U.S. patent application number 17/161994 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-11 for hybrid ring.
The applicant listed for this patent is Goodwin Management Group, LLC. Invention is credited to Peter M. Goodwin.
Application Number | 20210345735 17/161994 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005371051 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210345735 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goodwin; Peter M. |
November 11, 2021 |
HYBRID RING
Abstract
A ring for wearing by a user includes a rigid outer annular body
and a flexible inner annular body. In one embodiment, the outer
annular body is a rigid material formed form a process other than
injection molding, and the inner annular body is flexible and
formed form an injection molded process. The outer annular body is
attached to the inner annular body. The inner annular body may be
machined to curve from longitudinal ends of the inner annular body
to an inner surface of the inner annular body after the inner
annular body is joined to the outer annular body in order to
provide a comfort fit. Alternatively, the inner annular body may be
molded with the comfort fit curvature. In one embodiment, the outer
annular body has at least one strain relief recess in an inner
surface thereof, and the inner annular body fills said strain
relief recess.
Inventors: |
Goodwin; Peter M.; (Spring
Hill, TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Goodwin Management Group, LLC |
Spring Hill |
TN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005371051 |
Appl. No.: |
17/161994 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16866998 |
May 5, 2020 |
10932533 |
|
|
17161994 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 9/0007
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A44C 9/00 20060101
A44C009/00 |
Claims
1. A ring configured to be worn by a user, said ring comprising: an
outer annular body; and an inner annular body formed via an
injection molding process, wherein: an outer surface of the inner
annular body is attached to an inner surface of the outer annular
body; and an inner surface of the inner annular body is configured
to contact the user when the ring is worn by the user.
2. The ring of claim 1, wherein the outer annular body is not
formed via an injection molding process.
3. The ring of claim 1, wherein the outer annular body is not
flexible.
4. The ring of claim 1, wherein the outer annular body is
rigid.
5. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the inner annular body is machined
after the injection molding process forming the inner annular body
to remove material from the inner annular body such that
longitudinal ends of the inner annular body do not extend beyond
corresponding longitudinal ends of the outer annular body.
6. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the inner annular body is machined
after the injection molding process forming the inner annular body
to remove material from the inner annular body such that
longitudinal ends of the inner annular body do not extend beyond
corresponding longitudinal ends of the outer annular body and the
inner annular body is rounded from the outer surface of the inner
annular body to the inner surface of the inner annular body.
7. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the outer annular body comprises
at least one strain relief recess in an inner surface of said outer
annular body; and the inner annular body extends into the stain
relief recess in the outer annular body.
8. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the outer annular body comprises
at least one strain relief recess in an inner surface of said outer
annular body; the strain relief recess extends through the outer
annular body such that the outer annular body is not continuous;
and the inner annular body extends into the stain relief recess in
the outer annular body.
9. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the outer annular body comprises
at least one strain relief recess in an inner surface of said outer
annular body; the strain relief recess extends through the outer
annular body such that the outer annular body is not continuous;
the inner annular body extends into the stain relief recess in the
outer annular body; and the inner annular body comprises a groove
corresponding to the strain relief recess in the outer annular
body.
10. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the outer annular body comprises
a first strain relief recess in an inner surface of said outer
annular body; and the outer annular body comprises a second strain
relief recess in the inner surface of the outer annular body; the
first strain relief recess and the second strain relief recess are
opposite one another with respect to an angular location of the
first strain relief recess and the second strain relief recess such
that the angle between the first strain relief recess and the
second strain relief recess relative to a longitudinal axis through
a center of the ring is 180 degrees; and the inner annular body
extends into the stain relief recesses in the outer annular
body.
11. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the outer annular body has a
fastening channel defined therein; the fastening channel is
recessed from the inner surface of the outer annular body; and the
inner annular body extends into the fastening channel.
12. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the outer annular body has a
fastening channel defined therein; the fastening channel is
recessed from the inner surface of the outer annular body; and the
inner annular body substantially fills the fastening channel.
13. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the outer annular body has a
fastening channel defined therein; the fastening channel is
recessed from the inner surface of the outer annular body; the
inner annular body substantially fills the fastening channel; and
the outer annular body has a larger diameter in the fastening
channel than at the inner surface of the outer annular body.
14. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the outer annular body is formed
of a material from the group of materials consisting of gold,
titanium, carbon fiber, and stainless steel.
15. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the inner annular body is formed
from silicone.
16. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the inner annular body is at
least one of polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic polyurethane, or
silicone.
17. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the inner annular body comprises
a plurality of slots defined in the inner surface of the inner
annular body, each of said slots extending longitudinally from a
first side of the ring to a second side of the ring.
18. The ring of claim 1, wherein: the inner annular body comprises
a plurality of slots defined in the inner surface of the inner
annular body, each of said slots extending longitudinally from a
first side of the ring to a second side of the ring; and the slots
are curved and interlink with one another.
19. A ring configured to be worn by a user, said ring comprising:
an outer annular body; and an inner annular body formed via an
injection molding process, wherein: an outer surface of the inner
annular body is attached to an inner surface of the outer annular
body; and an inner surface of the inner annular body is configured
to contact the user when the ring is worn by the user, wherein the
outer annular body is not formed via an injection molding
process.
20. A ring configured to be worn by a user, said ring comprising:
an outer annular body; and an inner annular body formed via an
injection molding process, wherein: an outer surface of the inner
annular body is attached to an inner surface of the outer annular
body; and an inner surface of the inner annular body is configured
to contact the user when the ring is worn by the user, wherein: the
outer annular body comprises at least one strain relief recess in
an inner surface of said outer annular body; and the inner annular
body extends into the stain relief recess in the outer annular
body.
Description
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document
or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING
APPENDIX
[0004] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates generally to vented rings and
methods of forming the same. More particularly, this invention
pertains to vented rigid rings.
[0006] Traditional rings are typically made of titanium, stainless
steel, carbon fiber, gold, platinum, silver, or other precious
metals. These materials are often chosen due to both appearance and
durability. However, due to their inherent strength, metal rings
(and carbon fiber rings) are the source of many injuries. More
specifically, in the unfortunate event that a user catches their
metal ring on something, it can cause bruising, avulsion, or even
amputation of the associated digit. This problem is particularly
prevalent for machinists, construction workers, athletes, and other
physically active individuals.
[0007] In an attempt to avoid injury, it has been suggested that
the individual wear their ring on a chain around their neck. While
this would protect the individual's finger or toe, most people are
not interested in permanently converting their ring into a
necklace. Further, it is not practical to remove one's ring every
time the wearer is switching from an activity that will not result
in injury to an activity that could result in injury and replace
the ring when the dangerous activity ends. Silicone rings have
become an alternative to metal rings for wearers who routinely
engage in activities that could result in injury if the user is
wearing a ring. Silicone rings are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
10,383,412 entitled "VENTED RING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE
SAME", the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Although silicone rings have the potential to reduce injury, they
do not have the same aesthetic as the metals and other rigid
materials that they replace. Silicone rings have become common for
athletes and industrial or construction workers, but most office
workers still wear metal rings (or other rigid material rings) even
though many of these people will occasionally engage in activities
dangerous to people wearing rings. A safer ring with the look of
rigid materials is therefore desirable.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Aspects of the present invention provide a ring including a
rigid outer annular body and a flexible inner annular body. In one
embodiment, the outer annular body is a rigid material formed form
a process other than injection molding, and the inner annular body
is flexible and formed form an injection molded process. The outer
annular body is attached to the inner annular body. The inner
annular body may be machined to curve from longitudinal ends of the
inner annular body to an inner surface of the inner annular body
after the inner annular body is joined to the outer annular body in
order to provide a comfort fit. Alternatively, the inner annular
body may be molded with the comfort fit curvature. In one
embodiment, the outer annular body has at least one strain relief
recess in an inner surface thereof, and the inner annular body
fills said strain relief recess.
[0009] In one aspect, a ring configured to be worn by a user
includes an outer annular body and an inner annular body. The inner
annular body is formed via an injection molding process. The outer
surface of the inner annular body is attached to an inner surface
of the outer annular body. The inner surface of the inner annular
body is configured to contact the user when the ring is worn by the
user.
[0010] In another aspect, a ring configured to be worn by a user
includes an outer annular body and an inner annular body. The inner
annular body is formed via an injection molding process. The outer
surface of the inner annular body is attached to an inner surface
of the outer annular body. The inner surface of the inner annular
body is configured to contact the user when the ring is worn by the
user. The outer annular body is not formed via an injection molding
process.
[0011] In another aspect, a ring configured to be worn by a user
includes an outer annular body and an inner annular body. The inner
annular body is formed via an injection molding process. The outer
surface of the inner annular body is attached to an inner surface
of the outer annular body. The inner surface of the inner annular
body is configured to contact the user when the ring is worn by the
user. The outer annular body includes at least one strain relief
recess in an inner surface of the outer annular body. The inner
annular body extends into the strain relief recess in the outer
annular body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a ring according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the ring of FIG. 2 shown along
plane A in FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a ring according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to optional embodiments
of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying
drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in
the drawing and in the description referring to the same or like
parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] While the making and using of various embodiments of the
present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be
appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable
inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of
specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are
merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention
and do not delimit the scope of the invention.
[0018] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described
herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined
herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary
skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as
"a," "an," and "the" are not intended to refer to only a singular
entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific
example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is
used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their
usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the
claims.
[0019] As described herein, an upright position is considered to be
the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or
in a natural resting position as described herein. Vertical,
horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom and other orientation
terms are described with respect to this upright position during
operation unless otherwise specified. As used herein, the upright
position of a ring is when worn on the finger of a user and the
finger is generally horizontal such that the ring is annular about
a horizontally extending longitudinal axis. The term "when" is used
to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as
a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and
claimed herein unless otherwise specified. The terms "above",
"below", "over", and "under" mean "having an elevation or vertical
height greater or lesser than" and are not intended to imply that
one object or component is directly over or under another object or
component.
[0020] The phrase "in one embodiment," as used herein does not
necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, "can,"
"might," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically stated
otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is
generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include,
while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements
and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally
intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any
way required for one or more embodiments.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a ring 100 is configured to be worn
about a finger of a user. The ring 100 includes an outer annular
body 102 and an inner annular body 104. The inner annular body 104
is formed via an injection molding process. An outer surface 106 of
the inner annular body 104 is attached to an inner surface 108 of
the outer annular body 102. An inner surface 110 of the inner
annular body 104 is configured to contact the finger of the user
when the ring 100 is worn by the user.
[0022] The outer annular body 102 may be formed via a number of
different processes depending on the material of the outer annular
body 102. In one embodiment, the outer annular body 102 is formed
of a material from the group of materials consisting of gold,
titanium, carbon fiber, and stainless steel. It is contemplated
within the scope of the claims that the material of the outer
annular body 102 may be other than these materials. In one
embodiment, the outer annular body 102 is not formed via an
injection molding process. In one embodiment, the outer annular
body 102 is not flexible, and instead, the outer annular body 102
is rigid.
[0023] The inner annular body 104 is formed via an injection
molding process. In one embodiment, the material of the inner
annular body 104 is flexible. In one embodiment, the inner annular
body 104 is formed from silicon. In another embodiment, the inner
annular body includes at least one of polyvinyl chloride,
thermoplastic polyurethane, or silicone.
[0024] In one embodiment, the outer annular body 102 is placed into
the mold which forms the inner annular body 104 during the
injection molding process in order to bind the inner annular body
104 to outer annular body 102 and such that the inner annular body
104 fills any recesses or strain relief areas in the outer annular
body 102. In one embodiment, the inner annular body 104 is machined
after the injection molding process forming the inner annular body
104 to remove material from the inner annular body 104 such that
longitudinal ends 120 of the inner annular body 104 do not extend
beyond corresponding longitudinal ends 122 of the outer annular
body 102. In one embodiment, the machining further rounds the inner
annular body 104 such that the interannual body 104 is rounded from
the outer surface 106 of the inner annular body 104 to the inner
surface 110 of the inner annular body 104. The machining may also
remove material from the outer annular body 102 at the longitudinal
ends 122 of the outer annular body 102 to better align the ends 120
of the inner annular body 104 with the longitudinal ends 122 of the
outer annular body 102. In another embodiment, curvature of the
inner annular body 104 from the outer surface 106 of the inner
annular body to the inner surface 110 of the inner annular body 104
is accomplished during the injection molding process forming the
inner annular body 104.
[0025] In one embodiment, the outer annular body 102 includes at
least one strain relief recess 130 in the inner surface 108 of the
outer annular body 102. The inner annular body 104 extends into the
strain relief recess 130 in the outer annular body 102. In one
embodiment, the strain relief recess 130 extends through the outer
annular body 102 such that the outer annular body 102 is not
continuous. In one embodiment, the inner annular body 104 includes
a groove 132 corresponding to the strain relief recess 130 in the
outer annular body 102. The groove 132 corresponding to the strain
relief recess 130 may be angularly aligned with the strain relief
recess 130, or may be slightly offset from the strain relief recess
130. That is, the groove 132 corresponding to the strain relief
recess 130 may be angularly aligned at an edge 131 of the strain
relief recess 130 or offset from the strain relief recess 130 by a
small amount (e.g., less than 15.degree.). In one embodiment, the
outer annular body includes a plurality of strain relief recesses
130. The first strain relief recess 130 and a second strain relief
recess 133 are opposite one another with respect to an angular
location of each of the strain relief recesses such that the angle
between the first strain relief recess 130 and the second strain
relief recess 133 relative to a longitudinal axis through the
center of the ring 100 is 180.degree.. These strain relief recesses
130 and the corresponding grooves 132 are configured to create a
weak point in the ring 100 such that if a user catches the ring on
an object, the inner annular body 104 will tear through, removing
the ring 100 from the user instead of injuring the user's
finger.
[0026] In one embodiment, the outer annular body 102 has a
fastening channel 140 defined therein. The fastening channel 140 is
recessed from the inner surface 108 of the outer annular body 102,
and the inner annular body 104 extends into the fastening channel
140 (see e.g., FIG. 2). In one embodiment, the inner annular body
104 substantially fills the fastening channel 140. The outer
annular body 102 has a larger diameter in the fastening channel 140
than at the inner surface 108 of the outer annular body 102.
[0027] In one embodiment, the inner annular body 104 includes a
plurality of slots 150 defined in the inner surface 110 of the
inner annular body 104. Each of the slots 150 extends
longitudinally from a first side of the ring 102 a second side of
the ring 100 (e.g., between the opposing longitudinal ends 120 of
the inner annular body 104). In one embodiment, the slots 150 do
not extend directly from one side of the ring 100 to the opposing
side of the ring 100, but instead are curved and interlinked with
one another.
[0028] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to
practice the invention, including making and using any devices or
systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable
scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include
other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they
have structural elements that do not differ from the literal
language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural
elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages
of the claims.
[0029] It will be understood that the particular embodiments
described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as
limitations of the invention. The principal features of this
invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing
from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures
described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the
scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.
[0030] All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed
herein may be made and/or executed without undue experimentation in
light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods
of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments
included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or
methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method
described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and
scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and
modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be
within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined
by the appended claims.
[0031] Thus, although there have been described particular
embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful HYBRID
RING it is not intended that such references be construed as
limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in
the following claims
* * * * *