Abstract:
An adaptive jewelry apparatus includes a mechanism for allowing quick and secure interchange between stones or stone and base assemblies. In one embodiment, a stone is fixably joined to a base assembly, and the combined assembly is threadably interchanged with a receiving socket on a jewelry member. In an alternative embodiment the base assembly remains fixed to the jewelry member and includes mechanical or other means for release-ably securing a variety of interchangeable stones. In each embodiment the interchangeable stone is retained securely to the jewelry member while allowing ready release and replacement.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/600,513 filed on Aug. 11, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an adaptable jewelry apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus allowing interchangeability between a stone and a jewelry member, or a combined stone and cage assembly and a jewelry member.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     An interchangeable jewelry item is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,487 to Morgan. In Morgan, a main base has a recess adapted to receive a removable ornament and a pivoting door positioned to close over the ornament. A spring member fixed to the pivoting door biases against the removable ornament and secures the same in the adapted recess preventing unintended separation.  
         [0006]     A finger ring with interchangeable stones is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,766 to Schunk et al. In Schunk, a ring member includes a partial stone setting and a pair of V-shaped stone clamps pivotally attached to the ring member on either side thereof. Threaded attachment sockets are fixed to the ring member within the pivot plane of the V-shaped stone clamps and threadably engage removable and decorative boss members.  
         [0007]     In operation, a large stone is positioned in the partial stone setting and the V-shaped clamps pivot to engage the outer crown of the stone. Thereafter, the decorative boss members are threaded into the attachment sockets along the pivot plane of respective V-shaped stone clamps and are threaded into the ring member. Outer portions of each boss member contact each V-shaped stone clamp and press the same against the outer perimeter of the ring member, thereby compressing the stone and stone clamps, and securing the stone in the stone setting and to the ring member.  
         [0008]     A multi-stone round center setting for diamonds and gemstones is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,971 to Gurevich. In Gurevich, a round setting includes six substantially triangular shaped seating regions proximate respective curved corner prong members. Six generally triangular shaped gemstones are positioned within each setting constructing a six-sided/hexagon setting. A center member in the setting proximate the apex of each stone includes six ledges. Each substantially triangular gemstone includes a groove that mechanically engages a respective ledge. Each curved corner prong member is thereafter bent downwardly to engage corner edges of two adjoining triangular shaped gemstone fixing the stones into the setting.  
         [0009]     A prong setting for multiple gemstones is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,846 to Siebenberg. In Siebenberg, a multi-part gemstone is provided and formed so that each part fits together along uniform edges presenting the appearance of a larger single gemstone. A unitary prong setting includes a first set of prongs that contacts and is folded over ends of adjacent sides of two gemstones. An interconnecting structure joins the first set of prongs distal from their ends forming a central supporting platform upon which rests the multi-part gemstone, thereby supporting the same from below. The supporting platform is shaped to provide support along the joints connecting two gemstones. A second set of prongs register with the first set of prongs and provides ancillary support or may alternatively serve merely as additional decoration.  
         [0010]     Shape memory effect, or SME, is a term for the ability of certain rare and complex high-tech metal alloys to change from one shape to another in response to temperature changes, a direct result of a transformation of the alloy&#39;s crystal structure. An SME device can be made to expand when cooled or contract when heated; and produce a one-way or a two-way “memory.” A one-way SME alloy can be deformed, then recover (after cooling) to retain permanently its original shape when heated to a certain temperature. A two-way alloy holds its original shape at one temperature and takes on another shape at a different temperature.  
         [0011]     NASA (and other scientific and technological designers) explored this technology in the 1960s, shelved it for a time, then renewed interest in the 1980s, when the agency began preparatory work on the planned Earth-orbiting space station.  
         [0012]     Common uses for these very rare type of alloys are for quick connect/disconnect joints for space station structures and two-way memory actuators for the disconnect feature joining super cold atmosphere gas couplings.  
         [0013]     Another use is for special water control valves designed to prevent scalding or danger from massive temperature shifts. The heart of each system is a small valve that reacts to temperature, not pressure. When the unit senses dangerous temperatures, its physical structure changes and immediately reduces the water flow. When the unexpected temperature subsides, the unit automatically restores normal flow. In sum, SME alloys exist, but have to-date been adapted for only the most expensive and high-tech applications.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     An object of the present invention is to provide an adaptable jewelry apparatus.  
         [0015]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry apparatus allowing simple and quick interchange of a stone or a stone and stone-cage assembly with a circular band member (ring) or other jewelry member such as a necklace or broach.  
         [0016]     The present invention relates to an adaptive jewelry apparatus that allows quick and secure interchange between stones or stone and base assemblies and a jewelry member. In one alternative embodiment, a stone is fixably joined to a base assembly, and the combined assembly is threadably interchanged with a receiving socket on the jewelry member. In another alternative embodiment the base assembly remains fixed to the jewelry member and includes mechanical or other means for release-ably securing a variety of interchangeable stones. In each embodiment the interchangeable stone is retained securely to the jewelry member while allowing ready release and replacement.  
         [0017]     The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conduction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the first embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the first embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing the threaded socket alignment.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a partial cut-away detail view of the threaded socket of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a partial side view of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the second embodiment of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a partial cut-away detail view of the engagement detail of the second embodiment in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of an alternative third embodiment of the present invention in a closed position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of the third embodiment in  FIG. 8  in an open position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a close-up sectional side view of one hinged member of the third embodiment in an engaged position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a cut is a close-up sectional side view one hinged member in an open position.  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is a front view of one hinged member of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  is a side view of an alternative fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the fourth embodiment of  FIG. 13 , showing the threaded socket alignment.  
         [0032]      FIG. 15  is a partial cut-away detail of the threaded socket of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a first embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus  1 , having a jewelry member, in this instance a circular ring band member  2 , and an adaptive member  3  including both a stone  5  and a threaded base  6 .  
         [0034]     Threaded base  6  includes a threaded member  7  projecting away from stone  5 , and serves as a means for release-ably engaging a receiving base  9  on jewelry ring member  2 . On adaptive member  3 , a plurality of gripping members  4  serve to retain stone  5  and may either be rigid in operation or may be elastic allowing ready and additional separation of stone  5  from adaptive member  3 . In apparatus  1 , receiving base  9  includes a receiving socket  8  enabling a threaded engagement between socket  8  and threaded member  7 .  
         [0035]     During operation, a user selects an assembly of stone  5  and adaptive member  3  and positions threaded member  7  proximate socket  8 . By rotating adaptive member  3 , the user threadably engages the adaptive member  3  and the circular band member  2 .  
         [0036]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that adaptive member  3  may be shaped into any convenient and attractive shape, have multiple or differently shaped gripping members  4 , or be constructed from any conventional alloy (precious, semiprecious, common etc.), and employ any means (mechanical, chemical, or magnetic) to fix adaptive member  3  to jewelry member  2 . In one alternative embodiment, a high strength ceramic or cerametal magnet may replace threaded member  7  and engage a magnetic or magnetizable region of jewelry member  2 . In this alternative embodiment, a user would simply grasp adaptive member  3  with stone  5  and pull to separate jewelry member  2 , allowing easy and simple replacement.  
         [0037]     As an example of an adaptive member, the alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13-15  includes an apparatus  20 , in which adaptive member  21  has gripping members composed of a plurality of prongs  22  for holding a faceted stone  23 . There may be two, three, four or any other number of prongs  22  which serve to retain stone  23 . The prongs  22  may either be rigid in operation or may be elastic allowing ready and additional separation of stone  23  from adaptive member  21 .  
         [0038]     A threaded base  24  includes a threaded member  7  projecting away from stone  23 , and serving as a means for releasably engaging a receiving base  29  on ring member  2 . Receiving base  9  includes a receiving socket  8  enabling a threaded engagement between socket  8  and threaded member  7 . The threaded base  24  of adaptive member  21  and/or receiving base  9  on ring member  2  may have various ornamentation or other details to enhance the attractiveness of the jewelry. The details may comprise, for example, spiral bands of gold or other material around the threaded base  24  or the receiving base  9 . In any event, the details are arranged so as to permit full rotation of adaptive member  21  relative to receiving base  9  in order to engage the circular ring member  2 .  
         [0039]     Referring now to FIGS.  5  to  7 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus  10  having a jewelry member  17 . In this embodiment jewelry member  17  is shaped as a ring member, but alterative designs may adapt jewelry ember  17  to a necklace, broach, pin or other jewelry design.  
         [0040]     In the present embodiment, a stone  11  is removably joined to jewelry member  17  by a plurality of beam members  12  having threaded ends  13  being threadably joined in threaded receiving sockets  15  in receiving base  14 . In this embodiment receiving base  14  is circular in shape allowing a central portion to remain open to receive stone  11 , but may easily be adapted to the teachings contained herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0041]     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that any functional method may be employed to retain stone  11  within receiving base  14 .  
         [0042]     In the present embodiment, an engagement member  16  is positioned on the end of each respective beam member  12  and may be formed from any suitable material, such as hard silicone, plastic, rubber, fiberglass, precious or non-precious metals, or alloys of the same. Since engagement members  16  are generally constructed from materials softer than that of stone  11  (diamond, ruby, sapphire, etc.) they will not scratch stone  11 . Where extremely soft stones are used, for example pearls, coral, or cameos, engagement members  16  may have the same or greater hardness and so additional care must be taken to avoid damaging stone  11 .  
         [0043]     Beam members  12  may be rigid or slightly flexible to securely retain stone  11  on receiving base  14 . Where beam members  12  are rigid, a user would either threadably separate threaded ends  13  from threaded receiving sockets  15 , or alternatively using a tool would push the tool against one or more engagement members  16  or beam members  12 , and bend one or more beam members  12  outwardly away from stone  11 , thereby releasing stone  11 . In either case, the present design and embodiment allows simple replacement without damaging stone  11  by simple re-threading to full rigid engagement or by re-bending beam members  12  back in place.  
         [0044]     Where beam members are non-rigid and somewhat elastic (for example constructed from a high gold alloy), a user may simply grip stone  11 , and with a firm tug pull stone  11  from receiving base  14  by displacing retaining engagement members  16 , and replace stone  11  with an alternative stone by pushing the same between engagement members  16  allowing them to snap back into position and retain stone  11 .  
         [0045]     As shown, engagement members  16  have a generally smooth-surfaced circular shape to facilitate easy removal and replacement of stone  11 . Alterative embodiments may adapt the shape of engagement members  16  to smoothly receive and expel stone  11 .  
         [0046]     As is obvious to one skilled in the art, in the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 through 7  the engagement or receiving base remains with jewelry member  17  and does not separate as in the previous embodiment.  
         [0047]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 through 12 , an alternative design to the present invention includes a third apparatus  100  having a jewelry member (ring member)  102  supporting a receiving base  103 . A plurality of hinged members  104  are spaced about a surface of receiving base  103 .  
         [0048]     Each hinged member  104  includes an attachment portion  106  extending downwardly into (or to) receiving base  103  fixing hinged member  104  to jewelry member (ring member)  102 .  
         [0049]     A hinge pin  107  attaches a gripping portion  105  to attachment portion  106 . A spring member  108  is retained on or in gripping portion  105  and a leg portion  108 A of spring member  108  rides over a top edge of attachment portion  106 .  
         [0050]     As a consequence of this design, it will become apparent to those readily skilled in the art, that during use, a user may grasp gripping portion  105  and rotate grip portion  105  about pivot hinge pin  107  allowing leg portion  108 A to snap into an open position along a flat top portion. In this open position of one or more hinged members  104 , a user may easily extract and replace stone  101 .  
         [0051]     It will also become apparent, that when a user rotates gripping portion  105  into a closed position, leg portion  108 A rides over the outer surface of attachment portion  106  and elastically urges gripping portion  105  into a closed position thereby retaining stone  101  within mutual hinged members  104 .  
         [0052]     While the present embodiment specifies a design, those skilled in the art of jewelry design should readily recognize that each embodiment includes a means for release-ably retaining a stone or a stone and base on a jewelry member.  
         [0053]     One alternative embodiment (not shown) employs shape memory effect (SME) alloys to release-ably retain a stone on a jewelry member. In this alternative embodiment, a plurality of gripping members extend from a receiving base to engage a stone member. At least one of the gripping members is constructed from a SME alloy and shaped in a closed “engaged position” grasping the stone and retaining it in an adapted receiving base.  
         [0054]     Based on the SME alloy, a user could for example, warm the setting under water or with a hair dryer until the SME element relaxed from its closed “engaged position” into an open “disengaged position” extended away from a receiving base allowing a user to easily grasp, remove, and replace a stone. Once the stone had been replaced, the stone setting and SME element may be held under cold water or allowed to cool, returning the SME gripping member to the closed “engaged position.” 
         [0055]     In other envisioned embodiments, the present invention may be easily adapted to alternative jewelry (non-ring) designs and allow ready stone interchange for necklaces, broaches, watches, earrings, and other related pieces of jewelry. For example, each embodiment may be used with a necklace wherein a receiving base is adapted to replace-ably retain a stone member or replace-ably receive an adapted stone-base assembly.  
         [0056]     It should be understood by those skilled in the art, that where described above “means” or “means-plus-function” language is intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies on friction between a wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw&#39;s helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolt&#39;s head and nut compress opposite sides of a wooden part, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures.  
         [0057]     Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes, modifications, and adaptations may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined herein.