Extendable ornamental article

Abstract

An extendable ornamental article comprises an open annular element having two ends that can be moved toward and away from each other along a circumferential direction; a guide element coupled to the annular element and configured to allow the ends to slide therein; a limit stop member configured to limit the movement of the two ends toward each other along the circumferential direction; the ornamental article is characterized in that the annular element can be elastically deformed in a reversible manner along the circumferential direction.

1 . An extendable ornamental article comprising:
 an open annular element having two separate ends that can be moved toward and away from each other along a circumferential direction;   a guide element coupled to at least one portion of the annular element and configured to allow the two ends of the annular element to slide therein, the guide element having a limit stop member configured to limit the movement of the two ends toward each other along the circumferential direction;   wherein the annular element is an element that can be elastically deformed in a reversible manner along the circumferential direction and is configured to move between a first configuration, in which the two ends of the annular element press on opposite sides against the limit stop member, and a second configuration in which the two ends of the annular element are spaced apart by means of the limit stop member.   
     
     
         2 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the guide element extends along the circumferential direction between two opposite guide ends;   the limit stop member is interposed between said guide ends and is rigidly connected to the guide element.   
     
     
         3 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the limit stop member comprises two abutment surfaces arranged on opposite sides of the limit stop member and oriented transverse to the circumferential direction, each end of the annular element being configured to abut against the corresponding abutment surface, when the annular element is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the guide element comprises an opening at each guide end, the openings being configured to allow the ends of the annular element to slide in the guide element along the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         5 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 each end of the annular element comprises a projection;   the guide element comprises a locking wall at each opening, the locking wall extending in a direction transverse to the circumferential direction,   each projection is configured to abut against the corresponding locking wall to limit the movement of the ends of the annular element away from each other along the circumferential direction.   
     
     
         6 . The ornamental article as claimed  claim 1 , comprising a cover element which is coupled with the guide element to close the guide element at its top. 
     
     
         7 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the cover element is removably coupled to the guide element. 
     
     
         8 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the cover element comprises:
 a main body which is adapted to fit between the guide ends, the main body having an inner surface that faces the guide element and an outer surface, opposite to the inner surface and configured to receive decorative elements;   a pair of side walls projecting out of the main body, the pair of side walls extending between the guide ends.   
     
     
         9 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a pair of guides configured to keep the ends of the annular element aligned along the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         10 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the guide element comprises the pair of guides, the pair of guides extending between the guide ends along the circumferential direction and being configured to guide the ends of the annular element toward and away from each other along the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         11 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 6 , comprising a pair of guides configured to keep the ends of the annular element aligned along the circumferential direction, wherein the cover element comprises the pair of guides, the pair of guides extending along the side walls and being configured to guide the ends of the annular element toward and away from each other along the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         12 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 6 , comprising a pair of guides configured to keep the ends of the annular element aligned along the circumferential direction, wherein:
 each guide comprises an upper half-guide associated with the cover element and a lower half-guide associated with the guide element, the upper half-guides extending along the side walls of the cover element, the lower half-guides extending between the guide ends along the circumferential direction, each upper half-guide being designed to face and be aligned along an axial direction with the corresponding lower half-guide;   each end comprises a pair of cylindrical appendages each configured to be interposed between the corresponding upper and lower half-guides, the cylindrical appendages being adapted to slide in the half-guides along the circumferential direction to allow the ends to move toward and away from each other.   
     
     
         13 . The ornamental article as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each upper and lower half-guide comprises a pair of locking walls located on opposite sides of the cylindrical appendages, the cylindrical appendages being configured to abut the locking walls to limit the movement of the ends of the annular element away from each other along the circumferential direction.