Jewelry – Body member encircling ornament – Ring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-04-10
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Jewelry
Body member encircling ornament
Ring
C063S026000, C063S028000, CD11S026000, CD11S034000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212908
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an article of jewelry. More specifically, the present invention relates to a jewelry ring which has a more prominent design which typically will be shown to a viewer and a less prominent design which ordinarily will be located at the hidden or palm part of the ring but can be selectively turned around, i.e., rotated on the wearer's finger to be seen by a viewer. In this position, the more prominent design is rotated so that it is hidden from view. In this way, a fanciful jewelry ring is provided with a security feature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rings are popular items of jewelry which have been worn by women and men for centuries. Generally rings are made out of a solid metal material. The most common form of a ring constitutes a simple metallic band, often of gold or silver alloy, fitted for the wearer's finger. More elaborate rings have been made to contain precious or semi-precious gems, engravings and so forth.
Rings containing elaborate designs and precious or semi-precious gems of a relatively large carat weight are very desirable, yet expensive and therefore have been objects of numerous robberies. Robbers, who see large ornate rings, actually approach the wearer and threaten violence unless the wearer removes the ring and gives it to the robber. Consequently, many jewelry and ring wearers when they are in the public streets or in a less secure environment, tend to turn their expensive rings 180° around on their finger to hide the expensive design and/or gem from view of a would-be-robber. However, an observant viewer would notice that the opposite or now-exposed side of the ring looks like the rear portion of a more ornate ring. Stated another way, the forward projected, yet rotated back of an ornate ring or a ring with a large gem looks exactly like the back of an ornate ring or one with a large gem. No one, certainly not a sophisticated robber, is fooled. The front of an ornate or gem-bearing ring is wide to support the gem. The sides of an ornate ring are usually tapered toward the back to provide for more comfortable wear. When the ring is turned, the tapering makes it obvious that the ring was turned around on the finger. As a result, instead of providing more security to the wearer, the above manipulations attract unwanted attention by alerting the potential robber that there may be a large gem on the hidden side of the ring that is worth hiding.
Rings can be divided into four segments, i) the prominent design segment; ii) two sides which usually taper down from the design segment and iii) the rear or palm-facing segment. Some rings, of course, have fanciful designs which extend from the design segment to the sides, even all the way around to the palm facing segment. However, extending gems and/or ornate design around the entire ring can be expensive. Presently available jewelry ring constructions with large gems or prominent designs on the design segment generally do not have many gems or design on the palm facing segment because such a design typically would not be observed by an outside viewer, thus “wasting” the expense. However, there are numbers of people, usually called “expressive” talkers, who enhance their speech with hand gestures. “Expressive” talkers frequently show the inside or palms of their hands while talking, and many of them would prefer to wear rings that could show some design or artistic appeal during conversations, instead of the mere plain, palm facing segment of the ring and, yet, in addition to the traditional outwardly facing design segment.
Additionally, the ability of the wearer to be in contact with the gemstone itself is important for people who believe in the healing power of gems, know as “crystal healing.” Traditional designs do not allow for such contact unless the ring is rotated until the prominent design segment is located inside the wearer's palm. The rear or palm-facing segment, which typically lacks any ornamentation, is then displayed to a viewer.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for ring constructions that would allow a wearer to conceal an expensive design of the prominent design segment of the ring (to avoid robberies, for example) while not raising suspicions of potential robbers. There is also an interest in the art for a construction which can allow wearers to display a less prominent design, on the palm facing side, while showing the inside of their hands, while also maintaining the large gem or design on the outside facing segment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a ring construction which will allow the wearer to selectively, securely conceal the prominent design portion on the ring's front or outer surface, and yet a viewer will still see a design or gem, as if the ring were an ornate (yet less ornate) ring, only with a less prominent design when the ring is turned for security.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ring construction which can be easily manipulated by the wearer to present different “looks.”
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ring with a prominent front-facing design section and a smaller palm-facing design section.
Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be more apparent hereinafter.
The objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a ring construction having a ring with two main segments connected by side segments. Each of the main ring segments has its own design. The design of the first ring segment is considered more “important,” substantial or prominent than the design of the second segment. The first ring segment is typically displayed for viewing. The two segments are located about 180° from one another. However, when, for security or any other purpose, the wearer selectively rotates the ring, the second segment with the less prominent design or gem is displayed, concealing the more prominent design of the first segment within the wearer's palm, without alerting a potential robber that a more prominent design is hidden.
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Printout from GPI Web Client for JP 410075809A, Mar. 1998.
Chop Andrea
Levisohn, Lerner, Berger & Langsam
Melius Terry Lee
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