Patent Publication Number: US-9848678-B2

Title: Interchangeable jewelry, particularly a ring assembly

Description:
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/098,571, filed Dec. 31, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to jewelry, and more particularly to a ring assembly that allows a user to change a head, shoulder(s), and/or side(s) of the ring assembly or ring. 
     It is generally known to provide a ring in which the construct allows the setting to be selectively changed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,989-Dillabaugh discloses a ring in which the setting may be removed and interchanged. Unfortunately, the body is substantially enlarged and undesirably protrudes upwardly. 
     It would be desirable to allow a customer/user to easily change between different components. For example, if a customer owns ten (10) different heads, ten (10) different shoulders, and ten (10) different sides, these thirty (30) components can create one thousand different ring styles. 
     The ring must be simple to use, secure, and rattle free. 
     SUMMARY 
     A ring assembly is disclosed that allows for ease of interchangeability. 
     A preferred ring assembly includes an annular ring platform has a recess formed in a portion thereof and a column with an opening therein. A collar is received on the ring platform and has a sleeve that mates with the column. An ornamental portion has an anchor that extends through the collar and selectively mates with the column opening. A biasing spring is received in the recess of the ring platform and urges the collar outwardly from the ring platform. The ornamental portion is selectively rotatable relative to the ring platform whereby the anchor locks with the column and the spring urges the ornamental portion toward locked relation therewith. 
     The ornamental portion includes a shoulder ornament portion and a head portion. 
     The shoulder ornament portion includes an opening that is similarly shaped to a perimeter configuration of the anchor. 
     The shoulder ornament portion includes a recess that selectively receives a projection extending outwardly from the collar. 
     The shoulder ornament portion and the head rotate together when the projection is received in the recess. 
     The anchor includes first and second shoulders spaced by a cross-sectional region therebetween of reduced dimension. 
     The biasing spring has a first arcuate portion that is centrally mounted to the ring platform, and second and third arcuate portions that are cantilever mounted to opposite ends of the first arcuate portion. 
     Terminal ends of the second and third arcuate portions extend outwardly through first and second slots, respectively, formed in the ring platform. 
     The first and second slots are disposed on opposite sides of the column. 
     The first arcuate portion is attached to the ring platform. 
     The anchor has a generally rectangular conformation in which a length dimension is greater than a width dimension. 
     The column opening has a generally rectangular conformation in which a length dimension is greater than a width dimension that the anchor extends therethrough only when the length dimensions are aligned with one another. 
     The collar has a U-shaped cross-section that is dimensioned for receipt over the outer surface of the ring platform. 
     The collar has an arcuate shape that conforms to an outer perimeter surface of the ring platform. 
     A primary benefit of the present disclosure is that the user can change between different components, i.e., the setting can be altered. 
     Another advantage associated with this disclosure is the ease in changing from one ring style to a different ring style. 
     Still another benefit is the ease in which the change can be made. 
     Yet another advantage resides in the resulting rattle-free structure. 
     Benefits and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from reading and understanding the following detailed description 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the disassembled components of the subject ring assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is another exploded view of the disassembled components of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3-8  are respective perspective, front, cross-sectional, side, cross-sectional, and top views of the assembled ring assembly. 
         FIGS. 9-17  are perspective views illustrating sequential steps of assembling the components to create the ring assembly of  FIGS. 3-6 . 
         FIGS. 18-20  are perspective, plan and side views of an alternate ornament portion. 
         FIGS. 21-26  are various views of an adjustable ring size assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a ring assembly  100  includes a ring platform  110 , and arc-shaped collar  112 , an ornament portion  114  that in the preferred arrangement includes two separate components, namely, a shoulder ornament portion  116  and a head portion  118 , a biasing spring  120 , and a base plate  122 . These components shown separated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are assembled to create the ring assembly  100  shown in a final, assembled arrangement illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 . Specifically, the ring platform  110  is an annular structure having an inner perimeter or circumference  130  and an outer perimeter or circumference  132  ( FIG. 1 ). The inner and outer circumferences  130 ,  132  need not be concentric, i.e., an annular thickness of the ring platform  110  may vary as the ring platform extends in a circumferential direction. An upper, left quadrant illustrated in  FIG. 1  is shown in cross-section, and as is also evident in  FIG. 3 , and illustrates that a portion of the ring platform  110  includes a recess or pair of recesses  134  that extend over a limited arcuate portion of the inner circumference  130 . In addition, a column  136  is centrally located between the recesses  134 . The column  136  includes a circular outer surface  138  that is spaced from a remainder of the outer circumference  132  of the ring platform by slots  140  ( FIG. 1 ). Further, the column  136  has a through opening  142  that has varied dimensions as the opening proceeds radially inward toward the inner circumference  130  of the ring platform  110 . A radial outer portion of the opening  142  has a generally rectangular configuration in which a length dimension is greater than a width dimension. The width dimension is also shown in  FIG. 2  as having a slightly rounded conformation. A first step or shoulder  144  ( FIG. 1 ) forms a first undercut that is adapted to engage head  118  in a manner to be described further below. 
     Collar  112  extends over a limited arcuate portion of the ring platform  110 . As evident for example in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the collar  112  has a generally U-shaped dimension for receipt over the ring platform. The collar  112  includes a centrally located sleeve  150  that has an interior opening  152  ( FIG. 2 ) dimensioned for receipt over the column  136  of the ring platform  110 . In addition, projections  154  ( FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 ) extend generally radially outward at circumferentially spaced locations from the sleeve  150  of the collar  112 . In this particular embodiment, first and second projections  154  extend upwardly from diametrically opposite locations on the sleeve  150 , although it is contemplated that the projections could be provided at alternate locations if so desired. As perhaps best evident in  FIG. 1 , each projection  154  has a generally truncated conical shape. Further, the collar  112  includes mounts shown here as a pair of mounts  156  located at substantially opposite ends of the collar and a pair of mounts  158  located on opposite sides of the collar. The mounts  156 ,  158  may be used to secure gemstones G or the like therein in a manner well known in the art. 
     Ornament portion  114  includes the shoulder ornament  116  that may be a separate component or joined to the head  118 . Separate components that are subsequently joined together provide a greater variety of styles when different styles are desired and one or both of the shoulder ornament  116  and head  118  are altered. The ornament portion  114  includes a central, annular portion  170  having an opening  172  ( FIG. 2 ) that is preferably rectangular shaped (i.e., a length dimension is greater than a width dimension). There is also provided first and second recesses  174  at diametrically opposite locations that have a tapered shape ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) that selectively receive the projections  154  of the collar  112  in a manner to be described further below. In addition, mounts  176  may be provided at opposite ends of the shoulder ornament to secure gemstones or other decorative elements therein. 
     The head  118  includes fingers or retaining prongs (or a bezel)  190  extending upwardly that together retain a gemstone G in a conventional manner. Extending in the opposite direction or downwardly is an anchor  192 . The anchor  192  includes a first foot portion  194  ( FIG. 2 ) that as a generally rectangular conformation, i.e., a length dimension greater than a width dimension. Here, the longitudinal sides extend parallel to one another and the width dimension has a slightly rounded contour for receipt through the similarly shaped opening in column  136  of the ring platform  110 . As will be appreciated, the first foot portion  194  passes through the opening  172  in the shoulder ornament portion  116 , and also passes through the opening  152  in the sleeve  150  of the collar  112 , prior to receipt through the similarly shaped opening  142  in the column  136  of the ring platform  110 . Once the first foot portion  194  of the anchor  192  passes beneath shoulder  144  in the column  136 , a reduced dimension portion  196  ( FIGS. 1-2 ) of the anchor  192  allows the first foot portion to be rotated 90° for engagement beneath the shoulder to prevent upward removal of the head  118  from the ring platform  110 . 
     Spring  120  is secured to base plate  122  and an inner circumferential region of column  136  of the ring platform  110 . More particularly, a central portion  210  of the spring  120  includes a pin  212  ( FIG. 1 ) received in corresponding opening  214  ( FIG. 2 ) in the base plate  122 . Pin  212  is welded into opening  214  in a preferred arrangement, for example where the pin  212  and the ring platform  110  are made of the same or compatible materials (e.g. stainless steel) allowing the materials to be fused or welded. Of course, it is also contemplated that other matters/methods of joining these components could be alternately used. For instance, the assembly could be joined by a bezel into an inner circumferential region of the column  136  of the ring platform  110 , or the components could be joined by a friction fit. The base plate  122  and central portion  210  of the spring  120  may be welded or otherwise joined to an inner circumferential region of the column  136  of the ring platform  110 . A pair of diametrically opposite grooves  216  are provided on the base plate  122  and dimensioned to receive portions of the spring  120  therein, particularly first arcuate portions  220 . The first arcuate portions  220  extend outwardly in opposite directions from the central mounting portion  210 , and second and third arcuate portions  222 ,  224  are cantilever mounted to opposite ends of the first arcuate portions. Terminal ends of the second and third arcuate portions  222 ,  224  ( FIG. 1 ) extend outwardly through the slots  140 , respectively, formed on opposite sides of the column  136  in the ring platform  110  for abutment with the underside of the collar  112  (as will be described further below). The arcuate portions  220 ,  222 ,  224  are dimensioned for receipt in the recesses  134  of the ring platform  110  ( FIGS. 5 and 7 ). 
       FIGS. 9-17  are progressive views of the assembly of the ring assembly  100  described above. Particularly, in  FIG. 9 , the spring  120  has already been joined to the base plate  122 , the collar  112 , and the ring platform  110 . The shoulder ornament portion  116  is oriented so that rectangular opening  172  therethrough is aligned with the rectangular opening  142  in column  136  of the ring platform  110 . The head portion  118  is shown in  FIG. 9  as being 90° out of phase (non-aligned) relative to the ornament portion  114 . Specifically, the first foot portion  194  has a rectangular conformation also so that the head portion  118  is rotated until the first foot portion can pass through the aligned openings  172 ,  142  in the shoulder ornament portion  116  and ring platform  110 , respectively. Thus, the rotation or alignment of the head portion  118  is progressively illustrated in  FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 . It will be appreciated that the head portion  118  may be first joined to the shoulder ornament portion  116  as represented in  FIG. 11  by aligning and advancing the first foot portion  194  through the opening  172  in the shoulder ornament portion to form the ornament portion  114 . 
     This subassembly (ornament portion  114 ) is then the axially advanced toward the other subassembly (comprised of the joined spring  120 , base plate  122 , collar  112 , and ring platform  110 ) as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The ornament portion  114  presses downwardly on the projections  154  that extend upwardly from the collar  112 . Further axial advancement of the ornament portion  114  subassembly is precluded until the 1 st  foot portion  194  passes entirely through the opening  142  in the column  136  of the ring portion. The spring  120  exerts an upward force or bias on the collar  112  as a result of the arcuate portions  222 ,  224  extending through the slots  140  in the ring platform  110 . The arcuate portions  222 ,  224  flex downwardly relative to the mounted central portion  210  of the spring to accommodate the downward pressure exerted by the ornament portion subassembly  114 . 
     While maintaining the downward force and depressing the arcuate portions  222 ,  224  of the spring, the ornament portion subassembly  114  is then rotated through 90° as progressively illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , and the final position of  FIG. 15 . Once the ornament portion subassembly has been rotated through 90°, the projections  154  in the sleeve  150  of the collar  112  are aligned with and received in respective first and second recesses  174 . This allows the ornament portion subassembly  114  to be urged upwardly where the projections  154  of the collar  112  advance into the matingly shaped recesses (e.g., generally truncated conical shape) that locks the subassemblies together under the biasing force of the spring ( FIG. 17 ). 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that additional projections (similar to projections  154 ) and recesses (similar to recesses  174 ) could be provided to allow selective rotational indexing of the components and thereby display additional, various shoulder ornaments as desired ( FIGS. 18-20 ). In substantially all other aspects, the variation of  FIGS. 18-20  operates in the same manner as that described above. 
       FIGS. 21-26  illustrate modifications to the assembly. As shown in  FIGS. 21-23 , collar  312  is modified to include spaced apart, first and second annular portions  314 ,  316  that form a gap  318  that extends over a part of the circumference. The annular portions  314 ,  316  receive the ring platform  110  of the type generally shown and described above with respect to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-17 . The ring platform  110  is advanced into the gap  318  between the first and second annular portions  314 ,  316  of the modified collar  312 . This gap  318  allows the ring platform  110  to vary its position relative to the collar  112  so that ring size can be varied (compare the assembly of  FIG. 25  for a smaller finger with the assembly of  FIG. 26  which accommodates a larger finger). The bias of the spring  120  allows the modified collar  312  and the ring platform  110  to slide vertically under spring tension and yet remain assembled and locked. 
     Also of particular note is the extent that the ring head portion  118  extends above the sleeve portion  150  of the modified collar  112 . Again, the collar and the ring platform can slide vertically under spring tension, and yet remain assembled and locked against relative rotation with respect to one another. This is achieved as a result of the sleeve portion  150  of the modified collar  312  including slots  330  (instead of the truncated projections  154  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-8 ). The slots  330  on the collar receive projections  332  (only one projection  332  is shown in  FIG. 21 ) extending outwardly from the head portion  118 . 
     This written description uses examples to describe the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the second projection on the anchor  192  which meets with opening  172  could be made sufficiently thick in order to stack multiple ornamental shoulder assemblies  116 . Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims. Moreover, this disclosure is intended to seek protection for a combination of components and/or steps and a combination of claims as originally presented for examination, as well as seek potential protection for other combinations of components and/or steps and combinations of claims during prosecution.