Abstract:
A finger ring with slotted design cavities for securely holding a design panel without the need for soldering or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a finger ring, and in particular to an improved method of securing design panels in a design cavity in the side of the ring. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Many of the prior art inventions cast the ring in one piece, including design panels. Each schools logo and year made it necessary to constantly make new molds. This was expensive since new molds were required for every new panel design. In an attempt to make the ring less expensive, design panels were cast separately and secured to the ring by a variety of means. 
     The conventional means of securing a design panel to a finger ring has been to put the design panel into a cavity in the side of the ring and then solder or fuse the design panel in place. Foster, U.S. Pat. No. 2,119,229 and Karlan, U.S. Pat. No. 2,302,696 utilize this means of security a design panel. Dixon, U.S. Pat. No. 2,137,835 puts the design panel on the edges of a cavity and then uses fingers which bend over to hold the design panel in place. 
     None of the prior art methods are satisfactory. Since a space must be left between the panel and the side of the cavity the panel may be soldered in crooked, which gives the entire ring a sloppy looking appearance. The panels may also simply fall out if the solder ever loosens or if the fingers loosen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a method of ring making which slides design panels into slotted cavities on a ring blank. It also includes devices made using the inventive method. The panels are designed to slide into these slots and are held in place by the bezel. The design panel may be in two or more pieces to facilitate flexible and economical design variations. The standardization of ring sizes and design panels will result in cheaper, automated manufacturing. 
     Other objects, advantages and distinctions of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The detailed description of the invention including its preferred embodiment is hereinafter described with specific references being made to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a exploded view of a ring blank with a slotted design cavity, a two piece design panel and a bezel; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a ring in accordance with FIG. 1 showing the slotted design cavity and design panel. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the components of FIG. 1 in place and secured to each other 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a ring blank 10, two piece design panel 40 and bezel 50 are shown. The ring blank 50 contains design cavities 20 on one or both sides. The designing cavities are constructed and arranged to define slots 30. The design panel 40 may be one piece or multipiece. The preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows a two piece panel 40 having slot flanges 60 which are received by slots 30. The design panels 40 are held in place by slots 30 and bezel 50. Bezel 50 is attached to the ring by the usual methods which may include adhesives, soldering or the like. Although not required, design panel 40 may be soldered or glued in position. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view shows how the design panel 40 slides into the design cavity 20 and is held in place by slots 30. Reference numeral 70 indicates the position of a design panel 40 securely held by the interrelationship of slots 30 to slot flange 60. 
     When a ring is to be made, ring blanks and the design panels for the school and year are chosen. The design panels are slid from the bezel end of the ring blank into cavity 20. The flanges 60 are securely held to the walls of slot 30 of the ring blank. The bezel 13 then secured in place which prevents the panels from moving. This simple process allows each ring to be custom made with minimum time and ease. Also, the design panels may be made of different metals or other materials from the ring blank, creating an attractive, distinctive ring. The unique design allows the use of different materials since soldering is not required. Prior art methods did not allow the use of different materials because of soldering incompatibility. 
     It is to be understood that modification and variations may be made to the disclosed invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.