Background of the Invention
When a jewel is sold in a jewelry shop it is generally delivered in cases which, even though provided with more or less attractive shapes and being lined or decorated with trimmings, always have the well known shape of a box of either rectangular, round, oval or other geometrical shape in accordance with the kind and size of the piece of jewelry to be contained therein.
On the other hand, when finger rings or bracelets are to be displayed, it is usual to place them around a projection emerging from the supporting surface, thus becoming partially unseen since the internal part of it is hidden by the supporting surface, and when not placed this way they fall off when opening the case. It is therefore desirable to improve these cases by providing them with a more agreeable and attractive appearance, and providing them at the same time with a means for holding the piece of jewelry in place without hiding it partially to the sight. However, due to ever increasing costs it is difficult to obtain jewelry cases exhibiting these features without an additional charge to the buyer.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention embodies a new concept in jewelry cases, in that it comprises a case of attractive and agreeable configuration which breaks away from the monotony of the traditional and well known jewelry case in the shape of a box, since besides its function as a jewelry case, it has a great attractiveness by adopting, in miniature; the shape of an elegant article of clothing for women, thus enhancing the effect of delicacy and refinement of the eventual gift for which the contents may be intended, and further capable of being manufactured at relatively low cost.
Besides the above, the jewelry case has been provided with simple attaching means to hold the piece of jewelry, preventing it from falling off and this without hiding any of its parts, and holding it in the most appropriate position for it to be examined within the case.
Specifically, a jewelry case according to this invention has the shape of a "pamela" or woman's hat with large hat brim, constituted by two main parts: the brim and the crown of the hat. The brim has the central cavity closed by means of a horizontal wall forming a small plateau of oval configuration having a small vertical peripheral lip. The wall provides a surface on which is fixed either with adhesive or other means a plate lined with velvet or similar material, constituting the support surface for the piece of jewelry. This plate carries with it a hook which passes through the lining and serves to hold down the band of a finger ring, maintaining it inclined. The hat brim has exteriorly a half hinge.
The crown of the woman's hat is an independent piece in the general shape of a hemisphere which may be also egg-shaped, being exteriorly provided with a half hinge by means of which it is joined to the other half hinge on the hat brim, in such a way that it can be seated upon the vertical wall of said plateau, covering it and serving thus as a cover for the case, said case adopting by this means the shape of a "pamela" or woman's hat. Said crown of the hat can be raised articulately through the hinge and thus the jewelry case can be opened and the jewelry piece in the interior can be shown and exhibited.
Around the mouth of the crown of the hat there is a band displaced slightly below the edge of the crown, with the view that when closing the crown (which acts as a cover) on the brim (which acts as the case), the joining line of both parts remains concealed under the band.
The two main parts of the jewelry case, namely the brim and the crown of the hat, can be maufactured in any manner, but it will be more advantageous to have them made out of molded synthetic plastic and of any desired color.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the jewelry case according to the invention, with the crown of the hat acting as a cover in its open or raised position.
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the jewelry case of FIG. 1, but in closed position.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through line A-B, of FIG. 2.
Detailed Description of the Invention
A case for jewelry according to the invention, as best shown in FIG. 2, has the shape in miniature of a woman's hat of the type called "pamela", in which the bottom piece 1 imitates the large hat-brim proper of this type of hat which, in the example shown, has a portion 2 bent upwards and an opposite portion 3 lightly inclined downwards. In the center where in a real hat there would be an opening or mouth of the cavity of the crown there is a wall 4 having a horizontal position and forming on its upper face a plateau surrounded by a small vertical peripheral lip or wall 5 within which is mounted a plate 6 lined with a material 7 such as velvet and the like. On the plate 6 there is fixedly attached a block 8 carrying a hook 9 designed to receive and hold the band of a finger ring (not shown in the drawing) to maintain it in an inclined position, with the help of a rib 13 arranged in the concave side of the hook.
The cover of the jewelry case is constituted by the hemispherical or egg-shaped crown 10, in the shape of the crown of a woman's hat, being attached articulately to one side of the projecting lip formed on by the wall 4, by means of a hinge 11, in such a way that it can be opened as in FIG. 1, or closed, covering the lined surface 7 and the hook 9.
The case of the invention comprises also a band 12 arranged around the mouth of the crown 10 overlapping the edge, in such a way that when the crown is closed down over the brim 1, the band will conceal the contact joint of both parts, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.
The parts of the jewelry case can be produced out of any material suitable, preferably of moulded plastic and of diverse colors. Also the size can be varied so that different types of pieces of jewelry may be accomodated in the jewelry case. For instance, the size will be different according to whether it is to contain a collar, a bracelet or a finger ring; the shape also may be lightly altered while still simulating a woman's hat in miniature, and might incorporate complementary decorative elements such as flowers, feathers, fruits, figures and so forth.