Tiara/necklace

Abstract

Provided is a jewelry system that is selectively configurable between a tiara configuration and a necklace configuration. In the tiara configuration, the jewelry system comprises a band member having decorative articles rotatably mounted thereon. The band member has band ends and defines a band plane. In the tiara configuration, the decorative articles are rotated to project generally laterally outwardly relative to the band plane such that the jewelry system may be worn as a tiara. In the necklace configuration, the jewelry system further comprises a pair of necklace extensions that are releaseably connectable to the band ends with the decorative articles being rotated so as to be generally aligned with the band plane. The necklace extensions are releaseably interconnected at extension ends to form a substantially continuous loop such that the jewelry system may be worn as a necklace.

1 . A jewelry system that is selectively configurable between a tiara configuration and a necklace configuration, the jewelry system comprising: 
 a band member having opposing band ends and defining a band plane;    at least one decorative article mountable to the band member and being selectively positionable relative to the band plane; and    a pair of necklace extensions releaseably connectable to respective ones of the band ends, each one of the necklace extensions having extension ends being configured to be releaseably interconnectable;    wherein:    the tiara configuration of the jewelry system comprises the band member with the decorative article being positioned thereon to project generally laterally outwardly relative to the band plane such that the jewelry system may be worn as a tiara;    the necklace configuration of the jewelry system comprising the band member with the decorative article being positioned thereon in general alignment with the band plane, the necklace extensions being connected to the band member at the band ends and being interconnected at the extension ends to form a substantially continuous loop such that the jewelry system may be worn as a necklace.    
   
   
       2 . The jewelry system of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of decorative articles mountable to the band member and being selectively positionable relative to the band plane.  
   
   
       3 . The jewelry system of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of hinge members rotatably connecting respective ones of the decorative articles to the band member such that each one of the decorative articles is angularly positionable into one of the tiara and necklace configurations.  
   
   
       4 . The jewelry system of  claim 2  wherein each one of the hinge members is configured such that the decorative article is generally freely pivotable relative to the band plane when positioned in the necklace configuration.  
   
   
       5 . The jewelry system of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a plurality of detent mechanisms  66  disposed between the band member and respective ones of the decorative articles;    wherein each one of the detent mechanisms  66  being configured such that decorative articles are generally non-rotatably fixed relative to the band plane when positioned in the tiara configuration.    
   
   
       6 . The jewelry system of  claim 2  further comprising at least one comb member configured to be releaseably attachable to the band member for engaging the band member to the wearer's hair.  
   
   
       7 . The jewelry system of  claim 6  wherein the comb member is comprised of an elongate shaft having a comb portion and a shaft end portion, the comb portion including a plurality of teeth configured to engage the wearer's hair.  
   
   
       8 . The jewelry system of  claim 7  comprising a pair of the comb members, the shaft end portions thereof being configured to be releaseably connectable to respective ones of the band ends.  
   
   
       9 . The jewelry system of  claim 8  wherein each one of the comb members includes a connector assembly connected to the shaft end portion and configured to releaseably secure the comb member to the band end.  
   
   
       10 . The jewelry system of  claim 1  wherein each one of the necklace extensions includes a connector assembly configured to releaseably secure the necklace extension to the band end.  
   
   
       11 . The jewelry system of  claim 9  wherein each one of the connector assemblies is hingedly moveable.  
   
   
       12 . The jewelry system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 each one of the band ends has an open interior end portion;    each one of the connector assemblies being configured as a resilient V-shaped clasp member configured to be removably insertable into and engagable with the interior end portion for releaseably connecting the necklace extension to the band end.    
   
   
       13 . The jewelry system of  claim 1  further comprising a mating mechanism having a pair of mating members mounted on respective ones of the necklace extensions adjacent the extension ends, the mating members being configured to be releaseably securable together.  
   
   
       14 . The jewelry system of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the mating mechanism further includes an elongate locking pin;    one of the mating members comprising a spaced pair of generally axially aligned hollow elongate first and second end tubes mounted upon and generally axially aligned with one of the necklace extensions;    the other one of the mating members comprising an elongate hollow intermediate tube mounted upon and generally axially aligned with the other one of the necklace extensions, the intermediate tube being sized and configured to be complementary to the first and second end tubes so as to be positionable therebetween;    the locking pin being sized and configured to be selectively insertable through axially aligned ones of the first and second end tubes and intermediate tube such that the extension ends may be releaseably secured together.    
   
   
       15 . A jewelry system that is selectively configurable between a tiara configuration and a necklace configuration, the jewelry system comprising: 
 a generally rigid arcuately shaped band member having opposing band ends and defining a band plane;    at least one decorative article hingedly mountable to the band member and being selectively positionable relative to the band plane;    a detent mechanism disposed between the decorative article and the band member and being configured such that decorative article is generally non-rotatably fixed relative to the band plane when the decorative article is positioned in the tiara configuration; and    a pair of generally flexible, elongate necklace extensions having a connector assembly mounted on one of the respective ends thereof and being configured to releaseably secure the necklace extension to respective ones of the band ends, each one of the connector assemblies having a connector hinge with a hinge axis oriented generally perpendicularly to the band plane such that the necklace extension may freely pivot thereabout, each one of the extension ends being further configured to be releaseably connectable to one another;    wherein:    the tiara configuration of the jewelry system comprises the band member with the decorative article being positioned thereon to project generally laterally outwardly relative to the band plane such that the jewelry system may be worn as a tiara;    the necklace configuration of the jewelry system comprising the band member with the decorative article being positioned thereon in general alignment with the band plane, the necklace extensions being connected to the band member at the band ends and being interconnected at the extension ends to form a substantially continuous loop such that the jewelry system may be worn as a necklace.    
   
   
       16 . The jewelry system of  claim 15  comprising a plurality of the decorative articles being hingedly connected to the band member such that each one of the decorative articles is angularly rotatably positionable into one of the tiara and necklace configurations.  
   
   
       17 . The jewelry system of  claim 16  comprising: 
 a plurality of detent mechanisms  66  disposed between the band member and respective ones of the decorative articles;    wherein each one of the decorative articles is configured to be maintained in a generally non-pivotal relationship relative to the band plane when positioned in the tiara configuration.    
   
   
       18 . The jewelry system of  claim 15  comprising a pair of comb members configured to be releaseably connectable to respective ones of the band ends.  
   
   
       19 . The jewelry system of  claim 15  wherein: 
 each one of the band ends has an open interior end portion;    each one of the connector assemblies being configured as a resilient V-shaped clasp member configured to be removably insertable into and engagable with the interior end portion for releaseably connecting the necklace extension to the band end.    
   
   
       20 . The jewelry system of  claim 15  further comprising a mating mechanism having an elongate locking pin and a pair of mating members, wherein: 
 one of the mating members comprises a spaced pair of generally axially aligned hollow elongate first and second end tubes mounted on one of the necklace extensions adjacent to the extension end thereof in general axial alignment with the necklace extension;    the other one of the mating members comprising an elongate hollow intermediate tube mounted on the other one of the necklace extensions adjacent to the extension end thereof in general axial alignment with the necklace extension, the intermediate tube being sized and configured to be complementary to the first and second end tubes so as to be positionable therebetween;    the locking pin being sized and configured to be selectively insertable through the first and second end tubes and intermediate tube when generally axially aligned such that the extension ends may be releaseably secured together.