Abstract:
A jewelry travel case has two halves connected by a hinge and closure mechanism. A first half has an inner compartment with a first pair of straps positioned toward its top side for releaseably engaging and holding one or more necklaces, including Omega-style necklaces, and a second pair of straps positioned between the first pair of straps and a pocket for releaseably engaging and holding one or more bracelets so that necklaces and bracelets will hang in the inner compartment when the case is vertical. A second half has an inner compartment with an earring bar releaseably secured to its upper portion and a ring bar releaseably secured to its lower portion. The earring bar can be detached at both of its ends so that it can be removed and has openings for holding earrings. The ring bar&#39;s substantially circular cross section provides tension to the pocket.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of jewelry cases used for traveling. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Jewelry boxes and containers for jewelry are well known. They can be used to protect jewelry, to organize jewelry and to display jewelry. 
     The present invention is not concerned with jewelry display cases such as what might be used to display a variety of jewelry pieces for sale, such as what might be used by a jewelry wholesaler or jewelry salesperson. Instead, the present invention is directed to a personal jewelry case that can be used by a consumer who wants to take a variety of different pieces of jewelry away from a home, such as on a trip. As such, the present invention is not so concerned with display aspects of the jewelry case (except so as to allow its user to readily view and access its contents), but with practical issues arising from transporting personal jewelry in a convenient and inexpensive fashion that still provides protection and organization for the individual pieces of jewelry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a jewelry travel case with two halves connected by a hinge and closure mechanism, one of the halves having an inner compartment with a first pair of straps positioned toward its top side for releaseably engaging and holding one or more necklaces so they will hang when the case is vertical in an upright position while the other half has an inner compartment with an earring bar releaseably secured to its upper portion and a ring bar releaseably secured to its lower portion. 
     In a first, separate group of aspects of the present invention, the inner compartment for holding necklaces also has a second pair of straps positioned between the first pair of straps and a pocket for releaseably engaging and holding one or more bracelets so that necklaces and bracelets will hang in the inner compartment when the case is vertical and the ring bar (which has a substantially circular cross section) will provide tension to the pocket. 
     In another, separate group of aspects of the present invention, the ring bar can be detached at both of its ends so that it can be removed, the first pair of straps accommodate a vertical hang of an Omega-style necklace and there is clearance of approximately 3 or more inches between the earring bar and the ring bar, the earring bar has a plurality of openings for holding a plurality of earrings, the two compartments have a substantially square shape with rounded edges and the two halves have a metal shell. 
     Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved jewelry travel case. 
     This and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art in connection with the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment set forth below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a preferred embodiment of a jewelry travel case of the present invention when the case is open and the parts of the case are at a substantially ninety degree angle relative to each other. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an inner view of a first half of the jewelry travel case of  FIG. 1  designed for holding necklaces and bracelets. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an inner view of a second half of the jewelry travel case of  FIG. 1  designed for holding earrings and rings. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a closed jewelry travel case of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be discussed in connection with preferred embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     In the Figures and the following more detailed description, numerals indicate various features of the invention, with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description. Although the Figures are described in greater detail below, the following is a glossary of the elements identified in the Figures.
           1  jewelry travel case     2  hinge     3  bottom side     4  top side     5  closure mechanism     5   a  closure clasp mechanism     5   b  closure inset     6  outer surface     7  radius corner     8  metal case wall     9  inner sheet metal     10  foam layer     11  first half     12  first inner compartment     13  upper tab     14  snap     14   a  female snap opening     14   b  male snap end     15  first inner compartment fabric covering     16  opening in fabric  15       17  rivet     18  lower tab     19  omega style necklace     20  bracelet     21  pocket     22  gathered elastic top of pocket  21       31  second half     32  second inner compartment     33  earring bar     34  hole     35  circular ring bar     37  second inner compartment fabric covering       

     A jewelry travel case  1  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a partially open state. The case has a first half  11  with a first inner compartment  12  and a second half  31  with a second inner compartment  32 . The two halves  11  and  12  of case  1  are held together along their bottom sides  3  by at least one hinge  2  (which may be of a piano hinge style) so that both halves can be laid flat on a flat surface when case  1  is opened so as to allow access to both inner compartments  12  and  32 . Any suitable closure mechanism(s)  5  (such as, for example, a closure clasp mechanism  5   a  and a closure inset  5   b ) can be included on top sides  4  of halves  11  and  12  to close case  1 . 
     It is especially preferred that case  1  has a hard shell, such as metal. A hard shell keeps its shape, as opposed to a soft shell, and thus keeps the space of inner compartments  12  and  32  intact when case  1  is closed. To the extent that case  1  has linear sides that meet in an angle (such as for a square case), it is preferred that the edges be rounded. 
     It is also especially preferred that case  1  be shaped so as to provide a substantially square cross section for inner compartments  12  and  32  (as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The reason why a substantially square cross section for inner compartments  12  and  32  is especially preferred, as opposed to a common rectangular shape, is that such a shape readily accommodates omega-style necklaces that have a circular or oval shape and which retain that shape when they are hung (as opposed to necklaces which take on a linear shape if they are hung from a single point such as, for example, a push pin). 
     Inner compartment  12  of first half  11  is designed for holding necklaces and bracelets. As shown in  FIG. 2 , two upper tabs  13  with snap closures  14  are provided for retaining necklaces while two lower tabs  18  with snap closures  14  are provided for retaining bracelets. Tabs  13  and  18  can be made of fabric or leather and are diagonally oriented to provide support for hanging round necklaces and bracelets, respectively, with upper tabs being located closer to top side  4  and more towards the corners of inner compartment  12  than lower tabs  18 . The ends of tabs  13  and  18  with female snap opening  14   a  are affixed to an inner sheet metal layer  9  by a rivet  17  and inner sheet metal layer  9  is bonded to metal case wall  8  (see  FIG. 4 ) for stronger support. A pocket  21  with a gathered elastic top  22  is provided beneath lower tabs  18  (relative to top side  4 ) to hold in hanging necklaces and bracelets. Accordingly, it is seen that inner compartment  12  provides a handy and readily accessible organization for hanging necklaces and bracelets, including necklaces and bracelets that retain shape when they are hanging (such as omega style necklaces and solid bracelets). 
     Inner compartment  32  of second half  31  is designed for holding earrings and rings. As shown in  FIG. 3 , an earring bar  33  with pierced holes  34  is provided for retaining earrings while a circular ring bar  35  is provided for retaining rings. It is especially preferred that earring bar  33  is specifically designed to accommodate the hang of long dangle earrings (up to 3 inches) or large hoops and chandelier earrings as well as traditional studs. Earring bar  33  is positioned relative to top side  4  so that it has a hang length that can accommodate even larger dangles and/or hoops by placing them around the entire earring bar  33  rather than placing their ends in pierced holes  34 . It is especially preferred that ring bar  35  be accessible from both of its sides, and removable, which is accomplished in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  by retaining ring bar  35  in place by two tabs  35  with snaps  14 . It is also especially preferred that ring bar  35  be located and sized so that it holds the bottom portions of necklaces and bracelets hanging in inner compartment  12  in place when case  1  is closed by resting against and providing tension to pocket  21  (see  FIG. 4 ). This same orientation also provides additional hang room for larger items retained by earring bar  33  and creates an orientation in which, once case  1  is closed and is sitting upright on its bottom side  3 , necklaces and bracelets hanging in first compartment  12  face earring bar  33  in second inner compartment  32  so that all hanging items in first and second compartments  12  and  32  hang in the same direction. 
     The present invention will now be described in even greater detail by describing an especially preferred embodiment designed to be marketed under the trademark Jewelry Traveler; however, it should be recognized that the specific dimensions and characteristics of the following especially preferred embodiment are provided simply for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention already set forth or defined by the claims that follow. 
     The Jewelry Traveler in its closed position is a 7 inch by 7 inch square footprint, by approximately 1 and ⅝ inches in depth, hard-sided, metal construction case with radius corners and attached on the bottom center with a metal piano-type hinge and a metal button/release closure clasp connection at the top. It its open position, the footprint of each side is a 7 inch by 7 inch metal square, by a ¾ inch depth with radius corners. 
     The first inner compartment  12  of The Jewelry Traveler has diagonally hanging fabric/leather upper tabs  13  with a snap closure approximately 1 inch from its top corners. The material in tabs  13  is 3 inches in length by ½ inch in depth when open and approximately 1½ inches in its snapped closed position. Below upper tabs  13  are another diagonally oriented set of hanging fabric/leather lower tabs  18  with a snap closure approximately 3¼ inches from top side  4 . Lower tabs  18  are 2½ inches in length by ½ in depth when open and approximately 1¼ in its snapped closed position. Covering the bottom 2¾ by 7 inches of the square is an attached fabric pocket  21  with gathered elastic at the top. All snaps and rivets attach to the base snap/rivet in sheet metal  9  attached to foundation metal case wall  8 . 
     The second inner compartment  32  of The Jewelry Traveler has an earring bar  33  starting 1½ inches from the top of the square. It is a 6×1 inch of fabric/leather including ¾ inch fabric/leather end caps with a snap on the its West side and two secured rivets on the East side. Earring bar  33  is pierced with holes to accommodate earrings of all orientations and sixteen pierced holes are spaced ½ inch apart along the middle approximately 4 inch section. Below earring bar  33 , and 4½ inches from the top of the square, is a ¾ inch circumference, padded and circular ring bar  35 . The fabric and padded ring bar  35  is 4 inches long in its tube form and then becomes flat when secured on both sides by ¾×¾ fabric/leather strap with a snap on each of the West and East ends. All naps and rivets attach to the base snap/rivets in sheet metal  8  attached to foundation metal case wall  8 . 
     Both the first and second halves  11  and  31  of The Jewelry Traveler™ exterior 7×7×¾ inch metal casings can be completely covered in a variety of ways, such as powder coating in a variety of colors or finishes or covered with thin foam adhered to the metal casing with various fabrics, vinyl, leather, micro-suede or other fabric adhered on top of the foam for a padded, decorative finish. The treatment will completely cover any exposed metal with the exception of the external hinge and the closure mechanisms. 
     Both sides of the interior 7×7×¾ inch metal casings are first fitted with an approximate 6½×6½ inch square piece of thinner sheet metal which serves as the base host for the bottom portions of the rivets and the snaps. The thinner sheet metals are bonded to the base metal casing for stronger support for a quality snap system on the interior. 
     The final treatment for the interior of The Jewelry Traveler™ is designed to cover and conceal all interior metal layers. It is a single piece, pre-fabricated, custom molded, thin plastic, fitted liner that is flocked in a velvet-type flocking and fits into place on top of the base host snap layer. It is adhered to the interior, thus sealing the metal layers. This molded liner is formed specifically for the 7×7×¾ inch footprint on each side of the hinge with a “bridge” over the metal hinge on the interior, both concealing the hinge from the inside as well as protecting the user from the movement of the hinge. The interior lining will have scores for base snaps and rivets to protrude into the interior, exposing them to their counterparts on the inside components. The 2¾×7 inch fabric pocket with its gathered elastic at the top is sewn in place directly onto this plastic layer. 
     While the invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and not to limit the scope of the invention. Additional embodiments and further modifications are also possible in alternative embodiments that will be obvious to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this detailed description. For example, if desired, a jewelry travel case in accordance with the present invention could be made in a variety of shapes other than square, such as triangular, hexagonal or octagonal, all of which can be designed so that they have two opposing inner compartments having a substantially square shape to accommodate hanging necklaces and bracelets on one side with hanging earrings and a ring bar on the opposing side, the orientation of which would be substantially the same as already described and shown in the Figures for a square travel case. 
     Accordingly, still further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed inventions as defined by the following claims.