Abstract:
An ornament for a person comprises: an attachment body having an at least partially closed loop shape and including first and second side wall portions; a guide rail formed of an elongated member, the guide rail including a first end pivotally fixed to or extending from the first side wall portion of the attachment body in a direction inwardly to said at least partially closed loop shape of the attachment body, a second end, and a parallel rail portion extending between the first and second ends of the guide rail; and an decorative element having first and second lateral sides, and including a guide hole formed through the first and second lateral sides, the guide hole configured to insert the second end of the guide rail there-through and having a width the same as or slightly wider than the size of the parallel rail portion of the guide rail to enable a sliding movement of the decorative element along the guide rail. The second end of the guide rail is displaceable or deformable outwardly from the attachment body to enable said insertion of the decorative element through the guide hole of the decorative element, and is returnable or recoverable to an original position to prevent the inserted decorative element from missing out of the guide rail as its movement is restricted by the first and second side wall portions of the attachment body.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an ornament or jewelry to be worn on a person&#39;s body, and more particularly to an ornament, for example, such as earrings and necklaces, having decorative elements detachably attachable to the ornament. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Personal or body-worn ornaments, such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, are typically formed to have a frame member, such as a ring or sleeve, and decorative elements attached or affixed to the frame member. 
         [0003]    For example, an earring or necklace is typically shaped to include a ring or loop type member adapted to be worn onto a person&#39;s body (such as an ear and neck), and an ornamental element, such as gem or precious metallic material, securely affixed to the ring or loop type member. However, the configurations of most earrings and necklaces are generally limited to one particular design of the specific piece of ornament. Moreover, it is generally not practical to have a sign or image of preference affixed onto the piece of ornament due to its limitation in configuration. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there exists a need to provide enhanced flexibility or adjustability to the design of the ornaments, while maintaining ornamental or adorning characteristics of the jewelry. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, in consideration to handle and overcome aforementioned and other shortcomings of the prior art ornaments, the present invention is directed to provide a novel design of a personal ornament, jewelry, or decorative device which can allow attachment of decorative or ornamental elements to the body of the ornament, for example, such as an earring and necklace. 
         [0006]    The present invention is also directed to an ornament with ornamental or decorative elements detachably attached by selection of a wearer, and also to an ornament kit containing multiple decorative or ornamental elements to facilitate the user&#39;s selection thereof. 
         [0007]    According to one aspect of the invention, the ornament wearable onto a person comprises: an attachment body having at least partially or substantially closed loop shape and including first and second side wall portions; a guide rail formed of an elongated member, the guide rail including a first end pivotally fixed to or extending from the first side wall portion of the attachment body in a direction inwardly to said at least partially closed loop shape of the attachment body, a second end, and a parallel rail portion extending between the first and second ends of the guide rail; and an decorative element having first and second lateral sides, and including a guide hole formed through the first and second lateral sides, the guide hole configured to insert the second end of the guide rail there-through and having a width the same as or slightly wider than the size of the parallel rail portion of the guide rail to enable a sliding movement of the decorative element along the guide rail. The second end of the guide rail is displaceable or deformable outwardly from the attachment body to enable said insertion of the decorative element through the guide hole of the decorative element, and is returnable or recoverable to an original position to prevent the inserted decorative element from missing out of the guide rail as its movement is restricted by the first and second side wall portions of the attachment body. 
         [0008]    According to one preferred embodiment, the attachment body and the guide rail are formed unitarily in one piece, and the guide rail is extending from the first side wall portion of the attachment body in said inward direction to said at least partially closed loop shape of the attachment body, wherein said outwardly displaceable movement of the second end of the guide rail is realized by deformation of the guide rail. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the attachment body and the guide rail are formed in separate pieces, and the first end of the guide rail is pivotally fixed to the first side wall portion of the attachment body, wherein said outwardly displaceable movement of the second end of the guide rail is realized by pivoting the guide rail. 
         [0009]    According to one preferred embodiment, the ornament is a necklace configured to be worn by a person&#39;s neck. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the ornament is an earring configured to be worn by a person&#39;s ear. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the necklace without attaching the decorative elements, constructed according to one preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2(A) and 2(B)  are front perspective views illustrating the necklace of  FIG. 1  with selected decorative elements attached thereto; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is front elevation view of one exemplary ornament kit, constructed according to one preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the earring illustrating a state before the guide rail is installed to the frame or sleeve member, constructed according to another preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the earring of  FIG. 4  illustrating a state after the guide rail is installed to the frame member and the selected decorative elements are attached to the guide rail of the earring; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the earring with one decorative element attached and showing the ear fixing screw detached, constructed according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    With reference to the drawings, personal ornaments of the invention, in particular earrings and necklaces, are described and illustrated herein according to the principles of the invention. Even though the present invention is particularly described in connection with preferable or exemplary embodiments of the invention, it is not limited thereto and may be applied to other types of ornaments such as bracelets and/or personal decorative articles. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary embodiment of the necklace of the present invention is depicted herein as one way of example for illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         [0018]    The necklace  100  includes, a string, chain or loop member  102  configured to be worn by a neck (not shown) of a person, and an attachment body or ring  110  coupled to the string  102 , typically via a ringlet  112  connected to the attachment body  110  and shaped to receive and hold the string or chain  102  therein. The attachment body  110  is formed with an elongated member, such as wire and solid bar, made of elastic or non-elastic materials, and has an appealing appearance to function well as a personal ornament or jewelry. More preferably, the attachment body  110  is formed with material having a spring property to a certain degree, and is deformable but preferably recovering its original shape when released after distortion. Possible candidate for the material of the attachment body  110  includes steel, stainless steel, high carbon spring wire, music wire, alloy steel wire, non-ferrous alloy wire, titanium, and other alloy materials, preferably having spring properties to some extent. However, materials deformable without having elastic properties can also be used. The attachment body  110  includes an outer circumference portion  114  of generally rectangular, polygonal, oval, circular, or other substantially closed loop shape, and an inner portion  116  extending laterally or transversely into the substantially closed loop of the outer circumference portion  114 . The outer circumference portion  114  and inner portion  116  are preferably disposed in a same plane when they are not subject to deformation in a lateral direction for installation of decorative elements  140  (to be described below in detail) thereto. In order to appeal as a fine jewelry, the attachment body  110  can be plated or coated with precious materials or the like, such as gold, silver, platinum, brass, chrome, nickel plating, and the like. The decorative elements  140  can be also plated or coated with similar precious materials or the like in the same or different colors. Otherwise, the decorative elements  140  and attachment body  110  can be made of precious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, or alloys thereof. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates one exemplary shape of the attachment body  110 , which includes a first end  118  and a second end  120 , and has a generally rectangular outer circumference. However, other circumference shapes can be also applicable as long as it has a substantially closed loop shape, with the inner portion  116  extending transversely in the substantially closed loop. The inner portion  116  extends preferably in a horizontal or transverse direction from the second end  120  of the outer circumference portion  114  towards the opposite side  122  of the outer circumference portion  114 , and is bent backwards in the horizontal direction, thereby, defining a bent tip  124  at the proximity of the lateral side  122 , a free end  126  at the proximity of the second end side  120 , and a parallel wire portion  128  there-between. The parallel wire portion  128  of the inner portion  116  is configured to slidably fit in a guide groove or hole  130  formed horizontally through the side wall portion of each decorative element  140  for slidably attaching the decorative elements  140  of wearer&#39;s selection, for example, such as wearer&#39;s or another&#39;s name, its favorite symbols or messages, or the like. The guide hole  130  of the decorative element  140  has a groove width “W” (see  FIG. 3 ) slightly larger than the width of two parallel wire portions  128  for facilitating insertion and sliding movement there-though. Small gaps  132  and  134  are formed between the distal end of the first end  118  and the bent portion  120  of the inner ring portion  116 , and between the tip  124  and the side  122 . The size of the gaps  132  and  134  is preferably smaller than the width of the decorative elements  140  to prevent the installed decorative elements  140  from derailing and missing from the inner ring portion  116 . 
         [0020]    It is particularly noted that the parallel guide rail or parallel wire portion as used in this application is intended to refer to a rail or wire portion(s) having two opposing rails or wire portions disposed in a parallel and/or substantially parallel relation to each other. Thus, the parallel rail portion  128  is meant to include not only the opposing rail portions disposed in exactly parallel relation to each other, but also in a generally parallel relation with each other as long as the rail portions are intended to function as a guide rail member for guiding the decorative elements  140  along the guide rail member. 
         [0021]    In order to install the decorative elements  140  of choice, the user first bends and pulls the tip  124  (which is normally in alignment with the lateral side  122 ) of the inner ring member  116  outwardly and inserts selected decorative elements  140  one after another with its guide hole  130  aligned to the tip  124  of the inner ring member  116 . Because the attachment body or ring  110  is made of deformable material (preferably of material having elastic property to some extent), the inner ring portion  116  can be easily bent for installation and return to its original shape after all elements  140  are installed.  FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B)  illustrate certain examples of the necklace of the invention, with the selected elements  140  installed to the inner guide rails  116 . The user can select any characters, symbols, or pictorial elements of its choice. Once the decorative elements  140  are installed, they are retained in the parallel guide rails  116  and refrained from missing due to the side restrictions of the outer circumference portion  114  of generally closed loop shape, such as rectangular, circular, or other loop shapes. Moreover, because the inner extension portion  116  (and also the outer circumference portion  114 ) is formed preferably with solid bar-like member of small thickness, it hides inside the decorative elements  140 , and does not significantly affect the precious and appealing appearance of the decorative elements  140  (which is preferably plated or coated with precious metallic materials or the like). 
         [0022]    According to one preferable embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , an ornament kit  150  is provided to facilitate and enable the user&#39;s selection from a wide variety of decorative elements, for example, such as numerals, letters and characters (preferably with various font types and sizes), signs, symbols (for example, such as heart and star symbols), and various drawing or pictorial elements. The ornament kit  150  (i.e., decorative elements  140 ) can be provided in an envelope, bag or pouch, or by other known manners for providing such letters, characters, and symbols to the user. For example, a guide bar  142  can be provided, which has a dimension suitable to insert into the guide hole  130  of the decorative element s 140  in order to facilitate sorting and arranging the decorative elements  140  in a logical or convenient manner. Thus, with the aid of the ornament kit  150 , the user can select desirable decorative elements and complete the decoration of the ornament (such as the necklace  100  or earring  200 ) or display symbols or messages of its choice. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIGS. 4-5 , another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described herein, in particular, as a way of example to apply the invention to an earring. 
         [0024]    The earring  200  includes an attachment body or sleeve  210 , which has a generally circular outer circumference of appealing shape. However, the attachment body or sleeve  210  can have other circumference shape as long as it has a partially or substantially closed loop shape with side wall portions  212  and  214  defined therein. The attachment body  210  preferably includes a first free end  216  and a second free end  218 , to which a hinge  220  and a hook  222  (such as U-shaped elastic fingers or catcher) is installed, respectively. A pin  224  is pivotally fixed to the hinge  220  with a free end configured to detachably couple with an upper end of the hook  222 . The pin  224  is adapted to insert into a pierced hole of a wearer&#39;s ear or an attached accessory thereof for hanging the earring  220 . A guide rail  240  is installed between the side wall portions  212  and  214  by an attachment method known in the art. In this embodiment, the guide rail  240  is formed with a bar or wire-like member and extends straightly and bent backwards to define a tip portion  242 , free end portions  246  adapted to pivotally fix to the side wall portion  212 , and a parallel guide bar portion  244  between the tip portion  242  and the free ends  246 . The free end portions  246  include bent leg portions  248  to pivotally fix into fixation holes  226  of the side wall portion  212 . The distal tip  242  of the guide rail  240  is detachably affixed to a catch or hook member  228  with a structure known in the ornament industry. For one example, the catch member  228  can be a vertically extending groove or hole formed at an inner surface of the side wall  214 , configured to receive and hold the tip portion  242  therein. For another example, the catch member  228  can be a U-shaped elastic holder or catcher configured to detachably hold the tip  242 . 
         [0025]    The guide rail  240  is made of elastic or non-elastic materials. For example, the guide rail  240  can be formed of a metal having a spring property to a certain degree, and is deformable but preferably recovering its original shape when released after distortion. Possible candidate for the material of the attachment body  110  includes steel, stainless steel, high carbon spring wire, music wire, alloy steel wire, non-ferrous alloy wire, titanium, and other alloy materials, preferably having spring properties to some extent. However, materials deformable without having elastic properties can also be used. Alternatively, the decorative elements  140  and attachment body  210  (and maybe the guide rail  240  as well) can be made of precious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, or alloys thereof to function well as jewelry. 
         [0026]    The parallel wire portions  244  of the guide rail  240  are configured to slidably fit in a guide groove or hole  130  which is formed horizontally through the side wall portion of each decorative element  140  for slidably attaching the decorative elements  140  of wearer&#39;s selection. The guide hole  130  of the decorative element  140  has a groove width “W” (see  FIG. 5 ) slightly larger than the width of two parallel wire portions  244  for facilitating insertion and sliding movement there-though. 
         [0027]    In order to install the decorative elements  140  of choice to the guide rail  240  of the earring, the user holds the parallel guide portions  244  and applies force to detach the affixed tip  242  from the catch member  228  (such as a catching groove), and thereby, rotates outwardly the guide rail  240  about the pivotal legs  248 . Then, desired decorative elements  140  are selected from the ornament kit  150  ( FIG. 3 ), and inserted one after another with its guide hole  130  of each decorative element  140  aligned to the tip  242  of the guide rail  240 .  FIG. 5  illustrates one example of the earring with selected decorative elements  140  attached thereto in a manner explained above. The user can select any characters, symbols, or pictorial elements of its choice. Once the decorative elements  140  are installed, they are retained in the parallel guide rails  244  and refrained from missing due to the side restrictions of the closed outer circumference portions  212  and  214  with the guide rail  244  securely but detachably attached thereto. Moreover, because the guide rail  244  is formed preferably with solid bar-like member of small thickness, it hides inside the decorative elements  140 , and does not significantly affect the precious and appealing appearance of the decorative elements  140  which is preferably plated or coated with precious metallic materials or the like as described above. 
         [0028]    As stated above, the embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5  is described in connection with an earring. However, the inventive concept and features can also be applied to other personal ornament such as a necklace. When applying to a necklace, the attachment body or sleeve  210  can be modified to have a closed loop shape (such as a circular ring shape), with its upper portion having a ringlet (such as ringlet  112  as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to receive a necklace string or chain there-through and hang on a person&#39;s neck. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the earring of the invention, in which the ear fixing screw detached for illustrating purposes. The earring  300  has a structure generally similar to the necklace  100  of  FIG. 1 , and detailed description to the common elements thereof (denoted with the same reference numerals) is omitted for simplicity and to be referred to the description of  FIG. 1 . However, in this embodiment, the outer circumference portion  114   a  of the attachment body has a generally hexagonal shape instead of the rectangular shape of  FIG. 1 . However, other shapes (such as circular or oval shapes) can also be applicable as long as it has a partially or substantially closed loop configuration as described above in connection with  FIG. 1 . Also, instead of ringlet  112 , the outer attachment body portion  114   a  includes an ear fixing element  112   a  with a screw hole  302  for detachably fixing a pin member  310  there-through. The pin member  310  include a fixation element, such as a screw portion  312 , at least at the distal end thereof, and a main body portion of the pin  310  is configured to couple with a pierced ear (not shown) or with an attachment element thereof (not shown) to hang the earring onto the wearer&#39;s ear. 
         [0030]    Moreover, in this embodiment, at least the parallel rail portion  128  of or the entire surface of the guide rail  116  is coated or otherwise covered with resilient materials (for example, such as rubber, silicon, or other resilient plastic materials) or anti-slippery materials  320 , preferably covered to a size snuggly fit to the width W of the guide hole  130  of the decorative elements  140 , to prevent lateral movement of the decorative elements  140  when they are installed onto the guide rail. In this manner, when one or more decorative elements  140  are installed at an inside area of the parallel rail portion  128 , they can maintain their originally installed positions without slipping outwardly. The resilient or anti-slippery materials  320  covering over the guide rail  116  can be transparent materials (such as transparent polymeric material) or colored in a same color with the guide rail  116  in order not to hinder the appealing appearance of the ornament as a whole. 
         [0031]    While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in connection with certain presently preferred embodiments of necklaces and earrings, the invention is not limited thereto and applicable to other types of personal ornaments, jewelry, and personal decorative devices, and is also applicable to other shapes, structures, configurations of the ornaments as long as it meets the concepts and principles of the invention as discussed above or to be recognized there-from. Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are intended to cover, therefore, all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.