Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an item of jewelry comprised of a ring with shank, where the shank defines a disk opening. A message disk is mounted within the disk opening. The message disk is rotatable, transversely to the shank within the disk opening, so as to display an inscription thereon.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application relates to and claims priority from, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. xx/xxx,xxx filed on May 24, 2003. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to jewelry. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improvement to jewelry allowing for the addition of a movable and rotatable message disk.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Various types of jewelry have been used throughout the ages for decorative and celebratory purposes by people throughout the world. All forms of metal, jewels, stones and other valuables have been used to adorn jewelry, adding aesthetic qualities, color and value.  
         [0004]     More recently, many forms of jewelry have employed moving parts in order to enhance their value and functionality. The most common use of movable parts typically involves elements of the clasp that connect the ends of the jewelry to one another. Other moving jewelry parts include moveable bands, jewel settings and chain arrangements that allow for flexibility and varied designs.  
         [0005]     Another typical feature currently available in the field of jewelry is engraved or printed messages included on the surface of the jewelry. For example, identification engravings and personal messages are typically engraved into wedding bands and bracelets for any number of personal reasons. In addition to, personal messages, engraved or printed messages can include generic statements such as, “friendship, “love,” and “forever,” decorative designs, and other such inscriptions that may be mass produced for a larger range of consumers.  
         [0006]     However, there exists a need to producer high quality jewelry that incorporates the advantages of message inscriptions with moveable parts so as to allow a wearer to alter the displayed message as desired.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The present invention looks to introduce an new and novel invention into the field of jewelry that provides a rotatable message disk into or near the jewelry setting, capable of displaying a number of different messages.  
         [0008]     To this end, the present invention provides for an item of jewelry, comprised of a ring with shank, the shank defining a disk opening. A message disk, is mounted within the disk opening, such that the message disk is rotatable, transversely to the shank, within the disk opening, so as to display an inscription thereon.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  is side view of a ring with a message disk therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 1B  is side view of a ring of  FIG. 1A  without the message disk, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the ring from  FIG. 1A , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of a message disk, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of a message disk, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3C  is a top view of the message disks of either  FIGS. 3A  or  3 B, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a side view of a ring with a message disk therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4B  is an expanded view of a disassembled ring and message disk from  FIG. 4 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5 , is a side view of a ring with a message disk thereon, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a pendant with a message disk therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the pendant from  FIG. 6 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the pendant from  FIG. 6 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 9A  is top view of a bangle with a message disk therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9B  is a side view of the bangle from  FIG. 9A , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10A  is top view of a bracelet portion with a message disk therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 10B  is a side view of the bracelet portion from  FIG. 10A , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 11A  is a front view of a clasp with a message disk therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11B  is a side view of the clasp from  FIG. 11A , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 12A  is a front view of a bail with a message disk therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 12B  is a side view of the bail from  FIG. 12A , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1A , a ring  10 , having a series of prongs  12 , with a stone  14  set within. As illustrated more clearly in  FIG. 1B , the shank  16  of ring  10  is slightly raised near prongs  12  so as to provide a disk opening  18 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , a message disk  20  is inserted into disk opening  18 , and is secured in place by a fixing device  22  such as a sprow, solid pin or screw. It is understood that ring  10  may be constructed from any typical ring, requiring a shank  16  only, however, ring  10 , having both a shank  16  and prongs  12 , will be used throughout for illustrating the salient features of the present invention.  
         [0031]     Message disk  20  may be constructed of metal, such as gold, silver or platinum, and preferably of the same material used for ring  10 , however the invention is not limited in this respect. Any substance a designer may use, to create a similar message disk  20  is within the contemplation of the present invention.  
         [0032]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3C , message disk  20  is typically constructed in a cylindrical fashion such that the profile of the cylinder is substantially in proportion to the size of ring  10 , or stone  14 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , message disk  20  is approximately the same width as stone  14 , and, from the top ( FIG. 2 ), is not visible beyond the circumference of stone  14 .  
         [0033]     As detailed in  FIG. 3C , from the top, message disk  20  is preferably constructed in a cylindrical fashion with an opening  24  located in the center used for accepting fixing device  22 , for mounting within disk opening  18 . A message surface  26  is provided around the outer circumference of disk  20  for displaying text or other decorative elements. However, it is understood that any similar constructed message disk  20 , capable of rotation and attachment within disk opening  18  is also within the contemplation of the present invention. For example, message disk  20  may maintain an octagonal message surface  26  so that it may maintain a flush profile with the sides of shank  16  of in ring  10  in its various display positions. As such, any shape message surface  26  for message disk  20  may be used provided it may properly rotate within disk opening  18 .  
         [0034]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , message surface  26  of message disk is typically marked or engraved with words, such as “love,” “friend,” “together;” and so on. In addition to such generic messages, message disk  20  may be engraved or marked with personalized messages regarding anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and other special events. Alternatively, message surface  26  of message disk  20  may be engraved or marked with illustrations such as those displayed in  FIG. 3B . Illustrations, may be of any typical engravings used on jewelry such as Celtic bands, religious insignias, or simply generic drawings. Likewise, the illustrations may be personalized engravings or markings chosen by the wearer. Preferably engravings are placed on message surface  26 , via a laser engraving, however any known method of engraving, such as hand engraving, stamped writing or roller engraving may be used.  
         [0035]     Once message surface  26  of message disk  20  is posited with the appropriate inscription, it is placed within disk opening  18  of shank  16 . Once in place, fixing device  22  is inserted upwardly, into the inside of shank  16  and up through disk opening  18 , through opening  24  of message disk  20 , then all the way through back to shank  16  again holding message disk  20  in place. In this position, message disk  20  is held in place from falling out of disk opening  18 , and is simultaneously allowed to rotate, transversely to shank  16 , about the center axis (opening  24 ), around fixing device  22  so that the desired messages displayed on message surface  26  may be displayed to the wearer, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A .  
         [0036]     It is understood that message disk  20  may be able to freely rotate about fixing device  22  or, alternatively, it can be set for a ratcheting motion so that desired message is biased to stay visible, directed to the sides of shank  16 , until the wearer actively rotates message disk  20  to a different desired message.  
         [0037]     Furthermore, it is noted that fixing device  22 , may be used for either permanent or temporary attachment of message disk  20  into disk opening  18  of shank  16 . For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, ring  10  may be purchased having a single message disk therein, permanently attached to shank  16  by fixing device  22 . Alternatively, in another embodiment, ring  10  may be sold with a plurality of message disks  20 , each maintaining different inscriptions, such that user can remove one message disk  20  by removing fixing device  22  and replacing message disks  20  as desired, replacing fixing device  22  for securing new message disk  20 . In yet another alternative arrangement, multiple message disks  20 , may be utilized on top of one another within a single disk opening  18 . In such an arrangement, multiple message disks may be either independent of one another or may be utilized so as display complimentary words, phrases or designs.  
         [0038]     Turning to  FIG. 4A , in another embodiment of the present invention a ring  110  is provided having prongs  112  and a shank  116 . As illustrated, a message disk  120 , such as those in  FIGS. 3A-3C , are attached directly to the top of shank  116  below the center of prongs  112 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , prongs  116 , forming setting  115 , act as the upper mount for message disk  120 . In such an arrangement, a fixing device  122 , such as screw, sprow or solid pin, is inserted entirely through shank  116 , into an opening  124  of message disk  120 , and through to the under side of setting  115 . This configuration holds message disk  120  between the top of shank  116  and the bottom of setting  115 , allowing it to rotate to display the desired message. In an alternative arrangement, as illustrate in  FIG. 5 , a ring  110  is displayed having only a message disk  120 , disposed on shank  116  for transverse rotation, held in place by fixing device  122 .  
         [0039]     In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a pendant  210  is provided, having prongs  212 , an upper circumferential support ring  213  and a lower circumferential support ring  215 . Between upper and lower support rings  213  and  215  is a disk opening  218  for maintaining a rotating message disk  220 , such as those described above with respect to the previous embodiments.  
         [0040]     As illustrated in FIGS.  7  (top) and  8  (bottom), disposed opposite of the pendant bail  230 , is a fixing device  218 , such as a screw, sprow or solid pin. Fixing device  218  is moved upwardly from bottom support ring  215  through an opening  224  of message disk  220  an into upper supporting ring  215 . In this arrangement, message disk  220  is able to move about its center opening  224  displaying the desired messages thereon in a in a visible position, opposite bail  230 .  
         [0041]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , in another embodiment, a bangle  310  is provided, having settings  315 . In or around settings  315  is a disk opening  318 . Within disk opening  318  is a message disk  320 , such as those described above with respect to the previous embodiments. In such an arrangement, message disk  320  can be placed in or around the stone setting  315  or, alternatively they can be placed directly into the metal itself, anywhere along bangle  310 .  
         [0042]     In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a bracelet  410  is provided, having a series of settings  415 , along its length. A message disk  420  is proved in one or more of the setting  415  so as to provide for a series of message along the length of the bracelet.  
         [0043]     Turning to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , a clasp  510  is provided having a message disk  520  therein, similar to the messages disks described above in  FIGS. 3A-3C . It is noted that although  FIGS. 11A and 11B , show a lobster claw clasp, it is understood that the use of a similar message disk  520  with any form of clasp, such as spring ring, screw or box catch clasps, are all within the contemplation of the present invention.  
         [0044]     In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 12A and 12B  a bail  610  is provided having a message disk  620  therein, similar to the messages disks described above in  FIGS. 3A-3C . Message disk  620  is held in place by fixing device  622 , allowing message disk  620  to rotate freely.  
         [0045]     It is understood that message disks  20 , described throughout the application and shown in use with rings, bracelets, bails, clasps and bangles, however, this is in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any similar application, containing a similar message disk, having a text or pictographic image thereon, in use with any typw of jewelry, is within the contemplation of the present invention.  
         [0046]     While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.