Patent Abstract:
A mechanism for manually rotating decorative items, such as a gemstone, on an item of jewelry. The mechanism includes a circular ring gear that engages gears formed on a manually rotated crown member and on the mounting securing for the decorative items.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a simplified mechanism for rotating a mounting having one, or multiple, decorative items, including a gemstone, secured therein. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,536,874 to Ray et al discloses a jewelry item with a substantially hollow housing having a bezel and gemstone rotatably mounted on the upper end thereof. Received within the housing is a motor that operates a plurality of interrelated, contiguous gears to rotate the bezel. The gear ratios are such that the bezel will rotate at a predetermined, selected speed to achieve a desired aesthetic affect. A switch having a battery mounted thereon is hingedly attached to a side edge of the housing for activating the motor. 
     Although the Ray et al provides a device for rotating a gemstone in order to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect, the device is complex and requires a significant number of components, including three gears and a motor. 
     What is desired is to provide a jewelry item having at least one decorative item, including a gemstone, secured in a mounting that has a relative simple mechanism for manually rotating the mounting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a jewelry item having a gemstone that is manually rotatable to provide a discrete aesthetic appearance. 
     The device for rotating the decorative item comprises a hollow, cylindrical frame member having an exterior surface, a circular, multi-tooth gear ring mounted to the exterior surface of the frame member, a stem, or crown, having a gear mounted on its shaft which is positioned to engage the teeth on the circular gear, a rotatable mount having a shaft extending there through, one end of the shaft supporting the mount, the other shaft end coupled to a drive gear which, in turn, is positioned to engage the teeth on the circular gear. 
     The decorative item is rotated by the user turning the crown, in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the gear mounted thereto rotating in a manner such that the gear teeth thereon engage the gear teeth on the circular gear causing the circular gear to rotate. Since the teeth on the circular gear already in engagement with the teeth on the bezel gear, the mount is used to rotate which, in turn, enabling the decorative items coupled to the mount also to rotate. 
     The present invention thus provides a relatively simple and inexpensive mechanism for rotating decorative items positioned on a jewelry item. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing therein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the ring rotating mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the ring rotating mechanism of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , jewelry item  10 , such as a ring, comprises a multi-toothed gear  12 , circular multi-toothed gear  14  and multi-toothed gear  16  and crown, or stem  18 . Crown  18  is arranged so that it is rotatable about pin  20  having recesses  43 . The teeth of gear  12  engages the teeth of gear  14  which in turn is positioned to engage the teeth of gear  16 . Gear  16  is rotatably mounted onto shaft  22 , a setting  24  having multiple prongs  26  formed thereon. A gemstone  28  is secured to jewelry item  10  by prongs  26  in a manner well known in the jewelry industry. A ring member  30  is secured to the internal surface  32  of gear  14  which enables the ring wearer to insert a finger there through. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a plurality of protrusions  34  extend from the bottom surface of plate  36  and are adapted to engage corresponding recesses  40  formed on the upper surface of gear  16 . Protrusions  34  and recesses  40  have male and female teeth which, when engaged, lock together. Bezel gear  16  extends through the gemstone head holder, the external surface of band  30  supporting a circular wire  9  that extends along circumference of band  30  and is soldered thereto. Band  30  engages circular multi-toothed gear  14 , inner surface  32  having a female groove for receiving wire  9 , wire  9  extending through gear  14  thus locking gear  14  to internal surface of band  30 . Note that the wire  9  shown to the right of ring member  30  is not to scale but, in actuality, is sized to extend complete around the external surface of ring member  30 . 
     The internal surface of band  30  has two holes  41  and  42  for receiving pin  13  therethrough. 
     As illustrated, a single gear  16  is disposed at the top of ring member  30  and single gear  12  is disposed at the bottom of ring member  30 . 
     Crown  18  (top view shown below shaft  20 , a bottom view of crown  18  is shown by reference numeral  18 ′ engages shaft  20  and pin  13  passes through each; crown  18 , shaft  20  and pin  13  engage the internal surface of ring  30  and are soldered thereto. 
     Bezel  11  is positioned within opening  46  of crown  18  and is soldered to shaft  20  and crown  18  to keep the assembly together. 
     In order to enhance the aesthetic effect resulting from the reflection and sparkling of a stationary gemstone, the ring wearer has the option of rotating crown  18 . Specifically, when the ring wearer elects to rotate crown  18 , gear  14  is, as a result, rotated. The rotation of gear  16  then rotates shaft  22  which causes gemstone  28  to be rotated, providing the effect noted hereinabove. Thus, rotation of crown  18  causes the essentially simultaneous rotation of gear  14 , gear  16 , shaft  22  and gemstone  28 . 
     Although not shown, the mounting plate  36  can be designed such that additional settings for receiving additional gemstones are formed thereon. In addition, at least one guard member (not shown) can be positioned to surround gear  14  to enhance the appearance of ring  10 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0