AN ITEM OF JEWELLERY

Abstract: This invention relates to an item of jewellery comprising a decorative element (18) having two or more decorative faces to be displayed selectively and pivotally carried by a support element (12) shaped to be complementary with a portion of the element, whereby the element is pivotable to enable one of the decorative faces to be displayed.

Description: AN ITEM OF JEWBT.T.ERY This invention relates to an item of jewellery, more particularly but not exclusively to a cuff-link or a dress shirt stud of the kind which has a decorative face to be displayed in use. As with other items of jewellery the users of cuff-links and shirt studs like to have links or studs with a variety of different designs. Also such items are often used as promotional gifts bearing the trade mark or other symbol indicative of a particular company. It is not always appropriate to display such designs and it is thought advantageous to be able to provide an alternative without carrying spare cuff-links or studs. With this in mind and in accordance with the present invention I now propose an item of jewellery comprising a decorative element having two or more decorative faces to be displayed selectively and pivotally carried by a support element shaped to be complementary with a portion of the element, whereby the element is pivotable to enable one of the decorative faces to be displayed. Thus the element is angularly displaceable by passing the said portion through the support element to enable one of the decorative faces to be displayed. The invention applies generally to jewellery and may be for example in the form of a brooch but in a preferred embodiment the item is a cuff-link or shirt or collar stud wherein the yoke is attached either directly or indirectly via a pillar, to a retaining element which, in use, bridges a button-hole on the reverse side or on the other side of the material. It will be understood that as with conventional cuff-links the retaining element may be of the same shape as the decorative element and may bear the same or similar design but this is not essential. In the case of a dress shirt stud the retaining element is concealed and in the case of a cuff-link a simple bar is often adequate. The width of the support element is preferably small as compared with the decorative element and is of such a length that the support element can be received through the button-hole whilst the decorative element bridges the button-hole. In the preferred embodiment the decorative element is a circular disc hinged about an axis coincident with a diameter of the disc. In an alternative embodiment however the decorative element may be substantially square in shape and hinged along a diagonal of the square, the support element being a v-shape i.e. generally triangular in shape. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings Figures 1-5 in which: Figure 1A is a perspective view of a cuff-link having a disc like decorative element; Figure IB shows the cuff-link of Figure 1 with the disc in the in-use position; Figures 2A and 2B correspond to Figures 1A and IB but show a cuff-link having a substantially square decorative element; and Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the double cuff of a shirt having a cuff-link fitted therein; Figure 4 is a perspective view of another cuff-link in accordance with the invention; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cuff-link of Fig. 4 in the operative condition. Referring first of all to Figures 1A and IB, the cuff-link 10 shown has a support element in the form of a semi-circular yoke 12 which stands on a retaining element 14 supported by a pillar 16. The disc-like decorative element 18 having two decorative faces (1 shown) is connected to the yoke 12 by hinges 20 so as to be displaceable about a diameter of the disc 18 from the position shown in Figure 1A to in the in-use position shown in Figure IB. It will be seen that the retaining element 14 is also circular. The square decorative element 118 in the embodiment of Figures 2A and 2B has flattened corners 122 to facilitate connection of the element 118 to a triangular yoke 112 which is also carried by a pillar 116 standing on a similarly square shaped retaining element 114. From Figure 3 it will be seen that in use the yoke 12,112 is received through the button-holes in the four layers of material formed when the cuff of a double cuff shirt is closed. The cuff-link 30 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 has a semicircular yoke 32 which stands on a retaining element 34 supported by pillar 36. The retaining element 34 is in the form of a bar. A disc-like decorative element 38 having decorative faces 40, 42 is pivotally mounted to the yoke at points 44, 45. Pillar 36 is offset from axis X by angle 0. Typically 0=20°. Dimension d indicates the width of a button hole in which the cuff-link is received in use. Such a cranked pillar enables the cuff-link to 'sit' correctly in the buttonhole in use. In all of the embodiments described above the decorative element is hinged symmetrically in the support element but this is not essential. Provided the support element is complementary with a portion of the decorative element defined on one side of the pivotal axis, reversal of the decorative element is possible by angularly displacing the element in opposite directions. One advantage of the illustrated embodiments is that reversal can be achieved by turning in either direction. When applied more generally to items of jewellery it will be understood that reversal of the decorative element to display selectively either one of the faces may be achieved provided the arrangement is such that passage of the said portion through the support element is not obstructed. In the case of a brooch carrying a hinged element having two decorative faces for display, the hinge itself could be hinged to a base against which in use one of the faces lies so as to display the other face. The hinge would enable the element to be raised from the base to the extent that the element can be reversed and then the support element restored to its in-use position and, if necessary, secured there by a clasp or catch.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An item of jewellery comprising a decorative element having two or more decorative faces to be displayed selectively and pivotally carried by a support element shaped to be complementary with a portion of the element, whereby the element is pivotable to enable one of the decorative faces to be displayed. 2. An item of jewellery according to claim 1 in which the decorative element is rotatably carried by the support element. 3. An item of jewellery according to claim 1 or 2 in which the decorative element has two decorative faces. 4. An item of jewellery according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the support element is in the form of a yoke having two arms. 5. An item of jewellery according to claim 4 in which the decorative element is pivotally attached to both arms of the yoke. 6. An item of jewellery according to any preceding claim which is a cuff-link or a shirt or collar stud. 7. An item of jewellery according to any preceding claim in which the decorative element is a circular disc pivotally mounted about an axis coincident with a diameter of the disc. 8. A item of jewellery according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the decorative element is substantially square in shape. 9. An item of jewellery according to claim 8 in which the decorative element is pivotally mounted along a diagonal of the square. 10. An item of jewellery according to any preceding claim in which the support element is dimensioned to be located substantially within a button hole in use.

Inventors: ASH ANTHONY JOHN, ASH, ANTHONY, JOHN
Applicants: ASH ANTHONY JOHN, ASH, ANTHONY, JOHN
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A44C17
IPC codes: A44B5, A44C17