Patent Publication Number: US-2016239083-A1

Title: Jewelry-Stylus Device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a jewelry item wearable on a body part of a user, and having a stylus element for contacting a touch screen, and, more particularly, to a device that is readily convertible between the jewelry item and a touch screen stylus. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     The present invention generally relates to a device or tool for use with touch-sensitive electronic screens such as those found in computers, smartphones, tablets, media readers and players, cameras, appliances and like electronic equipment requiring data entry via a touch screen. Typically, a smooth-tipped, wide-barreled stylus is designed to be held in a user&#39;s hand as one would hold a pen or pencil, and is brought into contact with the touch screen. The stylus allows the user to accurately point to, and contact, the touch screen at precise locations, as well as to write individual letters and numbers into input fields displayed on the touch screen, and even to sketch and draw graphical representations on the touch screen, without the use of a pen, pencil, brush, or other type of marking instrument. As advantageous as the stylus is, however, a wide barrel tends to at least partially obscure adjacent locations on the touch screen from being seen by the user. Moreover, the user&#39;s hand tends to grip the stylus adjacent its nib, thereby also resulting in concealing adjacent locations on the touch screen since the user&#39;s hand itself is positioned close to, and at least partially overlies, the touch screen. Such concealment reduces stylus performance. 
     Such equipment is typically designed to include a holder for the stylus. However, sometimes, there is insufficient space in the equipment to accommodate a holder and, in any event, the stylus is subject to being lost, e.g., when the user forgets to replace it in the holder, and a replacement stylus must be obtained. To avoid the need for a stylus and its holder, the art has resorted, especially in the field of tablets and smartphones, to simply use one&#39;s forefinger to contact the touch screen. Using one&#39;s forefinger as a stylus replacement is advantageous, but the inevitable oil and grease on one&#39;s forefinger eventually contaminate the touch screen with unsightly smudges and streaks, which require frequent cleaning. Also, the use of one&#39;s forefinger unavoidably positions the user&#39;s hand close to the screen, thereby causing the user&#39;s other fingers and the back of the user&#39;s hand to conceal adjacent locations on the touch screen. Again, stylus performance is reduced by such concealment. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to use a stylus that not only is compact, inexpensive, comfortable, easy to use, does not obscure adjacent touch screen locations during use, and is an attractive gift item and conversation piece, but also eliminates the requirement for the equipment to accommodate a stylus holder, while still preventing the stylus from being lost. It would further be desirable not to have to constantly clean a touch screen contaminated by one&#39;s finger during use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of this invention, a jewelry-stylus device includes a jewelry item wearable on a body part of a user, and a stylus element mounted on the jewelry item, for contacting a touch screen during use as a stylus. Advantageously, the stylus element is replaceably mounted on the jewelry item so that a worn stylus element can be readily replaced with a new stylus element. 
     In one embodiment, the device is convertible between the item of jewelry worn by the user, and a touch screen stylus held by the user&#39;s hand. Advantageously, the device has a plurality of arcuate shank parts movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the shank parts form an annulus that at least partially, and preferably completely, circumferentially encircles a body part of the user. For example, the body part may be a finger, in which case, the annulus surrounds the user&#39;s finger to form a ring. As another example, the body part may be a wrist, in which case, the annulus surrounds the user&#39;s wrist to form a bracelet. In the open position, two of the shank parts are connected in series along a row to form the stylus. The stylus element, preferably an electrically conductive nib, is mounted on one of the shank parts, preferably by being detachably fitted thereon, and is positioned at a leading end nib region of the stylus in the open position. The user&#39;s hand preferably grips the stylus remotely from the nib at the other of the shank parts to avoid having the hand from overlying, and at least partially concealing, adjacent touch screen locations. 
     In accordance with this invention, when the device is not being used as a stylus for contacting a touch screen of electronic equipment, the device is readily available because it is being worn, for example, as a ring on the user&#39;s finger, or as a bracelet on the user&#39;s wrist, and is therefore conveniently accessible. No longer need the equipment have to accommodate a holder for the stylus. The stylus is less prone to being lost by forgetting to replace it in any holder. Instead, the device is readily converted to a ring or bracelet and placed on one&#39;s finger or wrist, to await a subsequent use. No longer is the touch screen contaminated by oil and grease and like contaminants. 
     In preferred embodiments, the two shank parts are pivotably connected in end-to-end relationship for pivoting movement between the closed and open positions about a pivot axis. The two shank parts are advantageously mirror symmetrical. At least one, and preferably both, of the two shank parts have abutments for abutting the shank parts against one another to prevent movement past the open position. At least one, and preferably both, of the two shank parts have locks for adjustably locking the shank parts to one another in the closed position. An arcuate retainer preferably extends across opposite end regions of the other of the shank parts to retain the device on the finger or wrist in the open position. 
     In another embodiment, the device need not be removed from the user&#39;s body part for use as a stylus. Thus, one or more stylus elements are positioned away from the shank parts so that the device may be used as a stylus even while being worn on the user&#39;s body part. 
     According to another aspect of this invention, a method of converting a device between an item of jewelry and a stylus, is performed by connecting a plurality of arcuate shank parts for movement relative to one another, mounting a stylus element on one of the shank parts, moving the shank parts to a closed position in which the shank parts form an annulus that at least partially encircles a body part of the user, and moving the shank parts to an open position in which two of the shank parts are connected in series along a row when the device is held by the user&#39;s hand as a stylus, and positioning the stylus element at a leading end nib region of the stylus in the open position. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a device converted to, and worn as, a ring in a closed position according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  converted to, and used as, a stylus in an open position according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged, perspective view of the device of  FIG. 2  in isolation in the open position. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, perspective view of a second embodiment of a device in the open position according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, exploded view of a third embodiment of a device in the closed position according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 5  in the open position. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a device depicting the open position in solid lines, and the closed position in phantom lines, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a fifth embodiment of a device in the open position according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a sixth embodiment of a device in the open position according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded, perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a device in the open position according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a device in the closed position according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the eighth embodiment of  FIG. 11  in the open position according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the eighth embodiment of  FIG. 11  worn on a user&#39;s thumb. 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of a ninth embodiment of a device worn on a user&#39;s finger according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the ninth embodiment of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the ninth embodiment of  FIG. 15  during use as a stylus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a jewelry-stylus device  10 , according to one embodiment of this invention, is convertible between an item of jewelry, such as a ring, as best seen in  FIG. 1 , worn on a user&#39;s finger  12 , and a touch screen stylus, as best seen in  FIG. 2 , held by the user&#39;s hand  14  for contacting a touch screen  16  of an item of electronic equipment  18 , e.g., a smartphone. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the device  10  has a plurality of shank parts  20 ,  22  movable between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and an open position ( FIG. 2 ). In the closed position, the shank parts  20 ,  22  form an annulus that at least partially, and preferably completely, circumferentially encircles the user&#39;s finger  12  to form the ring. In the open position, two of the shank parts  20 ,  22  are connected in series along a row in an end-to-end relationship to form the stylus. 
     Preferably, each shank part  20 ,  22  includes one or more generally semi-circular, C-shaped, flattened, strips or curved bands made of metal or plastic, advantageously of resilient material. A precious metal, such as gold, can be used, especially when the device is intended as a gift item. Shank part  20  has opposite end regions  26 ,  28 . Shank part  22  has opposite end regions  30 ,  32 . The two shank parts  20 ,  22  are pivotably interconnected by a hinge pin  34  extending through the end regions  28 ,  30  to enable the shank parts  20 ,  22  to pivot relative to each other between the closed and open positions about a pivot axis  36  (see  FIG. 5 ) along which the hinge pin  34  extends. The two shank parts  20 ,  22  are advantageously mirror symmetrical. 
     A touch screen or stylus element  50 , preferably an electrically conductive nib, is mounted on one of the shank parts, and is positioned at end region  26 , preferably by being replaceably fitted thereover. The stylus element  50  is configured with a generally conically, cupped shape that resembles a thimble, is press-fitted over the end region  26 , and is preferably maintained in position by friction. Advantageously, the stylus element  50  is replaceably mounted on the device  10  so that a worn stylus element  50  can be readily replaced with a new stylus element  50 . For a more secure anchoring, an adhesive can be employed. In the open position, the element  50  serves as the nib of the stylus. The touch element  50  is advantageously constituted of rubber impregnated with carbon or metal filaments, but other electrically conductive materials, such as a high density foam, could also be used. The stylus can be a capacitive, a resistive, an inductive, or a pressure-sensitive, stylus. 
     In accordance with this invention, when the device  10  is not being used as a stylus for contacting the touch screen  16  of the electronic equipment  18 , the device  10  is readily available because it is being worn as a ring on the user&#39;s finger  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) and is therefore conveniently accessible. No longer need the equipment  18  have to accommodate a holder for the stylus. The stylus is less prone to being lost by forgetting to replace it in any holder. Instead, the device  10  is converted to a ring and placed on one&#39;s finger, to await a subsequent use. No longer is the touch screen  16  contaminated by oil and grease and like contaminants. 
     Moreover, as best shown in  FIG. 2 , the user&#39;s hand  14  preferably grips the stylus remotely from the nib  50  at the other of the shank parts  22  to avoid having the hand  14  from overlying, and at least partially concealing, adjacent touch screen locations. The hand  14  is therefore deliberately positioned well away from the nib  50 . Friction between the hinge pin  34  and the shank parts  20 ,  22  is sufficient to ensure that the shank parts  20 ,  22  do not collapse and return to the closed position when the stylus is pressed against the touch screen. 
     Additional embodiments of the convertible device are illustrated in  FIGS. 4-14 . The embodiment of  FIG. 4  is identical to that shown in  FIG. 3 , except that, in addition, an arcuate retainer  66 , preferably configured as a coiled tube or spring, extends across opposite end regions of the shank part  22  to retain the device  10  on the finger in the open position. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-6 , at least one, and preferably both, of the two shank parts  20 ,  22  have abutments  40 ,  42  for abutting the shank parts against one another to prevent movement past the open position. In the open position, the two semi-circular shank parts  20 ,  22  are situated adjacent each other and generally resemble the letter “m”. At least one, and preferably both, of the two shank parts  20 ,  22  have self-locking jaws or locks  46 ,  48  at the end regions  26 ,  32  for locking the shank parts  20 ,  22  to one another in the closed position. Each lock  46 ,  48  has a series of teeth for adjustably engaging one another to a desired extent, thereby controlling the diameter of the annulus in the closed position to accommodate fingers of different sizes. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the two shank parts  52 ,  54  are not interconnected by a hinge pin  34 , but instead, are interconnected by a swivel joint  38  that enables swiveling movement so that in the illustrated open position, the shank parts  52 ,  54  generally resemble a reversed letter “s”. In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , there are three shank parts  56 ,  58 , and  60  arranged in a row. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the two shank parts  68 ,  70  are pivotably interconnected just like the shank parts  20 ,  22 , but, in addition, another shank part  72  extends across opposite end regions of the shank part  70  to retain the device  10  on the finger in the open position. In the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , the two shank parts  74 ,  76  are pivotably interconnected just like the shank parts  20 ,  22 , but, in addition, a coil spring  78  surrounds the hinge pin  34  and is tensioned to constantly urge the shank parts  74 ,  76  to the illustrated open position. The coil spring  78  serves as a spring-assist to insure that the shank parts  74 ,  76  are automatically moved to their fully open position. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 11-14 , the shank parts  82 ,  84  are each comprised of a plurality of C-shaped, curved, elongated teeth or prongs that cross and interlace with one another in the fully closed position of  FIG. 11 , and that are spaced apart in the fully open position of  FIG. 12 . To effect movement from the closed to the open position, the shank parts  82 ,  84  have handle extensions  86 ,  88  that are squeezed together against the restoring force of a coil spring  90  (see  FIG. 12 ). Stylus elements  50 A, SOB, each identical to the element  50  described above, are replaceably mounted on remote ends of the handle extensions  86 ,  88 . When the embodiment of  FIGS. 11-14  is worn and used as a stylus, the prongs firmly grip the user&#39;s body part to resist rotation of the shank parts  82 ,  84  relative to the user&#39;s body part. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 11-14 , the device is, as depicted in  FIG. 14 , worn as a ring on a body part of the user, e.g., on the thumb of the user&#39;s hand  14  and, at the same time, the device serves as a stylus in which either or both of the stylus elements  50 A,  50 B may be used to contact a touch screen. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 11-14 , the device need not be removed from the user&#39;s thumb, nor does the device need to be converted since it simultaneously serves both as a ring and as a stylus. The device need not be worn on the thumb, but can be moved to other fingers of the user&#39;s hand. The coil spring  90  constantly urges the device towards the closed position and can therefore accommodate thumbs and fingers of different sizes. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 15-17 , there are no movable shank parts as described above, but instead, a wire frame  92  is mounted on the user&#39;s finger  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 15-16 , and is removed from the user&#39;s finger  12  and held in the user&#39;s hand  14 , as shown in  FIG. 17 , for use as a stylus. The aforementioned stylus element  50  is mounted at a forward region on the wire frame  92 . The user&#39;s finger  12  extends through open opposite ends of the wire frame  92 , and is held on the finger from above by the opposite ends of the wire frame  92 , and is held on the finger from below by a constricted waist  94  located below the finger. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. For example, the shank parts may be provided with friction-enhancements or waved ridges to enable a firmer stylus grip. A spring assist may be used to facilitate the movement between the closed and open positions. The element  50  need not be a cup fitted over an end region of the shank part  20 , but could be molded thereon. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as a convertible ring-stylus device, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the device need not be a ring worn on the user&#39;s finger, but could be a bracelet or wristwatch worn on the user&#39;s wrist. The device could also be other wearable items of jewelry, such as an earring worn on the user&#39;s ear. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims. 
     What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.