Finger ring fit adjuster

• US 6,672,105 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthur A. Sills
• Original Assignee: Arthur A. Sills
• Inventors: Sills, Arthur A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOP, ANDREA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/940,839
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 63/155, 63/156, 63/156.5, 277/605, 277/646, 285/96, 285/97
• US Class Current: 63/15.6
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 9/02 adjustable

Abstract

A tubular bladder has an outside wall connected to an inside surface of a finger passage through a band of a finger ring. An inside wall of the bladder is integral with the outside wall and forms a gas chamber. A passage connects the gas chamber to a source of air. Increasing air in the gas chamber reduces the diameter of the finger passage. Reducing the quantity of air in the gas chamber increases the diameter of the finger passage. A valve can be provided to meter air into and out of the bladder. If the bladder is resilient and tends to expand the area of the gas chamber, an air passage can let air into and out of the bladder.

Claims

1. A finger ring fit adjuster comprising:

a finger ring with a band having a band inside surface that is generally cylindrical and forms a finger passage, a band first end surface that surrounds a first finger passage opening and a band second end surface that surrounds a second finger passage openings

a tubular bladder for adjusting the size of the finger passage, including an outside wall that is anchored to said band inside surface and an inside wall integral with the outside wall and cooperating with the outside wall to form a gas chamber extending less than 360°

around the ring finger passage;

at least one passage connecting the gas chamber to a source of air; and

wherein both the first finger passage opening and the second finger passage opening are a selectable finger receiving opening.

2. A finger ring fit adjuster, as set forth in claim 1, including a valve, connected to the at least one passage, that is opened to let air into or out of the gas chamber and that is closed to maintain a selected quantity of air in the gas chamber.

3. A finger ring fit adjuster, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas chamber extends more than 60°

around the ring finger passage.

4. A finger ring fit adjuster, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one passage is connected to air at atmospheric pressure.

5. A finger ring fit adjuster, as set forth in claim 4, where the inside wall is made from a resilient material that urges the gas chamber to expand to a predetermined size.

6. A finger ring fit adjuster, as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of said tubular bladders each of which extends less than 360°

around the ring finger passage.

7. A finger ring fit adjuster, as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of said tubular bladders fixed to said band inside surface and separated from each other.

8. A finger ring fit adjuster comprising;

a finger ring with a ring band, and a band inside surface that is generally cylindrical and forms a finger passage with a fixed diameter;

a tubular bladder including a continuous outside wall anchored to said band inside surface; and

an inside wall that is integral with the outside wall and forms a continuous gas chamber that extends 360°

around the ring finger passage, and wherein the inside wall is made from a resilient material that resists a decrease in the volume of the continuous chamber; and

a continually open gas passage through the tubular bladder that connects the continuous gas chamber to atmospheric air pressure.

9. A finger ring fit adjuster comprising:

a finger ring with a ring band with a band inside surface that is generally cylindrical;

a plurality of tubular bladders anchored to said ring band, discretely spaced from each other along the ring band inside surface and each extending less than 360°

around the ring finger passage; and

wherein each of the plurality of tubular bladders has an air chamber and a passage connecting the air chamber to a source of air.

10. A finger ring fit adjuster, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the passage connecting each of the air chambers to a source of air includes a valve for controlling the flow of gas into and out of the air chamber.

11. A method of adjusting the fit of a finger ring with a ring band having a finger passage comprising:

attaching a bladder to a finger passage wall of the ring band;

inflating the bladder with a selected quantity of air;

inserting a finger with a finger knuckle through the finger passage;

compressing the bladder as the finger knuckle passes through the finger passage;

expanding the bladder after the finger knuckle passes through the finger passage;

compressing a first phalanx of the finger with the bladder employing sufficient force to resist rotation of the finger ring relative to the first phalanx.

12. A method of adjusting the fit of a finger ring, as e set forth in claim 11, including adding air to the bladder to reduce the size of the finger passage.

13. A method of adjusting the fit of a finger ring, as set forth in claim 11, including:

removing air from the bladder to increase the size of the finger passage.

14. A finger ring fit adjuster comprising:

a finger ring with a band having a band inside surface that is generally cylindrical and forms a finger passage;

a tubular bladder for adjusting the size of the finger passage, including an outside wall that is anchored to said band inside surface and an inside wall integral with the outside wall and cooperating with the outside wall to form a gas chamber;

at least one passage connecting the gas chamber to a source of air; and

wherein the gas chamber extends less than 360°

around the ring finger passage.

15. A finger ring fit adjuster comprising:

a finger ring with a ring band with a band inside surface that is generally cylindrical;

a plurality of tubular bladders anchored to said ring band and circumferentially spaced from each other along the circumference of the ring band inside surface; and

wherein each of the plurality of tubular bladders has an air chamber and a passage connecting the air chamber to a source of air.