Patent Publication Number: US-9420858-B2

Title: Adjustable jewelry

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure generally relates to jewelry, more specifically to jewelry articles, such as bracelets, necklaces, and the like, which can be adjusted to account for different sizes. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     Jewelry articles, such as bands, can include features that allow their size to be adjusted or modified to suit the preference of the wearer. Traditionally, such adjustable bands have included multiple segments joined together by an adjustment feature or mechanism. 
     For example, the adjustable jewelry article disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,443 to Grosser-Samuels includes a complex adjustment mechanism having springs and buttons. In another example, the jewelry article described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0022778 to Ferlise includes multiple adjustment features, chains, and ornamental features which add complexity to the article especially when attempting to adjust its size. 
     Having multiple band pieces and/or complex adjustment features increases the manufacturing cost of the jewelry article and reduces the robustness and usability of the band. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for simpler, user-friendly adjustable jewelry and/or multifunctional adjustable jewelry that can be easily modified for size and/or aesthetics to suit the wearer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The purpose and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in and will be apparent from the description that follows. Additional advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the systems and methods particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of this disclosure, the herein described jewelry article includes, in one aspect, a flexible member that has a first end and a second end. The first end of the flexible member is fixedly secured to a connector. The flexible member is also slidably secured through the connector at a point along its length so a first portion of the flexible member extends between connection points. 
     The jewelry article also includes an adjustment mechanism that defines a channel through which the first portion of the flexible member and the second end of the flexible member extends thereby allowing a length of the first portion to be selectively adjusted. 
     In certain embodiments, the connector can include a single ring such that the first end is connected to the single ring and the length of the flexible member passes through the single ring to be slidably secured to the single ring. In some embodiments, the connector can include an ornamental element with one or more connection points. 
     The connector can define at least one aperture. The flexible member can be slidably secured to the connector by passing the flexible member through the at least one aperture. In some embodiments, the connector defines at least two apertures. 
     A first ring can be used to fixedly secure the first end of the flexible member to the first aperture formed in the connector. A second ring can be used to slidably secure the flexible member to the connector along its length. 
     The channel formed in the adjustment mechanism can be adapted and configured for frictionally restraining movement of the flexible member within the channel. 
     In a further aspect of this disclosure, an adjustable jewelry article can include, inter alia, a flexible member having opposed first and second ends, a connector connected to or defining at least one of a first and a second ring. The first end of the flexible member can be connected to the first ring and the second end of the member is free. The flexible member passes through the second ring such that there is a first portion of the member that is defined between the first end and the second ring and a second portion of the member is defined after passing through the second ring. An adjustment device is connected to the first portion of the flexible member and the second portion of the flexible member such that the length of the first portion of the flexible member can be selectively modified to adjust the wearable size of the flexible member. 
     Preferably, the second end of the flexible member includes a stop feature disposed thereon to prevent the second end from passing through the channel formed in the adjustment device. 
     It is envisioned that the flexible member can include a wire, chain, cord, or any other suitable composition. In some embodiments, the flexible member includes a leather band. In other embodiments, the flexible member includes a plastic band. 
     The adjustment device can be a bead which defines a friction cavity or chamber, wherein the friction cavity can include a material which is adapted and configured to resists motion of the first portion of the flexible member and the second portion of the flexible member within the bead channel. The friction cavity allows the first portion of the flexible member and the second portion of the flexible member to be selectively slid through the bead when a force sufficient to overcome a frictional force provided by the frictional material is applied thereto. 
     The frictional material can include a semi-rigid material disposed within the cavity or channel on the inner surface of the bead. In some embodiments, the frictional material includes a rubber and/or a plastic. Preferably, the frictional material is silicone. It is envisioned that the frictional material can define a single hole/passageway for both of the first and second portions of the flexible member to pass therethrough. 
     In other embodiments, the frictional material defines a first hole for the first portion of the flexible member to pass therethrough and a second hole for the second portion of the flexible member to pass therethrough. It is envisioned that the first ring and the second ring can be a single ring. 
     Still further, the present disclosure is also directed to an article of jewelry that includes a chain having opposed first and second ends, a connector, and an adjustment bead. The first end of the chain is fixedly secured to the connector and the chain is also slidably secured to the connector along a length of the chain length such that a first portion of the chain extends between connection points. The adjustment bead defines a channel through which the first portion of the chain and the second end of the chain extends. The adjustment bead is adapted and configured for allowing a length of the first portion to be selectively adjusted. 
     In some embodiments, the connection points include one or more jump rings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains will more readily understand how to employ the jewelry articles of the present invention, embodiments thereof will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top plan view of an embodiment of a jewelry article which has been constructed in accordance with this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an adjustment device constructed in accordance with this disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a side, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an adjustment device constructed in accordance with this disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a front, cross-sectional view of the adjustment device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a method for adjusting the size of the jewelry article of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another method for adjusting an aesthetic feature of the jewelry article of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a method for adjusting the size of the jewelry article of  FIG. 1  while being worn by a user. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a jewelry article which has been constructed in accordance with this disclosure; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a jewelry article which has been constructed in accordance with this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     These and other aspects of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of this disclosure are now described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an illustrated embodiment is shown. This disclosure is not limited in any way to the illustrated embodiment as the illustrated embodiments described below are merely an example which can be embodied in various forms, as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that any structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments disclosed herein. Furthermore, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the embodiments herein. 
     Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within this disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either both of those included limits are also included in this disclosure. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the disclosed embodiments, exemplary methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. 
     The present disclosure generally relates to adjustable articles of jewelry. 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1-6  generally depict a jewelry article which has been constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and designated by reference numeral  100 . 
     In at least one aspect of this disclosure, the item of jewelry  100  includes a flexible member  101  that has a first end  101   a  and a second end  101   b . The flexible member  101  can be any suitable band (e.g., chain, rope, wire, cord, and/or the like) and can be a single strand. In some embodiments, the flexible member  101  can include a metal chain as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . In some embodiments, the flexible member  101  can include a leather band and/or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the flexible member  101  can include a plastic band. It is contemplated that differing materials can be linked together to form a flexible member  101  as disclosed herein. 
     A connector  103  can be connected to and/or defines at least one of a first ring  107   a  and a second ring  107   b . As shown, the connector  103  defines one or more apertures in which rings  107   a ,  107   b  are looped through. While the connector  103  is shown as an ornamental element in  FIG. 1 , it would be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that the connector  103  can include any suitable shape, size, or design such that a first end  101   a  of the flexible member  101  is attached to a portion of the connector  103  and a portion of the flexible member  101  is also slidably connected to the connector  103 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first end  101   a  of the flexible member  101  is connected to the first ring  107   a . While it is shown that the first end  101   a  is connected to ring  107   a , ring  107   a  can be removed and the first end  101   a  can be fixed to the aperture formed or defined in the connector  103 . 
     The second end  101   b  of the flexible member  101  is free and not rigidly connected to the connector  103 . However, the flexible member  101  passes through the second ring  107   b  such that there is a first portion  101   c  of the flexible member  101  that is defined before passing through the second ring  107   b  and a second portion  101   d  that is defined after passing through the second ring  107   b . While it is shown that the flexible member  101  passes through ring  107   b , ring  107   b  can be removed and the flexible member  101  can pass through the aperture in the connector  103 . 
     In some embodiments, the first ring  107   a  and the second ring  107   b  can be a single ring/aperture such that the flexible member  101  passes through the same hole in which the first end of the flexible member  101  is connected to. 
     The article of jewelry  100  further includes an adjustment device  105  connecting the first portion  101   c  of the flexible member  101  and the second portion  101   d  of the flexible member  101  such that the length of the first portion  101   c  of the flexible member  101  can be selectively modified to adjust the wearable size (e.g., area of space  113 ) of the flexible member  101 . This allows the flexible member  101  to fit on wrists, necks, fingers, waists, ankles, or other bodily portions of varying size and/or to the wearer&#39;s preference. Also, the length of the flexible member  101  can be modified to allow the jewelry to fit around any suitable body portion (e.g., wrists, necks, fingers, waists, ankles, or other bodily portions). 
     Also, the article of jewelry  100  includes a dual functionality. The aesthetic appearance of article  100  can be modified by changing the position of the adjustment device  105  and/or by pulling on feature  111 . This can occur without changing the size of the article of jewelry  100  or while modifying its size. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the second end  101   b  can include a stop feature (e.g., tag  102 ) disposed thereon to prevent the second end  101   b  from passing through the adjustment device  105  and/or the second ring  107   b.    
     Referring additionally to  FIGS. 2-3B , the adjustment device  105  can be a bead defining a friction cavity  210  such that the friction cavity  210  restrains the first portion  101   c  of the flexible member  101  and the second portion  101   d  of the flexible member  101  within the bead using a frictional material  209 ,  309 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the frictional material  209  can be disposed within the friction cavity  210  and define a single cavity therethrough for both lengths of flexible member  101  to pass through. As shown  FIG. 3 , the frictional material  309  can define a cavity for each portion of flexible member  101  passing therethrough. The frictional material  209 ,  309  can include any suitable features to prevent or inhibit the flexible member  101  from slipping through the adjustment device  105  unintentionally. 
     The friction cavity  210  can allow the first portion  101   c  of the flexible member  101  and the second portion  101   d  of the flexible member  101  to be selectively slid through the adjustment device  105  when a force sufficient to overcome a frictional force provided by the frictional material  209 ,  309  is applied thereto. 
     The frictional material  209 ,  309  can include any suitable semi-rigid material (e.g., a polymer, silicone, cork, etc.) disposed on the inner surface of the adjustment device  105 . In some embodiments, the frictional material  209 ,  309  can include a rubber and/or a plastic. 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , dual functionality of the item of jewelry  100  is depicted. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a size (e.g., area of space  113 ) of the flexible member  101  can be modified (e.g., reduced) by modifying the length of the aesthetic portion  111  (e.g., by pulling on the aesthetic portion  111  while holding the adjustment device  105 ). Alternatively, an aesthetic portion  111  can be modified (e.g., reduced in length) without modifying the size of flexible member  101  by gripping the adjustment device and the second portion  101   d  and first portions  101   c  (or the aesthetic portion  111  and the first portion  101   c ) of the flexible member  101  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an in-situ size adjustment is depicted. A wearer can pull on the aesthetic portion  111  when the jewelry  100  is on a portion of their body (e.g., wrist as shown). By pulling the aesthetic portion  111 , the size of the flexible member  101  around the wrist is reduced and the length of the aesthetic portion in increased. If the wearer wishes to reduce the length of the aesthetic portion  111  after such a size adjustment, the wearer can move the adjustment device  105  toward the second end  101   b  of the flexible member  101 . 
     Accordingly, the item of jewelry  100  can provide both size adjustment and aesthetic adjustment as the wearer desires. For example, some users may want to increase and/or maximize the length of the aesthetic portion  111  by fitting the flexible member  101  to their wrist or neck and then sliding the adjustment device  105  toward the second ring  107   b . Some users may want to shorten or eliminate any extra length to the aesthetic portion  111  such that the stop feature (e.g., tag  102 ) contacts the adjustment device  105  which can be accomplished by sliding the adjustment device  105  toward the stop. In both cases, aesthetics and size can be adjusted independently of each other (at least up to the maximum size limitations of the flexible member  101 ). 
     Another embodiment of an article of jewelry  200  with similar function to the article of jewelry  100  is shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown, the connector  203  can include a single ring to which a first end  201   a  of a flexible member  201  is fixedly connected. Similar to the above described embodiments, the second end  201   b  of the flexible member  201  is free and not rigidly connected to the connector  203 . However, the flexible member  201  passes through the connector  203  such that there is a first portion  201   c  of the flexible member  201  that is defined before passing through connector  203  and a second portion  201   d  that is defined after passing through the connector  203 . 
     Another embodiment of an article of jewelry  200  with similar function to the article of jewelry  100  is shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown, the connector  203  can include a single ring to which a first end  201   a  of a flexible member  201  is fixedly connected. 
     Similar to the above described embodiments, the second end  201   b  of the flexible member  201  is free and not rigidly connected to the connector  203 . However, the flexible member  201  passes through the connector  203  such that there is a first portion  201   c  of the flexible member  201  that is defined before passing through connector  203  and a second portion  201   d  that is defined after passing through the connector  203 . 
     The article of jewelry  200  further includes an adjustment device  205 , an aesthetic portion  211 , and a stop member  202  similar to those as described above with reference to the article of jewelry  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . Also, as shown, an ornamental element  203   a  can be disposed on the flexible member  201  in any suitable place. 
     Another embodiment of an article of jewelry  300  with similar function to the article of jewelry  100  is shown in  FIG. 8 . As shown, the connector  303  can include a chain or other suitable motif to which a first end  301   a  of a flexible member  301  is fixedly connected. As shown, the first end  301   a  is connected to a jump ring  303   a  attached to the connector  303 , however, it is contemplated that the first end  301   a  can be connected directly to the connector  303 . 
     Similar to the above described embodiments, the second end  301   b  of the flexible member  301  is free and not rigidly connected to the connector  303 . However, the flexible member  301  passes through the connector  303  such that there is a first portion  301   c  of the flexible member  301  that is defined before passing through connector  303  and a second portion  301   d  that is defined after passing through the connector  303 . 
     The article of jewelry  300  further includes an adjustment device  305 , an aesthetic portion  311 , and a stop member  302  similar to those as described above with reference to the article of jewelry  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . Also, as shown, an ornamental element  304  can be disposed on the flexible member  301  in any suitable place, the connector  303 , and/or jump ring  303   a.    
     The descriptions above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense. While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the scope of this disclosure and the following claims. Where a claim, if any, is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function, it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures, material-based equivalents and equivalent materials, and act-based equivalents and equivalent acts.