Apparatus for reversibly adjusting the size of a wearable band

Abstract

A size adjustable jewellery item comprises a rigid ring member 1 having a radially inner surface having a circumferentially extending groove. A size adjuster device 2 sits within the circumferentially

Description

The present invention relates to jewelry in the form of a band, where the band is required to pass over a wider body part to be worn on a narrower body part. For example (but with limitation) the invention relates to finger rings, toe rings, anklets and bracelets. Jewelry may often be made from valuable precious metal and / or hold significant sentimental value to the owner. It is important to owners that their jewelry is worn securely on the body and cannot easily be released from the body and lost. In the case of finger and toe rings, the ring may need to be passed over a wider part of the finger or toe (for example a knuckle) to be positioned on a slimmer part of the finger or toe for display. Similarly, a bracelet or anklet band may need to be passed over a wider hand or foot portion to be positioned on the ankle or wrist. It is known in some cases to provide bands with openings allowing the band to be opened to a larger radius to pass over a wider body part and then closed and clamped in position. A disadvantage of such arrangements is that the clamp / opening provides an inherent weakness in the band. If the clamp fails, the jewelry can slip off the body unnoticed. It is known to include additional safety chains such that where the clamp opens, the chain extends across the opening maintaining continuity of the band. Safety chains can be disadvantage for a number of reasons, for example they may easily catch on things and break. Even if remaining intact, there is a risk that an open band with a safety chain may still slip off the wearer unnoticed. It will be appreciated, even setting aside the need to pass over body parts of different diameter, body parts such as fingers can change in size over time as a body gains weight, loses weight, retains fluid, gets hotter, gets colder or the like. There is a desire for jewelry items such as finger rings to adjust in size with the wearer’s finger. The present invention aims to overcome the stated problems with the prior known arrangements. The present invention provides a size adjustable jewelry item comprising; a rigid ring member having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, and a circumferentially extending groove provided in a portion of the radially inner surface; a size adjuster device proportioned to sit within the circumferentially extending groove, the size adjuster device comprising first and second arcuate sections, the first arcuate section including a main body portion and a tongue, the second arcuate section comprising a main body portion and a slot proportioned to receive the tongue of the first arcuate section; the first arcuate section including an end comprising a first hinge pin receivable in a first bore in the rigid ring member, the first bore connecting with a first end of the circumferentially extending groove; the second arcuate section including an end comprising a second hinge pin receivable in a second bore in the rigid ring member, the second bore connecting with a second end of the circumferentially extending groove; a spring mechanism arranged within the circumferentially extending groove radially between the rigid ring member and the size adjuster device, the spring mechanism configured to urge the tongue of the first arcuate section into the slot of the second arcuate section to form a continuous arc and compressible to allow the tongue to be withdrawn from the slot thereby extending the length of the continuous arc. The rigid ring member may comprise a finger ring, a toe ring, a wrist bangle or an ankle band. The rigid ring member may comprise a machinable metal. The spring mechanism may comprise a leaf spring. In an option, the leaf spring extends from adjacent a hinge pin and may be held in place by the hinge pin. For example, the first arcuate section includes a first leaf spring and the second arcuate section includes a second leaf spring. The spring mechanism may be detachable from the size adjuster device and different stiffness springs may be swapped in or out according to customer preference. In an alternative, the spring mechanism may form an integral part of the size adjuster device. Preferably the slot has an opening proportionate in size to an end of the tongue to be received in the slot and the remainder of the slot is enclosed within the second arcuate portion. It will be appreciated that a size adjuster device including the related spring mechanism may be retrofitted into standard rings or bangles by simple first machining an appropriate circumferential groove and hinge pin bores into the ring or bangle. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures in which; FIGURE 1 shows a radial view of a finger ring embodying the features of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows the finger ring of FIGURE 1 in cross section; FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4 show the finger ring of FIGURE 1 with the size adjuster device in two different configurations; FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view corresponding to the radial view of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 6 shows a perspective view corresponding to the radial view of FIGURE 4; FIGURE 7 shows a perspective view of the rigid ring member of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 with the size adjuster device removed; FIGURE 8 shows a radial view of the rigid ring member of FIGURE 7 in cross-section; FIGURE 9 shows a first arcuate section of a size adjuster device in accordance with invention; FIGURE 10 shows a second arcuate section of a size adjuster device in accordance with invention; FIGURE 11 shows the second arcuate section of FIGURE 10 in cross-section. As can be seen from the Figures, a finger ring in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises a rigid ring member 1. Within a radially inner surface of the ring member there is provided an elongate, circumferentially extending groove 1a. The groove extends along about half of the inner circumference of the ring member 1. As best seen in FIGURE 7 and FIGURE 8, extending from each end of the groove 1a are bores 1b, 1c, the bores 1B, 1c connecting with the groove 1a and extending into a wall of the rigid ring member 1. A size adjuster device 2 comprises a first arcuate section 3 and a second arcuate section 4, the arcuate sections 3 and 4 are similarly sized and have the same radius of curvature. First arcuate section 3 includes a hinge pin 3a at a first end and a tongue 6 at a second end. Connected to the first arcuate section 3 is a leaf spring 8. The leaf spring 6 is arranged on a radially outer surface of the first arcuate section 3 and biassed to extend radially outwardly. Second arcuate section 4 similarly includes a hinge pin 4a at a first end and a leaf spring 9 extending from a radially outer surface of the second arcuate section 4. The leaf spring 9 is biassed to extend radially outwardly. Where the first arcuate second 3 includes a tongue 6, the second arcuate section includes a slot 7. The slot 7 has an opening in a second end of the arcuate portion 4. The opening is proportioned to receive the tongue 6. First and second arcuate portions 3, 4 can be mated together by inserting the tongue 6 into the slot 7 forming one continuous arc. The size adjuster device 2 is proportioned to be received within the groove 1a. In an assembled arrangement, tongue 6 is received in slot 7 and hinge pins 3a, 3b are inserted through bores 1b, 1c of the rigid ring member 1 securing the first and second arcuate portions 3 and 4 to the rigid ring member 1. The leaf springs 8 and 9 sit in a space between a radially outer wall of the groove 1a and a radially outer wall of the assembled size adjuster device 2. As can be best seen in FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6, when the springs 8 and 9 are unloaded, they urge the size adjuster device radially inwardly with respect to the centre of the rigid ring member 1 (FIGURE 4, FIGURE 6). The tongue 6 sits entirely in the slot 7 in this configuration, the oppositely facing ends of the first and second arcuate portions 3, 4 abutting at a join 5. When the leaf springs 8 and 9 are loaded by a radially outwardly directed load, the first and second arcuate portions 3 and 4 separate along join 5 and tongue 6 withdraws from slot 7. The ring adjuster device 2 expands in length and moves radially outwardly towards a radially inner surface of the rigid ring member 1. When the radially outwardly directed load is removed, the leaf springs 8 and 9 urge the size adjuster device 2 radially inwardly again. A finger ring in accordance with the described embodiment may be adjustable over 4 ring sizes. The inventors have found that the described embodiment can be fitted into a ring of as little as 1,5mm in thickness, the standard thickness of a wedding band. The size adjuster device in such an embodiment can be made to be about 2.5 mm wide. In a practical example, a finger is inserted into the finger ring of FIGURE 1. The ring is slid along the finger towards a knuckle which has a wider diameter than the inserted end of the finger. As the ring is pushed over the knuckle this creates a radially outwardly directed load onto the leaf springs 8 and 9 causing them to compress, the tongue 6 to withdraw from the slot 7 and a space bounded by the rigid ring member 1 and size adjuster 2 to enlarge allowing the knuckle to pass through the finger ring. Once the finger ring has passed over the knuckle, the radially outwardly directed load on the leaf springs 8 and 9 is relieved, the leaf springs 8, 9 decompress and the size adjuster device is urged radially inwardly again around the finger. It will be appreciated, a size adjustable jewelry member as described is resiliently deformable to accommodate a range of sizes and well self-adjust its size to accommodate body changes while it is being worn. The foregoing describes just some embodiments of the invention others of which will no doubt occur to the skilled addressee without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A size adjustable jewelry item comprising;a rigid ring member having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, and a circumferentially extending groove provided in a portion of the radially inner surface;a size adjuster device proportioned to sit within the circumferentially extending groove, the size adjuster device comprising first and second arcuate sections, the first arcuate section including a main body portion and a tongue, the second arcuate section comprising a main body portion and a slot proportioned to receive the tongue of the first arcuate section;the first arcuate section including an end comprising a first hinge pin receivable in a first bore in the rigid ring member, the first bore connecting with a first end of the circumferentially extending groove;the second arcuate section including an end comprising a second hinge pin receivable in a second bore in the rigid ring member, the second bore connecting with a second end of the circumferentially extending groove;a spring mechanism arranged within the circumferentially extending groove radially between the rigid ring member and the size adjuster device, the spring mechanism configured to urge the tongue of the first arcuate section into the slot of the second arcuate section to form a continuous arc and compressible to allow the tongue to be withdrawn from the slot thereby extending the length of the continuous arc.

2. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rigid ring member comprises a finger ring, a toe ring, a wrist bangle or an ankle band.

3. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the rigid ring member comprises a machinable metal.

4. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spring mechanism comprises a leaf spring.

5. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 4 wherein the leaf spring extends from adjacent a hinge pin and is held in place by the hinge pin.

6. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the first arcuate section includes a first leaf spring and the second arcuate section includes a second leaf spring.

7. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spring mechanism is detachable from the size adjuster device.

8. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 7 including multiple interchangeable spring mechanisms of different stiffness which may be swapped in or out according to customer preference.

9. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the spring mechanism forms an integral part of the size adjuster device.

10. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the slot has an opening proportionate in size to an end of the tongue to be received in the slot and the remainder of the slot is enclosed within the second arcuate portion.

11. A size adjuster device and spring mechanism assembly suitable for use in a size adjustable jewelry item as set out in any preceding claim.02 05 25AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:CLAIMS1. A size adjustable jewelry item comprising;a rigid ring member having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, and a circumferentially extending groove provided in a portion of the radially inner surface;a size adjuster device proportioned to sit within the circumferentially extending groove, the size adjuster device comprising first and second arcuate sections, the first arcuate section including a main body portion and a tongue, the second arcuate section comprising a main body portion and a slot proportioned to receive the tongue of the first arcuate section;the first arcuate section including an end comprising a first hinge pin receivable in a first bore in the rigid ring member, the first bore connecting with a first end of the circumferentially extending groove;the second arcuate section including an end comprising a second hinge pin receivable in a second bore in the rigid ring member, the second bore connecting with a second end of the circumferentially extending groove;a spring mechanism arranged within the circumferentially extending groove radially between the rigid ring member and the size adjuster device, the spring mechanism configured to urge the tongue of the first arcuate section into the slot of the second arcuate section to form a continuous arc and compressible to allow the tongue to be withdrawn from the slot thereby extending the length of the continuous arc.

2. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rigid ring member comprises a finger ring, a toe ring, a wrist bangle or an ankle band.

3. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the rigid ring member comprises a machinable metal.

4. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spring mechanism comprises a leaf spring.

5. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 4 wherein the leaf spring extends from adjacent a hinge pin and is held in place by the hinge pin.02 05 256. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the first arcuate section includes a first leaf spring and the second arcuate section includes a second leaf spring.

7. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spring mechanism is detachable from the size adjuster device.

8. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in claim 7 including multiple interchangeable spring mechanisms of different stiffness which may be swapped in or out according to customer preference.

9. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the spring mechanism forms an integral part of the size adjuster device.

10. A size adjustable jewelry item as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the slot has an opening proportionate in size to an end of the tongue to be received in the slot and the remainder of the slot is enclosed within the second arcuate portion.

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