Adjustable jewelry shank

Abstract

A jewelry shank comprises a ring configured to encircle a wearer's finger and a moveable tab positioned along the inner surface of the ring. The tab is shiftable between a retracted position that allows the shank to easily slide over a knuckle of the wearer's finger and an extended position that helps hold the shank in place on the wearer's finger after it has passed over the knuckle.

1 . A jewelry shank comprising:
 a ring configured to encircle a wearer's finger, the ring having an inner surface that contacts the wearer's finger; and   a moveable tab positioned along the inner surface of the ring and shiftable between a retracted position that allows the shank to easily slide over a knuckle of the wearer's finger and an extended position that helps hold the shank in place on the wearer's finger after it has passed over the knuckle.   
     
     
         2 . The jewelry shank of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member coupled with the tab for biasing the tab to the extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The jewelry shank of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         4 . The jewelry shank of  claim 3 , wherein the tab and the spring are positioned within a frame. 
     
     
         5 . The jewelry shank of  claim 4 , wherein the frame is positioned within a recess formed in the inner surface of the ring. 
     
     
         6 . A jewelry shank comprising:
 a ring of gold or other material configured to encircle a wearer's finger, the ring having an inner surface that contacts the wearer's finger, the inner surface having a recess formed therein; and   a tab assembly comprising:
 a frame positioned in the recess, 
 a tab moveably coupled with the frame and shiftable between a retracted position that allows the shank to easily slide over a knuckle of the wearer's finger and an extended position that helps hold the shank in place on the wearer's finger after it has passed over the knuckle, and 
 a biasing member coupled between the frame and the tab for biasing the tab to its extended position. 
   
     
     
         7 . The jewelry shank of  claim 6 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         8 . The jewelry shank of  claim 6 , wherein the inner surface of the ring has a plurality of recesses formed therein and wherein the jewelry shank comprises a plurality of tab assemblies, one positioned in each of the recesses. 
     
     
         9 . The jewelry shank of  claim 6 , wherein the frame of the tab assembly is soldered, glued, or otherwise affixed within the recess of the ring. 
     
     
         10 . The jewelry shank of  claim 6 , wherein the frame of the tab assembly is integrally formed with the inner surface of the ring. 
     
     
         11 . A jewelry shank comprising:
 a ring of gold or other material configured to encircle a wearer's finger, the ring having an inner surface that contacts the wearer's finger, the inner surface having a pair of substantially opposed recesses formed therein; and   a pair of tab assemblies, one positioned in each recess, each tab assembly comprising:
 a frame positioned in its corresponding recess, 
 a tab moveably coupled with the frame, the tab being shiftable between a retracted position that allows the shank to easily slide over a knuckle of the wearer's finger and an extended position that helps hold the shank in place on the wearer's finger after it has passed over the knuckle, and 
 a biasing member coupled between the frame and the tab for biasing the tab to its extended position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The jewelry shank of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of recesses are positioned along upper margins of the inner surface of the ring. 
     
     
         13 . The jewelry shank of  claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the ring further comprises a third recess positioned along a lower margin of the inner surface of the ring. 
     
     
         14 . The jewelry shank of  claim 13 , further comprising a third tab assembly positioned in the third recess. 
     
     
         15 . The jewelry shank of  claim 11 , wherein the frames of the tab assemblies are soldered, glued, or otherwise affixed within the recesses. 
     
     
         16 . The jewelry shank of  claim 11 , wherein the frames of the tab assemblies are integrally formed within the recesses.