Modular rings and assembly methods thereof

Abstract

A modular ring includes a harness and at least one ornament. The harness may include a pair of struts and at least one U-shaped section. Each U-shaped section may have a pair of legs and a first arcuate portion coupling the pair of legs to one another. Each one of the pair of struts may be coupled to a respective one of the pair legs. The at least one ornament may have a head and a second arcuate portion, with the head of each ornament defining notches. The pair of struts may be releasably securable in the notches in an orientation in which the first arcuate portion of each U-shaped section of the harness and the second arcuate portion of each ornament collectively form a band positionable about a finger of a wearer with the head of each ornament facing away from the finger.

1 . A modular ring, comprising:
 a harness including a pair of struts and at least one U-shaped section, each U-shaped section having a pair of legs and a first arcuate portion coupling the pair of legs to one another, and each one of the pair of struts coupled to a respective one of the pair of legs; and   at least one ornament having a head and a second arcuate portion, the head of each ornament defining notches, the pair of struts releasably securable in the notches in an orientation in which the first arcuate portion of each U-shaped section of the harness and the second arcuate portion of each ornament collectively form a band positionable about a finger of a wearer with the head of each ornament facing away from the finger.   
     
     
         2 . The modular ring of  claim 1 , wherein the harness includes a plurality of U-shaped sections. 
     
     
         3 . The modular ring of  claim 2 , wherein the harness further includes a bridge connecting respective first arcuate portions of the plurality of U-shaped sections to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The modular ring of  claim 2 , wherein each one of the U-shaped sections defines a portion of an opening through which the at least one ornament is movable into the orientation in which the first arcuate portion of each U-shaped section of the harness and the second arcuate portion of each ornament collectively form the band. 
     
     
         5 . The modular ring of  claim 2 , wherein each strut of the pair of struts couples at least two of the plurality of U-shaped sections to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The modular ring of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pair of struts are non-intersecting with one another; and   each strut intersects a plane defined by the respective pair of legs of each U-shaped section.   
     
     
         7 . The modular ring of  claim 6 , wherein the harness further includes a span extending between the pair of struts. 
     
     
         8 . The modular ring of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each strut of the pair of struts is cantilevered with respect to a respective leg of each of the at least one U-shaped section; and   a portion of each strut, away from each respective leg, includes an ear restricting movement of the head of each ornament in a direction away from the pair of legs of each U-shaped section when the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion collectively form the band.   
     
     
         9 . The modular ring of  claim 8 , wherein each strut of the pair of struts is cantilevered in one direction away from each respective leg. 
     
     
         10 . The modular ring of  claim 8 , wherein each strut is cantilevered in two directions away from each respective leg. 
     
     
         11 . The modular ring of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each U-shaped section has a rounded cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the first arcuate portion; and   each strut has at least one flat surface.   
     
     
         12 . The modular ring of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one ornament includes a plurality of ornaments stackable adjacent to one another with respective notches of the plurality of ornaments aligned with one another; and   the plurality of ornaments having a combined thickness substantially equal to a thickness dimension defined by the pair of struts of the harness.   
     
     
         13 . The modular ring of  claim 12 , wherein the respective head of each ornament has sides non-parallel to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The modular ring of  claim 13 , wherein the heads of the plurality of ornaments collectively form an overall shape having at least two parallel sides. 
     
     
         15 . The modular ring of  claim 1 , wherein the head of the at least one ornament has one or more irregularly cut ends extending beyond each strut of the pair of struts in a direction perpendicular to an axial dimension of each strut. 
     
     
         16 . The modular ring of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the head of the at least one ornament is of a first material; and   the second arcuate portion is formed of a second material different from the first material.   
     
     
         17 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The modular ring of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one ornament includes a first material having a first hardness;   a second material having a second hardness less than the first hardness;   the notches are defined along the first material; and   and the second material forms a portion of the head of the at least one ornament.   
     
     
         24 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A storage device, comprising:
 a container; and   a cushion disposed within the container, the cushion defining a plurality of first recesses and a plurality of second recesses, each of the first recesses shaped to receive a respective harness including a pair of struts and at least one U-shaped section, and each of the second recesses shaped to receive a respective ornament securable to the U-shaped section to form collectively a band positionable about a finger of a wearer.   
     
     
         34 . A method of forming modular components into a ring, the method comprising:
 selecting one or more ornaments having a combined thickness substantially equal to a thickness dimension defined by a pair of struts of a harness;   aligning the pair of struts of the harness and notches defined by a respective head of each ornament relative to one another in a direction of alignment; and   along the direction of alignment, releasably securing the pair of struts into the notches in an orientation in which a first arcuate portion of the harness and a second arcuate portion of each ornament collectively form a band positionable about a finger of a wearer with the respective head of each ornament facing away from the finger.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 sliding the finger through the band between the hardness and the ornament, such that the finger presses the ornament against the harness and holds the harness and the ornament in contact with each other in a press-fit configuration; and   
       removing the finger from the band such that the ornament disengages from the harness.