Expandable ring having segment with spring-engaged crossed arms

• US 3,901,045 A
• Filed: 03/25/1974
• Issued: 08/26/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gabriel Ballester
• Original Assignee: Gabriel Ballester
• Inventors: Ballester, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, F. Barry
• Application Number:
  US05/454,300
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 63/15.45,15.5,15.65
• US Class Current: 63/15.65
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 9/02 adjustable

Abstract

A finger ring comprised of a major semi-circular segment for engagement about the inner and side portions of a person'"'"''"'"'s finger and a movable, spring-loaded minor segment, connected by lever means to the major segment, for pressurized engagement with the top of the finger to maintain the ring against rotational movement on the finger.

Claims

1. An expandable finger ring comprising:

a. a major, generally U-shaped ring segment having, a bottom portion, and a pair of upwardly extending legs as continuations of the respective opposed sides of said bottom portion and each of said legs having distal end zones in confronting relation, b. a minor ring segment between the legs and movable between a normal inwardly retracted position and an expanded position on movement respectively toward and away from said bottom portion and between said legs, c. pivotal linkage means pivotally connecting said minor ring segment and said major ring segment, d. spring means fixed relative to said side legs and extending into engagement with said pivotal linkage means, and normally urging said minor ring segments in said retracted position, said pivotal linkage being yieldable on movement of said minor ring segment away from said bottom portion to flex said spring means to store energy therein when said minor ring segment is out of said normal position and moved toward said expanded position, e. said pivotal linkage means comprising a pair of crossed arms, each of said arms having an upper end and a lower end, pivot means connecting each of The lower ends to said minor ring segment adjacent one of said legs and inwardly of the distal end zones of said one of said legs and pivotally connecting the upper ends of the distal end zone of said major ring segment adjacent the respective opposite distal end zones of the other of said legs, each said arm including an upwardly and outwardly extending portion relative to said minor ring segment and each of said arms including a portion in engagement with said spring means.

2. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper end of each of said pair of upwardly extending side legs is provided with an inwardly opening recess and said spring means comprises a leaf spring, fixed relative to each of said side legs, extending upwardly through said recess to a point somewhat above said side leg.

3. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 2 including a pair of spaced-apart bridge members connecting between the respective pairs of side walls of said recesses to define a generally rectangular opening through the top of the finger ring.

4. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 3 wherein the upper ends of said arms are pivotally connected between the respective, opposed outer end portions of said pair of bridge members within said rectangular opening.

5. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 4, each said portion in engagement with said spring means including a generally upstanding lug portion extending from the upper end of the respective arm into contact with the upper end zone of one of said leaf springs.

6. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 1 including an ornamental head portion fixed relative to said minor segment and movable therewith.

7. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper end of each of said pair of upwardly extending side legs is provided with an inwardly opening recess and said spring means comprises a leaf spring fixed relative to each of said side legs, extending upwardly through said recess to a point somewhat below the top of said side leg.

8. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 7 wherein said arms comprise a pair of crossed bell cranks, each having a long arm and a short arm, the respective long arms being pivotally attached at their lower ends to said minor segment, inwardly of the respective ends thereof, and extending upwardly and outwardly in to points of pivotal attachment at their upper ends within the upper ends of the respective recesses;

each of said short arms extending downwardly into one of said recesses outwardly of and in engagement with the upper end of one of said leaf springs.

9. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper end of each of said pair of upwardly extending side legs is provided with an inwardly opening recess and said arms comprise a pair of cross-over levers having their lower ends pivotally attached to said minor segment inwardly of the respective ends thereof and their upper ends pivotally attached within the respective recesses.

10. An expandable finger ring as defined in claim 9 wherein said spring means comprises a small coil spring circumposed about each of said upper pivots, each coil spring including a first arm anchored in one of said side legs and a second arm anchored over the top end of one of said levers.