Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02393992 2002-07-18
4
Adjustable Circumference Finger Ring
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I) FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein relates to linger rings, specif cally an adjustable
circumference finger ring capable of being pivoted apart and, furthermore,
varied
in circumference.
2) DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Finger rings are currently the most commonly observed type of ornamental
_jewelry and in order to firrther attract consumers with a newer varieties,
many
manufacturers are focusing of breakthroughs in exterior appearance and
minimizing ring wearing problems. '1"he most typical problem is that finger
diameter and the l3xed circumference of annular band do not match, resulting
in
easy loosening or wearing difficulty. The approach usually used by
manufacturers
to solve this problem is to produce a same model finger ring in a range of
different
circumferences for wearer selection. As a result, finger ring production cost
is
higher and does not meet the requirements of economic advantage. Another
approach is to design the annular band of the finger ring in a expandable
arrangement and thereby utilize the material of the annular band to fabricate
a
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finger ring that accommodates fingers of differing diameters. I-iowever, since
such
annular bands tend to contort, an appealing circular shape cannot be
maintained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide an adjustable
circumference finger ring in which the user can wear and remove the finger
ring
without sliding it past the finger joint and wherein the circumference of the
finger
ring is adjustable to accommodate finger diameter to thereby increase wearing
comfort and prevent the dislodging of the finger ring.
'hherefore, the technological means to achieve the said objectives of the
invention herein includes: the finger ring is comprised of two semicircular
members and a tlexile linkage structure that couples one extremity of the two
semicircular members such that the two semicircular members can be spread
apart,
with the two semicircular members and having a circumference adjustment
structure disposed at their opposite extremities that enables the
circumferential
variation of the finger ring as required to accommodate the finger diameter of
the
wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure I is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the first embodiment finger
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ring of the invention herein.
Figure 2 is an isometric drawing of the first embodiment flexile linkage
structure of the invention herein.
Figure 3A is an exploded drawing of the second embodiment flexile linkage
structure of the invention herein.
Figure 3B is an isometric drawing of the second embodiment flexile linkage
structure of the invention herein.
Figure 4A is an isometric drawing of the third embodiment flexile linkage
structure of the invention herein.
Figure 4B is an orthographic drawing of the third embodiment flexile
linkage structure of the invention herein.
Figure SA is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the fourth embodiment of
the invention herein.
Figure SB is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the fourth embodiment
circumference alteration of the invention herein.
Figure 6A is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the fifth embodiment of the
invention herein.
Figure 6B is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the fifth embodiment ring
style change of the invention herein.
Figure 7A is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the sixth embodiment of
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the invention herein.
Figure 7B is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the sixth embodiment ring
circumference adjustment structure of the invention herein.
Figure 8n is an isometric drawing of the seventh embodiment of the
invention herein.
Figure RB is a cross-sectional drawing of the seventh embodiment ring
circumference adjustment structure of the invention herein.
Figure 9A is an isometric drawing of the eighth embodiment of the
invention herein.
Figure 9B is a cross-sectional drawing of the eighth embodiment of the
invention herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the adjustable circumference f nger ring of the invention herein, the
annular band 10 of the said linger ring is comprised of two semicircular
members
20 and 30; a flexile linkage structure 40 at one extremity of the two
semicircular
members 20 and 30 that conjoins them together and enables the two semicircular
members 20 and 30 to pivot apart; and a circumference adjustment structure SO
at
the opposite extremity of the said two semicircular members 20 and 30 that
couples them together and enables the two semicircular members 20 and 30 to
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become structured into a rigid circular arrangement and, furthermore, allows
for
the circumferential variation of the annular band 10 as required to
accommodate
the linger diameter of the wearer.
T'he said flexile linkage structure 40 and circumference adjustment structure
50 can be configured into in a plurality of embodiments. 'hhe several example
elllbodrr17er1LS below are presented for purposes of explanation, but shall
not be
construed as a lirnitation on the patent rights of the invention herein and,
furthermore, all modifications and adaptations based on the said principles
shall
remain within the proposed scope and claims ofthe present invention.
Referring to FIG. I and F1G. 2, the drawings of tl~e first embodiment of the
invention herein, the flexile linkage structure 40 of the said embodiment
consists of
a tongue 21 1 protruding ti-om one extremity of the first semicircular member
2U
and a clevis 3 l 3 extending from one extremity of the second semicircular
member
3U that is fitted onto the two sides of the said tongue 211, with a pivot pin
311 next
inserted through both the tongue 211 and the clevis 3l3 to conjoin the said
extremities of the two semicircular members 20 and 3U, which are then capable
of
spreading apart.
The circumference adjustment structure 50 of the said embodiment consists
of a segmental element 212 extending ti~om the opposite extremity of the first
2U semicircular member 2U, with a notch 213 formed at the upper extent of the
said
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segmental element 212; the open ertd of the said segmental element 212 faces
the
notch 213 due to a tensile section 215 formed by an acute angular bend; the
said
tensile section 215 has a sail block 21~~ and, furthermore, a plurality of
undulating
grooves 217 are disposed on the upper surface of the said tensile section 215;
the
_5 opposite extremity of the second semicircular member 30 is hollow, with a
ridge
3 I 2 is formed at the upper extent ol~ the inner wall; the said segmental
element 212
and tensile section 215 are inserted, by reducing their included angle, info
the
hollow extremity of the second semicircular member 30 and the ridge 312
engages
the undulating grooves 217, with the elastic force of the said tensile section
2I5
keeping the ridge 312 in position against the undulating grooves 217;
conversely, if
the tail block 21b is squeezed to reduce the included angle between the said
segmental element 212 and tensile section 215, the said section releases the
said
second semicircular member 30 or adjusts it to another position along the
undulating grooves 217, where the ridge 312 becomes re-engaged, thereby
achieving a variable circumference that accommodates the finger diameter of
the
wearer.
As indicated in FIG. 3A and I~ICi. 3I3, the drawings of the second
embodiment of the invention herein, the said flexile linkage structure 40
consists of
a clevis 23 extending from one extremity of the first semicircular member 20,
an
open ended snap-fit hole 23 I formed in each of the two parallel lateral arms
of the
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said clevis 23, a crosswise head section 33 extending Irom one extremity of
the
second semicircular member 30, and a cylindrical tip 34 disposed at each
lateral
end of the head section 33, wherein the cylindrical tips 34 are slipped into
the snap-
lit holes 231 of the said clevis 23 and, furthermore, the cylindrical tips 34
are
capable pivoting in the snap-tit holes 231 and enables the spreading apart of
the
semicircular members 20 and 30.
As indicated in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4I3, the drawings of the third embodiment
of the invention herein, the said flexile linkage structure 40 consists of a
sigmoidal
clasp 22 rolled at one extremity of the first semicircular member 2U and a
cylindrical head 32 extending from one extremity of the second semicircular
member 30, wherein the said cylindrical head 32 is slid into an opening
disposed
laterally along thte length of the said clasp 22 such that the clasp 22 is
postured
around the said cylindrical head 32 and, furthermore, the said cylindrical
head 32 is
capable of pivoting therein, enabling the pivoting apart of the two
semicircular
members 20 and 30.
As indicated in FIG. 5A and F1G. 5I3, the drawings of the fourth
embodiment of the invention herein, the said circumference adjustment
structure
50 of the said embodiment consists of a stationary pawl 36 disposed vertically
at
one extremity of the second semicircular member 30, an anchoring segment 24
extending from one extremity of the first semicircular member 20, and a
plurality
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of constraining holes 241 lbrnted along the length of the anchoring segment
24,
wherein the stationary pawl 36 is lodged into a constraining hole 241 to
enable the
conjoinment of the two semicircular members 20 and 30 or the selection of a
dillerent constraining hole 241 to alter the circumference of the finger ring.
As indicated in FIG. 6A and FICi. 613, the drawings of the fifth embodiment
of the invention herein, the said circumference adjustment structure 50 of the
said
embodiment ConSiSlS UI~ two toothed segments 11 and 12 respectively extending
in
an overlapping lower and upper arrangement from the two semicircular members
20 and 30 of the annular band 10 such that the facing interdental surfaces
provides
for conjoinment into a circular body and, furthermore, different interlocking
positions to permit varying the circumference of the finger ring.
As indicated in FIG. 7A and F1G. 7B, the drawings of the sixth embodiment
of the invention herein, the said circumference adjustment structure 50 of the
said
embodiment consists of two converging segments 13 and 14 respectively
extending
in an overlapping upper and lower arrangement froth the two semicircular
members 20 and 30 of the annular band 10, a plurality of notches 141 formed
along
the upper extent of the converging element 14 underneath, a threaded hole 131
disposed through the converging segment 13 above, and an Allen-head hex screw
15 that is fastened into the threaded hole 131 and selectively bottomed into
different notches 14I to change the circumference of the finger ring.
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As indicated in FIC1. 8/1 and FICi. 813, the drawings of the seventh
embodiment of the invention herein, the said circumference adjustment
structure
50 of the said embodiment consists of a short post 17 projecting from one
extremity of the second semicircular member 30 of the annular band IO and a
nut
18 situated on the said post 17 such that the said nut I8 revolves on the said
post 17
but cannot travel forward or backward, and a threaded section 16 formed on the
Ilrst semicircular member 20 of the annular band 10, wherein the said threaded
section Ib is fastened into the said nut 18 and rotating the said nut 18
controls the
said threaded section 16 forward or backward, thereby varying the
circumference
1 U of the said annular band 10.
As indicated in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9Ei, the eight embodiment of the invention
herein, the said circumference adjustment structure 50 of the said embodiment
consists of a pin 51 and 52 projecting from the two sides at one extremity of
the
first semicircular member 20, a holding channel 53 that provides for alignment
with the opposing extremity of the annular band I0, a plurality of pin slots
54
formed in the two sides of the said holding channel 53, with the bottom end of
each
pin slot 54 horizontally deviated, wherein the said pin slots 54 provide for
the
insertion of the pins S I and 52 and their sliding into the horizontally
deviated
bottom portion of the said slots, thereby retaining the said pins 51 and 52
and
conjoining the annular band 10 and providing a selection of differently
positioned
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pin slots 54 to enable the altering of the linger ring circumfere«ce.
l~he said embodiments of the tlexile linkage structure 40 and the
circumference adjustment structure 50 col7slsts of interchangeable
arrangements.
The flexile linkage structure 40 enables the enlargement and reduction of the
annular band 10 such that the user spreads apart the annular band 10 to place
it on
the finger and, while the annular band 10 is brought together to ft the
finger, the
circumference adjustment structure 50 is utilized to incrementally determine
the
particular circumference that best accommodates the wearer of the finger ring.
Conversely, by releasing the said circumference adjustment structure 50, the
said
annular band 10 is spread apart to remove the finger ring. Since the finger
ring
does not have to slide aver the finger joint during removal, the procedure
entails no
inconvenience problems and, furthermore, the capability of the circumference
adjustment structure 50 to variably become a finger ring of a certain
circumference
increases wearing comfort and prevents the accidental dislodging of the finger
ring,
with the structure of the invention herein suitable for finger rings
constructed of
metal or plastic materials.
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