Patent Publication Number: US-2005126223-A1

Title: Ring of variable configuration

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to a ring of variable configuration. In the present invention a ring means any ornamental article able, for example, to be used as a ring to be worn mounted on the finger or to be worn as a pendant.  
     PRIOR ART  
      Known rings are traditionally in the form of an annular body presenting ornamental elements, which can consist of precious stones, lacquering, or various decorations, which are either formed directly on the annular body or are set into it.  
      As is apparent, the different configurations can be of the most widespread type.  
      A common characteristic of rings is that they can present the most disparate shapes, however their configuration or shape cannot be modified once formed.  
      They therefore do not enable the user to give the ring that ornamental arrangement considered most suitable.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      The aim of the invention is to overcome the aforestated limitation by providing a ring presenting a variable configuration, making it possible for the user to modify the ring appearance on the basis of the user&#39;s personal requirements.  
      Within the scope of the aforesaid aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide a ring of variable configuration, the appearance of which can be modified extremely easily and rapidly, without requiring tools or ability of any kind.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a ring of variable configuration which, by virtue of its special constructional characteristics, offers the widest guarantees of reliability and safety in use.  
      A further object of the present invention is to provide a ring of variable configuration which is easily obtainable using elements and materials commonly available commercially, and which is also cost competitive. The aforesaid aim, together with the stated and other objects, which will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a ring of variable configuration, according to the invention, as defined in claim  1 . 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of a ring of variable configuration, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the figures of the accompanying drawing, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the ring of the invention, with the engagement element in the open position;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the ring of the invention, during its use;  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the ring.  
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      With particular reference to the numerical symbols of said figures, the ring of variable configuration according to the invention, which is indicated overall by the reference numeral  1 , comprises an annular body  2  presenting in a central plane a slot  3 .  
      This latter involves substantially the entire circumferential extension, with the exception of a short portion joining together the outer parts of the annular body.  
      Essentially, the annular body  2  consists of two coaxial annular elements  2   a  and  2   b  forming the outer parts, which are kept connected together and equidistant by a pin  7 .  
      An engagement element  5 , which extends as a circumferential portion, can be housed in the slot  3 .  
      The said engagement element  5  is advantageously hinged at one end to the annular body  2  by hinging means, namely the pin  7  in the illustrated example, and has a free opposite end  8  which enables ornamental elements, indicated overall by  10 , to be mounted on the annular body. In practice, the engagement element  5  is interposed between the two annular elements  2   a,    2   b  and is provided at its hinging end with a hole traversed by the pin  7  about which it is free to rotate.  
      Advantageously, the engagement element  5  presents a plurality of loops  11  which combine with corresponding recesses  12  defined on the annular body  2 , i.e. on both the annular elements  2   a,    2   b,  in such a manner as to define seats for removably coupling the ornamental elements  10 .  
      With the aforedescribed device, the user can have available a ring, the appearance of which can be modified at will by varying the ornamental elements  10  which can be mounted on the engagement element  5  and which are retained in position in the seats defined by the combination of the engagement element  5  and the annular body  2 .  
      Essentially, the user raises the engagement element  5  by rotating it about the pin  7  which retains in a fixed coaxial position the two annular elements  2   a  and  2   b  of the annular body  2 . The ornamental elements  10  are inserted through the free end  8  and said engagement element  5  is again closed such that the ornamental elements  10  become located in the seats formed between the loops  11  and the respective recesses  12 . By mounting the ring obtained in this manner on the finger of a hand, the engagement element  5  is prevented from rotating about the pin, hence preventing escape of the ornamental elements  10  from their seats.  
      To improve the structural rigidity of the annular body  2 , a reinforcement element  13  can be welded to the outer circumference of the two annular elements  2   a ,  2   b , and on which the engagement element  5  is made to abut when this latter is in its utilization position.  
      In addition a removable locking system for the engagement element  5  can be used, enabling the utilization position to be removably maintained when the ring  1  is not mounted on a finger.  
      From the aforegoing it can be seen that the invention attains the proposed objects.  
      In particular, a ring is provided which enables the user to directly introduce different ornamental elements on the basis of user requirements, without having to use tools or the like.  
      In practice the materials used, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the dimensions and contingent shapes can be chosen at will, according to requirements.