Iris shutter case for displaying a decorative object

Abstract

An iris shutter case is disclosed for securely housing, protecting and displaying a decorative object while providing an elegant design that adds to the aesthetic appearance of the decorative object. The iris shutter case includes a container in which a decorative object, such as a piece of jewelry, can be securely fitted, and an openable and closable iris shutter assembly that alternatively reveals and conceals a contained decorative object from view. The container houses and protects the decorative object, and resembles a disc or a sphere in preferred embodiments. The iris shutter assembly is operated by a drive mechanism to display or conceal the decorative object. In preferred embodiments, the iris shutter assembly is a leaf and pin shutter assembly, and the drive mechanism is a drive ring with protruding lug handles which rotates relative to a master ring so as to open and close the iris shutter assembly.

1 . An iris shutter case for housing and displaying decorative objects, the iris shutter case comprising:
 a container capable of housing a decorative object within its interior;   an iris shutter assembly cooperative with the container, the iris shutter assembly being openable so as to display a decorative object housed within the interior of the container, and closable so as to conceal the decorative object; and   a drive mechanism capable of opening and closing the iris shutter assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The iris shutter case of  claim 1 , wherein the iris shutter case is able to display a piece of jewelry. 
     
     
         3 . The iris shutter case of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises an attachment structure connected to the interior of the container, the attachment structure being capable of firmly fixing a decorative object within the interior of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The iris shutter case of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment structure is a gemstone prong setting. 
     
     
         5 . The iris shutter case of  claim 1 , further comprising a front cover that includes an opening through which a decorative object located within the container can be observed when the iris shutter is open. 
     
     
         6 . The iris shutter case of  claim 5 , wherein the front cover resembles one of a disc and a partial sphere. 
     
     
         7 . The iris shutter case of  claim 1 , further comprising a back cover that covers an end of the container that is furthest from the iris. 
     
     
         8 . The iris shutter case of  claim 7 , wherein the back cover resembles one of a disc and a partial sphere. 
     
     
         9 . The iris shutter case of  claim 1 , wherein the iris shutter assembly is a leaf and pin shutter assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The iris shutter case of  claim 9 , wherein the leaf and pin shutter assembly is configured so as to minimize the degree of leaf overlap at the center of the leaf and pin shutter assembly, thereby minimizing the thickness of the iris shutter assembly when it is closed. 
     
     
         11 . The iris shutter case of  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is manually operable. 
     
     
         12 . The iris shutter case of  claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism is a manually operable drive ring that communicates with a master ring to open and close the iris shutter assembly when the manually operable drive ring is manually rotated. 
     
     
         13 . The iris shutter case of  claim 12 , wherein the manually operable drive ring includes lug handles that extend outward from the circumference of the ring so as to be easy to manipulate. 
     
     
         14 . The iris shutter case of  claim 1 , further comprising a chain attachment mechanism suitable for attachment of the iris shutter case to one of a cord and a chain so as to suspend the iris shutter case from the neck of a user. 
     
     
         15 . The iris shutter case of  claim 1 , further comprising a band attachment mechanism suitable for attachment of the iris shutter case to a band surrounding a limb of a user.