Multi-purpose jewelry with variable appearance

Abstract

Multi-purpose jewelry has a changeable configuration to enable the jewelry to serve as a ring, a pendant/necklace, a brooch, an earring, and/or a bracelet. Various materials and shapes may be provided as decorative aspects of the jewelry. In one aspect, interchangeable decorative surfaces of the jewelry may be provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Jewelry comprising:
 a member configured and sized to fit at least partly around a wearer's finger, the member comprising:
 an element which generally follows an arc; 
 a pair of extensions, one at either end of the arc that the element generally follows; 
 each extension having a channel facing the wearer's finger and running along the extension; 
 each extension having a hole at a distal end thereof; 
   the jewelry further comprising an insert with flanges on opposing sides of the insert, each flange fitting within a respective channel so that the insert is movable along the channel, and rotatable within the channel;   wherein the jewelry is a ring, a necklace, a brooch, or an earring depending on a position and orientation of the insert within the channels of the extensions.   
     
     
         2 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the jewelry is a ring in response to rotation of the insert in the channels to be perpendicular to the member and to positioning of the insert near the distal ends of the extensions. 
     
     
         3 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a chain inserted through the holes in the extensions, wherein the jewelry is a necklace in response to rotation of the insert to be parallel to the member and to positioning of the insert away from the distal ends of the extensions. 
     
     
         4 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a pin inserted through the holes in the extensions, wherein the jewelry is a brooch in response to rotation of the insert to be parallel to the member and to positioning of the insert away from the distal ends of the extensions. 
     
     
         5 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a rod inserted through the holes in the extensions, wherein the jewelry is an earring in response to rotation of the insert to be parallel to the member and to positioning of the insert away from the distal ends of the extensions, the earring comprising an attachment device for attachment to an ear, the rod connecting to the attachment device to hold the jewelry. 
     
     
         6 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the attachment device comprises structure selected from the group consisting of a post to go through a hole in an ear lobe and a back into which to insert the post to secure the earring, a wire to go through the hole in the ear lobe, and a clasp to attach to the ear lobe. 
     
     
         7 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a base and a decorative addition removably attached to the base. 
     
     
         8 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of decorative additions, each removably attachable to the base. 
     
     
         9 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising an attachment mechanism to removably attach the decorative addition to the base, the attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of one or a plurality of magnets, a bayonet mount, and a clasping mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the insert contains a cavity to contain the chain, the insert comprising two pieces which are at least partly separable from each other to enable placement of the chain within the cavity, and securely attachable to each other to secure the chain within the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . Jewelry comprising:
 a member configured and sized to fit at least partly around a wearer's wrist, the member comprising:
 an element which generally follows an arc; 
 a pair of extensions, one at either end of the arc that the element generally follows; 
 each extension having a channel facing the wearer's finger and running along the extension; 
 each extension having a hole at a distal end thereof; 
   the jewelry further comprising an insert with flanges on opposing sides of the insert, each flange fitting within a respective channel so that the insert is movable along the channel, and rotatable within the channel;   wherein the jewelry is a bracelet, a necklace, or a brooch, depending on a position and orientation of the insert within the channels of the extensions.   
     
     
         12 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the jewelry is a bracelet in response to rotation of the insert in the channels to be perpendicular to the member and to positioning of the insert near the distal ends of the extensions. 
     
     
         13 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the insert contains a cavity, the insert comprising two pieces which are at least partly separable from each other to enable placement of the chain within the cavity, and securely attachable to each other to secure the chain within the cavity. 
     
     
         14 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the element has an arcuate or a polygonal interior to fit around at least part of the wearer's hand. 
     
     
         15 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the element has an arcuate or a polygonal exterior. 
     
     
         16 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the decorative addition comprises one or more of metal, wood, gemstones, cameo, or mother of pearl. 
     
     
         17 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of yellow gold, white gold, silver, platinum, copper, titanium, alloys thereof, brass, or stainless steel. 
     
     
         18 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the cameo comprises material selected from the group consisting of shell, agate, onyx, ivory, coral, mother-of-pearl, stone, lava, or glass. 
     
     
         19 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the wood is selected from the group consisting of redwood, teak, maple, oak, rosewood, olive wood, ebony, pine, cedar, birch, walnut, and mahogany. 
     
     
         20 . Jewelry as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the gemstones are selected from the group consisting of diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, tanzanite, alexandrite, turquoise, opal, peridot, pearls, agate, spinel, amber, lapis lazuli, jade, quartz, citrine, and jasper.