Jewellery band, associated accessory, and method of wearing same

Abstract

A jewellery band to which an elongate jewel is removably securable, the band comprising a generally annular body with spaced apart opposed ends, each end having a collar configured to releasably receive respective ends of the jewel and to secure the jewel therein.

Description

[0001] Jewellery band, associated accessory, and method of wearing same

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] Disclosed herein is a band, and in particular, an open band to which a jewel can be removably secured. Also disclosed herein is an example of a jewel that is configured for securement to the band. Together, the band and jewel form an accessory that can be worn around a wearer's limb, such as their wrist. Also disclosed herein is a method for wearing and removing the accessory.

[0004] Backa round

[0005] Different stones and jewels may be associated with different characteristics and qualities and as such, wearers may choose to wear different jewels based on any number of different factors that they consider important to them. For example, a crystal associated with love may be desired to be worn to an event such as an engagement party or wedding, whereas a crystal associated with health and healing may be appropriate for gifting to someone who is recovering from an illness.

[0006] Jewels such as crystal wands may be worn via any number of accessories, including bands, bangles, necklaces and the like. However, such jewels are fixed or set in the bangle, necklace and so on, and thus the ability to wear an accessory with the desired jewel may be less economical and sustainable. Moreover, if the crystal and / or piece in which it is set is inadvertently damaged, then the accessory may need to be replaced entirely.

[0007] There is a need to address the above, and / or at least provide a useful alternative.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a jewellery band to which an elongate jewel is removably securable, the band comprising a generally annular body with spaced apart opposed ends, each end having a collar configured to releasably receive respective ends of the jewel and to secure the jewel therein.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, each collar is a generally annular clasp formed of two pieces in hingable relationship, the pieces openable to receive the jewel.

[0010] Each collar can have a resilient material formed along an inner surface for contacting the jewel. Preferably, the resilient material contains silicone

[0011] Preferably, the annular body comprises two segments hingedly associated with one another to facilitate wearing of the band around the wearer's limb.

[0012] The band can further comprise a strengthening member which extends between the collars.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a jewel configured to be removably secured to a band of the above described type.

[0014] The jewel may have a substantially hexagonal cross-section. In certain embodiments, the jewel may comprise a crystal wand.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an accessory wearable around the circumference of a wearer's limb, the accessory comprising: an open band according to a first aspect of the present invention; and a jewel according to a second aspect of the present invention. The accessory may be configured to be worn around the wearer's wrist, neck or head.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of wearing the accessory according to a third aspect of the present invention, comprising: applying the open band so that the annular body thereof at least partially encloses a wearer's limb, neck or head; inserting a first end of the jewel through one collar and closing the collar to secure the jewel therein; and inserting a second end of the jewel through the other collar and closing the collar to secure the jewel therein such that together, the band and the secured jewel enclose the circumference of the wearer's limb, neck or head.

[0017] There is also disclosed herein an open bangle to which an elongate jewel is removably securable to close the bangle around the circumference of a wearer's limb, the bangle comprising a substantially annular body having spaced apart opposed ends, each end comprising a collar configured to receive respective ends of the jewel such that the jewel spans the space between and interconnects the opposed ends, the bangle further comprising tightening means for removably securing the jewel within the collars.

[0018] There is also disclosed herein a jewel configured to be removably secured to an open bangle of the above described type.

[0019] There is also disclosed herein an accessory wearable around the circumference of a wearer's limb, the accessory comprising: an open bangle of the above described type and a jewel of the above described type.

[0020] There is also disclosed herein a method of wearing the above accessory, comprising: applying the open bangle so that the annular body thereof at least partially encloses a wearer's limb; inserting a first end of the jewel through one collar and securing the jewel therein via the tightening means; and inserting a second end of the jewel through the other collar and securing the jewel therein via the tightening means such that together, the bangle and the secured jewel enclose the circumference of the wearer's limb.

[0021] Brief description of the drawings

[0022] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] Fig. l is a front view of an accessory configured to be worn around a wearer's wrist, the accessory comprising an open bangle and a jewel that is removably secured thereto;

[0024] Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the accessory of Fig. 1;

[0025] Fig. 3 is a side view of the open bangle of the accessory of Fig. 2;

[0026] Fig. 4 is a front view of the open bangle of Fig. 3 in an open configuration;

[0027] Fig. 5A is a top perspective view of the jewel of Fig. 1;

[0028] Fig. 5B is a front perspective view of the jewel of Fig. 5A.

[0029] Detailed description

[0030] Figs. 1 and 2 show an accessory 2 according to embodiments of the present invention, the accessory 2 comprising an open bangle 4 and a jewel 6 that is removably securable thereto. In the depicted embodiment, the jewel is in the form of a crystal wand 6 although other types and forms of elongate jewels are considered within the scope of the present specification.

[0031] Figs. 1 and 2 show the accessory 2 in a closed or in-use configuration, wherein the jewel 6 is secured to the open bangle 4 so as to form the accessory 2 which encloses around the circumference of a wearer's limb, such as their wrist. As will be discussed, removal of the jewel 6 from the bangle 4 allows the user to take off the accessory 2, and vice versa. Advantageously, different elongate jewels may be used with the disclosed bangle 4; in this way, a single bangle 4 can be worn to display any number of different elongate jewels.

[0032] The bangle 4 comprises a substantially annular body 8 configured to fit around the wearer's wrist. The bangle 4 is open in that the annular body 8 does not form a closed loop; instead, the bangle 4 comprises two opposed ends 10 which are spaced apart from one another. As will be discussed, the space between the opposed ends 10 can be increased to facilitate wearing of the bangle 4 around one's wrist.

[0033] Referring to Fig. 3, each end 10 of the annular body 8 comprises a collar 12 that is configured to securingly receive therethrough respective ends of the elongate jewel 6. In the depicted embodiment, the jewel 6 has a substantially hexagonal cross-section and thus an internal perimeter 14 of each collar is correspondingly hexagonal to receive the jewel 6 therethrough. Other cross-sectional shapes are of course within the scope of the present specification.

[0034] Advantageously, the presently disclosed bangle 4 is also equipped with tightening means which are manually operable to removably secure the jewel 6 within the collars 12 of the bangle 4. In this way, any number of different elongate jewels 6 can be worn with the presently disclosed bangle 4. In the depicted embodiment, the tightening means comprises respective screws 16 that extend through the collars 12. Each screw 16 comprises a manually graspable head 18 that extends out of the top of each collar 12. The opposite end of each screw 16 comprises a circular base or foot 20 sized to engage or otherwise press against an exterior surface of the jewel 6 so as to retain the jewel 6 within the collars 12.

[0035] Figs. 5A and 5B show an example of an elongate jewel 6 in the form of a crystal wand configured to be worn with the presently disclosed bangle 4. As can be seen, one of the six elongate faces 22 is formed with a pair of spaced apart recesses 24, each being shaped and sized to receive a respective foot 20 of the screw tightening means 16. For example, each recess 24 may be between one to two millimetres deep and only several millimetres in diameter so that they are not very visible or noticeable, particularly when the feet 20 of the screws 16 are tightened therein, giving the aesthetically pleasing appearance of a jewel 6 whose interior has minimal machining or defects.

[0036] Fig. 4 shows how the annular body 8 is formed from two segments 8a, 8b that are hingedly associated with one another. Each segment 8a, 8b is associated with a respective collar end 12 and thus the annular body 8 is openable about the hinge or pivot point 26 to spread the collars 12 apart, as shown in Fig. 4, so that a wearer can easily fit the open bangle 4 around or against their wrist. Next, a first end of an elongate jewel 6 can be inserted through one of the two collars 12 and tightened therein via the associated screw 18. Finally, the two segments 8a, 8b can be closed toward one another so that an opposite end of the jewel 6 can be received through the second collar 12 and tightened therein via the corresponding tightening screw 18. In this way, the jewel 6 interconnects the two spaced apart collar ends 12 and functions to close the otherwise open bangle 4 around the wearer's wrist.

[0037] A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 as jewellery band 102 to which an elongate jewel 106 is removably securable. The band 102 comprises a generally annular body 104 with spaced apart opposed ends 110, each end 110 having a collar 112 configured to releasably receive respective ends of the jewel 106 to secure the jewel 106 within the collar 112 and to the band 102.

[0038] As can be seen in Figure 8, each collar 112 is a generally annular clasp formed of two pieces 112a, 112b which are in hingable relationship, the pieces 112a, 112b being openable to receive the jewel 106. Each collar 112 has a spring loaded element 115 which can be depressed to open the clasp and separate the pieces 112a, 112b.

[0039] To secure the jewel 106 within each collar 112, there is provided a strip of resilient material 117 formed along an inner surface of each piece 112a, 112b for contacting the jewel 106. The strip 117 is sized so as to be invisible once each collar 112 is closed. Preferably, the resilient material contains silicone, though it will be appreciated that other materials may also be used. The resilience of the material allows pressure to be imparted on the jewel 6 to hold it in place within the collar 112. Importantly, the resilient material also allows for dimensional variances in the jewel, which are common, while ensuring retention with the band 102.

[0040] As described above, the annular body 104 comprises two segments 104a, 104b which are hingedly associated with one another to facilitate wearing of the band 102 around the wearer's limb. Hinge 126 is disposed opposite of interlocking component 128 which holds the two segments 104a, 104b together. A release means (not shown) may be provided to allow the two segments 104a, 104b to hinge relative to each other. A strengthening member 130 (Figure 8) is provided to extend between the collars and provide structural support, particularly for jewels that are smaller and do not have the strength of larger jewels.

[0041] As described above, the jewel 106 has a substantially hexagonal cross-section and is preferably in the form of a crystal wand.

[0042] Many modifications of the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the tightening means need not be in the form of screws and may include any number of other tightening means, including depressible pins and the like.

[0043] The annular body need not be pivotably openable and other mechanisms for spreading the annular body open for wearing are considered within the scope of the present specification, including mechanisms that may involve the complete separation of two or more segments of the annular body from one another (e.g., via magnetic means).

[0044] While it may be advantageous to have recesses formed in the jewel to help with locating the tightening means relative thereto, it is of course possible for the jewel not to have any such formations and the tightening means would still be sufficient to retain the jewel within the collars of the bangle.

[0045] Although the present specification relates primarily to an open bangle, the teachings herein are considered similarly applicable to other forms of accessories, such as a necklace. For example, it is envisaged that the elongate jewel may be worn as a necklace. In one embodiment, the jewel could hang vertically downwardly, wherein an upper end thereof is secured within a collar and tightened therewithin.

[0046] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0047] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A jewellery band to which an elongate jewel is removably securable, the band comprising a generally annular body with spaced apart opposed ends, each end having a collar configured to releasably receive respective ends of the jewel and to secure the jewel therein.

2. The band according to claim 1, wherein each collar is a generally annular clasp formed of two pieces in hingable relationship, the pieces openable to receive the jewel.

3. The band according to claim 2, wherein each collar has a resilient material formed along an inner surface for contacting the jewel.

4. The band according to claim 3, wherein the resilient material contains silicone.

5. The band according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the annular body comprises two segments hingedly associated with one another to facilitate wearing of the band around the wearer's limb.

6. The band according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a strengthening member which extends between the collars.

7. A jewel configured to be removably secured to a band of any one of the preceding claims.

8. The jewel of claim 7, having a substantially hexagonal cross-section.

9. The jewel of claim 7 or claim 8, comprising a crystal wand.

10. An accessory wearable around the circumference of a wearer's limb, the accessory comprising:an open band according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and a jewel according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

11. The accessory of claim 12, being configured to be worn around the wearer's wrist, neck or head.

12. A method of wearing the accessory of claim 10 or 11, comprising: applying the open band so that the annular body thereof at least partially encloses a wearer's limb, neck or head; inserting a first end of the jewel through one collar and closing the collar to secure the jewel therein; and inserting a second end of the jewel through the other collar and closing the collar to secure the jewel therein such that together, the band and the secured jewel enclose the circumference of the wearer's limb, neck or head.

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