Articles of Jewelry for Holding and Displaying a Carried Object

Abstract

An article of jewelry for holding and displaying a carried object includes a jewelry body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore that terminates with the entrance opening. The bore has at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity for display via the entrance opening.

1 . An article of jewelry for holding and displaying a carried object, the article comprising:
 a jewelry body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore that terminates with the entrance opening, the bore having at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity for display via the entrance opening.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retention feature of the bore comprises a curvilinear shape of the bore that is configured to bind the carried object in the bore to resist removal or dislodgement of the carried object from the bore. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the jewelry body comprises a tubular portion having the bore defined therein. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the curvilinear shape of the bore substantially corresponds to a shape of the tubular portion. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein the tubular portion is arcuately shaped to define an enclosed or semi-enclosed through passage. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the tubular portion is shaped and sized as a finger ring, and the through passage is shaped and sized to receive a wearer's finger. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein the tubular portion is shaped and sized as a bracelet, pendant, boutineer holder, brooch and/or hair ring. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the carried object comprises a flower clipping having a stem and a flower on an end of the stem such that, during use, the stem is retained in the bore and the flower is positioned outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising an integral supplemental decorative portion mounted on the jewelry body outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the integral supplemental decorative portion comprises a flower petal sculpture. 
     
     
         11 . The ring of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retention feature of the bore consists essentially of a curvilinear shape of the bore that is configured to bind the carried object in the bore to resist removal or dislodgement of the carried object from the bore. 
     
     
         12 . The ring of  claim 1 , wherein the bore has a diameter of about 2 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A ring assembly configured to be worn on a finger, the ring assembly comprising:
 a tubular ring body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore generally following the tubular ring body, the bore terminating with the entrance opening configured to receive a finger of a wearer, the bore having at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity; and   a carried object comprising a flower clipping having a stem that is positioned and retained in the bore and a flower that is displayed adjacent the entrance opening.   
     
     
         14 . A method for carrying a carried object in an article of jewelry, the article of jewelry comprising a jewelry body having an entrance opening defined therein and an extended bore that terminates with the entrance opening, the bore having at least one retention feature configured to secure and/or resist removal of a carried object positioned in the cavity, the method comprising:
 positioning a carried object in the bore such that the bore secures and/or resists removal of the carried object.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the carried object comprises a flower clipping having a stem and a flower on an end of the stem, wherein positioning a carried object in the bore comprises positioning the stem in the bore such that the flower is positioned outside the bore and adjacent the entrance opening. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the jewelry body comprises a tubular portion having the bore defined therein such that the curvilinear shape of the bore substantially corresponds to a shape of the tubular portion, and the tubular portion is arcuately shaped to define an enclosed or semi-enclosed through passage that is shaped and sized as a finger ring, and the through passage is shaped and sized to receive a wearer's finger, the method further comprising:
 positioning the tubular portion on a wearer's finger as a finger ring.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the jewelry body comprises a bracelet, pendent, boutineer holder, brooch and/or hair ring.