Interchangeable semi-mount ring system and method for selling rings

Abstract

A semi-mount ring system includes a set of semi-mount shanks and a set of semi-mount heads. Each semi-mount shank includes a substantially similar head mounting mechanism. Each semi-mount head includes a stone mounting mechanism, one or more stones or the like secured within the stone mounting mechanism, and a substantially similar shank mounting mechanism. The head mounting mechanism of the shanks and the shank mounting mechanism of the heads are of a mating form, thereby allowing any semi-mount head to be detachably secured to any semi-mount shank to form a ring that has the appearance of a completed ring. In this fashion, a customer, for example, may select a custom ring and view the ring in its final form before the ring is completed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 693,150, filed on Jun. 23, 2005, by Eli Savransky, entitled, “INTERCHANGEABLE SEMI-MOUNT RING,” the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to semi-mount rings, and in particular, to a ring system that includes semi-mount shanks that can be interchangeably connected with semi-mount heads having stones or the like secured therein and to methods for selling rings. [0004] 2. Description of the Art [0005] A ring, such as an engagement ring, may include a shank, a head secured to the shank, and a focal stone, such as a diamond, secured / mounted within the head. In general, the shank is the portion of the ring that fits around one's finger. The head includes a mechanism, such as a plurality prongs, that holds the focal stone and thereby secures or mounts the stone ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] According to an embodiment of the invention, a jewelry store, department store, vendor at a trade show, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as a retailer) may provide or display to prospective customers for example, a plurality of semi-mount shanks of different styles and a plurality of semi-mount heads each with a focal stone or the like pre-mounted therein of a different type, size, and / or style, for example. According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the plurality of semi-mount shanks provided or displayed by the retailer has a substantially identical head mounting mechanism, irrespective of how the remainder of the shank is shaped or designed. Similarly, each of the plurality of semi-mount heads provided or displayed by the retailer has a substantially identical shank mounting mechanism, irrespective of the type, style, and / or size of the stone pre-mounted therein. In addition, the head mounting mechanism and shank mounting mechanism of each of the provided or displayed shanks and heads are of a mating-form, as described above. In this way and according to an embodiment of the invention, a retailer may provide or display to prospective customers different semi-mount shanks and different semi-mount heads with different stones mounted therein and allow the customers to interchangeably mix and match any of the heads with any of the shanks in order to form any number of different custom rings, each ring having the head detachably secured to the shank and each ring having a clean and finished appearance.

[0014] As such and according to an embodiment of the invention, a prospective customer may view a plurality of displayed semi-mount shanks and semi-mount heads and select any one of the semi-mount shanks and any one of the semi-mount heads. Through the head mounting mechanism and shank mounting mechanism of the selected shank and head, the head may thereafter be secured to the shank to form a complete ring. According to an embodiment of the invention, the customer may thereafter hold and view the ring, and move the ring without concern that the head or stone will disconnect from the shank. In addition, according to an embodiment of the invention, the ring may have a clean and finished appearance as if the ring where in a final form, even though the ring is technically not finished, allowing the customer to easily see how the ring will appear once completed.

[0016] Accordingly, the semi-mount ring system of the present invention has the advantage of allowing a retailer, for example, to easily and conveniently show a prospective customer numerous different custom rings. The semi-mount ring system also has the advantage of allowing the customer to easily see how each custom ring will appear once completed. In addition, the present invention also allows a customer to handle and try each ring on a hand to further visualize how the ring will appear, without the jeweler having to hold the stone. In addition, the present invention allows a retailer to sell numerous styles of custom rings while maintaining, if desired, a limited sized inventory.

Problems solved by technology

Nonetheless, selling rings in this fashion has several drawbacks.

Similarly, the customer often has difficulty viewing the ring because the jeweler often has difficulty holding the focal stone steady in the shank or head.

In addition, because the focal stone is not secured to the shank, the customer is not able to easily handle the ring or place the ring on a finger and thereafter move the ring to get different perspectives of the ring.

Nonetheless, selling custom rings by using ring series has several drawbacks.

This inventory may require a substantial investment cost for the jeweler, may be difficult to physically display given limited space, and may also create additional work in having to manage the inventory.

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