches that allow the user to change certain aspects of the watch. For example, some watches have

interchangeable bands, or interchangeable colored rings that can be placed around the top of the face of the watch or around the outside circumference of the watch. The colored rings generally are made of plastic or rubber, and the interchangeable parts allow the user to change only one aspect of the watch, that being the color of the ring. However, these attempts to do not include decorative monograms and moreover, these attempts require the user to use a screwdriver or various other tools and remove small screws at the side of the watch case cover or other jewelry, or render the jewelry unattractive as the addition is plastic.

A system is needed to allow a user to easily apply a monogram and/or to change the monogram on a watch case cover or brooch cover or other type of jewelry easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method and system that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and

disadvantages of the related art. The present invention allows a user, for example, to add or change a monogram or other design onto a case cover of a watch or other jewelry. With the present invention, a user can insert a small monogram or design onto the case cover with a finger. This system allows the monogram or design to align perfectly and snap into and out of place.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the method that is particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a jewelry assembly such as a watch comprising an upper case cover having at least one indentation on a side surface, the indentation having at least one protrusion on an inside surface thereof, and a removable insert that fits into the indentation. The removable insert has at least one notch on an outside surface. The removable insert is releasably securable to the jewelry assembly by aligning the at least one protrusion on the indentation with the notch of the removable insert and applying a downward pressure to the removable insert; and wherein the removable insert is releasable from the indentation by applying an upward pressure at the bottom of the removable insert.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are understood to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention that together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGs. 1A-1E illustrate how the removable insert is attached to a watch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGs. 2A-2D illustrate how a removable insert is attached to a brooch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The present invention described below extends the functionality of the inventive system and method for jewelry monograms.

Fig. 1A is a front view of a watch 100 with a removable monogram insert 110 being applied to the watch. Fig. IB is a front view of the watch 100 with the removable monogram insert 1 10 secured to the watch according to an embodiment of the present invention. The watch may include a bezel 101, an upper band 102, a display 103, a receiving notch 130, and a lower band 107.

The upper band 102 encloses the electrical and/or mechanical components that execute the chronometer and other functions of the watch 100. The display 103 displays the data produced by the chronometer and other functions of the watch 100.

The display 103 may include a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, an analog display such as hands or dials, or any type of watch display known to those skilled in the art. As shown in Fig. 1 C, the removable monogram may be somewhat L-shaped with at least one small hole 120 on each side.

As shown in Fig. ID, the receiving notch 130 of watch 100 has at least one small protrusion 125 on each side, the protrusions designed to match the small holes 120 of the monogram insert. Also shown in Fig. ID is a small protrusion 140 on the bottom of the monogram insert 1 10, which matches a small hole 145 in the receiving notch located on the lower band 107. A user need only line up the monogram insert 110 above the receiving notch 130 and push the monogram insert into place until a click is heard. Fig. IE is a side view of the watch 100 with the monogram insert 1 10 secured into the receiving notch. To remove the monogram notch, the user can push the monogram insert up from the receiving notch.

The user may select a variety of monogram inserts 1 10 with which to decorate and personalize the appearance of a watch, such as a monogram, a logo, a different color insert, an insert having precious stones. The insert 110 may be of a different material than the watch, or may be the same material. Other varieties will be known to those skilled in the art. While the figures of this embodiment illustrate a watch with a circular display 103 and upper band 102, the display and upper band may be of any shape. The embodiment also shows a monogram insert having a semi-circular shape to match the watch face. Other shapes also may be used.

In a second embodiment, a brooch may include a monogram insert. FIG. 2A shows the brooch 200 of the present invention also may include an upper band 202 with a bezel 201 that is contiguous to a top surface, the upper band having a receiving notch 230. The upper band 202 may be populated with jewels 206 or other decorative designs. Fig. 2B is a side view of the brooch with the removable monogram insert 210 being applied thereto. The removable monogram may be somewhat L-shaped with at least one small hole 220 on each side.

As shown in Fig. 2C, a receiving notch 230 of brooch 200 has at least one small protrusion 225 on each side; the protrusion is designed to match the small holes 220 of the monogram insert. Also shown in Fig. 2C is a small protrusion 240 on the bottom of the monogram insert 210, which matches a small hole 245 on the receiving notch. A user need only line up the monogram insert 210 above the receiving notch 230 and push the monogram insert into place until a click is heard. To remove the monogram notch, the user can push the monogram insert up from the receiving notch.

The insert 210 may be of the same material as the specific type of jewelry or may be different material. The insert 210 also may be a different color and shape as the jewelry in which it is used, or may be the same color and/or shape.

The foregoing description has been given in the context of watches and brooches. It will be apparent, however, that the present invention is applicable to other types of jewelry known to those skilled in the art, such as rings, pendants earrings, and bracelets. This list, of course, is not exclusive.

The foregoing description has been directed to specific embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that other variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments, with the attainment of some or all of their advantages. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A jewelry assembly comprising:

an upper case cover having at least one indentation on a side surface having at least one protrusion on an inside surface;

a removable insert having at least one notch on an outside surface;

wherein the removable insert is releasably securable to the indentation by aligning the at least one notch to the at least one protrusion and applying a downward pressure to the removable insert; and

wherein the removable insert is releasable from the indentation by applying an upward pressure at the removable insert.

2. The jewelry assembly of claim I, further comprising a small hole on a bottom of the indentation and a matching small protrusion on a bottom of the removable insert wherein the removable insert is further releasably securable to the indentation by aligning the small hole and small protrusion.

3. The jewelry assembly of claim I, wherein the jewelry assembly is a watch.

4. The jewelry assembly of claim I, wherein the jewelry assembly is a brooch.

5. The jewelry assembly of claim I, wherein the jewelry assembly is a ring.

6. The jewelry assembly of claim I, wherein the jewelry assembly is a pendant.

7. The jewelry assembly of claim I, wherein the jewelry assembly is an earring.

8. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the jewelry assembly is a bracelet.

9. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the indentation comprises at least two protrusions.

10. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein removable insert comprises at least two indentations on an outside surface.

11. The jewelry assembly of claim 1 , wherein the removable insert comprises a monogram.

12. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable insert comprises a logo.

13. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable insert is a different color than the upper case.

14. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable insert includes jewels embedded therein.

15. A watch comprising:

a removable insert having at least one notch on an outside surface; wherein the removable insert is releasably securable to the indentation by aligning the at least one notch to the at least one protrusion and applying a downward pressure to the removable insert; and wherein the removable insert is releasable from the indentation by applying an upward pressure at the removable insert.

16. The jewelry assembly of claim 15, further comprising a small hole on a bottom of the indentation and a matching small protrusion on a bottom of the removable insert wherein the removable insert is further releasably securable to the indentation by aligning the small hole and small protrusion.

17. A brooch comprising:

a removable insert having at least one notch on an outside surface; wherein the removable insert is releasably securable to the indentation by aligning the at least one notch to the at least one protrusion and applying a downward pressure to the removable insert; and

18. The jewelry assembly of claim 17, further comprising a small hole on a bottom of the indentation and a matching small protrusion on a bottom of the removable insert wherein the removable insert is further releasably securable to the indentation by aligning the small hole and small protrusion.