Special receptacle or package – For jewelry
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-29
2001-07-31
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For jewelry
C206S493000, C206S480000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267230
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to display and storage devices, and more particularly, is directed to a jewelry case for storing and displaying rings, with novel ring fingers.
One known type of ring tray includes a plurality of projections or fingers extending from a board and on which the rings are situated. With such an arrangement, the trays cannot be stacked upon each other since the projections or fingers would hit the underside of a ring tray stacked thereon.
Accordingly, ring trays have been proposed in which the underside of each ring tray is formed with recesses between the fingers or within the fingers, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,625. Thus, when a plurality of such trays are stacked upon each other, the rings seated in a lower tray extend into the bottom recesses of the next upper tray. However, the rings in the upper tray are exposed at all times, and it is possible for rings to dislodge from the fingers.
As an alternative to the above, other ring trays are known in which a thin fabric sheet is provided in a rigid plastic ring tray, and a foam pad is positioned beneath the thin fabric sheet for holding the rings. The thin fabric sheet is adhered to the peripheral ledge of the jewelry tray, and to the upper surface of the foam pad. After the thin fabric sheet is adhered to the foam pad, a plurality of slits are die cut therein. This results in the foam pad being likewise die cut and thereby aligned with the,slits in the thin fabric sheet. In this manner, a ring can be pushed through a slit in the thin fabric sheet and held by the foam pad. An upper fabric pad having a plurality of openings is adhered to the upper surface of the thin fabric sheet, with the openings in alignment with the slits. However, there are no upstanding projections or fingers for holding the ring, so that much of the ring is hidden during display. Further, since the above ring trays are made from a plurality of different elements and layers, the cost and complexity of manufacturing the same is great.
The aforementioned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/197,189 discloses an arrangement of interleaving of ring fingers. As described therein, the ring fingers are formed as part cylindrical, thin walled, resilient structures extending at an acute angle from the respective base surface and having opposite arcuate, free side edges. However, the ring fingers may become undesirably compressed when the case is closed, whereby the rings will leave marks on the opposite surface. Therefore, it would be desirable to maintain the ring fingers with a preset spacing when the case is closed.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a jewelry case that overcomes the problems with the aforementioned prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry holder in which posts are mounted to the undersurface of each ring finger, with the free end of each post being at least in close contact with the supporting surface.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry holder in which the post ensures a correct positioning of the respective ring finger even when the case is closed.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a jewelry holder in which the tag conventionally attached to the ring and which contains information such as the price, the gems thereon, etc. can be held down by the post on the supporting surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a jewelry holder in which the post supports and thereby prevents collapse of the respective ring finger.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a jewelry case having at least two parallel, spaced apart layers of ring fingers, with one layer being inverted over the other in a storage position.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a jewelry case in which the ring fingers of the two layers are offset from and interleaved with each other in the storage position.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a jewelry case in which the offset and interleaved ring fingers face each other and are all at the same inclination to provide an optimum utilization of space.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a jewelry case that is lightweight and durable, and easy and economical to manufacture and use.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a jewelry holder includes a base wall; and a ring finger extending from the base wall, the ring finger including a thin walled, resilient structure extending at an acute angle from the base wall, and a post extending from an undersurface of the thin walled, resilient structure toward the base wall, with a free end of the post positioned at least close to the base wall.
The thin walled, resilient structure is formed in a part cylindrical configuration having opposite free side edges, and has an open, upper end. Further, the side edges of the thin walled, resilient structure have an arcuate configuration.
Preferably, the thin walled, resilient structure is partially detached from the base wall at open ends of the thin walled, resilient structure to permit angular adjustment of the thin walled, resilient structure when a ring is positioned thereon.
Also, the thin walled, resilient structure and the post are formed as a unitary, single piece, molded structure.
The post is positioned along a plane which bisects the thin walled, resilient structure. A rib extends transversely along an undersurface thereof, at the position of the post.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a jewelry case includes a bottom wall; a top wall; a side wall having one edge hinged to a first edge of the top wall and an opposite edge hinged to a first edge of the bottom wall such that the top wall can be positioned in parallel spaced relation above the bottom wall; an arrangement of first ring fingers extending downwardly from the top wall toward the bottom wall when the top wall is positioned above the bottom wall, the first ring fingers being arranged in a plurality of rows, with a spacing between the first ring fingers in each row being at least equal to a width of one the first ring finger; an arrangement of second ring fingers extending upwardly from the bottom wall toward the top wall when the top wall is positioned above the bottom wall, the second ring fingers being arranged in a plurality of rows, with a spacing between the second ring fingers in each row being at least equal to a width of one the second ring finger, and with the second ring fingers fitting between and interleaved with the first ring fingers; and each first and second ring finger including a thin walled, resilient structure extending at an acute angle from the respective top wall or bottom wall, and a post extending from an undersurface of the thin walled, resilient structure toward the respective top wall or bottom wall, with a free end of the post positioned at least close to the respective top wall or bottom wall.
The first ring fingers of each row are offset from the first ring fingers of adjacent rows, and the second ring fingers of each row are offset from the second ring fingers of adjacent rows, wherein the second ring fingers fit between and interleave with the first ring fingers in first and second orthogonal directions.
Also, the bottom wall has a rectangular shape with four side edges; and the case further includes a second side wall hinged to a second, opposite edge of the bottom wall, and opposite end walls hinged to remaining opposite edges of the bottom wall. A first end flap is hinged to an upper edge of one of the end walls, and a second end flap is hinged to an upper edge of the other of the end walls for overlapping the first end flap in a closed condition of the jewelry case, with at least one of the first and second end flaps having a securing device to releasably close the jewelry case. Preferably, the securing device includes a layer of loo
Luong Shian
Sewell Paul T.
Sofer & Haroun LLP
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