Reconfigurable Jewelry and System and Method Thereof

Abstract

Reconfigurable jewelry, including rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, earrings, cufflinks, tie clips, berets, belt buckles, body piercing jewelry other than earrings, and watches. The jewelry includes an enclosed globe portion that contains a liquid. The jewelry may be reconfigurable in the sense that different globe portions may be interchanged. The jewelry also may include a receptacle for receiving an insert element. The jewelry is therefore also reconfigurable in the sense that different insert elements may be used.

1 . A reconfigurable ring comprising:
 a ring base having a mounting portion and a bifurcated portion extending from the mounting portion, the bifurcated portion including a first arcuate arm and a second arcuate arm arranged to form a generally circular opening in front view, the opening being configured to receive a wearer's finger; and   a clear, generally hemispherical plastic portion coupled to the mounting portion of the ring base, the hemispherical portion being sealed with contents, the contents including a non-toxic liquid and an air bubble;   wherein a receptacle is formed between the ring base and the hemispherical portion, the receptacle being sized and shaped to receive and retain an insert element in a friction-fit manner,   wherein a metal wire is substantially encased in the ring base and runs continuously from the first arcuate arm to the second arcuate arm,   wherein the first arcuate arm and the second arcuate arm are adjustable to change an inner circumference or diameter of the generally circular opening,   wherein the first arcuate arm has a first end portion and the second arcuate arm has a second end portion, the first and second end portions being offset from one another, and   wherein at least one of the hemispherical portion and its contents are configured to magnify at or substantially at an upper surface of the insert element.   
     
     
         2 . The reconfigurable ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealed contents of the hemispherical portion further include visible particulates. 
     
     
         3 . The reconfigurable ring according to  claim 2 , wherein the visible particulates include glitter. 
     
     
         4 . The reconfigurable ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealed contents are responsive to a temperature of the wearer's finger. 
     
     
         5 . The reconfigurable ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealed contents are substantially unresponsive to temperature or weather conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The reconfigurable ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert element is a tray. 
     
     
         7 . The reconfigurable ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second end portions are entirely offset from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The reconfigurable ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnification is in a range of at or about 1.6 through at or about 1.65. 
     
     
         9 . The reconfigurable ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the hemispherical portion is coupled to the mounting portion of the ring base via a substantially clear intermediate portion, the hemispherical portion being fixedly and sealing coupled to the intermediate portion and the intermediate portion being fixedly attached to the mounting portion of the ring base to form the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . A method of providing a reconfigurable ring, comprising:
 providing a ring base having an upper portion and a lower portion extending from the upper portion, the lower portion being configured to receive a wearer's finger; and   providing a liquid containing portion physically coupled to the upper portion of the ring base, the liquid containing portion having a transparent or substantially transparent upper globe portion and a flat back portion, the globe portion and back portion sealingly enclosing liquid contents,   wherein the ring is reconfigurable.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid containing portion is removably coupled to the ring base, and the method further comprising reconfiguring the ring by removing the liquid containing portion and replacing it with another liquid containing portion. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing a receptacle configured to hold an insert element, the receptacle being formed between the liquid containing portion and the ring base. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the receptacle is accessible via a side access in the ring such that the insert element can be slid into the receptacle via the side access, and   wherein at least one of the transparent or substantially transparent upper globe portion and the sealingly enclosing liquid contents are configured to magnify an upper surface of the insert element when the insert element is held in the receptacle.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the liquid containing portion is removably coupled to the ring base,   wherein the receptacle is accessible via a top access of the ring base when the liquid containing portion is removed from the ring base, and   wherein at least one of the transparent or substantially transparent upper globe portion and the sealingly enclosing liquid contents are configured to magnify an upper surface of the insert element when the insert element is held in the receptacle and the liquid containing portion is physically coupled to the ring base.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ring is reconfigurable in the sense that different insert elements can be removed from and place in the receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the lower portion of the ring base includes a first curved member and a second curved member,   wherein the first curved member has a first end portion and the second curved member has a second end portion, the first and second end portions being offset from one another in side and bottom view, and   wherein one or more of the first curved member and the second curved member are movable to change a size of the ring base associated with a wearer's finger.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one metal wire is substantially enclosed by the lower portion, the first curved member having a first portion of the at least one metal wire associated therewith and the second curved member having second portion of the at least one metal wire associated therewith, the first portion being different from the second portion. 
     
     
         18 . A ring base comprising:
 a body portion;   a first curved arm portion; and   a second curved arm portion,   wherein the first and second curved arm portions have respective ends thereof, said ends being offset with respect to one another in side and bottom views such that, and   wherein each of the first and second curved arm portions is configured such that the associated end can move inward and outward to change a size of the ring base.   
     
     
         19 . The ring base of  claim 18 , wherein, each of the first and second curved arm portions is configured such that when their respective end is moved inward from a base position the ends of the first and second curved arms overlap in front and back view. 
     
     
         20 . The ring base of  claim 18 , further comprising a metal wire embedded in the ring base, the metal wire running continuously from a portion of the first curved arm portion to a portion of the second curved arm portion. 
     
     
         21 . The ring base of  claim 18 , wherein no portion of one of the ends overlaps any portion of the other of the ends in side and bottom views. 
     
     
         22 . A ring comprising:
 a ring base configured to receive a wearer's finger; and   a clear, generally hemispherical plastic portion coupled to the ring base, the hemispherical portion being sealed with contents, the contents including a liquid,   wherein a receptacle is formed between the ring base and the hemispherical portion, the receptacle being sized and shaped to receive and retain an insert element in a friction-fit manner, and   wherein at least one of the hemispherical portion and its contents magnify an upper surface of the insert element when the insert element is in the receptacle.   
     
     
         23 . A reconfigurable ring comprising:
 a ring base having a mounting portion and a bifurcated portion extending from the mounting portion, the bifurcated portion including a first curved arm and a second curved arm arranged to form a generally circular opening in front view, the opening being to receive a wearer's finger; and   a clear, generally hemispherical plastic portion coupled to the mounting portion of the ring base, the hemispherical portion being sealed with contents, the contents including a liquid,   wherein a metal wire is substantially encased in the ring base and runs from the first curved arm to the second curved arm,   wherein the first curved arm and the second curved arm are adjustable to change a size of the ring,   wherein the first curved arm has a first end portion and the second curved arm has a second end portion, the first and second end portions being offset from one another, and   wherein at least one of the hemispherical portion and its contents are configured to magnify at or substantially at an upper surface of an insert element arranged below the hemispherical plastic portion.   
     
     
         24 . A reconfigurable ring comprising:
 a ring base having a mounting portion and a bifurcated portion extending from the mounting portion, the bifurcated portion including a first arcuate arm and a second arcuate arm arranged to form a generally circular opening in front view, the opening being configured to receive a wearer's finger; and   a clear, generally hemispherical plastic portion coupled to the mounting portion of the ring base, the hemispherical portion being sealed with contents, the contents including a liquid,   wherein a receptacle is formed between the ring base and the hemispherical portion, the receptacle having a geometry to receive and retain an insert element in a friction-fit manner,   wherein a metal wire is substantially encased in the ring base and runs continuously from the first arcuate arm to the second arcuate arm,   wherein the first arcuate arm and the second arcuate arm are adjustable to change an inner circumference or diameter of the generally circular opening,   wherein the first arcuate arm has a first end portion and the second arcuate arm has a second end portion, the first and second end portions being offset from one another.