Abstract:
A pendant necklace having a chain and a pendant. The pendant can convert from a first closed configuration, such as a Star of David, heart, or cross, to at least one open configuration such that multiple decorative looks are available. The pendant comprises at least three elements which are pivotably connected, and the pendant elements are prevented from pivoting about each other to a predetermined angle by pivot stops so that the open configuration does not inadvertently go to the closed configuration when in the open configuration.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/399,281 filed on Jul. 30, 2002 entitled Convertible Pendant Jewelry. The entire disclosure of this provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a novel pendant jewelry, e.g., a necklace, that can be converted from pendant jewelry of a first configuration to pendant jewelry of a second configuration or even third configuration. 
     PRIOR ART 
     Prior art relevant references are: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,495 to Emerson describes a convertible emblem that has a plurality of plates pivotally attached at one of the corners and superposed one upon the other. When the plates are closed, they form a framed symbol and when they are spread apart, they form a series of letters associated in meaning with the symbol. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,032,257 to Walrow describes a pendant article of jewelry, in particular a cross made up of two members in pivotal relation with each other at points intermediate of the ends of each, one of the members being provided with a slot through which the other member extends, which can be converted to an elongated article of jewelry. The jewelry hangs from a single eye at the top of the cross. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,252 to Fossas describes a balancing means provided as part of an ornament worn around the neck for maintaining an inertial balance and predetermined degree of symmetry about the neck while alleviating or eliminating pressure directly exerted on the neck. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,158 to Diehl describes an article of jewelry in the shape of a butterfly or insect that has two attachments, one for each end of a chain or a string. The attachments are fixed to the free ends of rigid wires, the other ends of the wires being fastened to a body of the article of jewelry so they articulate freely with the body. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,413 to Gaston et al describes an adjustable necklace that may be assembled rapidly without soldering. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,098 to Wayne describes a device for carrying a removable pendant from a chain or necklace which has an aperture into which is inserted the top bar of a T-shaped member which carries the pendant. Means are provided for locking the pendant within the device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,573 to Elkaim describes an ornament which consists of at least two members suspended from a necklace, wristlet or similar retaining member. Each of the two members is movable relative to the retaining member because of a loop or ring affixed to each of the various members and through which the retaining member passes. 
     Japanese P2000-106924A describes a necklace that is changeable from a large four-sided pendant to a smaller four-sided pendant. The large pendant configuration consists of a central four-sided member surrounded by four adjacent stems meeting the top of the small four-sided pendant to form the large pendant that hangs from a chain member. When the four stems are parted the smaller four-sided pendant drops down and the four stems become part of the chain to form a second smaller pendant configuration. 
     Other references of interest are U.S. Pat. No. Des. 292,180 to Seraile, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 282,727 to Bulgari, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 261,121 to Barr and Des. 216,371 to Winchell. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a pendant jewelry, such as a necklace, that can be converted from a pendant jewelry of a first configuration to a pendant jewelry of a second configuration or even third configuration. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a pendant jewelry that has a symbolic nature that can be configured into another configuration of pendant jewelry. 
     The pendant necklace of this invention has a chain having a first end and a second end, a pendant member having a first end and a second end, the pendant member having at least three pendant elements pivotally connected to each other by hinges that permit adjacent elements to pivot about each other in a plane. A pivot stop is associated with each hinge. The first end of the chain is attached to the first end of the pendant member and the second end of the chain is attached to the second end of the pendant member. An attachment means is provided for releasably attaching the first end of the pendant member to the second end of the pendant member. When the first end of the pendant member is attached to the second end of the pendant member, the pendant has a first closed configuration that hangs from the ends of the chain member, e.g., a Star of David, heart or cross. When the first end of the pendant member is released from the second end of the pendant member, adjacent pendant elements pivot about each other in the plane to form a pendant having a second open configuration that hangs from the ends of the chain member. The pendant elements are prevented from pivoting about each other to a predetermined angle by the pivot stops to thereby prevent the first end of the pendant member from contacting the second end of the pendant member to prevent the second open configuration from closing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These with other objects and advantages which will become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as will be more fully described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
     Reference is made to FIGS. 1-14 to assist in understanding this invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the convertible pendant jewelry in a first configuration in the shape of the Star of David; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the Star of David convertible pendant jewelry shown in FIG. 1 opened to another configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the Star of David convertible pendant jewelry configured as in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the Star of David convertible pendant jewelry configured as in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the convertible pendant jewelry in a first configuration in the shape of a heart; 
     FIG. 5 a  is an enlarged front view of the hinge when the convertible pendant jewelry in a first configuration as shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 5 b  is an enlarged front view of the hinge when the convertible pendant jewelry is in, for example, another configuration as shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 5 c  is an enlarged perspective of the hinge mechanism shown in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b;    
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the heart shaped convertible pendant jewelry shown in FIG. 5 opened to another configuration; 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view of the heart shaped convertible pendant jewelry configured as in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8 is a rear view of the heart shaped convertible pendant jewelry configured as in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of the convertible pendant jewelry in a first configuration in the shape of a cross; 
     FIG. 9 a  is an enlarged perspective view showing a magnetic attachment means for releasably attaching the first end of the pendant member to the second end of the pendant member; 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of the convertible pendant jewelry in the shape of a cross shown in FIG. 9 opened to another configuration 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of the convertible pendant jewelry in the shape of a cross shown in FIG. 9 opened to a third configuration; 
     FIG. 12 is a rear view of the convertible pendant jewelry in the shape of a cross configured as in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 13 is a rear view of the convertible pendant jewelry in the shape of a cross configured as in FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 14 is a rear view of the convertible pendant jewelry in the shape of a cross configured as in FIG.  11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a pendant necklace is depicted having a first configuration of a Star of David  10 . In general, a chain member  30  is provided that has a first end  36   a  and a second end  36   b . The pendant member  10  has a first end  28   a  and a second end  28   b , the pendant member  10  comprising five pendant elements  32 ,  34 ,  32   a ,  34   a ,  23  pivotally connected to each other by hinges  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  that permit adjacent elements to pivot about each other in a plane, the pendant elements comprising a central element  23  being in the shape of a parallelogram with four sides  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c ,  23   d  and two angulated elements  32   a ,  32   b  on each side of one angle of the central element  23 . A pivot stop is associated with each hinge  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c ,  15   d . The first end of the chain  36   a  is attached to the first end of the pendant member  28   a  and the second end of the chain  36   b  is attached to the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  10 . 
     Attachment means  12 , 14  is provided for releasably attaching the first end  28   a  and second end  28   b  of the pendant member  10  to adjacent sides  23   a ,  23   b  of the central element  23 . The attachment means  12 , 14  may, for example, comprise mating latches on ends  28   a ,  28   b  and sides  23   a ,  23   b  or a magnet on, for example ends  28   a ,  28   b . When the first and second ends  28   a ,  28   b  of the pendant member  10  are attached to adjacent sides  23   a ,  23   b  of the central element  23 , each angulated pendent element  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  contacts a side  23   b ,  23   c ,  23   a ,  23   d , respectively, of the central element  23  to form a first closed configuration in the shape of the Star of David that hangs from the ends of the chain member  30 . (See FIGS. 1 and 3) 
     When the first and second ends  28   a ,  28   b  of the pendant member are released from the adjacent sides  23   b ,  23   a , respectively, of the central member  23 , adjacent pendant elements  23 ,  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  pivot about each other in the plane to form a pendant  10  having a second open configuration that hangs from the ends of the chain member  30 , with the central element  23  hanging between two angulated elements  32   a ,  34   a , the pendant elements  23 ,  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  prevented from pivoting about each other to a predetermined angle by the pivot stops  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c ,  15   d  (See FIG. 4) to thereby prevent the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  10  from contacting the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  10  to prevent the second open configuration from closing (See FIGS.  2  and  4 ). 
     With somewhat more specificity and still referring to FIGS. 1-4, this embodiment of the invention is in the shape of a pendant Star of David  10 . The Star  10  is suspended from a chain  30  attached to two sets of attachment rings  28  and  36 , one set being attached to angulated articulated member  34  and the other set being attached to angulated articulated member  32 . Members  32  and  34  are pivotally attached to angulated articulated members  32   a  and  34   a  (respectively) about hinge members  16  and  18  (respectively). Articulated member  32   a  and  32   b  are pivotally attached to an apex of diamond shaped member  23 , near each other and on hinge members  20  and  22 , respectively, that pass through member  23 . This is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. 
     At the ends of angulated articulated members  32  and  34  are locking members  12  and  14  which lock on to mating locking members  12   a  and  14   b , respectively, that are mounted on or embedded in diamond shaped member  23 . 
     When the locking members  12  and  14  are mated with corresponding locking member  12   a  and  12   b , the Star of David is formed and suspended from chain  30  (FIGS.  1  and  3 ). When the locking members are detached from each other, the angulated articulated members  32 ,  32   a ,  34  and  34   a  pivot about hinge members  20 ,  22 ,  16  and  18  due to the weight of the jewelry and the pendant Star of David is converted to another pendant configuration (FIGS.  2  and  4 ). 
     Referring to FIGS. 5-8, a pendant necklace is provided that has a chain member  30  having a first end  36   a  and a second end  36   b . The pendant member  110  has a first end  28   a  and a second end  28   b . The pendant member  110  comprises four curvilinear pendant elements  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  pivotally connected to each other by hinges  16 ,  18 ,  20  that permit adjacent elements to pivot about each other in a plane. A pivot stop  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c  is associated with each hinge  18 ,  20 ,  16 , respectively. The first end  36   a  of the chain  30  is attached to the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  110  and the second end  36   b  of the chain  30  is attached to the second end  36   b  of the pendant member  110 . 
     An attachment means  12 ,  12   a  is provided for releasably attaching the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  110  to the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  110 . The attachment means  12 ,  12   a  may, for example, comprise mating latches on each end of the pendant member or a magnetized latch, e.g., similar to that depicted in FIG. 9 a , discussed below. 
     When the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  110  is attached to the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  110 , the curvilinear pendent elements  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  form a first closed configuration in the shape of a heart that hangs from the ends of the chain member  30  (FIGS.  5  and  7 ). 
     When the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  110  is released from the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  110 , adjacent pendant elements  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  pivot about each other in the plane around the hinges  16 ,  18 ,  20  (see FIGS. 5 a - 5   c ) to form a pendant  110  having a second open configuration that hangs from the ends  36   a ,  36   b  of the chain member  30 , the pendant elements  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  prevented from pivoting about each other to a predetermined angle by the pivot stops  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c  (see FIGS. 6 and 8) to thereby prevent the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  110  from contacting the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  110  to prevent the second open configuration from closing FIGS.  6  and  8 ). 
     With somewhat more specificity and still referring to FIGS. 5-8, this embodiment of the invention is in the shape of a pendant Heart  110 . The Heart  110  is suspended from a chain  30  attached to two sets of attachment rings  28  and  36 , one set being attached to arcuate articulated member  32  and the other set being attached to arcuate articulated member  32   a . Members  32  and  32   a  are pivotally attached to arcuate articulated members  34  and  34   a  (respectively) about hinge members  16  and  18  (respectively). Arcuate member  34  and  34   a  are pivotally attached to each other about hinge member  20 . 
     At the ends of arcuate articulated members  32  and  32   a  are mating locking members  12  and  12   a  which lock on to each other. When the locking members  12  and  12   a  are mated with each other a Heart shaped pendant is formed and suspended from chain  30 . When the locking members are detached from each other, the arcuate articulated members  32 ,  32   a ,  34  and  34   a  pivot about hinge members  20 ,  16  and  18  due to the weight of the jewelry and the pendant Heart is converted to another pendant configuration, see FIGS. 6 and 8. 
     Referring to FIGS. 9-14, a pendant necklace is provided that has a chain member  30  having a first end  36   a  and a second end  36   b . A pendant member  210  has a first end  28   a  and a second end  28   b , the pendant member  210  comprising four arcuate pendant elements  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  pivotally connected to each other by hinges  16 ,  18 ,  20  that permit adjacent elements to pivot about each other in a plane. A pivot stop  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c  is associated with each hinge  16 ,  18 ,  20 . 
     The first end  36   a  of the chain  30  is attached to the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  210  and the second end  36   a  of the chain  30  is attached to the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  210 . An attachment means  12 ,  12   a  is provided for releasably attaching the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  210  to the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  210 . The attachment means  12 ,  12   a  may, for example, comprise mating latches on each end of the pendant member or a magnetized latch. 
     When the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  210  is attached to the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  210 , the arcuate pendent elements  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  form a first closed configuration in the shape of a cross that hangs from the ends  36   a ,  36   b  of the chain member  30 . (FIGS. 9 and 12) 
     When the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  210  is released from the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  210 , adjacent pendant elements  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  pivot about each other in the plane to form a pendant  210  having a second open configuration that hangs from the ends  36   a ,  36   b  of the chain member  30 , the pendant elements  32 ,  32   a ,  34 ,  34   a  prevented from pivoting about each other to a predetermined angle by the pivot stops  15   a ,  15   b ,  15   c  to thereby prevent the first end  28   a  of the pendant member  210  from contacting the second end  28   b  of the pendant member  210  to prevent the second open configuration from closing. (FIGS. 10,  11 ,  13  and  14 .) 
     With somewhat more specificity and referring to FIGS. 9-14, this embodiment of the invention is in the shape of a pendant Cross  210 . The Cross  210  is suspended from a chain  30  attached to two sets attachment rings  28  and  36 , one set being attached to arcuate articulated member  32  and the other being attached to arcuate articulated member  32   a . Members  32  and  32   a  are pivotally attached to arcuate articulated members  34  and  34   a  (respectively) about hinge members  16  and  18  (respectively). Arcuate member  34  and  34   a  are pivotally attached to each other about hinge member  20 . 
     At the ends of arcuate articulated members  32  and  32   a  are mating locking members  12  and  12   a  which lock on to each other. When the locking members  12  and  12   a  are mated with each other a Cross shaped pendant is formed and suspended from chain  30 . When the locking members are detached from each other, the arcuate articulated members  32 ,  32   a ,  34  and  34   a  pivot about hinge members  16 ,  18 ,  20  due to the weight of the jewelry and the pendant Cross is converted to another pendant configuration, see FIGS. 10 and 13 or yet another configuration as shown in FIGS. 11 and 14. The locking members may be latches, for example as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, elements  12  and  14  or magnetic as depicted in FIG. 9 a  with element  12  and  12   a  being magnetically attracted to each other. 
     The description of invention herein makes reference to several preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art, however, and familiar with the disclosure of the subject invention, may recognize additions, deletions, substitutions, modifications, and/or other changes which will fall within the purview of the invention as defined in the following claims.