Patent Publication Number: US-7712332-B2

Title: Pendant stabilization device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates to stabilization devices, and more particularly, but not exclusively, relates to pendant stabilization devices that maintain the alignment of a pendant when the element supporting the pendant is moved with respect to the pendant. 
   In certain pendants, it is desirable to maintain the alignment of a pendant when the component supporting the pendant is moved with respect to the pendant. While various pendant stabilization devices have been developed, in certain applications there is still room for improvement. Thus, a need persists for further contributions in this area of technology. 
   SUMMARY 
   One embodiment of the present invention includes a unique pendant stabilization device. The pendant stabilization device comprises a pendant, a supporting component, and a bearing. The bearing rotatably engages the pendant body. The supporting component engages a portion of the bearing and causes the bearing to rotate with respect to the pendant body when the supporting component is moved with respect to the pendant body and bearing. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods to stabilize the orientation of a pendant. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of the pendant stabilization device according to one embodiment of the current invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front cross-sectional view of the pendant stabilization device of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the pendant stabilization device of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the pendant stabilization device according to another embodiment of the current invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a front cross-sectional view of the pendant stabilization device of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the pendant stabilization device according to another embodiment of the current invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the pendant stabilization device of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the pendant stabilization device according to another embodiment of the current invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a side cross-sectional view of the pendant stabilization device as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view of the pendant stabilization device according to another embodiment of the current invention. 
       FIG. 10A&amp;B  are top views of pendant stabilization device of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 11  is a front view of the pendant stabilization device according to another embodiment of the current invention. 
       FIG. 12A&amp;B  are side views of the pendant stabilization device according to another embodiment of the current invention. 
       FIG. 13A-E  are front perspective views of the pendant stabilization device according to another embodiment of the current invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a side cross-sectional view of the pendant stabilization device according to another embodiment of the current invention 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS 
   While the present invention can take many different forms, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the described embodiments and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
   Referring now to the figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates a pendant stabilization device  10  according to one embodiment of the current invention. The pendant stabilization device  10  comprises a pendant  12  with a pendant body  14 , a bearing  16 , and a supporting component  18  that supports the pendant  12 . The pendant  12  may be solid and composed of metal. In other embodiments, the pendant body  14  may be hollow, have passages therethrough, have openings and/or channels therein, and may be a stone, a crystal, a jewel, plastic, metal, glass, an image, a time piece, a vial containing liquids, powders, gems, stones, or other such materials or items. 
   The bearing  16  may rotatably engage the pendant body  14  and may be positioned within the pendant body  14 . In other embodiments, the bearing  16  may be rotatably coupled to the outside of the pendant body  14 ; fixedly coupled to the outside of the pendant body  14 ; fixedly coupled within the pendant body  14 ; or be part of the pendant body  14 . The bearing  16  may be a concavely shaped pulley. In other embodiments, the bearing  16  may include ball bearings, be a ball bearing kit, be a flat pulley, or other rotatable bearings. 
   The supporting component  18  may engage a portion of the bearing  16  and cause the bearing  16  to rotate with respect to the pendant body  14  when the supporting component  18  is moved with respect to the pendant body  14  and bearing  16 . In one embodiment, the supporting component  18  frictionally engages a portion of the bearing  16 . In another embodiment, the bearing  16  may remain stationary and the supporting component  18  may slide along the surface of the bearing  16 . In yet another embodiment, the bearing  16  may have protrusions (not shown) that engage the supporting component  18 . The supporting component  18  may be made of plastic, metal, or thread and may be a chain, a cord, at least one strand, a rope, a ribbon, a tie, or other similar components for supporting. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  show the pendant stabilization device  10  including a weight  22  to facilitate the retention and return of the pendant  12  to a desired position. The weight  22  may be coupled with any surface of the bearing  16  and/or pendant body  14  in order to facilitate the desired positioning of the pendant  12 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrates a pendant stabilization device  110  according to another embodiment of the current invention. The pendant stabilization device  110  comprises a pendant  112  with a pendant body  114 , a bearing  116 , a supporting component  18  that supports the pendant  112 , and a decorative element  120 . The pendant body  114  may include a passage  124  therein or therethrough to retain the decorative element  120  and/or the bearing  114  therein. In one embodiment, the pendant body  114  includes a passage  124  therethrough that receives the decorative element  120  and a retaining element  126  that couples with the decorative element  120  to retain the decorative element  120  within the passage  124 . In another embodiment, the pendant body  114  includes a passage  124  therein that receives the decorative element  120  and a retaining element  126  that couples with the decorative element  120  to retain the decorative element  120  within the passage  124 . In still another embodiment, the bearing  116  receives the decorative element  120  and rotatably engages a passage  124  within the pendant body  114 . In yet another embodiment, the bearing  116  receives the decorative element  120  and rotatably engages a passage  124  through the pendant body  114 . 
   The decorative element  120  may be a time piece. In other embodiments, the decorative element  120  may be a stone, a crystal, a jewel, plastic, metal, glass, a picture or image, time pieces, a vial containing liquids, powders, gems, stones, embellishments on the surface of the pendant  112  and/or bearing  116  such as etchings, cloisonné, engraving, and filigree, or other such embellishments or ornamentation. See  FIGS. 13A-D . The decorative element  120  may have a weight  122  coupled therewith. In one embodiment, the decorative element  120  may be or may act as the weight  122 . In other embodiments, the decorative element  120  may not have the weight  122  coupled therewith. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a pendant stabilization device  210  according to yet another embodiment of the current invention. The pendant stabilization device  210  may include a pendant  212  having a pendant body  214 , a supporting component  18  that supports the pendant  212 , and a bearing  214  with a passage  222  in which the pendant  212  is positioned. In other embodiments, the pendant stabilization device  210  may also include a decorative element (not shown). The bearing  214  may have a passage  222  therein that receives the pendant  212  and a retaining element  224  that retains the pendant  212  therewithin. In another embodiment, the bearing  214  has a passage  222  therethrough that receives the pendant  212  and a retaining element  224  that retains the pendant  212  therewithin. The pendant  212 , shown here as a solid stone, may be in the form of various embellishments varying in size and material. The bearing  214  may have uniform side surfaces. In other embodiments, the bearing  214  may have non-uniform side surfaces. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate the pendant stabilization device  310  according to still another embodiment of the current invention. The pendant stabilization device  310  may include a pendant  312 , a supporting component  18 , and a bearing  316  in which an outer band  320  wraps around the edges  322  of the bearing  316  to create a non-uniform surface. In other embodiments, the pendant stabilization device  310  may also include a decorative element  120 . The degree of deviation between the non-uniform surfaces may range from negligible to a very distinct or decorative feature. In one embodiment, the outer band  320  is one of a pointed and rounded shape as depicted in  FIGS. 12A&amp;B . The supporting component  18  may rest mainly within a concave surface  326  of the bearing  316  and may be contained within a cavity  328  between the outer band  320  and the bearing  316 . The pendant  312  and/or the bearing  316  may rotate freely from the outer band  320  as depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
     FIG. 10  illustrates a pendant stabilization device  410  according to still another embodiment of the current invention. The pendant stabilization device  410  may include a pendant  412 , a supporting component  18 , and a bearing  416  which is encircled by an outer band  420 . In other embodiments, the pendant stabilization device  410  may also include a decorative element (not shown). The bearing  416  and outer band  420  may not be permanently coupled in a fixed point of reference. The outer band  420  may be shaped and sized to remain at the outer edges  422  of the bearing sides  424 . In one embodiment, the outer band  420  is one of a pointed and rounded shape as depicted in  FIGS. 12A&amp;B . The supporting component  18  may rest primarily on the internal surfaces  426  of the bearing  416  and may be contained within a cavity  428  between the outer band  420  and the bearing  416 . The pendant  412  and/or the bearing  416  may rotate freely from the outer band  420  as depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
     FIGS. 10A&amp;B  depict alternatives for the supporting component  18  to be drawn through the outer band  320 ,  420 . In one embodiment, the supporting component  18  may be drawn through a single opening  530  in the outer band  320 ,  420 . In another embodiment, the supporting component  18  may be drawn through openings  530   a,    530   b  in the outer band  320 ,  420 . 
     FIG. 14  illustrates a pendant stabilization device  610  according to still another embodiment of the current invention. The pendant stabilization device  610  may include a pendant  612  with a pendant body  614 , a bearing  616  having an outer bearing  618  and an inner bearing  619 , and a supporting component  18  for supporting the pendant  612  and bearing  616 . In other embodiments, the pendant stabilization device  610  may include a decorative element (not shown); may include a weight  624 ; may include multiple inner bearings (not shown); may include only an outer bearing  618 , an inner bearing  619 , and a supporting component  18  for supporting the bearings  618 ,  619 ; or may include a decorative element (not shown) in place of the pendant  612 . 
   The outer bearing  618  may include a passage  620  therethrough that receives the inner bearing  619  containing the pendant  612 . In one embodiment, the inner bearing  619  is received and retained within the passage  620  of the outer bearing  618  and includes a passage  622  therethrough that receives the pendant  612 . In another embodiment, the pendant  612  is received and retained within the passage  620  of the outer bearing  618  and includes a passage therethrough (not shown) that receives the inner bearing  619 . In yet another embodiment, the pendant  612  is received and retained within the passage  620  of the outer bearing  618  and includes a passage therein (not shown) that receives the inner bearing  619 . Upon movement of the supporting component  18  with respect to the outer bearing  618 , the inner bearing  619 , the pendant  612 , and/or the decorative element (not shown), the outer bearing  618  rotates opposite the inner bearing  619 . 
   Any theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding stated herein is meant to further enhance understanding of the present invention and is not intended to make the present invention in any way dependent upon such theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding. It should be understood that while the use of the word preferable, preferably or preferred in the description above indicates that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, that scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. Further, when the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item may include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the selected embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes, modifications and equivalents that come within the spirit of the invention as defined herein or by any of the following claims are desired to be protected.