U.S. patent application number 11/534488 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-21 for jewelry display apparatus.
Invention is credited to Alan P. Bergelson.
Application Number | 20080041734 11/534488 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39100341 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080041734 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bergelson; Alan P. |
February 21, 2008 |
JEWELRY DISPLAY APPARATUS
Abstract
The present invention is embodied in a jewelry display apparatus
having a jewelry holder with means for grasping a circular object
from at least two points along an interior circumferential wall and
mechanically connected by an articulation device to a base. The
jewelry display base includes an object having a mount for
supporting a jewelry holder stand on a planar surface and at least
one light source embedded in the object for directing light out
away from the surface.
Inventors: |
Bergelson; Alan P.;
(Ridgewood, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF DONALD COX
P.O. BOX 505
PRINCETON
NJ
08542-0505
US
|
Family ID: |
39100341 |
Appl. No.: |
11/534488 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60719728 |
Sep 22, 2005 |
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60721931 |
Sep 29, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/6.1 ;
206/752 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/6.1 ;
206/752 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/04 20060101
A45C011/04; B65D 79/00 20060101 B65D079/00 |
Claims
1. A jewelry display apparatus comprising: a jewelry holder having
supports to grasp a circular object from at least two points along
an interior circumferential wall and hold said object at multiple
angles of view; a base having a storage box and cover; a mechanical
articulation device connected between said jewelry holder and said
base.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said jewelry holder includes a
post to connect said supports to said articulation device.
3. The apparatus claim 1 wherein said supports are made from sheet
steel.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said jewelry holder is made
from sheet steel.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supports include ring
contact regions to contact said interior circumferential wall.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said ring contact region is
coated to guard against scratching the ring.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said ring contact region is
coated with a polymeric coating.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanical articulation
device includes a stand movably coupled to said base and a
manipulation arm connected to said jewelry holder and moveably
received into said stand.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base includes a location
coupling said mechanical articulation device to said cover.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said location is a post hole
and said mechanical articulation device includes a post.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said location is surrounded by
a grommet.
12. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said grommet is translucent
and said cover includes a light source under said grommet.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said grommet includes a
plurality of translucent grommets nested within each other.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said light source includes an
LED.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said grommets include
boreholes for passing light there through.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said boreholes are filled
with light transmissive material different than the grommets.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the boreholes are filled with
ambient air.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the light source includes an
electrical connection from said LED to a power source and a switch
disposed on an outside surface of said cover.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said LED is interchangeable
with a plurality of LEDs.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 having at least three apertures filled
with translucent grommets.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said grommets are
interchangeable.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said cover includes light
sources disposed under said grommets.
23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said light sources are LEDs
and said cover further includes a battery and a light switch
electrically connected to said light sources.
24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said box includes a recessed
storage area.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said box includes indicia on
the outside of said box.
26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said box and cover are made
of wood.
27. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said location is a post hole,
said location is surrounded by one of a plurality of grommets and
said mechanical articulation device includes a plurality of posts
that in turn will allow their placement into a variety of
differently sized, supporting post holes represented by said
plurality of grommets.
28. A jewelry holder comprising: a generally uniform strip of sheet
steel arranged into a central portion, a first end portion and a
second end portion with free ends of said first and second end
portions having tension to maintain said free ends in a spaced
apart relation diverging away from each other; said first and
second free end portions include ring contact regions near said
free ends; wherein a circular object is held between said contact
regions which when placed against said circular object to direct
tension outwardly away from said object.
29. The holder of claim 28 wherein said contact regions are defined
by a portion of said first and second end portions that curve
inward toward other and then flare back outward at the free ends to
form lips.
30. The holder of claim 28 wherein said first and second end
portions are partially coated to resist scratching said circular
object.
31. The holder of claim 28 wherein portions of said sheet steel are
coated with a polymeric coating.
32. The holder of claim 28 wherein said sheet steel is 306 sheet
steel.
33. The holder of claim 28 wherein said sheet steel has a thickness
of at least 0.15 mm.
34. The holder of claim 28 wherein said sheet steel has sufficient
hardness and dimensions to support a circular object having a
diameter up to 2.5 cm and a weight of at least 20 grams in: a first
position where a diameter of said ring lies in a horizontal plane
and said free ends underlie said horizontal plane; a second
position where said diameter of said ring lies in a horizontal
plane and said free ends overlie said horizontal plane; and a third
position where said diameter lies in a vertical plane; such that
sufficient tension is maintained in each of said positions to hold
said circular object within said ring contact regions.
35. The holder of claim 34 wherein said circular object weighs up
to 80 grams.
36. The holder of claim 28 wherein said sheet steel is coated with
an appearance altering material selected from the group consisting
of metallic coatings, colored powder coatings, color glossy
coatings and ultra violet paints.
37. The holder of claim 28 wherein said central portion is attached
to an articulation device.
38. The holder of claim 28 wherein said central portion includes a
borehole; and said holder includes a manipulation arm connected to
said central portion by attachment means selected from the group
consisting of screws, tapered posts and epoxy.
39. A jewelry holder comprising: a handle; at least two supports,
each having elongated bodies with first ends mechanically connected
to said handle and second ends in spaced apart relation such that
said bodies diverge out and away from each other from said first
ends relative to said second ends; said second ends include contact
regions to contact an interior wall of a ring; and tensioning means
located between said supports for holding said ring by said contact
regions while allowing said ring to be held at a plurality of
angles relative to a horizontal plane.
40. The holder of claim 39 wherein said contact region is coated
with a polymeric coating.
41. The holder of claim 39 wherein the holder is coated with a
metallic coating.
42. The holder of claim 39 wherein said supports are formed from
sheet steel.
43. The holder of claim 39 wherein the holder is coated with a
color coating.
44. A jewelry display base comprising: an object having a mount for
supporting a jewelry holder stand on a planar surface; at least one
light source embedded in said object for directing light out away
from said surface.
45. The base of claim 44 wherein said object includes a jewelry box
having a removable cover wherein said cover includes said mount and
said light source.
46. The base of claim 45 wherein said cover supports said jewelry
holder stand on said planar surface when connected to said box.
47. The base of claim 44 wherein said object includes at least
three apertures filled with translucent grommets.
48. The base of claim 47 wherein said grommets are
interchangeable.
49. The base of claim 48 wherein said object includes light sources
disposed under said grommets.
50. The base of claim 49 wherein said light sources are LEDs and
said cover further includes a battery and a light switch
electrically connected to said light sources.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/719,728 filed on Sep. 22, 2005 and U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/721,931 filed on Sep. 29, 2005,
each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field Of The Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to methods and devices for
holding jewelry, and, more particularly, to improved methods and
devices for holding and displaying jewelry.
[0004] 2. Description Of The Related Art
[0005] The need to display a piece of jewelry to a potential
customer relates to an interaction between individuals that may be
as old as civilization itself. Today, it is not uncommon to display
rings to customers on felt or cloth covered boards or on a
salesperson's hand. Such presentations require difficult
manipulation by the salesperson to show the client all of the fine
points of jewelry being presented. An efficient manipulation of the
"rings" being presented is a problem faced by all persons
conducting counter top sales of expensive and high quality
jewelry.
[0006] Moreover, in the past loops or microscopes have been used by
jewelers as tools of the trade to build consumer confidence in the
jewelry that they purchase. Such devices give the retail jeweler
the opportunity to discuss the jewelry and its characteristics so
the customer can see these characteristics and make an informed
purchase. By showing a customer flaws in a particular piece of
jewelry, the jeweler may demonstrate why similar pieces are
different, uniquely identifiable and have different assessed
values. This "informed consumer" approach can increase sales,
profits and subsequent purchases by the consumer and avoid
misunderstandings. Despite the effectiveness of such devices, they
have their shortcomings. For example, jewelers' loops, referring a
particular type or magnifying glasses, must be held by the user
and, thus, are unsteady and difficult for an untrained user to
effectively utilize or to reference an element being presented by
the salesperson. Similarly, microscopes are expensive and difficult
to use for showing the customer unique and specific characteristics
of each item examined and can also be difficult to use for showing
the customer unique and specific characteristics of each item
examined and can also be difficult to use for each of the parties.
In addition, both of these devices have no simple means for
displaying jewelry to the customer. Accordingly what are needed are
devices and methods for holding and displaying the key features of
the offered jewelry in an easy to use in an exacting and cost
effective manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is embodied in a jewelry display
apparatus having a jewelry holder with means for grasping a
circular object from at least two points along an interior
circumferential wall and mechanically connected by an articulation
device to a base.
[0008] In one embodiment, the jewelry holder includes a generally
uniform strip of sheet steel arranged into a central portion, a
first end portion and a second end portion with free ends of said
first and second end portions having tension to maintain the free
ends in a spaced apart relation diverging away from each other. The
first and second free end portions include ring contact regions
near said free ends, wherein a circular object is held between the
contact regions which when placed against the circular object to
direct tension outwardly away from the object.
[0009] In another embodiment, the jewelry holder includes a handle
and at least two supports, each having elongated bodies with first
ends mechanically connected to the handle. The second ends are in
spaced apart relation such that the bodies diverge out and away
from each other from the first ends relative to the second ends.
The second ends include contact regions to contact an interior wall
of a ring. Tensioning means is located between the supports for
holding the ring by the contact regions while allowing the ring to
be held at a plurality of angles relative to a horizontal
plane.
[0010] In one embodiment, the jewelry display base includes an
object having a mount for supporting a jewelry holder stand on a
planar surface and at least one light source embedded in the object
for directing light out away from the surface.
[0011] In another embodiment, the base includes a jewelry box
having a removable cover wherein said cover includes said mount and
said light source.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, the mount includes one of a
plurality of grommets and the jewelry holder stand includes a
plurality of posts that in turn will allow their placement into a
variety of differently sized, supporting post holes represented by
said plurality of grommets. These grommets may further have
different light transmissive properties.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a jewelry display
assembly of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cut away side view of a jewelry display case of
the jewelry display assembly taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the jewelry display case of
FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cut away side view of the jewelry display case
taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a jewelry holder of the
jewelry display assembly of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a jewelry holder of the
jewelry display assembly of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration
of the jewelry holder of FIG. 6; and
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a
jewelry display assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] With reference to the drawings for purposes of illustration,
a jewelry display assembly 20 according to the present invention
includes a plurality of jewelry holders 22, 24 and 26, each
supported by a stand 28 via a manipulation arm 30 having a handle
32. An exemplary assortment of jewelry holders includes a flat
nosed alligator clip 22 for holding rings and slotted, flat nosed
alligator clip 24 for holding the corners of finished gem stones in
the slots. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
the jewelry holders provided with display apparatus may include any
assortment jewelry display devices such that the inventive concepts
presented should not be limited by the exemplary jewelry holders 22
and 24. The stand includes a distal end formed with a removable
post 34 for insertion into the post hole 36 of a base 38 (FIGS. 1
and 2).
[0023] An improved jewelry holder 26 (FIG. 1), supporting a ring 40
encrusted with jewels 42, is formed from a strip of sheet steel.
The sheet steel is bent into a shape having a generally flat foot
or attachment portion 44 fitted with a central bore hole for
attachment to the arm 30 by a screw 46 through the hole and
threaded into the arm. Ring supports 48 and 50, which form the main
portion of the holder, extend out from the attachment portion 44
with distal ends 52 and 54 diverging away from each other. Each
ring support includes a ring contact region 56 and 58, where the
supports curve inward toward each other and a lip, where the distal
ends 52 and 54 of the supports flare back out away from each other.
A scratch resistant polymeric coating 60 and 62 covers portions of
the supports 48 and 50 including the lips 52 and 54 and contact
region 56 and 58. Tension along the foot 44 of the holder forces
the two supports 48 and 50 apart and thereby permits rings of
varying sizes and weights to be held within by the opposing tension
of the supports within the contact regions.
[0024] Advantageously, the jewelry display assembly includes a
jewelry display case with a storage box 66 slidingly receiving a
cover 68 through a track formed by respective tongue 70 and groove
72 elements of the cover 68 and box 66. The cover 68 includes a
post hole 36 to function as a base for the stand supporting one of
the jewelry holders 22, 24 and 26. The post hole 36 is preferably
reinforced by a grommet 74 inserted in the cover. The grommet is
preferably made from translucent material for transmitting light
out of the cover when activated by a switch 76 located near a
handle 78 for the cover 68. The handle 78, arranged on an end 80 in
the form of a knob is presently preferred, but should not be
considered limiting to the invention.
[0025] The handle, to facilitate sliding of the cover relative to
the box, may be located on the upper surface as well (not shown) or
may be represented by an indentation in the cover (not shown)
sufficient to be grasped by the finger of the user. Similarly, the
box 66 and cover 68 is presently constructed from wood; however,
any material pleasing and conducive to sale and display of jewelry
may be used. Such materials may vary depending upon the environment
the jewelry display apparatus is used in, the types of customers
attracted to the store and types and variety of jewelry sold. In
one embodiment the interior of the display box is lined with felt
(not shown) in which the felt is of a color complementary with box
design or a reflective surface for enhanced illumination. The box
66 shape is presently envisioned to be rectilinear; however other
shapes may be used. The box 66 may further be enhanced with indicia
(not shown) in the form of designs and ornamentation provided on
the outside or inside of the box intended to be pleasing to the eye
or marked with useful information such as ring size charts or
measurements to determine jewelry sizes or other such information
to facilitate identification of jewelry characteristics.
[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1-2, the cover 68 of the jewelry
display box 66 includes a number of improvements to enhance the
presentation of jewelry. As discussed earlier, the cover provides
illumination delivered through a translucent grommet 74 into which
the post portion 34 of the stand 28 is inserted. The lighting
serves a number of useful purposes some of which include providing
a diffuse light source to enhance the presentation of jewelry in
the holder. Furthermore, the lighting may be used to enhance
different characteristics of the jewelry being examined.
Additionally, the grommet 74 in some embodiments is interchangeable
with grommets having other translucent properties such as color and
polarizing light to further enhance the delivered lighting effect.
This is particularly useful when examining gemstones for
imperfections and different light characteristics that can make
identification of such imperfections much easier. In another
embodiment, multiple grommets 90 and 92 nested within each other
may be used to enhance the lighting effect. For example providing
two color shades to view the jewelry under color transitions or
polarized light to view the light when projected in directions that
are contrasting or complementary. Also tunnels 94 having ambient
air or other material with light transmissive properties may be
included to provide directed diffused lighting. This arrangement is
useful when it is desired to view the lighting effects when light
is directed at specific surfaces of the gemstones. The light source
96 is preferably in the form of a light emitting diode (LED)
electrically connected by a wire to a battery and the switch 76 on
the outside of the cover (FIG. 1). The LED may be of any color as
suited to desired use of the jewelry display apparatus; however, a
white light LED is presently preferred as it provides the greatest
versatility with regard to the use of the interchangeable grommets
74 (FIG. 1) and 90 and 92 (FIG. 2). The battery may be of any type
suitable for illuminating an LED or may be a capacitor (not shown)
that is quick charged from an external source (not shown) or an
external power source, if the apparatus is used as an unmanned
display. Furthermore, the switch 76 (FIG. 1) may be of any
conventional form including, but not limited to, a slide switch or
push-button switch as illustrated by FIG. 1.
[0027] In another embodiment, the LED is interchangeable as
well.
[0028] In yet another embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4), the cover 100 is
provided with three post holes 101-103 surrounded by grommets
105-107 similar to the one post hole configuration in which three
LEDs 109-111 provide illumination to gem stones 113-115 through
translucent material 116 and 118. The LEDs are connected in circuit
with the exterior switch 76 (FIG. 3) and a battery source 120. The
three illumination sources allows for versatility in examination of
a single gemstone by allowing for different lighting configurations
to be set to enhance different characteristics. Also the light
sources may be used with different gemstones to show off their
complementary characteristics such as one set up for a "yellow
diamond", another for a "pink diamond" and a third for a "white
diamond".
[0029] In another embodiment, the one post hole configuration and
the three-post hole configuration are provided on opposite sides of
the same cover, where the one post hole illumination is, by way of
example, but without limitation, configured for diffused ambient
lighting and the three LEDs on the opposite side are configured for
gemstone analysis. Thus, cover could merely be removed from the
track with the display box and flipped over to change from box and
cover arrangement of FIG. 1 to the box and cover arrangement of
FIG. 3.
[0030] With reference to FIGS. 5-6, the improved jewelry holder 26
of the present invention when secured on a stand 28 for mounting on
a base provides for complete articulation of the holder 26 to any
position including 360 degree rotation about the axis of the stand
28 as defined by line 130, 360 degree rotation about the axis of
the manipulation arm 30 as defined by line 132, motion above and
below the hinged connection of the manipulation arm 30 to the stand
as defined by lines 134 and 136, and motion along the longitudinal
axis of the manipulation arm 30 relative to the stand 28 as defined
by line 138. To achieve this flexibility in motion, it should first
be understood that jewelry holder 26 provides sufficient tension
and support to hold a ring or like cylindrical object to permit the
many different degrees of motion while maintaining the ring in a
secure manner.
[0031] It has been found through experimentation that a jewelry
holder as described supra, but without a polymeric coating, when
made from a 0.5 cm wide strip of 306 type stainless steel having
0.15 cm thickness, 1 cm wide long foot and 3 cm long supports,
provides a relative strength to permit manipulation through all of
the degrees of motion described supra while supporting a generally
2.5 cm diameter object weighing generally up to 80 grams. It will
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such capabilities
exceed the weights of most rings in which a common, but not
inclusive, weight range is 0.5 to 20 grams. It is this ability to
provide the means hold the ring while rotating the jewel holder
through different positions that presents a new and unique way to
view jewelry. The entire exterior surface of the ring is made
available to the viewer with the need to reposition the contact
point between the jewelry and jewelry holder. This presents the
viewer with that ability to view the entire outer circumference of
the jewelry without the need to pause and reposition the holder as
is required with existing alligator clip type jewelry holders.
Thus, the experience of viewing the jewelry may be conducted
without disturbing the experience.
[0032] Other features, which support the ability to control the
position of the jewelry holder 26, include the secure attachment of
the jewelry holder to the manipulation arm 30. This is presently
accomplished by a polymeric caulk cementing the screw 46 to the
jewelry holder 26 and manipulation arm 30. The manipulation arm 30
moves relative to the stand 28 through a bushing within a sleeve
142 that allows uniform motion when a force is applied to the
manipulation arm 30 and a screw pivot 144 attaching the sleeve 142
to the stand 28. A bushing of the type suitable for this purpose is
a brass or copper bushing. A tension device maintains tension
between the sleeve and the manipulation arm. A tension device of
the type suitable for this purpose is a conventional leaf spring
(not shown). Removal of the jewelry holder 26 from the stand 28 is
accomplished by unscrewing the manipulation handle 32 from the arm
30 and withdrawing of the arm 30 from the sleeve 142.
[0033] In another embodiment, the jewelry holder is powder coated
into a variety of colors that may be used to complement or contrast
or neutrally display the jewelry, such colors may include, but are
not limited to, metallic coatings such as chrome, gold, silver and
brushed steel, any variations of powder coatings such as black,
white or other primary colors, flesh tone colors, glossy coatings
and ultraviolet coatings. Furthermore a plurality of jewelry
holders may be used to depict different viewing environments for
the jewelry.
[0034] In another embodiment, a cylindrical piece of compressible
material placed between the supports of the jewelry holder with the
rubber and jewelry holder covered by a flesh tone colored stocking
(not shown) provides a flesh tone emulating a ring finger to
further compare and contrast different varieties of jewelry
allowing the viewer to view the ring as it might be seen on the
finger of another individual.
[0035] In another embodiment (FIG. 7), the stand 28 is fitted with
a ball 150 and socket 152 joint in which movement within the ball
and socket joint is activated/deactivated by a set screw 154 to
thereby provide additional articulation of the jewelry holder
radially about the center of the ball and socket joint as shown by
line 156.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 8, an alternate display base 160
includes a post hole 162 to support a stand 28 and jewelry holder
26 along with three post holes 162-164 fitted with grommets 166-168
and overlying an LED illumination circuit 170 to deliver light
illuminating effects in the same manner as described supra.
[0037] Although the invention has been described in terms of
exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the
appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other
variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range
of equivalents of the invention.
* * * * *