ORNAMENT

Abstract: Ornament comprising a stem (1) and an ornamental element (2) proper, which is replaceably attached to the stem. The stem (1) comprises a socket (3) provided with at least one opening (4), whereto the replaceable ornamental element (2) can be inserted so that it is visible from ouside the socket and/or in between the separate parts of the socket. The ornamental element (2) is formed of some thin material such as paper, which can be rolled up or folded and inserted to the socket (3).

Description: ORNAMENT The present invention relates to an ornament comprising a stem and an ornamental element proper, whi.oh ornamental element is replaceably fastened to the stern. In the prior art there is known, from the Swiss patent publication 508,393 and from the Finnish patent application 1799/69, a combined ornamental structure, which comprises a mounting and a replaceable ornamental element, which can be fastened to each other by means of threadings. The latter speci ication also points out the possibility that an intermediate plate can be fitted in between the mounting and the replaceable element, which intermediate plate also serves as an aesthetic element affecting to the appearance of the ornament. The drawback of the above described ornaments i that a threading is needed both in the stem and in the replaceable element, which complicates the manu actu ing. This does not remarkably increase the price of the ornament in case of jewellery made of valuable precious metals and. adorned with diamonds or the like, but threading is not suited for cheap ornaments in lnass- production. Moreover, the changing of the replaceable ornamental element takes time and requires both patience and deftness with one's fingers. The Brittish patent specification 1,504,492 introduces an ear ornament likewise comprising a fastenin member and an ornamental member. The fastening member is provided with a male element, and the ornamental member i provided with a female element matching the said male element. The female element of the ornamental member is pressed onto the male element, wherefrom it can, when desired, be disengaged and replaced by a different ornamental member. The above described ear ornament is suited for mass production, bu it requires that the separate members, both the fastening member and the ornamental member, are manufactured, and that the respective male and female elements are accurately matched with each other. When t 'j user of this kind of ear ornament wishes to change the appearance of the orn.ament, she has to by two or more additional ornamental members. Moreover, the male element may wear or break in use, In which case the user must .also buy a new fastening member. The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate, among others, the drawbacks described above, and to realize an ornament, the appearance and/or basic colours whereof the user can herself change quickly and economically. This is achieved by means of the characteristic novel features of the invention, enlisted in the appended patent claims. The most remarkable advantage of the ornament according to the invention is that each user can freely alternate at least the basic colours of the ornament without having to purchase for instance additional ornaments or parts thereof with different colours. Moreover, the ornament is easily and rapidly modified, by pulling the replaceable ornamental element out of the socket provided in the stem, and by inserting a new ornamental element, of a different colour, shape or the like, Into the said socket. In the following the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, where Figure 1 illustrates an ear ornament in an exploded view la, as a uniform entity IB and as a modification 1C; Figure 2 illustrates a brooch in an exploded view 2A and as a uniform entity 2B; Figure 3 is an exploded view of a ring seen from the side 3A and from the top 3B; Figure Λ illustrates an ornament provided with two engageable ornamental members; Figure 5 illustrates three different preferred embodiments for the ornament of the invention. The ornament comprises the stem 1 and the ornamental element proper 2, which is replaceably attached to the stem 1. According to the invention, the stem 1 includes a socket 3, which is provided with an aperture 4, slot or the like, whereto the replaceable ornamental element 2 can be inserted so that it is visible from outside the socket and/or in between the separate part,? o£ the socket. This is apparent, in a general way, from the preferred embodiments illustrated in figures 1-5. The stern 1 is provided with necessary means 5, 6 for fastening the ornament for instance to the ear lobe (figures 1 and 5) and to clothing (figure 2) . On the other hand, the stem 1 can be shaped so that it serves as a fastening means, for example as the band of a ring (figure 3). The shape of the stem 1 as such is not limited in any way. According to figures 1Λ and IB, the socket 3 of the ornament is provided with at least one round or elliptical opening 4 , where the ornamental element 2, respectively round or elliptical in shape, can be inserted. In this case the ornamental element is elongate and cylindrical in shape. The ornamental element 2 can also be formed of a rectangular piece of paper, of a colour which appeals to the user and for example matches her clothing. The piece . of paper is rolled up, as is seen in figure 1A, and inserted to the socket 3, so that the final creation is the ornament seen in figure IB. Instead of paper, some other thin material can also be used, such as plastic film, metal foil etc. Some other tubular or rod-like piece can also be used in the ornamental element. The socket 3 can be formed of two or several interconnected sockets 3a and for instance of rings or sleeves, as is seen in figures 1C and 2. On the other hand, the socket or the stem or a combination thereof can be a uniform piece of a random shape, provided with one or several openings or slots for the replaceable ornamental elements . Figure 2 illustrates a brooch according to the invention, wherein the stem 1 is formed of a triangular- shaped plate, the edge whereof is provided with the socket 3. The said socket is formed of two or more rings or sleeves 3a, which are located coaxially in successsion, at given intervals from each other. Now a cylindrical ornamental element 2 can easily be inserted to the socket and likewise removed when desired. The safety pin 6 is used for fastening the ornament to clothing. Figure 3 illustrates a ring according to the invention. A socket 3b Is attached to the stem 1, which in this case is a ring to be slipped to the finger. The socket 3b can be provided with at least one elongate opening, whereto the plate-like ornamental element can be fitted. In this case the elongate opening 4a, i.e. a slot, Is located at the first edge of the socket 3b. The said opening 4a extends, at least partially, through the socket, in parallel to the second edge 32 thereof. This second, outwardly directed edge 32 is provided with at least one window-like opening 7, which in the transversal direction extends for Instance as far as the elongate opening 4a. Through the elongate opening 4a, the plate- like ornamental element 2a can be inserted to the socket 3 in such a fashion that it is outwardly visible through the second opening 7. The ornamental element 2a to be attached to the above described ring is formed, like in the previous embodiments, of a thin material such as paper, plastic or metal film or sheet or equivalent. If paper is used as the material of the ornamental element 2a, it can be folded into a plate, in the fashion illustrated in figure 3B, in order to fit into the opening 31. The tension caused by the folding keeps the ornamental paper element locked in place in the opening 31, as well as the unrolling force of the rolled-up piece of paper, serving as the ornamental element, locks the roll in place in the socket in the embodiment of figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 Is an illustration of an ornament according to the present invention, such as a brooch, which can be provided with two ornamental elements, i.e. the cylindrical element 2 and the plate-like element 2a. The sockets 3a of the cylindrical ornamental member 2 are fastened at the sides of the socket 3b of the plate-like ornamental element 2a. In this case the outwardly directed edge of the latter socket 3b is provided with three oχ>enings 7 or windows, through which the plate-like ornamental element 2a Inserted in the slot 31 is seen. Figure 5A Illustrates an earring according to the present invention, wherein the socket 3 is provided with a polygonal opening 4. The ornamental element 2, folded and/or bent of some plate-like blank, is inserted into this opening so that it is supported against the walls of the opening and conforms to them. The ornamenta element can be a tubular member, or it can be open at least on one side, in this case for instance triangular i cross-section. Figure 5B illustrates another earring according to the invention. The socket 3 and fastening means 5 of the stem 1 of the ornament are manufactured of a thin metal wire. The socket 3 is arranged to form a spring¬ like member, the spirals whereof provide the openings 4 whereto one or several ornamental members 2 can be inserted. Figure 5C illustrates a third earring according to the invention. The socket 3 is formed of one or several parts 3a, which are interconnected either permanently or for instance so that they can be wound with respect to each other and then locked in place. Each part of the socket is provided with an elongate, wave-like slot 4a f whereto the plate-like ornamental element 2 is inserted. The slot 4a can also be a loose opening, one side whereof has the wave-like shape illustrated in the drawing, and the ornamental element 2 is to be fitted into the opening against this side. In the above specification, the invention has been explained with reference to a few preferred embodiments only. It is, however, clear that the ornament of the invention can be modified in many ways within the scope of the appended patent claims. The stem of the ornament may- possibly contain other auxiliary elements in addition to the socket and the fastening means. The appearance of the socket may deviate from the one Introduced in the examples. Similarly the shape of the opening, aperture or slot provided in the socket, to which opening the ornamental element is to be inserted, can be modified in many ways. The ornamental element can be a three-dimensional cylindrical or prismatic element, variable in length and diameter. The ornamental element can also be a plate-like piece which is for instance straight, folded or bent, so that the geometrical shape thereof can be modified in many ways. The ornament of the invention can in principle be any kind of a personal ornament, such as an earring, ring, brooch, cuff link etc.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. An ornament, comprising a stem (1) and the ornamental element (2) proper, which is replaceably fastened to the stem, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stem (1) comprises a socket (3) provided with at leas one opening, slot or the like (4), whereto the replaceabl ornamental element (2) can be inserted so that it is visible from outside the socket and/or in between the separate parts of the socket. 2. The ornament of claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the socket (3) is provided with at least one round or elliptical opening (4), whereto the ornamental element (2), either round or elliptical in cross-section, can be fitted. 3. The ornament of claim l or 2, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the socket (3) is formed of two or more interconnected socket elements (3a), such as rings or sleeves . 4. The ornament of claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e i z e d in that the ornamental element (2) is formed of some thin, rolled-up material, such as paper. 5. The ornament of claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the ornamental element (2) is formed of a tubular or rod-like member. 6. The ornament of claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the socket (3) is provided with at least one polygonal opening, whereto the ornamental element (2), folded and/or bent of some plate-like blank, can be inserted. 7. The ornament of claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d ' In that the socket (3b) is provided with at least one elongate opening whereto the plate-like ornamental element can be Inserted. 8. The. ornament of claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the elongate opening (4a) is located at the first edge (31) of the socket (3b), which opening extends at least partially through the socket, in parallel to the second edge (32) thereof, and that the second, outwardly directed edge is provided with at least one opening (7), which extends in the transversal direction as far as the elongate opening, through which elongate opening the plate-like ornamental element (2a) is insertable to the socket so that it is visible through the said second opening (7). 9. The ornament of claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the ornamental element (2a) is formed of some thin material such as paper. 10. The ornament of claim 6, 7 or 8, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d In that the ornamental element is formed of plastic sheet.

Inventors: VIRKKUNEN KIMMO TAPANI, VIRKKUNEN, KIMMO, TAPANI
Applicants: VIRKKUNEN KIMMO TAPANI, VIRKKUNEN, KIMMO, TAPANI
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A44C7
IPC codes: A44C1, A44C7, A44C9, A44C13