Matchmaking jewelry and method

A matchmaking ring and method of communicating personal status to another person is provided. The matchmaking ring of the present invention includes means for identifying personal characteristics of the ring wearer. The matchmaking ring further includes means for identifying desired personal characteristics of a potential partner of the ring wearer. When one matchmaking ring is compared or abutted to another matchmaking ring, the engagement or non-engagement between the two rings determines if two people are compatible. Further, the ring itself acts as an indicator to other people that the ring wearer may be a potential partner. Thus, the invention provides a method of wearing the matchmaking ring and identifying others that are wearing a similar matchmaking ring as a potential partner. The ring may be worn as a wedding ring to stave off unwanted advances from individuals who do not know of the ring's significance.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to jewelry, and more particularly, to jewelry for determining one person's compatibility with another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A long-standing challenge in day-to-day life of single men and women is dating and trying to find that perfect match or partner. Many methods have recently been introduced in our culture to help solve this problem. These methods range from “match maker” consultants to speed dating parties to online dating. The later method of online dating has become successful as a means for meeting people. However, online dating can be cumbersome and can require one to sort through hundreds of online profiles. It is frustrating when one tries to make contact with people and no response is received because one's profile or pictures do not accurately represent that person. And conversely, it is difficult for one to make the same decisions about other people without meeting them and seeing how they interact with others, dress, present themselves, etc. There are many times that these meetings result in disappointment because the person one imagined in one's mind, with the information you received from a single or a few photographs, ends up not being what was expected. Thus, there are many people who still want to meet someone face-to-face.

However, many people who want to meet someone face-to-face still need a way to quickly identify whether the people they meet have desired personal characteristics. Furthermore, many people would like to know before talking to someone for an extended period of time whether someone is single. Additionally, those that want to meet people face-to-face may still be shy or have a difficult time initiating a conversation because they do not know of any commonalities between themselves and the person they would like to approach. Still further, many people would like to meet a potential match face-to-face, but do not wish to advertise to the general population that they are looking for a possible relationship.

There exists, therefore, a need in the art for a mechanism that allows single people to quickly identify if someone who they find attractive in a face-to-face meeting shares commonalities and personal characteristics and is available for a relationship.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above described and other problems existing in the art, the present invention provides a matchmaking device and method that relieves many of the problems that surround dating. A matchmaking device of the present invention provides a common thread between two people, as well as an ice breaking device for both people because both people have a similar device which gives the individuals a topic of initial conversation and commonality. An embodiment of the matchmaking device according to the present invention advantageously allows one person to communicate his or her personal characteristics and desired personal characteristics to a potential partner quickly and easily.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying and communicating with a potential partner a person's current status as being a potential partner themselves. The method includes the step of wearing a matchmaking ring indicating the status of being a potential partner. The method also includes the step of identifying a second person as a potential partner by identifying a ring that that person is wearing as also being a matchmaking ring. This method may also include steps of comparing the two rings and determining if each person has the desired characteristics of the other. In a preferred method of the present invention, the matchmaking ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand. As such, the single status and desire to meet other singles is concealed from the general population who are not aware of the ring's purpose, thereby protecting the wearer from unwanted advances.

In another aspect, the invention provides a system for determining compatibility between two people based on personal characteristics of the individuals. The system includes two rings. Each ring includes means for identifying at least one personal characteristic of the ring wearer and means for identifying at least one personal characteristic desired by the ring wearer of a potential partner. When the two rings are abutted with one another, compatibility can be determined by the interaction of the different means on each ring.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a matchmaking device for determining personal compatibility with another person who has a similar matchmaking device. The device is preferably embodied as a ring having means for indicating at least one personal characteristic of the ring wearer as well as means for indicating at least one desired personal characteristic of a potential partner of the ring wearer. When the matchmaking device is aligned with a second similar matchmaking device of a potential partner, the compatibility of the ring wearer and the potential partner can be determined. Specifically, compatibility is determined when the means for indicating at least one personal characteristic of the ring wearer's matchmaking device appropriately aligns with the means for indicating at least one desired personal characteristic of a potential partner's matchmaking device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Moving to the figures,FIG. 1illustrates one embodiment of a first matchmaking ring10and a second matchmaking ring12constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The rings10,12are devices to determine whether two people are compatible or have similar characteristics or have characteristics for which the other person is looking in a potential partner. It will be appreciated that partner, as is used with respect to the present invention, is not limited to an intimate partner but is broad enough to include platonic partners such as someone who has the same interest or interests, someone that another may wish to have a friendship with, someone who enjoys the same activities, and the like. The rings10,12also identify the ring wearer as a potential partner for someone else. The rings10,12are a way for individuals to quickly communicate information about themselves to another so that they can determine if they might be a suitable match, thereby making the dating process simpler and quicker. Thus, the rings10,12are personal and unique to an individual and the pair of rings10,12act much like a lock and a key, as will be explained more fully below.

The matchmaking rings10,12are generally annular rings sized to be worn on a person's finger similar to other ring-type jewelry. However, the present invention is not limited to ring-type jewelry and the present invention could include other jewelry such as pendants, necklaces, watches, and the like. The rings10,12may be made from almost any suitable jewelry material such as platinum, gold, white gold, silver, plastic, titanium, carbide and the like. Not only can the rings10,12be made from various types of materials, the type of material may be used as a means of identifying a characteristic about the wearer, such as the wearer's economic status.

The finger on which a wearer wears the a ring10may further communicate information to other potential partners. If the ring wearer only desires to communicate with other people who have a match making ring or know the significance of the match making ring, the ring wearer may wear the ring on his or her left hand ring finger. In this position, those that do not know of the significance of the ring, i.e. that the wearer is looking for a partner, may view the ring on the left ring finger as a wedding ring and those people will not make advances toward the ring wearer. However, those that know the significance of the ring10will still continue to communicate with and make advances to the ring wearer. Thus, by wearing the ring on a specific finger, namely the left hand ring finger, the ring wearer reduced the amount of people that he or she would have to talk to by making those people perceive that he or she is married. Furthermore, the finger on which the person wears the ring could communicate other information such as a person's sexual orientation, or that the person is single but does not want to currently date anyone, or that the person is not looking for a serious relationship. These types of characteristics can change on any given day and thus it is beneficial that the wearer can change what he or she communicates without having to physically alter the ring.

With reference toFIGS. 1-3, the first ring10generally has two separate sections, a wearer's section16and a match's section18. In the disclosed embodiment, the wearer's section16is similar to a receptacle or female part of a connector and the match's section18is a plug or male part of a connector. However, the sections may be reversed.

The wearer's section16indicates the personal characteristics of the wearer. The wearer's section16includes a plurality of protrusions20and grooves24angularly spaced around the central axis of the ring10. These protrusions20and grooves24represent individual characteristics exhibited or possessed by the wearer. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusions20extend radially inward from an inner surface27of the ring10and axially from a first end25, or face, of the ring10toward a second end26, or face, of the ring10. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusions20extend only a portion of the axial distance from the first end25to the second end26. The grooves24are formed and positioned between adjacent protrusions20.

The match's section18indicates the wearer's desired characteristics in a match. The match's section18also includes a plurality of protrusions28and grooves32that represent the desired and undesired characteristics of a person to which the wearer would like to talk and possibly date, i.e. a match. The protrusions28extend radially outward from an outer surface33of the match's section18of the ring10and axially from the second end26toward the first end25. In an embodiment, as is shown, the protrusions20,28extend from respective ends25,26of the ring10only partially the axial length of the ring10.

The second ring12is substantially similar to the first ring10and includes a wearer's section38and a match's section40. The wearer's section38includes a plurality of protrusions44and grooves48, and the match's section40further includes a plurality of protrusions52and grooves56. The protrusions44,52and grooves48,56are unique to the wearer of the second ring12because the structures represent that wearer's personal characteristics as well as the wearer's desired personal characteristics in a potential partner, respectively.

Thus, when two rings10,12are abutted with one another with the match's section18of the first ring10proximate the wearer's section38of the second ring12, as is shown inFIG. 1, the protrusions28and grooves32of the first ring's match's section18and the protrusions44and grooves48of the second ring's wearer's section38act like a key. If the two rings10,12can engage one another like a plug and socket, a possible match is determined.

In one embodiment, each ring10,12includes an alignment groove62,64, respectively, for proper alignment of the rings10,12. Not only do the rings10,12need to be aligned concentrically, the appropriate characteristics of the first ring10must be compared to the corresponding characteristics of the other ring12. In a preferred embodiment, all grooves24of the female section, the wearer's section16, will be the widest at the radial inner most location and at most as wide or narrower at an outer radial position. Conversely, the grooves32of the male section, the match's section18, will be widest at the radially outer positions and at most as wide or narrower at the radially inner position. This configuration prevents the protrusions and grooves from forming dove tails and allows rings of different sizes to more easily engage one another.

To determine if a person is a potential match, a first person will wear a match-making ring10. Next, the person will identify another person as a possible match by identifying the ring they are wearing as being a matchmaking ring12. After approaching the other person, and using the embodiments of the present invention as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, the two people remove their rings10,12and compare the rings10,12to determine if the match's section18of the first ring10, mates with a wearer's section38of the second ring12. As will be discussed more fully below, however, not all embodiments of the present invention must be removed to be compared.

If the two rings10,12interlock and mate, this indicates that one person's desired characteristics are possessed by the second person. At this point, a one-way match has been indicated. However, in order to ensure that the second person's desired characteristics are possessed by the first person, i.e. a two-way match, the rings10,12may be reversed and the wearer's section16of the first ring10aligned with a match's section40of the second ring12. If the two rings10,12interlock and mate in both configurations, then a match is determined.

As is shown inFIG. 1, the rings10,12are a match and compatibility between the two people is realized because there are no interferences between the protrusions28of the match's section18of the first ring10and the protrusions44of the wearer's section38of the second ring.

FIG. 4illustrates a situation where no match is made and the two people are preliminarily determined to be incompatible. In this case, the first ring10has protrusions28of the match's section18that align with protrusions44′ of the wearer's section38′ of the second ring12′ creating an interference. As these protrusions28and44′ align, the interference prevents the two rings10,12′ from being connected indicating that the two people are preliminarily determined as incompatible.

However, just because the rings10,12′ illustrate an initial incompatibility, the people do not have to stop talking to one another. The rings can serve the additional function of providing an “ice-breaker” for two people and a common thread about which the two people may talk. Even after an initial determination of incompatibility, the two may decide to continue to converse to further determine if they could be a possible match. However, the incompatibility of the rings can serve as a reason or easy way for one of the people to end the conversation if it is determined that the person does not want to continue to pursue the other person.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 5-8. The ring100, shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, includes a wearer's nugget102and a match's nugget104. The wearer's nugget102and match's nugget104function in a similar manner to the wearer's section16and match's section18, respectively, of the previous embodiment. Specifically, the match's nugget104is used to align with a wearer's nugget102′ (seeFIG. 8) of another ring to determine compatibility between the two ring wearers. In this embodiment, each nugget102and104includes a plurality of regions. Each region is assigned a separate personal characteristic. In an embodiment, the wearer's nugget102includes a plurality of protrusions110in different regions to represent an individual personal characteristic of the wearer. The match's nugget104includes a plurality of indentations118in different regions to represent an individual characteristic that the wearer desires in another person.

In one embodiment, the nuggets102and104are advantageously part of the outer radial periphery119of the ring100. By being part of the radially outer periphery, the ring100does not need to be removed to compare the personal characteristics represented by one ring to the personal characteristics represented by another ring as discussed above. Another advantage of this design is that no matter the diametrical size of the ring100, the nuggets102,104as well as the included protrusions110and indentations118, can be universally sized. This improves the interaction between a large ring, such as a size 13, with a small ring, such as size 5.

When a person configures, i.e. has their ring made, he or she indicates his or her personal characteristics from a predetermined list of characteristics. These characteristics are symbolized by a protrusion110in the corresponding region predetermined for that characteristic. If the person does not exhibit that characteristic, then that region would be left with a blank flat spot, indicated by reference number120, of the wearer's nugget102illustrated inFIG. 5. The person also determines the characteristics that the person desires or is ambivalent about in a potential partner. These characteristics are symbolized as an indentation118in the corresponding region of the match's nugget104. If the person does not desire a potential match to have a particular characteristic, the corresponding region of the match's nugget104does not include an indentation and has a blank flat spot, indicated by reference number122illustrated inFIG. 6. To ensure that appropriate regions align during a compatibility comparison, in one embodiment each nugget102and104includes an alignment groove126,128, respectively. These alignment grooves126,128should be aligned when two separate rings are tested for a couple's possible compatibility as is illustrated inFIG. 8.

As this embodiment was described with the wearer's characteristics symbolized as protrusions110and the match's desired characteristics symbolized by indentations118, one will recognize that the invention is not limited to this configuration and the indentations could be switched with the protrusions. Furthermore, as the illustrated embodiment has a separate wearer's nugget102and a separate match's nugget104, an embodiment may have only a single nugget that has one section that provides the wearer's characteristics and another section for the desired match's characteristics. Furthermore, to make the rings more aesthetically pleasing, the wearer's characteristics and match's characteristics could be dispersed among the regions such that the indentations and protrusions are distributed about the surface of the nugget. Additionally, the protrusions can be provided by other materials and means than just the base material of the ring such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, crystals, pearls, and other gemstones to further improve or vary the aesthetic appeal of the rings.

As is shown inFIG. 7, all of the protrusions110″ of a wearer's nugget102″ of a third ring100″ align with a corresponding indentation118of the match's nugget104of the first ring100. In this situation an initial match will be determined as the flat surface132″ of the third ring's wearer's nugget102″ will abut smoothly with the flat surface134of the match's nugget104of the first ring100because all of the indentations110″ will be received by an indentation118.

In the illustrated embodiment, when a match is not made, as is illustrated inFIG. 8, at least one protrusion110′ of the wearer's nugget102′ of a second ring100′ will not match up with a corresponding indentation in the match's nugget104of the first ring100to receive the protrusion110′ of the second ring100′. Specifically, the corresponding region of the first ring's match's nugget104will have a blank flat spot122which will cause an interference with the protrusion110′ of the second ring100′. This interference will prevent a smooth planar abutment or engagement between the two rings100,100′ indicating that the two rings100,100′, and the corresponding ring wearers, are not compatible.