US3696914A

US3696914A - Trinket or ring holder

Info

Publication number: US3696914A
Application number: US880863A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth Jack Mcphail
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-11-28
Filing date: 1969-11-28
Publication date: 1972-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-10
Also published as: GB1301307A; CA943508A

Abstract

A cup-shaped holder for a ring or like trinket with inner surfaces which engage with and hold the annular part of the ring while the ring mount serves to close the mouth of the holder. The inner surfaces of the holder co-operate with the annular part of the ring to exert a compressive force on the ring which is removed after the major portion of the ring passes into an expanded portion of the holder.

Description

United States Patent McPhail [s4] TRINKET 0R RING HOLDER [21] Appl. N0.: 880,863

[52] US. Cl ..206/1 R, 46/11, 206/46AM, 220/60 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 1/00 [58] Field of Search ..46/11; 63/30; 206/1 R, 1.5, 206/37 R, 46 R, 46 AM, 5 A, 15.1 B; 215/52; 220/24.5, 60 R, DIG. 13

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 775,917 11/1904 Gillette ..215/52 2,858,955 11/1958 Kroenert ..220/60 R X [451 Oct. 10, 1972 2,998,896 9/1961 Miller ..220/60 R X 3,023,925 3/1962 Sher ..220/60 3,281,002 10/1966 Geiss ..2l5/52 3,236,002 2/ 1966 Cunningham et al.... 220/60 R X Primary ExaminerJoseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney-Neill M. S. Johnston [57] ABSTRACT A cup-shaped holder for a ring or like trinket with inner surfaces which engage with and hold the annular part of the ring while the ring mount serves to close the mouth of the holder. The inner surfaces of the holder co-operate with the annular part of the ring to exert a compressive force on the ring which is removed after the major portion of the ring passes into an expanded portion of the holder.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to trinkets, rings and the like and more particularly to such items as are sold from vending machines.

There is a firmly established market for trinkets and the like which are sold through vending machines. The sale of rings presented some considerable problem for in the passage of the ring down the dispensing chute and in its random disposition within the vending chamber the ring tends to engage other trinkets or rings. This sometimes led to the dispensing of more than one trinket or jamming of the dispensing chute.

These problems were resolved in a large measure by the provision of a capsule which surrounded the trinket and prevented the random engagement. These capsules were sufficient but they were relatively expensive.

In the subject invention there is provided a capshaped enclosure in which the ring mount is seated in the mouth and the annular ring is resiliently engaged with and secured in the capsule by engagement with the capsule wall. This arrangement, using the ring mount to provide the capsule closure is more economical and serves to make the package more appealing. The ring is also firmly held in position and less likely to be subject to damage.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide an improved holder for trinkets or rings or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a holder for trinkets or rings or the like which is economical to produce.

In accordance with these objects there is provided in the present invention a holder for a trinket having an annular part and a wider ring mount comprising: a wall providing a cup-shaped ring enclosure with a mount dimensioned to seat a ring mount, said enclosure wall having a pair of opposed inner surfaces defining a first outer narrowed portion for resiliently engaging said annular part and a second expanded portion for receiving a major portion of said annular part to restrain movement of said annular part out of said capsule.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent from the following description and drawings in which a specific embodiment is described by way of example and in which FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ring or trinket holder in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section through an assembled ring and holder in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in the drawings a ring or like trinket is indicated at 12 and comprises an annular member 13 with an enlarged mount or back 14. The mount 14 may be provided with a design or decorated in any suitable fashion. Over the design a convex clear cover which may function as a lens is mounted. The mounting securement may be made by any suitable adhesive or by pressurable engagement with an upstanding rim 15.

Referring now to both FIGS. 1 and 2 a trinket holder is generally indicated at 16 and comprises a substantially cup-shaped shell or wall 17 with a mouth 22.

M u 2isdi e ionedtoseatth rin mo tl4.A pair t iametri alli opposed inwardly etend ir

i g channels

18 and 19 whose bottom or

inner walls

20 and 21 respectively provide a ring-engaging surface extend up the wall 17 as shown. There

surfaces

20 and 21 are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the outer diameter of the annular part of the ring 13 so that it may be urged through this narrowed portion with a compressive fit.

On the outer surface of

bottom walls

20 and 21

radial ribs

26 and 27 extend outwardly. These ribs are not entirely necessary but in this embodiment they provide reinforcement. And on either side of channels 18 and 19 a pair of inwardly extending

walls

30 and 31 project. These walls serve to limit rotation of the annular part 13.

Beyond channels 18 and 19 a pair of

slots

32 and 33 are provided in the capsule wall 17. These slots with

channels

18 and 19 define

edges

34 and 35 at the junction of these channels with their respective slots.

To mount or secure a ring 12 in the holder 16 the annular part of the ring 13 is inserted in holder 16 so that the annular part is aligned with the

channels

18 and 19 and in engagement with the inner surfaces thereof. The ring is then pushed in and with the compressive fit the ring will tend to be slightly compressed. When the major part of the ring has passed

edges

34 and 35 the compressive force will be removed and the ring will expand and be locked securely in position by engagement with

slots

32 and 33 and

edges

34 and 35 bearing upon the annular part of the ring. To remove the ring the mount is simply pulled outward and the process is reversed. The materials employed for the shell 16 are a clear plastic although any other suitable material may be employed.

As will be seen from the above description a holder in accordance with the invention provides a holder of reduced cost in that only one component is necessary and a reduced amount of material is required.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other equivalent structures may be employed without separating from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination of a ring and holder therefor, said ring comprising a substantially circular ring mount having a lower surface and a resilient ring part extending from said lower surface of said ring mount; said holder comprising a wall defining a generally cupshaped capsule having an open end dimensioned to seat said ring mount, a pair of diametrically opposed inwardly extending channels having opposed inner surfaces spaced apart a predetermined distance less than the diameter of said ring mount, adjacent said open end, a pair of slots each aligned with and spaced inwardly from a respective one of said channels and extending through said wall adjacent to said channels, and a pair of inwardly extending flanges extending along each of said channels and slots, said ring mount being seated at said open end with said ring part being removably received in said slots in a snap-fitting relationship therewith.

Claims

1. The combination of a ring and holder therefor, said ring comprising a substantially circular ring mount having a lower surface and a resilient ring part extending from said lower surface of said ring mount; said holder comprising a wall defining a generally cup-shaped capsule having an open end dimensioned to seat said ring mount, a pair of diametrically opposed inwardly extending channels having opposed inner surfaces spaced apart a predetermined distance less than the diameter of said ring mount, adjacent said open end, a pair of slots each aligned with and spaced inwardly from a respective one of said channels and extending through said wall adjacent to said channels, and a pair of inwardly extending flanges extending along each of said channels and slots, said ring mount being seated at said open end with said ring part being removably received in said slots in a snap-fitting relationship therewith.