Patent Publication Number: US-10306957-B2

Title: Extensible jewelry item

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a jewelry item. Such jewelry item can be for example a ring adapted to be word on a finger of a user, a bracelet or any other kind of chain-like item. Such jewelry items are usually decorated with cut stones or gems for aesthetic reasons. 
     As it is known in the field of jewelry, the jewelry item has to adapt to the size of the body part of the owner, for example a finger in case of a ring. Historically, adapting the jewelry item was a complex and lengthy operation, often requiring the work of a skilled jeweler or goldsmith. In order to partially overcome this drawback, it has been known for some time to craft jewelry items as chains comprising a plurality of links. These links have each a first and second edge, and the first edge of each link is designed to couple with the second edge of the next link. Usually, the first and second edge are secured by a pin or similar device, so that they can rotate with respect to each other. 
     The kind of known jewelry items described above can be lengthened or shortened by adding or removing links. A disadvantage of such jewelry items is that, while they usually do not need a skilled goldsmith to change size, they still have a somewhat complex structure. This complicates assembly, disassembly as well as replacement, addition or removal of links. 
     Additionally such jewelry item, particularly in case of rings, cannot be adapted to small changes in size because, while each link is relatively small, its addition or removal still produce a big change in size. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first embodiment of the invention relates to a jewelry item. The jewelry item comprises an elastic ring-shaped support element. The jewelry item also comprises a ring-shaped chain comprising a plurality of chain links. Each chain link is slidably attached to the support element. Also, each chain link comprises a female portion and a male portion opposite to each other. The male portion is inserted into a female portion of a subsequent chain link in order to lock the chain links to each other while allowing the chain links to reversibly slide from a contact position to a distanced position with respect to each other. 
     A second embodiment also relates to a jewelry item. Such jewelry item comprises a ring shaped spring. The jewelry item also comprises a ring-shaped chain comprising a plurality of chain links. 
     Each chain link is slidably attached to the support element. Also, each chain link comprises a plate having a first surface facing the spring and a second surface opposite to the first surface. 
     Each chain link also comprises at least a seat and a hook opposite to each other. The hook is inserted into a seat of a subsequent chain link so as to lock the chain links to each other while allowing the chain links to reversibly slide from a contact position to a distanced position with respect to each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details and specific embodiments will refer to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a jewelry item according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view the jewelry item of  FIG. 1  with some elements removed to better show others; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the jewelry item of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with some elements removed to better show others; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a detail of the jewelry item of  FIGS. 1-3  along a plane B-B of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a detail of the jewelry item of  FIGS. 1-3  along a plane C-C of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a detail of the jewelry item of  FIGS. 1-3  along a plane A-A of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a jewelry item according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view the jewelry item of  FIG. 7  with some elements removed to better show others; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the jewelry item of  FIGS. 7 and 8  with some elements removed to better show others; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of a detail of the jewelry item of  FIGS. 7-9  along a plane D-D of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of a detail of the jewelry item of  FIGS. 7-9  along a plane E-E of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of a detail of the jewelry item of  FIGS. 7-9  along a plane F-F of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of exemplary embodiments refer to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     With reference to the attached drawings, with  1  is indicated a jewelry item according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such jewelry item  1  may be a ring adapted to be wornon a finger of a user. Alternatively, the jewelry item  1  can be a bracelet, an anklet or any other body-fitting chain-like jewel. 
     The jewelry item  1  comprises an elastic ring-shaped support element  2 . Advantageously, the support element  2  can comprise one or more spring  3 . The spring  3  is preferably a coil spring, and more preferably made of titanium. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the support element  2  comprises a single spring  3 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the support element  2  comprises two springs  3 . 
     The jewelry item  1  also comprises a ring-shaped chain  4 . The chain  4  is attached to the support element  2 , and it is able to slide over the support element  2 . Also, the chain  4  is able to change its length, so as to be adaptable to small variations in finger size. Indeed, as the support element  2  is stretched, the chain  4  is able to change follow it by changing its own length. 
     The chain  4  comprises a plurality of chain links  5 . Preferably, the number of links  5  is variable depending on the base size as well as on the particular model of the jewelry item  1 . For example, in case of a ring the number of links  5  can be comprised between 5 and 15. Alternatively, in case of a bracelet, the number of links  5  can be comprised between 10 and 20. 
     With more detail, each link  5  is slidably attached to the support element  2 . Therefore, with respect to each link  5  is defined a radial direction “R” and a tangential direction “T” transversal, and preferably perpendicular, to the radial direction “R”. 
     The links  5  are attached to each other so that they can change the reciprocal distance, in order to allow the chain  4  to change its length. In other words, the length of the chain  4  changes depending on the distance of between the links  5 . Also, each link  5  comprises a plate  8  having a first surface  8   a  facing radially outwardly and away from the support element  2  and a second surface  8   b  opposite to the first surface  8   a , thus facing radially outwardly and away from away from the support element  2 . It is understood that the plate  8  can have a slight curvature, as shown for example in  FIGS. 5 and 12  or can be flat. 
     Preferably, the plate  8  is provided with least a bezel  11 , or other equivalent stone setting means. The bezel  8  is configured to bear a stone “S”, and is in particular placed on the second surface  8   b  of the plate  8  itself in both embodiments shown in the figures each plate  8  comprises three bezels  11 , however in other embodiments of the invention there can be any number of bezels  11 , depending on their size and on the size of the plate  8  itself. 
     In its simplest version, the plate  8  can be rectangular. More generally, the plate  8  has a first  9   a  and second edge  9   b . The first edge  9   a  has an outline complementary to the second edge. Therefore, the first edge  9   a  of a link  5  can be inserted into the second edge of a subsequent link when the chain links are in a contact position. See for example the embodiment in  FIG. 9 , in which the first edge  9   a  of the plate  8  has a convex profile, while the second edge  9   b  has a matching concave profile. 
     Furthermore, the first edge  9   a  may be provided with a projection  16  which extends outwardly from the plate  8 . In this case, the second edge  9   b  is provided with a receptacle  17  to receive the projection  16  of the adjacent plate  8 . 
     Indeed, the number of projections  16  can vary. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  there is only one projection  16 , which however extends over most of the width of the plate  8 . On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 and 12  the plate  8  comprises three projections  16 , one placed centrally over the spring  3  and the others externally and symmetrically with respect to the spring  3 . 
     As seen for example in  FIGS. 5 and 11 , the plate  8  is provided with at least a housing  10  for the spring  3 . The housing  10  runs substantially along the tangential direction “T” in order to house a portion of the spring  3 , thus securing the plate  8  on the support element  2 . The housing  10  is defined by two openings  10   a  on the plate  8 , placed in particular ora the edges  9   a ,  9   b.    
     With additional detail, the plate  8  is provided with one housing  10  for each spring  3 . Indeed, in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the plate  8  is provided with two housings  10 . On the other hand, in the embodiment of  FIG. 10  the plate  8  is provided with only one housing  10 . 
     In order to attach the links  5  to each other, each link  5  comprises a female portion  6  and a male portion  7 . Therefore, the insertion of the male portion  7  into the female portion  6  of a subsequent link  5  is able to lock the links  5  to each other while also allowing the chain links to reversibly slide from a contact position to a distanced position with respect to each other. Additionally, while locked in this way the links  5  maintain the capability to rotate with respect to each other of a certain amount, so that it is possible to change the curvature of the chain  4 . 
     Please note that, in the disclosed embodiments, the male portion  7  comprises at least a hook  12  and the female portion  6  comprises at least a seat  13 . The hook  12  is adapted to be inserted into the seat  13 . Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 9  respectively, in the two described embodiments of the invention the male portion comprises two hooks  12  and two seats  13 . It is to be noted that each hook  12  is placed at the same distance from the spring  3  as the corresponding seat  13 , so that all of the hooks  12  can be inserted in the corresponding seats  13  when the springs  3  are inserted into the housings  10  of the plates  8 . 
     As shown schematically in the sections of  FIGS. 6 and 12 , the hook  12  is attached to the first edge  9   a  of the plate  8 . The hook  12  comprises a first portion  12   a , fixed onto the plate  8  and extending substantially along the tangential direction “T”. A second portion  12   b , itself fixed to the first portion  12   a , projects at least in part along the radial direction “R” away from a center of the jewelry item  1 . Furthermore, the seat  13  is provided with an opening  13   a  for the insertion of the hook  12 . Specifically, the opening  13   a  allows the insertion of the second portion  12   b  of the hook  12 , and partial insertion of the first portion  12   a . The opening  13   a  is sized so that it is larger than the thickness of both the first  12   a  and the second portion  12   b  of the hook  12 , but it is narrower than the height of the second portion  12   b . Consequently, the second portion  12   b  can be inserted and/or extracted from the seat  13  by placing the hook  12  and the seat  13  at appropriate inclination. However, once the hook  12  is oriented so that the second portion  12   b  is aligned with the radial direction “R”, it cannot be extracted from the seat  13 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 12 , the seat is provided internally with a first abutting surface  14 , and externally with a second abutting surface  15 . The first portion  12   a  of the hook  12  is sized so that the hook  12  can move inside the seat  13  in order to allow the links  5  to move from the contact position to the distanced position, as discussed above. Indeed, when the links  5  are in the contact position the first  9   a  and the second edge  9   b  of the plates  8  are in contact with each other, specifically a portion of the first edge  9   a  of each plate  8  rests on the second abutting surface  15 . Otherwise, when the links  5  are in the distanced position the hook  12 , in particular its second portion  12   b  rests against the first abutting surface  14 . In any possible intermediate position neither the hooks  12  nor the first edges  9   a  are in contact with the respective abutting surface  14 ,  15 .