Customizable ring assembly

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods may relate to customizable jewelry having user-interchangeable modules. In an illustrative embodiment, the jewelry may be a ring. For example, the interchangeable module may be a substantially-rigid semi-annulus structure removably coupleable to the cylindrical annulus of the ring between about 90 and 180 degrees of the shank circumference. The shank may include a mounting portion having a semi-annular thinned region for receiving the module. In some examples, the module may couple to the shank through a reluctance force. In some examples, the module may include alignment features for preventing unwanted movement relative the shank. For example, the module may include alignment features along a peripheral edge to couple with complementary alignment features of the mounting portion. The module may characterize a user's personality, such as for example include customizable designs, colors, slogans, or pay tribute to a particular country, sport, hobby, or event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An decoratively-configureable ring comprising:
 a substantially-rigid semi-cylindrical ring decorator comprising a semi-annulus spanning between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 180 degrees, the ring decorator having an interior surface having a first radius and a decorative exterior surface having a second radius greater than the first radius;   a substantially-rigid cylindrical ring configured to be worn on a person's finger, the ring having an interior surface having third radius less than the first radius, the cylindrical ring having an engagement portion and a non-engagement portion, the non-engagement portion comprising a semi-annulus having an exterior surface having a radius substantially equal to the second radius, the engagement portion configured to receive the ring decorator, the engagement portion comprising an exterior semi-annulus having an exterior surface less than or equal to the first radius; and   a magnet fixedly coupled to either the ring decorator or the ring,   wherein one or more of the ring decorator and the ring comprises magnetically permeable material, wherein, when the ring decorator is received by the engagement portion of the ring, the ring decorator is maintained in engagement with the ring by a reluctance force established between the magnet and the magnetically permeable material.   
     
     
         2 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 1 , wherein the ring decorator has a ring securing member at each of opposite ends of the semi-annulus, wherein the ring has complementary ring decorator securing members, wherein when the ring decorator is secured to the ring, the ring securing members and the ring decorator securing members engage so as to resist non-radial translations of the ring decorator with respect to the ring. 
     
     
         3 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 1 , wherein the ring decorator has a ring securing member at each of opposite ends of the semi-annulus, wherein the ring has complementary ring decorator securing members, wherein when the ring decorator is secured to the ring, the ring securing members and the ring decorator securing members engage so as to resist rotations of the ring decorator with respect to the ring, the resisted rotations having axes that intersect a central axis of the ring. 
     
     
         4 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is fixedly coupled to the ring decorator. 
     
     
         5 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is fixedly coupled to the ring. 
     
     
         6 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a first magnet, the decoratively-configurable ring further comprising a second magnet that is fixedly attached the ring or the ring decorator that is not fixedly coupled to the first magnet. 
     
     
         7 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-annulus of the ring decorator spans approximately 180 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-annulus of the ring decorator spans between approximately 120 degrees to approximately 180 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 8 , wherein one of the ring securing members comprises a recess and one of the ring decorator securing members comprises a protrusion. 
     
     
         10 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 8 , wherein one of the ring securing members comprises a protrusion and one of the ring decorator securing members comprises a recess. 
     
     
         11 . An decoratively-configureable ring set comprising:
 a set of two or more substantially-rigid semi-cylindrical ring decorators, each ring decorator comprising a semi-annulus spanning between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 180 degrees, the ring decorator having an interior surface having a first radius and a decorative exterior surface having a second radius greater than the first radius;   a substantially-rigid cylindrical ring configured to be worn on a person's finger, the ring having an interior surface having third radius less than the first radius, the cylindrical ring having an engagement portion and a non-engagement portion, the non-engagement portion comprising a semi-annulus having an exterior surface having a radius substantially equal to the second radius, the engagement portion configured to receive the ring decorator, the engagement portion comprising an exterior semi-annulus having an exterior surface less than or equal to the first radius; and   a magnet fixedly coupled to the ring,   wherein each of the ring decorators comprises magnetically permeable material, wherein, when one of the ring decorators is received by the engagement portion of the ring, the received ring decorator is maintained in engagement with the ring by a reluctance force established between the magnet and the magnetically permeable material.   
     
     
         12 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 11 , wherein the ring decorator has a ring securing member at each of opposite ends of the semi-annulus, wherein the ring has complementary ring decorator securing members, wherein when the ring decorator is secured to the ring, the ring securing members and the ring decorator securing members engage so as to resist non-radial translations of the ring decorator with respect to the ring. 
     
     
         13 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 11 , wherein the ring decorator has a ring securing member at each of opposite ends of the semi-annulus, wherein the ring has complementary ring decorator securing members, wherein when the ring decorator is secured to the ring, the ring securing members and the ring decorator securing members engage so as to resist rotations of the ring decorator with respect to the ring, the resisted rotations having axes that intersect a central axis of the ring. 
     
     
         14 . The decoratively-configurable ring set of  claim 11 , wherein the semi-annulus of the ring decorator spans approximately 180 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The decoratively-configurable ring set of  claim 11 , further comprising a ring-decorator storage device, the ring decorator storage device comprising a plurality of engagement portions, each of the engagement portions comprising an exterior semi-annulus having an exterior surface less than or equal to the first radius,
 wherein, when one of the ring decorators is received by one of the engagement portions of the ring-decorator storage device, the received ring decorator is maintained in engagement with the ring by a reluctance force established between the magnet and the magnetically permeable material.   
     
     
         16 . An decoratively-configureable ring comprising:
 a substantially-rigid semi-cylindrical ring decorator comprising a semi-annulus spanning between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 180 degrees, the ring decorator having an interior surface having a first radius and a decorative exterior surface having a second radius greater than the first radius;   a substantially-rigid cylindrical ring configured to be worn on a person's finger, the ring having an interior surface having third radius less than the first radius, the cylindrical ring having an engagement portion and a non-engagement portion, the non-engagement portion comprising a semi-annulus having an exterior surface having a radius substantially equal to the second radius, the engagement portion configured to receive the ring decorator, the engagement portion comprising an exterior semi-annulus having an exterior surface less than or equal to the first radius; and   means for releasably coupling the ring decorator to the ring.   
     
     
         17 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 16 , wherein means for releasably coupling the ring decorator to the ring comprises means for aligning the ring decorator with the ring. 
     
     
         18 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 17 , wherein means for aligning includes a complementary alignment features on the ring decorator and the ring. 
     
     
         19 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 17 , wherein the means for aligning includes means for resisting non-radial translations of the ring decorator with respect to the ring. 
     
     
         20 . The decoratively-configurable ring of  claim 17 , wherein the means for aligning includes means for resisting rotations of the ring decorator with respect to the ring, the resisted rotations having axes that intersect a central axis of the ring.