Reconfigurable Jewelry

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional Design patent application Ser. No. 29/944,425 filed on May 28, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety.

Reconfigurable jewelry items are disclosed, comprising hinged articulating elements that can be worn in multiple overall configurations. In general, a central section has an outer periphery, and a first annulus is configured via a hinge such that in one configuration, it hangs below the central section and the hinge allows swinging movement with respect to the central section. In a second configuration, the first annulus hinges about the hinge axis until it rests in a circumscribed configuration with respect to the central section, with engagement features allowing this configuration to remain stable. A second annulus is configured via another hinge to a side of the first annulus opposite the first hinge, thus allowing the second annulus two configurations like the first—but with respect to the first annulus. Thus the jewelry item can be worn in an appearance of three linked, articulating shapes in an open configuration, three interlocked shapes in a closed configuration, or half open, half interlocked in a third configuration.

The foregoing general description of the illustrative implementations and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure, and are not restrictive.

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended to be a description of various, illustrative embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Specific features and functionalities are described in connection with each illustrative embodiment; however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without each of those specific features and functionalities.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Further, it is intended that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter cover modifications and variations thereof.

show different perspectives of a first embodiment, and/or different hinge positions. Where one or more figures show the hinges in a unique positioning, those figures are enumerated as such (for instance,shows a completely open configuration, andboth show a completely closed configuration). Common reference numbers are used throughout the drawing to refer to common elements.

A general description will first be made with reference to, which shows an embodiment in an “open” configurationfrom a facing side (the side seen of an earring when looking at the side of the head of the wearer). In an open configuration, the earring appears as three attached regular hexagons, arranged smallest to largest when viewed top to bottom. The top hexagon comprises a hexagonal annulusand an inner body. In this embodiment, inner bodyis a polished planar section, which is integrally formed (e.g., cast or milled) with annulus, which generally has a thicker cross-section than the inner body. The middle hexagon comprises a top segmentand a bottom segment, which are hinged together. The lower hexagon also comprises a top segmentand a bottom segment, which are also hinged together. Note that top segmentis actually fixed to annulus—the two may be cast together (in which case a scribe line or other feature may serve to camouflage that the two pieces are one), or soldered or otherwise joined after separate fabrication. Similarly, top segmentof the lower hexagon is fixed to bottom segmentof the middle hexagon.

The two hinged joints may be formed by methods known to those skilled in the art, such as pins placed through the hinged parts, cast pins on the ends of one hinged piece that are captured by complementary depressions in the mating pieces during assembly, etc. The hinge axis for each hinge is perpendicular to a normal axis of the facing side of the earring. Generally, in the open configuration of the earring, the hinges allow the bottom segments to swing freely about the hinge axis with respect to the paired top segments, at least within a normal range that would be expected with head movement of the wearer.

Also depicted in, a small semicircular nubbinis cast along the upper leg of the periphery of annulus. This is an engagement feature which will be used to hold segmentand segmenttogether in a closed configuration, as will be depicted next. A complementary semicircular depression (not visible in this view, visible asin) is disposed along an inner periphery of the lower leg of segment. These two engagement features “click” together to releasably secureandtogether in a stable closed configuration.

Turning now to, the facing side of the same earring embodiment is depicted in a “closed” configuration. In the closed configuration, segmenthas been folded about its hinge point with segmentuntil flush with the facing side of upper hexagon. Nubbin(not visible) has been engaged with depression(also not visible) to secureandtogether. Likewise, segmenthas been folded about its hinge point with segmentuntil flush with the facing side of segment. An additional nubbin and depression secure the two together (not visible here, but will be shown below).

also shows the closed configuration, but from the back side of the earring. The opposite side of each of the folding features is visible here. Also, a postis visible in end view, affixed to inner body. The post can be inserted in a wearer's piercing (and captured from the back of the ear by an earring back, not shown) to hold the earring in place in either of configurationsor.

shows the earring in a transitional configuration, where segmentis partially open, allowing a view from the side of many parts of the earring, including post. Newly visible is a nubbinon the outer periphery of segment, which serves as an engagement feature to secure segmentsandtogether when folded.

illustrates an open configuration, but showing each of segmentsandwith a small amount of “swing” about their respective hinge points, as might exist intermittently as a wearer moves their head.

show additional transitional articulated configuration views,, and, respectively. Nubbinis visible in, which engages with a depression(visible in) on the inner periphery of segmentto secure segmentto segmentin a closed position.

show an additional wearable configurationthat is half open and half closed. In this configuration, segmentis folded closed and segmentremains open.also shows this third wearable configuration as a transitional configuration, but illustrates the articulation of the “lower hexagon” present

Faces of the annular sections of the embodiment ofare depicted with ornamental jewels fixed thereto, which are optional in a particular embodiment and not necessary to the structural and utilitarian features described herein. Also, inner bodymay itself be optional—in some embodiments, a post or other attachment means can be fixed to the back side of annulus, e.g., in the top middle, and the inner bodyomitted.

Although the annular sections depicted in the embodiment ofare regular hexagons, many other geometric configurations are possible. These include other polygons, such as trapezoids, rectangles, squares, irregular hexagons, and higher-order regular or irregular polygons, such as octagons and decagons. Embodiments are also envisioned wherein the annular sections comprise at least some curved segments. Although three reconfigurable sections are depicted, a given embodiment could include four or more sections.

Although the embodiment ofis configured for wearing through an ear piercing via a post affixed to the back side of the earring, other configurations are contemplated. These include configurations adapted for piercings other than ear piercings. These also include jewelry worn via a clip or chain or other attachment/suspension means.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Further, it is intended that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter cover modifications and variations thereof.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context expressly dictates otherwise. That is, unless expressly specified otherwise, as used herein the words “a,” “an,” “the,” and the like carry the meaning of “one or more.” Additionally, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer,” and the like that may be used herein merely describe points of reference and do not necessarily limit embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular orientation or configuration. Furthermore, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components, steps, operations, functions, and/or points of reference as disclosed herein, and likewise do not necessarily limit embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular configuration or orientation.

All of the functionalities described in connection with one embodiment are intended to be applicable to the additional embodiments described, except where expressly stated or where the feature or function is incompatible with the additional embodiments. For example, where a given feature or function is expressly described in connection with one embodiment but not expressly mentioned in connection with an alternative embodiment, it should be understood that the inventor intended that that feature or function may be deployed, utilized or implemented in connection with the alternative embodiment unless the feature or function is incompatible with the alternative embodiment.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosures. Indeed, the novel apparatuses described herein can be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatuses described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosures. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosures.