Finger ring with magnet for holding an electronic device

Abstract

An article of jewelry configured to secure a handheld, mobile electronic device. The article of jewelry includes a shank configured to hold the article of jewelry on a finger of a user and opposing shoulders extending from the shank. A setting extends from the opposing shoulders and has a receptacle, and a ferromagnetic element is disposed in or secured to the article of jewelry. A magnet positioned within the receptacle is configured to form a magnetic bond with the ferromagnetic element and engage a ferromagnetic structure of a handheld, mobile electronic device in a manner such as to secure the handheld, mobile electronic device to a finger of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of jewelry configured to secure a handheld, mobile electronic device, the article of jewelry comprising:
 a shank configured to hold the article of jewelry on a finger of a user;   opposing shoulders extending from the shank;   a setting extending from the opposing shoulders, the setting having a receptacle;   a ferromagnetic element; and   a magnet positioned within the receptacle and configured to form a magnetic bond with the ferromagnetic element and engage a ferromagnetic structure of a handheld, mobile electronic device in a manner such as to secure the handheld, mobile electronic device to a finger of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic structure forms a portion of an outer protective cover of the handheld, mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a circumferential wall and a floor that defines a cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The article of jewelry of  claim 3 , wherein the magnet is positioned within the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The article of jewelry of  claim 4 , wherein the magnet has a height that equal to or greater than a height of the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic element is one of disposed in at least one of the shank and the setting of the article of jewelry and secured to a floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . A kit configured to secure an article of jewelry to a handheld, mobile electronic device, the kit comprising:
 an article of jewelry having a shank configured to hold the article of jewelry on a finger of a user, opposing shoulders extending from the shank, a setting extending from the opposing shoulders, the setting having a receptacle, a ferromagnetic element, and a magnet positioned within the receptacle and configured to form a magnetic bond with the ferromagnetic element; and   a ferromagnetic structure associated with the handheld, mobile electronic device and configured for engagement with the magnet of the article of jewelry;   wherein the magnet is configured to engage the ferromagnetic structure in a manner such as to secure the handheld, mobile electronic device to the finger of the user.   
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein the receptacle includes a circumferential wall and a floor that defines a cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the magnet is positioned within the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the magnet has a height that equal to or greater than a height of the cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein the magnet is bonded to a floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein the ferromagnetic structure is attached to a rear surface of the handheld, mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the ferromagnetic structure has the form of a sheet material. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein the ferromagnetic structure is attached to a rear surface of a protective case enclosing the handheld, mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the ferromagnetic structure has the form of a sheet material. 
     
     
         16 . A method of securing a handheld, mobile electronic device to an article of jewelry, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming an article of jewelry having a shank configured to hold the article of jewelry on a finger of a user, opposing shoulders extending from the shank, a setting extending from the opposing shoulders, the setting having a receptacle, a ferromagnetic element, and a magnet positioned within the receptacle and configured to form a magnetic bond with the ferromagnetic element;   associating a ferromagnetic structure with the handheld, mobile electronic device, the ferromagnetic structure configured for engagement with the magnet of the article of jewelry;   engaging the ferromagnetic structure with the magnet in a manner such as to secure the handheld, mobile electronic device to the finger of the user.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , including the steps of forming a cavity within the receptacle with a circumferential wall and a floor, and positioning the magnet within the cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the magnet has a height that equal to or greater than a height of the cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , including the step of attaching the ferromagnetic structure to a rear surface of the handheld, mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , including the step of attaching the ferromagnetic structure to a rear surface of a protective case enclosing the handheld, mobile electronic device.