Abstract:
A sculpted interconnected split jewelry device is connected in a variety of ways through magnets that are placed in recesses where the connection is invisible from the outside; and wherein a stabilizing system is provided in the members of the device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of prior filed copending application Ser. No. 11/225,566, filed Sep. 13, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a jewelry device and in particular a device that includes a jewelry design that is split in two ore more pieces whereby the pieces are reconnected by connecting means, the device to be worn as a necklace, pendent, bracelet, belt buckle or any other type jewelry in which an ornamental, sculpted jewelry piece is made up of interconnected pieces for attachment and detachment from each other.  
         [0003]     All types of jewelry are known in the prior art. Sculptured pieces are known in the prior art in form of three dimensional pieces, cameos and the like. Medallions and sculpted items can be made of all types of metal or may be carved from natural occurring material such as precious stones, semi-precious stones, shells or synthetic material. Another form of jewelry device comprises medallions in the form of coins which are placed into a frame and that are held within a frame by various means. These jewelry pieces are often formalized and do not allow free-flowing shapes to be included.  
         [0004]     In the world of jewelry, which is dictated by beauty and fashion, there is always the need for new designs, for example the way a necklace is designed often depends on certain technical functions such as the closure or how to connect a centerpiece of a necklace, for example a pendent to a chain. The sculpted split jewelry device of the present invention fulfills such a need by allowing for a significant change in appearance and function as compared to traditional pendant necklaces, as it eliminates the need for unsightly or unsafe clasps of the kind conventionally attached to the back of the chain and closed in the back of the neck. At the same time, the device according to the present invention allows the piece of jewelry to be made in any shape or size and to be attached at both ends of a chain of any thickness, shape or size as compared to the conventional pendant which is hung from a bail attached to a chain, which often dictates the shape or thickness or design of the chain. Thus, the device of the present invention allows for endless design possibilities.  
         [0005]     It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide a novel jewelry device of new and unknown design possibilities, improved versatility and beauty of the object due to the elimination of a bail and a back closure clasp. The device will allow the wearer much easier use due to the magnetic front closure as it eliminates the need for another person to assist with the back closure. If used as a belt or bracelet, the same ease of closure applies.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     According to one aspect of the present invention, the device according to the present invention of an interconnected split medallion jewelry piece comprises at least two members each having a complementary portion and wherein the members are provided with connecting means in one of at or proximate their complementary portion for connecting to and disconnecting from one another. The connecting means are magnetic or any other type of connecting means including frictional connection means.  
         [0007]     “Medallion” in the context of the present invention is not used in the strict sense of the definition as a medal but indicates a wearable piece of jewelry having an obverse and a reverse side or being of random shape. It is further understood that in the context of the jewelry device as described herein, the term “sculpted” in addition to its normal meaning means also stamped or printed or decorated or plain.  
         [0008]     The size of each member can be completely different. For example, a full circle having a width of about 3 cm can be attached to a slim crescent moon of 5 mm in width for attachment to the side of the circle. This way, pavé diamonds and gold could be easily combined. Thus, the requirement that the members are matched in size is eliminated. Materials can be combined in the most unusual ways such as rubber and steel with the result of obtaining a homogenous piece once the members are connected, reflecting that theme that two individuals become one.  
         [0009]     In another advantageous embodiment, two large semi-precious stones of different color shape or size can be combined via the magnetic front closure. Each member can have a different shape, for example a triangle and a square made of different colors of the semi-precious stones. Once connected the jewelry device represent a harmonized piece of jewelry.  
         [0010]     The magnetic connecting means can take on various embodiments. In one of the embodiments, magnets are received in recesses provided in each of the members, preferably in the complementary portion of each of the members. The magnets can also be covering the entire surface of the complementary portion of the member. In general, the magnets are magnetic pieces that are cylindrically shaped. The cylinders can have different length. Of course the magnets can also have a rectangular, square, oval shape and a variety of cross sections.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment of the connecting means, in addition to the magnets, each member is provided with means for connecting with the complementary member in addition to the magnet. Such means are for example a pin or pins which are located at one of the members preferably at the complementary portion of the member for placing into a pin hole or holes located at the complementary portion of the other member. Variations of the pin and pin hole are such that each member is provided with a hole and a pin for connecting to the other member provided with a hole and a pin for interconnecting with that other member. The pin and hole system provides additional stability to the magnetic connection. This stabilization is desirable especially also for larger pieces, as the pin and hole connection prevents undesired movement of one of the members relative to the other and the members will be held flush against each other.  
         [0012]     In another feature of the present invention, the recesses for the magnets are placed at different locations at the device and in different planes. Since the medallion may have a depth dimension. In one variation, each of the complementary portion include a side wall facing the opposite side wall of the complementary portion and having at least one recess for placing a magnet therein, so that each magnet is sifting within the recesses and wherein a center axis of the magnet is oriented horizontally relative to the medallion. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnets are received in the recess and are flush with the side wall of the complementary portion.  
         [0013]     The recesses for the magnets can also be placed on a reverse side of the medallion, that is, the central axis of the recess are oriented in a plane transverse to the horizontal plane. In some cases the magnet is placed on the obverse side of the medallion. In each case, the pin and hole system can augment the magnetic connection. The pin and hole system, in addition to being a stabilizer for the magnetic connection can also be used without the magnets as a sole frictional closure for the pieces to be connected.  
         [0014]     In a variation of incorporating the magnets into the split medallion jewelry piece, the recesses or pockets for the magnets can have a dimension larger than the magnets and at the mouth of the recess or the pocket can have a collar will prevent the escape of the magnet. Such a collar can be made by extending the walls of the pocket outwardly into a neck and bending the metal of the neck towards the mouth of the recess or pocket to form the collar. Alternatively, a separate collar can be placed at the mouth of the recess or pocket.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the device may be heart shaped so that the two members represent the two halves of the heart.  
         [0016]     In the heart shaped embodiment, a great variety of shapes are possible since the heart shape can take on a great variety of configurations. The heart shape can have the complementary portions meet along a linear line at the longitudinal center line of the heart. Furthermore, the complementary portion of the two heart halves can be in a zigzag shape or can be curvilinear or split diagonally. Any and all shapes whether abstract, geometric or figurative can be used.  
         [0017]     In another embodiment of the device, each of the two members of a may be sculpted in the shape of a person&#39;s face and the two faces when connected are overlapping each other and appear in the shape of a heart or for that matter another shape. In that embodiment, the recess for the magnet is located on the reverse side of each of the members and the central axes of the magnets run transverse to the horizontal plane. However, the magnets can be placed in a variety of ways but should preferably be invisible at the viewing side.  
         [0018]     For a firm connection of the two members, the magnets have to be of a suitable strength. For example using the device for a belt buckle requires a larger more powerful magnet, than with a device used as a necklace. Preferably, with a belt buckle, the additional frictional pin and hole system can be applied, whereby the pin is frictionally inserted into the hole of the complementary member. Depending on the weight and size of the medallion with more than one magnetic connection, a firmer connection will be realized. The placement of the magnets into the recesses can be firm either by a frictional connection or by gluing the magnets into the recess. Any other connection which will hold the magnet firmly in the recess can also be employed. Floating magnets as afore-described can also be used.  
         [0019]     Once the two members are connected by the magnetic connection, the connection will be invisible on the viewer. The numbers of magnetic connections are dependent on the strength and the size of the magnets. Whereas in some cases one connection suffices, it is preferred to have two sets of magnets, that is, a double connection. Important is that the plus and minus magnets are aligned to each other so that the connection becomes firm. For example a magnet size of 3/16× 1/16 inches might be a suitable size. However, the size depends on the size of the piece created. On a belt buckle the size of the recesses will be commensurate with the need for a suitably strong connection.  
         [0020]     The recesses should be precisely aligned for the magnets to properly form a tight connection. The same applies to the pin and hole system. In the example with the overlapping faces, the recesses for the magnets have to be located both on the reverse side and the obverse of the medallion, so they are not seen by the viewer even when the device is pulled apart. This is realized by making the recesses in the face that comes to be underneath the other face suitably deep, such that the magnetic force is able to penetrate the remaining wall metal from the recess of the device and has the power to connect with the complementary magnet. In a non-limiting example the remaining wall between the recess and the obverse side of the medallion might be 5 mm at an overall size of the sculpture of about 25-28 mm width and about 22 mm height. Of course the dimensions can be chosen in accordance with any desired size and the magnetic closure of both members with each other is applicable to all embodiments whatever their shape.  
         [0021]     In the case where the magnet covers the entire side wall of the complementary portion of the members, the entire side wall becomes the recess in which the magnet is frictionally inserted. For better results, the magnet is additionally glued into the recess.  
         [0022]     Another feature of the device according to the present invention is that the connected split jewelry device is attached to a chain, preferably at the outer lateral portions of the two members. In the case where the medallion is worn as a necklace, the interconnected split medallion acts as a convenient front closure of the device and thus eliminating the need for a clasp in the back of the chain and also eliminates the need for a bail, normally needed as a link between the pendant and the chain.  
         [0023]     It is also within the scope of the invention that the split medallion jewelry device can be any combination of sculptural elements for example the head of a horse or pet and the face of a person, sport symbols, symbols of states, symbols of particular groups. There are endless varieties in which the device can be practiced with the underlying idea that the design is a metaphor for unity as it brings two separate entities together to form one unit by magnetic force. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0024]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a front (obverse) view of an exemplary representation of an interconnected split medallion jewelry device according to the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 1   a  is a front view showing the second member partially in broken lines;  
         [0027]      FIG. 1   b  is a view from the reverse side of the two members of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 1   c  is side elevational view of one of the members of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 1   d  is a perspective view of the reverse side of one of the members in  FIG. 1  with the magnets in an exploded view;  
         [0030]      FIG. 1   e  is a top view of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a front (obverse) view of another example of the jewelry device;  
         [0032]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the device in  FIG. 2  with the two members shown apart;  
         [0033]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of the device in  FIG. 2   a  showing the side walls of the complementary portion;  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a front (obverse) view of yet another example of the jewelry device;  
         [0035]      FIG. 3   a  is a view from the reverse side of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0036]      FIG. 3   b  is a view of the side wall in the embodiment in  FIG. 3   a  with the magnets;  
         [0037]      FIG. 3   c  is a view from the reverse side with the magnet in an exploded view;  
         [0038]      FIG. 4   a  shows the obverse side of yet another example of the jewelry device;  
         [0039]      FIG. 4   b  shows the reverse side of  FIG. 4   a;    
         [0040]      FIG. 4   c  shows the obverse side of the different design of the device;  
         [0041]      FIG. 4   d  shows the side wall of the embodiment of  FIG. 4   c;    
         [0042]      FIG. 4   e  shows the side wall of the right member of  FIG. 4   c;    
         [0043]      FIG. 5   a  shows the obverse side of yet another design of the jewelry device;  
         [0044]      FIG. 5   b  shows the members of  FIG. 5   a  with magnets;  
         [0045]      FIG. 5   c  shows another example of a design of the device;  
         [0046]      FIGS. 5   d  and  5   e  shows the respective side wall views of the members of  FIG. 5   c;    
         [0047]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a recess with a “floating” magnet therein.  
         [0048]      FIG. 7   a - c  shows an example of the pin and hole system in an open and closed position.  
         [0049]      FIG. 8   a - b  shows a front elevational view of a split jewelry device with the additional pin and hole system.  
         [0050]      FIG. 8   c - e  shows a right and left perspective view of the additional pin and hole system in two variations as in  FIG. 8   a - b.   
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0051]     Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements are generally indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.  
         [0052]     Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an interconnected split medallion jewelry device with two members  1  and  2 . The two members  1 ,  2  are shown as sculpted faces overlapping with each other and forming a heart shape. The overlap is seen in  FIG. 1   a  as a broken line.  
         [0053]      FIG. 1   b  shows the same embodiment from the reverse side  30  with the magnets  3  visible in the recesses  5 . In  FIG. 1   c , one of the members  1 ,  2  in  FIG. 1  is seen from an elevational side view showing the three-dimensional sculptural aspects of the device and in  FIG. 1   d , the member  1  of the device is shown in perspective view of the reverse side with the recesses  5  for the magnets  3  and the magnets  3  are shown in exploded view.  FIG. 1   e  shows the device of  FIG. 1  from a top view where the two members  1 ,  2  are overlapping and the magnetic connection  3  is also seen.  
         [0054]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the device where the two members are connected side-by-side. Also shown is a neck- or bracelet chain  4  attached to each of the members  1 ,  2 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 2   a  shows the two members  1 ,  2  apart and the magnet  3  connection slightly visible. In  FIG. 2   b , the side walls  10  and  20  of the complementary portion of the two members are shown with the recesses  5 . Magnets  3  are firmly attached in each one of the recesses  5 . The attachment for the magnet in the recess can be a glue attachment but any other attachment including a frictional attachment which will hold the magnet firmly in place will be suitable.  
         [0056]      FIG. 3  shows another variation of the device where the two members  1 ,  2  are connected side-by-side and the side walls  10 ,  20  are in complementary zigzag shapes as shown in  FIG. 3   b .  FIG. 3   a  show the reverse side  30  of the device in  FIG. 3  with the recesses  5  in the form of pockets extending outwardly from the otherwise flat reverse side  30 . This particular recess  5  arrangement is more clearly shown in  FIG. 3   b .  FIG. 3   c  shows the magnet  3  for the recess  5  in an exploded view.  
         [0057]     In  FIGS. 4   a - e  and  5   a - e  are shown different designs that can work with the device and respectively shows the obverse side of a device sculpted with heads of horses and a horse and the head of a girl.  FIGS. 4   b, d  and  e  and  5   b, d  and  e  show the reverse side and/or the placement of the magnets respectively.  
         [0058]     In  FIG. 6 , a “floating” magnet  3  is seen in a recess  5  with a collar  7  at the mouth of the recess preventing the magnet  3  to escape from the recess  5  or pocket. In  FIG. 7   a - c  an example of the pin and hole system in an open and closed position is seen in addition to the magnets.  
         [0059]     In  FIG. 8   a - b  the front of a split jewelry device in the shape of a heart is seen with the additional pin and hole system and  FIG. 8   c - d  shows an example of the pin and hole system in an open position where in one instance each side wall has a pin and a hole an in the other variation, one side wall has the pins and the complementary side wall has the holes.  
         [0060]     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an interconnected split medallion jewelry device, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.  
         [0061]     What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents: