U.S. patent application number 11/446059 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-21 for modular jewelry set.
Invention is credited to Carlan Joseph, Mary Lafauci, Diana Menaged, Teresa E. Saponaro.
Application Number | 20080041098 11/446059 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39100064 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080041098 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lafauci; Mary ; et
al. |
February 21, 2008 |
Modular jewelry set
Abstract
A modular jewelry set capable of forming a variety of assemblies
using some or all components includes a group of core components
each having at least one manually actuable clasping mechanism on
each end, at least one connector ring adapted to be engaged by more
than one clasping mechanism at a time, and, preferably, at least
one strand of which at least a portion of its length is elastic.
One or more of each core component can be joined to the other
either end-to-end or in parallel, using one or more rings to accept
the clasps at the ends of the components thereby forming an
assembly. The resulting jewelry assembly has many uses including
but not limited to hair dressing and clothing accessorizing.
Inventors: |
Lafauci; Mary;
(Philadelphia, PA) ; Menaged; Diana; (Glenside,
PA) ; Joseph; Carlan; (Trevose, PA) ;
Saponaro; Teresa E.; (Jenkintown, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lawrence Cruz;Conair Corporation
One Cummings Point Road
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
39100064 |
Appl. No.: |
11/446059 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
63/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 15/00 20130101;
A44C 5/022 20130101; A45D 8/36 20130101; A44C 5/18 20130101; A44C
13/00 20130101; A44C 15/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
63/3 |
International
Class: |
A44C 5/00 20060101
A44C005/00 |
Claims
1) A modular, ornamental assembly for wearing in hair, on the body,
or on clothing comprising at least one non-elastic member having a
clasp at each end; at least one variable length member having a
clasp at each end; and at least two rings, each being adapted to be
selectively attached to a clasp from each member, respectively, at
the same time, such that said assembly forms a closed loop.
2) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said non-elastic
member comprises a chain made of links.
3) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said non-elastic
member comprises a group of beads strung over a cord.
4) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said non-elastic
member comprises a plurality of ribbon sections in combination with
beads forming a single length.
5) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said variable length
member is an elastic member.
6) An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said elastic member
comprises at least one section of an elastic cord about which
non-elastic beads are strung.
7) An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said variable length
member comprises a ribbon made of two pieces adapted to be tied
together at any one of a variety of selected positions along either
piece of ribbon in order to selectively determine the resultant
length of the member once the two ribbon pieces are tied together.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to jewelry sets and, more
particularly, to modular jewelry sets that can be configured using
different components to create a variety of custom sets for wearing
in the hair, wearing as bracelets for the wrist and ankle, wearing
as necklaces, wearing as belts, wearing as a hat band, wearing as a
bag-strap, and wearing in other manners.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Existing jewelry comes in a very large variety of
configurations. A relatively limited amount of jewelry comes in
sets having multiple components that are convertible to different
types of jewelry. Known convertible jewelry sets typically comprise
of no more than interchanging a facade on a watch or watchband,
adding and removing a gemstone to and from an earring, combining a
ring with a matching band for wearing on the same finger, or adding
and removing one or more charms to and from a necklace or a
bracelet.
[0004] No known jewelry sets exist in which a single kit using the
same basic components can be configured in a substantially large
number of different configurations.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
versatile, multi-configuration jewelry set having more different
modes than existing jewelry sets.
[0006] These objects, as well as others, are achieved by the
present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention achieves the above-mentioned objects
by utilizing a a group of core components comprising at least one
manually actuable clasping mechanism on each end of each strand, at
least one connector ring adapted to be engaged by more than one
clasping mechanism at a time, and, preferably, at least one strand
of which at least a portion of its length is elastic. One or more
of each core component can be joined to the other either end-to-end
or in parallel, using one or more rings to accept the clasps at the
ends of the components thereby forming an assembly. The resulting
jewelry assembly has many uses, as described below, including but
not limited to hair dressing and clothing accessorizing. Utilizing
the elastic component gives the assembly stretch ability so it can
be used, for example, as a hair or ponytail retention device, or as
a slip-on bracelet that, when not stretched, will not slide back
over the hand. The components can have a variety of styles and
configurations including, but not limited to: beads of metal,
glass, gemstones and other materials; ribbons or other ornamental
fabrics; links such as chain links; combinations of the foregoing;
and other pieces known to those in the art for jewelry alone or in
combination with the foregoing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of an assembly according to the
present invention wrapped around a user's hair.
[0010] FIG. 3A is a side view of an assembly according to the
present invention wrapped around a user's hair.
[0011] FIG. 3B is a side view of the assembly according to FIG.
3A.
[0012] FIG. 4A is an assembly according to the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 4B is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 4A wrapped
around a user's hair.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a component of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a component of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a component of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 7B is a partial, perspective view of a component of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of components of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an assembly according to
the present invention worn in a user's hair.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an assembly according to
the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of components of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] While certain embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein as preferred embodiments, the present invention is
not limited to these particular embodiments. For example, an
assembly according to the present invention can be configured
selectively to be suitable as a hair ornament or hair retention
device, as a necklace, as a bracelet, as a belt loop, as a belt, as
an anklet, as a strap or decorative accessory for a purse or bag,
as a decorative accessory for footwear such as a boot or for
headwear such as a hat, or as a decorative accessory for clothing
such as a jacket or a pair of jeans. These are examples and there
are many other possibilities. The jewelry described with respect to
the present invention includes, but is not limited to, such
materials as metals, gemstones, glass, fabrics, and plastics.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a jewelry assembly (10) according to
the present invention comprises a chain link section (12)
comprising individual links (14) of the type known to those skilled
in the art, and a clasp (16) at each end of the type known to those
skilled in the art. An example of the type of clasp that could be
used for the clasp (16) in FIG. 1, is the "lobster" style clasp
(56) shown in FIG. 5. The assembly (10) of FIG. 1 further comprises
a two rings (82) of the type shown in FIG. 8, to which the clasps
(16) are attached. The assembly (10) further comprises an elastic
beaded section (70) of the type shown in FIGS. 7A-7B. The elastic
beaded section (70) comprises individual beads (72) strung over an
elastic cord (74) as well as end clasps (76).
[0025] In use, an assembly (10) like that shown in FIG. 1 can be
wound repetitively around a section of hair in a variety of ways
including, but not limited to, the ponytail holding configuration
(20) of FIG. 1. By using different lengths of a chain link section
and an elastic section, or multiple sections of either, a longer
assembly can be constructed and worn in various configurations
requiring more length, such as, for example, the hair band and
ponytail configuration (30) of FIGS. 3A-3B.
[0026] For these assemblies and any other assembly described herein
with respect to the present invention, any one of a variety of
sections can be used from among chain link (12), non-elastic beads
(50), ribbon and bead combinations (60), ribbon (112), a simple
cord of leather or fabric (not shown), shells (not shown), gem
stones (not shown) and any other known jewelry configuration for
forming a flexible length. Similarly, the elastic sections can be
configured the same, but using an elastic cord to connect the
various elements.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4A-4B, using a single elastic member (42)
with a single ring (82) results in a shorter length, elastic close
loop assembly (40) which is particularly suitable for a ponytail
holder (44) or a bracelet (40).
[0028] Referring to FIG. 6, a ribbon and bead combination section
(60) is formed by two end clasps (62), a plurality of beads (64),
and a plurality of ribbon sections (66) joined into a single
length.
[0029] FIG. 9 is an example of an assembly (90) according to the
present invention that is suitable for use as either a necklace or
as a hair band (100) such as that shown in FIG. 10. The assembly
(90) comprises an elastic beaded section (70), a ribbon and bead
section (60), a non-elastic beaded section (50), and two rings
(82). Another assembly (110) shown in FIG. 11 is also suitable for
use as a hair band and comprises a ribbon section (112), two rings
(82), a non-elastic beaded section (50), and a ribbon and bead
section (60). The ribbon section (112) is tied in a bow (114) as
shown and, thus, provides adjustability thereby alleviating the
need for an elastic section.
[0030] FIG. 12 is an example of an attachment accessory ribbon
(120) having a clasp (122) on only one end thereof, so that it may
be selectively clasped to any assembly according to the present
invention in a manner in which one end (i.e., the non-clasp end)
may hand freely for aesthetic effects.
[0031] The foregoing examples are preferred embodiments
demonstrating the common features of an assembly according to the
present invention, those common features being: at least one
elastic member; a plurality of non-elastic members, linking means
to selectively connect and disconnect some or all of the members to
create a variety of configurations from the kit. Assemblies made
according to the present invention are not limited to any
particular uses and may be used for, by way of example, anklets,
belts, bag or purse straps, etc. to accessorize hair or
clothing.
[0032] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been herein described, various modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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