GB2315981A

GB2315981A - Adjustable finger ring with size indicia

Info

Publication number: GB2315981A
Application number: GB9616531A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derrick Edward Guck
Original assignee: A T CANNON Ltd
Current assignee: A T CANNON Ltd
Priority date: 1996-08-06
Filing date: 1996-08-06
Publication date: 1998-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-06
Also published as: GB2315981B; GB9616531D0

Abstract

The shank 11 of an adjustable finger ring is fixed to the head 10 at one end 18 and movably received in a space within the head at the other end whereby the ring size may be adjusted. The visible configuration of the head at the point where the shank is fixed corresponds with that at the point where it is movably received. The inner surface of the shank may bear size indicating markings (22, Fig 2) which can be read off against a fixed part of the head.

Description

Title: FINGER RING Description of Invention This invention relates to finger rings.

Particularly, the invention relates to a finger ring which is adjustable in size to enable it to fit differently sized fingers. There have been various proposals for constructions of ring which provide for adjustment and avoid the necessity of having to carry out delicate work involving addition or removal of metal and soldering if a ring has to be increased or decreased in size to fit a particular finger on which it is to be worn. However, such adjustable constructions have either been extremely complex or else have been aesthetically unacceptable, involving the provision of visible joints or disccntinuities in a shank portion of the ring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable ring which avoids the disadvantages of such previous adjustable rings. Other features and advantages of a ring according to the present invention will be pointed out hereafter.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a finger ring comprising a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion being of elongate configuration to extend circumferentially of a wearer's finger and having a first end portion fixed to the head portion and a second end portion extending into a receiving formation of the head portion and movable in the circumferential direction therein, said receiving formation of the head portion having a visible configuration corresponding to that of the head portion where the first end portion of the shank portion is fixed.

According to another aspect of the invention, we provide a finger ring comprising a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion being of elongate configuration to extend circumferentially of a wearer's finger and having a first end portion fixed to the head portion and a second end portion extending into a receiving formation of the head portion and movable in the circumferential direction therein, said second end portion being provided with means for indicating the size of the ring as determined by the position of said second end portion in said receiving formation.

Preferably the ring incorporates both aspects of the invention as above set forth.

A ring according to the invention has its size determined by the amount of the shank portion thereof which is available outside the formation in the head portion which receives the other end portion of the shank portion. This may readily be set by shaping the curvature of the shank portion so that the required amount thereof is available outside the head portion. It will be appreciated that the shank portion of the ring, and indeed other parts thereof, will normally be of a metal, e.g. a precious metal such as gold, silver or platinum, which once set to a curvature retains that curvature in normal use provided it is not subjected to damage or excessive forces.

The second end portion of the shank portion may have a number of graduations which have associated markings, to be read off against a fixed part of or associated with the head portion of the ring, for example the edge of said receiving formation of the head portion, to indicate the size of the ring. The markings may be the letters which are conventionally used to indicate the size of finger rings, i.e. J, K, L, M, .... etc.

The head portion of the ring may be of any configuration which is used in finger rings. For example, it may comprise a setting for a stone or cluster of stones or the like.

Whilst it would be within the scope of the invention for the formation afforded by the head portion of the ring for receiving the other end portion of the shank to be a recess which would be open towards the inside of the ring (i.e.

facing the finger of a wearer) preferably the head portion includes an element or portion which lies radially inwardly of said other end portion of the shank so that said other end portion of the shank is not able to contact the finger of a wearer.

Preferably said other end portion of the shank extends into the head portion of the ring through an aperture, which in cross-section transverse to the length of the shank, completely encircles the shank and corresponds to the crosssectional shape of the shank so that the other end portion of the shank is not able to be displaced radially.

Preferably the free end of said other end portion of the shank is provided with a formation which prevents it from being withdrawn from the head portion of the ring.

It is contemplated that a ring according to the invention will be sold in a pack together with a means for adjusting the size of the ring. Such a means for adjusting the size of the ring preferably comprises a tapering adjustment member, preferably with a frusto-conical surface, insertable through the ring and operable to cause the second end portion of the shank portion of the ring to be withdrawn from the head portion as the adjustment member is pushed through the ring.

According to a further aspect of the invention, we provide a pack comprising a ring according to the invention and an adjustment means therefor, as above set forth.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a partly sectioned elevation of a ring according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the ring of Figure 1.

The illustrated ring comprises a head indicated generally at 10 and a shank indicated generally at 11. Together they are arranged to encircle the finger of a person wearing the ring.

The head 10 as illustrated is a setting for a stone or a cluster of stones.

It comprises a base portion 12 and further portions 13 which are in the form of bars extending upwardly from the base portion to a formation 14 which may be of annular configuration to define an aperture 15 in which a stone may be set.

Such parts of the head 10 may be of any desired configuration to suit the stone or stones carried by the ring, or to provide any other desired visual appearance if no stones are carried. The head 10 further comprises wall portions 16 which are at opposite sides of the head in the direction generally circumferentially of the ring as a whole and which are of curved configuration, extending from the portion 14 towards the respective ends of the base portion 12.

The shank 11 is an elongate piece of material, e.g. wire of D-shaped cross-section, bent into arcuate configuration so as to embrace the finger of a wearer of the ring. Where the first portion 16a approaches the base 12 an opening 17 is defined whose cross-sectional shape closely matches the crosssectional shape of the material of the shank and in which a first end portion 18 of the shank is secured, e.g. by soldering. Where the other portion 16b approaches the base 12, an opening 19 is defined whose cross-sectional shape corresponds to that of the shank but which provides sufficient clearance for the shank to move through the opening 19 in the direction circumferentially of the ring. The other end portion 20 of the shank lies within the space bounded by the portions 12, 13, 14 and 16 of the head 10 of the ring.

The size of the ring is thus determined by how much of the end portion 20 of the shank lies within the head 10 of the ring, and thus how much of the shank is available outside the head. The ring may be sized by bending the shank to alter its curvature so that a greater or lesser amount of the shank is available. Once set to the required size, the size is retained by virtue of the resilient nature of the material from which the shank is made.

The end portion 19 of the shank 11 of the ring bears, on its radially innermost surface, graduations 22 which can be read against the end of the base portion 12 of the head of the ring. Such graduations may include the size letters conventionally used to indicate the size of rings, so that the ring may be set to a known required size without, at least initially, having to be tested on the finger of a wearer.

The end portion 20 of the shank may be provided with a projection 21 to prevent it from being completely withdrawn from the head of the ring. Such projection may be provided by deforming the free end of the shank by use of a tool which can reach into the head of the ring through, for example, the apertures between the portions 13 thereof or the aperture 15, after the shank has been assembled to the head to the position illustrated.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A finger ring comprising a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion being of elongate configuration to extend circumferentially of a wearer's finger and having a first end portion fixed to the head portion and a second end portion extending into a receiving formation of the head portion and movable in the circumferential direction therein, said receiving formation of the head portion having a configuration corresponding to that part of the head portion where the first end portion of the shank portion is fixed.

2. A ring according to Claim 1 wherein said second end portion is provided with means for indicating the size of the ring as determined by the position of said second end portion in said receiving formation.

3. A finger ring comprising a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion being of elongate configuration for extending circumferentially of a wearer's finger and having a first end portion fixed to a head portion and a second end portion extending into a receiving formation of the head portion and movable in the circumferential direction therein, said second end portion being provided with means for indicating the size of the ring as determined by the position of said second end portion in said receiving formation.

4. A ring according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said second end portion of the shank portion has a number of graduations having associated markings, to be read off against a fixed part of or associated with the head portion of the ring to indicate the size of the ring.

5. A ring according to Claim 4 wherein said markings comprise ring size letters.

6. A ring according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said head portion includes an element or portion which lies radially inwardly of the second end portion of the shank, so that said second end portion of the shank received in the head portion is not able to contact the finger of a wearer.

7. A ring according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said second end portion of the shank extends into the head portion of the ring through an aperture which in cross-section transverse to the length of the shank portion completely encircles said other end portion and corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the shank portion.

8. A ring according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the free end of said second end portion of the shank portion is provided with a formation which prevents it from being withdrawn from the head portion.

9. A ring according to any one of the preceding claims, in a pack together with an adjustment means therefor.

10. A pack of a ring and adjustment means according to Claim 9, wherein said adjustment means comprises a tapering adjustment member insertable through the ring and operable to cause the second end portion of the shank portion of the ring to be withdrawn from the head portion as the adjustment member is pushed through the ring.

11. A ring substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.