Interchangeable Jewelry System

Abstract

The present invention includes interchangeable jewelry pieces and an interchangeable jewelry product line comprising at least post style earrings, dangling earrings and pendants for necklaces. All of the jewelry items in the line have a base portion with a magnetic portion designed and dimensioned to receive and magnetically secure an interchangeable decorative cap portion. The decorative caps have a simple functional design making them relatively inexpensive to mass produce. The decorative cap portion includes a receiver portion, a substantially planar decorative material dimensioned for receipt in the receiver portion, a cover portion for protecting the decorative material, and downwardly projecting peripheral rim dimensioned to encompass the peripheral edge of a magnetic portion of the base of each of the pieces of jewelry in the product line.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to jewelry items and jewelry sets which include improved interchangeable decorative elements as well as methods of manufacture and use of same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Prior art attempts to design interchangeable jewelry systems have typically focused on relatively expensive fine jewelry market segment, rather than more affordable costume jewelry market. One example of such prior art systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,752,764 which shows an earring body having a flat magnet permanently attached to it, surrounded by a collar, the collar having an opening on its periphery. The removable button, or other ornamentation fits into the cap created by collar, and has, on its inside a flat armature which rests on the flat magnet mounted on the body of the earring when the unit is assembled, as shown in FIG. 3 of the '764 patent. The flat armature of the earring body is also made of a magnetizable material so that the earring design ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an interchangeable jewelry system and jewelry pieces having cost efficient designs that can be manufactured for sale as mass market costume jewelry.

[0005]Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive interchangeable decorative jewelry elements that can be utilized across different jewelry pieces of a line to provide the opportunity for the jewelry wearer to color coordinate, complement or contrast with clothing, the wearer's physical attributes such as eye color, or other fashion accessories in a cost effective manner.

[0006]Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive interchangeable jewelry line having decorative elements designed to be mass producible at sufficiently low cost that they are virtually disposable in order to satisfy the youth costume jewelry market.

Problems solved by technology

In the applicant's view, the jewelry designs of the '871 patent are also too complex and costly for use in the mass market costume jewelry field.

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