EP0629365A1

EP0629365A1 - Jewel representing the phases of heavenly bodies

Info

Publication number: EP0629365A1
Application number: EP94830066A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Rossi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-06-16
Filing date: 1994-02-18
Publication date: 1994-12-21

Abstract

The present invention relates to a jewel (1) representing the phases of heavenly bodies, which comprises a jewel body (2), of any desired shape, including an ornamental portion (6) wherewith there are associated, in a removable and intra-exchangeable manner, decorative portions (14,16,18) representing the phases of heavenly bodies, such as, for example, the lunar phases or cycles, or the stellar cycles or the cycles or phases of other heavenly bodies.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a jewel representing the phases of heavenly bodies.
As is known, there are at present available on the market several jewels such as rings, bracelets, necklaces and the like, which are made with very different shapes and configurations.
It is also possible to make jewels in which, by means of brilliants, enamels and the like, there are represented stars, the moon and other heavenly bodies.
All these prior solutions, however, are of a "static" type, that is the user can not change the positions of the stars and/or of the comets with respect to the moon or modify the moon position depending on the several lunar cycles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a jewel which represents the phases of heavenly bodies, while providing an user with the possibility of easily changing the jewel configuration, by replacing only some portions of the jewel itself.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a jewel in which functional features and aesthetic features are so combined as to provide the jewel with very good commercial properties, particularly for people believing in the influence of the lunar cycles or in the phases of other heavenly bodies.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a jewel which, while having functional and aesthetic features improved with respect to those of prior like jewels, can be easily made.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a jewel representing the phases of heavenly bodies, comprising a jewel body having an ornamental portion, characterized in that said jewel further comprises decorative portions representing the phases of said heavenly bodies and which can be removably associated with said ornamental portion of said jewel body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of some preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment thereof, which are illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a jewel, more specifically a ring, including a decorative portion representing a lunar phase or cycle;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the jewel shown in Figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 show decorative portions of the jewel representing other lunar cycles;
Figure 5 is an exploded partially cross-sectioned side view illustrating the subject ring-like jewel;
Figure 6 illustrates two different or modified embodiments of the jewel and, more specifically, a bracelet embodiment and a ring embodiment thereof;
Figure 7 is a schematic view representing yet another embodiment of the jewel according to the present invention and, more specifically, a necklace with a pendant element representing the star phases or cycles with respect to the lunar cycles;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view substantially taken along the section line VIII-VIII of Figure 7; and
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the jewel illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figures 1 to 5, the jewel according to the present invention, comprises, in a first embodiment thereof, a ring 1 having a bottom portion 2, therethrough there is provided an opening 4 for threading the ring on a person finger.
This ring is moreover provided with an ornamental top portion 6, having a flat surface 8 including a circular area 10 at the center of which there is provided a threaded hole 12.
In this area 10 it is possible to arrange one of the disc-like decorative elements 14, 16 and 18 which disc element will bear, on its top surface, a portion 20 representing the night heaven and the stars distributed therethrough, as well as a portion 22 indicating a lunar cycle.
In particular, in said element 14, the portion 22 will occupy a small part of the top surface, thereby the moon will have its typical crescent shape; in the element 16, on the other hand, the portion 22 will occupy a half of the total surface of the disc, and, finally, in the element 18, the moon representing portion will occupy the major part of the surface.
In order to make the moon representing portion 22, it is possible to use an enamel which, preferably, will have a white-pearly colour.
In this connection it should be apparent that, to that end, it is also possible to use other value materials, such as, for example, a mother of pearl material.
Likewise, in order to reproduce the night starred heaven representing portion 20, it is possible to use a deep blue colour enamel, whereas the stars can be represented by golden spots or by synthetic brilliant elements, or other precious stones, such lapis-lazulis and sapphire.
From Figure 2 it should be apparent that on the flat surface 8 there are provided two regions 24 and 26, of crescent shape, which are arranged one in the front of the other with respect to the area 10 and encompassing this latter.
On these regions it is possible to provide ornamental patterns, and/or other brilliant elements, such as, for example, strass.
From Figure 5 it should be apparent that the decorative element 14, 16 or 18 is arranged and affixed on the circular area 10 by means of a threaded pin 28 projecting from its bottom face, provided for screw engaging in its corresponding hole 12.
In order to change a lunar cycle, it is sufficient to remove the element 14 from the ring and replace it by the element 16 or 18.
In particular, the element 14, 16 or 18 can be affixed to its area 10 also by means of snap engaging means, or any other suitable means.
In this connection it should be pointed out that the outer side surface 30 of the disc- like elements 14, 16 and 18 can also be knurled or roughened in order to allow to easily grip it so as to facilitate the turning movements of the above mentioned elements with respect to the ring body.
In order to improve the aesthetic aspect of the jewel, the area 10 receiving one of the decorative elements 14, 6 and 18 can also be replaced by a recess provided for receiving one or more of the obove mentioned elements. Thus, the top surface of these elements will be flush with respect to the flat surface 8.
Figure 6 shows, in addition to the embodiment being shown in Figures 1 to 5, in which the jewel according to the invention is constituted by a ring, also a second embodiment in which the jewel according to the invention comprises a bracelet.
Figures 7 to 9 show a third embodiment of the jewel according to the present invention, in which this jewel comprises a necklace and represents the star cycles or phases with respect to the lunar cycles. More specifically, the jewel shown in these figures, and generally indicated a the reference number 101, is provided with a jewel body 102 including an ornamental portion 103 defining means allowing it to be removably coupled with an interexchangeable decorative portion 110 representing the phases of stars or comets with respect to the lunar cycles.
In particular, the inter-exchangeable decorative portion 110 can include, in a single body, the stars and the moon or, possibly, as is shown, it can comprise a first element 112 representing the moon and a second element 111 representing the star cycles and which is provided to be differently arranged with respect to the moon and/or with respect to the comets.
According to a preferred, though not limitative, connection embodiment, there is provided a screw element 130 affixed to the moon representing element 112, which is engaged in a threaded recess 131 defined in the jewel body.
If the moon or comets and stars are constituted by two separated elements, then the moon representing disc element 112 will provide also the locking element for the element 111 representing the star phases.
Both in this embodiment and in the above disclosed embodiments, an user can easily modify the jewel decorative element by replacing the moon, comets and stars depending on its preferred requirements, while having the possibility of making several different jewels which will use a single base element consisting of the jewel body.
From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In particular it is to be pointed out the great application facility allowing to easily modify the main aesthetic element, that is the moon and star representing element, by means which are very simple and can be made very quickly.
The jewel as disclosed is susceptible to several variations and modifications, all of which will come within the scope of the inventive idea.
Moreover, all of the details can be replaced by other tecnically equivalent elements.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, which are preferably, through not necessarily constituted by precious metals and precious stones, can be any depending on requirements.

Claims

A jewel representing the phases of heavenly bodies, comprising a jewel body having an ornamental portion, characterized in that said jewel further comprises decorative portions representing the phases of said heavenly bodies and which can be removably associated with said ornamental portion of said jewel body.
A jewel, according to Claim 1, wherein said decorative portions represent the lunar cycles.
A jewel, according to Claim 1, wherein each said decorative portion is affixed to said jewel by a threaded means.
A jewel, according to Claim 1, wherein each of said decorative portions, representing the lunar cycle, is affixed to the jewel by snap means.
A jewel, according to Claim 1, wherein the moon, on each said decorative portion, is made by a white-pearly material, whereas a starred heaven is made by brilliant elements on a dark back-ground.
A jewel, according to Claim 5, wherein said white-pearly material is a mother of pearl material.
A jewel, according to Claim 5, wherein said briliant elements comprise lapis-lazulis or other precious or synthetic stones.
A jewel, according to Claim 1, wherein said decorative portions represent the star cycles with respect to the lunar cycles.
A jewel, according to Claim 1, wherein said decorative portions representing the star cycles and lunar cycles,are separated from one another and can be operatively associated with said jewel body by coupling said moon representing element which holds the star cycle representing element.
A jewel, according to Claim 9, wherein said means for coupling said element representing the star cycles and the moon to the body of the jewel comprise a screw element extending from the element representing the moon and engaging in a threaded recess formed on the jewel body.