Patent Publication Number: US-10327519-B2

Title: Tool bracelet

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This patent application generally relates to jewelry, and more particularly to jewelry having tethered tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Often times it is desirable to keep a set of tools on one&#39;s person so that these tools are typically always on hand should the need to use the tools arise. For example, pocket knives and small, folding multi-tool units can be carried in a pocket and/or attached to a key chain. However, these devices can be bulky and uncomfortable to carry in a pocket. Moreover, the usefulness of pocket-style tool systems are limited since items that are required to be separately placed in a pocket are often forgotten, users may not always have clothing with pockets, and items can often inadvertently fall out of pockets. 
     There have been attempts to provide wearable tool devices, such as in the form a bracelet. However, certain wearable devices are provided as rigid linkages similar to a metal watch band that incorporate tool features. Once such device is the Tread Bracelet by LEATHERMAN of Portland, Oreg. However, the types of tools that can be incorporated are limited since they are limited by the size of each individual linkage. Moreover, the number of tools that can be incorporated is limited because there are a limited number of linkages that can fit around a user&#39;s wrist. In addition, these linkages can be difficult to remove and/or replace, thereby further limiting the versatility of these devices. The links of the full metal bracelet are relatively large and wide, which creates issues with respect to weight and comfort for the wearer. 
     The present invention provides a solution to these and other problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the invention, a jewelry article having a functional component is provided. The jewelry article defines a circumferential perimeter that is sized and shaped to permit the jewelry article to be worn by a user. The jewelry article includes a rigid portion. The rigid portion defines a portion of the circumferential perimeter of the jewelry article. The rigid portion has first and second ends and a head portion attached at the first end thereof. The head portion includes an engagement member. A clasp is supported by the head portion. A flexible band is sized and shaped to be removeably connected to the first end of the rigid portion via the clasp at one end thereof. The other end of the flexible band is connected to a second end of the rigid portion. A plurality of beads are disposable on the flexible band. Each bead has an aperture sized and shaped to receive the flexible band therethrough so that each bead can rotate and translate with respect to the flexible band. Each of the plurality of beads has a respective tool head, each tool head being capable of performing a tool function. Each of the plurality of beads has a respective complimentary engagement member, each complimentary engagement member being sized and shaped to selectively engage with the engagement member of the head. In a first condition the one end of the flexible band is removeably connected to the first end of the rigid portion via the clasp and defines a complimentary portion of the circumferential perimeter such that the rigid portion and the flexible band cooperate so as to be capable of being worn by the user. In a second condition the one end of the flexible band is disconnected from the first end of the rigid portion and one of the plurality of beads remains positioned along the flexible band and engaged with the head via engagement of the engagement member and complimentary engagement member. 
     According to a further aspect, a tool is pivotally connected to the rigid portion, wherein the rigid portion defines a housing sized and shaped to receive the tool in a first condition, and wherein in a second condition the tool is pivoted to an extended position. 
     According to a still further aspect, the tool is a knife. 
     According to a yet further aspect, the tool and the rigid portion have a curved profile. 
     According to a further aspect, the tool includes at least one of a cutting edge, a serrated edge, a stripping notch, an abrasive surface, and combinations thereof. 
     According to another aspect, each tool head comprises at least one of a philips screw driver tip, a flat head screw driver tip, a star driver tip, a allen-key/hex tip, a socket receptacle, a fire starting material, and a spoke wrench. 
     According to a still further aspect, the flexible band has a length such that each bead can be positioned along the flexible band and engaged with the head of the rigid portion. 
     According to a yet further aspect, the flexible band has a length such that the flexible band and the rigid portion define the circumferential perimeter such that the jewelry article can be worn by the user in a two-wrap configuration. 
     According to a further aspect, the engagement member is a protrusion extending from the head of the rigid portion and the complimentary engagement member of each bead is a receptacle defined thereby that is sized and shaped to receive the protrusion and permit force applied to the rigid portion to be transmitted therethrough. 
     According to another aspect, the head includes a set of surfaces that are sized and shaped and distanced to engage a cap of a bottle therebetween such that upon an application of force to the rigid portion the cap of the bottle can be removed. 
     According to a further aspect, the head can be used to remove the cap of the bottle while the jewelry is being worn. 
     According to a still further aspect, the clasp includes a closure, the closure being operable to selectively open and close. 
     According to a yet further aspect, the closure is pivotally supported by the head portion. 
     According to a still further aspect, the closure is spring biased to a closed position with respect to the clasp. 
     These and other aspects, features, and advantages can be appreciated from the accompanying description of certain embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawing figures and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawing figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment and are not intended to be limiting of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an article of jewelry having utilitarian features according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an explode view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  shows a tool of the jewelry article in an extended position; 
         FIG. 4  shows the jewelry article in an operational configuration; and 
         FIG. 5  shows the jewelry article having additional, optional tools. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, an example implementation and/or embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be implemented and structural changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Among other things, for example, the disclosed subject matter can be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. 
     Furthermore, it is recognized that terms may have nuanced meanings that are suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter can be based upon combinations of individual example embodiments, or combinations of parts of individual example embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a jewelry article having tethered tools  100  is shown. The jewelry article  100  has an aesthetically pleasing visual appearance and therefore can be worn as an ornamental article of jewelry. The jewelry article  100  is comfortable to wear due, at least in part, to its ergonomic shape, selection of materials (e.g., light weight, form fitting), and the ability to adjust the size in fine increments to obtain a more comfortable fit without requiring tools to adjust the size. The jewelry article  100  also has various tool features and can be used as a tool, as discussed in more detail below. 
     The jewelry article  100  is in the form of a bracelet. The bracelet  100  is sized and shaped to be worn about an extremity of a user, for example, a wrist. The bracelet  100  includes a rigid portion  102 . The rigid portion can be made from metal, for example, or other suitable, rigid materials such as carbon fiber composites or ceramics or combinations thereof. The metal can be, for example, stainless steel, titanium, and/or a semi-precious metal or combinations thereof. For example, the rigid portion  102  can also be finished with a high polish, brushed metal, black anodized, gun metal blue, or other similar finish that gives the rigid portion  102  an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     The rigid portion  102  can be formed as an assembly and include a spine member  104  and two rib members  106  and  108 . The spine and rib members  104 ,  106 , and  108  have a curved shape so that it can be more comfortably worn, for example, around a wrist as a bracelet-type jewelry article. The rigid portion  102  is curved and extends to form at least a portion of the circumferential perimeter of the bracelet. For example, the rigid portion can form approximately a third, a half, or two thirds of the circumferential perimeter of the bracelet, or more or less and various lengths in between. 
     The ribs  106  and  108  can be disposed on opposite sides of the spine  104 . The ribs  106  and  108  include first and second apertures  110  and  112  formed in first and second lobes  114  and  116  at opposite ends of each respective rib. The spine  104  includes an aperture  118  disposed at one end thereof. In an assembled condition, apertures  110  of ribs  106  and  108  are aligned with aperture  118  of the spine  104 . A fastener  120  is sized and shaped to be disposed through the apertures  110  and  118  to connect the spine  104  and ribs  106  and  108  together. The fastener  120  can be, for example, a rivet, a two-part threaded rivet, or a two-part threaded fastener, or other suitable fastener systems. 
     In the assembled condition, the spine  104  and ribs  106 ,  108  form a housing  122  in which the spine  104  provides the rear wall and the ribs  106 ,  108  provide sidewalls. Tool  124  is sized and shaped to be received within the housing  122 . Tool  124  includes a lobe  126  at one end. An aperture  128  is disposed in the lobe  126  of the tool  124 . In an assembled condition, apertures  112  in ribs  106  and  108  are aligned with aperture  128  of the tool  124 . A thru-fastener  130  having a central thru-hole  132  is sized and shaped to be disposed through the apertures  112  and  128  to form a pivot joint  134  to pivotally connect tool  124  and ribs  106  and  108  together. The thru-fastener  130  can be, for example, a rivet, a two-part threaded rivet, or a two-part threaded fastener, or other suitable fastener system that has a central thru-hole  132 . A washer  136  can be included in the pivot joint  134 . 
     The tool  124  can pivot into the housing  122  to define a stored position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and can pivot out of the housing to define an extended position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The tool  124  can be made from metal and have a finish similar to spine  104  and ribs  106 ,  108  so that the tool has an aesthetically pleasing, ornamental appearance as an article of jewelry and also has a structural integrity to also functional as a tool. The tool  124  can be, for example, a knife. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tool  124  can have a cutting edge  138 , a serrated edge  140 , a stripping notch  142 , an abrasive surface  144 , or a combination thereof. Other tools that can be pivoted into and out of the housing  122 , such as, for example, a pick tool, a wine opening tool, a fully serrated-edge sawing tool, or other suitable tools. These other tools can be included in addition to the knife-type tool  124  or as an optional replacement, or be excluded for a more simplified version of the jewelry article. 
     The spine  104  prevents the tool  124  from pivoting toward and entering the interior area of the bracelet  100  to prevent the tool from coming in contact with, for example, a wrist of the wearer. A stop plate  146  can also be included in the assembly and be attached to one of the ribs  106 ,  108 . The stop plate  146  or liner lock mechanism locks the tool  124  (e.g., knife blade) in place. The stop plate  146  extends from the rib surface toward the tool  124 , which can also prevent the tool from moving towards the interior of the bracelet. 
     The spine  104  includes a head  148 . The head  148  includes a clasp mechanism  150 . The clasp  150  includes a hook shaped portion  152  and a spring-loaded closure  154 , in the illustrated embodiment. The spring-loaded closure  154  is pivotally attached to the head  148  and can be rotated inwardly so that, for example, a ring or loop of rope can be inserted into the clasp  150 . Once inserted, the closure  154  rotates back to the closed position to hold the ring or loop therein. The closure  154  can be depressed inwardly to open the clasp  150  so that the ring or loop can be removed. The closure  154  optionally can be disposed through apertures in the ribs  106 ,  108 , which can further maintain the ribs and spine in an assembled condition. Different closures can be used to complete the clasp  150 , as would be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Alternatively, the closure  154  can be omitted (as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example) as discussed in more detail below. 
     The head  148  includes a curved tip  156  at one end and a heel  158  that has a flat surface at the other end of the head. The tip  156  and heel  158  provide a set of surfaces that are sized and shaped and spaced from each other such that these surfaces can be used to open a bottle by, for example, prying off a bottle cap from a bottle. In use, a bottle cap on the top of a bottle is disposed between the tip  156  and heel  158  (thereby causing the closure  154  to depress inwardly). The rigid portion  102  can be gripped by the user to rotate the head  148 , which causes the set of surfaces to engage and remove the bottle cap. Optionally, the bottle cap can be engaged between the set of surfaces of the head  148  while the user is still wearing bracelet  100 . The bottle cap can then be removed by rotating the wrist while still wearing the bracelet and so this operation can be performed without removing the bracelet. 
     The interior of the head  148  can, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, include multiple interior flat surfaces  160  arranged in a hexagonal pattern. The interior flat surfaces  160  can be sized and shaped so that a standard sized nut or head of a bolt (e.g., SAE or Metric) can be disposed between the surfaces  160 . The head  148  can be rotated like a wrench to transmit a torque force through the interior surfaces  160  to rotate a nut and/or bolt engaged therewith. Alternatively, the interior of the head  148  can have a different interior, such as curved. The head  148  can also include an tapered section  157  that can be used as a box opening tool, for example, and a flat tip portion  159  that can be used to securely engage a lid to a can (e.g., close a paint can) as one exemplary use. 
     As discussed above, the jewelry article  100  includes a rigid portion  102  as one portion of the jewelry article. A jewelry article  100  further includes a flexible band  162 . The flexible band  162  can comprise a length of rope, paracord, braided string, cord, flexible and/or braided wire, or other similar flexible rope-like materials. The flexible band  162  can be a useful tool itself to be used for binding, tying, etc., which can be particularly useful as a survival tool. The flexible band  162  can have a braided construction so that upon unbraiding, the length of rope material is longer. As a further option, the flexible band can have a composite construction with multiple filaments that can include, for example, fishing line, snare wire, and waxed jute fiber used for starting a fire, which can be used in conjunction with other aspects of the jewelry article  100  making the article more useful as a survival and emergency use item. An exemplary composite cord is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,525,204, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The flexible band  162 , when made from certain material and/or color combinations, provides the flexible band  162  with an aesthetically pleasing, ornamental appearance while also having structure integrity. Moreover, the use of flexible, lightweight materials for the flexible band  162  increases the comfort for the wearer. The flexible band  162  can more readily conform to the user&#39;s anatomy and can adjust shape as the user movers. The relative thinness of the flexible band further increases comfort. The thin, rope-like construction of the flexible band is less likely to impede user movement (e.g., a bend of the wrist). 
     The flexible band  162  can include looped knots  164  and  166  formed at both ends thereof. Knot  164  can be formed through the central thru-hole  132  of thru-fastener  130  and be disposed through the apertures  128  and  112  of the tool  124  and ribs  106  and  108 , respectively. Accordingly, the flexible band  162  is attached in a semi-permanent manner to the rigid portion  102  via knot  164 . Knot  164  can be arranged such that a user can untie and retie knot  164  if it is necessary (e.g., to change out tool  124  for another tool), but the knot  164  should remain tied to the rigid portion  102  during typical use. 
     At the other end of the flexible band  162  knot  166  is tied about ring  168 . Ring  168  can be made from a metal and have a finish similar to the rigid portion  102  so that the ring has an aesthetically pleasing, ornamental appearance as an article of jewelry and also has a structural integrity. The ring  168  is sized and shaped so that it can be inserted into and be selectively, removably retained by clasp  150 . Accordingly, when the ring  168  is retained in clasp  150  it attaches the other end of the flexible band  162  to the rigid portion  102 . The ring  168  can be removed from the clasp  150  via manipulation of the closure  154  to separate one end of the flexible band  162  from the rigid portion, as discussed in more detail below. Alternatively, the closure  154  can be omitted (as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example) and the ring  168  can be seated about the hook shaped portion  152  of the clasp  150  and held in place by the tension of the flexible band  162 . The length of the flexible band  162  can be easily adjusted to more precisely fit a particular user&#39;s writs. Accordingly, the length of the flexible band  162  can be adjusted such that in a worn configuration, the ring  168  (or knot  166  if ring  168  is omitted) can be pulled to seat about the hook shaped portion  152  of the clasp  150  and once that pulling force is released, the resting tension and precise sizing of the flexible band maintains the flexible band (knot or ring) engaged with the clasp and the jewelry in position during typical wearing. 
     A plurality of beads  170  can be disposed along the flexible band  162 . Beads  170  can be made from a metal and have a finish similar to the rigid portion  102  or a contrasting appearance so that the beads have an aesthetically pleasing, ornamental appearance as an article of jewelry and also have a structural integrity to be used as a tool. The beads  170  have a thru-hole  172  that allows the beads  170  to rotate about and slide along the flexible band  162 . The flexible band  162  can have a circular or near-circular cross-section, if desired, to facilitate the rotation and translation of the beads  170  along the flexible band  162 . The beads can be finished in order to minimize sharp edges and improve comfort to a user wearing the bracelet  100 . 
     The beads include a tool head  174 . The tool head  174  can be one of many various typical tools, such as a philips screw driver tip, a flat head screw driver tip, a star driver tip, a allen-key/hex tip, a socket receptacle, a spoke wrench, and a fire starting material (e.g., magnesium material, flint, striker, etc.), and various other tools of various sizes. Various combinations of beads  170  can be included on the flexible band  162  so that an assortment of beads that would be typically provided for performing certain tasks are included. For example, a general purpose assortment of beads can include common tools such as philips, flat, and hex driver head, as shown in  FIG. 2 . As another example, an assortment of beads that include tools for a specific purpose, such as bicycle and bicycle chain repair, can be included, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Various other combinations and special purpose combinations of beads  170  with tool heads  174  can be included on the flexible band  162 . A common tool function is driving a fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, nut, machine screw, etc.). Accordingly, the combination of beads  170  can include at least one bead that includes a tool head  174  capable of driving a fastener (e.g., a philips screw driver tip, a flat head screw driver tip, a star driver tip, a allen-key/hex tip, a socket receptacle, etc.). A specialized bead  171 , such as a chain breaker/riveting tool for repairing bike chains, can also be provided and disposed on the flexible band  162 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The specialized bead  171  includes a thru-hole  173  so that it can be disposed on flexible band  162  and translate and rotate with respect thereto. As another example, the bracelet can have a combination of tools for a survival/emergency scenario. In one such arrangement the bracelet can include a specialized bead that supports a small compass, one or beads that are made from fire tinder material (e.g., magnesium) that can be shaved to provide fire tinder, a striker tool that can be pivotally stored within housing  122  and a bead made from flint material, the flexible band can include snare wire and a bead can include locking features (e.g., the bead can include a small cam lock of directional barbs) that can be used in combination with the snare wire, the bracelet can include a glass breaking tool to aid emergency escape from an automobile. In certain instances, the ring  168  can be used as a finger pull in combination with flexible band  162  (e.g., for use as a fire spindle). 
     The head  148  of the spine  104  can have an engagement member and the beads  170  can each have a complimentary engagement member. The beads  170  can have a connector portion  176  in the form of a receptacle that is sized and shaped to engage with a protrusion  178  on the head  148  of the spine  104  of the rigid portion  102  (in a similar fashion, the head can include a receptacle for engagement with a protrusion on the bead). The complimentary engagement members of the bead  170  and the engagement member of the head  148  (e.g., receptacle  176  and protrusion  178 ) provide a structural arrangement in which the bead  170  can be removeably engaged with the rigid portion  102  to perform a utilitarian tool function. Accordingly, when a bead  170  is engaged with the head  148 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the rigid portion  102  provides a handle to hold the bead  170  and assist in applying torque to the bead (e.g., to use the tool head  174  to rotate a screw). The protrusion and receptacle can have corresponding flat surfaces that engage to transmit a torque force from the rigid portion  102  through the bead  170  to the tool head  174 . As will be appreciated, the protrusion  178  can extend from or generally be defined along a different part of the spine  104 , ribs  106  and  108 , or other parts of the housing  122 . 
     In an example of use, the ring  168  is detached from the clasp  150  thereby detaching one end of the flexible band  162  from the rigid portion  102 . A selected bead  170  is translated along the flexible band  162  into position relative to the protrusion  178  on head  148  and the bead  170  is rotated so that the connector  176  on the bead can be engaged with the protrusion  178 . With the bead engaged, the rigid portion  102  can then be used to torque the bead  170  to operate as a tool and perform a tool function. Once the operation is complete, the bead  170  can be disengaged from head  148  and the ring  168  can be reinserted into the clasp  150  so that the flexible band  162  is reattached to the rigid portion  102  at both ends to reform the round shape of the bracelet  100 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, the flexible band  162  has a length such that there is sufficient room to position every bead  170  for engagement with the protrusion  178  while the beads remain disposed on the flexible band, with the other beads  170  that are not in use disposed along the flexible band  162  to either side of the bead  170  that is engaged with the head  148  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). The flexible band  162 , in this embodiment, has an interval length that permits the flexible band to be wrapped around the user (e.g., wrist) and worn as an article of jewelry without inadvertently falling off the user. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the flexible band  162  has a length that permits it to be wrapped approximately one and a half times about a user (e.g., wrist), the other half of a rotation being provided by the rigid portion to provide a bracelet that provides two wraps. Accordingly, in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the curved rigid portion  102  provides approximately one half of the circumferential perimeter of the bracelet  100  and the flexible band  162  provides a second half of the circumferential perimeter of the bracelet  100  to form a first wrap and the flexible band  162  provides a further full circumferential perimeter in the form of a second wrap of the bracelet  100 . The length of the flexible band  162  can be increased so that it can wrap two and a half times or more to provide a bracelet  100  having three or more wraps, for example. Having a longer flexible band  162  can increase the number of beads  170  that can be supported thereon while also changing the aesthetic appearance of the bracelet (e.g., having an multi-wrap bracelet provides a distinct, ornamental appearance). In additional, the length of the flexible band  162  can be adjusted incrementally to increase or decrease the diameter of the internal area “A” of the bracelet in order to accommodate differences in size of a user (e.g., smaller or larger wrists) and to provide a tighter or looser fit. 
     Knots  164  and  166  can be untied in order to add or remove beads  170  or possibly during use of the beads on the protrusion  178 . In addition, purely ornamental beads (e.g., beads lacking a tool head  174  and a connector  176  that are included with the hybrid ornamental-functional beads  170 ) can be included on flexible band  162  in order to enhance the aesthetic quality of the jewelry article  100 . Ring  168  can also be omitted and looped knot  166  can be directly retained by clasp  150 . Moreover, knot  164  can be untied and, in the case that fastener  130  is removable, fastener  130  can be removed so that tool  124  can be removed and/or replaced with a different tool, and the bracelet can be reassembled by reinserting fastener  130  and retying knot  164 . 
     Notably, the accompanying figure(s) and examples above are not meant to limit the scope of the present application to a single implementation, as other implementations are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements. Moreover, where certain elements of the present application can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present application are described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted so as not to obscure the application. In the present specification, an implementation showing a singular component should not necessarily be limited to other implementations including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present application encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration. 
     The foregoing description of the specific implementations will so fully reveal the general nature of the application that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art(s) (including the contents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference herein), readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific implementations, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present application. Such adaptations and modifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed implementations, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with the knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art(s). It is to be understood that dimensions discussed or shown are drawings are shown accordingly to one example and other dimensions can be used without departing from the invention. 
     While various implementations of the present application have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It would be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Thus, the present application should not be limited by any of the above-described example implementations.