Abstract:
A jewelry article is assembled with prefabricated precision components suitable for mass production. The components include bounding elements, fasteners, and spacers. The bounding elements include fastener apertures and channels for receiving portions of adornments. The fasteners secure the adornments in the channels between the bounding elements. From the available selection of bounding elements, fasteners, spaces, and other configuration options, an enormous variety of custom jewelry may be assembled. Accordingly, the consumer may obtain a unique piece of jewelry without the cost, expense, and time normally associated with custom jewelry creation.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to jewelry and jewelry configuration. More particularly, the invention relates to providing a wide array of jewelry articles with widely varying appearances assembled from a consistent selection of individual components. 
   2. Related Art 
   Jewelry and its manufacturing have changed little over the years. To manufacture a ring, for example, molten metal is generally poured into a mold to form the ring. While the mold provides a convenient mechanism for defining the shape and size of the ring, the molding process is not flexible: the mold produces the same ring every time. 
   Rings are often manufactured with mounting prongs or receptacles which accept adornments such as precious or semi-precious stones, gems, birthstones or other adornments. A craftsman forms an arrangement of the adornments an integral part of the ring. However, when a customer desires an alternate arrangement or selection of adornments or an alternate ring shape or design, the customer must rely again on the expertise of the craftsman. Regardless of the craftsman&#39;s skill level, modifying a ring to meet the customer expectations often cannot be accomplished at all, and when the modification can be accomplished, the craftsman may takes weeks to recast or redesign the ring. 
   Jewelry is manufactured using a vast selection of different metals, stones, shapes, sizes, and designs. Furthermore, every individual will have their own tastes and preferences for any of the metals, stones, shapes, or other design parameters. As a result, customer interest in alternate designs is a growing and significant challenge for the jewelry industry. 
   There is a need for addressing the problems noted above and others previously experienced in the creation and modification of jewelry. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is defined by the claims which follow. This description summarizes some aspects of the configurable jewelry, but is not intended to describe every aspect. Accordingly, this summary does not limit the claims. 
   An article of jewelry is modularly assembled with prefabricated bounding elements (e.g., inner and outer rings) and fasteners. The bounding elements include channels which receive portions of adornments (e.g., an edge of a stone), and fastener apertures. The fasteners secure bounding elements together and at the same time secure the adornments in the channels. The channels may include a securing material such as an epoxy or low temperature solder to further secure the adornments in place. 
   In designing the jewelry article, a customer may select the adornments and bounding elements which interest them. The bounding elements include channels which receive portions of the adornments as well as fastener apertures. In addition, the customer may choose from a wide selection of fasteners, fastener caps, and other features. The fasteners are positioned between or through the fastener apertures of the bounding elements to secure the selected adornments in the channels between the bounding elements. All of the fasteners, caps, bounding elements, and/or other jewelry components may be interchangeable parts, thereby allowing extensive configuration and customization options for any given piece of jewelry. 
   In addition, a jewelry configuration system is disclosed. The jewelry configuration system comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores adornment records representing customer selectable decorative pieces, bounding element records, fastener records for fasteners that secure the adornments between the first and second bounding elements, and a configuration program. The configuration program is operable to display adornment selections based on the adornment records, bounding element selections based on the bounding element records, and fastener selections based on fastener records. An operator provides an adornment selection, a bounding element selections, and fastener selections. The configuration program then verifies manufacturing compatibility between the selections and initiates communication of a manufacturing order to a supplier. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 3   a  is an exploded view of the fastening parts of a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 3   b  is an assembled view of a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 4  are side views of spacers which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 5  shows views of side profiles of bounding elements which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 6   a  is a cross-sectional illustration of an adornment and bounding element channels which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 6   b  is a cross-sectional illustration of an adornment and bounding element channels which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 6   c  is a cross-sectional illustration of an adornment and bounding element channels, and tension channels which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 6   d  is a cross-sectional illustration of an adornment and bounding element channels, and a tension channel which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 7   a  is a cross-sectional illustration of an alternate fastener, a spacer and bounding elements which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 7   b  is a cross-sectional illustration of a second example of an alternate fastener, a spacer and bounding elements which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 7   c  shows a top view of the fastener shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b.    
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the jewelry article shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9   a  is a cross-sectional illustration of an alternate fastener, corresponding spacer, and bounding elements which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 9   b  is a cross-sectional illustration of a second example of an alternate fastener, corresponding spacer, and bounding elements which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 9   c  shows alternate designs of a fastener. 
       FIG. 10   a  illustrates an alternate geometry for a bounding element which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 10   b  illustrates an alternate geometry for a bounding element which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 10   c  illustrates an alternate geometry for a bounding element which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 10   d  illustrates an alternate geometry for a bounding element which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 10   e  illustrates an alternate geometry for a bounding element which may be employed in a configurable jewelry article. 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram of a jewelry configuration system. 
       FIG. 12  is a flow diagram shown acts which the jewelry configuration system may take to specify a jewelry article. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The elements illustrated in the Figures interoperate as explained in more detail below. Before setting forth the detailed explanation, however, it is noted that all of the discussion below, regardless of the particular implementation being described, is exemplary in nature, rather than limiting. For example, although selected aspects, features, or components of the implementations are depicted as pins, threaded fasteners, and embellishments, other types of fasteners, connecting members, embellishments or ornaments may be employed. Furthermore, although the jewelry article described below is a ring intended to be worn on a finger, the discussion below applies to other articles of jewelry, such as bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. 
   It is also noted that, although this specification describes specific components of a jewelry configuration system, methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with this technology may include additional or different components, implemented with a wide range of circuitry. For example, a processor may be implemented as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, or a combination of other types of circuits or logic acting as explained below. Programs may be a function, subroutine, or in-line code present in another program, may be a separate program, may be distributed across several memories and processors, or may be partially or wholly implemented without software as a hardware realization of the processing discussed below. 
     FIG. 1  shows a jewelry article  10 . The jewelry article  10  includes first and second bounding elements  12 A and  12 B, collectively: “bounding elements  12 ”. The jewelry article  10  also includes adornments  14 , and fasteners  16 . The fasteners  16  secure the adornments between bounding elements  12 . The adornments may be any embellishment for the jewelry article  10 . Examples of adornments  14  include stones such as gemstones, pieces of precious metal, or any other enhancement for the jewelry article  10 . The adornments  14  may be molded, cast, hand-tooled, or otherwise fabricated shapes of any material inserted between bounding elements  12 .  FIGS. 10   a - d  show additional examples of adornments  14 . 
   The jewelry article  10  also includes spacers or spindles  18  which axially engage the fasteners  16  while positioned between the bounding elements  12 . The bounding elements  12  are characterized by an inner diameter  20  which may be manufactured in different sizes to fit a finger (when the jewelry article  10  is a ring), a user&#39;s wrist (when the jewelry article  10  is a bracelet), or any other size appropriate for jewelry articles for other parts of the body. 
     FIG. 2  shows an exploded view illustration of a configurable jewelry article. The exploded view shows that the bounding elements  12  include apertures  22  and channels  24 . The apertures  22  may each be formed as a hollow cavity which is sized and shaped to receive the fasteners  16 . Accordingly, the fasteners  16  pass through the apertures  22  and engage the corresponding spacers  18 . As will be explained in more detail below, the fasteners  16  and spacers  18  may be threaded, non-threaded, or partially threaded. 
   The channels  24  may be formed in the inner surfaces  26  of the bounding elements  12 . The channels  24  may be sized and positioned to receive portions of the adornments  14 . The channels  24  may be formed in proximity to the outer edges of the corresponding bounding elements  12  so that the adornments are readily visible. However, the channels  24  may be formed at any point on the inner surfaces  26  of the bounding elements  12 . Accordingly, the jewelry allows the adornments to be positioned at a wide variety of positions within the jewelry itself, in contrast to traditional designs which limit the position of the adornments to the surface of the jewelry only. 
     FIG. 3   a  shows an exploded view of a section of the jewelry article  10  which illustrates the engagement of the fastening parts of the jewelry article  10 . The exploded view of the jewelry article  10  shows that the spacers  18  are aligned axially with the corresponding apertures  22  and the corresponding fasteners  16 . The apertures  22  are shown as through-holes which include recesses  28  for fasteners having cylindrical heads. 
   In other designs, the countersinks  28  may accept bezels  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3   b . The receptacles  30  may each be configured with an open end and a base opposite the open end, with the base having a through-hole to allow passage for the fasteners  16 . As such, in the assembled state of jewelry article  10 , the receptacles  30  are fixedly positioned in the countersinks  28  via the fasteners  16 . Additional adornments  14  may be secured in the receptacles  30  to provide additional configuration options for the jewelry article  10 . 
     FIG. 4  shows side views spacers  18  which may be used in the assembly of the jewelry article. The spacers  18  may vary widely in both shape and length. With regard to shape, the spacers  18  may be shaped in a variety of geometries or profiles, either symmetrically or asymmetrically. As examples, the spacers  18  may be round, triangular, square, or may have any other profile. 
   The spacers  18  may be chosen from a set of pre-fabricated selections, or may be manufactured to match a customer&#39;s desired shape or style. With regard to length, the spacers  18  may provide targeted or desired post-assembly distances between the inner surfaces  26  of bounding elements  12  so that the adornments  14  are fixedly positioned. The spacers  18  may include or may omit internal threads which engage fastener screws or rivets, for example. 
     FIG. 5  shows alternate side profiles of the bounding elements  12  which may be employed in the assembly of the jewelry article  10 . The bounding elements  12  may be shaped externally in a variety of geometries of profiles. Furthermore, the profiles may be straight or flat, concave, angular or knifed, beveled, or rounded. Any side profiles may be supplied by a set of pre-fabricated bounding elements  12 , or may be manufactured to match the customer&#39;s desired geometry or style. 
     FIGS. 6   a - 6   c  show cross-sectional illustrations of the engagement of an adornment  14  with alternate bounding element channels  24 . The bounding element channels  24  may receive portions of adornments  14  (e.g., the edge of a gemstone). The channels  24  are further configurable with respect to both size and depth to provide a secure point of contact with the selected adornments  14  and spacers  18 . A resin, epoxy, or other suspension material  34  (e.g., a silicone material) may be present in the channels  24 . 
     FIG. 6   a  shows that the channel  24  has a rectangular cross-section, while  FIG. 6   b  shows that the channel  24  may have a triangular cross section to meet an expected shape of the adornment  14 . Other shapes, sizes, and geometries may be employed for the channels. Thus, the adornments  14  are aligned in the channels  24  during assembly of the jewelry article  10 . The adornments may be readily removed and changed to create additional configuration options for the jewelry article  10  by removing the fasteners  16 , pulling the bounding elements  12  apart, and changing the adornments  14 . 
     FIGS. 6   c  and  6   d  show an alternative implementation in which the inner surface  26  of the bounding element includes a primary channel  24  and tension channels. The tension channels may be provided above or below the primary channel  24 .  FIG. 6   c  shows two tension channels  602  and  604 , while  FIG. 6   d  shows an implementation with one tension channel  606  below the primary channel  24 . The tension channels  602 - 606  may deform and/or deflect as the adornment  14  enters the primary channel  24  to provide a tension or friction fit against the adornment  14 . The tension or friction fit further secures the adornment  14  in place when pressure is applied by the fasteners  16  during assembly. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  show cross-sectional illustrations of alternate fasteners  38  with spacers  18  and bounding elements  12 . In  FIG. 7 , the pins  38  include prongs  40  at both ends. The pins  38  may include two, three, four, or any other number of prongs  40 . The prongs  40  are elastically deformable to squeeze through passageways, such as the apertures  22  and through the spacers  18 . After the prongs move through the apertures  22 , the prongs  40  release into a wider final position which secures the cap  42  to the fastener  38 . 
   In addition, the prongs  40  may include flanges  44  which engage the bounding element outer surfaces  25  or their respective recesses  28 . Each pin  38  may have a length which provides any specified post-assembly pressure when the pin  38  and bounding elements  12  are secured together. The cap  42  may cover the prongs  40 , and may offer a substantially smooth surface or other appearance configuration options for the jewelry article  10 . The caps  42  may be snap fit caps, threaded caps, or may be secured in other manners. 
     FIG. 7   b  shows an example in which the caps  702  and  704  provide multiple locking positions for the fastener  38 . The caps  702  and  704  have material removed internally to define mating positions for the flanges  44 . The cap  702  defines a first mating position  706  and a second, deeper, mating position  708 . The cap  704  defines a first mating position  710  and a second, deeper, mating position  712 . Any number of mating positions may be provided in any of the caps added to the jewelry article. The fastener tension may be increased by pressing the fastener  18  deeper into one or both of the caps  702  and  704 . 
   The fastener  38  with prongs  40  may be used in other applications. For example, the fastener  38  may be used to secure together machine parts or other mechanical elements. To that end, the fastener  38  and prongs  40  may vary widely in size (e.g., from a few millimeters in length for jewelry applications to many tens or hundreds of millimeters or more for other applications) to accommodate the parts which it will secure. Suitable materials for the fastener  38  include steel, titanium, hardened aluminum, or other hard materials which provide a degree of spring to the prongs  40 . 
   The caps  702  and  704  may also include release apertures. The release apertures may be implemented as slots or other openings through which a portion of a tool may pass to compress the prongs  40 . When the prongs  40  are compressed, the cap may then be removed from the fastener  38 .  FIG. 7   b  shows a release aperture  714 . The release apertures may be provided for one or more of the prongs  40  at one or more of the mating positions. 
     FIG. 7   c  shows a top view of the fastener  38  shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b . In particular,  FIG. 7   c  shows the ends of each of four prongs  40  extending from the end of the fastener  38 . As noted above, the prongs  40  are elastic, allowing the prongs to compress together then expand into the mating positions described above. 
   In  FIG. 9   a , two alternate pins  38  engage a common spacer  18 . The pins shown in  FIG. 9   a  may be formed as a single piece, including the external facing portions shown in  FIG. 9   a . The alternate pins  38  include prongs  40  at one respective end to engage internally the common spacer  18 . As such, the spacer  18  need not be a hollow cylinder, but may include ring-like grooves located at one or more axial positions to interoperate with the flanges  44  and provide a selected post-assembly locking pressure or tightness 
     FIG. 9   b  illustrates a spacer  902  which includes multiple mating positions  904 ,  906  for the fastener  908 , and multiple mating positions  910 ,  912  for the fastener  914 . The multiple mating positions  904 ,  906 ,  910 , and  912  provide adjustable fastener tension as described above with regard to  FIG. 7   b . Additional or fewer mating positions may be provided for each fastener  908  and  914  in the spacer  902 . 
     FIG. 9   c  shows alternate designs of a fastener. In  FIG. 9   c , the fastener  916  provides a rounded exterior facing end  918 . The fastener  920  provides a flush exterior facing end  922 . Other designs may be employed for the fastener. 
     FIGS. 10   a - 10   e  show alternate geometries of the bounding elements  12  which may be employed in an assembly of the jewelry article  10 .  FIGS. 10   a - 10   e  show some of the many possibilities of geometries and sizes of the bounding elements. As examples, the bounding elements  12  may have smooth or angled corners or edges and may be rectangular, round, octagonal, triangular, or have other regular or irregular shapes. 
   The bounding elements  12  may have smooth, rough, decorated, or engraved outer surfaces  25 , and may either have a hollow or solid core. Moreover, the spacers  18  may be adapted to receive adornments  14 , and may further increase the configuration options around the periphery of the jewelry article  10 . To that end, the spacers  18  may include receptacles  30  for additional adornments  14 . The fasteners, spacers, caps, bounding elements, and/or other jewelry components may be selected from a set of interchangeable parts. Any or all of the parts may be precision manufactured to provide excellent fit and assembly characteristics. The interchangeability provides extensive configuration and customization options for any given piece of jewelry. For example, a customer may reconfigure their existing jewelry by selecting an interchangeable cap or spacer to replace an existing cap or fastener. Thus, any piece of jewelry may change at any time using any desired interchangeable part, without extensive time consuming and expensive labor. 
     FIG. 11  shows a jewelry configuration system  100 . The jewelry configuration system  100  includes a processor  102  coupled to a memory  104  and a communication interface  122 . The memory  104  holds configuration data  106  and a configuration program  108  executed by the processor  102 . The configuration data  106  includes adornment records  110  specifying customer selectable adornments  14 , bounding element records  112  specifying customer selectable bounding elements  12 , and fastener records  114  representing customer selectable fasteners  16 . 
   The configuration data  106  may further include records specifying available configuration options for any other aspect of the jewelry article  10 , such as spacer records, cap records, bezel records, or other records. The records specify the configuration options by storing the name, sizes, shapes, cost, channel options, availability, materials, and any other characteristic data for available adornments  14 , bounding elements  12 , fasteners  16 , and any other configuration element. The records may further include image data  116  representing each configuration option (e.g., images showing each available bounding element, fastener, cap, bezel, spacer, or other available parts). 
   The system  100  may further include a display  118 . The display  118 , under control of the configuration program  108 , may display selections from the records  110 - 114 . The resulting configuration display  120  provides one or more views (e.g., 3 dimensional models) of each selected, available, or compatible configuration option, an exploded view of the resulting jewelry article, an assembled view of the jewelry article, or other graphical representations on the display  118  for the operator. 
   The configuration program  108  displays bounding element selections, fastener selections, adornment selections, and other configuration selections to the operator on the display  118 . For example, the operator may be a store owner who interacts with a customer to design a jewelry article. Alternatively, the operator may be the customer who interacts with the configuration program  108  at a store, or at home via a network connection through a user interface provided by a web browser on their personal computer. In the later case, the customer&#39;s personal computer provides the display  118 . 
   The configuration program  108  accepts bounding element selections, fastener selections, adornment selections, and other configuration selections from the displayed selections. The configuration program  108  may then verify manufacturing or assembly compatibility between the selections and alert the operator to any incompatibilities that may exist. For example, if a customer selects a fastener with a diameter too large to secure selected bounding elements, the configuration program  108  may alert the operator. In addition, the configuration program  108  may search the records for compatible fasteners to show the operator. 
   The jewelry configuration program  108  may also include instructions which initiate communication of a jewelry article order  128  to a manufacturing system  110  or other assembly location. The jewelry article order may include one or more fields specifying the selected bounding elements, fasteners, spacers, caps, bezels, finishes, materials, adornments, and any other configuration option for the jewelry article, as well as customer name and address, store name and address, and other order data. The system  100  may transmit the jewelry article order through the communication interface  122  to a manufacturing system  124 , a craftsman who assembles the jewelry article, or other recipient. The communication interface  122  may be connected to a network  126  (or interconnection of networks) which communicates the jewelry article order to the manufacturing system  124 . 
     FIG. 12  shows a flow diagram  200  of the acts which the jewelry configuration program  108  may take to configure a module article of jewelry. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the configuration program  108  accepts operator or customer selections of bounding elements  12  (Act  202 ), adornments  14  (Act  204 ) and fasteners  16  (Act  206 ), and any other configuration option. The configuration program  108  also updates the configuration display  120  to show the selections as noted above (Act  208 ). 
   The configuration program  108  verifies the selections for compatibility (Act  210 ). A verified jewelry article  128  order may be prepared with the configuration selections (Act  212 ). In addition, the configuration program  108  may communicate the jewelry article order  128  to the manufacturing system  110  (Act  214 ). 
   In other words, the user is guided by the jewelry configuration system  100  during the configuration process for a custom jewelry article. The configuration system  100  verifies the manufacturing compatibility of the configuration selections which specify the jewelry article  10 . Thus, the jewelry configuration system  100  provides an efficient mechanism for creating a specific piece of modular jewelry despite the vast range of possible configurations. 
   It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.