Patent application title: Jewellery
Inventors:
Valeska Fleur Dominguez (Crows Nest, AU)
Assignees:
Leskjam Pty Ltd
IPC8 Class: AA44C2500FI
USPC Class:
63 40
Class name: Jewelry miscellaneous changeable ornamental element, e.g., for color coordination, etc.
Publication date: 2009-02-26
Patent application number: 20090049866
Inventors list |
Agents list |
Assignees list |
List by place |
Classification tree browser |
Top 100 Inventors |
Top 100 Agents |
Top 100 Assignees |
Usenet FAQ Index |
Documents |
Other FAQs |
Patent application title: Jewellery
Inventors:
Valeska Fleur Dominguez
Agents:
DAVIDSON BERQUIST JACKSON & GOWDEY LLP
Assignees:
Leskjam Pty Ltd
Origin: ARLINGTON, VA US
IPC8 Class: AA44C2500FI
USPC Class:
63 40
Abstract:
A coupling assembly for jewellery components the coupling assembly
including a first coupling member and a second coupling member which are
adapted to be connected together in a coupled position. Each coupling
member includes a coupling body with a cavity therein, a mouth for
providing access to the cavity from externally thereof the mouth
including opposed jaw sections with an opening therebetween. The
arrangement is such that the two coupling members can be connected
together by presenting the mouth of the first coupling member to the
mouth of the second coupling member when in a coupling position relative
to one another so that the jaw sections of each one of the coupling
members can pass through the mouth of each other one of coupling member
so that the two coupling members are interlocked.Claims:
1. A coupling assembly for jewellery components the coupling assembly
including a first coupling member and a second coupling member which are
adapted to be connected together in a coupled position each coupling
member including a coupling body with a cavity therein, a mouth for
providing access to the cavity from externally thereof the mouth
including opposed jaw sections with an opening therebetween, the
arrangement being such that the two coupling members can be connected
together by presenting the mouth of the first coupling member to the
mouth of the second coupling member when in a coupling position relative
to one another so that the jaw sections of each one of the coupling
members can pass through the mouth of each other one of coupling member
so that the two coupling members are interlocked.
2. A coupling assembly according to claim 1 wherein the coupling body of each coupling member comprises a generally annular shaped or ring shaped element which substantially surrounds the cavity, the element having a gap in the element which forms the mouth, the free edges of the element at the gap forming the jaws, the cross-sectional dimension of the body being such that it cannot pass through the mouth.
3. A coupling assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the jaw sections of each coupling member are configured so that each one of the coupling members can pass through the mouth of the other one when disposed in the coupling position relative to one another but are inhibited from such passage when in other positions relative to one another.
4. A coupling assembly according to claim 3 wherein the free edge portion adjacent the gap is tapered inwardly which enables the interlocking of the two parts, the arrangement being such that when two coupling members are to be connected together the two coupling member are oriented so that their mouths face one another and the plane of the coupling body of one coupling member is generally at right angles to the plane of the coupling body of the other coupling member.
5. A jewellery component for a jewellery piece, the jewellery component including an adornment part and one or more coupling members according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which facilitates connection of two or more jewellery components together to form a jewellery piece.
Description:
[0001]This invention relates generally to jewellery and more particularly
to a coupling assembly which is suitable for connecting jewellery
components together.
[0002]Jewellery takes a large number of forms however generally it is a static piece which can be worn or adopt only one configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling assembly for jewellery components which may in some applications provide for some variety of assembly.
[0003]According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a coupling assembly for jewellery components the coupling assembly including a first coupling member and a second coupling member which are adapted to be connected together in a coupled position each coupling member including a coupling body with a cavity therein, a mouth for providing access to the cavity from externally thereof the mouth including opposed jaw sections with an opening therebetween, the arrangement being such that the two coupling members can be connected together by presenting the mouth of the first coupling member to the mouth of the second coupling member when in a coupling position relative to one another so that the jaw sections of each one of the coupling members can pass through the mouth of each other one of coupling member so that the two coupling members are interlocked.
[0004]In one embodiment each coupling member may be associated with a respective jewellery component so that jewellery components can be connected together in a variety of configurations. The jewellery components may have two or more coupling members associated therewith so that a number of other jewellery components can be secured to that component. It will be appreciated that the coupling members can be disconnected from one another so that the jewellery components can be interchangeable.
[0005]The coupling body of each coupling member may be in the form of a generally annular shaped or ring shaped element which substantially surrounds the cavity, the element having a gap in the element body which forms the mouth, the free edges of the element at the gap forming the jaws. The element can be of any suitable shape when viewed in plan. For example it may be generally square or rectangular although it will be appreciated that it could be other shapes such as at least partially circular, triangular and the like. In addition the cross-sectional shape can take a number of forms such as square, rectangular, circular, triangular by way of example only. Preferably the cross-sectional dimension of the body is such that it cannot pass through the mouth. This means that connection and release can only be effected as described above and unintentional release is substantially inhibited.
[0006]Preferably the jaw sections of each coupling member are configured so that each one of the coupling members can pass through the mouth of the other one. In one form the free edge portion adjacent the gap is tapered inwardly which enables the interlocking of the two parts. In one form the side edges are chamfered or similarly shaped.
[0007]The arrangement is such that when two coupling members are to be connected together the two coupling member are oriented so that their mouths face one another and the plane of the coupling body of one coupling member is generally at right angles to the plane of the coupling body of the other coupling member.
[0008]The jewellery component may include an adornment part to which one or more of the coupling members are secured or formed integral therewith. The adornment part can take any number of forms. For example it may be in the form of a link, pendent, chain or the like. The connection members may be secured to the adornment part by suitable fastenings, adhesive, welding, soldering or any other technique.
[0009]According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a jewellery component for a jewellery piece, the jewellery component including an adornment part and one or more coupling members of the type described above in the broadly described or more preferred forms which facilitates connection of two or more jewellery components together to form a jewellery piece.
[0010]According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a jewellery piece which includes a plurality of jewellery components as described above which can be connected together by coupling assemblies as described above.
[0011]Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawing and in those drawings:
[0012]FIGS. 1 and 2 are various views of two coupling elements for jewellery components according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0013]FIG. 3 is an illustration of the two coupling elements interlocked;
[0014]FIGS. 4 to 11 are various embodiments of jewellery components having coupling elements thereon;
[0015]FIG. 12 is an illustration of the disposition of the jaw members relative to: one another for connection, and
[0016]FIGS. 13 and 14 are illustrations of a jewellery piece made up of a number of jewellery components connected together by coupling assemblies according to the invention.
[0017]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated two coupling member 12 and 14 which can form a coupling assembly 10, (see FIGS. 3, 14 and 15) for jewellery components 50. The coupling members are adapted to be connected together in a coupled position as illustrated in FIG. 3. Coupling member 12 includes a coupling body 14 with a cavity 16 therein, a mouth 21 for providing access to the cavity 14 from externally thereof. The mouth 21 includes opposed jaw sections 23 and 24, with an opening 27 therebetween. Similarly coupling member 14 includes a coupling body 15 having a cavity 17 therein with a mouth 22 providing access to the cavity 15. Opposed jaw sections 25 and 26 are arranged with an opening 28 therebetween. The arrangement is such that the two coupling members 12 and 14 can be connected together by presenting the mouth 21 of one coupling member 12 to the mouth 22 of the other coupling member 13. The jaw sections 23, 24, 25 and 26 are configured such that the jaw sections of each one pass through the mouth of each other one of coupling member so that the two coupling members are interlocked.
[0018]The coupling body 14 and 15 of each coupling member 12 and 13 is in the form of a generally annular shaped or ring shaped element with a series of limbs 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35, 36, 37 and 38 which substantially surrounds the cavity. A gap between adjacent limbs 31 and 34, and 35 and 38 forms the mouth and the free edges at the gap form the jaws. As shown, the coupling body 14 and 15 of each member is generally square or rectangular when viewed in plan. The free edges of the jaws have inclined faces the planes of which are at an angle A which is about 90°. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the bodies is generally square. The cross-sectional dimension of the body in each case is such that it is inhibited from passage through the mouth. This means that connection and release can only be effected as described above and unintentional release is substantially inhibited.
[0019]As shown the jaw sections of each coupling member have a free edge portion adjacent the gap which is tapered inwardly. This enables the interlocking of the two parts only when configured in a coupling position relative to one another. This is illustrated in FIG. 12. The arrangement is such that when two coupling members are to be connected together the two coupling member are oriented so that their mouths face one another and the plane of the coupling body of one coupling member is generally at right angles to the plane of the coupling body of the other coupling member.
[0020]The jewellery component includes an adornment part 40 to which one or more of the coupling members are secured or formed integral therewith. The adornment part can take any number of forms as shown in the drawings. For example it may be in the form of a link, pendent, chain or the like. The coupling members are secured to the adornment part by suitable fastenings, adhesive, welding or soldering.
[0021]As shown in the drawings, limb 31 of coupling member 12 is secured in each case to the adornment part 40 and limb 35 of coupling member 13 is secured to the adornment part 40. In this arrangement the mouth 21 and 22 of each coupling member 12 and 13 is positioned relatively closely to the adornment part 40 to which it is attached. This positioning limits the possibility of unintentional release of the two coupling members.
[0022]As shown in FIGS. 4 to 11 the adornment part can take a variety of forms. For example in FIG. 4 the adornment part is in the form of a generally square annular shaped element. In FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) the adornment part 40 includes a bar and chain assembly. In FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) the adornment part is in the form of a bar with a number of coupling members 12 and 13 thereon. In FIG. 7 the adornment part 40 includes a pendant which as shown can be of a number of different configurations with one or more coupling members attached thereto. In FIG. 8 the adornment part includes a body with precious stones embedded therein. FIG. 9 illustrates various types of components with an adornment part 40 similar in configuration to that shown in FIG. 9 but with different numbers of coupling elements attached thereto. In FIG. 10 the adornment part 40 is in the form of a chain. In FIG. 11 the adornment part 40 includes three elements held together by a centrally disposed pin or rivet.
[0023]FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a jewellery piece 60 which includes a series of jewellery components 50 which are interconnected by coupling assemblies 10. As shown the jewellery components are provided with different numbers of coupling members so that they can be connected together in differing configurations.
[0024]Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.
User Contributions:
comments("1"); ?> comment_form("1"); ?>Inventors list |
Agents list |
Assignees list |
List by place |
Classification tree browser |
Top 100 Inventors |
Top 100 Agents |
Top 100 Assignees |
Usenet FAQ Index |
Documents |
Other FAQs |
User Contributions:
Comment about this patent or add new information about this topic: