Abstract:
A jewelry holder for gem-stones or jewels, such as of the type that could be mounted onto a jewel stud or stud-like pierced earrings, is provided. In a presently preferred embodiment, the jewelry holder is generally elongated and is made of a rigid, transparent material. The holder has a handle portion and a distal tip portion. The body of the holder has one hole, or preferably a plurality of one vertically aligned hole(s) or bore(s) and a jewel mounted in each hole(s). In use, jewels of different shapes, sizes, types, colors and/or cuts are placed in the holes within the body of the holder for display and trying on and/or purchasing. The holder can be held up against the user&#39;s body to see what that jewel would look like when inserted into, for example, an earlobe.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of displays, and in particular relates to display holders for jewels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When selecting a jewel, it is desirable to have some mechanism for simultaneously comparing different jewels, particularly if one is purchasing a jewel to be mounted to a stud that would be insertable in pierced ears. A holder can facilitate the availability of trying on and/or purchasing a mounted jewel stud, inter alia, in the most commonly used varieties, types, shapes, sizes, colors, cuts, and the like. Further, a holder that increases the relative ease and ability of trying on and/or purchasing jewel studs is even more desirable. Persons and entities marketing jewels for sale, for example, desire to use a jewel holder that shows the types of jewels as effectively as possible. Moreover, a holder that eliminates a person&#39;s need to handle an item (or insert into an earlobe or other body part) prior to purchase is advantageous at least for health and safety reasons. 
     In the terms of this application, the word jewel is synonymous with the word gem and the word gemstone and is a very broad term that encompasses without limitation, for example, real and artificial; rough and cut; natural and man-made or synthetic; colored and natural coloring; crystals and garnets; and precious, semiprecious, and glass. The phrase jewel type includes such different types as diamonds; zirconia; rhinestones; rubies; pearls including fresh water and salt water; aquamarine; tourmaline; beryl; chrysoberyl including cat&#39;s eye; opal; garnet and mandarin garnet; peridot; amber; topaz; corundum including rubies and sapphires and orange sapphires; quartz including citrines and blue and rose quartz; amethysts; onyx and carnelian; turquoise; agate; lapis lazuli; jade; moonstone; tanzanite; emery; spinel; zircon; tiger eye; malachite; and sandstone. 
     Jewels are selected by type, shape, size, color, cut, clarity, and the like. Some exemplary jewel shapes include round, brilliant and brilliant modified; princess cut; emerald cut; pear; oval; heart; trillion; marquise; asscher; cushion; square and other quadrilateral shapes or polygon; and pearl shape. 
     There is a desire of those marketing jewels to provide an efficient way for purchasers to see and try different jewels in a relatively easy way. For example, a person desiring to purchase a jewel that for example, can be made into an earring, may not have a lot of time to investigate the very large number of varieties, as mentioned above. However, if that same purchaser could see how different varieties would look as, for example, an earring looks in their ear, compare the earring to others, and do so in a clean environment—in a matter of seconds, they may be more likely to do so. Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive holder can meet the needs of buyers and sellers alike. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention provides a holder for mounted jewels or free jewels of different types which can, for example, increase and facilitate the ease of selecting a jewel that can be made or mounted into, for example, a stud-type pierced earring in a variety of types, shapes, sizes, colors, cuts, and the like, or which has already been so made or mounted. 
     In the present invention, each jewel holder can be manufactured with a specific selection of type of gemstone, color, cut, size and the like, so that a buyer can compare gemstones. The gemstones, for example, may be in a “crystal” or glass version. Such embodiment of the gemstones creates a cost effective and user-friendly way to display their appearance. Also as an example, one holder may display a different combination of a gemstone, or a different combination of size, cut, color, and the like. For example, three radiant cut diamonds (represented by clear crystals or rhinestones) in 0.25 carat, 0.33 carat, and 0.75 sizes may be shown in one holder. 
     The present invention also provides a means for manufacturers and retailers, for example, to market and sell jewels for earrings of the aforementioned types including but not limited to the following jewel shapes: round brilliant, brilliant modified, princess cut, emerald, pear, oval, heart, trilliant, marquise, asscher, cushion, square, quadrilateral, polygon, pearl, natural round pearls, freshwater pearls, and mother of pearl. The aforesaid shapes and types can be in all sizes, colors, and configurations. 
     In a first specific embodiment, the present invention comprises a holder for the temporary positional display of a plurality of jewels so that a user can view the jewels when they are positioned against the user&#39;s body. The holder has an elongate body with a thinner width than length thereof. The body has a first end portion, a mid portion that is integral with the first portion and a second end portion that is integral with the mid portion. Further, the body, including the second end portion, has a size and shape such that it can be used as a handle by the user. The holder is configured to hold a plurality of jewels fixedly attached at the first end, such that the jewels are visible from one side of the holder. The holder can also include a back for the jewel to rest on or which can be opaque or transparent so that the jewels are visible from either side of the holder. 
     In another or the same embodiment of the present invention as above, the body is one piece, transparent, and the first end portion is tapered. The jewels are fixedly attached to the first tapered end and spaced longitudinally apart at a predetermined distance so that when positioned against a user there is a visually distinctive and individual view of each of the jewels. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, there is a disk rotatably attached near the end of the first end portion, the disk having a plurality of jewels embedded in the first tapered end. Further, the jewels embedded in the disk are spaced apart radially at a minimum distance so that when positioned against the user there is a visually distinctive view of any one jewel. The disk can be made of a transparent material. 
     In another embodiment the holder material is lightweight and scratch resistant, and can be made of glass, for example. 
     In another embodiment, the holder material may also be made of a thin, rigid, non-brittle plastic that can be cleaned with soap and water. The plastic may be a methyl methacrylate polymer. 
     In yet another embodiment the body of the holder is made of a clear, transparent, rigid, non-brittle, non-fogging, thin, lightweight, scratch resistant plastic material. 
     In yet another specific embodiment, the body of the holder has a preferred width at said tapered first end that is about one-fifth the width of said second end, although other broader or narrower widths can be used, depending upon the particular design and shape of the body. 
     In yet another embodiment the first end portion, middle portion, said second end portion of said body are symmetrical about its own axis. Additionally, the axes of the first end portion, the middle end portion and second end portion of the body can be collinear from a front view elevation perspective. 
     In yet another embodiment, the second end portion portrays a design. 
     In yet another embodiment, the axes of said first end portion, middle portion, said second end portion of said body form an arcuate shape in a front elevation view, with a plurality of jewels fixedly attached to said first tapered end, said jewels spaced arcuately apart at a minimum distance such that when positioned against said user there is a visually distinctive view of any one jewel. Further, the second end portion is tapered and has a plurality of jewels fixedly attached to the second tapered end, said jewels are spaced arcuately apart at a minimum distance such that when positioned against said user there is a visually distinctive view of any one jewel. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, the holder contains a plurality of jewels, which consists of one each of the same jewel type in a progression of sizes of the same cut and color. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention the plurality of jewels consists of one each of the same jewel type in a variety of cuts of the same size and color. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention the plurality of jewels consist of one each of the same jewel type in a variety of colors of the same size and cut. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention the plurality of jewels consists of one each of various jewel types of the same size. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention a holder for the temporary positional display of a plurality of groups of jewels is so that a user can see how many any one of said jewels will look when positioned against the body of said user. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is a method for viewing how a jewel of a pierced earring will appear against the body of the user. Additionally, a plurality of jewels can be fixedly attached to a holder made of transparent material and the holder is held against the body of said user to simulate the position of the jewel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view in actual size scale of a holder in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in which the holder has an overall elongate shape. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view in actual size scale of the holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a holder according to the present invention in which the holder has an overall arcuate shape. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a holder according to the present invention having a wheel attached to the distal tip of the holder. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the holder of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIGS. 6 through 8  are front elevational views of alternate embodiments of holders according to the present invention having at least one end of the holder in the shape of a design. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings wherein like elements throughout the several views have like identification numerals, and in particular with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a generally collinearly shaped jewel wand or holder  10  in accordance with the present invention is depicted. Location or position terminology, such as upper, is relative, and is for convenience and understanding of the present invention. Such terminology refers only to the orientation of a particular drawing. 
     Holder  10  is comprised of an elongated, one-piece base or body  12  that is symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis (not shown). Holder  10  has a constant thickness and a rounded first end  14  integral with and located at the terminus of an upper, elongate triangular-like or pointed portion  16 . Body  12  has a second end  20  at the terminus of an elongate, bulbous handle portion  22  in elevational view. Intermediate first end  14  and second end  20  is a mid-portion  23 . Handle portion  22  is integral and coplanar with mid-portion  23  at a junction  24 , and triangular pointed portion  16  is integral and coplanar with mid-portion  23 . Second end  20  is wider than first end  14 , but is still curvilinear with a much larger curvature of radius than the curvature of radius of first end  14 . Holder  10  has a first side edge  26  and an opposite second side edge  28  which extend from ends  14  and  20 . 
     Distinctly spaced, vertically aligned jewel receiving bores or holes  17 ,  18  and  19  are located in portion  16  and are spaced apart longitudinally from first end  14  and vertically aligned with each other. In this particular embodiment, mid-portion  17  has holes that extend completely through body  12 . Holes  17 ,  18 , and  19  need not be vertically, co-lineally aligned, but are vertically separated from one and another so that different sections can be viewed apart of the others. 
     In order to be held comfortably by the user&#39;s hand, handle portion  22  is contoured at the bottom. Handle portion  22  has concave first outer edges  30  and  32  beginning from junction  24  with pointed portion  16  which together form a grip region  34 . First outer edges  30  and  32  integrally mate with first ends of convex second outer edges  36  and  38  that together form a bulbous section  40  of handle portion  22 . Concave third outer edges  42  and  44  which together form a butt section  46  of handle portion  22  integrally mate with second ends of convex second outer edges  36  and  38 . In addition in order to increase the comfort of handle portion, the edges of sides  26  and  28  can be rounded. 
     Holes  17 ,  18 , and  19  are heart shaped and accommodate therein conventional heart shaped jewels such as diamonds  48 ,  49  and  50  having respective exemplary weights of 1.00 carat, 1.50 carats and 2.00 carats. However, the shape of holes  17 ,  18  and  19  can have a shape so as to accommodate any of the aforementioned conventional shapes of jewels, such as round, oval, or square. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, only artificial diamonds such as clear crystals or rhinestones jewels, are used. 
     Diamonds  48 ,  49  and  50  are preferably securely and rigidly or permanently mounted in holes  17 ,  18  and  19  with means such as an adhesive applied around the periphery thereof, by being force fit therein, or with conventional mounting pins, such as are used in mounting a diamond into a setting. Other mounting means can be used and would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, while holes  17 ,  18  and  19  have been depicted in the figures as being through holes, handle  10  can have a backing onto which jewels  48 ,  49 , and  50  can be supported or mounted. Such a backing can be transparent so that the jewels can be seen from either side, or it can be opaque. If the backs of the jewels inserted into the holes are flat, then the backing can have an adhesive on it that can either removably or permanently mount the jewels to the backing. The jewels can alternatively be removably mounted in a die-cut hole or opening or can be fixedly mounted in a die-cut hole or opening. The jewels can be wedged in an opening; held in place in an opening by an adhesive of any type; or subjected to a heating process wherein the jewel is force-fit into a bed that allows the jewel to rest against the back of the holder, regardless of die dimension, and then secured therein when the jewels cool; or otherwise secured therein. 
     In  FIG. 3 , a jewel holder  70  has a generally arcuate or crescent shape in a front elevational view. The side elevational view is a thin rectangle, somewhat similar to that depicted in  FIG. 2 , but with different shading lines. Holder  70  has a constant thickness and has a first, pointed end  72  and a second, pointed end  73 . End  72  has four bores or holes  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80  therethrough and end  73  with four bores  75 ,  77 ,  79  and  81  therethrough. End  73  is also a handle portion  84 . Holder  70  has an enlarged or wider mid-portion  86  that is wider than the width of either end  72  or  73  and can also serve as a handle. 
     Like the holes in the first embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , holes  74 - 81  receive corresponding jewels. In the example of  FIG. 3 , holes  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  80  receive jewels that are clear diamonds (which can be simulated or real)  90 ,  92 ,  94  and  96  having sizes or weights, respectively, of 0.25 carats, 0.50 carats, 0.75 carats, and 1.00 carats. Each of the holders described herein can have any number of holes (e.g., one, two, three, four, etc.). These diamonds are fixedly mounted in their corresponding holes with means that can be the same used to mount the jewels in the holes in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Hole  75  mounts a jewel  93  that is also a clear diamond (which can be simulated or real) having a size or weight of 2.00 carats. Holes  77 ,  79  and  81  are the same size and mount jewels  95 ,  97 , and  99  that are the same size or weight, but are colored diamonds, blue, red, and yellow respectively, and can be simulated or real. The colors are exemplary and they can be of any commercially available color. With different colors, the selection of a particular type can easily be made. Obviously, the number of holes, the size of the holes and the arrangement of the holes are exemplary and other sizes and arrangements would be readily apparent. 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a generally collinearly shaped jewel wand or holder  100  of a third embodiment in accordance with the present invention is depicted. Holder  100  is comprised of an elongated, one-piece base or body  102  that is symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis and is generally the size and shape of holder  10  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , described hereinabove. Holder body  102  has a front side surface  103  and a back side surface  105 . Holder  100  also has a rounded first end  104  at the terminus of an elongate triangular or pointed portion  106  and a rounded second end  108 . A flat disk  110  having a front side surface  111  and a back side surface  112  is rotatably attached to first end  104  with an axle  114 . Disk  108  has four holes,  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  therethrough, which are spaced equally radially apart. Four jewels  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136 , which have irregular and different shapes and sizes, are mounted therein by the same means as described hereinabove with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, unlike the aforedescribed jewels, jewels  130 ,  132 ,  134  and  136  have a thickness that is greater than the thickness of disk  108  and thus extend beyond both front side surface  111  and back side surface  112 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , an alternative embodiment of a generally collinearly shaped earring wand or holder  210  in accordance with the present invention is depicted. Holder  210  is comprised of an elongated, one-piece base or body  212  that is symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis (not shown). Holder  210  has a rounded first end  214  at the terminus of an elongate triangular or pointed portion  216  with three distinctly spaced bores or holes  220 ,  222  and  224  spaced apart longitudinally from first end  214  and extending completely through body  212 . Jewels  230 ,  232 ,  234  are mounted respectively in holes  220 ,  222  and  224  therein by the same means as described hereinabove with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Jewels  230 ,  232  and  234  are of the same type, such as an emerald, and have the same sizes or weights, but have different shapes. Thus, jewel  230  has a round cut, jewel  232  has a square cut and jewel  234  has a pear shape cut. The holder has a second end portraying a design cutout of the cartoon character Mickey Mouse  240  mounted on or molded with holder  210 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict other variations in the design and shape of the holder that can incorporate the famous logo of a famous company. Thus, for example,  FIG. 7  depicts holder  310  that incorporates the initials of David Yurman, and  FIG. 8  depicts a holder  410  that incorporates an initial of Tiffany&#39;s. Of course, the holder could incorporate the logo design, emblem or initials of other companies, such as Zales, Macy&#39;s and even a “Mom and Pop” store or chain. 
     In use a jewel holder  10  provides a viewing opportunity to see and determine how a jewel having a particular type, shape, size and color will appear against an object, such as a piece of jewelry, clothing or a part of the body of the user. A jewel holder  10  preferably made of a transparent material and containing a plurality of aligned jewels is selected according to the type, shape, size and color of the jewels attached to or embedded therein. Alternatively, an empty jewel holder  10  is selected and a variety of jewels is selected and attached to or embedded in upper portion  16  of jewel holder  10 . A first selected jewel section of jewel holder  10  containing the particular variety of jewels located in different sections of upper portion  16  is then positioned against the object, which for exemplary purposes only, will be assumed to be a part of the body of the user. Then one selected jewel section at a time containing the particular jewel of interest is aligned and displayed at a location on the body where the jewel in an appropriate setting will be worn. The remaining jewel sections are then aligned, one section at a time, at the body location and the appearances of the different jewels are then compared. Additional jewel holders, each having a different combination of jewels, as desired by the user, are selected and the above placing, aligning and displaying steps are repeated for each jewel on each additional jewel holder  10 . 
     It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure, dimension, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular application for the web interface such that different dialog boxes are presented to a user that are organized or designed differently while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.