Abstract:
The present invention is embodied in a jewelry display apparatus having a jewelry holder with means for grasping a circular object from at least two points along an interior circumferential wall and mechanically connected by an articulation device to a base. The jewelry display base includes an object having a mount for supporting a jewelry holder stand on a planar surface and at least one light source embedded in the object for directing light out away from the surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/719,728 filed on Sep. 22, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/721,931 filed on Sep. 29, 2005, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field Of The Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to methods and devices for holding jewelry, and, more particularly, to improved methods and devices for holding and displaying jewelry. 
         [0004]    2. Description Of The Related Art 
         [0005]    The need to display a piece of jewelry to a potential customer relates to an interaction between individuals that may be as old as civilization itself. Today, it is not uncommon to display rings to customers on felt or cloth covered boards or on a salesperson&#39;s hand. Such presentations require difficult manipulation by the salesperson to show the client all of the fine points of jewelry being presented. An efficient manipulation of the “rings” being presented is a problem faced by all persons conducting counter top sales of expensive and high quality jewelry. 
         [0006]    Moreover, in the past loops or microscopes have been used by jewelers as tools of the trade to build consumer confidence in the jewelry that they purchase. Such devices give the retail jeweler the opportunity to discuss the jewelry and its characteristics so the customer can see these characteristics and make an informed purchase. By showing a customer flaws in a particular piece of jewelry, the jeweler may demonstrate why similar pieces are different, uniquely identifiable and have different assessed values. This “informed consumer” approach can increase sales, profits and subsequent purchases by the consumer and avoid misunderstandings. Despite the effectiveness of such devices, they have their shortcomings. For example, jewelers&#39; loops, referring a particular type or magnifying glasses, must be held by the user and, thus, are unsteady and difficult for an untrained user to effectively utilize or to reference an element being presented by the salesperson. Similarly, microscopes are expensive and difficult to use for showing the customer unique and specific characteristics of each item examined and can also be difficult to use for showing the customer unique and specific characteristics of each item examined and can also be difficult to use for each of the parties. In addition, both of these devices have no simple means for displaying jewelry to the customer. Accordingly what are needed are devices and methods for holding and displaying the key features of the offered jewelry in an easy to use in an exacting and cost effective manner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is embodied in a jewelry display apparatus having a jewelry holder with means for grasping a circular object from at least two points along an interior circumferential wall and mechanically connected by an articulation device to a base. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the jewelry holder includes a generally uniform strip of sheet steel arranged into a central portion, a first end portion and a second end portion with free ends of said first and second end portions having tension to maintain the free ends in a spaced apart relation diverging away from each other. The first and second free end portions include ring contact regions near said free ends, wherein a circular object is held between the contact regions which when placed against the circular object to direct tension outwardly away from the object. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the jewelry holder includes a handle and at least two supports, each having elongated bodies with first ends mechanically connected to the handle. The second ends are in spaced apart relation such that the bodies diverge out and away from each other from the first ends relative to the second ends. The second ends include contact regions to contact an interior wall of a ring. Tensioning means is located between the supports for holding the ring by the contact regions while allowing the ring to be held at a plurality of angles relative to a horizontal plane. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the jewelry display base includes an object having a mount for supporting a jewelry holder stand on a planar surface and at least one light source embedded in the object for directing light out away from the surface. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the base includes a jewelry box having a removable cover wherein said cover includes said mount and said light source. 
         [0012]    In yet another embodiment, the mount includes one of a plurality of grommets and the jewelry holder stand includes a plurality of posts that in turn will allow their placement into a variety of differently sized, supporting post holes represented by said plurality of grommets. These grommets may further have different light transmissive properties. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a jewelry display assembly of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cut away side view of a jewelry display case of the jewelry display assembly taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the jewelry display case of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cut away side view of the jewelry display case taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a jewelry holder of the jewelry display assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a jewelry holder of the jewelry display assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of the jewelry holder of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a jewelry display assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    With reference to the drawings for purposes of illustration, a jewelry display assembly  20  according to the present invention includes a plurality of jewelry holders  22 ,  24  and  26 , each supported by a stand  28  via a manipulation arm  30  having a handle  32 . An exemplary assortment of jewelry holders includes a flat nosed alligator clip  22  for holding rings and slotted, flat nosed alligator clip  24  for holding the corners of finished gem stones in the slots. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the jewelry holders provided with display apparatus may include any assortment jewelry display devices such that the inventive concepts presented should not be limited by the exemplary jewelry holders  22  and  24 . The stand includes a distal end formed with a removable post  34  for insertion into the post hole  36  of a base  38  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0023]    An improved jewelry holder  26  ( FIG. 1 ), supporting a ring  40  encrusted with jewels  42 , is formed from a strip of sheet steel. The sheet steel is bent into a shape having a generally flat foot or attachment portion  44  fitted with a central bore hole for attachment to the arm  30  by a screw  46  through the hole and threaded into the arm. Ring supports  48  and  50 , which form the main portion of the holder, extend out from the attachment portion  44  with distal ends  52  and  54  diverging away from each other. Each ring support includes a ring contact region  56  and  58 , where the supports curve inward toward each other and a lip, where the distal ends  52  and  54  of the supports flare back out away from each other. A scratch resistant polymeric coating  60  and  62  covers portions of the supports  48  and  50  including the lips  52  and  54  and contact region  56  and  58 . Tension along the foot  44  of the holder forces the two supports  48  and  50  apart and thereby permits rings of varying sizes and weights to be held within by the opposing tension of the supports within the contact regions. 
         [0024]    Advantageously, the jewelry display assembly includes a jewelry display case with a storage box  66  slidingly receiving a cover  68  through a track formed by respective tongue  70  and groove  72  elements of the cover  68  and box  66 . The cover  68  includes a post hole  36  to function as a base for the stand supporting one of the jewelry holders  22 ,  24  and  26 . The post hole  36  is preferably reinforced by a grommet  74  inserted in the cover. The grommet is preferably made from translucent material for transmitting light out of the cover when activated by a switch  76  located near a handle  78  for the cover  68 . The handle  78 , arranged on an end  80  in the form of a knob is presently preferred, but should not be considered limiting to the invention. 
         [0025]    The handle, to facilitate sliding of the cover relative to the box, may be located on the upper surface as well (not shown) or may be represented by an indentation in the cover (not shown) sufficient to be grasped by the finger of the user. Similarly, the box  66  and cover  68  is presently constructed from wood; however, any material pleasing and conducive to sale and display of jewelry may be used. Such materials may vary depending upon the environment the jewelry display apparatus is used in, the types of customers attracted to the store and types and variety of jewelry sold. In one embodiment the interior of the display box is lined with felt (not shown) in which the felt is of a color complementary with box design or a reflective surface for enhanced illumination. The box  66  shape is presently envisioned to be rectilinear; however other shapes may be used. The box  66  may further be enhanced with indicia (not shown) in the form of designs and ornamentation provided on the outside or inside of the box intended to be pleasing to the eye or marked with useful information such as ring size charts or measurements to determine jewelry sizes or other such information to facilitate identification of jewelry characteristics. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , the cover  68  of the jewelry display box  66  includes a number of improvements to enhance the presentation of jewelry. As discussed earlier, the cover provides illumination delivered through a translucent grommet  74  into which the post portion  34  of the stand  28  is inserted. The lighting serves a number of useful purposes some of which include providing a diffuse light source to enhance the presentation of jewelry in the holder. Furthermore, the lighting may be used to enhance different characteristics of the jewelry being examined. Additionally, the grommet  74  in some embodiments is interchangeable with grommets having other translucent properties such as color and polarizing light to further enhance the delivered lighting effect. This is particularly useful when examining gemstones for imperfections and different light characteristics that can make identification of such imperfections much easier. In another embodiment, multiple grommets  90  and  92  nested within each other may be used to enhance the lighting effect. For example providing two color shades to view the jewelry under color transitions or polarized light to view the light when projected in directions that are contrasting or complementary. Also tunnels  94  having ambient air or other material with light transmissive properties may be included to provide directed diffused lighting. This arrangement is useful when it is desired to view the lighting effects when light is directed at specific surfaces of the gemstones. The light source  96  is preferably in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected by a wire to a battery and the switch  76  on the outside of the cover ( FIG. 1 ). The LED may be of any color as suited to desired use of the jewelry display apparatus; however, a white light LED is presently preferred as it provides the greatest versatility with regard to the use of the interchangeable grommets  74  ( FIG. 1) and 90  and  92  ( FIG. 2 ). The battery may be of any type suitable for illuminating an LED or may be a capacitor (not shown) that is quick charged from an external source (not shown) or an external power source, if the apparatus is used as an unmanned display. Furthermore, the switch  76  ( FIG. 1 ) may be of any conventional form including, but not limited to, a slide switch or push-button switch as illustrated by  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, the LED is interchangeable as well. 
         [0028]    In yet another embodiment ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), the cover  100  is provided with three post holes  101 - 103  surrounded by grommets  105 - 107  similar to the one post hole configuration in which three LEDs  109 - 111  provide illumination to gem stones  113 - 115  through translucent material  116  and  118 . The LEDs are connected in circuit with the exterior switch  76  ( FIG. 3 ) and a battery source  120 . The three illumination sources allows for versatility in examination of a single gemstone by allowing for different lighting configurations to be set to enhance different characteristics. Also the light sources may be used with different gemstones to show off their complementary characteristics such as one set up for a “yellow diamond”, another for a “pink diamond” and a third for a “white diamond”. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, the one post hole configuration and the three-post hole configuration are provided on opposite sides of the same cover, where the one post hole illumination is, by way of example, but without limitation, configured for diffused ambient lighting and the three LEDs on the opposite side are configured for gemstone analysis. Thus, cover could merely be removed from the track with the display box and flipped over to change from box and cover arrangement of  FIG. 1  to the box and cover arrangement of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIGS. 5-6 , the improved jewelry holder  26  of the present invention when secured on a stand  28  for mounting on a base provides for complete articulation of the holder  26  to any position including 360 degree rotation about the axis of the stand  28  as defined by line  130 , 360 degree rotation about the axis of the manipulation arm  30  as defined by line  132 , motion above and below the hinged connection of the manipulation arm  30  to the stand as defined by lines  134  and  136 , and motion along the longitudinal axis of the manipulation arm  30  relative to the stand  28  as defined by line  138 . To achieve this flexibility in motion, it should first be understood that jewelry holder  26  provides sufficient tension and support to hold a ring or like cylindrical object to permit the many different degrees of motion while maintaining the ring in a secure manner. 
         [0031]    It has been found through experimentation that a jewelry holder as described supra, but without a polymeric coating, when made from a 0.5 cm wide strip of  306  type stainless steel having 0.15 cm thickness, 1 cm wide long foot and 3 cm long supports, provides a relative strength to permit manipulation through all of the degrees of motion described supra while supporting a generally 2.5 cm diameter object weighing generally up to 80 grams. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such capabilities exceed the weights of most rings in which a common, but not inclusive, weight range is 0.5 to 20 grams. It is this ability to provide the means hold the ring while rotating the jewel holder through different positions that presents a new and unique way to view jewelry. The entire exterior surface of the ring is made available to the viewer with the need to reposition the contact point between the jewelry and jewelry holder. This presents the viewer with that ability to view the entire outer circumference of the jewelry without the need to pause and reposition the holder as is required with existing alligator clip type jewelry holders. Thus, the experience of viewing the jewelry may be conducted without disturbing the experience. 
         [0032]    Other features, which support the ability to control the position of the jewelry holder  26 , include the secure attachment of the jewelry holder to the manipulation arm  30 . This is presently accomplished by a polymeric caulk cementing the screw  46  to the jewelry holder  26  and manipulation arm  30 . The manipulation arm  30  moves relative to the stand  28  through a bushing within a sleeve  142  that allows uniform motion when a force is applied to the manipulation arm  30  and a screw pivot  144  attaching the sleeve  142  to the stand  28 . A bushing of the type suitable for this purpose is a brass or copper bushing. A tension device maintains tension between the sleeve and the manipulation arm. A tension device of the type suitable for this purpose is a conventional leaf spring (not shown). Removal of the jewelry holder  26  from the stand  28  is accomplished by unscrewing the manipulation handle  32  from the arm  30  and withdrawing of the arm  30  from the sleeve  142 . 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, the jewelry holder is powder coated into a variety of colors that may be used to complement or contrast or neutrally display the jewelry, such colors may include, but are not limited to, metallic coatings such as chrome, gold, silver and brushed steel, any variations of powder coatings such as black, white or other primary colors, flesh tone colors, glossy coatings and ultraviolet coatings. Furthermore a plurality of jewelry holders may be used to depict different viewing environments for the jewelry. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, a cylindrical piece of compressible material placed between the supports of the jewelry holder with the rubber and jewelry holder covered by a flesh tone colored stocking (not shown) provides a flesh tone emulating a ring finger to further compare and contrast different varieties of jewelry allowing the viewer to view the ring as it might be seen on the finger of another individual. 
         [0035]    In another embodiment ( FIG. 7 ), the stand  28  is fitted with a ball  150  and socket  152  joint in which movement within the ball and socket joint is activated/deactivated by a set screw  154  to thereby provide additional articulation of the jewelry holder radially about the center of the ball and socket joint as shown by line  156 . 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , an alternate display base  160  includes a post hole  162  to support a stand  28  and jewelry holder  26  along with three post holes  162 - 164  fitted with grommets  166 - 168  and overlying an LED illumination circuit  170  to deliver light illuminating effects in the same manner as described supra. 
         [0037]    Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.