Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a ring protection device. The ring protection device can have a shell layer to at least partially encase a ring. The ring protection device can have a shell layer containing a housing segment. The segments of the shell layer can be connected to other segments via a hinge mechanism. The shell segments and hinge mechanism can be configured to encase a ring and protect it from damage. The shell layer can be connected to a sealing layer to aid the ring protection functionality. The hinge mechanism can be opened and closed to insert and remove a ring into the ring protection device.

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure generally relates to ring protection devices which can be used to at least partially encase a user&#39;s ring. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    For a large number of people, a ring carries a high amount of sentimental and/or monetary value. In many cases, rings are worn with a high frequency over a long period of time. It can be nearly impossible to consistently wear a ring while also preventing the ring&#39;s exposure to severe damage (via direct contact by liquid, solid, and gases) or loss. These sometimes daily activities include showering, cleaning dishes, and exercise, amongst many others. Given the value of a ring, owners often times either decide to keep the ring on, exposing the ring to further damage. In the alternative, if the user decides to frequently remove the ring from their hand in order to avoid damage, the ring is then exposed to a higher likelihood of loss. In fact, there are at least hundreds of thousands of individuals that purchase insurance policies to protect against damage and/or loss to their rings for this exact reason. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Disclosed herein in certain embodiments is a ring protection device. In some embodiments, the ring protection device can comprise a shell configured to at least partially encase a ring, and a hinge mechanism configured to move the shell between an open position and closed position. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the shell can be formed of a rigid material. In some embodiments, the shell can include a clasp mechanism to strengthen the shell when in the closed position. In some embodiments, the ring protection device can further comprise a tracking device mechanism. In some embodiments, the shell can completely engulf the entire ring. 
         [0008]    Also disclosed herein is a ring protection device for protecting a ring worn on a human finger which can comprise a shell configured to at least partially encircle the ring when the ring is being worn, and a sealing layer connected to the shell, wherein said sealing layer is configured to contact human skin in order to reduce liquid access to the ring when the ring is being worn. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the shell can be formed of a rigid material. In some embodiments, the shell can be configured to not contact the ring. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the ring protection device can further comprise a hinge mechanism configured to move the shell between an open position and closed position. In some embodiments, the ring protection device can further comprise a clasp mechanism to strengthen the shell when in the closed position. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, said shell can comprise a housing compartment which can be configured to protect a portion of the ring that houses one or more primary stones of the ring. In some embodiments, said housing compartment can be removable from a rest of the shell. In some embodiments, the housing compartment can be a first housing compartment, and the first housing compartment can be replaceable with a second housing compartment. In some embodiments, the first housing compartment can have a size or a material that is different from a size or a material of the second housing compartment. 
         [0012]    Also disclosed herein is a ring protection device for protecting a ring worn on a human finger which can comprise a shell configured to at least partially encircle the ring while it is being worn, the shell comprising a housing compartment configured to protect a portion of the ring that houses one or more primary stones of the ring, and a sealing layer connected to the shell, wherein said sealing layer is configured to contact human skin in order to reduce liquid access to the ring. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, said sealing layer can be further configured to prevent movement of the ring protection device on the user&#39;s finger due to activity or outside contact. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1A-C  illustrate perspective views of an embodiment of a ring protection device. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2A-E  illustrate an embodiment of a ring protection device in different positions and from different points of view. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3A-D  illustrate components of an embodiment of a ring protection device in different positions and from different points of view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Some embodiments described herein relate to a ring protection device for protecting a person&#39;s ring during active or passive conduct or activities. Some embodiments allow the user to protect people and/or fragile material from the sharp edges of the user&#39;s ring. Some embodiments relate to a ring protection device that allows a ring owner to protect and/or track his or her ring while not wearing it. Some embodiments allow the ring protection device to be easily put on by one hand of a user. 
         [0018]    Embodiments of a ring protection device that may be worn by an individual in order to protect the ring and gem from being damaged, dinged, scratched, or lost, especially during active conduct, are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the disclosed ring protection device can effectively protect the ring from outside contact while simultaneously limiting liquid, such as grease, water, and other liquid chemicals, from entering its perimeter. In some embodiments, the device can have liquid, air, or powder tight sealing. Embodiments of the ring protection device can also be designed to fit comfortably on the user&#39;s finger, even during movement based activities. Further, embodiments of the ring protection device can be configured to generally stick on a user&#39;s finger, so it doesn&#39;t come off during showering or sweating. 
         [0019]    Embodiments of the disclosed ring protection device can be used to protect and/or track a ring when the user removes it from his or her finger. Embodiments of the ring protection device can prevent the loss of the ring by alarming (e.g. lights, sounds, or vibration) the user when the ring is a specific distance away and can also prevent damage by protecting the rim from undesired contact. This may be advantageous to deter theft of the device, and therefore the ring. 
         [0020]    Described herein are various embodiments of a ring protection device that greatly decreases the risk of damage or loss to a ring, and often times, a valuable ring. The ring can be an annulus. Furthermore, the ring can be a jewelry ring made from various materials such as gold, platinum, silver, jewels, crystals, and stones. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 1A-C  show an embodiment of a ring protection device  100 . The ring protection device  100  can include a shell, casing or layer  102 . The shell  102  can be made from a protective material, such as plastic, metal or ceramic, though the type of material is not limiting. In some embodiments, the protective material can be rigid or semi-rigid such that the shell does not substantially deform under a load. In some embodiments, the protective material can have slight give to absorb impacts. For example, protective material can have an elastic modulus of at least 1 GPa, though the elastic modulus is not limiting. Furthermore, the protective material can have a relatively high hardness, though the hardness is not limiting. In some embodiments, the protective material can also be transparent or translucent. In some embodiments, the protective material can be opaque. In some embodiments, the protective material can be transparent/translucent in some portions and opaque in other. In some embodiments, shell  102  can completely, substantially, or at least partially encircle, encase, encapsulate or cover the ring  110 . For example, the shell  102  can be an annulus or generally annular, and the shape of the shell  102  is not limiting. The annulus may be continuous or may not be continuous. 
         [0022]    Some embodiments of the ring protection device  100  include a hinge  104  and/or clasp mechanism  106  that aids the device  100  in moving back and forth from an open to closed position. For example, the annulus may have gaps, breaks or discontinuities. The annulus may have two or more discontinuities to form two or more segments of the annulus. The segments can be separate components. The segments can be coupled together with a hinge  104  and/or clasp mechanism  106 . For example, a hinge  104  can be coupled to a first segment  103  and a second segment  105  at a discontinuity so that the first  103  and second segments  105  can rotate about the discontinuity. A clasp mechanism  106  can be coupled to a first segment  103  adjacent to a discontinuity and the clasp mechanism  106  can be removably coupled to a second segment  105  to lock and unlock the first and second segment  103 / 105  together. The hinges  104  and clasp mechanisms  106  can be used interchangeably on the device  100 , and the position and attachment parts are not limiting. 
         [0023]    The shell  102  can have an opening or slot  108  on an inside of the shell  102 . In some embodiments, the shell  102  can have an annular dome shape. In some embodiments, the shell  102  can have an annular slot  108  on an inside of the annular shell  102 . The slot  108  can be sized to have a ring  110  disposed therein, though the size is not limiting. In some embodiments, the slot  108  can contain at least one lock clip to hold a ring  110  in place. 
         [0024]    The ring protection device  100  can include a sealing layer  112  coupled to the shell  102 . The coupling of the sealing layer  112  to the device  100  is not limiting and mechanical and/or chemical coupling can be used. In some embodiments, the sealing layer  112  can be adjacent to the slot  108 . For example, the sealing layer  112  can be on an inner most surface of the shell  102 . As such, the sealing layer  112  can be sandwiched between the shell  102  and a user&#39;s finger and/or can be sandwiched between the shell  102  and the ring  110 . Furthermore, the sealing layer  112  can be adjacent to both sides of the slot  108 . Therefore, the sealing layer  112  can include two separate portions. In some embodiments, the sealing layer  112  can be substantially continuous around the annulus of the shell  102 . Thus, the sealing layer  112  can be an annulus, or generally an annulus. In some embodiments, the sealing layer  112  may not be substantially continuous around the annulus of the shell  102 . The sealing layer  112  can be configured to reduce liquid access to the ring  110 . Thus, in use, the slot  108  can be substantially fluidly (e.g., liquidly) isolated from outside of the shell  102 . The sealing layer  112  can be formed from a material that can elastically deform to provide a good seal between the shell  102  and the user&#39;s finger. For example, the sealing layer  112  can be a polymer, rubber, foam, or foam-like material, and the type of material is not limiting. Furthermore, the sealing layer  112  can be adapted to function with the hinge  104  and/or clasp mechanism  106  (e.g., fasteners). For example, the sealing layer  112  can have discontinuities similar to that of the shell  102 . 
         [0025]    The shell  102  can also include a housing compartment  114  configured to encircle, encase, encapsulate or cover a portion of the ring  110  that houses one or more stones. Since the portion of the ring  110  that houses the stone tends to be larger than the rest of the ring  110 , the housing compartment  114  can be larger (e.g. thicker, wider, and/or taller) than the rest of the shell  102 . Furthermore, as described above, the sealing layer  112  can also be attached to the housing compartment  114  of the shell  102 . The housing compartment  114  can be configured to be separated from the rest of the shell  102 . 
         [0026]    The ring protection device  100  can also include a protecting layer configured to contact the ring  110 . For example, the protecting layer can be within the slot  108  and/or the housing compartment  114 . The protecting layer can be or formed from foam, foam-like material, shape-memory foam, or elastic material, though the type of material is not limiting. The protecting layer may deform to form fit to the ring  110 . 
         [0027]    The ring protection device  100  can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. For example, some users may wear the ring  110  adjacent to or near a knuckle. The ring  110  may be configured to be worn adjacent to or near a knuckle of the user&#39;s finger. For example, the ring protection device  100  may be asymmetrical such that a side of the ring protection device  100  (e.g., shell  102 , sealing layer  112 ) closest to the user&#39;s knuckle may be configured and/or shaped differently than a side of the ring protection device  100  furthest form the user&#39;s knuckle. Other portions of the ring protection device  100  may be asymmetrical such as to conform to a finger. 
         [0028]    The ring protection device  100  can also include one or more light bulbs, such as LEDs (light emitting diodes) or fluorescence, in order to help see both the ring protection device  100  and the ring  110  itself. The number and type of light bulbs is not limiting. 
         [0029]    The ring protection device  100  can be used to encase the ring  110  while the user is not wearing the ring  110 . The ring protection device  100  can include one or more tracking devices, such as GPS, to help the user keep track of the location of his or her ring  110 . The type of tracking device is not limiting. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2A  shows a front cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a ring protection device  100  in an open position with a hinge mechanism incorporating a single hinge  104 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2B  shows a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a ring protection device  100  shown in  FIG. 2A  in which neither the shell  102  nor the sealing layer  112  contacts the user&#39;s ring band. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2C  shows the front cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a ring protection device  100  shown in  FIG. 2A  in which the shell  102  is in a closed position and is configured to contact the ring band for further stability. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2D  shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a ring protection device  100  that uses one possible type of a clasp mechanism  106  with a male and female end. The female clasp end is shown as  106  on the left, and the male clasp end is shown as  106  on the right. The female clasp end could be located on either the first segment  103  or the second segment  105 , and the male clasp end could be located on the opposite segment as the female clasp end. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2E  shows a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a ring protection device  100  with a hinge  104  or clasp  106  line when the device is in the closed position. As the cross section segment cuts down the center of device  100 , the lighter gray shade in  FIG. 2E  indicates an actual cut through of device  100 , while the dark shade indicates a side view of device  100  which is not a cut through. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 3A-D  show a further embodiment of a ring protection device  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 3A-B , and described above, the ring protection device  100  can have a generally annular shape.  FIG. 3A  illustrates an embodiment of a ring protection device  100  in a closed configuration.  FIG. 3B  illustrates an embodiment of the ring protection device  100  of  FIG. 3A  in an open configuration. As shown, in some embodiments the shell  102  can be split into three segments  302 ,  304 , and  307 . In some embodiments, the shell  102  can be split into more than three segments, and the number of segments is not limiting. Each of segments  302 / 304  can attach to housing segment  307  which can be connected to the housing compartment  114 . In some embodiments, the segments  302 / 304  can then attach to one another through a clasp mechanism  106 . In some embodiments, the clasp mechanism  106  can be part of segments  302 / 304 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , where the device  100  is opened, both segments  302 / 304  can rotate away from each other. Accordingly, a ring  110  can be inserted through the opened clasp mechanism  106  and inserted into slot  108 . In some embodiments, the segments  302 / 304  can rotate about hinges  104  so that they are generally about 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, or 180° apart, though this angle is not limiting. In some embodiments, each of the segments  302 / 304 / 307  can be generally ¼ of a circle, ½ of a circle, or ¾ of a circle. 
         [0036]    In  FIGS. 3A-B , the segments  302 / 304  contain a gap  320  in the shell  102 . The underlying sealing layer  112  can fill the gap  320  in the shell  102  and/or segments  302 / 304 . In some embodiments, the segments  302 / 304  can extend fully around the outside of the sealing layer  112  and eliminate the gap  320 . Accordingly, in some embodiments the sealing layer  112  may not be visible when the ring is in the closed position on a finger. In some embodiments, the sealing layer  112  can extend over the edge of the clasp mechanism  106 . In some embodiments, the sealing layer  112  can be thicker in some portions of the device  100  and thinner in others. For example, the sealing layer  112  can be thinner below the housing compartment  114  than around the segments  302 / 304  approximately 90° away in the closed position. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 3C-D  illustrate more detailed viewpoints of different components of embodiments of ring protection device  100 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 3C  illustrates an embodiment of a housing segment  307  having a pair of hinges  104  located underneath the housing compartment  114 . In some embodiment, the hinges  104  can be generally snap hinges, configured to remain in certain locations, though the type of hinge  104  is not limiting. In some embodiments, the housing segment  307  can contain a sealing layer  112 . In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  can be generally centered between hinges  104 . In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  is not centered between hinges  104 . In some embodiments, other types of rotational connections can be used between segment  307  and segments  302 / 304 , and the type or means of rotation is not limiting. In some embodiments, the sealing layer  112  in the housing segment  307  and segments  302 / 304  can overlap when the hinges  104  are closed, thereby creating a generally seamless 360 degree seal on a user&#39;s finger. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  can be decorated to include colors or patterns. In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  can be generally rectangular shaped. However, the shape of the housing compartment  114  is not limiting. For example, the housing compartment  114  can be generally round, generally circular shaped, or generally triangular shaped. In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  can be configured to retain a specific sized stone on a ring  110 . In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  can have generally smooth corners so as not to injure a user. In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  can be configured to fit within the hinge  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A-B . In some embodiments, the inside of the housing compartment  114  can contain the sealing layer  112  to protect a ring  110 . In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  can be integrally formed with the housing segment  307 . In some embodiments, the housing compartment  114  can be attached, either removably or non-removably, from the housing segment  307 . In some embodiments, the shell  102  can consist of the housing segment  307  only, and can be attached or molded to a sealing layer  112  that can wrap up to 360 degrees around the user&#39;s finger. In some embodiments, the shell  102  can be attached (e.g., overmolded) directly to the sealing layer  112  with the use of a hinge  104  or a clasp  106 . The attachment technique is not limiting. In yet other embodiments, the shell  102  can consist of segments  302 / 304  only, and can be attached or molded to a sealing layer  112  that can wrap up to 360 degrees around the user&#39;s finger. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3D  illustrates an embodiment of a clasp  106 . In some embodiments, the clasp  106  is a portion of a larger segment (see segments  302 / 304  in  FIG. 3A ). In some embodiments, the clasp  106  can also be its own segment. As shown, the clasp can contain a button  306 , or other actuating mechanism, which can release the clasp  106 . The clasp  106  can contain a male  314  and female  312  component. The button  306  can be located on either component. In some embodiments, the female component  312  can be configured to receive and retain the male component  314 . However, a person having skill in the art would understand that different configurations of clasps could be used, such as those including hooks, magnetics, or frictional holding, and the type of clasp is not limiting. In some embodiments, the sealing layer  112  in the segments  302 / 304  can extend into the clasp  106  and can overlap when the clasp  106  is closed, thereby creating a generally seamless seal on a user&#39;s finger. 
         [0041]    Some embodiments have been described in connection with the accompanying drawings. The figures are drawn to scale, but such scale should not be limiting, since dimensions and proportions other than what are shown are contemplated and are within the scope of the disclosed inventions. Distances, angles, etc. are merely illustrative and do not necessarily bear an exact relationship to actual dimensions and layout of the devices illustrated. Components can be added, removed, and/or rearranged. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, or the like in connection with various embodiments can be used in all other embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, it will be recognized that any methods described herein may be practiced using any device suitable for performing the recited steps. 
         [0042]    While various embodiments of the innovation have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the innovation. Accordingly, the innovation is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims, or claims that may be presented in the future, and their equivalents.