Abstract:
An item of jewelry is formed by solely using magnetic attraction to connect the elements together in which the elements or components comprise substantially planar surfaces, generally matching in which the elements are held together by magnetic attraction and further include finger projections integrally formed therewith permitting separation of the components.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a new and novel apparatus and method for assembly of jewelry having substantially planar surfaces with sufficient matching portions to enable magnetic attachment. 
     Jewelry with planar surfaces having aesthetic appearances are generally slightly larger than very small jewelry, but the assembly and joining of the elements of a jewelry item can be time consuming, labor intensive and require highly skilled personnel. Techniques such as soldering to connect individual components of jewelry requires manual dexterity and skill, and such dexterity and skill often is possessed by limited specialists in the field. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a novel structure and method for assembling components of jewelry without requiring highly skilled personnel and specialized techniques. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a system for creating such jewelry which may be easily assembled, relatively error free because of the structure of the individual components forming the jewelry. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide such a jewelry structure and method of assembly which is particularly directed toward planar portions of jewelry components intended to mate with other planar components to form the jewelry. 
     Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the principles of this invention, jewelry formed of planar surfaces of components adapted to mate with other planar components of the jewelry utilizes magnetic attraction substantially perpendicular to the planes of the planar surfaces to assemble the individual components together. 
     Assembly of such planar components with magnetic attraction between the respective components permits easy and facile assembly of the jewelry without the requirement for complex structural joining techniques such as soldering and the like. 
     The magnetic attraction between the planar elements is sufficient such that the elements are held together flawlessly without separating, and means to assist in the separation of the elements, when desired, are also provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-3  are exploded perspective views showing different stages of a first embodiment of this invention in which the components to assemble the jewelry comprise matching planar faces for enabling magnetic attraction to hold the components together. 
         FIG. 4A  is a bottom view of an element of a two piece magnetic assembly jewelry item. 
         FIG. 4B  is a top view of the second element of the two piece item of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is a top perspective view of the item of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4D  is a bottom perspective view of the element of  FIG. 4B . 
         FIG. 4E  is an end view of the elements connected together. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Broadly, the invention comprises a plurality of planar components which are held together by magnetic attraction perpendicular to the plane of the components themselves. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , there are four separate components,  10 , 12 ,  14  and  16 , and components  10  and  16  are attracted to each other through respective magnetic elements  18  in section  16 , which is aligned with magnetic elements  20  (not shown) in section  10 . 
     Apertures  22  in intermediate components  12  and  14  are aligned with magnetic elements  18  and  20  so that the four-component cross jewelry item shown in  FIGS. 1-3  may be quickly and easily assembled. 
     Top component  10  fits within a recess  28  in section  12 , which further ensures that the cross remains in place. Additionally, rear cross  16  fits in a recess (not shown) in the rear of component  16  so that the outer cross elements  10  and  16  securely fit within respective recesses. 
     While components  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  have substantial matching planar surfaces, the magnetic assembly structure and technique of this invention merely requires that the magnetic elements  18  and  20  be aligned with each other either directly or through apertures, such as  22  so as to enable perpendicular assembly through magnetic attraction of the individual components of such jewelry. 
     In accordance with a feature of this invention, intermediate sections  12  and  14  have integral projections  24  and  26  extending beyond the silhouettes of said components formed at their respective tops which may be moved by manual pressure perpendicularly or in any other direction to separate the four components from each other, enabling disassembly of the cross of  FIGS. 1-3 . Such disassembly may be for cleaning, replacement or any other desired activity regarding the individual components which make up the magnetically connected jewelry component assembly of this invention. The projections  24  and  26  may project from any portion of the jewelry so long as they are located sufficiently proximate to each other to permit perpendicular separation of the components. 
     Magnetic elements  18  and  20  are located in planar surfaces in respective sections  10  and  16 . Although it is not necessary that the facing surfaces of the components be flat, it is only necessary that the magnetic elements  18  and  20  be aligned with each other through apertures in any intermediate sections such as  12  and  14  so that the entire magnetic structural assembly may be easily assembled and held that way through magnetic attraction. 
     The jewelry of the present invention may be formed of precious metal, non-precious metal or any other desired materials, and the principal unifying aspect of this invention is that the sections which are to be joined through magnetic attraction have clear line of sight between the magnetic elements so that any intermediate sections are held therebetween securely as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Additionally, one may not need two magnetic elements, but only one with the other element being magnetically attractable. 
     The shapes of finger projections  24  and  26  are left to individual aesthetic tastes, but the functional aspect is that these projections enable relatively free access to separate magnetically assembled jewelry items. 
       FIGS. 4A-4E  are views of another embodiment of this invention in which the elements joined by magnetic assembly are decorative “S” shaped sections. The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4E  comprises only two components held together by magnetic attraction, and the central aspect of this embodiment as well as  FIGS. 1-3  is that the magnetic elements holding the components together is through magnetic attraction perpendicular to the planar surfaces. 
     Elements  40  and  42  are matching “S” shapes with matching silhouettes and include magnetic members  44  in section  40  and magnetic elements held in recess  46  in section  42  so that when the two S sections are placed face to face, magnetic attraction between magnetic elements is achieved. 
     Finger projections  48  of element  40  and  50  of element  42  are integrally formed on top of the respective S elements enabling finger manipulation to separate the S elements from each other when desired.  FIG. 4C  is a perspective top view of element  40  with a decorated top thereof. 
     The perpendicular attraction of the planar surfaces of the jewelry structure shown in  FIG. 4  as well as  FIGS. 1-3  enables quick and easy assembly of the jewelry without requiring highly skilled personnel to attach and secure separate sections of the jewelry product together. Additionally, the magnetic assembly technique of this invention enables easy and quick separation of the separate components, when desired. 
     It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly legally and equitably entitled.