Abstract:
A jewelry wire ring is disclosed that includes a band member and an interchangeable member. The band member is a multi-segmented arrangement of gold/silver wires intertwined together to form helical rope structure. The interchangeable member has an ornamental configuration adapted to represent a crown of the ring. The interchangeable member includes a channel section adapted to circumvolve along the helical elements of the band to define a locking and/or unlocking position of the ring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to jewelry rings and, more particularly, to a jewelry wire/rope ring that includes interchangeable alphabets. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The jewelry articles are well-known such as jewelry rings or chains that include multiple intertwined gold or silver strands forming wire or rope structures. For example, U.S. Pub. No. 2003/0074881 discloses a jewelry rope chain comprising a series of tightly intertwining helical strands. The prior art jewelry articles that are configured to be mounted with alphabets and/or numerals are also well-known. For example, U.S. Pub. No. 2002/0144514 proposes an article of manufacture showing the use of a plurality of the character elements placed in abutting relation along particular sections of the chain component to allow the formation of the character elements in a desired and aesthetically attractive sequence. However, these character elements are normally permanently connected to these articles and have configuarational limitations to be interchanged with other alphabets. A user/wearer may appreciate a jewelry article that has an arrangement adapted to be positioned/replaced with a plurality of alphabets per his/her desire. 
         [0005]    The annular jewelry articles including decorative elements that are replaceable to/from the item of jewelry having an annular segment are widely seen in the prior art. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/0010161 teaches an item of jewelry that uses simple means such that it is easy to exchange one decorative element with another on an item of jewelry having an annular segment. The item of jewelry can have one or several decorative elements that can be easily interchanged as and when desired. These elements are normally connected to the jewelry articles through externally attached locking mechanisms. However, these locking mechanisms are likely to undergo physical deterioration with the course of time. Additionally, these locking means reduce aesthetic effect of the jewelry articles as well. A jewelry article is needed that includes an interchangeable dual function element that facilitates a locking arrangement for the article in addition to functioning as a decorative element. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A jewelry wire/rope ring is described that comprises a band member and an interchangeable member. The band member defines an insertion post, a stopping post and a plurality of helical elements. The insertion post defines a proximal end of the band member. The stopping post defines a distal end of the band member. The helical elements define a helical rope structure that is adapted to facilitate a user to diametrically flex or stretch the helical elements in a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction to clasp a finger of a user. 
         [0007]    The interchangeable member includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a back surface that together define a channel section that circumvolves in a counter clockwise direction along the helical elements to be positioned on the band member to define a locking position of the ring. The channel section circumvolves in a clockwise direction along the helical elements for being removed from the band member to define an unlocked position of ring. The channel section includes a guiding member adapted to guide the helical elements through the channel section. The front surface of the channel section defines a plurality of indentations adapted to receive a plurality of diamonds for creating an aesthetically enhanced illusion. This advantageously allows the interchangeable member to be represented as a crown of the ring. 
         [0008]    The channel section has a width three times the diameter of the helical element adapted to limit the channel section to occupy only three helical elements on one occasion. The insertion post of the band member is adapted to facilitate insertion of the helical element through the channel section in a comfortable manner that passes three times through the channel section and partially locks over the band member which defines a primary locking position of the ring. The stopping post has a diameter greater than the width of the channel section adapted to prevent the rotational movement of the interchangeable member along the helical elements which defines a secondary locking position of the ring. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above mentioned and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views where: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a ring constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the ring of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a band member in an unlocking position of the ring of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an interchangeable member in the unlocking position of the ring of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a back perspective view of the interchangeable member in the unlocking position of the ring of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the ring of  FIG. 1  showing that the interchangeable member and the band member are in a first position while attaining a primary locking position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the ring of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  a perspective view of the ring of  FIG. 1  showing that the interchangeable member and the band member are in a second position while attaining the primary locking position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the ring of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the ring of  FIG. 1  showing that the interchangeable member and the band member are in a third position after attaining the primary locking position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the ring of  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the ring of  FIG. 1  in a secondary locking position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention. 
         [0023]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a jewelry article  10  is shown that includes a band member  12  and an interchangeable member  14  that are bilaterally positioned along a central vertical axis-X. The article  10  in this one preferred embodiment is a finger ring, however, it is understood that article  10  can be any jewelry article in other alternative embodiments such as, for example, an earring, a necklace, a bracelet or an anklet. The band member  12  is made of multiple segments of gold/silver  16  that are intertwined together to form a plurality of helical rope elements. In this one preferred embodiment, the band  12  and interchangeable member  14  are preferably made of same material, however, it is understood that the band member  12  and interchangeable member  14  can be made of different materials in other alternative embodiments. In this one embodiment, ring  10  includes a single interchangeable member  14 , however, it is understood that the quantity of interchangeable member  14  may vary per intended use of ring  10 . Interchangeable member  14  defines a head/crown portion of ring  10 . Ring member  12  defines a body/band portion of ring  10 . 
         [0024]    The band  12  has an inner rim portion  18  and an outer rim portion  20  that preferably have a common center defined along the axis-X. The inner rim portion  18  and outer rim portion  20  define a thickness  22  that is substantially identical throughout the circumference of band  12 . However, it is understood here that thickness  22  of band  12  may substantially vary per the intended application of ring  10 . The inner rim portion  18  defines a central opening  24  adapted to receive a finger of a wearer/user. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , band  12  is shown in an unlocking position of ring  10 . In this one preferred embodiment, band  12  includes a first helical element  26 , a second helical element  28 , a third helical element  30  and a fourth helical element  32  that together facilitate a helical rope structure to band  12 . It is understood however that the number of helical elements  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  may vary in other alternative embodiments of ring  10 . The helical rope structure facilitates the user to diametrically flex or stretch helical elements  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  in a clockwise or counter clockwise directions around the central axis-X, respectively indicated by arrows ‘A’ and ‘B’, to clasp a finger of the user. This facilitates the ring  10  to be worn on any finger of the user. This also facilitates the ring  10  to be worn by any user having the finger of any size. The first helical element  26  includes an insertion post  34  that defines a proximal end of band  12 . The insertion post  34  has a configuration adapted to facilitate insertion of alphabet  14  on to band  12 . The fourth helical element  32  includes a stopping post  36  that defines a distal end of band  12 . The stopping post  36  has a configuration adapted to prevent alphabet  14  from being removed from the distal end of the band  12 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , interchangeable member  14  is shown in an unlocking position of ring  10 . Interchangeable member  14  has a front surface  38 , a back surface  40 , a top surface  42  and a bottom surface  44 . The front surface  38  is substantially flat and has a shape of an alphabet. In this one preferred embodiment, front surface  38  has a shape of the alphabet ‘Z’, however, it is understood that front surface  38  can be of any alpha numeral shape in other alternative embodiments such as, for example, A-Z and/or 0-9. It is also understood that front surface  38  can be of any geometrical shape in other alternative embodiments such as, for example, a square, a rectangle, a triangle and a circle. It is also understood that the front surface  38  can be of any shape such as a human, an animal, a bird, a reptile, or an insect in other alternative embodiments. The back surface  40  is substantially flat and preferably has a rectangular configuration. The top and bottom surfaces  42 ,  44  preferably trapezoidally extend between the front and bottom surfaces  38 ,  40 . The surfaces  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  define a channel section  46 . The channel section  46  defines a guiding member  48  adapted to guide the helical elements  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  through channel section  46 . The channel section  46  has a width  50  that is three times the diameter of any of the helical elements  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 . The channel section  46  has a height  52  that is substantially equal to the diameter of any of the helical elements  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 . Front surface  38  in this one embodiment defines a plurality of indentations  50  that is adapted to receive a plurality of diamonds to create an aesthetically enhanced illusion of alphabet  14 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , band  12  and interchangeable member  14  are in a first position while positioning the interchangeable member  14  over first helical element  26 . In this position, channel section  46  is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow ‘C’ such that guiding member  48  allows insertion post  34  to comfortably pass through channel section  46  on a first occasion. Interchangeable member  14  circumvolves around axis-X along the helical element  26  on a first occasion in a counter clock wise direction indicated by an arrow ‘D’ such that insertion post  34  completes first complete rotation around axis-X and gets aligned to enter through channel section  46  on a second occasion. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , band  12  and interchangeable member  14  are in a second position adapted while positioning interchangeable member  14  over the second helical element  28  in addition to first element  26 . In this position, channel section  46  of interchangeable member  14  moves in a direction indicated by an arrow ‘E’ such that guiding member  48  allows insertion post  34  to comfortably pass through channel section  46  on the second occasion. Interchangeable member  14  circumvolves on a second occasion around axis-X along the helical element  28  in a counter clock wise direction indicated by an arrow ‘F’ such that insertion post  34  completes second complete rotation around axis-X and gets aligned to enter through channel section  46  on a third occasion. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , band  12  and interchangeable member  14  are in a third position adapted while positioning of the interchangeable member  14  over helical element  30  in addition to elements  26 ,  28 . In this position, channel section  46  of interchangeable member  14  moves in a direction indicated by an arrow ‘G’ such that guiding member  48  allows insertion post  34  to comfortably pass through channel section  46  on the third occasion. In this position, interchangeable member  14  circumvolves on a third occasion around axis-X along the helical element  30  in a counter clock wise direction indicated by an arrow ‘H’ such that insertion post  34  completes third complete rotation around axis-X and passes over the interchangeable member  14  as the width of the channel section  46  limits the channel section  46  to occupy only three helical elements on one occasion. This facilitates interchangeable member  14  to accommodate three helical elements  26 ,  28 ,  30  and get partially locked over band member  12  to define a primary locking position of ring  10 . However, is understood here the interchangeable member  14  is movable between helical elements  30 ,  32  in the primary locking position. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , interchangeable member  14  in this one preferred embodiment circumvolves in a counter clockwise direction along helical element  32  indicated by an arrow ‘I’ to define an ultimate locking position of ring  10 . In this position, stopping post  36  prevents rotational movement of interchangeable member  14  along the helical element  32  as stopping post  36  has a diameter that is substantially greater than the width of the channel section  46 . This defines a secondary locking position of the ring  10 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-12 , interchangeable member  14  in operation is adapted to circumvolve in a counter clockwise direction along helical elements  26 - 32  for being rotatably positioned on the band  12  thereby defining a locking position of the ring  10 . However, it is understood that helical elements  26 - 32  in other alternative embodiments can be moved through channel section  46  in a clockwise direction to achieve the locking position of ring  10 . Interchangeable member  14  in operation is adapted to circumvolve in a clockwise direction along helical elements  26 - 32  for being rotatably removed from band  12  thereby defining an unlocking position of ring  10 . However, it is understood that helical elements  26 - 32  in other alternative embodiments can be moved through channel section  46  in a counterclockwise direction to achieve unlocking position of ring  10 . 
         [0032]    In operation, helical elements  26 - 32  are adapted to attain a stationary position and interchangeable member  14  is adapted to be manually moved along helical elements  26 - 32  to facilitate locking/unlocking. However, it is understood that interchangeable member  14  may attain a stationary position and helical elements  26 - 32  can be manually moved through the channel section  46  to facilitate locking/unlocking in other alternative embodiments.