Ring having a rigid structure but having a hole of variable diameter

Abstract

A ring, such as a ring of precious material such as gold or hard stone like onyx or agate, has a rigid annular body bounding a hole to allow a finger to be inserted, this hole having a wall bounding it and fitting the finger. The wall is radially expandable so the diameter of the hole can be altered and allow the ring to be fitted to various finger sizes.

1 . A ring for a user to wear, comprising
 a rigid annular body bounding a hole to allow insertion of a finger of the user, the hole having a wall which bounds the hole and is capable of acting together with the finger,   the wall being radially expandable to allow the diameter of said hole to be changed and to allow the ring to fit various finger sizes,   a seat containing a member radially deformable with reference to the hole being provided at the wall of the hole, said radially deformable member defining the diameter of the hole,   said radially deformable member comprising a plurality of moving elements which can move relative to each other and are located around the hole in the ring, these moving elements being capable of coming into contact with the finger of the user wearing the ring at least for some diameters of the hole defined by them,   said moving elements are separated from each other, a spacer being present between said moving elements, wherein each moving element separated from the adjacent moving element by said spacer comprises a raised end capable of overlapping with the adjacent moving element and leaning against the raised end of the adjacent moving element.   
     
     
         2 . A ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the hole is capable of adopting a plurality of values or sizes comprised between a minimum value and a maximum value, passing continuously from one value to the next. 
     
     
         3 . A ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring is made of precious material or hard stone. 
     
     
         4 . A ring according to  claim 3 , wherein the precious material comprises gold and the hard stone comprises onyx or agate. 
     
     
         5 . A ring according to  claim 1 , wherein said moving elements are capable of moving between the seat provided in the wall of the hole in opposition to a resilient member. 
     
     
         6 . A ring according to  claim 5 , wherein the resilient member encompasses all the moving elements, the resilient member being attached to terminal moving members at its ends. 
     
     
         7 . A ring according to  claim 5 , wherein a resilient member connecting two adjacent moving elements is provided. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A ring according to  claim 1 , wherein the said moving elements are connected together by flat portions moveable on said moving elements and capable of guiding their relative movement against the resilient member. 
     
     
         11 . A ring according to  claim 10 , wherein said flat portions support projections capable of defining an end stop to the separating movement of the corresponding adjacent moving elements. 
     
     
         12 . A ring according to  claim 1 , wherein each moving element has opposing faces, a first face being outside the hole of the ring, and a second face facing the hole of the ring. 
     
     
         13 . A ring according to  claim 12 , this second face being arched in transverse cross-section parallel to the axis of the aforesaid hole. 
     
     
         14 - 16 . (canceled)