Article of jewelry, assembly kit and method of assembly

Abstract

An article of jewelry includes a band, an ornamental element, an insert, and a clasp assembly. The ornamental element includes a pair of apertures located along a lateral axis that allow the band to pass lengthwise through a center of the ornamental element. The insert includes a plurality of posts that are configured to pass through a first plurality of apertures in a central portion of the length of the band and rest within a second plurality of apertures located in the ornamental element, thereby securing the. band between the insert and the ornamental element. The clasp assembly receives each end of the band and retains the band in a generally oval arrangement when closed. In one embodiment, the band is fabricated from processed automobile tires, the ornamental element is configured to resemble an oval race track, and the insert includes a checkered flag and/or a race car number.

1 . An article of jewelry comprising: 
 a band having two ends and defining a first pair of apertures proximate a first end and a second pair of apertures proximate a second end, each pair of apertures being separated across a width of the band, the band further defining a first plurality of apertures in a central portion of a length of the band, the first plurality of apertures being separated across at least a width of the band;    an ornamental element defining a pair of axial apertures for receiving the band and allowing the band to pass centrally through a length of the ornamental element, the ornamental element further defining a second plurality of apertures separated across at least a width of the ornamental element, the second plurality of apertures aligning substantially with the first plurality of apertures in the central portion of the length of the band;    an insert including a plurality of posts positioned into the first plurality of apertures in the central portion of a length of the band and into the second plurality of apertures of the ornamental element; and    a clasp assembly that receives the two ends of the band and retains the band in a generally oval arrangement when the clasp assembly is closed, the clasp assembly including a first pair of rods positioned into the first pair of apertures of the band and a second pair of rods positioned into the second pair of apertures of the band to attach the clasp assembly to the band.    
   
   
       2 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the band is fabricated from processed automobile tires.  
   
   
       3 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein each pair of rods is at least partially configured to resemble a pair of automobile lug nuts.  
   
   
       4 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the ornamental element is configured generally in the shape of an oval.  
   
   
       5 . The article of jewelry of  claim 3 , wherein the ornamental element is further configured to generally resemble an oval race track.  
   
   
       6 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a checkered flag arrangement disposed on an outward-facing surface thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a number of a race car disposed on an outward facing surface thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp assembly further includes: 
 a first band receptacle arranged and configured to receive the first end of the band, the first band receptacle including: 
 a first body defining a pair of apertures separated across a width of the first body such that the pair of apertures of the first body substantially align with the first pair of apertures of the band; and  
 a first pair of parallel lugs extending toward the second end of the band when the band is in the generally oval arrangement, each lug of the first pair of parallel lugs defining a substantially central aperture therein;  
   a second band receptacle arranged and configured to receive the second end of the band, the second band receptacle including: 
 a second body defining a pair of apertures separated across a width of the second body such that the pair of apertures of the second body substantially align with the second pair of apertures of the band;  
 a second pair of parallel lugs extending toward the first receptacle; and  
 an anchoring rod interconnecting the second pair of parallel lugs,  
   a first support flange positioned in cooperating relation to the first band receptacle and the second band receptacle, the first support flange including: 
 a third body;  
 a pair of parallel arms connected to the third body and projecting outward from a first end of the third body toward the first band receptacle, each arm of the pair of arms including a respective arm lug extending outward perpendicularly from the arm, each arm lug defining a substantially central aperture therein, the pair of arm lugs being arranged such that the first pair of parallel lugs of the first band receptacle are positioned between the pair of arm lugs and the apertures of the first pair of parallel lugs are substantially aligned with the apertures of the pair of arm lugs; and  
 a first latching arrangement positioned along a width of the third body proximate a second end of the third body, the first latching arrangement cooperating with at least the anchoring rod of the second band receptacle to facilitate opening and closing of the clasp assembly;  
   a second support flange positioned in cooperating relation to the first band receptacle and the second band receptacle, the second support flange including: 
 a fourth body;  
 a sleeve member connected to the fourth body proximate a first end of the fourth body, the sleeve member defining a substantially central aperture therein and being positioned between the first pair of parallel lugs of the first band receptacle such that the aperture of the sleeve member is substantially aligned with the aperture of each lug of the first pair of parallel lugs; and  
 a second latching arrangement positioned along a width of the fourth body proximate a second end of the fourth body, the second latching arrangement cooperating with at least the first latching arrangement to facilitate opening and closing of the clasp assembly; and  
   a pin positioned in the substantially aligned apertures of the first pair of parallel lugs, the pair of arm lugs, and the sleeve member.    
   
   
       9 . A kit for assembling at least one article of jewelry, the kit comprising: 
 at least one band having two ends and defining a first pair of apertures proximate a first end and a second pair of apertures proximate a second end, each pair of apertures being separated across a width of the band, the band further defining a first plurality of apertures in a central portion of a length of the band, the first plurality of apertures being separated across at least a width of the band;    at least one ornamental element defining a pair of axial apertures configured and arranged to receive the band and allow the band to pass centrally through a length of the ornamental element during assembly, the ornamental element further defining a second plurality of apertures separated across at least a width of the ornamental element, the second plurality of apertures substantially corresponding in size and shape to the first plurality of apertures in the central portion of the length of the band;    a plurality of inserts, each insert including a plurality of posts, the plurality of posts positionable into the first plurality of apertures in the central portion of the length of the band and into the second plurality of apertures of the ornamental element; and    at least one clasp assembly arranged to receive the two ends of the band and retain the band in a generally oval arrangement when the clasp assembly is closed.    
   
   
       10 . The kit of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 at least four rods per clasp assembly, wherein part of each rod has an outer diameter small enough to allow the rod to pass through an aperture of at least one of the first pair of apertures and the second pair of apertures.    
   
   
       11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein each rod is at least partially configured to resemble an automobile lug nut.  
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one band is fabricated from processed automobile tires.  
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one ornamental element is configured generally in the shape of an oval.  
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one ornamental element is further configured to generally resemble an oval race track.  
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of inserts includes a checkered flag arrangement disposed on an outward-facing surface thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of inserts includes a number of a race car disposed on an outward facing surface thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one clasp assembly further includes: 
 a first band receptacle arranged and configured to receive the first end of the band, the first band receptacle including:    a first body defining a pair of apertures separated across a width of the first body, the pair of apertures of the first body substantially corresponding in size and shape to the first pair of apertures of the band; and 
 a first pair of parallel lugs extending away from the band when the band is inserted into the first band receptacle, each lug of the first pair of parallel lugs defining a substantially central aperture therein;  
   a second band receptacle arranged and configured to receive the second end of the band, the second band receptacle including: 
 a second body defining a pair of apertures separated across a width of the second body, the pair of apertures of the second body substantially corresponding in size and shape to the second pair of apertures of the band;  
 a second pair of parallel lugs extending away from the band when the band is inserted into the second band receptacle; and  
 an anchoring rod interconnecting the second pair of parallel lugs,  
   a first support flange positionable in cooperating relation to the first band receptacle and the second band receptacle, the first support flange including: 
 a third body;  
 a pair of parallel arms connected to the third body and projecting outward from a first end of the third body, each arm of the pair of arms including a respective arm lug extending outward perpendicularly from the arm, each arm lug defining a substantially central aperture therein, the pair of arm lugs being arranged such that the first pair of parallel lugs of the first band receptacle are positionable between the pair of arm lugs and the apertures of the first pair of parallel lugs are substantially alignable with the apertures of the pair of arm lugs; and  
 a first latching arrangement positioned along a width of the third body proximate a second end of the third body, the first latching arrangement being arranged to cooperate with at least the anchoring rod of the second band receptacle to facilitate opening and closing of the clasp assembly;  
   a second support flange positionable in cooperating relation to the first band receptacle and the second band receptacle, the second support flange including: 
 a fourth body;  
 a sleeve member connected to the fourth body proximate a first end of the fourth body, the sleeve member defining a substantially central aperture therein and being positionable between the first pair of parallel lugs of the first band receptacle such that the aperture of the sleeve member is substantially alignable with the aperture of each lug of the first pair of parallel lugs; and  
 a second latching arrangement positioned along a width of the fourth body proximate a second end of the fourth body, the second latching arrangement being arranged to cooperate with at least the first latching arrangement to facilitate opening and closing of the clasp assembly; and  
   a pin positionable in the substantially aligned apertures of the first pair of parallel lugs, the pair of arm lugs, and the sleeve member.    
   
   
       18 . A method for assembling an article of jewelry that includes a band, an ornamental element, an insert, and a clasp assembly, the method comprising: 
 passing one end of the band through a pair of axial apertures defined by the ornamental element;    aligning a first plurality of apertures located in a central portion of a length of the band with a second plurality of apertures located in the ornamental element;    positioning a plurality of posts of the insert into and through the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures;    securing the plurality of posts to the ornamental element; and    securing each end of the band to the clasp assembly so as to retain the band in a generally oval arrangement when the clasp assembly is closed.