Neckwear for displaying coins, medals or bars

Abstract

A neckwear includes a neckband and a neckband module and may further include one or more fastener members and one or more display segments for coins, medals or bars. The neckband is connected to said neckband module, and said one or more fastener members pivotably connects said neckband module and said one or more display segments. Also provided for a neckwear are a hermetically sealed neckband module or display segment, a display segment configured to be intra-changeable, display inserts for a neckband module or display segments, torso segments, and a neckband module with a member of a fastener to accommodate interchangeable display segments.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 639,359 filed Jun. 30, 2017, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. The entire contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 384,540, filed Dec. 20, 2016, are herein incorporated by reference.FIELD[0002]The present disclosure relates to neckwear.INTRODUCTION[0003]Various types of neckwear have been proposed including those as an alternative to the necktie. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 384,540 discloses functional metallic neckwear comprising of a neckband, a neckband module and pivoting torso segments directly connected by fasteners. The neckwear is positioned along the center of the wearer's torso like a necktie. The present inventor discovered that an efficient method of providing an extraordinary metallic neckwear panel, which includes the neckband module and torso segments, is the process used by private and government mints to produce coi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0167]The pressing method of engraving coins, medals and bullion bars for use in a neckwear panel of the present disclosure imparts many advantages, as compared to other methods such as casting methods. Generally, there is greater control over quality, finishes, and uniformity including weight, with the pressing method. Most advantageous is the capability of producing exquisitely detailed designs with high quality finishes. These finishes include matt, proof, and reverse proof. For example, proof bullion bars, production methods of which are well known in the art which include highly polished dies, result in a frosted appearance on the higher fields of the surface of the bullion bar and a mirror-like finish on the lower fields of the surface of the bullion bar. Coins, medals and bullion bars provided by the pressing method may also be struck in high relief or ultra-high relief. The images on high relief coins, medals or bullion bars, generally extend above the outer edges of the coin, medal and bullion bar and those struck in ultra-high relief result in images that rise even higher. Popular examples produced by the United States Mint include the 2015 American Liberty High Relief gold coin and the 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle. High relief and ultra-high relief coins, medals or bullion bars elevate the level of detail that can be seen and felt on the image and are often described as works of art. Multiple levels of relief may be achieved. For example, coins, medals or bullion bars may include “3-dimensional” designs resulting from the artwork being sculpted in contoured multi-level relief.

Problems solved by technology

These have drawbacks and are deficient in certain respects which include, as a piece of jewelry, they are not otherwise functional such as being deficient in offering a hermetically sealed environment to prevent, for example, tarnishing of a silver coin, and they do not satisfy the functions of the necktie.

Further, bezels are not configured for additional sections to be attached for multiple lengths of a neckwear to display a minted series or set of coins, medals or bullion bars nor are they configured to display different sized coins, medals or bullion bars.

Depending on the metal, certain coins, medals and bars such as silver and copper naturally tarnish when exposed to air in the atmosphere.

Tarnish can be removed but cleaning is laborious and often negatively affects the surface of the metal and appearance of the article.

Whether tarnish is left on the metal or cleaned, chemical damage has already occurred to the surface of the metal resulting in reduced detail on the surface of the coin, medal or bullion bar.

The above methods reduce the rate of tarnishing but do not prevent tarnishing, and each method has negative consequences including increased production costs and steps, discoloration of the silver which reduces silver's brightness, whiteness and reflectivity, and / or the wearing off of the surface application.

Moreover, the addition of non-silver elements or compounds to silver or to the surface of a finished silver article is the very antithesis of silver bullion, which is the reason major mints do not incorporate these methods to their silver bullion products, nor do most collectors or investors desire their silver bullion to be adulterated or contaminated by these methods.

A drawback of wearing articles of gold or silver that are 999 fine is that these are both soft metals prone to scratches and nicks.

Although alloys of gold (e.g., 14 karat gold is 58.33% gold) and alloys of silver (e.g., sterling silver is generally 92.5% silver) are popular in the jewelry industry due in part because these alloys are harder than their bullion counterparts, use of these gold or silver alloys in jewelry dramatically alters their optical properties and reduces the beauty and allure of these precious metals.

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