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Patent Abstract
A jewelry assembly is provided that extends around the neck and
waist and down the front and back of an individual. The jewelry
assembly is constructed such that it remains centered when worn
and such that it can be adapted to fit individuals of different
size.
Patent Claims
1. A method to fit a jewelry chain assembly extending over a woman's
neck, chest, back, stomach, belly button, and waist to complement
the woman's appearance, said method comprising the steps of (a)
providing a neck assembly comprising (i) a necklace worn about the
woman's neck and having a front and a back, (ii) a first chain to
extend from said necklace downwardly over the woman's back, said
chain having a first end connected to said back of said necklace
and a second end positioned on the woman's back, (iii) apparatus
for adjusting the length of said first chain, (iv) a second chain
to extend from said necklace downwardly over the woman's chest and
stomach, said necklace having a first end connected to said front
of said necklace and a second end positioned over the woman's belly
button, (v) a third chain having a first end connected to said second
end of said first chain and having a second end, (vi) a first clip
for detachably securing said second end of said third chain to said
second end of said second chain, (vii) a fourth chain having a first
end connected to said second end of said first chain and having
a second end, (viii) a second clip for detachably securing said
second end of said fourth chain to second end of said second chain;
(b) placing said necklace on the woman's neck such that (i) said
second chain extends from said necklace downwardly over the woman's
chest and stomach and said second end of said second chain is positioned
over the woman's belly button, (ii) said first chain extends from
said necklace downwardly over the woman's back, (iii) said second
and third chains extend from said second end of said first chain;
(c) using said first clip to secure said second end of said third
chain to said second end of said second chain such that said third
chain drapes from the woman's belly button about the woman's waist;
and, (d) using said second clip to secure said second end of said
fourth chain to said second end of said second chain such that said
fourth chain drapes from the woman's belly button about the woman's
waist.
2. A method to fit a jewelry chain assembly extending over a woman's
neck, chest, back, stomach, belly button, and waist to complement
the woman's appearance, said method comprising the steps of (a)
providing a neck assembly comprising (i) a necklace worn about the
woman's neck and having a front and a back, (ii) a first chain to
extend from said necklace downwardly over the woman's back, said
chain having a first end connected to said back of said necklace
and a second end positioned on the woman's back, said first chain
having a length, (iii) apparatus for adjusting slidably the length
of said first chain, (iv) a second chain to extend from said necklace
downwardly over the woman's chest and stomach, said necklace having
a first end connected to said front of said necklace and a second
end positioned over the woman's belly button, (v) a third chain
having a first end connected to said second end of said first chain
and having a second end, (vi) a first clip for detachably securing
said second end of said third chain to said second end of said second
chain, (vii) a fourth chain having a first end connected to said
second end of said first chain and having a second end, (viii) a
second clip for detachably securing said second end of said fourth
chain to second end of said second chain; (b) placing said necklace
on the woman's neck such that (i) said second chain extends from
said necklace downwardly over the woman's chest and stomach and
said second end of said second chain is positioned over the woman's
belly button, (ii) said first chain extends from said necklace downwardly
over the woman's back, (iii) said second and third chains extend
from said second end of said first chain, and (iv) said length of
said first chain is slidably adjusted; (c) using said first clip
to secure said second end of said third chain to said second end
of said second chain such that said third chain drapes from said
second end of said second chain about the woman's waist; and, (d)
using said second clip to secure said second end of said fourth
chain to said second end of said second chain such that said fourth
chain drapes from said second end of said second chain about the
woman's waist.
Patent Description
[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for fitting
jewelry.
[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a method and
apparatus for fitting jewelry to complement the appearance of a
woman by draping a single piece of chain jewelry about the neck,
waist, front and back of a woman.
[0003] The use of necklaces and bracelets is common. The use of
chains that extend around the midriff of a woman as jewelry does
not appear to be known. More importantly, a single piece of jewelry
that drapes over the neck, midriff, chest and back to draw attention
to and complement the appearance of a woman does not appear known.
[0004] Jewelry that would drape simultaneously around the neck,
around the waist, and intermediate the neck and waist is difficult
to fit to a user because of variances in neck and waist sizes and
differences in the heights of the users.
[0005] Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide jewelry
that can be configured to extend simultaneously about the neck and
waist and intermediate the neck and waist to complement the appearance
of a woman and that can be fitted to a woman.
[0006] Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide improved jewelry configurable to fit about the torso of
a woman and to provide an improved method for fitting the jewelry
to women that wear different clothing sizes.
[0007] These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages
of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description
of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a jewelry system
constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of a portion of the body of a woman
illustrating the mode of operation of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a back view of the body of the woman of FIG. 2
further illustrating the mode of operation of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a front view of a portion of the body of a woman
further illustrating the mode of operation of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a back view of the body of the woman of FIG. 4
further illustrating the mode of operation of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment
of the invention; and,
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a further embodiment
of the invention.
[0015] Briefly, in accordance with my invention, I provide an improved
method to fit a jewelry chain assembly extending over a woman's
neck, chest, back, stomach, belly button, and waist to complement
the woman's appearance. The method comprises the steps of providing
a neck assembly comprising a necklace worn about the woman's neck
and having a front and a back; a first chain to extend from the
necklace downwardly over the woman's back, the chain having a first
end connected to the back of the necklace and a second end positioned
on the woman's back; apparatus for adjusting the effective length
of the first chain; a second chain to extend from the necklace downwardly
over the woman's chest and stomach, the necklace having a first
end connected to the front of the necklace and a second end positioned
over the woman's belly button; a third chain having a first end
connected to the second end of the first chain and having a second
end; a first clip for detachably securing the second end of the
third chain to the second end of the second chain; a fourth chain
having a first end connected to the second end of the first chain
and having a second end; and, a second clip for detachably securing
the second end of the fourth chain to second end of the second chain.
The method also includes the step of placing the necklace on the
woman's neck such that the second chain extends from the necklace
downwardly over the woman's chest and stomach and the second end
of the second chain is positioned over the woman's belly button;
such that the first chain extends from the necklace downwardly over
the woman's back; and, such that the second and third chains extend
from the second end of the first chain. The method includes the
steps of using the first clip to secure the second end of the third
chain to the second end of the second chain such that the third
chain drapes from the woman's belly button about the woman's waist;
and, using the second clip to secure the second end of the fourth
chain to the second end of the second chain such that the fourth
chain drapes from the woman's belly button about the woman's waist.
[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved
method to fit a jewelry chain assembly over a woman's neck, chest,
back, stomach, belly button, and waist to complement the woman's
appearance. The method comprises the step of providing a neck assembly
comprising a necklace worn about the woman's neck and having a front
and a back; a first chain to extend from the necklace downwardly
over the woman's back, the chain having a length, a first end connected
to the back of the necklace and a second end positioned on the woman's
back; apparatus for adjusting slidably the effective length of the
first chain; a second chain to extend from the necklace downwardly
over the woman's chest and stomach, the necklace having a first
end connected to the front of the necklace and a second end positioned
over the woman's belly button; a third chain having a first end
connected to the second end of the first chain and having a second
end; a first clip for detachably securing the second end of the
third chain to the second end of the second chain; a fourth chain
having a first end connected to the second end of the first chain
and having a second end; and, a second clip for detachably securing
the second end of the fourth chain to second end of the second chain.
The method also comprises the step of placing the necklace on the
woman's neck such that the second chain extends from the necklace
downwardly over the woman's chest and stomach and the second end
of the second chain is positioned over the woman's belly button;
such that the first chain extends from the necklace downwardly over
the woman's back; such that the second and third chains extend from
the second end of the first chain; and, such that the effective
length of the first chain is slidably adjusted. The method also
includes the steps of using the first clip to secure the second
end of the third chain to the second end of the second chain such
that the third chain drapes from the woman's belly button about
the woman's waist; and, using the second clip to secure the second
end of the fourth chain to the second end of the second chain such
that the fourth chain drapes from the woman's belly button about
the woman's waist.
[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved
jewelry chain assembly to fit on a woman's neck, chest, back, stomach,
sides, belly button, spine, and waist to complement the woman's
appearance. The jewelry chain assembly comprises a neck assembly
comprising a necklace worn about the woman's neck and having a front
and a back; a back chain to extend from the necklace downwardly
along the spine and over the woman's back, the chain having a first
end connected to the back of the necklace and a second end positioned
on the spine; apparatus for adjusting the effective length of the
first chain; a front chain to extend from the necklace downwardly
over the woman's chest and stomach, the front chain having a first
end connected to the front of the necklace and a second end positioned
over the woman's belly button; a first girdle chain to extend from
the woman's belly button along the woman's waist and around one
of the woman's sides having a first end connected to the second
end of the back chain and having a second end; a first clip for
detachably securing the second end of the first girdle chain to
the second end of the front chain; a second girdle chain to extend
from the woman's belly button along the woman's waist and the other
one of the woman's sides and having a first end connected to the
second end of the back chain and having a second end; and, a second
clip for detachably securing the second end of the second girdle
chain to second end of the front chain.
[0018] Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating
the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of
the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding
elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a jewelry
assembly constructed in accordance with the invention and including
a neck assembly including a necklace assembly including a chain
11 having a first end 12 and a second end 14. Ring 13 is connected
to first end 12. Ring 15 is connected to second end 14. Since one
end of chain 11 slides through ring 13, the length of the portion
11A of chain 11 that extends from ring 13 to ring 15 is adjustable
by sliding one end of chain 11 through ring 13. Sliding one end
of chain 11 through ring 13 also permits adjustment of the diameter,
or size, of the portion of chain 11 that extends around the neck
of a user and that, consequently, forms a necklace. Ring 13 is at
the back of the necklace. Any other desired apparatus can be provided
to adjust the length of portion 11A. For example, portion 11A can
be a separate piece of chain that is cut to a desired size and that
is connected at its ends to ring 13 and ring 15. Or, portion 11A
can be a separate piece of chain that has a clip or hook attached
to its upper end so that the end of the chain with the clip can
be passed upwardly through ring 13 and back down over the outside
of ring 13, and then hooked through the separate piece of chain
at a desired point along the separate piece of chain. And so on.
[0019] A second chain 16 extends downwardly from the necklace formed
by chain 11. Chain 16 includes upper end 17 and lower end 19. Lower
end 19 is connected to ring 20. Upper end 17 is connected to clip
18. Clip 18 removably secures chain 16 to the front of necklace
11. Clip 18 enables the length of chain 16 to be shortened by wrapping
the upper end of chain 16 around the front of the necklace chain
and back along chain 16 and by inserting clip 18 into chain 16 at
the desired location.
[0020] A third chain 21 includes ends 23 and 24. End 23 is fixedly
connected to ring 15 but can be detachably connected to ring 15
with a clip or other fastener. Clip 25 attached to end 24 removably
connects chain 21 to ring 20.
[0021] A fourth chain 22 includes ends 26 and 29. End 26 is fixedly
connected to ring 15 but can be detachably connected to ring 15
with a clip or other fastener. Clip 27 attached to end 26 removably
connects chain 22 to ring 20.
[0022] In use of the jewelry assembly of FIG. 1, clips 25 and 27
are detached from ring 20. The end 14 of chain 11 extending downwardly
through ring 13 is removed from ring 13 and chain 11 is fit around
the neck of the user and end 14 is directed back through ring 13
in the direction of arrow A until the portion of chain 11 forming
a necklace fits comfortably about the neck of the user. The necklace
need not consist of a chain 11 and can have any desired constructed
including, without limitation, a solid C-shaped metal piece that
has a chain that interconnects the ends of the metal piece and "closes"
the "C" such that the metal piece and chain together extend
completely around the neck of the user. The necklace could also
comprise tubular rigid pieces of metal pivotally connected end-to-end
to extend around the neck of the user.
[0023] After chain 11 is fit around the neck of the user to form
a necklace, portion 11A hangs down the back along the spine of the
user; chains 21 and 22 hang downwardly from ring 15 over the lower
back of the user with clips 25 and 27 free and with ends 23 and
29 connected to ring 15; and chain 16 hangs downwardly over the
center of the chest of the user with clip 18 connected to the front
of the necklace and with ring 20 over the belly button of the user.
The user then wraps the lower end of chain 21 around her waist and
takes clip 25 and inserts it in ring 20. The user wraps the lower
end of chain 22 around her waist and takes clip 27 and inserts it
in ring 20. This completes the fitting of the jewelry assembly.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the jewelry assembly after it is fit to
a woman's body.
[0024] The ability to adjust the length L (FIG. 3) and to adjust
the length of chain 16 is important in the practice of the invention
because positioning ring 20 (or end 19 if ring 20 is not utilized)
over the user's belly button and then draping chains 21 and 22 around
the waist (i.e., lower stomach and sides and lower back) of the
user is believed important in complementing a woman's body. Individuals
viewing the jewelry of the invention on a user typically believe
the ring 20 is attached to or in the woman's belly button. One purpose
of the invention is to achieve this effect without requiring that
jewelry be secured to a user's body by piercing or other means.
The chain 16 and somewhat parallel or concentric necklace and waist
chains 21 and 22 produce an effect that appears unique and makes
the jewelry unusually appealing and, in many cases, complimentary
to the wearer of the jewelry. The jewelry assembly of the invention
can be worn over clothes or in conjunction with any mode of dress,
but appears particularly appealing when worn with the low riding
pants or shorts that are currently in fashion and produce a bare
stomach and a visible belly button.
[0025] The length L typically is less than the length of chain
16 such that chains 21 and 22 drape somewhat below, typically one-half
to three inches below, ring 20 over the stomach of the user, and
then extend up and around the sides 34, 35 of the user. The ability
to adjust the effective length of portion 11A is therefore important,
as is the ability to adjust the effective length of chain 16. Altering
the effective length of portion 11A alters to position of ring 15
on the user's back. Altering the effective length of chain 16 alters
the position of ring 20 on the user's stomach.
[0026] One way to adjust the effective length of chain 16 or of
the portion 11A is to maintain the length of chain 16 or potion
11A while increasing or decreasing the length or diameter of the
necklace. For example, if a necklace comprises a chain, one end
of the chain can consist of a clip or hook that can be inserted
anywhere along the chain to alter the length of the chain that extends
around the neck of the user. As the length of the chain forming
the necklace extending around the user's neck is increased, the
necklace hangs lower and increases the effective length of chain
16 and portion 11A because rings 15 and 20 are positioned further
down (further away from the user's head) the body of the user. As
the length of the chain forming the necklace extending around the
user's neck is decreased, the necklace hangs higher and decreases
the effective length of chain 16 and portion 11A because rings 15
and 20 are positioned higher up (closer to the user's head) on the
body of the user.
[0027] Another way to adjust the effective length of chain 16 is
to provide a chain 16 that is longer or shorter.
[0028] Another way to adjust the effective length of portion 11A
is to reduce the size of the necklace by pulling more chain through
ring 13 to increase the length L.
[0029] Another way to adjust the effective length of portion 11A
while maintaining the diameter of the necklace portion of chain
11 is to provide a longer or shorter chain 11.
[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternate configuration and
fitting of the jewelry assembly in which clips 25, 27 are not removably
attached to ring 15 but are instead removably attached to the necklace
portion of chain 11.
[0031] In FIG. 5, loops 43 and 44 fixedly secure ends 29 and 23
of chains 21 and 22, respectively, to ring 15. In FIG. 3, clips
or hooks 41 and 40 removably secure ends 29 and 23, respectively,
to ring 15.
[0032] An alternate embodiment of the invention utilizes the necklace
assembly illustrated in FIG. 6. The necklace assembly includes a
necklace comprising a resilient C-shaped member 11B with ends 53,
57. Ends 53, 57 can be pulled apart to facilitate placing member
11B around the neck of a woman. After the member 11B is placed around
the neck of a woman, ends 53, 57 are carefully released and ends
53 and 57 move toward one another and member 11B resiliently returns
to its original C-shape. End 58 of chain 51 is connected to end
53. End 52 of chain 51 comprises a clip that slidably fits around
chain 55, or, if desired, that can be clipped into a link of chain
55 such that end 52 will not slide along chain 55. The ability of
clip 52 to slide along chain 55 in the manner indicated by arrows
D is preferred because the weight of chain 55 (indicated by arrow
C) generates a force B that acts on clip 52 and extends chain 51
to form a V-shape comprised of chain 51 and the upper end of chain
55 that extends between end 57 and clip 52. This V-shape structure,
along with the chain 16 (not shown in FIG. 6) attached to the front
50 of the necklace by clip 18, tends to maintain section 55A of
chain 55 and chain 16 centered on the back and front, respectively,
of the user. The V-shape also reduces, in comparison to the ring
13 illustrated in FIG. 1, the forces that act on and tend to draw
together ends 53 and 57. The lower portion 55A of chain 55 extends
from clip 52 to ring 15A. Portion 55A includes end 59 connected
to ring 15A. Clips 40 and 41 of chains 21 and 22 (not shown), respectively,
are connected to ring 15A in the manner earlier described, and chains
21 and 22 extend from ring 15A around the sides of a user to a ring
20 (not shown in FIG. 6) at the end of chain 16 (not shown in FIG.
6). FIG. 6 is intended, in particular, to illustrate an alternate
necklace--chain construction 11B--55 that can be utilized in the
practice of the invention in combination with chains 21, 22, and
16.
[0033] Another embodiment of the invention utilizes the necklace
assembly illustrated in FIG. 7. The necklace assembly includes a
necklace comprising a resilient C-shaped member 11C with ends 67,
68. Ends 67, 68 can be pulled apart to facilitate placing member
11C around the neck of a woman. After the member 11C is placed around
the neck of a woman, ends 67, 68 are carefully released and ends
67 and 68 move toward one another and member 11C resiliently returns
to its original C-shape. End 63 of chain 61 is connected to end
68. End 62 of chain 61 comprises a clip that slidably fits around
chain 65, or, if desired, that can be clipped into a link of chain
65 such that end 62 will not slide along chain 65. The ability of
clip 62 to slide up and down along chain 65 (in the manner that
clip 52 slides along chain 55) is preferred because the weight of
chain 70--when chain 70 is attached to chains 61 and/or 65 generates
a downward force that acts on clip 62 and extends chain 61 to form
a V-shape comprised of chain 61 and the upper end of chain 65 that
extends between end 67 and clip 62. This V-shaped structure, along
with the chain 16 (not shown in FIG. 7) attached to the front 60
of the necklace by clip 18, tends to maintain chain 70 and chain
16 centered on the back and front, respectively, of the user. The
V-shaped structure also reduces, in comparison to the ring 13 illustrated
in FIG. 1, the forces that act on and tend to draw together ends
53 and 57. Chain 70 preferably is removably attached to chains 61
and/or 65 by placing clip 71 (1) over clip 62 at the bottom of the
V-structure formed by chain 61 and the upper end of chain 65, (2)
through a link 69 in chain 65 that is located at or below clip 62,
or (3) through clip 62. End 73 of chain 70 is connected to ring
15B. Clips 40 and 41 of chains 21 and 22 (not shown), respectively,
are connected to ring 15B in the manner earlier described, and chains
21 and 22 extend from ring 15B around the sides of a user to the
ring 20 (not shown in FIG. 6) at the end of chain 16 (not shown
in FIG. 6). FIG. 7 is intended, like FIG. 6, to illustrate an alternate
necklace--chain construction 11C--70 that can be utilized in the
practice of the invention in combination with chains 21, 22, and
16.
[0034] The construction of necklaces 11B and 11C can vary as desired
and can each consist of a length of chain. Utilizing a solid C-shaped
length of substantially rigid but resilient wire, plastic, metal,
or other material or structure is presently preferred because when
necklace 11B, 11C is a chain it is more likely to constrict too
tightly the neck of a user.
[0035] Any chain referred to and described in the drawings can
comprise a cable or other elongate member. The structure and properties
of the elongate member can vary as desired, but the elongate members
preferably are pliable, readily bend, and are not elastic or stretchable
like a rubber band. |