U.S. patent application number 10/407780 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for article of jewelry.
This patent application is currently assigned to BROADWAY ENTERTAINMENT, INC.. Invention is credited to Rapport, Abbie.
Application Number | 20040194500 10/407780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33097624 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040194500 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rapport, Abbie |
October 7, 2004 |
Article of jewelry
Abstract
An article of jewelry comprising a bracelet having a single
framed compartment or a plurality of framed compartments for
releasably receiving a photograph or some similar medium with
indicia thereon. Each framed compartment is formed of a rear plate
for protecting the back of the photograph and four sidewalls
integrally formed therewith. Openings are formed in two of the
opposing sidewalls to receive a thin resilient cord or the like
employed to connect the framed compartments in a series or a single
framed compartment to various other objects. A separate opening is
formed within the rear plate to receive an implement to facilitate
the removal of the photograph. Spacer members are provided to keep
the series of framed compartment equally separated from the next
and ensure the bracelet's overall flexibility.
Inventors: |
Rapport, Abbie; (Northridge,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Larry F. Gitlin
RAPKIN & GITLIN
Suite 301
5855 Topanga Canyon Boulevard
Woodland Hills
CA
91367-4620
US
|
Assignee: |
BROADWAY ENTERTAINMENT,
INC.
|
Family ID: |
33097624 |
Appl. No.: |
10/407780 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
63/1.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 17/02 20130101;
A44C 5/022 20130101; A44C 5/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
063/001.11 |
International
Class: |
A44C 013/00 |
Claims
1. An article of jewelry comprising: a bracelet having a plurality
of framed compartments for releasably receiving a photograph or a
similar medium with indicia thereon, said framed compartments being
formed of a plate protecting the back of the photograph and
upwardly extending sidewalls along the perimeter of said plate and
formed integrally therewith; a first opening and a second opening
formed within opposing sidewalls of each of said compartments;
means to connect said compartments to form the bracelet; a spacer
member to separate each of said compartments from the other and
enhance said bracelet's flexibility; and, means formed within the
integral plate to receive an implement to facilitate the release of
the photograph.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said framed
compartments includes a means formed within each corner of said
compartment to help secure the photograph.
3. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said opposing side
walls of each of said framed compartments comprises at least two
openings for receiving said means to connect a series of said
framed compartments to form a generally circular shaped article of
jewelry.
4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said means to connect said
framed compartments comprises a strand of thin cord or the
like.
5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said strand of thin cord is
comprised of a synthetic material.
6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the material comprising said
strand of thin cord is elastic.
7. The invention of claim 4 wherein said strand of thin cord is
comprised of a natural material.
8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said spacer member is comprised
of an ornamental bead.
9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means formed within the
integral plate to receive an implement to facilitate the release of
the photograph comprises a small opening.
10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said implement is sized and
shaped to allow it to be easily inserted into the opening and push
said photograph sufficiently enabling it to completely separate
from said framed compartment.
11. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said framed
compartments contains ornamental indicia or sculpture around its
perimeter portion and along each of said sidewalls.
12. The invention of claim 8 wherein said ornamental bead varies in
size, shape and color.
13. The invention of claim 8 wherein each of said ornamental beads
contains an opening therethrough to receive said strand of thin
cord.
14. The invention of claim 1 comprising a film material for
covering and securing said photograph within said compartment.
15. An article of jewelry comprising: a framed compartment for
releasably receiving a photograph or a similar medium with indicia
thereon, said framed compartment being formed of a plate protecting
the back of the photograph and upwardly extending sidewalls along
the perimeter of said plate and formed integrally therewith; a
first opening and a second opening formed within opposing sidewalls
of each of said compartments; means to connect said framed
compartment to other objects to form a bracelet; and, means formed
within the plate to receive an implement to facilitate the release
of the photograph.
16. An article of jewelry comprising: a framed compartment for
releasably receiving a photograph or a similar medium with indicia
thereon, said framed compartment being formed of a plate protecting
the back of the photograph and upwardly extending sidewalls along
the perimeter of said plate and formed integrally therewith; means
to connect said compartment to other objects to form a ring, pin,
necklace or pendant; and, means formed within the plate to receive
an implement to facilitate the release of the photograph.
17. The invention of claim 1 wherein said plate is formed
integrally with said framed compartment.
18. The invention of claim 1 wherein said framed compartment is
comprised of metal.
19. The invention of claim 1 wherein said framed compartment is
comprised of a synthetic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
jewelry and, more particularly to an improved bracelet or other
article of jewelry for displaying and interchanging individual or a
series of photographs.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Articles of jewelry for displaying photographs or some other
kind of object bearing indicia for wearing on a person's wrist or
elsewhere on the body are well known in the prior art.
[0005] Included among these prior art references are the articles
of jewelry shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,319,201 granted Oct. 21, 1919
to Boldizsar; U.S. Pat. No. 2,145,071 granted Jan. 24, 1939 to
Cave; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,852 granted Jan. 21, 1992 to Cox.
[0006] Cox discloses a bracelet with a rigid band containing
individual compartments with removable windows for displaying
photographs.
[0007] Boldizsar discloses an item of jewelry that includes linked
compartments for receiving photographs or the like, and a rear
plate formed with an upwardly extending bezel to secure the
photograph. A cover is employed as a frame and requires more than a
simple manipulation to remove.
[0008] Cave discloses articles of jewelry comprised of rings,
brooches, pendants and bracelets, among others, that display
photographs beneath precious, non-precious or artificial stones of
supreme clarity and transparency.
[0009] Neither the aforesaid references nor anything else known in
the prior art discloses the improvements of the present invention
directed to a bracelet or some other item of jewelry with
components that are connected to enable the enhancement of its
aesthetic features and the individual or multiple photographs
displayed therein to be secured and easily removed and replaced,
but without the major deficiencies of any of its precursors in the
prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides
an article of jewelry comprising a bracelet having a plurality of
framed compartments for releasably receiving a photograph or some
similar medium with indicia thereon. The framed compartments are
formed of an integral rear plate for protecting the back of the
photograph and four sidewalls integrally formed therewith. Openings
are formed in two of the opposing sidewalls to receive a thin
resilient cord or the like employed to connect the framed
compartments in a series. A separate opening is formed within the
integral rear plate to receive an implement to facilitate the
removal of the photograph. Spacer members are provided to keep each
framed compartment equally separated from the next and ensure the
bracelet's overall flexibility.
[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved article of jewelry.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved article of jewelry that enables the enhancement of the
aesthetic features of the article.
[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved article of jewelry that enables the photographs
displayed in its framed components to be secured and easily removed
and replaced.
[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved article of jewelry with an enhanced flexibility.
[0015] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved article of jewelry that is easy and cost effective to
manufacture.
[0016] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved article of jewelry with a single framed component.
[0017] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved article of jewelry with a framed component in
combination with assorted other aesthetically pleasing objects.
[0018] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved article of jewelry with a transparent film for
protecting the front surface of the photograph and assist in
securing the photograph within the framed component.
[0019] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following specifications when considered in
light of the attached drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of
the invention is illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved article of
jewelry according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a single framed
compartment demonstrating the means for removing a photograph
according to the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view of a single framed
compartment containing a photograph according to the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 3B is an enlarged sectional view of a single framed
compartment displaying an implement pushing through the opening in
the rear plate to remove the photograph according to the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 3C is an enlarged sectional view of a single framed
compartment with the photograph shown removed according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a
perspective view of the present invention depicting an article of
jewelry 10. Article of jewelry 10 consists of bracelet 12, which is
comprised of a plurality of framed compartments 14 for releasably
receiving a photograph 16 or some similar medium with indicia 18
thereon. Compartment 14 includes a rear plate 20 with an opening 22
therein and upwardly extending sidewalls 24, 25, 27 and 29 along
each side 26 of framed compartment 14 integrally formed therewith.
Rear plate 20 may also include assorted other openings (not shown)
of various shapes and sizes to reduce costs of materials and
contribute to the article's aesthetic appeal.
[0026] Openings 28 and 30 are formed within opposing sidewalls 24
and 25 for receiving a cord or wire 32 for connecting multiple
compartments 14 in a series. Spacer elements 34, which are secured
as a component of bracelet 12 by threading wire 32 through
individual openings 36, are provided to separate each of the
compartments 14 from the next and enhance the overall flexibility
of bracelet 12. Brackets 38 are provided to retain the corners 40
of photograph 16 securely within each compartment 14. Also used to
retain photograph 16 within each compartment 14 are pieces of
transparent film (not shown) of the same shape and size as
photograph 16.
[0027] In a typical application of the present invention,
photograph 16 is placed inside compartment 14 as shown in FIG. 1
and FIG. 3A in cross section. To remove the photograph, a narrow
implement 42 is employed to pierce opening 22 and engage photograph
16 pushing it sufficiently forward to separate it from compartment
14, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3B and 3C.
[0028] Compartment 14 may be fabricated of any suitable material
such as a metal alloy or a resilient synthetic composition.
Embellishments, such as a sculpted, embossed or engraved
treatments, may be applied to any desired surface of the framed
compartment to enhance its aesthetic appeal.
[0029] Spacer elements 34 are comprised of any suitably attractive
object, though preferably beads of various sizes, shapes and
colors.
[0030] Wire 32, which is preferably elastic or stretchable, can be
comprised of either a natural or synthetic fiber sufficiently thin
and resilient enough to easily thread the openings 28 and 30 in the
sidewalls 24 and 25 and openings 36 in spacer elements 34 and
secure all the bracelet 12 components.
[0031] Photograph 16 or any other item with indicia thereon is
typically comprised of a paper material, though any size
appropriate plastic, metal or natural element would also be
suitable.
[0032] Implement 42 may be a small, slender metal or resilient
synthetic poker or pin or even the point of a pencil or pen
appropriately sized to fit through opening 22, engage photograph 16
and push it forward deforming it to enable the photograph 16 (and
the thin transparent film, if used) to slip from compartment 14 and
separate from it.
[0033] Alternate embodiments (not shown) of the present invention
include a single compartment 14 fashioned into a ring to be worn on
a finger or in combination with a chain, and a single compartment
14 in combination with one or more fanciful or ornamental objects
of various sizes, shapes, colors and material compositions.
[0034] While the invention will be described in connection with a
certain preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not
intended to limit the invention to that particular embodiment.
Rather, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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