Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mobile device and method for a secure jewelry ring holder. The improved jewelry ring holder provides a wearable storage device for displaying the jewelry ring from a chain while suspending a jewelry ring in a secure fashion. For securing, the jewelry ring is threaded onto the improved wearable storage device rather than requiring that the wearer remove or unfasten a chain, or open or unlock a clasp. The chain holds in place a wearable storage pendant. When threaded onto the wearable storage pendant the jewelry ring is stored as it rests securely on the wearable storage pendant. Curvatures located on the wearable storage pendant allow the jewelry ring to lie substantially flat against the wearer&#39;s body.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a wearable device and method for a secure jewelry ring holder. The improved jewelry ring holder provides a wearable storage device for displaying the jewelry ring from a chain while suspending a jewelry ring in a secure fashion. For securing, the jewelry ring can be threaded onto the improved wearable storage device while the wearable storage device is being worn by the wearer, rather than requiring that the wearer remove or unfasten a chain, or open or unlock a clasp. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wearing a jewelry ring is not only prevalent today, but has been in vogue throughout history. People wear jewelry rings for various reasons, including for purposes of fashion, displaying marital or relationship status, or associations with groups or institutions. 
     Inadvertent loss of valuable jewelry is a chronic problem. Jewelry rings are removed for many reasons. The ring may irritate the wearer&#39;s finger after prolonged use; the wearer may need to wash their hands; the wearer&#39;s finger may swell temporarily (making resizing the jewelry ring impractical); or the wearer may remove the jewelry ring for participation in sports or occupational activities where retaining the jewelry ring on the wearer&#39;s finger is dangerous. Often, jewelry rings are lost when the wearer deliberately removes the jewelry ring and then puts it down, later forgetting where the jewelry ring was placed. 
     Jewelry rings may be dislodged inadvertently. Jewelry rings can be lost through lubrication by soap and water, where the jewelry ring then slips from the wearer&#39;s finger. Jewelry rings may also be lost by dislodging the jewelry ring from prior art wearable storage devices that contain clasps or other retaining means that fail. 
     Alternatively, there are persons who may not want to or cannot wear a ring, and who wish to display a ring using the necklace rather than wearing it on a finger. 
     However, removal and storage of a jewelry ring during the day may be impractical, or even impossible. Removal may require the wearer to anticipate situations where wearing the jewelry ring is not practical or is unsafe. Often the wearer may not be able to anticipate when the jewelry ring should be removed. Or, if removal can be anticipated, the wearer may not be able to place the jewelry ring in fixed secure storage such as a jewelry box or stationary jewelry ring holder at home. Alternatively, the jewelry ring wearer may anticipate the need to remove the jewelry ring, but choose to wear it anyway because the wearer does not having a reliable way to secure the jewelry ring during the time that it needs to be removed. 
     Existing wearable jewelry ring holders affixed to chains or necklaces require that the wearer first remove the chain or other device for holding the jewelry ring in order to secure the jewelry ring. Removal of existing holders is accomplished by lifting the chain or necklace over the wearer&#39;s head or by undoing a clasp on the chain. However, lifting the chain over the wearer&#39;s head can be difficult or bothersome, especially where removal would mar the wearer&#39;s clothing or hairstyle. Undoing an existing necklace or chain clasp may also be difficult for some wearers, such as those suffering from arthritis or similar conditions that make manipulation of tiny objects difficult. Similarly, operating an existing necklace or chain clasp may be undesirable for a wearer who does not wish to destroy manicured nails. 
     Aside from difficulties with the chain or necklace, prior art wearable jewelry ring holders often utilize clasps or other securing mechanisms that are susceptible to failure, causing the loss of the jewelry ring. Prior art wearable jewelry ring holders are also flawed because they require that the ring jut out from the wearers chest. Thus, the ring may be secured around the wearer&#39;s neck, but protruding from the wearer at an extreme angle. In some instances, the ring extending out from the wearer may be dangerous to the wearer, or may cause damage to the ring being worn. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a necklace that permits the wearer to attach or remove a ring quickly and easily to a chain that can be in place already around his or her neck or wrist, without having to remove the chain at all. There further exists a need for a wearable jewelry ring holder that allows the ring to lay flat or substantially flat against the wearer&#39;s body while being worn. 
     The improved wearable jewelry ring storage device of the present invention is desirable to avoid the problems with prior art devices, while providing jewelry ring wearers with a wearable device and method to prevent inadvertent jewelry ring loss. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described herein is an improved device and method for a wearable jewelry ring holder. In a preferred embodiment, the wearable jewelry ring holder consists of a chain and a pendant which contains an opening that provides for a jewelry ring to be securely threaded onto the wearable storage pendant. As used in this disclosure, the term “chain” is intended to describe a chain, necklace, lanyard, or similar item made of precious or non-precious metals, cord, leather or similar flexible materials. 
     Attachment of the wearable storage pendant to the chain does not require that the wearer remove the chain, unclasp the chain, or unclasp or remove any jewelry-holding mechanism. In the preferred embodiment, when threaded onto the wearable storage pendant, the jewelry ring rests securely on the wearable storage pendant in proximity to the pendant&#39;s attachment to the chain. Because at least one portion of the outer dimension of the wearable storage pendant is greater than the diameter of the jewelry ring finger opening, the jewelry ring stays securely on the wearable storage pendant. 
     The chain may be any form that permits attachment of the wearable storage pendant. Attachment of the wearable storage pendant to the chain can be through one or more secured openings that allow the chain to pass or slide through the body of the wearable storage pendant or, alternatively, the wearable storage pendant can be attached to the chain by a separate eyelet or hook or by permanent attachment to the chain such as by soldering. Preferably attachment of the wearable storage pendant to the chain is performed prior to the wearer&#39;s anticipated need to remove the jewelry ring. The wearer is then able to wear the wearable storage pendant on the chain in anticipation of a future need to remove, secure, and store the jewelry ring safely. In this way, the wearer need only thread the jewelry ring onto the wearable storage pendant in order to secure the jewelry ring. In like manner, the wearer can remove the jewelry ring, by unthreading the ring from the wearable storage pendant. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, which represent the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the initial (first) stage of attaching a ring onto the first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a plan view of the second stage of attaching a ring onto the first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a plan view of the third stage of attaching a ring onto the first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the fourth stage of attaching a ring onto the first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the ring attached to the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention, with the ring attached. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a third preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a plan view of the initial (first) stage of attaching a ring onto the third preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is a plan view of the second stage of attaching a ring onto the third preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7C  is a plan view of the third stage of attaching a ring onto the third preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the third preferred embodiment of the invention, with a ring attached. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, with a ring attached. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention, with a ring attached. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment for an improved wearable device  10  for jewelry ring storage is shown in  FIG. 1 . The present invention includes a wearable storage pendant  30  shown in  FIG. 1 . The wearable storage pendant  30  comprises a rigid silhouette, with an opening  31  onto which the user can thread a jewelry ring  40 . A chain  20  holds the wearable storage pendant  30  in place. For the preferred embodiment of the improved wearable device  10  for jewelry ring storage shown in  FIG. 1 , the chain  20  is not permanently attached to the wearable storage pendant  30 . The chain  20  may be removed or replace with an alternative chain (not shown). 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the wearable storage pendant  30  has the general shape of a vase or bottle with a wide body and a narrow neck. The shape of the wearable storage pendant  30  is continuous except for a break or opening  31  at the top of the vase or bottle shape. The chain  20  attaches at each end of the opening  31 , by passing through loops  37  either built into or affixed onto each side of the wearable storage pendant  30 . 
     A chain  20  is placed around a user&#39;s neck or wrist (or alternatively ankle or waist) in the same manner as placement of a conventional chain. To place the jewelry ring  40  upon wearable storage pendant  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , the jewelry ring  40  is held in such a way so that the upper end  35  of the wearable storage pendant  30  begins to pierce the finger opening of the jewelry ring  40 . When this occurs, a first portion  21  of the chain  20  is depressed through the opening  31  along the inner periphery  33  of the wearable storage pendant  30  and a second portion  22  of the chain  20  is pressed down by the ring  40  along the upper outside periphery  32  of the wearable storage pendant  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the chain  20  is further depressed along the inner periphery  33  of the wearable storage pendant  30  and the outer periphery  34  of the wearable storage pendant  30 . The jewelry ring  40  is caused to travel completely around the periphery  34  of the wearable storage pendant  30  as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     The jewelry ring  40  thus threads the wearable storage pendant  30 , continuing to manipulate, pull, and flex the chain  20  with the edges of the jewelry ring  40  all the while. When the jewelry ring  40  completes its travel around the perimeter of the wearable storage pendant  30 , the jewelry ring  40  is positioned above the attachment loops  37 , with both the first portion  21  and the second portion  22  of the chain  20  located within the jewelry ring, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Because the widest part  36  of the wearable storage pendant  30  is now located below the ring, the jewelry ring  40  may be released. The jewelry ring  40  will come to rest on the wearable storage device  30 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The jewelry ring  40  is thus secured by the wearable storage pendant  30  and the chain  20 , eliminating all possibility of dropping the jewelry ring  40 . 
     The widest part of the body  36  of the wearable storage pendant  30 , shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is wider than the inside diameter of the jewelry ring  40  so that the jewelry ring  40  rests securely on the wearable storage pendant  30 . Precisely where the jewelry ring  40  comes to rest on the wearable storage pendant  30  will vary based on the size of the jewelry ring  40 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the ring  40  will invariably come to rest on the neck  38  of the wearable storage pendant  30 .  FIG. 3  shows the front-side of pendant  30 , with the back side of the pendant not visible behind it. The body of wearable storage pendant  30  is an elongated member having two ends (a first end and a second end) that is curved in a plane so that each of the two ends is disposed in the top portion of the pendant, forming a bottle-shaped lateral profile as shown in  FIG. 3 . As further shown in  FIG. 3 , the pendant has a vertical dimension “h” (height). The elongated member is curved so that portions (segments) of the elongate member are laterally opposite (laterally opposing) one another. For any given vertical level, laterally opposing portions of the elongate member will have inward-facing sides with a lateral distance between them (e.g., the distance between inner arrowheads “i” in  FIG. 3 ), which defines an “inner lateral dimension” between laterally opposite portions of the member. Similarly, for any given vertical level, laterally opposing portions of the elongate member will have outward-facing sides with a lateral distance between them (e.g., the distance between arrowheads “o” in  FIG. 3 ), which defines an “outer lateral dimension” between laterally opposite portions of the member. 
     To remove the jewelry ring  40  from the wearable storage device  10 , the jewelry ring  40  travels in a reverse manner around the wearable storage pendant  30 . Thus, the wearer is able to secure the jewelry ring  40  on the wearable storage device  10  and later remove the jewelry ring  40  from the wearable storage device  10  without manipulating clasps or removing the wearable storage device  10  or any part from the wearer&#39;s body. 
     The chain  20  may be any chain that can accommodate the flexing and bending action shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The chain  20  may be made of precious or non-precious metals, cord, leather or similar flexible materials. The wearable storage pendant  30  may be formed of any substantially inflexible or hard material, including but not limited to precious or non-precious metals, ceramic, plastic, porcelain, gem stone, shell, stone, or wood. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the chain  20  is permanently attached or affixed to the wearable storage pendant  30 . This embodiment includes a chain  20  which is attached at points  24  and  26  to the ends  39  of the wearable storage pendant  30 . The jewelry ring  40  is attached to the wearable storage pendant  30  and chain  20  of the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 5-6  in the same manner as that used to secure the ring with the wearable storage pendant  30  and chain  20  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The attachment points  24  and  26  are preferably located at the ends of the pendant as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , but may be located at any portion of the pendant consistent with this disclosure. 
     In  FIG. 7  there is shown a still further preferred embodiment of the wearable storage pendant  30  designated as  70 , where the opening  71  onto which the jewelry ring  40  is threaded is away from rather than close to or attached to the chain  20 . As shown in  FIG. 7A , the chain  20  is attached to the wearable storage pendant  70  at its base. The chain  20  may have the wearable storage pendant  70  permanently affixed to one point of the chain  72 , or be attached through an opening loop  73  such that the wearable storage pendant  70  can slide around on the chain  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the open end  74  of the perimeter  75  of the wearable storage pendant  70  pierces the finger opening of jewelry ring  40 . Jewelry ring  40  travels upward and around the body of the wearable storage pendant  70 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7B , once the jewelry ring  40  passes the attachment point  72  on the wearable storage pendant  70  where the wearable storage pendant  70  attaches to the chain  20 , the chain  20  will need to flex so that the jewelry ring  40  can be manipulated to continue its travel around the perimeter  75  of the wearable storage pendant  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7C , the jewelry ring  40  travels all the way around the wearable storage pendant  70 , manipulating the chain  20  in order to continue working its way completely around the perimeter  75 . After the jewelry ring  40  passes the end  74  of the perimeter  75 , the ring  40  will be captured between the wearable storage pendant  70  and the chain  20  as before. 
       FIG. 8  shows that the jewelry ring  40  is released to allow the chain  20  to return to its natural drape. This will cause the jewelry ring  40  to fall into place on or around the attachment point  72  of the wearable storage pendant  70 . As with the first embodiment of the present invention, the widest part  76  of the wearable storage pendant  70  is wider than the inside diameter of the jewelry ring  40 , and therefore the jewelry ring  40  rests securely on the wearable storage pendant  70 . Precisely where the jewelry ring  40  comes to rest on the wearable storage pendant  70  will vary based on the size of the jewelry ring  40 , but it will invariably come to rest on the part of the wearable storage pendant  70  that broadens from narrow to wide. 
       FIGS. 9-10  illustrate another preferred embodiment of the wearable storage pendant  90 . It is similar to the previous embodiment of wearable storage pendant  70  as its opening  91  is opposite the point of attachment  92  of the chain  20 . A chain  20  is attached to the body of the pendant at  92 . The pendant may either be permanently attached or affixed to one point on the chain, or be attached by virtue of passing through an opening or loop on the body of the pendant, such that the pendant can slide around on the chain. The jewelry ring  40  is attached to the wearable storage pendant  90  and chain  20  of the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 9-10  in the same manner as that used to secure the ring with the wearable storage pendant  70  and chain  20  shown in  FIGS. 7-8 . That is, the ring  40  slides over one end  93  of the opening of the wearable storage pendant  90  and travels up and over the attachment point  92 . The ring  40  then continues sliding down the other side of the wearable storage pendant until it passes over the opposite end  94  of the pendant  90 . Upon passing completely over the opposite end  94 , the ring  40  will be captured by the chain  20 , and can be safely released. The ring will come to rest at a wide point  95  on the wearable storage pendant, in the same manner as in previous embodiments. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 9 , pendant  90  is an elongated member having a vertical dimension “h” (height) with a top portion attached to chain  20  and a bottom portion in which the two ends  93  and  94  of the elongate member are disposed. At a given vertical level, there is an inner lateral dimension between laterally opposite (opposing) portions of the elongated member (e.g., the distance between inner arrowheads “i” in  FIG. 9 ) and an outer lateral dimension between them (e.g., the distance between arrowheads “o” in  FIG. 9 ). 
     An additional limitation of the prior art is that when the jewelry ring  40  is placed on the jewelry storage device, the ring tends to protrude away from the wearer&#39;s body. This is not only unattractive, but can be bothersome or even dangerous. The embodiment of the wearable storage pendant  30  shown in  FIG. 11  eliminates the problem of the jewelry ring  40  lying in an uncomfortable or unattractive manner on the wearer&#39;s body. The wearable storage pendant  30  in this embodiment has one or more indentations or curvatures on the pendant that allow the ring to lie substantially flat against the wearer&#39;s body. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the wearable storage pendant  30  has a first curvature  110  located below the upper (top) end  35  of the wearable storage pendant. The first curvature is preferably  225  located on the posterior face (back side)  111  of the wearable storage pendant, or the portion of the wearable storage pendant  30  that is generally in contact with the wearer&#39;s body. A second curvature  120  may be located on the anterior face (front side)  121  of the wearable storage pendant  30  to further allow the ring to lie generally in a plane with the pendant. A person of skill in the art would recognize that additional curvatures may be added to the pendant in a manner consistent with this invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , when the ring  40  comes to rest after being threaded through the wearable storage pendant  30  as described above, the upper portion of the ring  40  rests in the first curvature  110 , while the lower portion of the ring  40  rests in the second curvature  120 . By so doing, the ring assumes the general alignment of the pendant, which in turn is generally in alignment with the wearer&#39;s body. Because the ring is substantially flat against the wearer&#39;s body, the wearable storage pendant  30  and ring  40  can be worn without obvious and unflattering lumps under the wearer&#39;s clothes, and without the inconvenience and danger that might come with the ring  40  potentially snagging due to the angle at which it would extend from the wearer&#39;s body under the prior art devices. 
     Although the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  describes a wearable storage pendant with two curvatures, a person of skill in the art would understand that the wearable storage pendant may incorporate more than two curvatures in order to better accommodate different sizes or shapes of rings. Likewise the invention may incorporate curvatures not only on the posterior and anterior faces of the wearable storage pendant, but also on the lateral faces of the wearable storage pendant as appropriate. 
     Finally, a person of skill in the art would appreciate that the preferred embodiments of the present invention are adaptable to any number of shapes or designs of the wearable storage pendant  30  and  70  consistent with the disclosure and purpose of the invention herein.