Ring system with interchangeable pieces

Abstract

A ring assembly, including: a circumferential component including a protruding member; and a decorative component, having decorative indicia disposed on an upper surface, and a socket opening disposed in a lower surface having dimensions corresponding to the protruding member, the ring assembly being movable from an initially disassembled state to a fully assembled state in which the protruding member is inserted in the socket opening, and engages the decorative component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ring assembly, comprising:
 a circumferential component including a protruding member; and   a decorative component, having decorative indicia disposed on an upper surface, and a socket opening disposed in a lower surface having dimensions corresponding to said protruding member, the ring assembly being movable from an initially disassembled state to a fully assembled state in which said protruding member is inserted in said socket opening, and engages said decorative component.   
     
     
         2 . The ring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said circumferential component includes a first member and a second member;
 said protruding member includes a first curved rod extending from said first member and a second curved rod extending from said second member, said first and second curved rods abutting to define said protruding member; and   wherein assembly of the ring assembly involves moving said first and second members in relation to each other moving into proximity with each other such that said curved rods engage said decorative member and lock said band component and said decorative component together when said first member is located axially adjacent to said second member.   
     
     
         3 . The ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second members are of a shape selected from the group including: circular, toroidal, square, oval, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal. 
     
     
         4 . The ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second members include mating surfaces that abut in said fully assembled state, and
 wherein said first and second curved rods extend perpendicular to said mating surfaces.   
     
     
         5 . The ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second curved rods are in sliding engagement with each other via a mating arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . The ring assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said mating arrangement is a tongue and groove arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . The ring assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said mating surfaces include a coupling arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The ring assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said coupling arrangement is a ball and socket arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein in said disassembled state said decorative component, said first member and said second member are dissociated from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein in a first partially assembled state said first curved rod abuts said second curved rod, such that terminal ends of said curved rods define said protruding member. 
     
     
         11 . The ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein in a second partially assembled state, said protruding member is inserted into said socket of said decorative component. 
     
     
         12 . The ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein in a third partially assembled state, said curved rods are pivoted against shelf edges that define a socket opening of said socket, such that said first and second members are moved in relation to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein in said fully assembled state said first member is located axially adjacent to said second member so as to present an outer surface providing a unitary appearance and said curved rods lock said decorative component onto said circumferential component. 
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling a ring assembly, comprising:
 providing a first circumferential member and a second circumferential member each circumferential member having a planar, mating surface and a curved rod extending perpendicular to said mating surface;   abutting said curved rod of said first circumferential member with said curved rod of said second circumferential member such that terminal surfaces of said abutting curved rods define a protruding member;   inserting said protruding member through a socket opening into a cavity defined in an underside of a decorative component, said decorative component having decorative indicia disposed on a topside thereof;   moving said first and second circumferential members proximally in relation to each other until said first circumferential member is located axially adjacent to said second circumferential member providing a unitary appearance and said curved rods lock said decorative component onto said first and second circumferential members.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said curved rod of said first circumferential member and said curved rod of said second circumferential member are in sliding engagement with each other via a mating arrangement. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said mating arrangement is a tongue and groove arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said mating surfaces include a coupling arrangement.