Patent Publication Number: US-2007119211-A1

Title: Rings and method of making same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to rings, more particularly, to toe and finger rings that are size-adjustable and comfortable to wear.  
      Toe rings have recently become one of the hottest accessories a person can wear. Typically worn while wearing sandals, flip-flops or sans shoes, toe rings allow a person to decorate his or her toes while showing off his or her own individual style. The rings may be as simplistic as a simple inexpensive band or as ornate as being made of a precious metal and having precious stones.  
      However, many individuals find wearing toe rings currently on the market uncomfortable and difficult to wear. Although some toe rings are advertised as one size fits all, essentially this only means that unless your toe is the perfect width for the band of the toe ring, the toe ring is either going to be too loose and slide around on your toe or it is going to be too tight and cut off circulation to your toe. If the ring band is made of metal, the metal can dig into the wearer&#39;s toe. If the band is made of elastic, the elastic often digs into the toe and, in addition to leaving unsightly marks, causes pain. In any case, the wearing of this type of toe ring is uncomfortable and troublesome.  
      Thus, it would make sense to a consumer to purchase an adjustable toe ring so as to have the perfect fit. However, as most adjustable toe rings are made of metal and are formed of a pliable metal having two ends, a person must squeeze the ends of the ring together. In many instances, the ring is squeezed too tight so as a fleshy part of the toe is caught between the two ends, thus causing the wearer pain. If the ring is not squeezed tight enough, once again, the ring will slide around on the wearer&#39;s toe. Not only is the sliding of the ring uncomfortable and painful, but it can also be unattractive as the decorative stone or element intended to be visible from above is now located on the side of the toe or, even worse, on the bottom of the toe.  
      Thus, a need exists for a toe ring that permits a person to a person to wear the ring in comfort.  
      The relevant prior art includes the following references:  
                                       U.S. Pat. No.               (U.S. unless stated otherwise)   Inventor   Issue/Publication Date                  D499,042   Schnur   Nov. 30, 2004         784,823   Whitsett   Mar. 14, 1905       4,905,879   Piccone   Mar. 06, 1990       4,351,166   Belin   Sep. 28, 1982       2003/0136149   Logan et al.   Jul. 24, 2003       6,105,837   Teed   Aug. 22, 2000       3,226,285   Iovenko   Dec. 28, 1965       4,903,507   Gesensway   Feb. 27, 1990       2002/0043077   Boyadjian   Apr. 18, 2002                  
 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary object of the present invention is to provide a toe ring that is comfortable to wear.  
      A further object of the present invention is to provide a toe ring that accommodates toes of various sizes.  
      An even further object of the present invention is to provide a toe ring that is attractive.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a toe ring that provides a custom fit.  
      The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a toe ring having an elastic band portion surrounded by a protective cover and a method of making same. To use, a person simply slides the toe ring on the desired toe and proudly displays the ring.  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a side plan view of a first embodiment of a toe ring of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of an outer petal of the present invention while being threaded;  
       FIG. 5  is a side plan view of a threaded outer petal and base beads of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 6  is a side plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:  
                                      1.   ring, generally       2.   outer petal       3.   inner petal       4.   base       5.   body elastic portion       6.   band elastic portion       7.   tubular band cover       8.   aperture       9.   fastening means       10.   beaded band cover       11.   body portion       12.   band portion                  
 
      With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , varying views of a first embodiment of a toe ring of the present invention are shown. The ring  1  includes a plurality of outer petals  2  and inner petals  3  which may be crystals, gems, beads, pearls or any other decorative item which may have apertures  8 . The outer and inner petals  2  and  3  may be of various colors or clear so as to give a more pleasing, decorative appearance. The petals  2  and  3  are strung to one another using a body elastic portion  5 . The same body elastic portion  5  is also threaded through apertures  8  located on a base  4 , which is preferably a plurality of beads. In this manner, the petals  2  and  3  are securely fastened to the base beads  5  so as to create a decorative body portion  11 . Then, a band elastic portion  6  is threaded through a tubular band cover  7  and fastened to the body elastic portion  5  via a fastening means to form the band portion  12 . The fastening means for attaching the band elastic portion  6  to the body elastic portion  5  is preferably a knot  9 , but may include glue, melting or other fastening means. The body elastic portion  5  and band elastic portion  6  are preferably made of a clear polymer so as to go unnoticed. However, the elastic portions  5  and  6  may be constructed of other colors or materials.  
      Further, although the present invention is shown with outer and inner petals  2  and  3 , the ring  1  could be made of solely outer petals  2 , solely inner petals  3  or by using other decorative items. In addition, although decorative items having apertures  8  is preferred, the decorative items may be fastened together by using glue or other types of fastening means.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment includes a body portion  11  and a band portion  12 . However, rather than using a tubular band cover as described in the first embodiment, the second embodiment of the present invention utilizes a beaded band cover  10  to protect a person&#39;s skin from the band elastic portion  6 .  
      The use of the band cover, whether in the form of a tube, beads or any other shape which houses the band elastic portion  6 , permits a person to comfortably wear a ring  1  without having the band elastic portion  6  dig into his or her skin. In addition, the use of the band cover allows a person to easily slip the ring  1  on and off a toe or finger without discomfort.  
      The use of the present invention will allow a person to comfortably wear an attractive ring on a toe or finger.  
      It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.