Patent Publication Number: US-2013247612-A1

Title: Ring resizing insert

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to jewelry and more specifically relates to a ring resizing insert for inserting into and resizing a ring. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many people enjoy wearing jewelry, particularly rings. For many people they can have a particular emotional attachment to the rings they own, for example engagement or wedding rings can have significant importance to individuals. 
     As a person ages or suffers injuries to their fingers or otherwise experience changes to their bodies, the diameter of their knuckle can become larger than the diameter of the rest of their finger, which can cause a problem when placing a ring on the person&#39;s finger. The problem is that the finger hole through the ring must be large enough to allow the knuckle to pass through it, but if the diameter of the person&#39;s finger is smaller than the knuckle, the ring may not comfortably fit on the persons finger. For example, the ring may spin freely or the ring may slide up and down the persons finger. In some instances, the ring may be sized improperly and may accidently fall of a person&#39;s finger as they perform normal day-to-day activities, such as washing their hands, which can result in the loss of the ring or other inconvenience. 
     On occasion, jewelers have added one or two beads on the inner surface of the ring that can allow the ring to squeeze past the ring wearer&#39;s knuckle and press inwardly on the persons finger to hold the ring in place. These beads can be uncomfortable for the ring wearer as they can press in on a person&#39;s finger in one or two small points. 
     Additionally, jewelers have added a thin piece of wire running from one point on the inner surface of the ring to a second point on the inner surface of the ring, making the finger hold slightly smaller. This can additionally be uncomfortable for the ring wearer as the wire can feel like it is cutting into the wearer&#39;s finger. Additionally, the wire can break and it may be possible for the wire to break as the knuckle presses against it as the ring wearer is placing the ring on their finger, resulting in the ring wearer having to replace the wire. 
     There is a need for a ring resizing insert that is capable of overcoming the problems described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the invention, there is a ring resizing insert comprising a length of insert material configured in a ring shape with an outer end overlapping an inner end and having a contoured outer surface to engage an inner surface of a ring, the ring resizing insert capable of engaging a finger when inserted therethrough and capable of expanding outwardly to allow a knuckle to pass therethrough. 
     In some embodiments, the ring resizing insert can be capable of expanding outwardly when the ring resizing insert is engaged with the inner surface of the ring. 
     In some embodiments, the outer end can be biased outwardly to frictionally engage the inner surface of the ring when the ring resizing insert is engaged with the inner surface of the ring, and in some embodiments the contoured outer surface can be curved shaped. 
     In some embodiments, the ring resizing insert can further comprise a curved contoured inner surface. 
     In some embodiments, the insert material can be metallic and in other embodiments such material can be gold, platinum, silver, stainless steel or an alloy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of embodiments of the system and methods described herein, and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will be made by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a ring resizing insert; 
         FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of the ring resizing insert shown in  FIG. 1  when inserted into an engaged with the inner surface of a ring; and 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross section of the ring resizing insert when engaged with the inner surface of a ring along the line  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way, but rather as merely describing the implementation of the various embodiments described herein. For ease of reference, certain reference numerals are reused when referring to similar elements even among different embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , ring resizing insert  10  is shown. Ring resizing insert  10  is configured in a ring shape and has outer end  14  which overlaps with inner end  12 . 
     Ring resizing insert  10  is comprised of an insert material, which can be a thickness such that ring resizing insert  10  is flexible and outer end  14  and/or inner end  12  is capable of being bent slightly when pressed, for example, by a finger and then capable of tending to return to its original position (that is, ring resizing insert  10  tending to return to its original shape). In some embodiments, the insert material can be gold, platinum, silver, stainless steel, an alloy or another appropriate material. 
     Ring resizing insert  10  has inner surface  18  and outer surface  16 , with outer surface  16  being contoured so as to engage with a portion of an inner surface of a ring when ring sizing insert  10  is inserted into the ring. In the embodiment shown, inner surface  18  is additionally contoured, having a curved contour, which can tend to provide a more comfortable fit when ring resizing insert  10  is placed on a ring wearer&#39;s finger. 
     In the embodiment shown, outer end  14  is biased outwardly, which can tend to provide a frictional engagement when ring resizing insert  10  is inserted and engaged with a ring, with outer end  14  frictionally engaging the inner surface of the ring. Such frictional engagement can tend to assist in preventing ring resizing insert  10  from slipping out of the ring or spinning inside the ring when worn by a ring wearer. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , ring  20  is shown having ring resizing insert  10  inserted and engaged therein wherein ring resizing insert  10  is engaged with a portion of inner surface of ring  20 . In the embodiment shown, ring  20  is a jeweled ring, such as a diamond ring; however, skilled persons will appreciate that ring  20  can be any type of ring for placement on any finger of a ring wearer. 
     Ring resizing insert  10  can tend to be helpful when ring  20  has a finger hole that is larger than the diameter of a ring wearer&#39;s finger. In such situations, ring  20  may not fit comfortably on the ring wearer&#39;s finger, for example, ring  20  may spin when worn on the ring wearer&#39;s finger, may fall off the ring wearer&#39;s finger, or may slide up and down the ring wearer&#39;s finger between a ring wearer&#39;s knuckle and the joint connecting a ring wearer&#39;s finger to their hand. 
     In some uses, ring resizing insert  10  is engaged with the inner surface of ring  20  and a ring wearer places ring  20  with ring resizing insert  10  onto their finger by placing their finger through the finger hole in ring  20  containing ring resizing insert  10 . As a ring wearer&#39;s knuckle passes through the finger hole, the ring wearer&#39;s knuckle (which tends to have a larger diameter than the rest of ring wearer&#39;s finger) presses on ring resizing insert  10 , causing ring resizing insert  10  to expand outwardly to allow the knuckle to pass through the finger hole. Once the knuckle passes through the finger hole containing ring resizing insert  10 , ring resizing insert  10  tends to return to its original position engaged with the inner surface of ring  20 , and inner surface  18  of ring resizing insert  10  can now engage the ring wearer&#39;s finger to allow for a snugger fit of ring  20  for the ring wearer. 
     In other uses, the ring wearer may first place ring resizing insert  10  on their finger, passing their finger through the finger hole through ring resizing insert  10 . As a ring wearer&#39;s knuckle (which leads to have a larger diameter than the rest of the ring wearer&#39;s finger) passes through the finger hole through ring resizing insert  10 , the knuckle presses on ring resizing insert  10 , causing ring resizing insert  10  to expand outwardly to allow the knuckle to pass through the finger hole. Once the knuckle passes through the finger hole, ring resizing insert  10  tends to return to its original position. In such embodiments, a ring wearer can then place ring  20  on their finger by inserting their finger through the finger hole of ring  20  and once ring  20  is on the ringer wearer&#39;s finger, the ring wearer can engage ring resizing insert  10  with the inner surface of ring  20 , a portion of inner surface  16  of ring resizing insert  10  to engaging with the inner surface of ring  20 . Skilled persons will understand that in other embodiments a ring wearer can first place ring  20  on their finger, followed by placing ring resizing insert  10  being placed on their finger then engaging ring resizing insert  10  with the inner surface of ring  20 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a cross section of ring resizing insert  10  when inserted in ring  20  is shown, the cross section being along the line  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment shown, contact points  30  of ring resizing insert  10  engage with the inner surface of ring  20 . In some embodiments, ring resizing insert  10  may be flexible such that when ring resizing insert  10  is engaged with ring  20  and inner surface  18  is pressed on, for example by the knuckle of a ring wearer&#39;s finger, contact points  30  may slide along the inner surface of ring  20 , causing the hole through ring resizing insert  10  to increase in size to allow the knuckle to pass therethrough. 
     In such embodiments when a ring wearer inserts their finger through the finger hole in ring resizing insert  10  where ring resizing insert is engaged with the inner surface ring  20 , as the ring wearer&#39;s knuckle passes through the finger hole the knuckle can press on inner ring resizing insert  10 . In such embodiments contact points  30  can slide along the inner surface of ring  20  and can cause the curvature of inner surface  18  to reduce, which can increase the size of the finger hole through ring resizing insert  10  and allow the knuckle to pass therethrough. 
     Once the ring wearer&#39;s knuckle has passed through the hole in ring resizing insert  10 , ring resizing insert  10  can tend to return to its original position and finger hole size and can engage with the inner surface of ring  20  and with the ring wearer&#39;s finger to allow for a comfortable fit of ring  20  for the ring wearer. Skilled persons will appreciate that in other embodiments outer surface  16  may lie flush against the inner of ring  20  (which ring resizing insert  10  is engaged to the inner surface of ring  20 ) and in such embodiments, contact points  30  may tend to remain in their original positions even when a ring wearer&#39;s knuckle presses on inner surface  18  of ring resizing insert  10 . 
     The present invention has been described with regard to specific embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variants and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.