Jewelry arrangements

Abstract

A piece of jewelry ( 10 ) is disclosed, comprising first and second substantially opposing end portions ( 14, 16 ), at least one said end potion being moveable from an open state A in which said end portions ( 14, 16 ) are spaced apart towards a closed state B in which said end portions ( 14, 16 ) are spaced apart by, a reduced gap or are substantially engaged. The piece of jewelry ( 10 ) comprises at least a section ( 12 a ) made from a shape memory material and said shape memory material is adapted, at or above a predetermined temperature Ta, to bring said end portions ( 14, 16 ) towards each other. This occurs preferably when said shape memory material is placed in the region of a body part of a wearer such that shape memory effect is used in co-operation with body temperature to fit said piece of jewelry to its wearer whist simultaneously causing, a change in externally visible shape or configuration or the jewelry.

1 . A piece of jewelry comprising first and second substantially opposing end portions, said piece of jewelry comprising at least a section made from a shape memory material adapted above a predetermined temperature to use shape memory effect so as to cause automatically relative movement between said end portions from an open state, in which said end portions are spaced apart by a gap adapted for fittment of said jewelry, towards a closed state in which said gap is reduced such that said jewelry is fitted.  
     
     
         2 . A piece of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein said relative movement is adapted to result in a change to an externally visible shape or configuration of said piece of jewelry.  
     
     
         3 . A piece of jewelry according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein a said predetermined temperature for end portion closure lies in the region of a body temperature of a wearer of said jewelry.  
     
     
         4 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said shape memory material exhibits thermal hysteresis having upper and lower temperature transformation ranges, said upper temperature transformation comprising a range of 10° C. or less, preferably 7° C. or less and more preferably 5° C. or less.  
     
     
         5 . A piece of jewelry according to  claim 4 , wherein said shape memory material has an upper transformation start temperature As in the range 18° C. to 23° C.  
     
     
         6 . A piece of jewelry according to  claim 4  or  claim 5 , wherein said shape memory material has an upper transformation finish temperature A f  in the range 23° C. to 30° C.  
     
     
         7 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said shape memory material comprises a stabilized shape memory material, trained and adapted for repeated movement between said open and closed states.  
     
     
         8 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein removal of said piece of jewelry from a wearer is restricted once said jewelry has substantially moved into said closed state.  
     
     
         9 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said piece of jewelry is adapted in said closed state to at least one of partially capture, grip, pass through or enclose a body part of a said wearer.  
     
     
         10 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said relative movement is adapted to occur substantially in one plane.  
     
     
         11 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said relative movement is adapted to bring said end portions into engagement, in which state said end portions are in at least partial abutment with a clamping force therebetween.  
     
     
         12 . A piece of jewelry according to  claim 11 , wherein one or both said end portions comprise a locating arrangement adapted to align said end portions in a substantially predetermined relationship when said end portions are engaged.  
     
     
         13 . A piece of jewelry according to  claim 11  or  claim 12 , further comprising a latching means adapted to latch said end portions into said closed state at least temporarily and preferably removably.  
     
     
         14 . A piece of jewelry according to any one of  claims 11  to  13 , further comprising an indicator arrangement adapted to indicate when said end portions are at least one of open or closed.  
     
     
         15 . A piece of jewelry according to  claim 14 , wherein said indicator arrangement comprises indicia which is at least one of displayed or hidden when said jewelry is in said closed state.  
     
     
         16 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said shape memory section is adapted to move said end portions in a substantially pivotal manner.  
     
     
         17 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said piece of jewelry is adapted to be gripped or pulled on at least a predetermined section and in such a manner that a gripping or pulling force above a predetermined level moves said piece of jewelry towards said open state.  
     
     
         18 . A piece of jewelry according to  claim 17 , wherein said end portions are adapted to be opened from a closed state under the influence of a said predetermined level of force applied below a predetermined temperature at which said shape memory material adopts a pseudo-elastic state.  
     
     
         19 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said piece of jewelry comprises an inactive section, which may be substantially devoid of shape memory material, such that said piece of jewelry is adapted to be handled by said inactive section substantially without changing shape for at least a predetermined time period, so as for example to enable manual fittment.  
     
     
         20 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said piece of jewelry comprises an ornamental band whose said open state comprises a substantially elliptical or enlarged circular open-ended shape and whose closed state comprises a reduced gap open-ended shape or a substantially closed shape.  
     
     
         21 . A piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, wherein said piece of jewelry comprises a ring whose said open state comprises a substantially elliptical or enlarged circular open-ended shape and whose closed state comprises a substantially closed circle.  
     
     
         22 . A storage and/or fitting arrangement for a piece of jewelry according to any preceding claim, said arrangement comprising a temperature varying device adapted to bring a said piece of jewelry to or beyond a temperature at which said piece is moveable into said open state.  
     
     
         23 . An arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein said temperature varying device comprises a cooling chamber adapted to receive a said piece of jewelry and a heat exchange means adapted to reduce the temperature of said piece in said chamber.  
     
     
         24 . An arrangement according to  claim 22  or  claim 23 , wherein said heat exchange means comprises an electrically operated heat sink apparatus, preferably portable and adapted for battery operation.  
     
     
         25 . An arrangement according to any one of  claims 22  to  24 , further comprising a biasing means adapted to bias a ring therein towards said open state.  
     
     
         26 . A method of producing a piece of jewelry, including: 
 a) providing an elongate piece of material comprising at least a section which includes a shape memory material;    b) forming on opposing ends of said piece of material first and second end portions;    c) forming said piece of material into an open state adapted for fittment to a body part of a wearer and in which open state said end portions substantially face each other spaced apart by a gap; and    d) adapting said shape memory material to move at least one said end portion, above a predetermined temperature, towards a closed state in which said gap is reduced or said end portions are substantially engaged, whereby shape memory effect is used for fitting said piece of jewelry to a wearer whilst simultaneously changing an externally visible shape or configuration of said piece of jewelry.    
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , including stabilizing said shape memory portion for repeated movement of said end portions between said open and closed states, preferably stabilizing said shape memory material by training.