Vented ring and method of manufacturing the same

• US 10,383,412 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groove Life Corporation
• Original Assignee: Groove Life Corporation
• Inventors: Goodwin, Peter Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Abigail E
• Application Number:
  US15/936,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20180206604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 63 15- 154
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 9/0007 made of several rings
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 9/0053 having special functions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14131 using positioning or centering means forming part of the insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14377 using an additional insert, e.g. a fastening element
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1615 The materials being injected at different moulding stations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/263 with mould wall parts provided with fine grooves or impressions, e.g. for record discs
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/003 Thermoplastic elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7096 Rings or ring-like articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/743 Jewellery

Abstract

A vented finger ring and its method of manufacture are provided. The vented ring includes an outer ring portion, an inner ring portion, and an anti-stretch element positioned between the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion. The inner ring portion includes lateral grooves connected to inner grooves, the connected lateral grooves and inner grooves forming at least one fluid conduit from a first side of the vented ring to a second side of the vented ring. The method includes injecting a first material into a first mold to form an outer ring portion, injecting a second material into a second mold to form an inner ring portion, and positioning an anti-stretch element between the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion. The second mold includes at least one feature on a surface thereof, the at least one feature corresponding to connected lateral grooves and inner grooves on an inner surface of the inner ring portion.

Claims

1. A vented ring comprising:

a flexible outer ring portion;

a flexible inner ring portion; and

an anti-stretch element positioned between the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion, the anti-stretch element having increased rigidity relative to the inner and outer ring portions;

wherein the inner ring portion includes lateral grooves connected to inner longitudinal grooves, the connected lateral grooves and inner longitudinal grooves forming at least one fluid conduit from a first side of the vented ring to a second side of the vented ring.

2. The vented ring of claim 1, wherein the outer ring portion comprises a first elastomer.

3. The vented ring of claim 2, wherein the inner ring portion comprises a second elastomer.

4. The vented ring of claim 3, wherein the first elastomer and the second elastomer are the same.

5. The vented ring of claim 3, wherein the first elastomer and the second elastomer are different.

6. The vented ring of claim 1, wherein the anti-stretch element is plastic.

7. The vented ring of claim 1, wherein the anti-stretch element further comprises a notch formed therein.

8. The vented ring of claim 1, wherein the anti-stretch element is circular.

9. The vented ring of claim 1, further comprising a design on an outer surface of the outer ring portion.

10. The vented ring of claim 9, wherein the design is a logo.

11. The vented ring of claim 1, wherein the ring is a finger ring.

12. The vented ring of claim 1, wherein the ring is a toe ring.

13. The vented ring of claim 1, wherein the vented ring is configured to break when pressure is applied.

14. The vented ring of claim 1, wherein the inner ring portion further comprises decorative inner grooves.

15. A method of forming a vented ring, the method comprising:

injecting a first material into a first mold to form a flexible outer ring portion;

injecting a second material into a second mold to form a flexible inner ring portion; and

positioning an anti-stretch element between the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion, the anti-stretch element having increased rigidity relative to the inner and outer ring portions;

wherein the second mold includes at least one feature on a surface thereof, the at least one feature corresponding to connected lateral grooves and inner longitudinal grooves on an inner surface of the inner ring portion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first material and the second material are elastomers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the elastomers are different.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of injecting the second material includes placing the second material in contact with the first material, directly bonding the second material to the first material.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of positioning the anti-stretch element is performed after the step of injecting the first material and before the step of injecting the second material.