Abstract:
A modular apparatus and system for creating a custom military service ring. The modular ring apparatus and system is comprised of a ring having a circular recessed area on the top portion of the ring and a beveled recessed area on each side of the ring and a plurality of insignia pieces illustrating a piece of information relevant to military service. Each of the recessed areas is adapted to receive one insignia chosen by an individual, resulting in a customized ring.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/453,403 filed on Mar. 16, 2011 and by reference is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of jewelry and more particularly to a modular system for creating a custom military service ring. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an unadorned ring of a modular system for creating a custom military service ring. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of an unadorned ring of a modular system for creating a custom military service ring. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates a left side view of an exemplary embodiment of an unadorned ring of a modular system for creating a custom military service ring; right side being a mirror thereof. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an unadorned ring of a modular system for creating a custom military service ring with optional military insignia. 
       
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0007]    Personalized military rings are known in the art and typically have one or more customizable aspects with the level of customization varying for different manufacturers and for varying styles of rings. For example, some jewelers offer school-style U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and U.S. Coast Guard rings. After the individual selects the Military branch, he or she then selects a ring style (e.g., rectangle or oval). The individual then selects a side panel for each side of the ring. For example, if the individual selects the U.S. Army, side panel options include 1st Infantry, 82nd Airborne, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 18th MP Brigade. Other customizable aspects include stone color (e.g., birthstone), metal quality, wording around the stone, and inside engraving (e.g., name or initials). The school-style type military rings offered by these jewelers and many other manufactures are not desirable because they generally look gaudy and cheap. 
         [0008]    Further, other ring designers offer U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Merchant Marine Classic Military Rings. The Classic Military Rings are solid metal and are designed to look cleaner and higher-end than the school-style military ring. The customization of these rings, however, is limited and the individual can select only a single insignia to be displayed. For example, for U.S. Army, the individual may select an insignia from the following types: traditional insignia (e.g., Army, Army National Guard, Army Vietnam, Army Reserve), historic insignia (e.g., Army Air Force, Women&#39;s Army Corps, Army Security Agency), special forces insignia (e.g., Army Ranger, Special Forces), badges/medals insignia (e.g., Drill Sergeant, Combat Medic, Parachutist), branch and command insignia (e.g., Cavalry, Army JAG Corps, Army Engineer, Military Police Corps), rank insignia (e.g., Army Staff Sergeant, Army Colonel), division./brigade/regiment combat team insignia (e.g., 1st Cavalry Division, 25th Infantry Division), or POW/MIA insignia. The only other customizable aspects of the ring are the metal choice and a diamond option. These rings are not desirable because they are capable of displaying only a single insignia. 
         [0009]    Therefore, it is desirable to have military service ring having a plurality of customizable aspects and interchangeable insignia. 
         [0010]    Further, it is desirable to have a military service ring that is commemorative. 
         [0011]    Moreover, it is desirable to have a high-end customizable military service ring capable of displaying more than one insignia and/or pieces of information. 
       TERMS OF ART 
       [0012]    As used herein, the term “interchangeable circular insignia” means any symbol, picture, stamp, design, pin, or memorabilia which may be attached to a ring. 
         [0013]    As used herein, the term “mounting hole” means any aperture, groove, slot or hole which a peg or knob may be inserted. 
         [0014]    As used herein, the term “trough” means an indentation or recessed area below the surface. 
         [0015]    As used herein, the term “word insignia” means any combination of letters and numbers which may be mounted on a ring. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention is a modular ring apparatus and system for creating a custom military service ring. The modular apparatus and system is comprised of a ring having an inner wall and outer wall, wherein the outer wall has two troughs indented where military insignia may be mounted and interchanged. Further, the top of the modular ring has a circular mounting component comprised of three concentric circular mounting portions. An outside mounting porting may be used to mount word indicia indicating rank and theater, and the inner portion may be used to mount more military insignia. Both troughs and the center circular mounting portion have mounting holes, which allow military insignia to be connected and disconnected. Military insignia may be removed and interchanged to create a customizable military ring displaying an individual&#39;s service. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0017]    For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text to exemplary embodiments of a modular system for creating a custom military service ring, only some of which are described herein. It should be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are intended by describing these exemplary embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that alternate but functionally equivalent designs and placement may be used. The inclusion of additional elements may be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Specific elements disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention. 
         [0018]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements. 
         [0019]    Moreover, the terms “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could perm permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of unadorned modular ring  100  and system for creating a custom military service ring. Modular ring  100  is comprised of ring body  10  which is a solid closed loop ring having inner wall  11  outer wall  12 , front side surface  13  and back side surface  14 . In an exemplary embodiment, modular ring  100  is made of gold, platinum, titanium, silver, white gold, brass, tungsten carbide, stainless steel or any other metal known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment shown, modular ring  100  has left trough  20 , right trough  30  and an indicia receiving mounting portion comprised of outer circular mounting portion  40 , middle circular portion  50  and center circular mounting portion  60 . Mounting portions  40 ,  50  and  60  are raised concentric rings which form a mounting portion for receiving military insignia. In an exemplary embodiment, the three concentric rings may be different colors and have different insignia mounted to them. In other embodiments, the three concentric rings may also be different heights. 
         [0022]    In the embodiment shown, left trough  20  and right trough  30  are indentations in outer wall  12  which allow military insignia to be placed into the indention. Troughs  20  and  30  are flush with outer wall  12  at the bottom most end and indent into ring body  10  closer to outer circular mounting portion  40 . This allows for military insignia to be recessed into the sides of the ring. In the embodiment shown, troughs  20  and  30  are semi-square shaped. 
         [0023]    Further, in the embodiment shown, modular ring  100  has left mounting hole  70 , right mounting hole  80 , and center mounting hole  90 . Mounting holes are small apertures where military insignia ay be attached. For example, a small military insignia will have a knob or peg on the back which inserts into the mounting holes. Military insignia may be removed and interchanged to make a modular customized ring. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of an unadorned modular ring  100  and system for creating a custom military service ring. Ring body  10  has inner wall  11  (not shown), outer wall  12 , front side surface  13  and back side surface  14 . In the embodiment shown, outer wall  12  includes left trough  20  and right trough  30  are capable of receiving military insignia. Troughs  20  and  30  are flush with outer wall  12  at the bottom most end and indent into ring body  10  closer to outer circular mounting portion  40 . This allows for military insignia to be recessed into the sides of the ring and for the military insignia to be seen from an overhead view. In the embodiment shown, troughs  20  and  30  are semi-square shaped. In other embodiments, troughs  20  and  30  may be elliptical, circular or other shapes known in the art. 
         [0025]    In the embodiment shown, the main mounting portion of unadorned modular ring  100  is comprised of outer circular mounting portion  40 , middle circular portion  50  and center circular mounting portion  60 . In the embodiment shown, outer circular mounting portion  40  and center circular mounting portion  60  may be the same color, and middle circular portion  50  may be of a different color to accent the outside and center sections. The entire main mounting portion is circular, but in other embodiments may be square, rectangular, triangular or any other geometric shape used in the art. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of unadorned modular ring  100  and system for creating a custom r Military service ring. In the embodiment shown, ring body  10  has outer wall  12 , front side surface  13  and back side surface  14 . Left trough  20  is an indentation near circular mounting portion. In the embodiment shown, left trough  20  is a semi-square indentation with three walls which allow an insignia to be sunken into the side of outer wall  12 . In other embodiments, left trough  20  and right trough  30  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) may be comprised of four sided indented section. 
         [0027]    In the embodiment shown, left trough  20  has left mounting hole  70  which is an aperture in ring body  10  that allows military insignia to be mounted and displayed. Outer circular mounting portion  40  is raised about ring body  10 . In the embodiment shown, ring body  10  is narrower at the bottom and wider at the top where the mounting portion is located. In other embodiment, ring body  10  may be one consistent width. In the embodiment shown, the walls of trough  20  are parallel to front side surface  13  and back side surface  14 . In other embodiments, trough  20  may be entirely square or oval shaped. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an unadorned modular ring  100  and interchangeable military insignia for creating a custom military service ring with military insignia. Ring body  10  has left trough  20  with left mounting hole  70  and right trough  30  with right mounting hole  80 . Further, in the embodiment shown, unadorned modular ring  100  has circular mounting portion comprised of outer circular mounting portion  40 , middle circular portion  50 , and center circular mounting portion  60 . Center circular mounting portion  60  also includes center mounting hole  90 . Mounting holes  70 ,  80  and  90  are circular holes or apertures which allow military insignia to be mounted and removed and interchanged. 
         [0029]    In the exemplary embodiment shown, word insignia  120  is comprised of two concentric metal rings with words between them. Word insignia ring  120  may be mounted to outer circular mounting portion  40 . Word insignia  120  may contain any identifying words, for example, the theater of operation (e.g., Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) and the dates of service appear in lettering on the top half of word insignia  120 . The unit name may appears in lettering on the bottom half of word insignia  120 . For example, the top half of word insignia  120  may read, from left to right; “2/67 VIETNAM 5/69” while the bottom half of word insignia  120  may read, from right to left, “716th COMBAT MP BN”. Word insignia  120  may be integrally mounted to outer circular mounting portion  40  by any means including but not limited to adhesives, soldering, welding and any other means known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0030]    In the embodiment shown, unadorned modular ring  100  also includes interchangeable military insignia  130   a,    130   b,  and  130   c  which may be any insignia with a small peg or knob that can mount to mounting holes  70 ,  80  or  90 . Interchangeable circular insignia  130   a - c  may have pegs or knobs which may be soldered, glued, or connected using any other means known to one skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown, interchangeable circular insignia  130   a - c  are removably connected but may be connected permanently. 
         [0031]    In an exemplary embodiment of the modular system, interchangeable circular insignia  130   a - c  depicting an image that represents a military specialty, unit, rank or rate, combat, service campaign, medal or award, or another image of significance would be available. Additionally, interchangeable circular insignia  130   a - c  may be any plurality of military insignia, for example, traditional U.S. Army insignia, modern U.S. Army insignia, U.S. Navy insignia, U.S. Marine Corps insignia, traditional U.S. Air Force insignia, modern U.S. Air Force insignia, and U.S. Coast Guard insignia. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment shown, unadorned modular ring  100 , interchangeable circular insignia  130   a - b,  and word insignia  120  may be comprised of gold, platinum, titanium, silver, brass, white gold, tungsten carbide, stainless steel or any other metal known to those skilled in the art. Interchangeable circular insignia  130   a - b,  and word insignia  120  may be minted, molded, or created using another process known in the art. Interchangeable circular insignia  130   a - b,  and word insignia  120  may be secured permanently to the top and sides of the ring or may be removable, allowing the insignia to be interchanged as desired. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment shown, enter circular mounting portion  60  may be recessed and adapted to receive interchangeable circular insignia  130   a.  The dimensions of the circular insignia would correspond to the dimensions of center circular mounting portion  60  and when interchangeable circular insignia  130   a  is positioned in the recessed area, the top of interchangeable circular insignia  130   a  would be flush with the surface of middle circular portion  50  surrounding the recessed center circular mounting portion  60 . In an alternate embodiment, the top of the interchangeable circular insignia  130   a  may be slightly raised over the middle circular portion  50  surrounding the recessed area. In other embodiments, both outer circular mounting portion  40  and center circular mounting portion  60  may be lower than middle circular portion  50 , so that when word insignia  120  and interchangeable circular insignia  130   a  may be level across. In the embodiments shown, the upper portion of each of the side insignias is visible from the top of the ring when positioned.