Abstract:
This invention relates to a mechanism for engaging two rings such as to prevent rotation and pivoting while being worn on a finger. The mechanism of this invention also allows the rings to be displayed on a pedestal, such as found in jewelry stores, without the rings losing alignment. The engaging mechanism is presented in the shape of a romantic symbol appropriate to the ring set and also provides a visually appealing effect when one ring is worn alone.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Many women have adopted the custom of wearing engagement and wedding rings as a set. The individual rings are generally matching in design and produce an appealing effect when worn together on the finger. Jewelers often display and sell such sets in a wide variety of styles and gemstone settings.  
         [0002]     A number of practices and devices have commonly been used to keep the rings in contact and the settings in alignment when worn or displayed.  
         [0003]     The remedies have proven disadvantageous in that they detract from the intended look of the set, are difficult to remove, are uncomfortable to wear or may add cost to repairs since both rings must be serviced simultaneously.  
         [0004]     There is still a long felt need for a mechanism that will provide the wearer ease of use, simplicity of design and utility in maintaining the rings in proper orientation during store display and normal wear.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     This invention relates to a ring ensemble in which a first ring with a single axially protruding shaped element on one side inserts into a single matching aperture on a second ring, engaging first and second rings. The shaped engaging mechanism acts to prevent radial spinning and axial twisting while the rings are either worn or displayed. The engaging mechanism can be easily separated at any time without having to remove the ensemble from the finger and provides an appealing effect when the rings are worn separately. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  shows an engagement ring with a shaped aperture ( 1 ).  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a wedding ring with a shaped protruding element ( 2 ).  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  shows how the protruding element ( 2 ) fits into the shaped aperture ( 1 ) when combined as an ensemble. This figure also shows where a force ( 3 ) is applied to the rings in measuring the minimum and maximum required for separation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The invention relates to a mechanism for engaging a ring ensemble in which a first ring has a protruding shaped element ( FIG. 2 , number  2 ) that inserts into a matching aperture ( FIG. 1 , number  1 ) of a second ring. The engagement of the shaped element ( 2 ) into the matching aperture ( 1 ) prevents the rings from spinning radially and twisting axially. The mechanism allows easy insertion and separation while the ensemble is being worn on the finger or displayed, and is visually appealing when the rings are viewed in combination or alone.  
         [0010]     A ring ensemble is any two rings which are meant to be worn together and have been designed to be presented in a fixed orientation. An example of such an ensemble would be an engagement ring/wedding band set. One skilled in the art would recognize that other similar sets could also take advantage of this invention.  
         [0011]     For the purposes of this application, axial twisting is defined as rotation of the rings around the axis of the engaging mechanism. Stated alternatively, axial rotation is rotation out of coincidence. Radial spinning is the rotation of the rings on the finger circumferentially. This is represented by the rotation on the finger such that the settings become misaligned.  
         [0012]     The shaped protruding element ( 2 ) can be of any reasonable length, but must be long enough to be inserted into the receiving aperture on the second ring. The shape must be such that minimal axial movement results while the set is being held by either first or second ring for the purpose of display (such as would not occur if the shape were circular or cylindrical). One example of a shaped protruding element and aperture can be a heart ( 1 ,  2 ).  
         [0013]     A single protruding element ( 2 ) is placed on one side of the first ring and the matching side of the second ring. This application defines the side of the ring in which the element and aperture are located as the surface which is perpendicular to the plane of the finger when worn in the normal manner and 90 degrees from the orientation of the gemstone setting. The sides can alternatively be defined as those that contact each other when the two rings are worn on the same finger. In an embodiment of this invention, a single shaped element is placed on both sides of the first ring such that either side can be aligned with the aperture of the second ring. In yet another embodiment, the second ring can have a single aperture ( 1 ) on either side such as to accept the element from the first ring. A functional difference of the instant invention is an engaging mechanism which utilizes a smoothly curved interface.  
         [0014]     This smoothly curved mechanism is shaped as such in order to facilitate separation of the two rings with a smaller amount of force than would be necessary to damage either of the rings or the engaging mechanism. In one embodiment of this invention the mechanism will release (separate) at less than 100 grams of force, when applied at the setting of the diamond or gemstone at a right angle to the setting and perpendicular to the finger on which it is worn, while the other ring is held steady. In another embodiment of this invention the force required to separate the ring will be less than 50 grams.  
         [0015]     A minimum amount of force is required to separate the rings when being worn together. In one embodiment of this invention the minimum force to separate the rings will be 5 grams. In yet another embodiment the minimum force to separate the rings will be 10 grams. Another embodiment of this invention is that once separated, the rings can easily be reassembled by gently pushing them back together, which can be accomplished without having to remove the rings from the wearer&#39;s finger.  
         [0016]     To facilitate the smooth separation of the two rings and their appropriate protruding element and shaped aperture, on embodiment of this invention is that the protruding element and corresponding aperture will not have any square corners or flat surfaces. This will significantly reduce binding of the mechanism and drastically lower the force required for separation of the two rings while being worn.  
         [0017]     In an example of how the mechanism might be located the shaped element is positioned on a side or sides of the rings and centrally located on the setting.  
       Experimental  
       [0000]     Measurement of Separation Force:  
         [0018]     The force necessary to separate the rings (radial spinning) of this invention can be measured using the following procedure. A disk made out of 3 mm thick aluminum is cut to have a hole slightly larger than the inner size of the ring ensemble being tested and about 5 mm larger than the outer size of the rings. A pin (30 mm long by 3 mm in diameter and threaded at one end to accept a screw) is attached to each disk halfway between the inner and outer edges via a small flathead screw. One disk is attached to the outer side of each ring being tested with a commercially available cyanoacrylate adhesive (superglue) so that the pin is located at the diamond or gemstone setting with the pin facing away from the ring (the side not glued). The two rings are then placed on a wooden dowel of exactly the same diameter as the rings and such that the two rings will engage the decorative shaped element of the first ring with the matching shaped aperture of the second ring and the opposing pins will align with each other on opposite side of the ring ensemble and parallel to the wooden dowel. The pins attached to the disks (now on the outside of the ring ensemble) are attached to the universal grips of a Hounsfield tensometer (available from Tinius Olsen, Inc 1065 Easton Road, PO Box 1009, Horsham, Pa.) and the force (in grams) read off the electronic scale at the instant of separation. The results of testing on various mechanism designs are shown in the table below. On skilled in the art would realize that the absolute numbers obtained by this test are highly dependent on the oils and residue left on the surface of the ring when the above test is run. Therefore to get reproducible results it is imperative to make sure that all surfaces are clean and free of skin oils.  
                                                   TABLE 1                           separation force for ring pairs of various designs                    Force to               Attachment type   separate (g)   Comments                            Post and hole*   &gt;1000   Post fractured           Slot and grove §     &gt;1000   Setting bent           Decorative Shape   35   No damage                         *= illustrative example of U.S. Pat. No. 2,729,955                  § = illustrative example of U.S. Pat. No. 1,982,864