Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/459,572, filed Jul. 2, 2009, entitled “Jewelry Kit, Articles of Jewelry, and Associated Devices and Methods Thereof, and also claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/078,089 to Broder et al., filed Jul. 3, 2008, and entitled “JEWELRY KIT, ARTICLES OF JEWELRY, AND ASSOCIATES DEVICES AND METHODS THEREOF”. Each of the foregoing previous applications, in their entirety, are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward jewelry, and more particularly, some embodiments of the disclosure are directed to jewelry kits having a plurality of jewelry articles capable of being worn separately, or two or more assembled together to form a combined jewelry article. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Articles of jewelry are generally separately worn (earrings, necklace, bracelet, and the like). While some jewelry “sets” are sold, which assemble different jewelry pieces to be worn on different parts of the body (earrings, necklace, bracelet, and the like), with a similar design so that they form a matching set, such sets have not included jewelry pieces/articles which can be combined to form one or more combination jewelry articles which present a unique and different look than the separate items. 
       SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the invention are directed toward jewelry, devices and methods for combining articles of jewelry and jewelry kits. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, a jewelry kit is provided which may include one or more of the following: interchangeable pendants, pins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, one or more (or all) components of are convertible/changeable and may be worn in a different form. For example, in some embodiments, a three-piece pendant/pin may be worn as is, or as a pair of earrings, as a pin and or as a pendant—in such embodiments, the three-piece pendant/pin can be disassembled and each piece may be worn by an individual at the same time (i.e., one can wear one or a plurality of the components as separate jewelry pieces). 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, a necklace is presented which can be shortened or lengthened to accommodate an individuals particular taste or body part size. For example, one necklace can be provided that may also be shortened (and thereafter, lengthened) so that not only can it be worn as a necklace, but may also be worn as a choker, a bracelet, an anklet and an earring(s). Such embodiments may be accomplished via a link whose functionality allows it to be opened and thereafter permits the necklace to be lengthened or shortened. 
         [0008]    The embodiments of the present invention can be made of any material, particularly those suited for jewelry including any base metal, precious metal (e.g., stainless steel, silver, gold, platinum, and the like), or synthetic polymer materials (e.g., plastics), or ceramics. In some embodiments, a base material is used which is plated with vermeil or rhodium (and the like). 
         [0009]    Some embodiments include a method for assembling jewelry, where the method includes providing a plurality of individual jewelry articles, where each article can be worn as a separate individual piece, and combining two or more of the articles together to form a combination jewelry article. 
         [0010]    Some embodiments include a jewelry article which may include two or more interchangeable jewelry articles, each capable of being worn separately, wherein two or more of the articles are capable of being assembled together to form a combined jewelry article. 
         [0011]    Some embodiments include a jewelry article which may include one or more of: two or more interchangeable jewelry articles, each capable of being worn separately, where two or more of the articles are capable of being assembled together to form a combined jewelry article, and a movable pin including at least one attachment element (e.g., hook, eye, and the like) to affix a chain thereto, where the pin affixes the entire assembly to a user. The pin includes at least two different position: a first position which allows the pin to operate as a pin to affix the jewelry article to the user&#39;s clothing and a second position to allow the at least one attachment elements to receive a chain for enabling the jewelry article to be used as a necklace. 
         [0012]    The jewelry articles according to embodiments of the present invention may also be adorned with precious stones, semi precious stones and synthetic stones. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments of the present invention, a package is provided which permits each jewelry component of a kit (see above, for example) to be housed in its own space within the overall package. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, below is a brief description of figures which illustrate several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the figures illustrate examples of various embodiments, and other embodiments and features may be concluded from such illustrations. To that end, any measurement, arrangement, material, or title description provided with reference to any figure is for illustration and example purposes only and is not meant in any way to limit any of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0015]    For priority purposes under 35 USC §119 and §120, as well as later claiming of one or more embodiments of prior parent application disclosed therein in this and/or a subsequent patent application, each and every figure of original  FIGS. 1-26  of parent U.S. application Ser. No. 12/459,572, filed Jul. 2, 2009, is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety, including the corresponding text in the original filed written description (pages 1-12). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1A-E  illustrate an exemplary multi-component jewelry device/system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2A-2I  illustrate exemplary connection features/functionality for jewelry articles according to some embodiments of the disclosure, where such features may accomplish interconnection/assembly of at least some jewelry components into, for example, a multi-component jewelry device/system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]      FIGS. 1A-E  represent embodiments of a jewelry set, displaying different combinations of pieces. As shown, and according to some embodiments, one or more earrings  10  are provided, having a clip  20  (or other known ear fastening devices, and/or other fastening devices which may double as both an ear affixing device and a device to attach the earring to another article of jewelry). A broach  30 , shown for example as a center piece, is also provided to which each earring may be attached. The assembly piece,  40 , is shown in  FIGS. 1C and 1E . To that end,  FIGS. 1D and 1E  illustrate additional embodiments which utilize a chain  50  and chain affixing portions (e.g., hooks, loops, and the like) which allow the assembly to be used as a necklace.  FIGS. 1A-1C  are shown as a pin/pendant assembly. 
         [0019]    According, and for example, a pin or brooch can be worn with a necklace, or the like, as a pendant. The pendant assembly may further include one or more earrings. One combination to be worn is a pair of earrings assembled with a pin or brooch as a pin or brooch with side clips. Alternatively, a pin or brooch may be worn alone. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 2A-2I  represent exemplary connection features/functionality for jewelry articles according to some embodiments of the disclosure, where such features may accomplish interconnection/assembly of at least some jewelry components into, for example, a multi-component jewelry device/system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0021]    For example, and as illustrated, according to some embodiments, the center broach/pin piece (for example) may include a user affixing device  55 , which may be used to accomplish at least one of mounting the assembly (which may be one or more individual jewelry articles—e.g., earrings and broach) to a person&#39;s clothing and mounting the assembly to a chain so that the assembly may be worn as a necklace. Accordingly, the user affixing device  55  can include a mounting pin  60  and may also include one or more eyes  80 . The user affixing element (or could also be referred to generally as a “pin”) may be pivotable to allow use of only one of the mounting pin or the eyes. To that end, the user affixing element  55  may be pivotable to enable such functionality, along an axis (as shown—and by way of example only—the axis substantially corresponds to the longitudinal arrangement of element  55 ). This allows element  55  to move to accommodate a user&#39;s desire to wear the assembly in one way or the other. As shown in  FIG. 2A , for example, the element  55  may be in a “closed” position, relative to groove  70  (i.e., a portion of the mounting pin is received in groove  70 ) allows mounting pin  60  to be used to affix the assembly (or broach by itself) to a user&#39;s clothing. As shown in  FIG. 2C , for example, the element  55  may be in an “open” position, relative to groove  70 , allowing the eyes  80  to be used.  FIG. 2B  and  FIGS. 2D-2F  illustrate further examples of such functionality. See also  FIGS. 2G-2I  illustrating full assembly  40  (center-piece and a pair of earrings) with the element  55  in the two different positions as described above. 
         [0022]    Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, it is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of any invention disclosed herein. Moreover, other aspects, advantages, and modifications are considered to be within the scope of the disclosed embodiments. 
         [0023]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any jewelry, jewelry kit, assembly of jewelry (e.g., combination jewelry) and jewelry design methods. Certain features of the embodiments of the claimed subject matter have been illustrated as described herein; however, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents are within the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, while several arrangements and components between them have been described in detail, it is contemplated by those of skill in the art that one or more the jewelry and assemblies and arrangements disclosed herein may be worn without the others, and additional jewelry and assemblies and arrangements between pieces may be worn and still be in accordance with the claimed subject matter. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended merely to represent some embodiments of the present disclosure, and that other claims may be drafted to cover additional embodiments (whether similar to the present claims or not), as well as cover embodiments directed to the ornamental designs of the various articles of jewelry, combination articles of jewelry, and other associated devices/apparatuses disclosed herein (e.g., jewelry boxes). It is also to be understood that any reference to dimensions provided in the figures are merely for exemplary reasons, and one of skill in the art will appreciate that any sized jewelry having dimensions greater than and less than those dimensions disclosed are within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Technology Category: 1