Bridal set jewelry system with interchangeable heads, shanks and bands

Abstract

A ring assembly including a shank having a band defining a head mounting area with a keyhole aperture defined in the upper surface of the band in the head mounting area, wherein the keyhole aperture defines an entrance to a cavity; and a head including a mount with a base and sidewalls, and a post extending from the exterior of the base of the mount, the post including at least one protruding key configured to pass through a corresponding opening in the keyhole aperture and engage the cavity to releasably secure the head to the shank. Methods for forming and demonstrating ring assemblies are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ring assembly comprising:
 a shank having a band defining a head mounting area with a keyhole aperture defined in the upper surface of the band in the head mounting area, the keyhole aperture defining an entrance to a cavity; and   a head including a mount with a base and sidewalls, and a post extending from the exterior of the base of the mount, the post including at least one protruding key configured to pass through a corresponding opening in the keyhole aperture and engage the cavity to releasably secure the head to the shank.   
     
     
         2 . A ring set comprising:
 a ring assembly according to  claim 1 ; and   a separate band configure to be positioned adjacent the shank in a complementary manner.   
     
     
         3 . The ring assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the cavity is formed after formation of the shank. 
     
     
         4 . The ring assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the head is permanently affixed to the shank. 
     
     
         5 . The ring assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the head is welded or soldered to the shank. 
     
     
         6 . A ring assembly kit for demonstrating various ring assembly combinations comprising:
 a plurality of shanks, each shank having a band defining a head mounting area with a keyhole aperture defined in the upper surface of the band in the head mounting area, the keyhole aperture defining an entrance to a cavity; and   a plurality of heads, each head including a mount with a base and sidewalls, and a post extending from the exterior of the base of the mount, the post including at least one protruding key configured to pass through a corresponding opening in the keyhole aperture and engage the cavity to releasably secure the respective head to the respective shank.   
     
     
         7 . The ring assembly kit according to  claim 6  further comprising a plurality of separate bands configured be positioned adjacent to one or more of the plurality of shanks in a complementary manner. 
     
     
         8 . A method of demonstrating various ring assemblies comprising a head and a shank, the method comprising:
 selecting a first shank from a plurality of shanks, each shank having a band defining a head mounting area with a keyhole aperture defined in the upper surface of the band in the head mounting area, the keyhole aperture defining an entrance to a cavity; and   selecting a first head from plurality of heads, each head including a mount with a base and sidewalls, and a post extending from the exterior of the base of the mount, the post including at least one protruding key; and   interconnecting the key of the first head with the cavity of the first shank to releasably secure the first head to the first shank.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 unlocking the first head from the first shank and thereafter locking the first head to a second shank from the plurality of shanks by interconnecting the key of the first head with the cavity of the second shank.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising the steps of:
 unlocking the first head from the first shank and thereafter locking a second head of the plurality of heads to the first shank by interconnecting the key of the second head with the cavity of the first shank. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising the step of positioning a first complementary band selected from a plurality of complementary bands adjacent the interlocked first head and first shank.