Finger Jewelry Article

Abstract

A finger jewelry article has a crown that covers the top or back of the finger. A cap or tip portion may have a hollow protuberance or nail portion. Bands extend at least part-way across the bottom to define open zones at positions of the first and second finger knuckle joints. The article may be straight or curved, and may be made of any of a variety of materials, such as precious or non-precious metals, ceramics, or durable plastic resins. The crown portion may be a semi-cylindrical rigid member with an undulating edge on one side and with projecting ribs on the other side. The crown portion may have multiple perforations forming decorative openwork or filigree. The finger jewelry article may be encrusted with precious or semi-precious stones.

I claim: 
     
         1 . Finger jewelry article in the form of a decorative finger covering adapted to cover the back and tip of a wearer's finger, but having open zones adapted to allow at least some room for first and second knuckle joints of the wearer's finger; the finger jewelry article being in the form of a rigid, one piece tubular member having an upper side adapted to be positioned above an axis of the wearer's finger, and having a lower side adapted to be situated below such axis, comprising:
 a crown portion adapted for covering the back of the wearer's finger and for extending over at least a portion of the sides of the finger, and extending integrally from an open proximal end thereof adapted to fit at a base of the finger where the finger emerges from the palm to a distal end adapted to extend beyond the tip of the wearer's finger;   a tip portion integral with said crown portion and adapted to cover the nail and a portion of the tip of the finger;   a first integrally formed band at the proximal end and extending down from one side of the crown portion and extending down from the other side and adapted to be located at a position between the base and first knuckle joint of the wearer's finger;   a second integrally formed band midway between the tip portion and the proximal end and extending down from one side of the crown portion and extending down from the other side at a position that is adapted to correspond to a zone between first and second knuckle joints of the wearer's finger;   a first open zone formed on an underside of the article between the first band and second band and adapted to be at a position that corresponds to the position of the wearer's first knuckle joint;   a second open zone formed on said underside between the second band and said tip, and adapted to be located at the position of a second knuckle joint for leaving at least a portion of the pad of the wearer's finger tip exposed; and   wherein said tip portion includes a hollow protuberance at its distal end extending distally from an upper side of the tip portion and joining the protuberance at a lower side thereof to said tip portion above said lower side thereof, so as to extend distally beyond the fingernail of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 1  wherein said crown is a portion of said tubular member that is generally a semi-cylinder in shape, and is adapted to cover the back and sides of the wearer's finger. 
     
     
         3 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 1  wherein said bands are continuous and unitary with said crown portion. 
     
     
         4 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 1  wherein the article is formed of a precious metal. 
     
     
         5 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 1  wherein the article is formed of a glass or ceramic material. 
     
     
         6 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 1  wherein the article is formed of a rigid synthetic plastic resin material. 
     
     
         7 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 1  wherein the article is formed of a semi-precious metal. 
     
     
         8 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 1  wherein the article is formed in one piece without articulations. 
     
     
         9 . Finger jewelry article in the form of a decorative finger covering adapted to cover the back and tip of a wearer's finger but having open zones at a lower side of the wearer's finger, the article being in the form of a substantially rigid one-piece member, without articulations, and formed as a portion of a cylinder curved so as follow an axis of the wearer's finger, from a base to a distal tip thereof; comprising
 a crown portion adapted to be positioned above an axis of the wearer's finger, the crown portion extending integrally from a proximal end thereof to a distal tip that projects distally beyond the tip of the wearer's finger; with a first lateral undulating edge along one side of the crown portion, and a second edge; and   a series of lateral rib members positioned on said second edge, which each project laterally from the second edge and continue at least partway around said axis, and adapted to hold the crown portion comfortably in place on the wearer's finger.   
     
     
         10 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 9 , wherein said crown portion is of small thickness, and has a multiplicity of perforations cut therethrough, the perforations being distributed substantially uniformly thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 9 , wherein said lateral rib members are present only on said second edge, and said first lateral undulating edge is free of said lateral rib members. 
     
     
         12 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 9 , wherein said first lateral undulating edge is formed of first, second, and third outward curves that project laterally away from a mid-line of said crown portion, and with the first and second curves, and the second and third curves being joined by inwardly extending curves, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 9 , wherein the article is formed of a precious metal. 
     
     
         14 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 9 , wherein the article is formed of a semi-precious metal. 
     
     
         15 . The finger jewelry article of  claim 9 , wherein the article is formed in one piece without articulations.