Item of jewelry, particularly of the type with increased functionality

Abstract

An item of jewelry (1), particularly of the type with increased functionality, comprising a supporting structure (2) adapted to be worn by a user and defining a first ornamental figure (3) placed in a visible portion of the supporting structure (2), and at least one second ornamental figure (6) which is associated with the supporting structure (2) at the first ornamental figure (3) and is movable, by virtue of snap movement means (7), between at least two positions so as to give the item of jewelry (1) at least two different aesthetic impressions.

Description

[0001] ITEM OF JEWELRY, PARTICULARLY OF THE TYPE WITH INCREASED FUNCTIONALITY

[0002] The present invention relates to an item of jewelry, particularly of the type with increased functionality.

[0003] In the sector of jewelry and costume jewelry, as well as in related sectors, the need is known to have items of jewelry that are dynamic or, rather, are capable of changing the aesthetic impression they offer, so as to meet the user's tastes according to that user's aesthetic preferences of the moment.

[0004] In fact, items of jewelry are known that are modular or which comprise accessories, i.e. items of jewelry constituted by multiple parts that can be assembled together in various different configurations by the user according to the desired aesthetic impression.

[0005] Furthermore, items of jewelry are known with freely-movable parts that move along rails according to the gravitational orientation of the item of jewelry and / or the movements of the user.

[0006] However such conventional items of jewelry are not devoid of drawbacks, among which is the fact that there is no jewelry with movable parts that are capable of changing the aesthetic impression offered in a stable manner.

[0007] The aim of the present invention consists in providing an item of jewelry with increased functionality that is capable of offering at least two different aesthetic impressions at the user's discretion.

[0008] Within this aim, an object of the present invention consists in providing an item of jewelry that makes it possible to change the aesthetic impression offered simply and quickly, and intuitively.

[0009] An object of the present invention consists in providing an item of jewelry that avails of conventional technologies in the sector and which therefore offers contained manufacturing costs.

[0010] Another object of the present invention consists in providing an item of jewelry that offers the highest assurances of effective operation.

[0011] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an item of jewelry, particularly of the type with increased functionality, comprising a supporting structure adapted to be worn by a user and defining a first ornamental figure placed in a visible portion of said supporting structure, characterized in that it comprises at least one second ornamental figure which is associated with said supporting structure at said first ornamental figure and is movable, by virtue of snap movement means, between at least two positions so as to give said item of jewelry at least two different aesthetic impressions.

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an item of jewelry, particularly of the type with increased functionality, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an item of jewelry according to the invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the item of jewelry shown in Figure 1 in a first configuration;

[0015] Figure 3 is a plan view from above of the item of jewelry shown in Figure 2 in a second configuration;

[0016] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the item of jewelry shown in the previous figures;

[0017] Figure 5 is an enlarged- scale detail of the item of jewelry shown in Figure 4;

[0018] Figure 6 is the detail shown in Figure 5 during the switching of the item of jewelry from the first configuration to the second configuration.

[0019] With reference to the figures, the item of jewelry, particularly of the type with increased functionality, is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises a supporting structure 2 adapted to be worn by a user and defining a first ornamental figure 3 placed in a visible portion of the supporting structure 2.

[0020] In the embodiment proposed, the item of jewelry 1 consists of a finger ring in which the supporting structure 2 has an annular portion 5, which defines the shank of the finger ring, and a wider portion 4 at a part of the annular portion 4, which defines the bridge of the finger ring, and with the first ornamental figure 3 being defined at the wider portion 5.

[0021] In any case, as will be better described below, the inventive concept according to the present invention can be applied to any item of jewelry or the like without extending beyond the scope of protection described herein.

[0022] According to the invention, at least one second ornamental figure 6 is provided which is associated with the supporting structure 2 at the first ornamental figure 3 and is movable, by virtue of snap movement means 7, between at least two positions so as to give the item of jewelry 1 at least two different aesthetic impressions.

[0023] In more detail, the ornamental figures 3 and 6 each have a repeating design according to a circular matrix, respectively, with first and second ornamental elements 8 and 9 alternated with empty portions, with the second ornamental figure 6 being movable between the above-described positions by means of a rotation about the central axis 10 of the circular matrix so that the second ornamental elements 9 are visually superimposed on the first ornamental elements 8, when it is placed in the first position and according to a view that is normal to the plane of extension of the circular matrix, and so that the second ornamental elements 9 are still visually alternated with the first ornamental elements 8, when placed in the second position and according to a view that is normal to the plane of extension of the circular matrix.

[0024] In the embodiment proposed, the ornamental figures 3 and 6 represent flowers and the ornamental elements 8 and 9 represent the petals of those flowers. In any case, the inventive concept according to the present invention can also be applied to figures other than flowers, without extending beyond the scope of protection described herein.

[0025] In more detail, the snap movement means 7 comprise:

[0026] - a cylindrical seat 11 , which is defined centrally with respect to one of the ornamental figures, for example the first ornamental figure 3, along the central axis 10 and defines at its bottom a circular raceway 12 provided with a contoured profile, for example of the cam type or stepped type;

[0027] - a hollow cylindrical shank 13, which is defined by and protrudes from the other one of the ornamental figures, for example the second ornamental figure 6, along the central axis 10 and is rotatably accommodated in the cylindrical seat 11.

[0028] Conveniently, the hollow cylindrical shank 13 has a shaped base 14 which is shaped complementarily to the circular raceway 12.

[0029] In more detail, both the circular raceway 12 and the shaped base 14 have a profile with a repeating design so as to allow multiple configurations for mutual interlocking.

[0030] The snap movement means 7 further comprise elastic means 15 which are constituted for example by a helical torsion spring, accommodated within the hollow cylindrical shank 13 and interposed between the bottom of the internal cavity 16 of the hollow cylindrical shank 13 and an abutment disk 17 which is integral in translation with the cylindrical seat 11 so that they are preloaded.

[0031] Conveniently, the internal cavity 16 is of the open-top type.

[0032] In this way, with reference to figures 5 and 6, the hollow cylindrical shank 13 is movable with respect to the cylindrical seat 11 between a locked position, shown in Figure 5 and in which the shaped base 14 rests on the circular raceway 12 as a result of the thrust exerted by the elastic means 15, and a released position, shown in Figure 6 and in which the hollow cylindrical shank 13 is translated with respect to the locked position along the central axis 10 and in contrast with the thrust of the elastic means 15 so that the shaped base 14 and the circular raceway 12 are disengaged from each other, so as to permit relative rotations between the hollow cylindrical shank 13 and the cylindrical seat 11, i.e. between the ornamental figures 3 and 6.

[0033] Moreover, a hollow pivot 18 is provided which protrudes centrally from the cylindrical seat 11 along the central axis 10 and has, at its free end, a plurality of snap-acting teeth 19 engaged with a central hole 20 defined on the abutment disk 17.

[0034] Conveniently, the hollow pivot 18 is inserted centrally with respect to the hollow cylindrical shank 13 through a through hole 21 defined on the shaped base 14, and the helical torsion spring of the elastic means 15 is fitted over the hollow pivot 18.

[0035] In order to prevent an accidental disengagement of the coupling teeth 19 of the hollow pivot 18 from the abutment disk 17, a pin 22 is inserted centrally with respect to the hollow pivot 18 and is blocked from translation along the central axis 10 by a decorative head 23, which is radially enlarged and shaped to conceal the abutment disk 17 from view and to act as a stroke limiter of the hollow cylindrical shank 13 in the released position, and by a riveted disk 24, which is associated with the free end of the pin 22 on the opposite side with respect to the decorative head 23.

[0036] The operation of the item of jewelry 1, according to the invention, is the following.

[0037] Once assembled, starting from the configuration shown in Figure 2, i.e. starting from the first position, by lifting the second ornamental figure 6, so as to disengage the shaped base 14 of the hollow cylindrical shank 13 from the sliding track 12 of the cylindrical seat 11, and rotating this, for example by 90° in the embodiment proposed, it is possible to switch the item of jewelry 1 so that the petals of the second ornamental figure 6 are positioned between the petals of the first ornamental figure 3, as shown in Figure 3.

[0038] In this way, by virtue of a simple combined rotation and translation of the second ornamental figure 6 with respect to the first ornamental figure 3, it is possible to double the number of petals that can be seen, so increasing and changing the aesthetic impression offered by the item of jewelry.

[0039] In a similar manner, it is possible to return to the initial configuration.

[0040] In practice it has been found that the item of jewelry, according to the present invention, achieves the set aim and objects.

[0041] The item of jewelry, particularly with increased functionality, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0042] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0043] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0044] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000000315 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0045] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An item of jewelry (1), particularly of the type with increased functionality, comprising a supporting structure (2) adapted to be worn by a user and defining a first ornamental figure (3) placed in a visible portion of said supporting structure (2), characterized in that it comprises at least one second ornamental figure (6) which is associated with said supporting structure (2) at said first ornamental figure (3) and is movable, by virtue of snap movement means (7), between at least two positions so as to give said item of jewelry (1) at least two different aesthetic impressions.

2. The item of jewelry (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said ornamental figures (3, 6) each have a repeating design according to a circular matrix, respectively, with first and second ornamental elements (9) alternated with empty portions; said second ornamental figure (6) being movable between said positions by means of a rotation about the central axis (10) of said circular matrix so that said second ornamental elements (9) are visually superimposed on said first ornamental elements (8), when it is placed in said first position and according to a view that is normal to the plane of extension of said circular matrix, and so that said second ornamental elements (9) are visually alternated with said first ornamental elements (8), when placed in said second position and according to a view that is normal to the plane of extension of said circular matrix.

3. The item of jewelry (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said snap movement means (7) comprise:- a cylindrical seat (11), which is defined centrally with respect to one of said ornamental figures (3, 6) along said central axis (10) and defines at its bottom a circular raceway (13) provided with a contoured profile;- a hollow cylindrical shank (13), which is defined by and protrudes from the other one of said ornamental figures (3, 6) along said central axis (10) and is rotatably accommodated in said cylindrical seat (11), said hollow cylindrical shank (13) having a shaped base (14) which is shapedcomplementarily to said circular raceway (13);- elastic means (15) accommodated within said hollow cylindrical shank (13) and interposed between the bottom of the internal cavity (16) of said hollow cylindrical shank (13) and an abutment disk (17) which is integral in translation with said cylindrical seat (11) so that they are preloaded, said internal cavity (16) of said hollow cylindrical shank (13) being of the open-top type; said hollow cylindrical shank (13) being movable with respect to said cylindrical seat (11) between a locked position, in which said shaped base (14) rests on said circular raceway (13) as a result of the thrust exerted by said elastic means (15), and a released position, in which said hollow cylindrical shank (13) is translated with respect to said locked position along said central axis (10) and in contrast with the thrust of said elastic means (15) so that said shaped base (14) and said circular raceway (13) are disengaged from each other, so as to permit relative rotations between said hollow cylindrical shank (13) and said cylindrical seat (11).

4. The item of jewelry (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a hollow pivot (18) which protrudes centrally from said cylindrical seat (11) along said central axis (10) and has, at its free end, a plurality of snap-acting teeth (19) which engage with a central hole (20) defined on said abutment disk (17); said hollow pivot (18) being inserted centrally with respect to said hollow cylindrical shank (13) through a through hole (21) defined in said shaped base (14).

5. The item of jewelry (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a pin (22), which is inserted centrally with respect to said hollow pivot (18) so as to prevent the release of said snap-acting teeth (19) from said abutment disk (17).

6. The item of jewelry (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said pin (22) is blocked from translation along said central axis (10) by a decorative head (23), which is radially enlarged and shaped to conceal saidabutment disk (17) from view and to act as a stroke limiter of said hollow cylindrical shank (13) in said released position, and by a riveted disk (24), which is associated with the free end of said pin (22) on the opposite side with respect to said decorative head (23).

7. The item of jewelry (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic means (15) comprise a helical torsion spring which is accommodated in said internal cavity (16) so as to be fitted over said hollow pivot (18).

8. The item of jewelry (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ornamental figures (3, 6) represent flowers and said ornamental elements (8, 9) represent the petals of said flowers.

9. The item of jewelry (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a finger ring.

10. The item of jewelry (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said supporting structure (2) has an annular portion (4), which defines the shank of said finger ring, and a wider portion (5) at a part of said annular portion, which defines the bridge of said finger ring; said first ornamental figure (3) being defined at said wider portion (5).

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