Finger Ring

Abstract

A finger ring, including a clasp joining the ends of a flexible band of material, is used with an ornamental charm having a through hole through which the material passes. The clasp includes a first and second clasp portions which join or separate first and second ends of the material. The band of material and at least one of the clasp portions are sized for passage through the through hole so that the charm can be positioned along the material. The finger ring with the charm is securable to a user's finger when the flexible band is wrapped around a user's finger and the clasp is in a joined state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A finger ring for use with an ornamental charm of the type comprising an inner surface and an outer surface with a through hole formed between the inner and outer surfaces, the finger ring comprising:
 a flexible band of material having a length and first and second ends;   a clasp comprising a first clasp portion joined to the first end and a second clasp portion joined to the second end, the first and second clasp portions securable to one another so that the clasp is placeable in a joined state, the first and second clasp portion being separable from one another so that the clasp is placeable in a separated state;   the band of material and at least one of the first and second clasp portions sized for passage through a through hole in a charm so that the charm can be positioned along the band of material; and   the finger ring with a charm mounted thereto being securable to a user's finger when the flexible band is wrapped around a user's finger and the clasp is in the joined state.   
     
     
         2 . The finger ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible band of material comprises a length of metallic fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The finger ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible band of material comprises first, second and third lengths of material arranged side-by-side so that the second length of material is located between the first and third lengths of material. 
     
     
         4 . The finger ring according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second clasp portions comprises a hinge member and a clasp member, the hinge member joining the band of material to the clasp member so that the clasp member and the end of the flexible band material can pivot relative to one another for a more comfortable fit. 
     
     
         5 . The finger ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the clasp in the joined state has a curved inner surface to help conform to the user's finger. 
     
     
         6 . The finger ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second clasp portions and the flexible band of material each has a maximum cross-sectional size of 3 mm×7 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The finger ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second clasp portions and the flexible band of material each has a cross-sectional size of 2-3 mm×5-7 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The finger ring according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and second clasp portions comprise first and second interlocking members which interlock when the clasp is in the joined state; and   the clasp further comprises a safety latch engaging both the first and second clasp portions when the clasp is in the joined state to help maintain the clasp in the joined state.   
     
     
         9 . The finger ring according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second interlocking members are configured so that when in the joined state, the interlocking members effectively prevent the first and second clasp portions from being pulled apart by a tension force in the direction of the length of material. 
     
     
         10 . The finger ring according to  claim 8 , wherein the interlocking members have interlocking sliding surfaces extending generally perpendicular to the length of the band of material. 
     
     
         11 . The finger ring according to  claim 8 , wherein the safety latch has first and second safety latch ends, the first safety latch end pivotally secured to the first clasp portion for movement of the safety latch between secured and unsecured states, the second safety latch end comprising a portion engageable with the second clasp portion when the safety latch is in the secured state. 
     
     
         12 . The finger ring according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and second clasp portions comprise first and second interlocking members which interlock when the clasp is in the joined state; and   the clasp further comprises magnetic members carried by each of the first and second clasp portions, the magnetic members attracting one another when the clasp is in the joined state so to help maintain the clasp in the joined state.   
     
     
         13 . The finger ring according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first and second interlocking members are configured so that when in the joined state, the interlocking members effectively prevent the first and second clasp portions from being pulled apart by a tension force in the direction of the length of material; and   the magnetic members help to maintain the engagement of the interlocking members.   
     
     
         14 . The finger ring according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the magnetic members comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         15 . The finger ring according to  claim 12 , wherein the interlocking members have complementary engagement surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . A finger ring comprising:
 an ornamental charm comprising an inner surface and an outer surface with a through hole formed between the inner and outer surfaces;   a flexible band of material having a length and first and second ends;   a clasp comprising a first clasp portion joined to the first end and a second clasp portion joined to the second end, the first and second clasp portions securable to one another so that the clasp is placeable in a joined state, the first and second clasp portion being separable from one another so that the clasp is placeable in a separated state;   the first and second clasp portions comprising first and second interlocking members which interlock when the clasp is in the joined state;   at least one of the first and second clasp portions comprising a hinge member and a clasp member, the hinge member joining the band of material to the clasp member so that the clasp member and the end of the flexible band material can pivot relative to one another;   the band of material and at least one of the first and second clasp portions sized for passage through the through hole in the charm so that the charm can be positioned along the band of material;   the finger ring being securable to a user's finger when the flexible band is wrapped around a user's finger and the clasp is in the joined state;   the clasp in the joined state having a curved inner surface to help conform to the user's finger.   
     
     
         17 . The finger ring according to  claim 16 , wherein the clasp further comprises a safety latch engaging both the first and second clasp portions when the clasp is in the joined state to help maintain the clasp in the joined state. 
     
     
         18 . The finger ring according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the clasp further comprises magnetic members carried by each of the first and second clasp portions, the magnetic members attracting one another when the clasp is in the joined state so to help maintain the clasp in the joined state; and.   the interlocking members have complementary, generally C-shaped engagement surfaces.   
     
     
         19 . A method for preparing and wearing an ornamented finger ring comprising
 selecting an ornamental charm of the type comprising an inner surface and an outer surface with a through hole formed between the inner and outer surfaces;   selecting a finger ring comprising at least one flexible band of material and a clasp, the band of material having a length and first and second ends, the clasp comprising a first clasp portion at the first end and a second clasp portion at the second end, the first and second clasp portions securable to one another to be placeable in a joined state, the first and second clasp portion being separable from one another to be placeable in a separated state;   the selecting steps carried out so that the band of material and at least the first clasp portion are sized for passage through the through hole in the charm so that the charm can be mounted to and positioned along the band of material;   with the clasp portions in the separated state, passing the first clasp portion through the through hole of the charm to create an ornamented finger ring;   positioning the charm along the band of material;   wrapping the flexible band of material around a user's finger; and   securing the first and second clasp portions to one another thereby placing the clasp portions in the joined state and securing the ornamented finger ring to the user's finger.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising positioning the clasp at the inside of the user's finger and the charm at the outside of the user's finger. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 placing the clasp portions in a separated state;   removing the charm from the finger ring;   placing a second charm on the finger ring;   wrapping the flexible band around a user's finger; and   securing the first and second clasp portions to one another thereby placing the clasp is in the joined state and securing the ornamented finger ring to the user's finger.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein finger ring selecting step comprises selecting at least one of the first and second clasp portions to comprise a hinge member and a clasp member, the hinge member joining the band of material to the clasp member so that the clasp member and the end of the flexible band material can pivot relative to one another for a more comfortable fit. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the ringer finger selecting step comprises selecting a clasp having a curved inner surface to help conform to the user's finger.