Patent Publication Number: US-2003221450-A1

Title: Contoured jewelry ring

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention generally relates to an item of jewelry. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a ring configured to the contours of the proximal portion of a person&#39;s finger. The invention specifically concerns a ring construction configured to the web spaces on either side of the ring finger such that the ring may be comfortably positioned thereon.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Since the dawn of civilization, people have adorned themselves with jewelry of various constructions and appearances. Such jewelry pieces have also been made from a wide variety of materials such as hair, feathers, bones, shells, precious or semiprecious stones, metals, and the like. Common jewelry pieces include rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, wristwatches and the like.  
       [0003] Many wear pieces of jewelry as accessory items, but oftentimes jewelry is worn to represent an even greater purpose than adornment. For example, monarchs and other individuals of nobility wear crowns as a symbol of power and position. Some individuals wear items of jewelry for religious reasons or because they believe that the item possesses a medical or healing power. Additionally, an individual may wear jewelry to symbolize the love and affection he or she feels toward another individual. For example, during wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom exchange wedding rings to symbolize their union.  
       [0004] Other individuals may wear jewelry because it brings them comfort. For example, in some ancient cultures, warriors wore pearls into battle because they believed that the pearl would protect them from injury. Similarly, today, many possess good luck charms to ward off evil or to serve as protection from some undesirable event. Others find comfort in jewelry due to its sentimental value. For example, many families pass down items of jewelry, generation after generation, which ultimately acquire a significant sentimental meaning.  
       [0005] For whatever purpose, many individuals from many different cultures appreciate jewelry. The creativity, innovation, and the personal style of jewelry designers have produced a wide variety of jewelry items to suit the vast needs and tastes of their owners. New materials, equipment, and techniques have greatly contributed to the evolution of jewelry designs over time.  
       [0006] One particular item of jewelry that has evolved over time is the finger ring. Finger rings exist in many different sizes and shapes. Some rings are simple bands while others can take elaborate configurations. Finger rings are known to have top or “crown” portions supported by band-like shanks. The crown portions can be plain or provided with designs. The crown portions may also be set with gemstones or inlaid with other materials. The wide variety of gemstones, the cut of the gemstones, and settings alone have led to an almost infinite number of ring designs.  
       [0007] Despite the considerable creativity and variety associated with ring designs, many people find rings to be uncomfortable to wear. In part, this may be due to natural shape of the finger in that the ring typically needs to pass over the knuckle before being positioned at the base of the finger. Since the knuckle is usually wider than the base portion of the finger, the ring design may be uncomfortable to wear either because it is too loose, or because it is was made too tight in an effort to compensate for the width of the knuckle. Apart from ring size issues, sometimes the weight or the thickness of the ring design presents discomfort to the individual.  
       [0008] Many jewelry designers have attempted to alleviate the complaints of ring wearers. Efforts have been made to improve the way in which rings are sized as well as include rounding or smoothing the edges of the ring design. Although these efforts may have alleviated the discomfort experienced by some ring wearers, there is still a need for a better or a different kind of ring design that is comfortable to the wearer. The present invention is directed to meeting this need.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful ring construction that is comfortable to wear.  
       [0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a ring construction that permits the individual to wear a wide band that does not crowd the knuckle of the finger when worn.  
       [0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a ring construction that permits the crown of the ring to set farther back on the finger such that the finger appears longer.  
       [0012] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a ring that is fashionable and visually aesthetic.  
       [0013] According to the present invention, then, a ring is provided that is configured to be worn on a finger having a longitudinal finger axis extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the finger. The ring includes a crown and a shank with the shank having a pair of sidewall portions that extend from the crown in spaced-apart opposed relation to one another. A base portion extends between the sidewall portions in space relation to the crown. The shank is configured so that it is oriented obliquely to the finger axis at an angle of between about 15° and 30° such that the base portion is alongside the proximal digital palmar crease of the finger when the ring is worn.  
       [0014] More specifically, the shank has a generally cylindrical inner surface, and the sidewall portions intersect the base portion at a respective corner that is thicker than either the base portion or the respective sidewall portions. Thus, the shank has a substantially circular opening framed by a substantially square outer perimeter. The base portion can be formed to have a front surface that is substantially flat, a bottom surface, and a convex surface extending between the front and bottom surfaces. The width of the shank portion is greater than four (4) millimeters.  
       [0015] The shank portion and the crown portion can be of an integral one-piece construction with the shank canted to the crown portion. In the first exemplary embodiment, two flared portions interconnect the sidewall portions and the crown portion. Each flared portion has a front edge that faces the distal end portion of the finger that diverge from the plane of the shank along a curved line at a first angle of between 5° and 20°. Each flared portion also includes a back edge that faces the proximal end portion of the finger. The back edges diverge along a curved line with a second angle being between 25° and 50°.  
       [0016] The ring contemplated by the present invention may be formed of a variety of materials including plastics, precious metals, semiprecious metals, plastic, wood, composites and the like. Further, the ring contemplated by the present invention may also include a crown which has a design formed thereon, or a setting which includes a gem set therein.  
       [0017] These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from the consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments when taken together with accompany drawings, in which: 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring according to the prior art;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a front view in elevation of the back of the left hand where the ring shown in FIG. 1 is being worn on the ring finger;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a front view in elevation of the palm of the left hand showing the ring of FIG. 1;  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a front view in elevation of the back of the left hand where a first exemplary embodiment of the ring of the present invention is being worn on the ring finger;  
     [0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ring in FIG. 4;  
     [0023]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ring shown in FIG. 5 taken about lines  6 - 6 ;  
     [0024]FIG. 7 is a side view in elevation of the ring in shown in FIG. 5;  
     [0025]FIG. 8 is a bottom view in elevation of the ring in FIG. 5 showing the shank portion canted relative to the crown portion;  
     [0026]FIG. 9 is a front view in elevation of the distal side of the ring in FIG. 5;  
     [0027]FIG. 10 is a back view in elevation of the left hand showing the base portion of the ring in FIG. 5 aligned alongside the digital palmar crease of the ring finger;  
     [0028]FIGS. 11 and 12 are back views in elevation of the left and right palms showing the alignment of the shank portion relative to the digital palmar creases of the left and right hands;  
     [0029]FIG. 13 is a side view in elevation of an alternative ring construction showing protruding portions of the crown surface;  
     [0030]FIG. 14 is a front view in elevation of a portion of the left hand where the ring shown in FIG. 13 is being worn, and further showing the alignment of protrusions in a line extending between the knuckle of the little finger and the tip of the middle finger;  
     [0031]FIG. 15 is a top plan view of yet another alternative ring construction according to the present invention showing the crown having a design form therein;  
     [0032]FIG. 16 is top plan view of an alternative embodiment of present invention showing the crown having a setting and including a gem supported in the setting. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
     [0033] The present invention generally relates to pieces of jewelry but more specifically concerns a ring that is configured to be worn comfortably on an individual&#39;s finger. As used herein, the word “finger” shall be taken to mean any of the five digits projecting from the palm of the hand and, thus, includes the individual&#39;s thumb. When worn, the ring includes a shank portion that generally encircles a majority of the finger with a crown or top portion that extends across the top of the finger that corresponds to the back of the hand. This crown portion can actually be an extension of the shank such that the shank and the crown form a uniformly dimensioned annular annulus. Alternatively, the crown can be enlarged or otherwise demarked with designs, inlays, jewels, and the like. In any event, the ring of the present invention, as other rings, may be formed of a variety of materials currently used or hereafter developed including, for example, metals (meaning base metal, semiprecious metals, precious metals or any other metallic materials) plastic, wood, composites and the like.  
     [0034] In order to appreciate the structure of the present invention and its improvements over the prior art, it is perhaps first helpful to review a standard annular ring. An example of such a ring known in the prior art is shown in FIG. 1. Here, ring  10  is shown to comprise an annular body  12  that has a central finger opening  14  formed axially therethrough. Annular body  12  thus has an inner cylindrical surface  16  that is operative to confront the surface of a finger when worn as well as an exterior surface  18  that is exposed when worn.  
     [0035] Thus, as is shown in FIG. 2, when ring  10  is worn on finger  22  of hand  20 , a crown portion  24  is generally exposed for view on the back side of the hand  20 . With reference now to FIG. 3, it may seen that when hand  20  is viewed from the palm side, ring  10  is oriented in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the finger axis “X”. Unfortunately, this causes ring  10  to be askew of the proximal digital palmar crease  26  of finger  22 . Also, with reference again to FIG. 2, it may seen that this structure causes crown portion  24  to be oriented close to joint  28  of finger  22 . As a result, ring  10  may cause some discomfort during wear, do to its position with respect to the proximal digital palmar crease as well as interfere with the flexing of finger  22  during the person&#39;s use of his/her hand  20 .  
     [0036] A ring constructed according to the present invention addresses these problems by providing a ring that has enhanced comfort while being worn. With reference, then, to FIG. 5, it may be seen that ring  30 , a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes a crown portion  32  and a pair of sidewall portions  34  and  36  that are respectively interconnected to crown portion  32  by flared portions  38  and  40 , which extend from crown portion  32  in spaced apart opposed relation to each other. Ring  30  also includes a base portion  42  that extends between sidewall portions  34  and  36  in spaced relation to crown portion  32 . Together, sidewall portions  34  and  36  and base portion  42  form shank  44  that is thus joined to crown portion  32  by flared portions  38  and  40 . Shank  44  has a cylindrical opening  46  that is adapted to receive a finger of the human hand.  
     [0037] With reference, then, to FIG. 4, ring  30  of the present invention is shown mounted on finger  22  of hand  20  so that the axis of cylindrical opening  46  is generally aligned with finger axis “F”. The structure of ring  30  is shown in greater detail in FIGS.  6 - 9 .  
     [0038] With reference first to FIG. 6, it may be seen that sidewall portion  34  of ring  30  is joined to crown portion  32  by flared portion  38 . Flared portion  38  has a front edge  50  that is positioned to face the distal end portion of the finger when ring  30  is worn. Correspondingly, flared portion  38  includes a rear edge  52  that will face the proximal end portion of finger  22  when ring  30  is worn. In relationship to a transverse plane “P” that is perpendicular to the finger axis “F” when the ring is worn, front edge  50  projects at an approximate angle “a” with respect to plane “P”. Correspondingly, rear edge  52  projects at a second angle “b” with respect to plane “P”. Likewise, with reference to FIG. 7, it may be seen that flared portion  40 , which interconnects sidewall portion  36  to crown  32 , includes a front edge  54  oriented at an angle “a” with respect to plane “P”, as well as a rear edge  56  oriented at an angle “b” with respect plane “P”. In this embodiment, first angle “a” is in a range of about 5° to 20°. Angle “b” may be larger than angle “a” and should be within a range of about 25° to 50°.  
     [0039] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 8, it may be seen that base portion  42  has several features that are different from a standard ring. As may be seen in FIG. 6, base portion  42  includes a front surface  58  that is substantially flat and is formed at generally a right angle to a bottom surface  60  that is substantially flat. Front surface  58  and bottom surface  60  are joined by a convex surface  62  so that base portion  42  has a rounded triangular appearance. Further, in reference to FIG. 8, it may be seen that base portion  42  is formed along an axis “X” that is canted an angle “c” relative to plane “P”. This angle is preferably in a range of about 15° and 30°. With this construction, shank  44  is canted at angle “c” so that it is oriented obliquely to the finger axis “F” when the ring is worn.  
     [0040] With reference now to FIG. 9, it may be seen that the crown  32  and shank  44  of ring  30  together form a substantially circular opening  46  that is, at least in part, bounded by the inner sidewall surface  64  of shank  44 . Sidewall surface  64  is formed generally along cylindrical surface that has an axis generally aligned with finger axis “F”. The outer perimeter  66  of shank  44 , however, is formed to have a substantially square geometry. With this construction, the junction  68  between sidewall portion  34  and base portion  42  has a greater thickness than the selected thickness of base portion  42  and sidewall portion  34 . Similarly, the junction  70  between sidewall portion  36  and base portion  42  has a greater thickness than the selected thickness of sidewall portion  36  and base portion  42 . Generally, the width of shank  44  is greater than four (4) millimeters, and preferably six (6) millimeters.  
     [0041] With this structure in mind, and with reference again to FIG. 4 as well as FIG. 10, it may seen that ring  30  sets farther towards the proximal end of finger  22  than does ring  10 . Thus, as is shown in FIG. 4, crown portion  32  is spaced a larger distance from joint  28  than ring  10  as is shown in FIG. 2. By displacing crown portion  32  in the proximal direction, interference is less likely to impair the flexibility of finger  22 . When the hand is turned over, as is shown in FIG. 10, it may also be seen that base portion  42  now is in generally parallel relationship alongside the proximal digital palmar crease  26 . By matching this line of flexion, as well as the angled orientation of the webbing of the fingers on each side of finger  22 , a more comfortable fit is obtained. As noted, the orientation of base portion  42  corresponds to the canting of shank  44  relative to the crown portion  32  so that the base portion  42  is oriented obliquely relative to the longitudinal finger axis “F” when the ring is worn. Again, this range of canting is preferably about 15° to 30°.  
     [0042]FIG. 11 shows ring  30  according to the present invention adapted to be mounted on the left hand  20  of a person so that ring  30  is positioned on finger  22  with base portion  42  oriented parallel to the proximal digital palmar crease  26 . With reference to FIG. 12, it should be understood that a ring according to the present invention could be made for the right hand of the person. Here, right hand  20 ′ includes finger  22 ′. Ring  30 ′ is thus adapted to be placed on finger  22 ′ so that base portion  42 ′ will be parallel alongside the proximal digital palmar crease  26 ′ of finger  22 ′.  
     [0043] Additional features can be provided according to the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, a second exemplary embodiment in the form of ring  130  of the present invention is depicted. Ring  130  has a crown portion  132  and a shank portion  144 . Crown portion  132  includes a pair of lobes or raised portions  134  and  136  formed thereon. Shank  144  is configured generally as described above with respect to shank portion  44  such that this description need not be repeated. With reference, however, to FIG. 14, it may be seen that the effect of lobes  134  and  136  are to form a line of sight from knuckle  121  of finger  120  through lobes  134  and  136  of ring  130  positioned on finger  122  to tip  125  of adjacent finger  124 .  
     [0044] With reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, it may be appreciated that the crown portion can include other decorative designs as part of the present invention. Thus, for example, as is shown in FIG. 15, ring  230  includes a crown portion  232  that has design elements  234  on the exposed surface thereof. In FIG. 16, ring  330  has a crown portion  332  that includes a cross shaped opening  334  to define a plurality of fingers  336  that support a gemstone  338  centrally therein.  
     [0045] Accordingly, it should be understood that the present invention utilizing the canted shank and base portion can be incorporated with rings having a variety of esthetic designs, as is known in the art.