Interchangeable Jewelry Components

Abstract

An interchangeable jewelry device includes a locket including a body having a locket wall defining a cavity, and wherein the locket has opposing, discrete locket ribs extending outwardly adjacent to a lower edge of the locket wall, a case including a socket defined by a socket wall sized to receive the body of the locket, wherein the case has opposing, discrete case ribs adjacent to an upper edge of the socket wall, a first magnet positioned on an exterior surface of the body of the locket, and a second magnet positioned on an interior surface of the socket of the case. Each of the first and second magnets has an oblong shape. The first and second magnets are aligned and the locket and case ribs are engaged when the locket is secured within the socket of the case.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An interchangeable jewelry device comprising:
 a locket including a body having a locket wall defining a cavity, and wherein the locket has opposing, discrete locket ribs extending outwardly adjacent to a lower edge of the locket wall;   a case including a socket defined by a socket wall sized to receive the body of the locket, wherein the case has opposing, discrete case ribs adjacent to an upper edge of the socket wall;   a first magnet positioned on an exterior surface of the body of the locket, wherein the first magnet has an oblong shape extending between opposing first magnet ends; and   a second magnet positioned on an interior surface of the socket of the case, wherein the second magnet has an oblong shape extending between opposing second magnet ends;   wherein the first and second magnets are aligned and the locket and case ribs are engaged when the locket is secured within the socket of the case.   
     
     
         2 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing locket ribs are separated by opposing locket spacings, and wherein the opposing case ribs are separated by opposing case spacings. 
     
     
         3 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second magnets are rotated out of alignment when the opposing locket ribs are aligned with the opposing case spacings. 
     
     
         4 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 1 , wherein the locket ribs are adjacent to the first magnet ends and wherein the case ribs are adjacent to the second magnet ends. 
     
     
         5 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second magnets has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 1 , wherein when the locket is positioned within the case, the locket automatically rotates in order to align the first and second magnets and to engage the locket and case ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 1 , wherein the case includes a securing mechanism that engages with an item of jewelry. 
     
     
         8 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 7 , wherein the item of jewelry comprises one of a necklace, a watch, and a bracelet. 
     
     
         9 . An interchangeable jewelry device comprising:
 a locket including a body and a cover, wherein the body includes a locket wall defining a cavity, and wherein the cover attaches to the body by a hinge; and   a case including a socket defined by a socket wall and a socket base sized to receive the body of the locket;   a first engagement mechanism including a locket rib extending outwardly from the locket wall near a lower edge and a case rib extending inwardly from the socket wall near an upper edge, wherein the locket rib is positioned between the case rib and the socket base during use; and   a second engagement mechanism including a first magnet having an oblong shape positioned on an exterior surface of the body of the locket and a second magnet having an oblong shape positioned on the socket base of the case, wherein the first and second magnet are aligned during use.   
     
     
         10 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 9 , the first engagement mechanism includes first and second locket ribs separated by a spacing and first and second case ribs, each case rib having a length, and wherein the length of the case rib is smaller than the spacing of the first and second locket ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second magnets has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 9 , wherein the case includes a securing mechanism that engages with an item of jewelry. 
     
     
         13 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 10 , wherein the item of jewelry comprises one of a necklace, a watch, and a bracelet. 
     
     
         14 . An interchangeable jewelry device comprising:
 a locket including a body, wherein the body includes a locket wall defining a cavity; and   a case including a socket defined by a socket wall and a socket base sized to receive the body of the locket;   a first engagement mechanism including a locket rib extending outwardly from the locket wall near a lower edge and a case rib extending inwardly from the socket wall near an upper edge, wherein the locket rib is positioned between the case rib and the socket base during use; and   a second engagement mechanism including a first magnet having an oblong shape positioned on an exterior surface of the body of the locket and a second magnet having an oblong shape positioned on the socket base of the case, wherein the first and second magnet are aligned during use;   wherein the locket and the case move between an engaging position and a locked position;   wherein, in the engaging position, the first and second magnets are transverse to one another; and   wherein, in the locked position, the first and second magnets are aligned with one another.   
     
     
         15 . The interchangeable jewelry device of  claim 14 , wherein, in the engaging position, the locket and case ribs are out of alignment, and wherein, in the locked position, the locket and case ribs in alignment.