Patent Publication Number: US-2002002842-A1

Title: Writing ring

Description:
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/223,439, filed Aug. 4, 2000. The present application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/126,079, filed Jul. 7, 2000, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to jewelry, and in particular to rings that bear an inscription or writing predominantly on the outer surface of the ring.  
       [0003] Many pieces of jewelry bear an inscription. Often the inscription is located on a surface of the jewelry that is not intended to be seen by casual observers of the jewelry when it is worn. However, some pieces of jewelry have writing or an inscription that is part of the ornamental appearance of the jewelry.  
       [0004] A ring is often considered a symbol of eternal love between two people because it has no beginning and no end. Many rings have ornamental markings or insignia on the outer surfaces of the ring. Many such markings are designed to enhance the appearance of the ring regardless of the position the ring takes upon the finger of the wearer.  
       [0005] Even with the foregoing: there is still a need for a ring which bears writing that has, like the shape of the ring itself, a message which does not have a beginning or an end.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] A ring with inscription thereon has been invented in which the writing is part of the ornamental design of the ring, and in addition, uses the spacing of discrete words in the inscription to have a meaning like that of the ring itself, a never ending circle of words.  
       [0007] In a preferred embodiment, the writing ring comprises a ring body having an annular shape with a top end, a bottom end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the inner surface fitting around the finger of a wearer; and b) a written inscription on the outer surface of the ring that is made up of discrete words generally evenly spaced around the circumference of the ring so that the inscription does not have a beginning nor an end.  
       [0008] The ring can be made with the names of two individuals, spaced apart with a common word expressing affection. Thus, the ring can display words that form a repeating phrase which matches the symbolism of the ring itself. These and other aspects of the invention and its advantages will become apparent from the attached drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a writing ring of the present invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one side of the ring of FIG. 1;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the opposite side of the ring of FIG. 2;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the ring of FIG. 1, the bottom plan view being identical;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a writing ring of the present invention; and  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a writing ring of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
     [0015] A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is a ring  10  shown in FIG. 14. The ring  10  has a ring body  12  having an annular shape with a top end  14 , a bottom end  16 , an inner surface  18  and an outer surface  20 . The ring body is generally sized to fit on a digit of the wearer, such as a finger, so that the inner surface  18  loosely surrounds the skin of the finger but can fit over the joints of the finger.  
     [0016] The ring  10  includes a written inscription on the outer surface  20 . The inscription is made of discrete words  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28 , separated by spaces  30 . The words and spaces are generally evenly spaced around the circumferences of the ring so that the spaces  30  are of generally equal width. Because of the spacing and the words used, the inscription does not have a beginning nor an end. Rather, no matter which part of the ring a person looks at, they see a phrase, and upon turning the ring as they read it, they realize that the words naturally follow one another without end.  
     [0017] For example, on ring  10  there are four words; two names  22  and  26 ., each separated by an expression of affection. The words are evenly spaced. If a person tried to read the words as the ring is turned they would read, (depending on which side they started) “AMY LOVES JOE LOVES AMY LOVES JOE LOVES AMY . . . ,” without end. Of course, any two other names could be used, and other words of affection could be placed between the names.  
     [0018] In the embodiment of ring  10 , the top  14  and bottom  16  ends of the ring  10  both include a flange  38 . In this embodiment, the flange has a generally square cross section. A second embodiment of a ring  110  is shown in FIG. 5, in which the flange  138  is generally rounded, but the ring  110  is otherwise identical to ring  10 . Of course, the ring can be made without flanges on the end, such as ring  210  shown in FIG. 6.  
     [0019] While the inscription shown is in the English language, other languages may be used, as well as other styles of letters. The spaces between the words could include ornamental features, such as small dots, hearts or other shapes, so long as these other markings do that destroy the effect of the repeating word pattern. These and other changes are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the following claims.